Where do you live?  

Bodega Bay, CA about 60 minutes North of San Francisco right on the coast. It’s a small fishing town with only about 1000 people living here.

What is your blog called?  

Liane Dimond Photography http://lianedimondphotography.blogspot.com/
(note: she’s also on Facebook!)

What do you like most about being online?

What I like most about being online is connecting with friends that I haven’t seen or would have the chance to see because of distance or time reasons. I love knowing that people I have had a connections with in the past are healthy and happily living there lives. Before Facebook, I hadn’t seen anyone from high school in many years. I can touch base with them easily now.

What are some of your offline hobbies?

Family is my main focus everyday and my main hobby is closely related to them. I love photography and I love documenting our family with photos. I also love were we live and I started a 366 project for this year. I’m going to take 366 photos of our town.

Tell me about your family and how you would spend the perfect Saturday together.

I have been married to Nick for 16 years and we have 4 children, Lily 11, Erik 9, Curby 6 and Lia-Louise 3. Our perfect Saturday would start with me making pancakes for everyone. While I was making breakfast, everyone else would be on our bed watching the boat activity and sea birds flying by out our window. After breakfast we would all get dressed, and get ourselves ready for an outing on the coast. We would have a picnic lunch and go for a walk somewhere beautiful. At some point we would have a touch football game or we would bring our baseball gloves and have a game of catch. Later in the day we might go to visit my family on Novato where we would have a homemade dinner at my parents house. Nick and my dad would watch a sports and talk the night away, the kids would play together and I’d help my mom make a yummy dinner for eveyone. On the way home the kids would fall asleep in the car and Nick and I would chat about the great day we had. We would carry our kids to bed and Nick and I would fall asleep together talking about how pretty the marina lights are on the water and how lucky we are to live where we do.

“I could have written about a day at Disneyland or being in Hawaii, but really the days close to home and with my family are what I enjoy most and I’m happy to say we have many days that are very much like this every month.”

What website inspires you?

I love Me Ra Koh’s blog, she’s a great storyteller and photographer. She’s a homeschooling mom and has made the most of her life. She pushes her comfort zones and is always looking to share her successes with everyone.

What would you like to learn more of or get better at in terms of online activity?

I’d like to learn how to reach more people online and how to build a blog site on Facebook Page that’s modern and beautiful and really expresses me and what I love.

*This feature is part of the Many Branches, One Tree project here at Tree, Root, and Twig. Just follow the link to learn more and to sign up to participate. And to see more of Liane’s photographs, visit Liane Dimond Photography!

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Many Branches, One Tree (#mbotree): Liane of Liane Dimond Photography is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Wordless Wednesday: January, In Pictures #instagram366 is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Actually, I quite liked The Way We Fall for exploring a topic that – although a bit fantastic – is easy enough to imagine happening in real life.

Kaelyn is a 16-yo girl living on a island in Canada. She’s just moved back after living with her family in the “big city” of Toronto for five years, and she’s having a tough time re-adjusting to friends and her old life. The book is written as a journal to her friend, Leo, who has left for dance school in New York City.

At first Kaelyn starts by chronicling her everyday challenges and “new attitude,” but soon begins to make note of islanders coming down with a strange illness that causes coughing, sneezing, incessant itching, and removed social inhibitions. As Kaelyn’s dad is the only microbiologist on the island, he is in charge of overseeing much of the care of the patients and research into a possible cure for this mutated virus.

Although I liked the journal approach for telling the story, I had a few problems with it. Namely, the limitations it set on exploring some plot points that otherwise went nowhere. I didn’t know quite what to make of Kaelyn’s friend Tess and her obsession with her greenhouse, or Kaelyn’s boyfriend Gav and his supposed “fight club.” Or even something as potentially revelatory like a less violent strain of the virus that went through the island the previous summer, apparently leaving some people partially immune. I wondered why introduce such things into the story and then just let them sit there? These ideas were never fully fleshed-out, which may have been because the entire book was told simply from Kaelyn’s point of view (and what she bothered to record in the journal).

On the flip side, if this really was a journal, it seemed pretty unrealistic that there was so much dialogue between characters, complete with proper punctuation.

The teen romance in this book was also a little flat. At one point, Kaelyn confesses her affection for Leo, but because Leo is just some distant character we never really meet in the story, it’s hard to feel much more than apathy as a reader. Amid the stress and survival on the island, Kaelyn and uber-responsible Gav meet up and become an item, but again, there isn’t enough pop and sizzle to register very high on the romance scale.

Still, despite my reservations, I did like this book. It definitely gave me the creeps considering the idea of being trapped on an island with a vicious, unknown virus, citizens going rogue in the face of social breakdown, and a government who would cut off all contact and supplies to let nature take its course.

The Way We Fall is a quick read, and the perfect book to borrow when you’re in the mood for a little food for thought.

From Amazon:

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 24, 2012)

*Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by Hyperion with no obligation to post. I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

**Amazon affiliate link included.

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Book Review: The Way We Fall, by Megan Crewe is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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It often feels like everything is moving at the speed of light – constant innovation in technology and ideas, a worldwide web that never sleeps, and the feeling that if you slow down or stop, you’re likely to get run right over.

But in some ways, time passes at a glacial pace in the blogosphere, especially when it comes to increasing your blog’s traffic, followers, and reach.

In trying to bridge the gap between too-fast and too-slow, and to help you get a little control over the intent, appearance, and future of your space online, I thought I’d share 3 things you can do right now to improve your blog.

1. Get Thee to TheSITSGirls.com

The SITS Girls have been around since 2008, and in the early days, it was their logo of one silhouetted woman whispering to another with the tagline “The Secret Is in the Sauce” that drew me to them. Back then their primary mission was to feature bloggers from around the web and encourage their growing community to shower each blogger with comment love. There were not a lot of other forums operating on the same principle of universal support, and I was impressed.

I’m still incredibly impressed with The SITS Girls, whose official tagline is now “The Secret To Success Is Support.” Not only have they continued their tradition of featuring blogs of every topic and size, but they have added an unmatched element of education for every blogger who visits their site. Their Blog Tips category includes a variety of helpful posts, including coverage on in-depth blog critiques, basic how-to’s, business-minded money matters, and more.

And The SITS Girls Bloggy Boot Camps have quickly become an important addition to the blog conference circuit, providing a tight focus on core blogging concepts and even advanced education on business matters for bloggers. This year, in addition to the four cities on their scheduled tour, The SITS Girls are offering Bloggy Bootcamp Online for those who still wish to have access to the presentations but cannot make it to any of the one-day workshops.

Your blog will improve through your own research and education, as well as with support of other bloggers, and you are guaranteed to find that all and more with The SITS Girls.

2. Take a Fresh Look at Your Blog with the DIY Blog Critique Workbook

There are days when I’ve worked so long and hard on my blog that my eyes begin to cross. It can be difficult to take a step back from something that is so near and dear to us and get a fresh look at how we can improve the quality of our blogs.

Fortunately, Melissa Culbertson of the blogs Adventuroo and Momcomm has written a step-by-step workbook for performing a do-it-yourself blog critique, called, quite succinctly, the DIY Blog Critique Workbook.

Melissa brings her vast professional experience in marketing to this workbook, offering bloggers can-do tips in the main areas of Design, Functionality & Navigation, and Content. She includes “43 points to work through and over 105 links to resources, articles and tools,” and what I love the most is how easy this workbook is to use right “out of the box” (so to speak).

No matter how long you’ve been blogging, there is always room for improvement and having a second set of eyes can often be of great benefit. Working through the DIY Blog Critique Workbook is like having a friend and professional sitting right next to you, leading you to a clearer vision of your better blog.

3. Invest in Premium WordPress Templates with Elegant Themes

I’ve been blogging since 2005, and for years I was committed to not spending a penny on my blog. I taught myself HTML and CSS and spent hours customizing free blog templates, driving myself a little crazy in the process.

In 2010, I finally invested the small sum of $39 for a membership to Elegant Themes, and I’ve been grateful for the decision ever since.

Elegant Themes is not the only premium WordPress template provider around, but – in my opinion – they are one of the best. Here’s why:

• By comparison, it’s incredibly affordable. $39 for a year’s subscription is manageable for almost every budget.
• The themes can be customized with a click of the mouse in their easy-to-use epanel. I love that you don’t need to have an HTML or CSS background in order to mix things up a little and take a great theme and have it feel made-to-order.
• Their support forums ROCK. Every single question, big or small, that I’ve ever had about using or tweaking their themes has been answered quickly and totally to my satisfaction. And if for some reason a forum moderator doesn’t answer you right away, another user in the forum will. I love knowing that I will get total usability from the templates that I choose from Elegant Themes.
• They are constantly improving their designs, adding new functionalities for existing templates and creating entirely new templates to add to their database. (*note: as a subscriber, you have access to ALL the templates that either exist or are created during your 12-month subscription. meaning, if you love what you see when you sign up, just wait! it gets even better as the year goes on!)
• They are responsive to their users. Many of the changes or additions I’ve seen to the themes over the last year+ have been a direct result of user requests and feedback. Elegant Themes also keeps in regular communication with their users through their blog. I love that they are approachable, making me feel that my $39 isn’t just thrown to the wind, but is an opportunity to buy into support and ultimately the improvement of the products I use.

Is buying a premium theme absolutely required for improving your blog? No. Do I think it will help you look more polished, professional, and save you hours trying to customize a theme yourself? Absolutely. Elegant Themes are (like the DIY Blog Critique Workbook), easy to use “out of the box” and can help you move right now towards the better blog you envision.

NOTES:
These are not the only things you can do to improve your blog. But I share these 3 specific examples of thing you can do right now to improve your blog because I believe in them, because they’ve worked for me.

If you are concerned about the costs of the DIY Blog Critique Workbook or a subscription to Elegant Themes, consider that you can write them off as business costs if your intent is to improve your blog for the purpose of making money. Also, consider making a note of them for a later time when you feel you can invest the money, and instead start with The SITS Girls for free, regular education and support.

Now,  I would love to hear from you:

what are some resources you have found and would recommend to someone looking to improve their blog?

*Disclosure: Although I spoke at the Atlanta Bloggy Boot Camp for The SITS Girls last year, I have no material connection to them and received no favors or compensation for writing about them. I did receive a review copy of the DIY Blog Critique Workbook when writing about it on a different site, but continue to use it personally and do include an affiliate link when recommending it. I have purchased and renewed my own subscription to Elegant Themes and include an affiliate link when recommending it. All opinions expressed here are honest and my own.

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3 Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Blog is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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If you are not familiar with Celtic Woman, let me introduce you:

Named Celtic Woman in order to represent the essence of a Celtic female performer, the group is comprised of vivacious, sublimely gifted young Irish women. The lineup of performers has rotated since the group began, but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has never changed. They perform classic Irish songs (“Green Grow the Rushes”), timeless pop anthems (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”), and inspirational songs (“Ave Maria”) with their signature Celtic Woman twist.

In December, PBS broadcast Celtic Woman’s “Believe” concert, which was “filmed during two sold-out performances at the majestic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and stars vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt, under the distinct musical direction of Emmy-nominated musical director, David Downes.”

Celtic Woman’s Believe concert is now coming to cities all around North America, beginning with their first stop in Nashville, TN on February 3. And they will be right here in Houston on April 16! To see all the cities included on the tour – and to buy tickets – visit the complete listing for North American Tour Dates.

For more information on Celtic Woman, please visit:

• the Celtic Woman website
• the Celtic Woman Facebook Page
• product information for the Celtic Woman “Believe” CD
• product information for the Celtic Woman “Believe” DVD

GIVEAWAY: One winner will receive a signed copy of the Celtic Woman “Believe” CD and one winner will receive a signed copy of the Celtic Woman “Believe” DVD. This giveaway is for residents in US/Canada, all entries are due by 11:59pm Central time, Friday February 10.

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post: if you could attend the Celtic Woman “Believe” concert, who would you bring with you?

For extra entries, please:

• share this giveaway (JUST ONCE!) with your followers on Twitter by using the share button below and leaving “@StaceyNerdin” in the text
• get updates on future posts and giveaways by subscribing to Tree, Root, and Twig via RSS or email

Please leave an extra comment for any additional entry methods used.

Good luck!

Read the complete Official Giveaway Rules for Tree, Root, and Twig.

*Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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Celtic Woman “Believe” {CD & DVD #Giveaway} is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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