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9

Surprise!

I’m having a surprise party over here at AYMB!

You see, I found out last night that one of my blog posts (THIS ONE) is being featured today over at The Secret is in the Sauce! Woohoo!

If you’re a blogger, you probably already know all about SITS. If you’re not a blogger, SITS is a wonderfully supportive community of women bloggers. It’s my favorite blogging network and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this group of fabulous women. Make sure to head over there and check it out!

I better get back to the party and start mingling with my SITStas. If you’re leaving me a comment today, I WILL get back to you as soon as I can.

Now, I think it’s time to make a batch of margaritas.

*cheers*

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4

I’m A Guest Over At Tight Bod With A Pod Today!

TBWaP logoHave you heard about Tight Bod With a Pod yet?

I was introduced to this fabulous website earlier this year and was so impressed with their helpful tips for mamas and mamas-to-be that I wrote a blog post about it. TBWaP has quickly become one of my favorite resources for parenting and lifestyle topics.

I am clearly a big fan, so it was an honor when they asked me to contribute an article. It’s up on the website now, so check it out! And while you’re there, make sure to sign up for their daily newsletter.

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5

GUEST POST: WordPress Custom Shortcode Tutorial

While Aimee is the brains behind this whole AYMB operation, and the queen of all things content, there is one aspect in which she does not much dabble: site customization and maintenance. That’s all me. It’s why I went to law school. Code Monkey, Esq.

Aimee asked if I would provide an occasional tutorial on some of the technical aspects of AYMB, the Thesis theme/framework on which it runs, and WordPress generally. Of course, I’m happy to oblige. How many turorials will follow, and how advanced/comprehensive/technical in nature they will be, depends in large part on how they are received. So, if you dig these kinds of posts or have any suggestions, please let us know in the comments.

signatureThis tutorial focuses on a time-saving shortcut used on virtually every post on this blog. You may have noticed that all Aimee-written posts contain a signature like the one to the right. The source for the signature is a .png image file that we created by scanning Aimee’s handwriting and then sizing/colorizing it in Photoshop. In order to place and align the image, we wrap it in a <div> with the class “signature.” While she used to have to hand code this into every post, she now needs to add only this simple phrase: {signature}. This tutorial explains how.

(continues…)

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9

GUEST POST:
Hello…Hello…Yip-Yip-Yip

OK…folks…I have a bone to pick. Although this isn’t my soapbox per se, since I did most of the custom programming, I think I deserve a few linear inches of venting space.

About what, you ask? You, AYMB’s supposedly loyal readers.

See, while you noodle your way through Mental Mondays, feast your eyes on Foodie Fridays, and indulge all things in between, there is one thing you seem to have overlooked: The Yip Yips petition. What gives?

I grew up on Sesame Street, but cannot for the life of me remember the Yip Yips. It seems that Sesame Street ran Yip Yips segments only intermittently and only for a couple select years. Thanks to the intersection of YouTube and copyright infringement, however, I discovered the Yip Yips belatedly in between train-crossing segments on YouTube (search for “five engine train,” “SP4999” or “Minto Brown” to find clips whose conclusions will cause violent tantrums in most male toddlers).

These little alien dudes rock.

Toddlers eat up the Yip Yips because they make funny sounds; parents love them because they’re super clever and, at bottom, educational. Leave it to Sesame Street to bridge that generation gap better than almost any other show. But, alas, the Yip Yips went the way of Dynasty, only without any of the “Who shot JR?” fanfare.

At launch, Aimee took it upon herself to draw readers’ attention back to the daily Yip Yips deprivation that Sesame Street works on kids today. She wrote this article embedding the above fun video clip, started this petition, commissioned me to hack-up a sidebar button encouraging folks to read/watch the former and sign their name to the latter, and even reached out to this Facebook user and this Facebook group, which, together, boast almost 8,000 members.

Only 27 33 people have signed the petition so far. What gives? While AYMB ain’t TMZ, it certainly has magnitudes more readers than that single score of signatories.

So, for the love of God, people. For the children. For the future. For all things holy. Sign the petition, would you?

Please consider signing THIS PETITION asking Sesame Street to bring back the Yip Yips!

Please forward, retweet, beg, borrow, steal, cajole…whatever it takes. Future generations will thank you.

P.S. What do you think of the new Mental Monday and Foodie Friday header “buttons”?

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9

Guest Post: Get Crafty With Lauren from The Little Goat!

Please welcome my first Guest Blogger: Lauren from the The Little Goat! Lauren is a fabulous and creative designer for all things baby. Check out her very cool Wunzees! I am loving her Halloween creations. Enjoy Lauren’s guest post and please check out her blog!

I was thrilled when Aimee asked me to write a guest blog on Ain’t Yo Mama’s blog. I mean…I’m not a veteran blogger by any stretch, but find it fun, and since I finally own my own domain now, I’ve been making a point to blog more frequently…but I digress. To start it off, a little about me. I’m not a mother (yet). Im not a wife (yet). However in the last year, I started sewing baby clothes and selling them on Etsy. Baby Clothes? Seriously? Why? You don’t even have kids!  Well…I guess I’m nesting. That’s my only guess. With my nesting though I have automatic baby gifts to give for showers, and nowadays all of my friends or friends of friends are popping em out. My sales are mainly to my friends…and I’m totally OK with that.

Prep Onesie

Onesie prep

I don’t know if its giving away trade secrets if I let you in on my process, but I figure there are design blogs dedicated to sharing designs and craft ideas, so I wanted to let you in on how to customize your own blank onesie or t-shirt. I buy my onesies wholesale (there are a ton of vendors), but you can buy blank onesies in multi-packs and start from there.

I happen to have a lot of fabric lying around, so I am able to pick and choose what colors, etc I use, but if you are in the market for fabric, and want to put a little fabric of each color (onesies are small), I recommend using eBay. I buy charm packs that people sell for quilting. I find that 5″ squares are perfect, and I can buy the colors I need for my design of choice.

Apply design

Pin and Stitch

My process is pretty simple. I figure out what design I want (draw it out on paper first), and then either draw freehand or trace the pattern on to fabric. Football season is in full effect, so I went with a simple shaped football. I then take my pins and pin it down to the onesie. I thread my needle and handstitch all the way around. If more colors and patterns are necessary, I pin and stitch those too, and if I have pieces too small for thread only, I use fabric glue where it makes sense. A lot of folks use a fuseable interfacing under the fabric for extra stiffness, but I personally like the way the fabric lays without it.

Adorable! Finished onesie with matching beanie!

Adorable! Finished onesie with matching beanie!

The best part of hand-stitching, is its ok if you slip on a stitch every once in a while, and contrasting stitches are fine! It makes it look more handmade. In this case I even did the same to a cute beanie to match!

The stuff you buy in the stores is cute, but if you want to add the personal touch, and a little flare, I highly recommend making your own. No sewing machine skills required.

-peas

Lauren | www.thelittlegoat.com

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