Zara Alexis’ Bloggiesta 2012 REAL Giveaway! – CLOSED

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Zara Alexis’ Bloggiesta 2012

REAL Giveaway – CLOSED

I’ve learned a lot so far participating in the Bloggiesta Olé 2012 Blogathon running this weekend from Friday, March 31-April 1.

And I’m having so much fun! It’s been a fiesta of re-design and blogging community, which I love!

I’ve also been taking part in the Bloggiesta Mini Challenges set up by our awesome Bloggiesta hosts and one of the challenges is to create a test giveaway using Rafflecopter.

But, you know what? I LOVE what Bloggiesta has done for me in just a few days, that I’m in a super generous mood, which means:

THIS ISN’T A TEST

Rafflecopter giveaway!

I want to share my blogging love to those loyal participants of Bloggiesta who have committed some of their time this weekend to work on their own blogs, learn some new stuff, and also be part of the larger Bloggiesta community!

So, yeah, Bloggiesta participants, THIS GIVEAWAY IS REAL!!! Woo-hoo!

Just enter the contest by using Rafflecopter and win a little prize from me from The Bibliotaphe’s Closet!

What’s up for grabs?

Other than my blogging love and gratitude for spending time visiting my page, I’m going to send a lucky “Bloggiester” a bottlecap necklace from Etsy.

For an example of what bottlecap necklaces looks like, check Etsy here.

This is just an example. The prize item has a shape of a country and heart on it!

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Rules:

1. You must be participating in the Bloggiesta Olé 2012 even this weekend.
2. You must be on the Bloggiesta Twitter list complied by @Bloggiesta.
3. Must be a follower of my blog to qualify.
4. Must have a valid email address.
5. You must be 15 years-old and up to enter.
6. No P.O. Box addresses please.
7. Enter via Rafflecopter form.
8. Open internationally.
9. Winner must respond to notification within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.
10. Contest ends: April 2, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. EST

Good luck and have fun!

Hope you’re enjoying Bloggiesta and having a productive and informative time working on your blog event!

(This is my first time using Rafflecopter, so I REALLY hope it works! If it doesn’t can someone please let me know so I can re-try?)

Apparently because my blog host is WordPress.com, I can’t embed Rafflecopter in my post. If you click below, grab the code and try to post on your blog. Hope it works.

Click below to grab the code!

Last Day to Enter to Win THE VIRGIN CURE + SIGNED Book Plate!

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Last day to enter to win THE VIRGIN CURE by Ami McKay + SIGNED book plate!

This giveaway contest is open to ALL, which means YOU!

If you’re from Canada, enter.

If you’re from the U.S., go ahead!

From Down Under? Still okay!

How about the U.K.? I’ll still send you the prize if you win!

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It doesn’t matter where you’re from. This giveaway is international!

But it’s the LAST DAY to enter.

Enter here.

Good luck!

Bloggiesta Olé Task List Additions and Progress

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

I’m really enjoying this blogathon! I’ve been completing Mini Challenges, which have been extremely helpful in teaching me new things about blogging and blog design that I didn’t know before participating in this event.

For those of you who’d like to join, latecomers are still welcome and there’s still time! This blogging sabbatical isn’t over until Monday, April 2. And if you miss it this year, there’s always next year to come and join PEDRO (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize.) and this awesome fiesta!

Here’s an update on my task list, which seems to fluctuate between getting completed and growing! ¡Olé!

Items in dodgerblue4 are complete.

Items in bloodorange are pending.

Items in chartreuse are new.

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(Let’s see if I really learned something from these Mini Challenge tutorials! Heh!)

• Create a Facebook page for The Bibliotaphe’s Closet because it’s getting stuffed with a lot of book goodness.
• Work on an update for my site on Book Blog.
• Include the GFC/Networked Blog widgets to provide users with more access to moiand the closet.
• Finally finish rating and “Z-ringing” my book reviews (I don’t use stars. I use Z-rings.)
• Re-vamp the look of the blog because, like me, no one should have to wear the same dress twice…in the same week…er…I mean, month.
• Drink up some of that HTML stuff people keep talking about. I’ll HTML this and HTML that.
• I might even give myself a practice run with that Copter guy. You know the one, the “random picking” Rafflecopter who rarely picks me when I enter a book giveaway contest. (Grrr…)
• And of course, work on some content especially for my Ink Blot page that’s intended to host my creative writing work!
• And also stuff my Tote Bag page with more book goodies.It needs to be filled. It’s empty and it knows it.
• Add smaller social icon buttons to side bar. – COMPLETED
• Add headings to widgets in sidebar. – COMPLETED
• Nestle Weekly Thematic pages under a parent page. – COMPLETED
• Learn how to embed video from YouTube into post. – COMPLETED
• Learn how to embed videos from YouTube side-by-side in post. – COMPLETED
• Add a blog event/review calendar widget in sidebar. – COMPLETED
• Create & add reader feedback poll.
• Change post layout from standard to gallery. - COMPLETED
• Add a blog roll list of favourite blogs?
• Create a TBR widget.
• Create a Wish List. - COMPLETED
• Create review policy. - COMPLETED
• Create giveaway contest policy. - COMPLETED
• Participate in a Blog Hop. – COMPLETED
• Host a giveaway. – COMPLETED
• Complete as many Mini Challenges as possible.
• Participate in Bloggiesta Twitter Party Chat. – COMPLETED
• Follow new bloggers participating in Bloggiesta.
• Find new book blogs.
• Other than that, I’ll see where my creative powers lead me. Hopefully it’s to some new blogging friends (and experts).

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Okay. Whew. If I can’t complete all these items during the Bloggiesta, this list is a great reference for the re-vamp of my page.

If you have any suggestions on how I can improve my site for your readership, please, by all means, leave a comment on this post and I’ll see how I can incorporate more changes!

Until then, I’ll be working hard during the Bloggiesta and beyond while listening to may favourite Putomayo CD’s: Coffee Lands—and for much earned breaks I’m also going to make time to do the Salsa! Jajajajaja!

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¡Olé!

Until then, ¡mi amigos, ciao!

Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 4 (Part 2): How to Embed a YouTube Video… and size it for your blog.

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

How to embed a YouTube video…and size it for your blog

(side by side)

Part 2

And did I also mention that I’m a hardcore Florence and the Machine fan? Well, now you know! Here’s part two of this mini Bloggiesta Olé challenge via Splash of our Worlds.

By the way, this is one of my favourite songs! Which one do you prefer? (I like the live version on KEXP!)

Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 4: How to Embed a YouTube Video… and size it for your blog.

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

How to embed a YouTube video…and size it for your blog

I first found this video through Twitter and I have to say, I fell in love with the singer and the song right away. And because I’m a sucker for all things sentimental, I want to share it with you as an example for my Bloggiesta Olé Challenge #4: How to embed a YouTube video and size it for your blog.

Let’s DO this!

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Okay, did I not tell you? Yes!!! I love you, Gotye! (And Bloggiesta Olé and Splash of our Worlds for providing the tutorial.)

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 3: Lesson 10

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Lesson 10

Okay, this is the last basic lesson and ironically it’s about HEADERS, which usually come first!

Nevertheless, let’s make some headers HUGE. Helps to identify them as headers—and also for those who have a little trouble with their eyesight (me included!).

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Tori Stafford investigator describes finding girl’s body

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(Taken from top news story on http://www.cbc.com)

As taught by Bookalicious.

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 3: Lesson 9

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Lesson 9

I consider myself a stylish gal—and I’m more than happy to extend that to my blog. A closet, even an over-stuffed one can use a little more pizzaz!

Here are some style options:

When I post a title of book, it’s only correct to put it into italics:

The Romance of Tristan & Iseult by Joseph Bédier

And when I want to grab your attention to a word or phrase, I like to highlight it in bold:

PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!

I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU!

And if it’s SOMETHING I really want you to hear, I’ll scream,

FIRE!

Stylizing text does make a difference. Thank you, HTML!

As taught by Bookalicious. 

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 3: Lesson 8

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Lesson 8

This is also for coloring text, but when you want more control than just the color name. You insert the HEX code instead. (Hex codes are numbers assigned to different shades of primary colors). You an find out more about them at the Hex Hub

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Look at those colours!

Look at the hue!

IT WORKED!!!! YESSSSS!!!!

As taught by Bookalicious.

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 3: Lesson 7

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Lesson 7

I love this one because I love colour. With the logic and code of HTML, I can now manipulate text to colour itself into a rainbow!!! Weeee!

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Look at those colours!

Look at the hue!

(Okay, this one didn’t work for me. Mmm…I wonder if it’s because I’m on WordPress?)

As taught by Bookalicious.

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Bloggiesta Ole Challenge 3: Lesson 6

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

HTML Basics: A Top Ten: Lesson 6

Check out these numbered bullet points for my ordered list (with my implementation of HTML):

Zara’s To-Be-Read & Reviewed List

1. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
2. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston
3. Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay
4. Touch by Alexi Zentner
5. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
6. The Headmaster’s Wager by Vincent Lam
7. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
8. Earthquake Mountain by Mary Pauline Lowry
9. Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
10. Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream
11. Web of Angels by Lilian Nattel
12. Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale
13. 666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce

I copied my previous list and changed the HTML code! WOW! I LOVE THIS!!

As taught by Bookalicious.