So Stellar » Domain Talk

First of March

Anna — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:44:30 +0000

Finally, a productive day from this week! Well, I’ve been busy since yesterday but not from doing this (new) layout for my blog. I had some freelance work that I did from morning up until 6pm that night. I don’t know when I’ll get paid for it plus the other assistance kind of work that I did for the same person who gave me this work too, but I’m excited for the money flow.

So yeah, today’s must-do list was to have a new layout up before the day ends. I designed and coded everything the whole day. Pretty satisfied that I’ve only came across a few errors this time compared to the last time that took me a day and a half, and that I was even able to put this up within the day (I thought it was gonna be impossible haha). Also, I’m proud that I’ve done this one-column layout successfully though I admit I cheated on the bottom part lol. If there’s an error, let me know. As I was editing the theme, I’ve come across stuff that I want to change more in here but that can be done tomorrow.

Time to rest! What do you think of my new layout? BTW, my header is done by my buddy Jean Pe. She’s an illustrator and a comic artist so if ever you’re looking for someone to doodle or draw you art, portrait, or whatever you have in mind (comic book collab?), you may visit her portfolio at jeanpe.com. Thank you very much Jean!

More tinkering around the site to be done tomorrow. Til the next update!

Plugging: So Stellar on Facebook!

Anna — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:44:42 +0000

Hi all,

I recently made a Facebook page for my blog, So Stellar. Yep, this blog! If you don’t mind, could you please ‘like’ my page? Just so it doesn’t look lonely hahaha. Well, I’m aware it won’t get that much attention but I wanted to make one just in case (you never know what can happen). I feel a little bummed out that someone already took the name SoStellar on FB, so I had to add a ‘PH’ at the end just so I can still use the name somehow.

Click to go to my FB page and 'like', please!

Over the years I’ve changed my ‘tagline’ around 10x, I think. I’m never really consisted with taglines until now. I’m hoping I can stick with this, but at the same time I hope I can think of something better. This sounds too serious eh.

That’s all, til the next update!

On Premade Layouts

Anna — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:09:53 +0000

Welp. I’ve swallowed what’s left of my pride and decided to finally bite the premade-theme bug.

I have mix thoughts on pre-made layouts especially when I was on the “peak” of my online life.. it’s something along the lines of “If you’re serious about blogging, you have to have a nice layout to go with it. Otherwise, you are just in for the thrill.” I know, it’s pretty pathetic. But what can you do, a lot can change in 5 years.

Ever since I got myself a tumblr account (2 years ago), I stopped making layouts from scratch for my blog, especially in tumblr. Back then I didn’t think it was necessary because the point of that specific blog over there was for random stuff.. so even a white, “minimalist” layout would do. I didn’t think much if I were going to have readers or not because I made that account/blog account(s) for me. My mess, my randomness. I never told anyone my URL.. until some of my online buddies found it out on their own.

For the last two years, I’ve spent more time in Tumblr and eventually my WordPress “skills” have (should I say) disappeared. This layout right now is a premade and it took me a couple of days before deciding which one I should use. I would also like to point out that for the past 2-3 years, my “taste” in design has changed. I wouldn’t consider this kind of style if I were to put this kind of layout 2-3 years ago. Back then I was into brushes, blends and graphic-y layouts. And I have to have a layout that’s made by me from scratch.

Now, I am older, ~~wiser~~ and have seen better days in the design department.. I am into clean, minimalist, Web 2.0 (if you will) layouts. And a little usage of premade layouts every now and then wouldn’t hurt. Though my coding skills are a bit on the rusty side, I still have some left in me and hopefully this won’t disappear with my understanding to WP codes.

Don’t get me wrong, the past two years in the tumblr community have been fun. Actually it started out as fun, then got a little bit tiring, until I became one with the inactive users. I just lurk nowadays, sometimes reblogging a post or two.. or I do a streak of posts spontaneously. I also met a lot of people, learned new things.. it was like the new Twitter before it got popular around last year (correct me if I am wrong). I got dibs on the latest news (whether it would be celebrity rumor, world news, among other stuff).. and it was the time that surprisingly I was updated with the current events.

Now tumblr is just another Friendster.. Facebook.. some community, SOCIAL NETWORKING community. You have to have followers or else you’re a nobody. Tumblr has also beat WordPress in its share of audience, it lost a certain percent of bloggers but at the same time more companies are using WordPress for their website (as a Content Management System).

For the record, I really like this layout. Just the right amount of subtleness, cleanliness and “minimalist” look. And I finally have a proper search box! Lately I’ve received a couple of “question submissions” containing a name of a certain actor I have blogged about previously. People must’ve thought that ask box was a search box. I will put a question box later, once I figure out how, haha.

I have two other pending blog entries that I would really like to publish here, namely the recently John Mayer Philippine concert that happened last Friday and the 2010 WordCamp Philippines last Saturday.

If you’re thinking that the previous week had been busy, then you are absolutely right and I can’t wait to jot all about these events here.