Thursday, March 24, 2005

Simple Pleasures Cafe moved to a new host!

Hi,

Just 10 weeks after launching my web site, I decided to switch to a new hosting service. It became apparent to me that the hosting service I was using could not provide the services required to give my visitors a great experience. I already had written 60 pages, and decided not to delay the switch another minute. Converting 60 pages took almost a week!! Glad I made the decision when I did. I can't imagine trying to convert 100 or more pages by myself.

Some of the new features:

I have added a "Share Your Favorite Simple Pleasure" page. You can add your favorite simple pleasure at Share! I also added a quick approval process so I can add you to this list quickly. With my old hosting service, I need to type the information on to the page. Now all I have to do is click approve. You can see other visitor's favorite simple pleasures at Shared Favorites!

I added a Topic Survey, so you could let me know what you want me to write about, either in my blog or on the site. You can also choose to receive a monthly recap of my blog topics and daily simple pleasures suggestions by filling out the survey. I also offer a free gift worth $23.99 if you complete the survey. Signing up for the free gift is totally optional. I value my customers, so if the free gift isn't right for you, you don't have to receive it!

I also made navigating through the daily suggestions easier, at the bottom of each daily pleasure are navigation links that allow you to go to the previous or next days suggestions without having to go back to the main page.

Lastly, I checked and double checked links on every page to make sure that each link I suggest brings you to a valid web site.

I am taking tomorrow off, but come Monday, you will start to see more daily suggestions, and by mid-April, I will have an inexpensive gift ideas page with easy navigation and many more ideas than I could have provided if I had stayed with my old hosting service.

Thanks for your visits!

Caryn

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Gratitude

Last Friday I wrote about receiving a gift that disappointed me. Even though I was disappointed, I learned a lot about gratitude that day. I learned that you should always be grateful for what you receive, now matter how big or small. I also learned that giving should never be done with the expectation of receiving. If you give with the expectation of receiving, you will almost always be disappointed. Give because you want to give. Also, learn to enjoy the simple pleasure of seeing a smile on someone else's face! Let that be your gift from them.

I am not suggesting that you shouldn't ask for things you want. Other people can't read our minds, even if sometimes we wish they could know our needs, or assume that they "should" know our needs. You should ask for what you want, the worst thing that can happen is that the person you asked says no. But maybe, just maybe, you request will be fulfilled. WOW!

On a different note, I haven't been writing for a few days. I have been busily working on building the foundation for the "gift ideas" section of my web site. I thought it would only take me a few days to build that section, but I am learning it will probably take me until the end of this month. A lot of work is goes into making the pages easy to navigate! I also want to make sure that the gifts I suggest are things I would like to receive or that I would be proud to give. Thanks for your patience.

Friday's Simple Pleasure - Realize You are Beautiful

Today's Simple Pleasure - Digital Photography Techniques - Black and White Masking
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