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Greetings Bloggers!

While June heralds summer or winter, depending on where you are, July settles in with full force. For those of you experiencing summer, you are most likely taking some long planned vacations this month. There are many holidays all over the world that take place during the month of July and you can certainly build some trips around those long weekends.

It's the perfect time of year to carry your laptop around with you and blog while on the road. You can share with your readers all of the wonderful and exciting things you will see while on your trips, and it's better to do this while they are fresh in your mind. Let your readers see these things through your eyes. Some of the most successful and well-read blogs are those that are updated while the blogger is in the midst of traveling. Adding photos to your blogs during this time is always popular with the readers.

Speaking of adding photos, Blogging 101 this month covers everything you need to know when you are ready to add photos to your blog posts. You will find that it really isn't all that difficult to find the photos you seek. Of course, it's even better when you can use your own.

July is a great month for picnics, fireworks and celebrations in general. In many countries, July marks the anniversary of special days of independence and/or honor. Families all over the world are having reunions and celebrations together. Everyone needs to contribute to the food so this month's recipe is a simple version of Strawberry Shortcake. It only takes a few minutes to make and is a classic.

The feature article this month is centered on bloggers who write about parenting topics. How do parents who work from home keep their kids happy and entertained while they get some work done? It's going to be up to you to offer some help and suggestions on that one.

Don't forget to check out your sign to see what the month of July holds for you. Here's hoping you enjoy this month's issue of the Blogarama Newsletter!

Happy reading!

Using Photos and Images for Your Blog

One feature that you can use to make your blog more exciting is to add photos and images to your posts. When your readers go to see what you have added most recently and see photos, it will entice them even more to stick around and read what you have to say. This is especially true when the photo is so intriguing that they cannot seem to look away.

The photos or images that you choose should match what your post is talking about. As this is what will hook the readers, you will want to be sure that you have not disappointed them once they start reading your post. So choose your images and/or photos carefully to make sure they fit your post.

Many bloggers find that searching for and choosing their photos is one of the most fun aspects of blogging. These can be gathered from different sources online as well as taking your own photographs to use. However, there are some rules that apply.

When choosing your photos from online, you can visit such sites as Flickr.com and choose from the hundreds of thousands of photographs listed there. There are many of these that are free to use on your site but be sure to check the licenses on the photos you choose. Most will allow you to use them providing you give credit on your blog to the photographer.

Another way to find photos online is to check the Creative Commons search. This allows you to put in keywords to find photos that will fit what you are looking for. Again, though, be sure to pay attention that the source of the photo is ok with you using it for your blog.

Taking your own photographs is a fantastic way to get your blog images. You took the photograph yourself; therefore, licensing is not needed. Since you took the photo, the shot belongs to you to do whatever you want with it. In addition, you can get EXACTLY what sort of image you need or want for a particular blog post. If you can manage this, it certainly seems the best way to go.

After that, all that is left is to insert your image or photograph into your blog post. Preview it to see that it is positioned correctly. Then when you are satisfied with the results, it will be time publish your post along with the photo.

And you're all done!

Next month: Keeping your Blog Fresh

Offering Tips to the Readers of Your Parenting Blog

One of the challenges that parents face daily is that of how to entertain their children so that they can get some work done. This is especially true when those children are very young. As the children get a bit older, the entertainment becomes somewhat simpler.

During the hotter months of the year, if you have an outside yard, younger children are highly entertained through the use of some very simple and inexpensive items. Small wading pools can be purchased quite cheaply and filled with water for toddlers up to 5 or 6 year olds. If you have a laptop, you can simply take a chair outside and work by the pool while your children cool off by splashing about happily. The really great thing about this is that once they have worn themselves out playing in the pool, they will be ready for naptime. This gives you even more time to catch up on some work as they sleep.

One of the most enjoyable things you can do indoors to give your children something to do is let them make a tent by using a table covered with a long blanket. They can bring in their pillows and toys into the tent and play all day. You can even allow them to eat lunch in the tent if they want to. Or even better, you can make a picnic for them to have on the floor just outside the tent. You will be amazed at how much work you can get done while they play in their new "house."

It is simple ideas such as these that you can offer your parents who really need a way to keep their children happy and work at the same time. You can dig around for other ideas or simply use some of your own tried and true ideas. Remember, your readers will be depending on you to help them through this dilemma and will keep coming back again and again as long as you are providing what they need.

Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:

• 1 Angel Food Cake (either loaf or bundt style)
• Fresh or frozen strawberries cut in halves
• Cool Whip

Remove the Angel Food Cake from the package. Using a sharp knife, slice it in half and set the top half aside. Add the strawberries and cover them with Cool Whip. Replace the top of the cake. Top with more strawberries and the rest of the Cool Whip.

Note: This recipe is not limited to strawberries only. You can use blueberries, raspberries, peaches, or any other sort of fruit that you would like to try in place of the strawberries. It all tastes delicious.

Have a look at your personal Zodiac sign below to find out what lies ahead of you this month!

	Turn on your particular brand of charm this month and you will be amazed at all you can get accomplished. Others are going to be watching to see the next rabbit you pull out of the hat because your presence is like magic to them. Go ahead and wave that wand!
	Dreaming is your favorite past time and you will want to use that to your best advantage this month. Your fantasies fuel your creativity. Nothing is impossible for you right now. All it takes is an idea and the determination to pursue it to a natural conclusion.
	It may be hard for you to understand why others see things differently than you but that does not mean you have to fall in line with them. Originality is the key to success in just about any endeavor. Take that key and unlock some important doors for yourself this month.
	Loyalty is one of your best traits. However, you need to be sure that those you offer your loyalty to this month actually deserve it. Sometimes you can just be TOO generous. Do what you feel is right and you will never go wrong, at least as far as YOUR heart is concerned.
	Talking to the right people can make all the difference. Your communication skills have never been sharper than they are this month. Use them to get something or somewhere you really want. It can work if you put your mind to it.
	It really is ok to feel weepy sometimes but, happily, you won't be finding so many of those days around you this month. There are some things you are looking forward to and they all make you smile. Your friends will love the new you!
	Show and Tell is your favorite game and you are right on target this month. There are so many things you have discovered and want to share with others. All you have to do is speak to command their attention. Everyone listens and applauds.
	Your organizational skills are in need by others this month. While you may not be in the mood to tutor them, if you help out, rewards will come to you later for it. Your talents are meant to be shared with those who need to know.
	It seems as if those around you this month keep messing things up, and they all come to you to make it right. You should be flattered that your ability to see the fairness in things is so clear to others. Understand the gift that you have been given.
	This month proves to be rather active for you in all areas of your life. Any career pursuits come to fruition as do relationship goals. At last you are ready to hear what someone has been trying to tell you. Once it is clear, use it to your best advantage.
	You seem to be both fire and ice this month. Things you want to accomplish cause you to move forward with vigor. On the other hand, those who would try to discourage you in the attempt cause you to freeze them out. That is the way it should be.
	Something that has been holding you back up to now seems to finally let go this month. This leaves you able to go forward with some very important plans you have had. Those who have also been waiting for you to move ahead will be ready to jump on board as soon as you say so.

That's it for this month! We do hope that you have enjoyed the time you have spent reading and that you may have even found something useful to take away with you. As always, if there is anything you would like to say about our newsletter, please let us know. We welcome all comments and suggestions.

Until next month,
Happy Blogging!