Switching from Yahoo to Bluehost

Wow. That was difficult, but I managed to make the switch from using Yahoo as my domain and webhost to Bluehost. (Crossing my fingers in hope that I didn’t break anything!) I could get into the reasons I made the switch, but instead I’m going to explain how I did it, to help anyone else out there attempting the same thing.

1. Schedule yourself a full work day to do this. Maybe you’re smarter/quicker than me (not likely! I’m pretty smart! Hahaha just kidding…) but it took me a good 6 hours to figure this all out.

2. Backup your site. You should be doing this regularly anyway! I use WordPress Database Backup, (search for WP-DB-Backup under plugins) and save it to my website folder.

You also need to backup your wp-content folder. You login via FTP to do this. It’s a big file, full of your themes, plugins, and most importantly, all the images/music/video that you uploaded.

3. Sign up for Bluehost (or whomever you are using0, typing in your current domain name as part of the setup.

4. Go back to Yahoo, unlock your DNS, and change your DNS/Nameserver to your new host’s config. Also make your WHOIS public, if it’s not already.

5. Hopefully your host has a script to install WordPress. Use it. Install WordPress in the same directory as your old host. If you want to change directories, don’t look at me, that’s way more complicated.

6. Hopefully your host also has something like PHPmyadmin. Open up this little program, and navigate to the database that you just created. Mine was called _wrd1.

7. Import your backup file into this.

8. Wait for your DNS to propagate (does that sound dirty to anyone else or am I just really tired?) This only took a few hours for me, but it might take longer for you… like between 24 – 72 hours. So maybe block out a whole week to do this project. JUST THIS. Kidding. Sorta.

9. When you type in your domain and it goes to the new site (which will probably be broken, woohoo!), log in via FTP and replace the wp-content folder with the one you backed up.

10. TA-DA. Same ol’ website, new home.

Perry the Bullfrog (Illustrated by ME!)

I illustrated a children’s book, and it’s available for purchase on Amazon:

Perry the Great Leaping Bullfrog of Orleans Parish

It’s the story of a bullfrog who is looking for an adventure, and finds it by traveling from his swamp in Orleans Parish to… Hawaii! In Hawaii, he learns to surf and makes new friends along the way.

I learned a lot about art and illustration while working on this book for the past two years, and I’m excited about the way it turned out.

Creativity and Time

Excellent video, showcasing that creativity takes time. So no, I can’t always get it done for you by tomorrow.

Creativity and Time

Maternity Leave!

Jillian Marie Righter was born on June 16. I’m going to take some time off from designing so we can get to know each other!

Pele Awards

I’m happy to announce that a service project I helped with won a Pele Award for the “Public Service TV” category. Last year, I helped Ad2Honolulu to create the TV advertisement:

Here is the print ad that ran.

 

I mostly worked on the logo redesign. Here are the original and redesigned versions. I worked to keep the same feel and theme of the original, since it was designed by a local high school student in a state-wide contest and had been in use for a number of years.