My Favorite WordPress Plugins

My Favorite WordPress Plugins

by | Building a Blog, Wordpress

I have new favorites. I’ve been replacing some of the old favorites and adding new plugins that accomplish important tasks… here is the scoop.

Plugin Good For Ads

For Adsense I used to use Easy Adsense until it changed into something second rate, not to go into a rant or badmouth it. It served well for many years, but now I use Post Layout which gives much more control and doesn’t seem to try and siphon off earnings (of which there was never very much and is quite low at this point). Post Layout allows for other ad programs to be added, as well. So far, I like it.
Post Layout Plugin

Plugins Every Site Should Have

Some of my sites have been WordPress based for many years, and during that time went through changes including problems with permalinks, etc. I had lots of redirects and broken links to other sites, etc. So I am super excited about the plugin I tried, called “Broken Link Checker”.

It is very easy to use and I have gone through just about all the broken links to either unlink, or -more often- find the new links on site that dropped their pages or changed the location. I am looking forward to this plugin changing the speed and (possibly help) google rank. At least my site is updated and far better experience for readers!!!

(1.) I recommend every WordPress site to have the Broken Link Checker plugin.

For many years I used “All In One SEO”, and I have no complaint about it, but when I read about all that Yoast’s WP SEO plugin could do, I started using it. It is complex and I don’t have the learning curve completely mastered, but it is working well, and I think it will be a huge improvement for my site. It imports all of the settings and info from ‘All In One’.

(2.) Yoast SEO for WordPress

“Yet Another Related Posts Plugin” is one that I have used from very early on. It has been reliable and helps people find more posts, which is more important than ever on sites that have lots of content. I tweaked it to provide graphics, much like “LinkWithin” but without the nuisance keywords of the LinkWithin site coming up repeatedly. The new version of YARPP now has those thumbnails builtin.

I wouldn’t do without this plugin.

(3.) Yet Another Related Posts Plugin

Other New Additions

I started using the Jetpack because it was so highly recommended. Mostly the stats part of it interests me, I’m not sure about the rest of it (and it is extensive). The verdict will be in later in the year. But it is well worth trying, especially if your blog uses more of the features than mine would.
Jetpack.

Jetpack Plugin

Google XML Sitemaps isn’t perfect, but it helps provide a sitemap which is necessary and which I don’t understand well enough to provide for myself. I liked it much better when you could add pages, a feature which they have not restored as of this writing. Still, the plugin is a useful one.

Google XML Sitemap

WP-PageNavi is built-in to some templates, but if you don’t have it, this navigation tool is very worthwhile. It gives a logical and good looking way to navigate through the sites pages. Plus you can style it.

WP-PageNavi

I have used many plugins over the years, some of which I regret, some that I get more excited over the more I use them. If I wanted the essentials this list is one I would start with. It is not a definitive list by any means, but a great way to start your WordPress site.

Pure Cotton

by | Just Stuff

hands holding cotton boll against background of white cotton sweater

cotton boll

I absolutely love the luxury of fine cotton. I like the homely little cotton balls to apply lotion to my face just as much. Cotton underwear, cotton garments, cotton bed linens, cotton upholstery- I love cotton! I like freshly laundered cotton sheets hanging out to dry and the fragrance of cotton products. It always makes me think of the outdoors and soft coolness of early summer nights. Cotton is fun, too! All you need to make your pre-schoolers happy is some glue, a bag of cotton balls, a few crayons and paper plates or construction paper. Instant craft time. If you go to Edisto Island in South Carolina you find out about the past history of their specialty cotton, Sea-Island cotton.
…an enterprising planter named William Elliot produced South Carolina’s first successful crop of Sea Island Cotton right here on Hilton Head Island. An experimental strain which had been imported from Barbados, this new hybrid was tall, black-seeded and had a long, silvery fiber well-suited for making fine laces and muslins. The improved staple was welcomed by the English market, and there was an immediate world demand for Sea Island Cotton. In 1828, these quality fibers commanded a top price of $2 per pound. By careful seed selection and by using saltmarsh muck and oyster shells as fertilizer, Island planters like William Baynard ensured the continuing success of Sea Island Cotton and realized great profits for themselves. Since the plant could best prosper in the light, sandy soil and subtropic climate of the Sea Islands –Sea Island Cotton
Nowadays, we look for labels such as “Egyptian cotton”, but it is the thread count that provides the luxurious feeling of softness in the material. The higher the count the silkier the feel.
sea island cotton

sea island cotton

Cottony Things You Might Like:

Pure Cotton/Scent Diffuser

Fresh Cotton Scented Candle

Egyptian Cotton Queen Sheet Set – Luxury 1000 High Thread Count

-mmmmm,and for those who want complete cotton indulgence:

One can dream, can’t one?

Dream in an Oasis Bedroom of Moroccan style. Cotton makes the fabrics cool and comfortable.

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