In this edition of Operation LoliBlog, I want to talk about the little gadgets, gizmos, and knick-knacks that are designed to make your blogging experience better for you and your readers: Widgets.

Of course, old-timers unlike myself can bemoan the bloated state of the blogosphere til the cows come home, but even they must realize that there's always one good outcome of a hobby breaking out from the underground and going global. That is, of course, the fact that as soon as something gets big, there's someone who wants to profit from it, and the people we are focusing on and acknowledging the hard work of are those lovely souls who design things that make our jobs easier - usually at no cost to the end user, either! Widgets, also called plug-ins, are small programs designed by professional web developers to make your blog run more smoothly, either by helping you connect with your readers or making it easier for them to access the information already on your blog. Some of them are even internal for your own use to increase the usability of your blog or your own edification about it, and your readers never even know they're there.

For example, after providing useful content and creating a name or "brand" for yourself (more on the latter another time), the most important thing for a you as a blogger to do with your blog is keep track of statistics. This will tell you, at the very least, how many people you are reaching, and on a more advanced level, what sites they're coming from, what keywords they're searching to find you, and even where they are, sometimes down to the country, province, and even city. I always really enjoyed how the Wordpress internal stats were set up even though they aren't terribly in-depth, so if you're reading this from WP, congrats- you're probably all set. A few months ago, Blogger also set up its own version, a sort of dumbed-down Google Analytics, too- for the casual, curious blogger, this is probably plenty. However, for anyone who considers themselves "serious" in any manner, it is my recommendation that you install Google Analytics. The statistics you get from this site are incredibly in-depth, and it's customizable in that it can work for any level of seriousness- you could easily just keep track of your hits, but you can also make use of much more involved options like setting goals and comparing two different time periods. Why should you care? Because you can use this information for things like your own personal promotional needs (knowing what websites your readers are coming from means that you should promote there more or on similar websites), and also as leverage for companies who may want to advertise on your blog in the future. If the promise of future money isn't a good enough incentive to track your stats, I don't know what is!

So, besides this, what are other goodies we can make use of in our blogging careers? Here are a few more of my favorites:

• LinkWithin: Scroll down to the bottom of this post. You see those "You might also like..." links right above the comments section? LinkWithin creates links with thumbnails to other articles on your blog that relate to the each one individually. This is a great way for you to up your bounce rate, which is created by people clicking around between pages/entries on your blog.
• Google Friend Connect and/or FeedBurner: Both of these are methods of creating yourself an RSS feed. Friend Connect is through Google and therefore Blogger, so it's already installed for all of us over here, and unfortunately because it's owned by Google, like Google Analytics, it can't be added to Wordpress blogs. That's why we have FeedBurner! FeedBurner creates an RSS feed for your blog or website; this means that anyone who wants to can follow your blog in this way instead. To be honest, I had no idea what RSS was or why it mattered until I read about it in Blogging In Style, where it was put to me this way: If you read 100 blogs and want to keep up-to-date on them, do you really want to check them individually every single day? Of course not! RSS feeds create a webpage that links to the recent posts of all of the blogs you're subscribed to, that way you don't have to go 100 different websites every time unless you know you're interested in the content. It's not really going to do that much to you as a blogger (though I do feel like Friend Connect builds a bit of a community feeling for me, and I love reading my followers' blogs!), but your readers will definitely appreciate it.
• Twitterfeed: I just started using this, and it's great! I know a bunch of other Blogger-users have been struggling for ages to link Blogger with websites like Twitter and Facebook, so that they would update with a link to your most recent article as soon as you post it. That way, all of your friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter who may not subscribe to your blog know to run and check it right away, and you don't have to lift a perfectly-manicured finger. Effortless promotion? Yes please! This is especially helpful for gals like me, who type up their entries in advance and then schedule them to post at a later time/date.
• Facebook Like Button: I don't actually use this baby because  Her Lumpiness doesn't have a Facebook Fan Page (though I do have one for my business), but you can see it on sites like F*** Yeah Lolita and Ramble Rori.This feature connects your Facebook Fan Page to your blog, usually either with a small graphic saying "Become a fan on Facebook!" or a full Facebook widget box saying how many people are already fans, a small description, if any of your friends are, etc. If you do have a fan page, this little guy is a must!

 These are the widgets that, to me, either seem or have proved to be the most helpful. Not interested in any of these? Good news- this is only the tip of the iceberg. I'm barely skimming the surface, and more importantly, more are being created all the time. A great site for finding more widgets is, aptly, Blogger Widgets, but remember- the more Javascript you have on your page, the longer it will take to load, so be sure to pick and choose carefully! If they're slowing down your site, you'll lose viewers and it doesn't matter how cool or helpful they are if no one cares to look at them!

It's that time of year again, kids! If you haven't yet started planning your holidays gifts... shame on you! Most of the holidays are only a month, a month and a half away, and no one wants to be stuck out in the cold waiting on last-minute packages. I'm planning a few different pieces this year on gifting, from gifts for the lolita to gifts ideas for all you gifting-lolis. I'm going to go with the former in this article and find some gifts that any lolita would love. This one, as implied by the title, is gear at "Guy needs gift for his lolita significant other," but don't let that stop you- these gifts were pointedly selected to be great for friends, family, or even acquaintances to buy the lolitas in their lives.

Decorated Pocket Journal by November Rose Atelier

These pretty, hand-decorated journals would make a lovely, affordable gift for the classic lolita. Imagine sitting at your desk in the winter sunlight with one of these and a fountain pen. Boys- it's very sweet to give girls things like journals, because it shows that you're being considerate of her thoughts and privacy. It's also very flattering because in a way it validates the idea of journaling to be given one by someone important to you - so often it's considered needless or indulgent to take down your thoughts. This would also be a lovely gift for a Secret Santa swap or somethnig along those lines. Have a crafty loli to buy for? Make her a "make your own journal" set, with a blank-covered book, some rubber stamps +ink, and a very nice pen.

2011 Cupcake Studios Wall Calender by Cupcake Studios

I'm a huge fan of calenders as holiday gifts. They're usually not terribly expensive, very practical, and a great way to show someone you know their aesthetic. The retro, country vibe makes this calender a wonderful gift for a crafty lolita on the sweet side, but you can find calenders of any subject matter, from cats to pin-up girls to landscapes. It's a great way to show your lolita that you know her style and what she's into while still giving her something practical that she'll probably actually use. Another cute idea in the same vein would be memo pads or to-do lists.

Lolli Soap Tart Sampler by LolliLuscious
A sampler of anything is a very sweet gift- perfume or chocolates would also be nice. It shows that you know she is interested in the subject, but not specifics as to fragrance/flavor. This can also be a great way to get to know your lolita, if she invites you to share! And these little tart-shaped soaps are perfect for just such an occasion - other choices maybe a set of molded soaps with her initials, a package of Imp Ears from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab or a similar store (brownie points if you know her favorite perfumery!), or a box of cookies from your favorite bakery.

Other ideas:
♥Winter wear is cute and affordable, such as gloves, hats, or scarves. Brownie points if it matches her coat!
♥Speaking of winter, a container of spicy black tea or cinnamon hot chocolate
♥For S.O.'s specifically, a lotion, shower gel, bubble bath, etc. in YOUR favorite scent. She'll probably be glad for the input, and lotion or body wash are much less personal than perfume.
♥A stationary set
♥Low on cash? A framed photo of you two together and a sweet note on how awesome she is will always be touching.
♥A framed piece of art, if you want to get ballsy. This is pretty easy to mess up, so be sure you know her aesthetics and room decor perfectly.

Still stuck? Well, that's why I made this convenient treasury for you!

I don't think I need to tell anyone how huge the blogosphere is. Even in our little microcosm, it seems like more blogs are popping up every other day, like crocuses after the spring rains. I feel like every few days, I see a blog on my friends' blogrolls and think "Who?! How long have they been around?" Usually, going to their sites shows pages and pages of posts on an impressive array of topics, often so much so that I feel a little embarrassed for having never happened upon their work before. At the same time, lately I've been going to friends' blogs and thinkings, "How can you have so few followers?!" So here's my way of thanking these lovely ladies for their work: whether they only have a few posts under their belts or if they've been around for years, here are some of my favorite under-appreciated blogs, all with less than 100 followers- go change that, they deserve it! ♥

Lolita Wonderland

This sweet blog I only happened upon in the past few weeks. Rosalynn, a lolita from Western Europe, has only been writing her English blog Lolita Wonderland since this past July. Discussing not only beginner lolita topics like "Lolita Beginner Need-to-Knows and Must-Accepts" and "Taking a Bow for the First Time" but spanning an impressive range of topics including weight loss an internet addiction, this blog will appeal to lolitas of any experience level. It also made me embarrassed, as these things usually do, to be an ignorant American when I realized "Wait a second... she's blogging in a language that isn't even her mother tongue?!" And she's doing it well - I'm jealous!

Quaintrelle Life

Is there anyone here who doesn't know Vivcore? I guess it's possible- she isn't as active in the comms as she used to be, but back in the day, Candy Violet was oneof THE beginner brands for American lolitas (and those abroad as well, I'm sure!) With better craftsmanship than In The Starlight and a lower pricepoint than Japanese brand, the first American lolita brand was definitely one to contend with. While she's mostly turned from lolita and to "quaintrelle" style (a term she coined herself as denoting any sweet, innocent style with a vintage or retro feel), her blog is a catalogue of not only her newest works for Candy Violet but also has the air of a peek into a bygone era. With subject matter that ranges from how-to articles for beehive hairdo's and vintage manicures to anecdotes from her daily life (such as her newly-aquired home soda fountain), this is definitely not a lolita blog but is a treat for anyone who loves the ~good old days.~

moss garden

This blog was one of the main reasons I wrote this post. Talk about a fount of sartorial knowledge, on top of a wellspring of inspirational eyecandy! Martha is one of the most knowledgable women I know in terms of all sorts of things, from eclectic Japanese street fashion to literature, which is clear from a blog that posts everything from outfit snaps to fashion advice to type-ups of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm. Her write-up states, "I like nature, books, clothes, folklore and fairy tales, crafts, lomography, gardening, and oddities," and this is definitely indicative of the kind of content you'll find at this blog. If you have any interest in dolly kei and mori girl splattered in with your love of lolita fashion, like Martha, this blog is the perfect read.

dixmacabre sewing chronicle

This is another one that's new to me! While I've known Aria for a few months now and had a vague inclination of her talents as a seamstress and designer, it was only recently that I realized the extent of her talents - conveniently, around the same time I discovered her blog. Aria is amazingly talented, especially considering the fact that she's still in school for fashion design! I don't know if she plans on starting her own line when she graduates or not, but I'm eager to see what she ends up doing with her skills after she graduates - and hopefully this blog will prove the perfect tool to keep an eye on her progress & success!

Honorable Mentions (over 100 followers but still deserve more!):

Her Curious Elegance

I Do Declare shop blog

Lemontree :: A Lolita Blog by Oli!

La Vida Frills

This weekend I was given the immense honor of playing official photographer for Dalin's thesis film, Le Fille De L'avenir (The Daughter of the Future). I'm in no way a professional photographer - just a girl with a good eye and a nice camera - but life has thrown my way a good number of opportunities to hone my skills, and I'm surprised to say that I'm getting to be more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it! I don't want to release any spoilers, so here are a few headshots I took of Crystal Arnette as Jolie, the swashbuckling gender-bending (at least for 1750's standards!) conscious of the leading lady, Victoria.

We really liked that sword. Can you tell?

I don't want to give anything away before the film's big release, so I'll leave you with these for now- but this isn't the last you'll hear of it! Dalin's promised me a press spot at the premiere, and afterwards I'll post some of the nicest shots from this Sunday's shoot. For Dalin's own blog post about the film, click here!

Am I severely behind the times?! I guess this might be what I get for not following communities anymore. Whether I'm just late to the party or not, these adorable classic pieces by ChocoMint are to die for. In my mind, ChocoMint is not exactly a brand- carried in Closet Child and usually known for doing cheaper replicas of brands like 6%DOKIDOKI, I supposed I had sort of relegated this shop to the likes of Bodyline. However, I stumbled across their Rakuten website earlier today and was shocked to see an entire section on their front page labeled "Classic," as well as a button link to their Alice in Wonderland line! In a style similar to the jewelry Innocent World has come out with the past few years, in the classic line there's a lot of deep, antique bronze with fairytale and woodland themes, and in true ChocoMint fashion, the prices are killer. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

(Text: There's a rocking horse motif attached to the chain!)

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, they're even having a sale on some adorable pieces, too! The only improvement I can see would be a brick-and-mortar store in Tokyo that I could visit in March... anyone have any clue?

ChocoMint, I'm sorry I under-appreciated you so in the past! Can you ever forgive me?!