A Blog Not Limited

to web design, standards & semantics

ExpressionEngine

The Power of Community
11/19/2012
Community hasn't always been something that was important to me. An introvert and a bit of a loner, I tend to be most comfortable in my own little bubble. Over the past few years, though, community has become a big part of my life as I've discovered how great it feels to be part of something bigger than myself. For my October contribution to The Pastry Box Project, I write about this power of community.
EE Podcast Live & Uncut
10/31/2012
A very special episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 80, Lea and I were at EECI 2012 US! A completely different episode than we've done before, we had a ton of fun with a record 10 guests participating in trivia challenges and interviews.
ExpressionEngine Add-on Dev with Mark Croxton
10/13/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! On the heels of our discussion about Stash with Adrienne Travis, Lea and I talk to Stash creator Mark Croxton in episode 79.
EE Template Partials with Adrienne Travis
10/01/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 78, Lea and I talk to Adrienne Travis who shares her template development approach using partials and the Stash add-on.
ExpressionEngine Search
09/13/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 77, we discuss EE search options from basic core functionality to more complex requirements that need add-ons.
Get to Know @mediagirl
08/27/2012
At EE Podcast we're kicking off a new interview series to help our listeners get to know fellow EE community members who are active on the #eecms stream. Our first “Get to Know #eecms” episode introduces Anna Brown (AKA @mediagirl).
ExpressionEngine Site Themes
08/13/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 75, Lea and I talk with Leevi Graham about ExpressionEngine site themes.
Membership Sites with ExpressionEngine
08/02/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 74, we talk with Jon Longnecker and Nate Croft of FortySeven Media about building a membership site in ExpressionEngine.
EE Podcast Survey Results & Listener Mailbag
07/25/2012
While I was on vacation (a fantastic vacation), a new episode of the EE Podcast hit the interwebs. In episode 73, Lea and I share the results of our listener survey, and talk about the process of putting the survey together and analyzing the results. We also answer questions our listeners submitted via email and Twitter.
EE Framing Logic with Mrs. Flinger
07/05/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 72, we catch up with the infamous Leslie Doherty, better known as @mrsflinger, to learn about improving the user experience in ExpressionEngine.
Designer-Friendly EE @ Engine Summit
07/02/2012
Last month, I was honored to participate in Engine Summit for the second year in a row. Hosted by Environments for Humans, the online conference was a full-day of ExpressionEngine goodness from talented folks like my fabulous co-host Lea Alcantara, Erik Reagan, Joel Bradbury and Mark Huot. For my part, I discussed Designer-Friendly ExpressionEngine, sharing some of the tips and techniques that have made working with EE even better for me, as a designer.
ExpressionEngine Hosting
06/19/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 71, we talk hosting and optimization with Nevin Lyne, Founder and Director of Technology for EngineHosting.
On Presenting
06/06/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 70 Lea and I talk about presenting, sharing some of our experiences at different types of conferences and events.
EllisLab Q&A: ExpressionEngine v2.5
05/25/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 69 we get the latest information about the EE v2.5 update from EllisLab Chief Creative Officer James Mathias and Director of Technology Wes Baker. We also announce the EE Podcast listener survey and t-shirt giveaway!
Efficient EE Templating with DRY
05/09/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 68, John Rogerson returns to the podcast to share more tips on efficient ExpressionEngine development.
Remote Teams & Running a Virtual Company with Leslie Camacho
04/25/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 67, Lea and I talked with EllisLab CEO Leslie Camacho, who gave us the lowdown on running EllisLab as a virtual company.
Image Galleries with ExpressionEngine
04/10/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 66, we discuss managing galleries natively with ExpressionEngine, as well as add-on options and front-end considerations.
Time-Saving Tips for ExpressionEngine
03/27/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 65, Lea and I share some time-saving techniques to help make your ExpressionEngine workflows more efficient.
Selling EE with Brad Parscale & Marcus Neto
03/13/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! And this one is already in my Top 10! For episode 64, we talk about selling ExpressionEngine with EllisLab's Marcus Neto and Brad Parscale of Parscale Media and DevDemon.
Progressive Enhancement
02/27/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! For episode 63, we talk with Aaron Gustafson about progressive enhancement and his book Adaptive Web Design.
EllisLab Q&A, with Lisa Wess
02/14/2012
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 62, we're back with another EllisLab question and answer session, this time with VP of Operations Lisa Wess.
Version Control with ExpressionEngine
01/30/2012
Version control has been on my radar for over a year, along with a bunch of other things I've yet to find time to learn and implement. But thanks to the latest episode of the EE Podcast, I'm determined to make version control a priority. In fact, it's the next thing I'm tackling after hitting "publish" for this post! In episode 61, Lea and I are joined by Adam Wiggall and Ian Pitts who fill us in on how they…
We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
01/16/2012
After an all–too–short break, the EE Podcast is back for the new year! In episode 60, we reminisce about our first ExpressionEngine sites … the challenges, the mistakes, how we learned and why we continue to use EE.
EE Podcast Year In Review
12/26/2011
For the very last time this year, a new episode of the ExpressionEngine Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 59, we look back on the past year and discuss the news and events that affected our EE community. Lea and I also pick our favorite add-ons for the year, as well as our favorite episodes since our re-launch this summer.
Thankful
12/13/2011
Professionally speaking, the past 12 months have been fantastic for me and my fledgling business. To be true, my goals weren't of the sky-high variety. For the first eight months of my freelancing adventure, my only goals were: Get an accountant Get a business license Get health insurance Pay my bills Avoid touching my savings as much as possible
Upgrading from EE1 to EE2
12/12/2011
Have you been thinking about upgrading to EE2? Still unsure? If so, don't miss the newest episode of the EE Podcast! For episode 58, our friend Ryan Masuga joins us once again! This time, Ryan fills us in on the upgrade process from ExpressionEngine version 1 to version 2.
ExpressionEngine Variables
11/29/2011
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 57, Lea and I tackle one of the most fundamental parts of ExpressionEngine: variables.
EllisLab Q&A, with Marcus Neto
11/17/2011
A new episode of the EE Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 56, we're back with another EllisLab question and answer session, this time with Director of Services Marcus Neto.
Book Review:
Securing ExpressionEngine 2
11/05/2011
I must admit up-front that this review is waaaaaaay overdue. It has been on my to-do list for months. But I have a good reason for the delay … or rather a reason … I didn't just want to say that Mijingo and Mark Huot put together a great resource with the Securing ExpressionEngine 2 how-to booklet. Of course, it's a fantastic resource. No one would expect anything less from Ryan Irelan (the man behind Mijingo) or Mark. I didn't…
EE Speed Optimization, with Jacob Russell
10/31/2011
Coming off the heels of EECI Brooklyn, we've got a new (and bi-coastal!) episode of the EE Podcast for your listening pleasure! Lea joins me post-EECI from Brooklyn for Episode #55, when we talk with Jacob Russell of Devot:ee about optimizing ExpressionEngine.
Multi-Language Sites Redux, with Nicolas Bottari
10/13/2011
A new episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is now live and available for your listening pleasure! Episode #54 picks up from our conversation about multi-lingual sites in episode #49. This time around, we focus more on double-byte character sets and nuances with Asian-language sites.
EE Polls, Surveys & Quizzes (Oh My!)
10/03/2011
A new episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is now live and available for your listening pleasure! Episode #53 is all about polls, surveys and quizzes, as Lea and I talk about data gathering with ExpressionEngine.
Mobile Sites with ExpressionEngine
09/18/2011
The latest episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is now live and available for your listening pleasure! For Episode 52, Lea and I discuss the distinction between responsive web design and dedicated mobile sites. We also talked about EllisLab's recent announcement to pull the official mobile theme from ExpressionEngine, as well as options for creating a dedicated mobile site with EE.
Catch the Travel Bug! Wandering EE Designers & Devs
09/01/2011
The latest episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is now live, and it is my absolute favorite one so far. In episode 51, Lea and I take a slightly different approach than we've been doing. Instead of interviewing a single person, we interviewed several. And instead of a primarily technical ExpressionEngine focus, we discuss life, travel and the work-life balance.
Documenting ExpressionEngine with Erik Reagan
08/19/2011
A new episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! And it is lucky number 50, which is just impressive in and of itself (tip o' the hat to the podcast's original hosts Ryan Irelan and Dan Benjamin for getting it all started). In the latest episode, Lea and I talk with Erik Reagan of Focus Lab, LLC about documenting ExpressionEngine for the developer.
Multi-Language Sites with Tom Jaeger
08/04/2011
A new episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 49, we talk with Tom Jaeger of EE Harbor about his experiences working with multi-language sites in ExpressionEngine.
Multiple Site Management @ Engine Summit
07/22/2011
Last month, I was once again honored to participate in another Environments for Humans online conference. This time around, as part of the Engine Summit, where I talked about multiple site management in ExpressionEngine. MSM: The Whys and Hows My presentation detailed the reasons why the MSM expansion is a good, affordable option for developers and clients who need to manage multiple sites (d'oh) from a single EE control panel. I also talked about some of the other benefits of…
EE Myths, Truths & Questions with James Mathias
07/21/2011
A new episode of The ExpressionEngine Podcast is available for your listening pleasure! In episode 48, Lea and I talk with James Mathias, Chief Creative Officer of EllisLab.
Add-Ons That Should Be Integrated Into EE
07/07/2011
In case you missed the news, I'm now co-hosting The ExpressionEngine Podcast with the lovely Lea Alcantara. And we just released our second episode! For our latest episode, Ryan Masuga of devot:ee joins us to talk about ExpressionEngine add-ons.
I’m the New EE Podcast Co-Host!
06/23/2011
After months of keeping mum, I'm thrilled to shout to the rooftops that I'm joining Lea Alcantara as a co-host of the EE Podcast! If you haven't heard of the podcast, it's a bi-weekly podcast about web design and development, with a focus on ExpressionEngine. It was founded back in 2009 by the legendary Ryan Irelan and hosted by the equally legendary Dan Benjamin and 5by5 Studios. Lea joined as co-host last year. Earlier this year, Ryan decided to pass…
Book Review:
Building an ExpressionEngine 2 Site for Small Business
10/11/2010
I always figured I'd post book reviews here. I just haven't. In fact, thinking about it, I don't think I've ever actually written a book review. No better time to start than now. And no better book to start with than Michael Boyink's Building an ExpressionEngine 2 Site for Small Business But first, a disclaimer: I know Mike personally and professionally, I've taken one of his training classes, and I was one of the "early reviewers" of the book. I…
Introducing Emily Lewis Design
10/04/2010
Ever since I decided to quit my job, creating a new site for my freelance business was at the top of my list. As days, weeks and months passed after giving my two-week's notice, other priorities popped up and paying the bills became paramount. My site, meanwhile, became the admonishing voice in my head reminding me that it's rather pathetic when a web designer doesn't have a site. So when September started, I committed myself to getting a new site…
Sonoma, San Francisco & EECI 2010
06/15/2010
This past Memorial Day, Jason and I headed to San Francisco for a little wine tasting, sightseeing and, most importantly, EECI 2010. To say I had a great time is an understatement. I got to catch up with some of my favorite EE folks, I explored parts of the city I missed during my first trip last year, and I learned far more than I expected about ExpressionEngine. Before I get into the details about the conference itself, I must…
It’s All About Me!
08/26/2009
Some of the things I've been working on have gotten a bit of attention outside of my blog, so I figured a shameless self-promotion post was in order. Because, it really is all about me.
ExpressionEngine in 15 Minutes Recap
07/31/2009
In keeping with my "better late than never" theme these days, I'm happy to finally post the recap of my ExpressionEngine demo from back in May: ExpressionEngine in 15 Minutes. But since I'm already two months late in posting this recap, a few more minutes won't kill you. Let me first tell you about the event during which I gave the aforementioned demo.
Happy Anniversary, A Blog Not Limited!
06/20/2009
One year ago today, I started this blog. It has been a crazy year, and A Blog Not Limited has been a major part of my life during that time, so I figured a bit of "reflection" is in order. Before I dive in, I must give a huge shout-out to my buddy Chris Kenworthy who spent some time messing with my Google Analytics (and, no, that is not a euphemism) to give me some statistics about this blog's first…
Useful Tweets 25
06/03/2009
I'm still ridiculously busy, so Useful Tweets is continuing on a bi-monthly schedule. Don't like waiting? Follow me on Twitter. For you more patient readers, here are links from the past two weeks' tweets that referenced web design/development resources, interesting products, things that made me laugh and other stuff I deem "useful" according to my own definitions.
Useful Tweets 24
05/18/2009
Links from the past two weeks' tweets that referenced web design/development resources, interesting products, things that made me laugh and other stuff I (loosely) deem "useful." Follow me on Twitter for more immediate linky goodness.
Useful Tweets 23
05/06/2009
With my busy schedule, it seems that the Useful Tweets weekly series has become bi-monthly. I've accepted this. I hope you can too. So, without any further delay, here are links from the past two weeks of tweets that I (loosely) deem useful.
The Next Level
04/23/2009
Ever since I started this blog and became active on Twitter, my professional life has taken some dramatic (at least to me) turns. Before, I just had a job. A rather unsatisfying job. And while I still have that same (soul-sucking) job, I'm much more satisfied in my professional life. Why? Because I actually have a career now. Just looking for the presentation details? Feel free to skip right to them.
Useful Tweets 22
04/21/2009
I know. I know. I've been remiss in posting a new Useful Tweets article. But I have lots of excuses: Twitter dropped (and still has yet to recover) a bunch of my tweets from my personal timeline over the past three weeks. So it took me a little extra time to find my "lost" tweets to reference here. Thank FSM for Twitter Search. Not sure if you heard, but I'm writing a book and it is taking up most of…
Useful Tweets 20
03/30/2009
Links from last week's tweets that referenced web design/development resources, interesting products, things that made me laugh and other stuff I (loosely) deem "useful." Follow me on Twitter for more immediate linky goodness. March 22–29, 2009
Adding Social Media Links to ExpressionEngine Templates
08/22/2008
Even though the "social" nature of the web isn't anything new (at least in web terms), I've only recently joined the masses. Yeah, I've been working in the web industry for over 10 years now, but I was a latecomer to social networks like Facebook, Twitter and (the horror) MySpace. I was even late to the social bookmarking sites like Digg, Ma.gnolia and, my preference, Delicious (yeah, I have it right: they aren't using the periods in their name anymore).…
Customizing ExpressionEngine RSS 2.0 Template
08/10/2008
Like everything with this blog, I wasn't entirely satisfied with ExpressionEngine's out–of–the–box solution for my RSS feeds (surprise, surprise). Some of the features I wanted that didn't come standard with EE's RSS: Links and markup to display properly formatted Display blog name Display author name Link to the category in which the article is published Links to the tags with which the article is tagged Tracking for links to support analytics Two feeds; one for full articles and one for…
Live Comment Preview for ExpressionEngine
07/19/2008
Much of the functionality and organization I'm implementing on this blog has been inspired by Jason Santa Maria. On his newly-redesigned blog, he provides a live comment preview that I just love. So, that's what I decided I wanted for A Blog Not Limited. Unfortunately, the built-in comment preview functionality for ExpressionEngine doesn't even come close.
The Forest for the Trees
07/03/2008
Since my last post, my main goal was to implement comments. Simple enough, no? Technically speaking, the process for allowing comments in ExpressionEngine is simple. That is, unless you are a person who is picky or anal-retentive or has a tendency towards over-thinking. In other words: Me. For me, it has been an exercise in frustration. While I did manage to get comments working, they aren't working as I would ideally like them to work.
Turning a Corner
06/25/2008
It has been three days actively working with ExpressionEngine, and I think I'm turning a corner. Note the tense: "turning" not "turned." Things are starting to make a little more sense to me, and I'm more comfortable manipulating the templates and admin features. However, I suspect I still have a fair amount to grasp before the proverbial "light bulb moment."
Not a Big Fan of ExpressionEngine Right Now
06/22/2008
I'm frustrated. I am still working on getting a firm grasp on how to use ExpressionEngine. Right now, I hate it.
And So It Begins
06/20/2008
This is my first blog post on my first blog (isn't that special?). I set up an account with ExpressionEngine in March 2008, and I am finally getting off my lazy ass to make this thing a reality.

The Coolest Person I Know

Emily Lewis

Yeah, that would be me: .

I'm a freelance web designer of the standardista variety, which means I get excited about things like valid POSH, microformats and accessibility. I ply my trade from my one-person design studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106 USA.

A Blog Not Limited is my personal blog where I pontificate about web design, web standards, semantics and whatever else strikes my fancy. Head on over to Emily Lewis Design if you'd like to see my work or, even better, hire me.

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