What is the blook?

The blook. We talk about it every day all over the site but do you know what this word means? We give you the definition!

The blook is a contraction between the English terms book and blog.

BlookUp allows you not only to import your blog but also your social networks. It is the possibility to format them to your liking and to print them in order to keep a perennial trace. All your work, all your moments with family or friends will now be at hand, ready to be reread comfortably. Dive back into your memories, pass them from hand to hand, give them as a gift and extend the digital experience by making your social network or your blog a beautiful book to take with you everywhere: Your blook is the proof of your involvement on the web, your stone brought to the edifice of the Internet!

Do not waste time! Start now to create your blook.

Interview: The social media books of the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Lyon.

We would like to thank Muriel Jaby, head of the communication department at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon, for taking the time to answer our questions about the use of social media books within the museum

Here are three questions we asked her.

The social media books of the international museum of lyon
Continue reading “Interview: The social media books of the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Lyon.”

Tony made the blook of his adventures around the world!

Tell us a little bit about yourself : Your passions, your hobbies, your projects…

My name is Tony D’Aliesio and live in Montreal Quebec Canada.  I have been married for over 25 years with Anna and have 3 daughters.  Vanessa, Alessia and Milena. I enjoy playing many sports from hockey to scuba diving, but one true passion is traveling.  Traveling has been a great passion of mine and thanks to Delta Air Lines, I have been blessed in traveling the world.  Although a retired Delta employee, I continue to take full advantage of traveling to different areas of the world.

A man on a boat in nice, France
Having a good time on a boat in Nice, France!

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What is your blog about and why did you want to address this subject when starting it?

My blog is a summary of every destination that I have  visited.  Whether it may have been for business or leisure, looking back and reliving the moment through words gives me a sense of time, memory and inner fulfillment.  Although every blog consists of very similar contents, there are distinctive differences between them in which I add my thoughts and personal experience.  I want to leave this book with my children for them to read in the future.  It will paint both a visual and descriptive journey of my passion to travel.

What do you like the most about blogging and traveling?

My passion has been traveling the world to experience different cultures, to witness great natural wonders of the world, and a way to tie in all of history’s events with my physical presence.  From standing where the last supper had taken place on Mount Zion in Jerusalem to walking the eerie grounds of Dachau’s concentration camp in Germany, they all add to my character and give me foresight of what is truly important in this life.  

Of all the places you visited, which one is your favorite? 

Many locations I have visited are exceptionally beautiful.  From Australia to Dubai, from Brazil to Shanghai; from the riches of Monaco to the dangers of Jordan……all have their own allure.  Europe in general possess the most elaborate architectural perfection while other locations flourish in natural beauty.  If I had to select from several categories, I would say the Amalfi coast in Italy, Prague in the Czech Republic, and the wonderful Pyramids of Egypt.  Again, there are so many other locations with similar beauty and selecting one is completely impossible.

What countries/places are next on your list?

My next destinations are to visit the cliffs of Moher in Dublin, the glaciers in Anchorage and a safari in Africa.

What part of your  adventures blog are you the most proud of?

I am very proud of the entire blog and with the many destinations involving my children, friends and family, it also acts as a memory scrap book that sparks conversation every time it is flipped opened. In my eyes, a truly piece of art!

a blook a passport and a boarding pass on a bed
Passport, check. Boarding pass, check. Blook, check. We’re good to go!

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Why did you want to turn your adventures  blog into a book?

I decided to turn my blog into a book for occasional reading of my past adventures.  When reading the book, it allows me to relive the past and actually feel the excitement as when it actually happened.  The physical book is also a form of legacy or diary that will be left behind for my children to read.  It will basically be a narrative copulation of all my adventures.

How did you find out about BlookUp?

After blogging the journeys online, I researched for a service that would turn online blogs to a physical book.  I came across several companies but after trying BlookUp, I knew it would offer what I was looking for.  

What did you think about the making process of your blook? Did you encounter any difficulties or issues?

BlookUp was extremely easy to use.  It offered great menu choices as well as allowing the user flexibility to either fully customize the book or simply use their incorporated templates. All of which assures the end result is exactly to your taste and style.

Do you enjoy the final result? What does your family and friends think about your blook?

The final result is a true representation of what I was seeking.  Clean, concise, and visually pleasing.  My family loves it and will surely remain a piece of history that is nostalgic with more sentimental value as the years pass.  I am currently working on my second book and will surely use BlookUp again.  In fact, I would recommend BlookUp to anyone that would want to convert their online blogs to a physical book.  

The cover of Tony's adventure blook

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Huge thank you to Tony for answering our questions, impressive list of destinations we have here. If you are looking for places to add to your travel bucket-list then have a look at Tony’s blog!

Blogging and printing jokes about politics with Donna Troy!

People have their own way of reacting to politics. In fact,  some get angry, some start lecturing others, some don’t seem to care all that much, and some choose to make fun of it.  Donna Troy falls into the latter category!
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Tell us a little bit about yourself : Your passions, your hobbies, your projects…

I work in payroll and that’s very boring.  In my spare time, I like to write, obviously.  I like to crochet and I have an Etsy shop where I sell my crafts.  I also enjoy yoga.

What is your blog about and why did you want to address this subject when starting it?

My blog has been mostly about making fun of politics in the U.S.  It was my brother’s idea to start the blog.  We were emailing back and forth during the 2016 election and he decided the stuff I was writing would make a good blog.  I didn’t know what I was going to do after the election, but then Trump won so there has been plenty of material.
 

What do you like the most about blogging?

I enjoy making people laugh and having an outlet to make light of things that are troubling.

What part of your blog are you the most proud of?

I think I’m most proud of how my work has progressed from the time I started the blog until now.
 

Why “Namaste, Bitches”?

That started as an inside joke with my friends.  We were all leaving work one night and everyone was talking about what they were going to do that evening.  I said, “Well, I’m off to yoga.  Namaste, Bitches.”  When I began the blog I didn’t think anyone other than my friends would be reading it.  Namaste, Bitches just kind of stuck.

Why did you want to turn your blog into a book?

I did that for my parents.  They aren’t technically savvy and my brother was sporadically printing out blogs for them to read.  Again, it was my brother’s idea to get the blog turned into a book.
 

How did you find out about BlookUp?

I found it with a Google search.  I tried a few different sites before I settled on BlookUp.
 

What did you think about the making process of your blook? Did you encounter any difficulties or issues ?

I enjoyed using BlookUp. BlookUp was the most user friendly of the companies I tried.  I liked that I could preview the layout for each blog after editing.  The other companies didn’t have that option.  Uploading the images was also much easier with BlookUp.
 

Do you enjoy the final result? What does your family and friends think about your blook?

I loved the final result.  As an avid reader and writer, it gave me a little thrill to see my work in book form.  My family and friends loved it as well.
 

Would you recommend BlookUp and/or use it again in the future?

Yes to both!
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Huge thanks to Donna Troy for this interview! Don’t forget to check out her blog if you want to have a good time and follow her on social media:
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Interview : From chic to farm with Preppy

Who said that if you want to live with style you have to be in a big city? Because we are about to prove him/her wrong! Today we are interviewing Preppy Mountain Farmer, who shows us through her blog that you can own a farm in the countryside and be chic at the same time!portrait-preppy-mountain-farmer

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About me & my blog:

I am Preppy Mountain Farmer, and my lifestyle blog is Preppy Mountain Farmhouse I’m a middle-aged mom of a large family living in a century-old farmhouse on the side of a mountain in the northeastern United States.  We have a small hobby farm, a rustic cabin, and a busy life.  I try to combine my preppy style with our love for country living, and Preppy Mountain Farmhouse is about that.  I like to capture the beauty found in the simple, natural, sublime aspects of our surroundings through photographs and commentary, and these are interwoven throughout each of my blog posts.

Why did I start my blog?  

When I began blogging two years ago, I thought it would simply be a new creative outlet for me and a chance to start a new project.  I wanted to document our life but also show others that families can live a farming/country life in style.  What I quickly learned was that the blog world is a terrific place to make connections with other like-minded people all over the world.  A more thorough explanation can be found on my About Me page found here: http://www.preppymountainfarmhouse.com/p/about-me.html

blogging-porch-swing

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What content am I most proud of?  

After 25 months of blogging, I have written 221 posts about many aspects of my family’s life.  I think my four favorite posts are the following: Blame it on Charlotte’s Web: How a Preppy Girl Ended Up With a Farm,
This is the Crazy, Divine Story of How We Got This House
A Beautiful Mess: My Life
A Primitive Preppy Christmas Farmhouse Tour

What do I like most about blogging?  

I’ve always considered myself a writer.  I started keeping a journal at age nine and began writing and illustrating my own short stories when I was ten.  Getting published the traditional way requires query letters, submissions, and lots of waiting for acceptance or rejection letters/emails.  That is followed by more waiting for the actual publication and release dates.  Blogging is immediate publication for the world to see.  I think of it as the fast food of the writing world: instant publishing and nearly instant feedback at very little expense to the blogger.  But there’s no fat, cholesterol, or calories involved!

little-goat-and-sheep

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Why turn my blog into a book?  

Although the blog sphere is digital, I still prefer to read and look at images in print.  I enjoy flipping through the pages of a book and having a bound copy of my blog on our living room coffee table to browse through.  My family’s life—along with my heart, soul, and creative energy—are in Preppy Mountain Farmhouse, and I like having a tangible copy of it safe and sound in my possession.

How did I find out about BlookUp?

BlookUp sent me an email advertising their service and product, and that is how I learned about turning my blog into a printed book (Blook.)

living-room-table-picture

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What did I think of the process, and did I encounter any difficulties?  

I thought the actual process of transforming my blog into a book through BlookUp was fairly straightforward and simple to do.  The only thing I had to keep changing was the final post for each volume because my blog kept exceeding the maximum page numbers allowed for each book.

Do I enjoy the finished product, and what do family and friends think?  

I love my Blooks.  210 posts and two years of blogging are contained in nearly 1000 printed pages of two volumes of books.  They are better than any of the digital scrapbooks I used to spend weeks creating for our family photo albums, and per page, the Blooks are cheaper too.  The index is especially handy when I’m trying to find specific posts, pictures, or recipes.

two-blooks-preppy-mountain-farmer

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Would I recommend BlookUp or use their services again?  

I definitely recommend BlookUp to others.  In fact, I devoted an entire blog post to BlookUp after I received my books in the mail:  BlookUp Will Publish Your Blog or Social Media Posts

Huge thanks to Preppy mountain farmer for answering our questions and mentioning us on her blog! Don’t forget to check it out and to join her social media pages:

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Interview: Pamela Breitberg captures nature’s beauty and shares it on a blog

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so imagine a blog full of photographs! Today we have the chance of interviewing Pamela Breitberg who is going to tell us about her blog and her passion for photography!

– Tell us a little bit about yourself : You, your passions, your hobbies, your projects…
I am recently retired from teaching. I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) who taught science lab to 1st through 8th grade elementary students in the inner city of Chicago. Prior to that I was a professional portrait and wedding photography.

My “hobbies” are being outdoors: walking and biking, and photography: micro, portrait style and candid all which reinforce my appetite for learning. My passionate hobby is nature photography which I share through this blog and various books. The blog is a way for me to share the wonders and beauty of being outdoors observing nature. I am an avid reader as well. My blog has stimulated desire to research while I try to include some scientific or folk information on species in my images.

Projects, at the moment, are on hold while I continue photography as a method to stop and reflect on God’s gifts and wonders. The past few years have been stressful with health issues and passing of both my parents; being outdoors and photography has been a blessed self-therapy. Giving is the best therapy, it has been said, and so my blog is my venue for giving. I am touched each time someone “likes” or comments on one of my posts.

Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

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– What is your blog about and why did you want to address this subject when starting it?
My blog is photography, primarily of plants and animals in the United States’ Midwest. I now spend some of the year along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, so I’ve begun to include images of that nature. My writing includes scientific information, folklore and personal observations and experiences. Occasionally I add photography tips as well.

I originally began my blog to share my photography with my parents who lived 300 miles away. It has been a surprising thrill to discover that my blog is read worldwide. Now that my parents are no longer reading the blog I continue to share my images and thoughts with the many followers of my blog; what a wonderful vehicle to share my passions. I feel as though I know some of my followers as I read their blogs and we share common interests in nature and photography. It is sharing that gives back indeed.

Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

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– Why did you want to turn your blog into a book?
BlookUp intrigued me because it was an EASY way to turn my blog into book format and have a hard copy of my work. It’s always nice to physically hold a book and browse through it. The hard copy is for myself. I took advantage of the e-book format for sale because it’s affordable for readers and is more environmentally friendly (less use of paper).

Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg

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– How did you find out about BlookUp? What did you think about the making process of your blook?
I saw the ads for BlookUp while on WordPress, reading others’ blogs.  The process of making the books via BlookUp were painless and straight forward. I made two volumes to make each book more manageable in size. It was very easy for me edit out any posts that I did not want to include.

Pamela-holding-her-blooks
A happy blook owner!

Thank you so much Pamela for this interview! Don’t forget to check out her blog to see more gorgeous photos!

Sarah printed the book of her cottage’s every day life!

Sarah of the blog wetandwindycottage.wordpress.com decided to print the book of her blog, where she describes her life between her job and her cosy house surrounded by fields, flowers, and animals.

As we never shared any story of this kind before, we wanted to make you discover this quiet and lovely universe ! Make yourself at home and enjoy the story of her blog and her blook!

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First, tell us about yourself : You, your passions, your hobbies, your projects…

I am a qualified lawyer, I fell into the job really as a means of earning a reasonable wage and being able to live in the lake district where pay is low as the majority of jobs are in the leisure industry.

That said I love my job, I can make a difference to peoples days. I am in civil litigation and education law.

I am married, we haven’t been able to have children, but I have 2 horses, a donkey, 2 cats, a nearly grown up puppy 2 ducks and lots of chickens. I live in a beautiful house in the middle of fields with views all around,

sarah-chicks
Aren’t those cutties?

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I know I am so lucky but even when everything is beautiful but sometimes it is still difficult to stay positive.

In winter I am up at 6 to feed muck out horses sort out the chicken, ducks and dog, then be clean and not smelling of poo by 8am to drive off to work, I then get home from work at 6 and start again with the horses etc, in the middle of this is keeping a house a garden reasonably tidy.

We moved into the house 4 years ago, there was a small garden only but we had been able to buy the fields around, we were successful in obtaining planning permission which allowed us to build the barn and stables, extend the garden and convert a small barn into more living accommodation.

We have build the barn and stables, started on the garden but don’t yet have the funds to convert the barn into more living.

sarah-garden
A little glimpse of Sarah’s garden

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What is your blog about and why did you want to address this subject when starting it?
I started my blog as a new years resolution to be more positive and do something for myself. The aim was to treat it like a diary of what was happening in and around me and mainly my home. As one of the aims was to be positive, I don’t really focus on the negatives which can make life look idyllic, but that I admit to that so I think it is ok. I am not pretending life is perfect, I am choosing just to show the good bits.

I made areas I was going to cover such as garden, polytunnel monthly update to keep me focused.

The areas have changed as I have done different things, I make more reference to walks now as I take Ellie my springer spaniel on walks in and around the lakes.

I also cover more cooking that I thought I would, but this again makes me more creative.

Also if I see something, like a birds nest in an artificial Christmas tree (a post from this year), I like to tell myself about it when I re-read when I am sat in a rocking chair in my 80’s trying to remember what I did.

choc-chip-cookies
Yummy chocolate chip coooookieeeees!

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What contents (articles, illustrations) are you the most proud of?

I am not a skilled writer or photographer, my first posts were really just practice runs on what to do, from last December so 12 months in I did a post on starling murmurations, I love the photographs.

To be honest I didn’t think of “proud” of what I had done, I hadn’t advertised, few of my friends or family know about it, it really was just for me.

But I bought myself for Christmas the Blook of my first years blog, and was really chuffed at how it looked; especially as that had not be the aim.

What moment of your blogger life was the most memorable for you so far?

As above, getting my blook through the post and thinking really, I did that!!

choc-chip-ingredients
I couldn’t show you Chocolate Chip cookies without showing you their ingredients, could I? Click on the image to see the whole recipe!

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Why did you want to turn your blog into a book?

I didn’t know I did, I saw the advert around Christmas and in previous years I have produced picture books of our progress at the cottage for my husband and thought actually I might like this as a present for me.

 How did you find out about BlookUp?
I think Blookup “liked” one of my posts and as I don’t get many likes I always look to see who they are and realised it was an advertisement.

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What are the positive and negative points of the making of your blook?

It highlights spelling mistakes, which being a lawyer I shouldn’t do, but apart from that is a physical record of the good bits in the year.

blook-sarah-inner-layout

Do you enjoy the final result? What does your family and friends think about your blook?

My husband(!!) has shown it to a few friends and family who have visited, they didn’t know about my blog and are really supportive

Would you recommend BlookUp?

Yes, it is a great physical memento of a lot of hard work, I plan to get one done every January, again it keeps me focused on blogging.

Family and childhood stories: using Blogging to share them !

Many people will say that writing is a great way to escape and think about something else. That’s exactly the case for Brian, who used his blog as a way to share and record his childhood and family stories.

Tell us a little bit about yourself : Your passions, your hobbies, your projects…

I’m married, with two teen children (one boy, one girl). Besides family, my passion is fishing. I live in Seattle, which is an amazing place to satisfy my fishing “addiction”, where we fish for halibut, cod, rockfish, crab, shrimp, and yes, even albacore tuna in the summer.

Brian Leonard holding two fish on a dock

What is your blog about and why did you want to address this subject when starting it?

My blog is about stories from my childhood. It’s extremely personal. I’m almost 50 years old, and as I get older, I’m sure it will become more and more difficult to remember the people, places, and occurrences of my youth. So I set out to spend an hour or two every week to just think about my past, and memorialize those moments in writing, so that my children will know more about me, and why some of the people in my past influenced me in wonderful ways to make me who I am today.

What content (articles, illustrations) are you the most proud of?

I truly enjoy writing. I don’t know why…I don’t know how, but people tell me I’m good at it. I’m really writing with my children in mind, in a way that I hope best connects with them when they’re older. But if I were to look forward 20 years, and saw that my son or daughter was laughing, or crying with joy by what I’ve written, and their memories of me – that’s what I would be most proud of.

What do you like the most about blogging?

Being able to write whatever I want, with no worry about consequences. Most of my writing is work related, so it’s refreshing to write purely for myself.

Why did you want to turn your  family blog into a book?

A few members of my family follow my blog. But last year, I happened to learn about BlookUp, and I had an “Aha!” moment: Let’s make my blog into a book, and send it as Christmas gift to my parents and siblings, who are all in my stories.

How did you find out about BlookUp?

I can’t remember.

What did you think about the making process of your blook? Did you encounter any difficulties or issues?

Very little. The only disconnect was one of culture: In the US, we put our Table of Contents at the front of the book. When I requested this, you made it happen. I would like the ability to be a little more creative with the artwork and fonts. The choices were somewhat limited, but it was good enough.

Do you enjoy the final result? What does your family and friends think about your blook?

Yes, I really liked what I ended up with. Everyone loves it!

Would you recommend BlookUp and/or use it again in the future?

Absolutely!

Thank you so much Brian for this interview, the team is glad you love your blook! You guys can read Brian’s stories on his blog right here!

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Andy Smith, turning 10 years’ worth of paintings into books!

Do you like art?  Yeah we thought so.

In this week’s interview Andy Smith tells us about his love for watercolor painting, the challenge of “A Painting A Day” he took on years ago and the process of making a blook out of his work!

Andy Smith Drawing

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Continue reading “Andy Smith, turning 10 years’ worth of paintings into books!”