Finally, I stumbled upon a directory listing of places and websites where I was able to find everything from A to Z about these codes.  The information was so abundant and overwhelming; it took me days to read through all the articles listed. At times I had asked myself if I was crazy to even consider rebuilding Paris Woman Journal all over again. Reading all that free information, my head started to whirl and I could feel the stress mounting. My brain was so full that I could not understand or absorb any of the instructions on these websites! I decided to give up and just keep my current website as is. I walked away from the directory and started out to review my two university undergraduate courses that I had enrolled in at Open University in the UK. The year-end sit-in final exams were being held in Paris in mid-October. I threw myself into my studies and completely forgot about the CSS codes.

It took only 3 hours after I finished my written final exams, to think again about rebuilding the site. I’d passed my finals, I knew it, and I walked out of the test room feeling so strong and powerful that it raised my level of self-confident. “I did it!” I said to myself, as I walked toward metro station. I DID IT! And if I can do this, well…

When I returned home, I turned on the computer, went on the internet and returned to the CSS directory. I visited a few links listed here and there, entered chat rooms about coding and was starting to feel doubt again. That’s when I clicked on my email. There I found an email from one of our readers, alerting me that 4 of the 10 people in the forums could not view the website. It was all the confirmation I needed to make the changes I’ve made here. With the help of a great site, “CSS: From the Ground Up”, I refocused and made the changes you now see here.

If you are considering your own site, let me tell you, “CSS: From the Ground Up” is one of the greatest sites that I’ve ever visited. It contains all information and basic step-by-step instructions you need to write HTML and use CSS layouts. The page was written by Joe Gillespie and you can tell him I sent you, as the site itself is smartly designed with good color schemes. Following Joe’s fundamental step-by-step instructions from the ground up, it took me no more than 3 hours to understand how the codes work together. Following his instructions, I modified them to work with my own ideas for Paris Woman Journal’s layout. And the result is what you see here. Learning CSS coding in just under 3 hours may sound like a daunting task, but as you can see by our new site, it is well worth it.

This new design is now compatible with all kinds of browsers. Loading the new pages was quick and smooth, and I am encouraged by the cool, newly polished look. Professionally made in Paris by me! WOW! It feels good. So often we stay-at-home moms are told what we cannot do, and how difficult other's jobs are. But we have value, great value and this site is proof that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.

For my part, I must thank everyone on the Webmasters forum who gave me their creative and constructive feedback. Through them I accomplish an almost impossible task. I have received many compliments about the new look and even met a new writer for lunch. Sabilla Nash, a published writer from New Jersey, contacted me via the website and offered to contribute an article about the concert of Brian McKnight that she is going to get live interview with the singer behind stage. She was able to find us easily and to envision her articles on our site. We hope more of you will be motivated to send in articles and comments, based on what you see here.

You can visit and read all the comments of other webmasters posted here at the forums, under the title “Creative Critics For A Beginner”. I’ve posted another review under the title “I Did It”. The webmasters and members here were great. They provided their honest critics and plus they supplied you with all the helpful and needed links to learn CSS and tips on how to construct your layout designs. The critics sometime were harsh and direct, but it was constructive not destructive or personal attacks. Their feedback is meant to help you improve your website, and update your skills. A most valuable goal indeed. 

© 2005 Juliette Lac

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