Sara Ford's Weblog

Goodbye Microsoft!

saraford — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:23:40 GMT

Today is my last day at Microsoft. It’s been an incredible 9 years.

I’ve been extremely fortunate in my career at Microsoft to work with such smart, passionate folks. As a college hire from Mississippi State, I feel it is important to play what I’ve learned forward. I recently spoke at the New Mexico Regional Grace Hopper Women in Tech conference on “How Microsoft Builds Software”, in hopes of inspiring young women to have awesome careers of their own.

As a final blog post here, I thought I’d share some of my favorite blogging memories:

Bloggers, The Movie, although I think I look much more like Sara Gilbert
My blog reader who cashed out his FSA to buy medical supplies for my hometown after Hurricane Katrina. I’ll never forget meeting him in the “kid drop off” section of building 41, as he unloaded eight plastic grocery bags of first aid supplies. Thank you. (The supplies were gone in hours.)
Mini – need I say more ;-)
The day the Starbucks iCup was installed in building 41. For 3 days, we were the most productive people on the planet. TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
The public outcry on blogs.msdn.com when our towels were taken away, and how Lisa became our hero when they were brought back.
The day Windows Live Writer came out.
How we all went Halo 2 blogging crazy, and how some of us tried to camp at the Company Store to get in line before the queue wrapped the building.
The day I actually got to use my French minor to figure out which “Did you know” phrase I used in my head during the VS Tip of the Day series.
The day I saw the Visual Studio ad on SciFi.com – “Cylons: Why Debugging Matters.” I’ve never been more proud.

To my colleagues at Microsoft: Be transparent! Incorporate community feedback! Make great products! And keep on blogging!

As for me, I’ve had the opportunity of my dreams come along that I got to pursue. But first, I’m going to take a short break to get some much needed cycling in.

You can stay tuned to my adventures at

Blog: http://saraford.net

Twitter: @saraford

LinkedIn: Sara Ford

See you soon! Or to quote Lost, “See you in another life, brotha!”

Win a Windows Phone 7 device at our upcoming NorCal Launch Events

saraford — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:34:07 GMT

For the majority of you reading my blog that don’t live in NorCal, you can watch the events live on Oct 12. But, if you are in NorCal, here’s a reminder that we have seats available for our upcoming launch events in Mountain View and San Francisco this month!

Raffle prizes include:

Windows phone 7 device
Halo Reach Xbox bundle
Zune HD 32G
And more! (I would share what “more” is, but I’ll find out when you all do. =D

Attend either day or both days! Note that Day 2 is all Hands-on Labs, and no presentations. More information about each day below.

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Mountain View, CA | Microsoft Silicon Valley Office | October 12 - 13, 2010

San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Design Center | October 20 - 21, 2010

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Day 1: Jump-Start Your Mobile Development | 8:30am - 5:15pm
In the first of this two-day launch event, we'll take you under the hood of Windows Phone 7 and the Windows Phone 7 platform with a progressive set of learning sessions. We'll start with the basic tools and fundamentals of Windows Phone 7 application development and as the day unfolds, we'll go deeper into development scenarios using Silverlight, XNA and the Windows Phone 7 SDK. You'll also see how to earn cash for your apps in the fully loaded Marketplace.

Day 2: Unleash Your Best App Workshop | 9:00am - 4:00pm
This hands-on workshop is designed to help you turn those napkin sketches and subway scribbles into real, sellable apps. You'll apply fundamental Windows Phone 7 design principles to build an app and upload it to the fully revamped Marketplace. Go at your own pace or follow along with a proctored group lab. Either way, you'll get step-by-step advice from Microsoft and community experts. It's an unprecedented opportunity to stake your claim in the marketplace – using familiar tools and consistent specs.

Cheers!

Training for my first Triathlon with Team in Training

saraford — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:27:00 GMT

People at the various user groups I go to seem to enjoy my triathlon training stories.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/24/training-for-my-first-triathlon-with-team-in-training/

Standoff between me, my bike, and wildlife creature captured on my Windows Phone

saraford — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:07:00 GMT

Seems that whenever I bring my Windows Phone with me on a bike ride, something unusual happens.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/23/standoff-between-me-my-bike-and-wildlife-creature-captured-on-my-windows-phone/

SQL Server Compact Toolbox – Extension #12

saraford — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Today’s post comes from Guest Blogger Erik Ejlskov Jensen, SQL Server Compact MVP, @ErikEJ

Toolbox for SQL Server Compact developers

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/21/sql-server-compact-toolbox-extension-12/

9 years at Microsoft

saraford — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Today marks my 9th year at Microsoft. Next year, I’ll collect my second Final Fantasy crystal.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/17/9-years-at-microsoft/

Solution Explorer Tools (When to Sync to Current File) – Extension #11

saraford — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Control when Solution Explorer syncs to the current file

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/16/solution-explorer-tools-when-to-sync-to-current-file-extension-11/

Windows Phone 7 Developer Launch Events

saraford — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:44:00 GMT

For those outside of Northern California or can’t make these dates, you can watch our launch event live on Oct 12 from Mountain View.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/15/windows-phone-7-developer-launch-events/

Emacs Commands – Extension #10

saraford — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Use your Emacs commands once again!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/14/emacs-commands-extension-10/

VS File Explorer – Extension #9

saraford — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Get a Windows Explorer experience within the IDE!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/09/vs-file-explorer-extension-9/

Power Commands for Visual Studio 2010 – Extension #8

saraford — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:50:00 GMT

The Power Commands for Visual Studio are back! The Power Commands were an extremely popular add-in for Visual Studio 2008, giving you even more options for your IDE.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/07/power-commands-for-visual-studio-2010-extension-8/

The Rematch – Webcast of my 101 VS tips in 55 mins via O’Reilly is now available

saraford — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:16:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I decided to rematch the clock to demo 101 VS Tips in 55 minutes with O’Reilly Media hosting and recording the webcast. In an earlier attempt, I missed by 15 seconds.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/09/03/the-rematch-webcast-of-my-101-vs-tips-in-55-mins-via-oreilly-is-now-available/

5 years later – remembering Hurricane Katrina

saraford — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:46:00 GMT

I wanted to pause for a brief second to remember the 53 people in my hometown who lost their lives 5 years ago yesterday, when Hurricane Katrina took my hometown off the map.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/08/30/5-years-later-remembering-hurricane-katrina/

How I Bonded with my Windows Phone - a cycling misadventure

saraford — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:37:00 GMT

I had an interesting bike ride on Saturday, where I unexpectedly got to do some serious bonding with my Windows Phone.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/08/24/how-i-bonded-with-my-windows-phone-a-cycling-misadventure/

Windows Phone 7 Unleashed Event

saraford — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:20:00 GMT

For you all in the North California area, we’re hosting an all-day event in Silicon Valley on everything you need to know to develop for Windows Phone 7. All developer skill levels are invited to attend.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/08/24/windows-phone-7-unleashed-event/

My first month with my Vibram Five Fingers (Barefoot running shoes)

saraford — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:09:00 GMT

I got my vibrams about a month ago, and have slowly been trying to break my feet in.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/06/24/my-first-month-with-my-vibram-five-fingers-barefoot-running-shoes/

Recap: TechEd 2010 in New Orleans - We're Jazzed Ya'll Were Here!

saraford — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:19:00 GMT

Wow! What a week! I remember the first time I saw a TechEd backpack was back in 2003, where the words “New Orleans” caught my eye. And after 7 years of waiting, my career-long dream came true of attending a Microsoft conference back home.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/06/22/recap-teched-2010-in-new-orleans-were-jazzed-yall-were-here/

Video: 101 Visual Studio Tips in 55 minutes!

saraford — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:07:00 GMT

Last week I blogged about my challenge to do 101 Visual Studio Tips in just 55 minutes, and if I succeed, everyone in the audience gets a signed copy of my Visual Studio Tips book.

Let’s just say I couldn’t have planned for better drama at the end.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/06/17/video-101-visual-studio-tips-in-55-minutes/

Tipping against Time – Sara’s Visual Studio Tip Challenge

saraford — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:03:00 GMT

I’ve been known to talk fast when I’m excited in my Visual Studio presentations, and maybe even a little too fast. But what if I didn’t try to slow down? What if I actually tried to talk as fast as possible?

In a race against time, I will attempt to demo 101 Visual Studio Tips in 55 minutes for the

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/06/01/tipping-against-time-saras-visual-studio-tip-challenge/

Collapse Selection in Solution Explorer – Extension #7

saraford — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:22:00 GMT

Recursively Collapse Nodes in the Solution Explorer!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/05/13/collapse-selection-in-solution-explorer-extension-7/

Find Results Windows Tweak – Extension #6

saraford — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:10:00 GMT

Increase the Readability of your Find in Files results!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/05/02/find-results-windows-tweak-extension-6/

XAML IntelliSense – Extension #5

saraford — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:47:00 GMT

Get your new IntelliSense features in the XAML Editor!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/04/09/xaml-intellisense-extension-5/

Editor Guidelines UI – Extension #4

saraford — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:39:00 GMT

Add Guidelines to your code!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/04/05/editor-guidelines-ui-extension-4/

Speaking at DevDays 2010 in The Netherlands and TechDays in Belgium – Visual Studio Tips

saraford — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:20:00 GMT

i'm speaking this week in the Hague, in The Netherlands at DevDays 2010. I’m giving several talks on Visual Studio this week, before we (speakers) head over to TechDays in Belgium for even more Visual Studio talks.

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/03/30/speaking-at-devdays-2010-in-the-netherlands-and-techdays-in-belgium-visual-studio-tips-2/

Visual Studio Tip of the Day Start Page – Extension #3

saraford — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:59:00 GMT

I have waited 6 years to write this blog post. We did it Sean! We did it! =D

Get Visual Studio Tips Delivered Straight to your Start Page!

This blog post has moved to http://saraford.net/2010/03/25/visual-studio-tip-of-the-day-start-page-extension-3/