Sunday, December 20, 2009

Merry Christmas Blog Readers!

I can't really express how much my blog readers have done for me. I know that sometimes I get a little testy with some of you and for that I am sorry. I am learning to pray before I type.

My Christmas present to you is COLOR. I hope you like it.

I liked having a black and white blog, but adding in color for advertisements and the food posts took away from the crispness of it. So, I've been searching around for a high contrast background that would welcome color in the posts. I really like it.

This coming year, I want to turn this blog into more of a resource, not just a hobby, or even just an income. I'm going to do a lot of redesigning in the sidebars to make it more reader friendly and so that you can more easily find useful information that you are looking for. I enjoy a good debate with you all, and will continue the FAQ Fridays, which I am sure will stir up controversy. It seems like my perspective is controversial whether I want it to be or not. However I want my focus to be more useful, informative and fun content, even if that means my readership goes down a little.

It's going to take some time for the blog to look exactly the way I want, so bear with me and leave me some feedback. If you're here at the right time, you might see the blog while it's a real mess!

49 comments:

Devon said...

Hmm...I'm looking forward to the final result! It's too big for my screen at the moment, in case you were curious.

Amber said...

I like the new background!

I would recommend centering your blog header between the two ads though instead of the header then two ads :)

Emily said...

Devon, good to know. My goal, I think, will be for the left two columns to be visible in the smaller screens. I'll just have to resize the post space a little.

Amber, yes, that might make more sense. (:

Amy@TheCircusMcGurkus.blogspot.com said...

I like the pink, but I have to scroll (left to right) to see the whole page. I had that problem when I went to a 3 column blog until I found this blog website. http://lenatoewsdesigns.blogspot.com/search?q=3+column Her free 3 column layouts worked on my screen.

Treva said...

Good start so far! I can't wait to see it when I can actually see the whole thing on 1 screen (or close to it).

Captain Cleavage said...

well i am allll about the pink! lol

Rachel said...

Merry Christmas to you! I like your new picture, but the new format looks too busy to me. FAQ- how do you find time to read all these other blogs?

dust in the wind said...

Wonderful! And my computer fits the whole page very nicely. I'm really looking forward to the direction you are going in with your blog. I'll be along for the ride!! Merry Christmas :)

nbjenni said...

LOVE color!

If you need any help, please let me know. I designed my own blog, and may be able to help you.

Anonymous said...

I like the color. I feel like the ads at the top are very large. I'll get used to it, don't worry! :)

T

Jess said...

Looks good so far! I definitely prefer the color version of the pictures of you and your family, they look very nice.

Jennifer said...

Love the color but the background is a bit busy for me.... can't wait to see the changes!

Dezra said...

Thanks for the great Christmas present....I personally LOVE the color!

Emily said...

Thanks for the feedback all. I hope that if nothing else, you all get a good laugh as I get it to the way I want it. Jennifer, thanks for the offer. I feel like I'm getting closer, but if it gets to be too hard, I know who to ask for help. Rachel, I get a lot of reading done while breastfeeding. (:

Meg said...

I LOVE the new look. Very cute. I can't wait to see the finished project! :)

Emily said...

Ok, I think I have the basic LAYOUT that works. I have a LOT of color tweaking and some graphics to alter. Can people who couldn't see everything before see everything now?

Anonymous said...

The background of the page looks all white to me, is it supposed to?
Also, I LOVE your new picture. So pretty!

Unknown said...

Emily, I think the pink is very simple, yet pretty! It suits!

True said...

LOVE that it is now in color, but I'm not *really* thrilled with the design. The other one seemed more "you".

Anonymous said...

LOVE the color photos!!

-Sandra

Melissa said...

I would just like to say THANK YOU for the color photos! I found it hard to get a good look at some of your meals that you posted pics of in black & white. Color pics would be MUCH better!

You look very pretty in the new pic also!
Melissa

Devon said...

Emily--that's better. Thanks! I can see everything now.

Mandy said...

For me the background is white. There is a big distracting ad right near your header! Can you move the ads around? I personally liked the black and white!! :)

Anonymous said...

I like the new colors. They're understated and look very nice.

Anonymous said...

So, I've read your blog quite a bit. You claim to follow Godly ways. So I have to question why you would choose to celebrate a pagan holiday such as Christmas. I have included a link explaining why this holiday shouldn't be celebrated (and why you wouldn't catch me dead with holiday crap in my house). I'm sure you have some answer about how you've "heard it all before" but have you given it serious thought? God does not command us to celebrate this man made holiday based in Pagan traditions. Why are you embracing it?
[link]http://gnmagazine.org/issues/gn61/christmas.htm[/link]

Lisa said...

I love the color!

oceans5 said...

There is a huge advertisement right beside your header. The header itself is rather small now. Not sure if you meant to do that or not. LOVE the color. Your photos are so much nicer now.:)

Anonymous said...

I love your new picture of yourself! So cute!

Treva said...

I can see everything on one screen now, but my scroll bar says there is something to the right. I checked the whole page and nothing is there; it all fits on my one screen as far as width goes.

Treva said...

<3 Looks great!

Anonymous said...

You have my vote for the green and brown... it's very earthy, I like it! Love the new picture of you as well.

I see you wear glasses and thought you might like to investigate http://www.zennioptical.com/cart/home.php. I have heard several good reviews about their CHEAP, but cute glasses.

- K

Jessica said...

I like the green and brown!

Anonymous said...

I was also going to give you feedback on the ad by your header. A centered header would look better.

I'm fond of black and white but your color choices for your blog are nice, not bright but with a little color.

Your new picture of yourself is very pretty and the color pics of your family show how adorable they are. :)

Great job!

Lindy

Clisby said...

I like the new blog design - but I think it's hilarious that Lincoln auto ads are included.

Rachel said...

I love the color! Thanks for the present! :-)

Jennifer said...

Love it!

Anonymous said...

I liked your old style better, only because I find the top logo distracting - it seems to be stretched and pixelly in this new layout).

But the new picture of you is great! You look very young & happy in it.

Angie said...

Yay! Color! I like it :)

Anonymous said...

Love the color, love the layout. I must say though the big ads on the top by the header are very distracting

Anonymous said...

Wow! I was "ok" with the black and white, but I really like the new look. The greens and browns give a nice earthy feel.

Anonymous said...

Hm, I don't find you controversial, but I do find your blog very interesting for a frugal or mom blog. I usually don't read this kind. -Cris

bashtree said...

Oooo I like the color! It fits on my monitor nicely. Good work!

Ria said...

Sometimes a little controversy can be a good thing. It can promote active discussion, a reconsidering of ideas, and if your readership goes down a little, it might also go up again later when more people who may share a controversial opinion find their way to your blog and see a little bit of themselves in you.

I, for once, am looking forward to seeing how this blog progresses.

Emily said...

Cris and Ria, I don't think I'll stop being interesting, or even controversial. I just don't want people to think my intent is to be controversial and start fights.

Anonymous said...

Like the color a lot more than b&w.

Stacy said...

Emily,

I like the new background, the color photos, and the color pictures--it's much more welcoming.

As for the content, to be really and truly honest, I'd prefer what you are proposing for the future--I come here for the resources primarily. That is controversial enough in a way--it's very countercultural to live as you are living and to cut back as you are--people find that type of thing intriguing, or at least some do.

The arguments annoy me and make me consider not coming back. But then I like the resources, so I check back to see if there's anything I can use. I'd be more interested without the fights, that's for sure.

Have a great Christmas! You've done a lot of work on this blog, and I hope you are feeling good about your decision to do it. It sounds like you're kind of rethinking the tone and the dynamics that have been present for awhile, and personally, I think they needed rethinking. The audience here is so widely diverse in beliefs, and it's hard to bring up anything without some controversy or disagreement. However, finding common ground seems like a great goal. Many people want to keep improving the way they live and the way they serve their families, so you can hardly go wrong by helping them to do something so worthwhile, in my opinion.

I wish you the best in the new year!

Countrymom said...

I like the new look and as a huge bene for me, it loads quickly (unlike the other). I also come to this blog for ideas and resources, not for arguments, etc. I like seeing how others come up with ideas I might want to incorporate into my own life and family. Thank you. Oh, and the color pics are soooooooooooo much better!

Diana @ frontyardfoodie said...

Yay! Merry Christmas to us!!!! I love the new design and all the colors. I liked your design before alot but this is definitely awesome.

Merry Christmas said...

Happy Merry Christmas to you all!

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