I Have a New Look!
OMG! I’ve only gone and done it again haven’t I! Yet again I have a new look for the blog. I tell ya, I’m just one of those people who is never happy! Never! Have you seen the amount of blog changes I have had since I started out? I’m not sure I can even remember them all if I’m completely honest. How bad is that though! Somewhere out there is someone (I hope, maybe, probably not but just work with me here) popping over for a read of my latest posts.
Hey Gerald, come and have a look at this will you
Doris shouts from her armchair.
What’s up now Doris?
Gerald ambles in out the garden trailing muck in with him and possibly some geraniums too.
Well, you’ll never bloody guess
She shouts, Doris is a wee bit deaf you see and can just about hear Gerald enter the room through the cheering on Deal or no Deal.
I doubt I will Doris dear, I doubt I will. So come on then, what’s so bloody important that you’ve dragged me in here for then?
Just ‘ave a look a look at this Gerald, can you even believe it?
Bloody hell, Doris I see what you mean! What is she like ‘eh. I tell ya, young ‘uns don’t know there born these days. Change their mind, partners, and hairstyles like no one’s business they do. All the bloody time
Gerald and Doris stare at the screen in disbelief. I mean why on earth would she do that again they thought shaking their heads in unison.
In our day you didn’t have so much choice did we Gerald? We picked something and we stuck with it regardless. I mean we done it didn’t we. Stuck with each other we were and now look at us 50 years later.
Gerald regarded his wife. Bloody stuck with me he thought, more like the other way round. Cheeky mare, I’ve a good mind to let her sort her own bloody geraniums out. But still he kept schtum he had learnt his lesson more than once these past 50 years and he was too tired to learn it again today. Bloody women.
Doris and Gerald stared at the screen in silence, the only noise was Doris’ rustling as she rooted around for another mint humbug.
Aye, but still it looks nice doesn’t it and we’re still sat here reading it so what does it matter anyway Doris.
Yes Gerald, you are absolutely right.
Gerald almost fell of the armchair in shock. Think I’ll pick up some more of those humbugs he thought, must be enjoying them.
Now as regular readers Doris and Gerald* should know what I’m like for changing my mind but what can I say? A change is as good as a rest and all that. Ah, who am I kidding I am just as fickle as a kid in a sweet shop, I want it all and cannot choose just one.
Truthfully though I was bored with the blog and lacking inspiration. For a while now I have been looking at other blogs and picking out ideas. I even went as far as contacting someone for a custom theme but ultimately I couldn’t afford it, sad face. But knowing what I’m like I knew it would have to be perfect and something I wouldn’t want to change in a few months. So I looked and looked. Then I looked some more. Then I asked Olivia. Bad mistake so I just carried on looking. I installed some free themes to play about with to help me get a better idea of what I ultimately wanted. The answer was chocolate as always however I’m not sure it would of made me a great blog theme.
So this was my previous theme.
But I wanted more of a boxed look. I wanted nice neat lines, which is totally random as absolutely nothing in my life is nice and neat ha. I love the look of the Family Fever blog layout. But it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. I also found myself wanting a sidebar similar to ClearlyBex new look too. So I had a play around with the free themes and came up with these.
I absolutely loved the Pinterest style of both of these layouts, however, something wasn’t quite clicking with them for me and I kept on searching. And searching. And searching some more. I tried all the usual places, falling in love with a theme on pipdig. Then rejecting it googling ‘genesis child themes’ as I already have the genesis framework. But nothing was quite right. It was beginning to resemble an episode from Say Yes to the Dress. You know when the bride is unable to choose a dress and is nitpicking at everything. I was the nit picking bride and if I was actually getting married and not choosing a blog theme. I would be getting married in a bin bag.
But nothing was quite right. It was beginning to resemble an episode from Say Yes to the Dress. You know when the bride is unable to choose a dress and is nitpicking at everything. I was the nit picking bride and if I was actually getting married and not choosing a blog theme. I would be getting married in a bin bag.
But then it happened. The hallelujah moment, ahhhhhhh. (sung in your best choir voice please, all angelic thank you). Bright lights, tears in my eyes the whole shebang. Oh my gosh that’s the one, yes I am saying yes to this dress, sorry blog theme. Where did I find this absolutely most amazingly perfect theme you ask? Why on Etsy of course. Where I found the last one, duh. It only took me 4 days of looking and searching. Choosing then disregarding. Then this morning, yes just today I found it. It only took me 30 mins to make my mind up 100% compared to the three that were sat in my basket for days.
There was a compromise. The layout had the clean, fresh look I wanted with extras I hadn’t even known I wanted. The boxed look of the sidebar and posts and the deal breaker of the read more excerpt for the home page. I lost the Pinterest style layout but I was ok with that. Honestly.
Then I installed, the seller made me a brand spanking new header and then I found the layout changes WITH THE GRID LAYOUT! Cue another round of OMGing at the kitchen table. Result.
So it is here, the new blog theme and I would love to know what you all think of it? The only thing missing now is some quality content 😮
Blog Theme: Natalie by DannyWordPress
*Doris and Gerald are fictional characters who, if they were real would probably be too busy planting geraniums, eating humbugs and bickering to be reading this blog but if by some random coincidence you are Doris and Gerald and read this blog say hi ;)*
Comments
It looks fab Tracey, although I need a proper look later on my laptop as opposed to me phone! I really love the style. And the header is brilliant! Your writing made me giggle. I’ll keep an eye out for Gerald and Doris! 😉 x
I love your new layout!!! And your story – I want to meet Gerald and Doris.
It looks FAB! I am very much the same as you with changing my mind…I like to call it growth instead on being ridiculously indecisive! 😉 #KCACOLS
Hahaha… I love Doris and Gerald. I hope they are out there. I think the blog looks great and I can relate to the urge to change it. I hope you eventually find what you are looking for 🙂 #BigPinkLink
I think it looks great! I like the sidebar boxes too! I get the never being happy, and always having a new thing you want to try, but changing blog themes is so stressful & hard work that I can’t be bothered to do it often! Laziness saves me! #fortheloveofBLOG
Your new look is awesome. Love the fresh and clean layout.
#KCACOLS
Ha love your post! I love the new design too , off to tell my nan about it 😉
#KCACOLS
It looks really good. I’m the same I swear I change the layout every six months or so. I can’t help it. #kcacols
Love it! Clean, chic and feminine. I love your homepage and the way your posts are boxed off, makes me want to go and change mine up x #KCACOLS
It’s beautiful, Doris and Gerald would be very proud. 🙂 #bigpinklink
its lovely – nice and clear and uncluttered. its so hard to choose, isnt it, with so many options. #kcacols
I think it looks great! Doris and Gerald remind me of my mum and dad! Made me chuckle #KCACOLS
Wow! It looks fab! I’m the same. Find it so hard to choose things and then settle with them. It’s because there are so many beautiful blogs around. Thanks for linking up! #bigpinklink
Great! You are obviously a dab hand at these changes. I hope you like the finished result – it’s great. Thanks for sharing it with #KCACOLS. Hope you can come back again on Sunday. Nickyx
I think theme selecting is a bit of a rabbit hole. You can end up lost and sleepless and unable to make decisions. I keep trying to change my theme but I don’t want to pay so I end up back with my original and maybe slightly changing the colour! It’s hard. Doris and Geral don’t know how hard haha.
#bigpinklink
Great look! Doris and Gerald may actually be my parents. #bigpinklink
If Doris and Gerald were real then they would love the new look because it is fab! Love it! #bigpinklink
Looks great! I changed mine recebtly and I’m already wanting to do it again! #bigpinklink
looks fab 🙂 #bigpinklink
Really looks terrific. Great job. Bur I totally agree that chocolate is always the answer…and I feel like I know Doris and Gerald. #bigpinklink
I’ve just changed my header for the bazillionth time – it is addictive! Ha!!! Love the new look 🙂 #fortheloveblog x
Congrats on the new look! It’s lovely, clean and modern. I’m using a free theme now and thinking that I’d like to get something that’s a bit more user friendly and with a bit more personality. I’m just very indecisive and can’t figure out exactly the one I want! #kcacols
Loving the new look – I feel like it’s time to change mine…..
And Doris and Gerald #genius #KCACOLS
Oh Tracey I think you new theme/design looks fantastic! I know what you mean it is so hard to find that perfect look. Trust me I know as I’m still looking for it . I’m glad you have found one you’re happy with and I just love how you incorporated Doris and Gerald into your post.xx #KCACOLS
Love the new look, very fresh and easy to make your way around.
#KCACOLS
I like it. I liked your old one too, but I like this one. I changed mine recently as part of going self hosted, but I now have the itch to change it again! *smacks hand* xx #KCACOLS
Panic not. I’ve a feeling I’m going to be much the same… it’s bit like the need to move furniture around in the house I feel. Always need to keep it new and interesting. I’m glad it’s not just me that is like this! Your blog looks great, nice work! #fortheloveofBLOG
I was going to ask about Gerald and Doris! Glad you clarified – for a moment I thought is switched blog posts lol!
I’m quite happy with my blog (blogger not WordPress) but I have recently redesigned my header and logo which I now love! #KCACOLS
Loving the new look of your blog. Sleek design.
If it was left down to me I’d never have been able to make up my mind with my look – luckily is was done for me! #KCACOLS
I think it looks absolutely great, I want to change mine but I don’t know where to start! Or indeed, how to actually change it! Thanks for sharing on #KCACOLS
I like it! I too was very happy with my look and kept changing it but I’ve had the current one a while now and i think that means it suits my blog. #KCACOLS
I like the new look! I am also one of those people who are never happy and feel the need to change my blog often lol. #KCACOL
I love humbugs and I love the design! I am constantly playing around with mine but need to go self hosted before I do some serious messing around. I love how clean and chic it looks! I love the Instagram down the bottom and the side boxes, best of all, great font..I am a sucker for a font…I get stressed and have to drink wine when I cant properly read blogs! #fortheloveofBLOG
Your layout looks amazing. I love it. I have been thinking of changing my layout to grid, but not sure.
Oh I LOVE it – and your dialogue just makes me giggle and giggle from sentence to sentence – I adore your enthusiasm – you are my kinda girl! All that OMGing – so with you! Looks fab lovely – very you, very fresh and clean and very readable! Doris and Gerald will love it! #fortheloveofBLOG
Looks lovely, my redesign is nearly ready here too, exciting time for us both x
Hehehe! I mentally cast Gerald as Alf Garnett!
I am loving your new design, I too am very fond of my side bar, its easy to navigate and something which shall never change with my blog. I love your boxes and I am gutted my new design doesnt have boxes… I’m still on the lookout for a better box design. Its all work in progress, just very slow progress haha! x