What I have been doing the last few days is tweaking my blog. If you are like me, you may not ever be satisfied with the look and feel of your blog. I want my blog to reflect what I'm writing about, I want it to be simple to navigate, I want it to be reader friendly, and I want it to look somewhat professional. I say somewhat because I know that I am unable to pay someone else to create a professional blog for me. It's all apples and oranges, don't you think?
As I write that I start to think that I am not sure I would even want someone else to design my blog. Like my home, I want it to reflect who I am. I want to feel cozy and comfortable inside this space I have created.
So I tweak. One thing I did in the past is get rid of captcha. I don't like it. It makes it difficult to leave comments, and I want it to be as easy as possible for you to leave me your comments. Your feedback on what I am writing is important to me.
I have reduced the size of my header because I want you to be able to see what I am currently writing about without having to scroll down to see it.
Another thing I did was to change back to using just one font. Although I like all of the pretty fonts that are available, I like the clean look of having just one.
I also put a "back to top" arrow on my sidebar. It makes it quick and easy to get back to the top and see what my most recent posts are. If you are interested in this and some other great tips for tweaking your blog, Brenda of Cozy Little House has started a new blog just for blogging tips. You can find it here. Thank you Brenda for making my blogging life easier. Between trying to maintain my Etsy shop and setting up my new booth I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Believe me, this chicken isn't as young as she used to be.
So I continue to tweak. As we are expecting yet another winter storm to roll in here Sunday and Monday I will have plenty of stay at home time to work on it. I know spring is out there. She is just waiting to show her pretty head. I for one can't wait to see it.
P.S. I apologize for not visiting as much as I usually do, but I will be catching up with everyone this weekend.
I have been thinking about simplifying my blog too - not really a redesign, just a tweak like you describe :-)
ReplyDeletei need to change up my blog. haven't touched the template or header in over a year. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for not twerking. It would made all of us other 'women of a certain age' feel bad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up to Brenda's new blog. I'm always rearranging my blog as well so the tips would be welcome.
~ Cassandra
Have a good week.
I never heard of twerking, so I was happy to see the definition. Even in my younger days, I never did anything like that! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think your blog is always lovely to look at, and most enjoyable to read. The photos you add makes t even more special.
It has a professional look to it. I agree about the CAPTCHA! I hate that! I really don;t understand why so many people use it. I have my blogs set so I can read the comments first before publishing them. That's enough for me.
I love the fonts too, but some of them are hard to read. I like simple, but I also like unique, so I try to make a happy medium of the two. I know my blog may not appeal to some, but it's "me."
Stay safe during the winter storm and enjoy your weekend.
I agree. I want my blog to be a reflection of me (even if that is a disturbing thought), so I like to do it myself and use my own photos and such. I enjoy your blog. I also think it was a great idea to resize the header so that people see at a glance that there's something below it. ALSO, I hate captcha. It is so annoying.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend, Laura xo
I've been meaning to change my blog look for quite some time. Thanks for letting us know about Brenda's new blog. I am familiar with her other one.
ReplyDeleteYou blog is beautiful and I love coming here!
Well, it looks great, my friend! I recently did the same thing: simplified my blog. Thanks for linking to my other blog.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Brenda helped me with my blog too. She's a lifesaver! Glad that you were able to get her to help you too. I didn't know that she had an additional blog for this too. I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteTime for me to spruce up my blog too!!
ReplyDeleteI hope this weekend is a happy one for you!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Laura, if I twerked I’d never be able to get back up. Since your words of wisdom are something I try to follow, I’m profoundly glad you are nor twerking either.
I like your new look. Spring cleaning is a good idea and I may have to do some at my spot too. I like your photos - the oranges in the blue bowl are striking. Happy March to you.
ReplyDeleteI like your fresh, new look. And your photos are always outstanding.
ReplyDeleteI love the clean look. I've been thinking about making some changes in mine too, but don't want to change who I am. I agree that our blog should reflect who we are. BTW, I love that vintage quilt! LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteIt really looks great! I need to do some tweaking, too. I like your pin it button on your post! Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. I just did the same thing with a little spring change up on my blog too. Love the new look.
Kris
I love your new look. But now you have inspired me to get to work on my blog! Yes, I will be tweaking not twerking, too.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I laughed out loud with your comment about twerking.. it's ridiculous that is word is everywhere these days. Anyway, I DO like your tweaks and I'll be doing that too. My concern is that it (like you said) won't feel like home. It's tough to get just the right amount of change isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHave a fun weekend! xxleslie
I think your tweaking makes a nice difference--little but noticeable changes! The photos in this post are especially appealing!
ReplyDeleteMarch is rolling in like a lion, here in Kentucky. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteI like this header better then the other one. The little bird is perfect. I'm thinking of tweaking (not twerking...LOL) my blog also but so far I'm still loving my Paris inspired header. Oh well. Stay warm and come on Spring.
ReplyDeleteLinda
I think you do a fine job managing your blog, if I do say so myself! Sometimes some blogs are just so "perfect' looking and aren't a true representation of the blogger. I do have to jump over to Brenda's though, I've lost my favicon symbol on some blogs where I comment and only a dash with a circle is left. Maybe she has the answer! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteIt's looking better and better each time I see it. I like the clean and sparse look, very nice.
ReplyDeleteJen
It's clean / neat / easy to read.
ReplyDeleteOMG Twerking ! Just a week or so ago I read on the local news that a high school dance was stopped and shut down because they were all twerking. Principal's suggestion was that a local dance studio organize classes for the kids so they'd learn how to dance! : ) That got me to thinking ....as in, if we'd all, as kids, learned *real* dancing...maybe things would be different. We wouldn't have had to twist, bump, rock, shake rattle and roll and finally twerk! :) :)
I am laughing at your Twerking comment:) Love your photos.
ReplyDeleteLaura drop over to my blog you won the pink hat. I sent you an email. Hug B