New site design and a little reflection

86 Comments

Okay so remember a couple of weeks ago when I whined told you about how my blog design was getting tired and busy and how I’d love a new design but that I’m impossible to work with?  Remember that?  Well how do you like me now?  (oops I think I just channeled Jillian Michaels from the 30 Day Shred for a second there 🙂 )

I had a dear sweet reader, Michelle from Cupcake Blog Design, email me to say she was totally up for the challenge.  I thought, umm, lady you have no idea what you are getting yourself into because seriously I am what you would call picky, neurotic, crazy, annoying, slightly detail orientated.  Just a little.  I emailed her back and said well okay but promise you won’t hate me when it’s over.  And guess what?  She doesn’t!   Well at least I don’t think she does 🙂  This girls a saint with some serious patience.  SERIOUS!    Holy cow….could I have said, “let’s change this and that and then this over here again” any more times!   Michelle was so awesome to work with and so friendly and fast too.  She’s just starting up her blog design business and most definitely comes highly recommended by me if you are looking for a change.  I only got her email two weeks ago and here we are.  All fresh and clean and uncluttered.  Thanks Michele, I really do love it!

What I love the most about it though is the white space.  It’s a far cry from my first blog design back in 2006.  I don’t know how many of you have been around since the beginning of Org Junkie but that first design was one you definitely needed sunglasses on to look at.  No kidding.  Can we say neon green?  It was bright and loud and busy just like me at that time.   Back in 2006 I was just coming home to stay for the first time after the birth of  my youngest and the journey I’ve been on over the past 4 years has been one of growth and simplicity.  In 2007 I transitioned  to my last blog design and that blog design was considerably toned down and not quite so busy which also reflected who I was at the time.  However that was two years ago now and a lot can change in two years.  I’ve changed.  I really felt like my old blog design no longer reflected who I am.  I loved it but I desired even more simplicity, more order.  Just like I’ve been striving to achieve in my own life.   I still wanted colorful and fun of course…..those things about me will never change 🙂   Not to mention the addiction love I have for containers of all shapes and sizes, I definitely can’t see that changing anytime soon!  So what we have here takes all of that into consideration and captures where I’m at right now perfectly.   So, please, come on in and make yourself at home.  I hope you’ll feel as comfortable here as I do.

I’d love to know, what does your blog design say about you?

86 Comments

  2. Yea – it looks fabulous and the white space definitely reflects you.
    About my blog design? Well, when I first switched, I just loved how everyone immediately says, “it’s so you.” Mosaic, happy, apple green background…probably not much white space, but it reflects both my beauty and my bedlam. 🙂 I love it.

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  4. Beautiful blog design Laura, I love it! My blog design at Life from my Laptop which I am once again blogging at is “Me” feminine and respectful ( I hope I’m that). Each of my blogs / sites has my “signature” butterfly representing what God does in our lives as he transforms us into what he wants us to be Romans 12:2 reference there.

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  14. It’s definitely easy to read. I need a change for my blog too. Maybe when I get a little extra money I’ll spring forth some money for it. I have never bought a custom made design before, I’ve always just used free templates. I’m ready for a big change over at my blog. Hopefully in the early new year I will do just that.

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  15. I am new here so I didn’t see your old desigh, but I really like this design! I also love how you recognize the different phases in your life and want that to be reflected in you blog. I’m feeling like I’m in a blog change right now and really want to move beyond the free templates that I can find online. Maybe I’ll check into your lead. I’m very excited to read your blog, because I could use some organization help!

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  24. I love it Laura! And I love the containers on the top. I have no idea what my design says about me but I do love it and haven’t wanted to change it in over a year. I makes me smile when I see it.

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  25. I love it – this looks fantastic!!! I am hating the look of my blog at the moment – I really need to pay it some attention but I am far too busy blogging and posting to maintain it… but my goodness this looks so worth the effort!!!

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  28. Love the containers in your header. My blog designs says — I’m cheap (use the freebie backgrounds) and fickle (I change regularly) and not computer savvy (I can’t make my Amanda and hubby fonts work)!

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  33. I love the new “you”! It’s clean and neat and reflects you perfectly. I remember the neon blog design. But I loved that too 🙂 My blog design says “scattered and cluttered and the mom of boys”. I guess that’s me 🙂

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  35. Love your new blog design. Don’t really care to much for my design on my blog, but I don’t have the money to spend to change it right now.

    Ally

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  38. Thank you for updating your blog design! Its way more user friendly and now I feel like I can get more from it! I like pretty and neat things what can I say! Its beautiful!

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  46. I love the new clean look. I usually read along in Bloglines, but I popped over to see you when you mentioned the look had been updated. 🙂

    My blog is still a baby, and I can’t afford to completely customize it, but I tried to choose things that would reflect the playful feeling I get while I am being creative.

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  47. Laura, I love it but mostly, I love your reflection. You know what? I also love all the white space and the simple feel.

    I think my blog says sassy but still organised – could always do with a declutter as we could all do 🙂

    BUT I’ve been working on simplifying big time in my life – with the twins, I just don’t have the luxury of lots of stuff going on, so am decluttering my website. The blog will be next 🙂

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  49. This looks great!! I know what you know about being slightly picky about your blog. I have been trying to work with a friend on a redesign for Overcoming Busy but I can’t seem to find just the right look. Yours is very inspiring!

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  52. I love it! Very easy to read from my phone too, so I can keep up while out and about *blush*
    I hope my blog reflects how I used to be, and how I am striving to be again. Cool, calm, collected, and organised! It helps me focus on my goals! xxx

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  54. It looks fantastic, really, truly! I think my site’s current design is starting to tell me “You need to get a re-design”. LOL! I still think it’s pretty, but it’s lacking something. Actually, I would like more white space, for one thing! Anyways, happy for you!

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  56. I really like it!!
    My blog? ok I guess. Wish I could get my banner centered but that’s what happens with templates!!
    By the way, how does one get a button on their blog?

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  58. I love your new look! I just redid my blog also and I found exactly what I was looking for. It say that I’m relaxed and going with the flow and enjoying life as it comes to me and my family.

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  59. I like the new look… I’ve been following you for quite some time and this is my favorite of your blog designs.

    I’m with you on the white and simple blogs. My blog isn’t fully designed yet but for now it’s perfect. Simple. Focus on Family. Easy to navigate. Free of clutter.

    Glad you found what you were looking for!

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  60. Love the new look! And I love white space!

    I hope my blog looks uncluttered and organized, yet simple and attractive. I think white space goes a long way in achieving an organized and clean look.

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  61. Looks like your day just got a little brighter and praying your hubby finds a job! Check out PW’s mixer winners:) Congrats!

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  64. Looks great! I Just came over to congratulate you (I assumed it was you anyway) on the PW win! I am SOOOO jealous – no clue why I never registered for one of those when I got married

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  65. Wow! This is so much better – I have always loved the information but been a little distracted. This is wonderful!!!

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  66. Oh my goodness ladies, I had no idea I’d won until I saw the emails and comments start coming in. Woohoo, what great news! So excited, I’ll have to blog about it because I just can’t contain myself 🙂

    And thanks everyone for all your nice words on the new design. Really appreciate it!!

    Laura

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  67. YAY! I lovvve it. Of course I also have a blog with a white background and I’m with you, clean just feels better. I obsess about things being too busy looking and with ad content on my page I have to balance that all and sometime get frustrated. But I think it’s the right way to go. I think your page is really beautiful and it’s really easy to view everything. Great work!

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  71. Yeah Yeah Yeah! Doing the happy dance for you – and I can’t wait to try something you’ve made (and baked:) with your new KitchenAid Mixer!!! Thou shalt not covet….thou shalt not covet….thou shalt not covet….okay I’m over it – I hope!!

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  73. This is my first time on your site, and it is impressive! I’m using a pre-fab design by WordPress on my blog because I have no budget, but some day I will have to start investing more into it…

    Congratulations on winning the mixer! It sounds like you really needed that kind of pick-me-up (and I completely understand since my husband was laid off for a good chunk of this year, too). Best of luck to him in his search!

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  74. Love the clean new look Laura! When I recently redid my blog the most important thing to me weas that it was pretty because I do love Finding the Pretty!!

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  75. Congrats on winning the mixer! I was so excited when I saw your name as a winner! It will be nice bright spot (literally!) for you. 🙂

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  79. Wow, the place looks great. I can’t beleive how fast it happened!

    I paid my deposit back in APRIL of 2009 for my blog design and am still waiting. I should have asked for a referral.
    The sad thing? She only does blogger blogs and I’ve been thinking about switching to wordpress. I’ll have to find someone else when I go that route.

    Ugh. Sorry, I actually just meant to say that I like your new look!!

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  81. I loved your last blog design, but this one IS probably more of who you are–which is important! And it is a great look. I remember working with a designer last year. I actually had to draw my own picture since I knew no one else could read my mind. Blog designers are not paid enough, are they?

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  82. I love the new design! I am just moving to WordPress this week (maybe tomorrow if it’s ready). I simply love the way your site looks. I am keeping my fingers crossed about my own. If it looks half as good as you, I’ll be good!

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  83. Nice! But I wasn’t around in the very beginning so I’d love to see your transition. I’m preparing to make mega changes on mine as well. As of now, mine says, “she’s a busy lady who loves purple!” and that would be correct. But I’m also a little more anal about the way things flow so it’ll be a lot neater and connecting to all aspects of my life after I get it redone which was planned for this month but it waiting until January instead. Can’t wait. I love to change things!

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  85. I love your new diggs! I changed my design a bit to a more “homey” feel after a while with a white-conservative look. I like my new “home” better with an ecru background, some browns, natural greens, and rust tones. I think it makes me feel a bit more grounded. 🙂 It will change soon again.

    Reply

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