The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. ~Dorothy Parker
If you’ve come out from behind your feed reader or read directly from my site you may have noticed something different about my site. I read from Google’s feed reader and see your site from within the reader because Miss Britt offered these great instructions. I’m down with technology like that. Besides, I really dig that little monkey.
Anyway, I’ve decided to do away with the rotating pictures and go back to using my old header. The rotating pictures were fun for a while but nothing says “Clusterfook” like a putrid green header, putrid green text and putrid green links.
I don’t even like green. Especially the color green in my header.
I’m restless by nature and get bored easily. If you have followed me for a long time then you know I’ve had at least 10 different themes. For a while the gals at WDS did a lot of my themes. Danalyn did an awesome, customized theme with an illustration of me flippin’ the bird.
Then one day last year I ventured out on my own when I found one of Randa Clay’s themes. With her great instructions, my leftover knowledge and a few glasses of wine I came up with my own custom theme.
Oh, that leftover knowledge? That would be from when I was a web designer…pre-2001. That’s when every thing on the web changed and I went back to working full-time. I went to school, Penn State University, and received my webmaster’s certification. For a few years I worked part-time as a web designer.
I created my first site in 1997, by hand without a WYSIWYG editor. Back in the day of horrid Winnie-the-Pooh graphics and Geocities. In my own defense it was a website dedicated to my daughter and her premature birth…still there is no excuse for large Winnie-the-Pooh graphics. I hope you can forgive me for committing such a horrible offense.
Unfortunately, the knowledge I learned eight years ago is practically useless but it gets me by when I want to do some things. I could never design a site from the ground up but WordPress and CSS are pretty easy to use that I can maneuver my way around.
But, I’m bored with this design. It lacks the pizazz and the colors I really love. I just don’t know what to do with it. Hiring someone to redesign my site isn’t an option because I’ve got a truckload of medical bills to pay.
Can I just take a moment to thank Karen for her continuous donations. She has been so very generous that I just don’t know how I can thank her…except to keep fighting until they find something that works. Her donations have helped me pay a chunk of medical bills.
So, what to do with my website? Should I just leave it be? Or redesign? Do you get bored with your blog design? Do you feel that your design represents who you are and how people identify your blog?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t have any time to redesign my site – too busy working! I guess if you enjoy screwing around with code (as I do) then go for it! I find inspiration on istockphoto.com and webcreme.com. Have fun!
And you’re most welcome..I just wish I could cover more than just stupid bills tho!
Karen Sugarpantss last blog post..The Incredible Shrinking Woman
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I think it’s a creative thing. I get bored too. The good news is that I don’t know shit about Web design. I know design, but I don’t know code well enough to make a new template. And with the feed readers I don’t have to think about it so much. It takes the pressure off.
P.S. – I like this design. It fits.
Finns last blog post..So, OK, The Trip…
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I know nothing about web design/websites, but I love to play in Photoshop and have changed my blog header a few times. If you want something photo-ish, I’m your gal. Digi scrapbooking? ditto. I wish I knew little things like how to get the damn header centered. But I figure my 9 faithful readers, my dad and sis don’t really care all too much.
HeatherKs last blog post..SOOC: Awww, Mom!
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Karen: Oh I’ve never heard of webcreme.com! I’ll have to check it out.
Finn: I think your template fits too.
HeatherK: I love playing with Photoshop too. As far as your header is concerned you just have to fix your CSS to center it. Depending on how on your CSS you could add: vertical-align: middle;
Let me know if you want help.
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I wish I could design my own theme but I don’t have the first clue how. I’m just learning how to add widgets and plugins! I’ve thought about having a custom design made because I like elements of mine but not the whole thing. I just don’t know where to go. Any recommendations would be appreciated!
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I love your header, I kinda missed it!
I just redesigned my blog too – I was very tired of finding sites that looked just like mine since I was using a pretty typical wordpress theme. My new look is so much more me – and only me! Now that I know how to mess around with it I’m pretty confident I can do even better next time.
catnips last blog post..holiday $pending
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I’m not getting too concerned about the look of mine–once I have the bux I’m going back to my favorite web designer and getting him to help me set up again on my own domain with WordPress and alter the last theme he did for me for the new name. So until then I’ll muddle with what I have–for the most part I can adjust it as I need to, which is good enough til I can do something else about it.
As for yours–if you don’t like it, change it! If I didn’t already have another plan I’d be hot on getting a new setup, but since you’re in your own domain already and don’t like the layout it’d be worth the time to get a new template. WordPress templates are pretty easy to find and install–poke around your dashboard for a list of sites that make templates that go along with WP’s install features and it’ll be easy to get something you can alter to suit you.
PandoraWildes last blog post..Geek.Kon=Blast!
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I think it looks good. To much design for the sake of being fancy will detract from the content and in blogging content is king. I’d keep your theme and make some mods to the header and maybe the background to spice it up a little. Keep the black text in a white field and all that but I wouldn’t mess with it to much.
It looks like you’re using the thesis theme with some mods…I use it as well and am waiting for Chris to come out with the new magazine style theme. Anyway, this site looks really good and the writing is awesome.
Paunchinesss last blog post..Oh Thank Heaven. Obama vs. McCain at 7-Eleven
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floating princess: You can start with simple things like the header or background. Those are pretty easy to change.
catnip: I kind of missed the putrid green header too. I’ll check out your new design too.
PandoraWilde: That’s the good thing about WP, it’s so easy to change and there are so many options. This theme even has a lot of options.
Paunchiness: Yes, this is Thesis without the extra sidebar and my own modifications. I’m looking forward to the magazine style theme as well.
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I like the changing picture you had on here.
Because I do get bored with things, it was nice to see a different pic
each time.
I have no clue to tell you how to design it now, because I’m clueless like that.
I don’t have a blog, so I don’t design. Good luck, tho, with finding something that works for you! I just know it’ll be awesome.
I’ve never been disappointed with what I saw here.
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This is nice, Lisa, and easy to read. I like the header. The floral-grunge look is very popular right now, so it’s very stylish.
I’ve kept my same blog design for what, 3 years now? I still like it, it’s me.
I have tried using stuff with WYSIWYG and I never like them. I think they’re often cumbersome to use and then you don’t have as much control, really, if you want to move something or make something look “just so”.
Even Blogger, I hate the “new” blogger and all those widgets and the design view for the template seems awkward to me, I can’t make it look how I want and I don’t understand all those widgets and their code is HUGE.
So, I build websites by hand, still. It’s hard to keep up though, isn’t it? I’m trying to learn PHP right now. Lots of searching for “Free codes” gives me the code I want and then when I implement it, I get and idea of how it works.
annies last blog post..You Wanna See Cute?
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I get bored.
And then I get obsessed.
I’ve been working on a redesign in the background for WEEKS now and I can barely stand to go to the blog the way it is now because I can’t STAND it the “old” way.
But, I have issues.
Miss Britts last blog post..Declare Yourself
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I love this header, but totally get the ‘bored with it’ thing. Why not change the green to a different color, and go from there?
Tugs last blog post..Different view of berries
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I get bored with things pretty easily and change things up. I know tons of people have Wordpress themes, although my brain is drawing a blank as far as url’s, available. If you feel like change, change it! And if you don’t like the green, definitely switch it to a color you like better. It’s your site, make it how you want it.
Erins last blog post..The future woes of Kayla
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Oh I totally get bored all of the time. Before I switched to WordPress, I had about four different headers that I would rotate depending on the time of the year. Like Britt, I am working on a behind the scenes holiday look for my blog but it is taking forever since this is my first design with WordPress!
I agree with Tug…find a color and see where that leads you!
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I get really bored…I see my web site design as an extension of how I’m feeling…
In fact, I think I will change it now.
Pams last blog post..SNL is on a roll
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I get bored very easily with my blog design! There’s been times where I’d spend hours checking out various free theme websites as well as the professional designers. I think I finally found a design I love though and will stick with for awhile.
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If I ever get my act together and get my own domain, I will play around with the design. I get bored really easy also
Rachels last blog post..It’s a bad day after all
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I get bored easily, but haven’t figured out how to do many changes yet. What is that great hint for seeing blogs in the reader, I got a 404 error
Megryansmoms last blog post..We Could Be Twins!
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I need to get a wordpress account. And a domain, cause frankly, i can’t stand my blog theme, it’s rather boring to me….and I don’t feel it represents me as much as I’d like. I think now that I have a job I will probably get a custom blog, but babysteps first and get the domain and wordpress
Cissa Firehearts last blog post..Are you ready for some football?
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Ugh! I get SO BORED with my theme too… I do like your header though. I’ve always loved it. I agree though, I don’t have the money to spend on a new theme, and I surely could never make my own… so, I have to do with the free ones… Dang.
Krystles last blog post..Protected: Sometimes
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Kate: I thought the changing picture was fun for a while and I may bring it back in the future.
annie: I agree that your blog design is YOU.
The only WYSIWYG editor I’ve ever really liked was Dreamweaver and the fact that you could use it with everything else like Fireworks, Flash, etc.
I’ve also been learning php as I go along.
Miss Britt: I have those same issues….so I understand.
Tug: I tried messing with the color but just could find the right one. There’s something about the green.
Erin: I’ll get there eventually.
Hilly: I totally adore the template you have now. I can’t wait to see what you do for the holidays.
Pam: There you go…
B: I’ve done the same thing checking out themes.
Rachel: I highly suggest getting your own domain. It’s liberating.
Megryansmom: I fixed the link.
Cissa: Like I said to Rachel…go for it.
Krystle: It’s really easy to learn how to customize a theme. Start with small things like the header or background.
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I think your design is cool. However, I understand what you mean about getting sick of it. I wish a design fairy would show up on my blog and do a complete redesign for me too!
Black Belt Mamas last blog post..Call the Fashion Police and Get me some Hydrocortisone
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I have to say, I sincerely miss Geocities! ha ha The good ole’ days!
MuchoMamas last blog post..My Glorious Morning!
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