Brave New World
Whew. That was way less painful than last time.
What do you think of the new look?
Yes, I added ads. I know. Shameful. But this is not my first foray into commercialism on my blog. I had Google ads for a while, but I hated them for two reasons. They were ugly. And more importantly, I didn’t like their smart content detection system. Like when I wrote about skin cancer prevention, and “miracle skin cancer cure” ads started popping up. But the final straw was when I wrote about how vile Ann Coulter is, and Ann Coulter ads were then placed on my blog. Jesus, Joseph and Mary, I was NOT a happy camper that day. Not to say that Blogher will be a marriage made in heaven – I am sure there will be ads I don’t like – but I have more control over it. And hell, the joint is run by chicks.
And I added more blog clutter (as Izzy calls it). I am trying to decide if I am OK with it. I need to live with it a bit and see. But your feedback is appreciated. (And oh, I know the footer is jacked. I can’t figure it out right now and my brain is fried).
You may have noticed the Blogger’s Choice badges are back. Yup, that time of year again. And please, could you do me a favor and go vote for me in the best Blog Design category? Not that I think *I’m* all that and a bag of chips – but with the exception of a few of the leaders, that category is really SAD, in my opinion. (PPSSSSTT! Choosing a fun Word Press template – or even adding your own fun banner to a Blogger template – should not make one a finalist in the “Best Blog Design” category.) So, here they are. Have at it. Not that I think I would even come close to winning any of these, but I certainly appreciate being nominated. Thanks to Doodaddy, Oh The Joys and my friend James, respectively.
Oh, and one more thing. We leave for Hawaii on Wednesday. Let me repeat that cause it sounds so awesome.
We leave for Hawaii on Wednesday. We are spending Christmas in Maui. Here. With our best friends. And sand. And whales. And mai tais.
Jealous, yet?
I plan to blog if possible. Or maybe not. But only if I feel like it. One of my mantras for this blog is to blog every day unless I am incredibly sick or out of the country. And while Hawaii isn’t out of the country – something that takes that many hours and that many times zones to get to counts.
But oh, but did I mention we also have a direct flight?
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P.S. Hit refresh to see the 3 Recent Pics photos at their full-size glory!
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Looks great! wanna redesign mine? ;P
Ooh, I’m first? Thank Twitter.
Love the new design! It’s purdy.
looks fab, just like you (hot mommy blogger!).
and yes, consider this comment me admitting how insanely envious i am of your travel plans!
I’ve only been reading for a while (since NaBloPoMo!) yet, I love the new look!
And yes, I am so totally jealous of Maui…. Hope you have a fabulous time!
Very nice! I was about to say that font color didn’t work well on the brown background, but then the white kicked itself in. Darn slow DSL tonight. 😉
The theme I currently use on my blog is a template (I use WordPress), but I’ve made slight modifications to it. I’ve never in my life taken a computer course, or had anyone teach me the how tos of everything. So I’m a newbie, and a self-taught (albeit poorly self-taught) blogger. I’m trying to learn PHP, but dang, it’s complicated.
And wow, jealousy! Fabulous new design for your blog, and Hawaii! Tres awesome, that is. Have a great trip!
AD, it took me a while to warm to 3 columns, so I hear what you are saying. Of course, the flip side is, James says it looks more like a “site” rather than a “blog” now. He promised me that was a complement, LOL.
And thanks all!
LOL Phil, re: the brown. You must have thought I was crazy!
P.S. I know it’s bad for my blood sugar, but I *love* fruity drinks. All I drink in Mexico are Pina Coladas. Isn’t that hilarious???
i love it i love it i love it!
but…the font on the comments is coming out too small on my screen…
Thanks Ali, I will look at that tomorrow!!
Awww, man… ads!!!
But, still love ya.
Love it – the colors are really nice!
I really like it a lot. Makes me want to redesign mine as well for the new year.
Haha, yeah, I did at first. But I did think back to my days blogging in a community. I blogged over in Yahoo!360 for almost two years before starting my own site this past September. And holy cow, I saw some of the most unreadable pages! Like beige background with canary yellow font. I was not amused. Grin!
Seriously, though, I like the new look here. And the three column isn’t too bad, though I’m still a two-column kinda guy myself. 😉
I like the new colours, etc. But yeah, the new layout is cluttered – not because of the ads but because of the three columns. I am the only person who does not seem to like the three column blog look. Not that it would stop me from reading your blog, mind you. I wouldn’t say/type this usually, BUT YOU ASKED!
Have fun in Hawaii, snorkeling and vegging and drinking Mai Tais which are vile and too sweet and NOT authentically Hawaiian and give you the worst hangovers. Drink lots of water! Stay hydrated, woman. Come back safe!
Looks great! I love the 3 column layout.
Continued thanks, all. 🙂 Yay!
And anyone know how to get Alexa.com to update a thumbnail? That’s what Blogger’s Choice uses… and I have clicked there “update thumbnail” link and it won’t do it! POUT! I emailed them this morning.
Looks good! Congrats on the blogger nominations. 🙂
Oh, and Keely – I am totally starting to do design work on people’s blogs! Email me if you are serious! 🙂
It’s beeyootiful, Aimee.
“Choosing a fun Word Press template – or even adding your own fun banner to a Blogger template – should not make one a finalist in the “Best Blog Design” category.”
Speaking as one of those who get free templates, damn straight. I hope you win!
Oh, thanks for the tips Melissa! We have been so caught up in Xmas that we only have a general sense of what we want to do. Buy The Hanna Highway had already been decided. WITH LOTS OF SNACKS. 😉
MB, whatcho talking about with the *TAN* stuff???? You know better than that.
But we seriously need to set a date. Can’t wait to see you guys!
I really like it!
In spite of the fact that I hate you for going to Hawaii. While I go to Scranton, PA.
I was just about to say how nice it looks until I got to the Christmas in Maui part …. then I lost all train of thought!
1. Nothing wrong with ads 😉
2. I voted!
3. I love the new design. I envy your skills 🙂
4. Have a great trip! Not envious at all. Nope.
ITA that the redesign looks really nice, masthead, colors, font, etc. However, the layout is cluttered, and once a site shrinks content for ads, I have a hard time reading. However, if you can afford to take all of your loyal readers to Hawaii next time because of ad and Etsy revenue…maybe…just maybe I could forgive you!
What fun! Good job! And have a blast in Hawaii!
Lovely!!!
The layer of material covering the bodies of the fairskin creatures is not skin. Skin doesn’t burn in the Sun of God. The Sun’s light is natural and doesn’t burn that which it adores. Rather, it burns that which it despises.
Skin cancers and melanomas are the curse of God against white people for their skin sins and continued evil of today. In Daniel, Isaiah and Revelations God warns He will curse the evil with the Sores That Do Not Heal. Skin cancer and melanomas are these sores.
Based on their skin color, whites exalted themselves above everyone else on the planet and called everyone else: ugly, evil and inferior.
Now, that giving everyone else life burns whites’ skin.
That giving everyone else life is God. The sun is God. The sun hates white people. God Hates White people.
God has fixed His holy light to discriminate between black and whites so that it burns the whites.
Ultraviolet light is the fire of the 2nd Rapture burning evil from the earth.
Thank God!
It looks great! I totally agree about the design category, and WEV to people who hate ads. BlogHer ads also sometimes feature nonprofits and charities, and there have been months where they’ve been the only thing buying me such nonessentials as cheap coffee and wine.
Oooo – Hey, nice look!
And I went to Maui 3 years ago – Do NOT blog while you are there!!! Take your camera, soak up the sun and do everything that you can!!!
The Road to Hana is the BEST ‘tour’ for photography (it will last all day, plus there is a fabu winery at the end). I have never seen beauty like it, before or since!. Sunrise at Haleakala (the volcano) is a must do – so very cool to drive through clouds (no kidding!) on the way up to the top, and you can bike down if you feel adventurous, just take warm clothes. Snorkeling and swimming with the turtles and dolphins was my favorite activity. The Luaus are over-rated but you really can’t leave without experiencing it… Have lots of fun!!!!
One more thing I forgot – If you can, take a helicoptor ride (and your camera) – Amazing.
And I am jealous if you get to see whales!! We went in May and they weren’t around then!!!
I am jealous anyway! 😀 We got a foot of snow this weekend, so Maui really does sound like Paradise. Have a great time!
Wow, I was going to delete that spam, but it’s seriously too good.
I love the new look! It’s my secret fantasy that you will make MY blog look perty.
I will see your tan when I’m in Denver! And I’ll be oh-so-jealous!
It’s lovely, although I’m too busy being pea green with envy over your trip to notice, really.
Very nice! I thought I commented earlier, but it must have just been in my head. (I hate when that happens…)
Have a *fabulous* time in Hawaii!!
I really like your new design. And I AGREE that changing a header or choosing a template shouldn’t count! I voted for you.
Have a fantastic trip to Hawaii!
love the looks (not bothered at all by the clutter). and enjoy Hawaii!! but only if you have a drink for those of us who are not so fortunate as to be travelling to a beach in December. otherwise… oh, enjoy yourself anyway. 🙂
I love the look and I don’t think it’s too cluttered. And the addition of the photos on Declan and fam are terrific!
I can’t wait to work with you on my *banner* which I haven’t emailed you about and you have much better things to do . . . like go to Hawaii! Yes, I’m jealous! But you’ll have a wonderful time and I’ll catch up with you in 2008!
And continued thanks everyone – you are so kind!
Hot, hot, hot. Makes me want to buy something.
P.S. Whatcha thanking me for? Did I do something?
Looks great but the font for the comments is quite wee.
As for Hawaii, shut up already. I’m going to Cleveland.
Yeah, you heard me. The Cleve. In December.
NOT a vacation.
Travel safe and have fun, friend.
Mele Kalikimaka, Aimee! 🙂
Hope you don’t have a white Christmas. (that would mean that the earth is doing some pretty strange tilting.)
But a Christmas luau might be fun.
(oh, and I got your CD last week. thanks! you rock.)
I hope it’s not too late to give you Maui pointers?
If I’m guessing correctly, you’ll most likely be staying over somewhere on Kaanapali Beach, that’s where most stay, or close to it! You must go to Leilani’s Restaurant, it’s at the very south end of Kaanapali Beach, you don’t have to waste your time or moeny eating your meal there…just whatever you do…GET THE HULA PIE!!! It’s all sorts of macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate cookie crust and fudgey chocolatey goodness!!!
Also, if you can make a little trip up to Napili which is just north of Kaanapali Beach, go to The Gazebo restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant is literally in a gazebo, and little birdies flutter around and peck nibbles off the floor and stuff. The food is great!
If you want to act like a local while you’re there…order POG to drink at breakfast…Passion Orange Guava juice…it’s super yummy!!!
I have so much more I can direct you to see…email me if you want more tips. I’ve been to Maui,Hawaii about 7 or 8 times to visit my brother and his family. Wave hi to him as you pass the firehouse going to The Gazebo!! Teehee…just kidding!!
I”m sure you’ll be doing the trip out to Hana…tip? start early in the morning…it’s a long winding road and takes a couple hours to get there. If you want to save time coming back to the hotel from Hana? Just keep going on the road you came in on…it will take you around the back side of Haleakala and the road is not as winding and will take 1/2 the time, plus it’s a great site seeing road too.
Well, like I said email me if you want more tips on what to see, I doubt you want me filling up your comments with tips!!! 🙂
If you don’t email me…have a wonderful vacation..Hawaii is awesome!!!
Oh and one more thing…don’t waste your time or money going out to Molokini to go snorkeling…the tourists have basically destroyed the coral and there’s not much to see there. If you’re going to do a snorkel trip on a boat…go out on one of the cattamerans off of Kaanapali Beach that go to Honolua Bay!
http://www.lilfoot2007.wordpress.com
Much appreciated Lil Foot, thanks!