WAIT! STOP SCROLLING!

If you’re reading this post in your Google reader or email, you absolutely must click on the title above, and pop on over for a quick visit at This Mom Loves. I have a new look!

While I love the template I’ve been working with, the header was a little uninspired. The flowers were nice and feminine, and I did like how the butterflies moved when your mouse hovered over them, but I’m not much of a gardener (although if you looked at our landscaping, you might think differently, but that’s mostly thanks to my husband!)

In terms of what “This Mom Loves”, so to speak, my girls and books rank a lot higher for me than butterflies and flowers. Thanks to the talented Julie at Leelou Blogs, I now have a much more personal look (plus, she kept a couple of moving butterflies just for old times’ sake!)

My daughters are obviously the inspiration for this blog, and the new illustration captures something we love to do together — read! My job and students are also important to me, and I had an idea for fitting that in, but Julie suggested that it might make the header too busy (and heaven forbid something of mine should look cluttery! I was aiming for more of a streamlined look.)

It’s funny, because I felt like a teenager waiting by the phone for a cute boy to call as I sat by my computer awaiting Julie’s mock screenshots. I swear, I would even keep refreshing my email to just see if anything was there! (I’m sure my fellow bloggers can understand.) I actually went to bed with my laptop beside me last night in case there were any last-minute questions (Julie’s in a different time zone, and has to do her work after her kids go to bed. Can anyone relate?), had bad dreams about the final product, and had to force myself to go back to sleep several times as if it were Christmas Eve…all I wanted to do was log on and check things out!

Needless to say, I am thrilled with the result, AND…I now also have a button just perfect for grabbing (see sidebar for code)! If you add it to your site, leave the link below so I can check it out and return the favour.

I also wanted to quickly mention the content of This Mom Loves. This week is giveaway heavy, which some of you love. However, I have many loyal readers who have been with me since before my “PR Friendly” days (drawn in by my touching prose and witty remarks, I’m sure). I would like you gals to know that while I am enjoying product reviews and giveaways (I’ll be honest – I love free stuff, I enjoy sharing my opinions about it, and giveaways help build readership) I have no intentions of taking This Mom Loves completely in that direction.

Finally, apologies to my American readers for the fact that so many current contests are Canadian only. That won’t always be the case.

So, back to my cute new illustration…comments are very appropriate at a time like this (hint, hint!)….so, how do I look?

(P.S. If you’re still seeing the old title at the very top, it is going to be removed!)

by | 22 Comments

22 comments on “So, How Do I Look?”

  4. Very nice! It's on my list of blog things to do to do something more "me" with my blog too – I just never seem to get the time! Leeloo seems to have done a great job with yours.

    Reply

  8. This is adorable!!! You're right it depicts who you are more accurately! And that's what a header is for, right? So cute! I'm wondering though, why do you have the title written in twice?

    I just redid my blog look recently. Stop by and see how the new header looks at my place! It's not as original as yours, but I'm still pleased with it.

    As for Canadian giveaways — I'm all for them being a Canadian and all….

    Reply

  10. Hey Chelsey – I will certainly pop over to check yours out! I did mention in my P.S. above that the top (old) title is still showing up on some pages, and it will be removed!

    Reply

  14. It looks great. I was blog hopping via Feed Squares and I wanted to drop a line and say hello. I've been following you for a bit and I really love the new template. Check out my blog when you get a moment and don't forget to link your blog up to my blog hop this week. See you around!
    Julie @ Bunches of Bargains
    http://bunchesofbargains.blogspot.com

    Reply

  16. I'm new to your blog so I'm not sure what the old one looked like, but this one is fantastic. It's eyecatching, engaging, friendly. Yup, me likey!
    And I totally get that you stayed up all night waiting for it. I should have a new look at the end of August, and I keep checking my gmail in hopes the blog designer will have moved up my date or needs me to answer a question.
    Congrats, this is so exciting! I totally get it!

    Reply

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