Although I’ve been a nomad for much of my life, I’m not one who likes too much change. I get used to things being a certain way, or doing things a certain way, and I’m perfectly content to leave them as they are. It’s not that I’m afraid of change–I think maybe I’m just lazy.
I’ve been growing increasingly disenchanted with the way my blog looks, but am pretty computer illiterate and well, I’m just lazy and didn’t feel like doing anything. I keep the theme I have because it’s the only one I like the look of with my custom header and tagline, even though I HATE that I can only write in Times New Roman. God I HATE Times New Roman . Yes, Times New Roman, I was talking to you. Wanna fight?
Today I was reading Ask and Ye Shall Receive, a site that mercilessly tears other blogs new assholes (apparently at the blogger’s request) and some of their posts on “blogging no-nos” scared me into action.
Here are the changes I’ve made:
- I’ve changed the Monthly Archive to a drop down list, to clear up some clutter.
- A few people have mentioned that my Blogroll was WAY too long, so I made that its own page (tab at top of blog) and have expanded/categorized it to include many (but not all, I got tired) of the blogs I read. I’ll update that frequently.
- I took out the Recent Posts widget. Since you’re on the front page, isn’t it obvious just by scrolling down what the most recent posts are?
- I reduced the number of post Categories, drastically. The number was just ridiculous and unnecessary
- I added the Top Posts widget. Because my sidebar looked so barren after all the changes.
- I also cribbed Theresa in Merida’s idea and added a weather feature. This one is for Cozumel, i couldn’t find one for Playa del Carmen, but it’s close enough, I guess, to make all my friends Up North jealous. Cozumel is just a ferry ride away. I noticed that the time is wrong, by an hour. We’re at Central time here. Anyone know a better, more accurate weather feature I could add?
I think the blog looks nice and clean now. Just in time for me to clutter it all up with ads. Kidding, I kid. Unless they come knocking, in which case, bring on the sellout.
Huzzahs and/or Boos welcome.
Looking good! I like the changes. And I’m SO with you on the Times New Roman. To what does it owe its popularity? I scoured the internet looking for some trick to try to change it as the default on my blog, but to no avail.
By: ellen on July 12, 2008
at 3:29 pm
I like it, too. It’s always a good feeling to do a little housecleaning, at least once it’s done!
It’s funny but it looks like Arial or Verdana or something for your comments font, wonder if that’s something to explore?
Later.
By: Nancy on July 12, 2008
at 5:55 pm
Arial is my favorite font. I have no idea how to change the font on my blog either. I used accuweather which I learned about from La Gringa’s Blogicito. I like the feature that says the temperature and the real feel temperature. I don’t know how accurate it is. Personally I like blogrolls, I do prefer the ones divided up by category though instead of a long list of blogs.
The changes look good.
regards,
Theresa
By: Theresa in Mérida on July 12, 2008
at 7:17 pm
Ellen and Nancy: I know, it’s maddening that my comments are not TNR, but the blog text IS. I even made the mistake of upgrading to a custom CSS for 15 bucks a year, in the hopes I could change the font, but OOPS, I forgot I’m a computer idiot and can’t figure out how to write the necessary codes to change it. Grrr. Someday my head will explode looking at the TNR.
Theresa: Arial is my favorite font, too. I’ll check out the accuweather option soon, right now I’m exhausted from all of yesterday’s changes and am too tired. I agree with you, I liked having my blogroll on my front page/sidebar, but I couldn’t figure out a way to divide it and also, I read a LOT of blogs and just could not add them all. I still have a ton of blogs to add to the page. Reading blogs is pretty much all I do these days, I’m embarrassed to admit.
By: heatherinparadise on July 13, 2008
at 11:42 am
Heather, it’s amazing how the computer can just suck me in. I guess some people watch tv, I read blogs. What I did (but I have blogger) is make several blog rolls and title them. I also try not to have blogs that don’t get updated very often unless the old information is really important. I looked at the blog review site, and decided that they probably wouldn’t like my blog, so why subject myself?
I don’t mind constructive advice, but being slammed doesn’t work for me.
I got rid of my ads though.
regards,
Theresa
By: Theresa in Mérida on July 13, 2008
at 12:28 pm
do I have a favorite font? Verdana? I think I like that one… apparently not enough to know for sure…
your changes look good… i probably should do a little mixup on mine, but, meh…
I’m feeling a little blah today… should probably keep away from all blogs, including my own….
By: charmarie221 on July 13, 2008
at 1:29 pm
I don’t care what you do to your blog as long as you keep posting with the frequency you have been managing lately! I must admit, I do like reading the whole blogroll though. I have found some good blogs that way. (some real duds too!) I tried the weather function Theresa has. I posted it to my blog and it was way too huge to fit in my sidebar!
By: wayne on July 13, 2008
at 8:47 pm
looks good!
Hey, you can get a weather thingy for Playa at accumweather.com
I’m in the process of trying to do an update of my website, but I’m not getting very far..you have inspired me!
By: Laura on July 14, 2008
at 9:48 am
hi there (=
im using the mistylook in my blogger..could you please tell me how to change the font size of tahe sidebar headers? I tried and tried but just cant change them. Which part is it that I need to change? Thanks a lot!
By: cshlee29 on July 13, 2009
at 6:54 am