We have been thinking about updating the site’s look for a while. I wanted to get everything perfect, then roll it out but I found out that if I did that, it wasn’t going to get done. I think they call that “letting great get in the way of good” or “don’t let perfect get in the way of great”… Something like that.
Instead we decided to take a different approach. The “just start doing it and it will get done” approach.
I don’t know of any project I have ever done that didn’t work with this “just start doing it” method. It is kind of fun because that’s how our Puerto Rico adventure is going to work or is working I suppose. At some point after looking at house after house and not coming up with something, we found a place that had the “bones” and basic idea that we could work with. We decided then and there that we were going to get started. Since then it has been planning, but we are nearing the part where we get to really start tinkering and building.
The new look will have larger photos, different headers to rotate thru, a new dropdown menu at the top and a new look that integrates with our facebook page. We are using a newer wordpress theme that is much easier to modify codewise. Otherwise, it should have all the same features you have come to expect.
So the redesign of the site will be an evolution. When an idea comes up, and the energy to implement said idea coincides, it will be done. Please let us know if something doesn’t work right by leaving a comment on our facebook page or leave a reply on the post. Either way should work.
Old Site
Let us know what you think!
I like it. Green border is fun, and the photos tell your story (plants and your new home) well. Like the way you can click on the pictures to rotate new pictures into the header (it did the first time, now it’s not doing it?). This must be set up for tablets, too, but comes off nicely on my laptop (very long blank space at bottom though). The commercial for modern furniture at right is a little incongruous with your site. Travelocity would be a good sponsor! Have you thought about applying for the Amazing Race? You certainly have the skills to do the pre app work required (video); getting ready for the race if chosen would really prep your for the PR lifestyle (they have to swim climb race travel etc). We looked into it but decided we were too old! You are perfect for it and have a compelling story to tell (which is part of the AR schtick). Also sponsored by Travelocity! If you got on the show you could do remote updates on this site too.
Hi Annie, Thanks for the feedback (we have always appreicated your support and comments! thank you)
We do use google adsense on a portion of the site. It will display whatever you have been searching for, I think they use cookies. So now we know that you have been looking at furniture! When I was trying to sell my guitars and amps I did some research to see what they were worth. I then started to see ads on every page I visted for places trying to sell me guitars! Sneaky.
I will talk with Cassie about the Amazing Race idea. We have thought about Survivor too, but that would most likely only be me as I don’t think Cassie is into the whole starving, being cold and competing with people in weird social ways..lol. The Amazing Race we could both do.
I’ll look at the whitespace you mentioned and see if I can’t cut down the page size. Also the header is random and we only have about 4 of them right now, so the chances of getting the same one twice is pretty good. We want to get quite a few of them built up, it’s a cool feature!
Yea you are right about the cookies. We check out the IKEA website a lot to furnish our beachy condo as cheaply as possible.
Good luck with AR. Would love to see you two make it to the show. You have the skills and grit to do it well. I agree, Cassie would not like sleeping in mud with scorpions or whatever. Me neither, although the AR kids have some challenging stuff to do like jumping in a chicken coop and landing in a poop pond (but you like chickens anyway),