Spring Blog-Cleaning

by | Mar 6, 2009 | Uncategorized | 21 comments

Inspired by Emma and Elizabeth, I am hoping to work on my plan for our Spring Cleaning this weekend, and get started on Monday. My “to-do” list will probably look very similar to last year’s, but since I’ll be starting a bit earlier, and Easter is later this year, hopefully we will have better results!

In the meantime, I am working on a little Spring Cleaning here at my blog… Over a year ago, I spent a ridiculous amount of time manually converted my blog template to three columns. I’ve had some more comments lately on how slow my blog is to load, and I think the cause may be poor coding… Now that there are many new sites that offer 3-column templates (this one is my favorite, for those of you that have recently asked), I’ve been wanting to change my template. However, doing so would mess up my photo layouts in so many old posts, and the ones I’ve seen are just not wide enough to keep putting my photos next to each other (like I like to do!)… I thought about hiring someone to make me a pretty new blog template, but since I just blog for fun, I couldn’t justify spending any money. Anyhow, now that I’ve learned more about HTML code, I’ve been working on a new template for myself. It should have a couple new features I’ve been wanting, plus (hopefully) shorten the loading time.

I just wanted to give you all a heads up, since as soon as I upload it here, I will probably lose all my sidebar widgets and lists. I will save the ones I can before hand, but it may take me awhile to put it all back together. I’ll work on adding back my Jesus Tree links first, since I know some of you are using those each day.

Hopefully I don’t delete anything that you all have found useful, or worse, delete the whole blog!! lol! Wish me luck!

21 Comments

  1. Aubrey

    Holy cow, it looks GREAT! It loaded very quickly. Hope you’re having fun with the new format! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Melissa

    It looks beautiful! I’m pretty sure my coding is all wrong, too, but I’m too scared to try to fix things up! Great job!

    Reply
  3. Angela

    LOVE IT! What a surprise when it popped up!

    I like the new, wide middle area.

    I have thought about changing mine too, but it doesn’t seem like I’ve been around long enough to warrant a change!

    Reply
  4. Lori

    Wow Jessica. You continue to be such a blessing in my life! Thanks for posting the link for the templates. The loading time is soooo much quicker. As you well know every second counts in our busy days 🙂 Have a blessed weekend. Lori

    Reply
  5. Jessica Gordon

    Thank you everyone!! After I posted last night, I went ahead and uploaded the new template, and sure enough, I lost everything in my sidebars. I was able to save most of it, except for my link lists and photos. I’ve recreated a couple of my link lists, and stayed up WAY too late updating my book lists, but over all I am pretty happy with it! It does seem to load much quicker, which I am glad about! Yay!! I’m sure I’ll be tweaking colors and the layout here and there, when I have time.

    Reply
  6. elm

    It is great!! Page load time was SUPAH-Fast! I’ll help you sew that apron soon… I wanna learn more of all that code language!!! And it will be fun to tell Bud that I know a secret code that he can learn!!! Great job to you!

    Reply
  7. Renee

    Okay after my last comment when catching up on my posts over at google reader, I only just saw this one now. Love those tabs at the top of your blog, very nice. Great job Jessica! Bravo!

    Reply
  8. Regina

    actually PAY someone to do it, gasp
    r

    Reply
  9. Kirsten

    Very nice Jessica. Your blog is one of my favorites and I think you are very brave for changing it, html code? coding wrong? I have no idea!! What a scary thing thinking you could lose it all!
    God Bless,
    Kirsten

    Reply
  10. Allison

    Yes, it does load more quickly.

    I revamped my look a few weeks ago too. Did the tab thingy too.

    You blog ALWAYS looks great!

    Reply
  11. Margaret

    Look at you go. You’ve been busy! It did load a lot quicker already.

    I know who to ask when I have questions!

    Looks great!

    Reply
  12. Anonymous

    I have been coming and visiting for the past 2 months and this is the first time that I didn’t have to add another tab and wait for it to load!! Awesome! It looks great! Congrats

    Reply
  13. Jessica Gordon

    Wow!! I am so glad to hear that!! It was quite time consuming trying to convert it all, so I am excited to hear that it actually made a difference!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    I really like your blog. Whatever you did–the load time is much quicker! Though, who could argue with admiring the beautiful St. Therese one more minute while the page loaded:o) Thanks for sharing your zeal for the Lord.

    Reply
  15. Kathryn

    It loaded quickly and it does look really good, thanks for the link I like to update my blogs from time to time and this site has some great templates!

    Reply
  16. Christine

    I like simple. Very nice on the eyes Jessica!

    Reply
  17. Anonymous

    oh! it does look great! i am forever wishing i could “do more” with my blog too, but since it is just a hobby i can’t justify the time it would take to do something major.

    Reply
  18. Amy

    It looks great jessica! good job!

    Reply
  19. The Wades

    Isn’t this why we all have the wonderfully talented Regina?? 😉 Anxious to see the finished product.

    Reply
  20. The Wades

    I just looked–it is different right?? I saw the picture on top and assumed it was the same. I like it!

    Reply

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