Hello, and welcome to the new look of MTMD!
After two years, it was time to update the design of the site. The site is now brighter and a little easier on the eyes to read, and with the addition of a right sidebar, some new sidebar icons, and some stylistic cleanup, hopefully it's more pleasing to the eye as well.
Zoe, at Chic & Sassy Designs has really done a remarkable job updating the site, giving it a brand new template, but maintaining and enhancing the design elements that have given Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta. it's distinctive look and feel that bloggers have come to know over the last 2 1/2 years.
The major highlight of the update is the new set of 4 seasonal headers and footers. As it's spring here in the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring header is now front and center along with the summer footer--so make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom to check the footer out--it's gorgeous.
And to continue with the flowing water and change/evolution theme of the site, the header and footer will be staggered so that each season will flow into the next. The spring header will flow into the summer footer which will become the summer header in June, flowing into the fall footer, which will become the fall header in September and so on and so on. In December, as a special holiday gift to all of you, the new winter header will debut. I'm pleased to say that the winter header is the most striking header of them all and is derivative from the old MTMD header that's just been retired, but far more breathtaking and expansive.
Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of the new look! I've still got some tweaking to do, so please excuse the mess as all the widgets and sections of the sidebar move around a little, are deleted or replaced as befits the new theme. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience or disorientation, and I sincerely hope the site does a bit better at catching your eye.
Thanks for reading.
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About Me
- Matthew S. Urdan
- Born and raised in Detroit, I lived in Michigan the first 35 years of my life until work relocated me and I began my exile. I long for the coast of Northwest Michigan and the towns of Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Traverse City...known collectively in Detroit as "Up North" and the Murdick's Fudge and Green Rivers from my younger days.
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This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact msurdan at aol dot com.
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The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. The owner of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics, however those opinions are never dictated and will always be 100% my own. Even though I may receive compensation for some posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to DisclosurePolicy.org
This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. The owner of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics, however those opinions are never dictated and will always be 100% my own. Even though I may receive compensation for some posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to DisclosurePolicy.org
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23 comments:
hmmm you have lots of white text in the sidebars afterall, i'd try keeping the sidebar titles white but the text and links in a very light green just to cut the white a bit try this color #E8F9F0
but otherwise it looks awesome!
In any case I like it! :-p
Great new look, Matt. It easy easier to read and I love having th eright sidebar. I would like to have one on my site. Something to work on! Keep up the good work!
Cool! Congratulations on the new look. Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds as you move it along through the seasons!
Roxy
Congrats, It looks good, Definitely easier on the eyes and i like the idea of changing the header and footer seasonally.
I like it Matt.. It is definitely more pleasing to the eyes. And you're right, both the header and footer is fantastic.. Can't wait to see how it unfolds during the season change :)
Well done Matt and Zoe :)
First time I'm here and I got here through Blog Catalog. So, I can't really compare what you have now and the previous look. But I can say that the header bar looks nice and I like it. Anyway, I noticed that you do memes and I actually have a weekly Love Q meme at my poems blog, if you are interested. The more people join in, the merrier certainly. :)
Hey Matt, Great job on the new site design - I love it. I really like the idea of changing the header each season, thats a clever way to keep ur site looking fresh.
The only thing I would change is the repeating pattern in the background. A plain backdrop might be less distracting and show up the feature picture in the header better.
Nice job!
Hola Matt! Ohhh, I think I'm already missing ur old header! But change is always good and this one here makes a nice refreshing change! :)
Sigh...I too am trying to find the time to change my template and layout... it's such a hassle to put back all the widgets yeah? :)
Oops...I posted under the wrong comment. I really like the look of the site. It's very clean and well organized. Great job!
I like it and a plus as well is that it loads much faster.
I like it! you can now read your articles and the header is really cool for seasonal changes.
Second visit today and am loving your new look more and more Matt! ;)
It is the first time I am seeing your site but I love it. You are right, the footer is gorgeous. I like your concept of "the header and footer will be staggered so that each season will flow into the next." Certainly looking forward to see the future changes.
I think it's absolutely a knock-out!! It's stunning.
Also please frogive me on being so late on dropping around. I am new to EC.
Marzie was kind enough to help me find all of us Red Drops. Slowly but surely I am trying to make my way around and add E1 to my faves.
Right now I am blogging while travelling on the road with my hubby. Blogging from the road can be quite a challenge no matter how fancy or new your rig is.
But, please bear with me and I will get you added.
Once again....love your blog...outstanding!!:-)
Matthew, your new design is so classy!
Hi Matt!
I like it! I especially like the alternating seasonal header concept. Works for me.
It's been a minute since I've been able to visit, I hope that all is well and that you are doing fine.
Take care,~~Shelia
I think it looks fabulous. It's much brighter and more welcoming. :)
Hey Nick.. I see I'm spreading my midnight magic here today.. thanks for having me :)
Matt,
I fired off an email to Zoe as soon as I saw what she had done to your site...it looks terrific, and I can't wait to see how it unfolds with the change of seasons. Unfortunately, Zoe only does Blogger/Blogspot design, not WordPress. Since I have lots of traffic here on the blogger version of Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, I'm not likely to give this site up, so I will probably enlist Zoe for a roxiticusdh.blogspot.com site redo over the summer.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a terrific long Memorial Day Weekend!
Roxy
Thanks for the lovely entrecard recommendations... it was very nice!
Your too kind ! :)
I like it. :)
Thanks for the Thursday Thirteen lists of baby names! You had some good ones.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
I really like the new look. Its much easier to read your posts now with the light background.
Everyone, thank you so much for your overwhelmingly positive comments and the validation on the new look of Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta. If you need help adding a sidebar, updating your site, or if you're ready for a new look, Zoe is the one to turn to. I've never met a web designer so friendly, customer-service oriented, responsive and competent. And did I say affordable? You will not be disappointed with any work you hire her to perform.
Matt, Zoe could knock it out for you in a heartbeat!
Rox, yeah, I can't wait til June so I can put up the Summer Header and the Fall Footer...the progression will look sharper with each season. While spring looks awesome, it's my least favorite of the new seasonal themes.
Dave, I'm glad it's easier on the eyes. My whole intent of updating the theme was to make it more readable for everyone!
Aud, welcome to MTMD and thanks for the invite to participate in your meme. Actually, Wordless Wednesday is really the only meme I participate in, and I modify it because I usually have a post that goes along with the pictures, so I call it Almost Wordless Wednesday. I usually don't participate in TAGs either. I just don't have the time, and often they don't follow the theme of my blog. But when I am tagged by a friend, I'll participate if it's a light blogging week and I can find an angle that fits; but I'll never tag anyone else. Still, I will stop by your blog and look at your meme since you were kind enough to stop by here and comment.
Simon, I'm actually agonizing over the background image...It's a link to my old theme, but I've never really been 100% happy with it, but I like the feel of it in the background because it's so varied and contrasts so well with the plain black of the main blog body. Advice taken under advisement, and we'll see where it goes.
Mariuca, actually, putting back all the widgets isn't so hard. It's a chance to clean up your sidebars and decide what is truly important. If you're looking for an update though, and you choose Zoe, she'll put it all back for ya!
Jackie, thanks for letting me know the new design loads faster. I did get that criticism from time to time with the old design! Loading faster is a real bonus!
Shinade, thank you so much for your effusive praise! It's much appreciated. But don't worry about "getting around to me". There's only so much time in the day, and while I get to every Red Hot Drops site every week or two, there's no way I can hit them all every day. Stop by when you can, and do what you can do. Yes, it's very hard to blog when you're not at home.
Crazy working Mom....you are most welcome, glad to participate, and thanks for the kind words on the new theme!
Tricia, your comments mean so much since you've been reading MTMD since the "old" days! I'm glad we've been able to reconnect through entrecard.
Have an awesome day everyone! And GO RED WINGS!
Cheers!
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