Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A New Look for Raising Z

I know what you are thinking...am I in the right place? Is this Raising Z??? Where are those attractive polka dots???

With the coming of fall, I always feel the need to "nest" and make some simple changes to myself and my surroundings. I love to add a few cozy features to our home, buy a few new pieces for my wardrobe (if you can all it that) and get ready for the long cold winter ahead. Since my new budget (and baby on the way) is preventing me from going out and buying things for our home and my growing belly is preventing me from going out and buying a new fall wardrobe, I decided to give some TLC to my blog instead :)

I want to thank Emma from Indiechick Designs for the wonderful design she created for me. After almost two long years of the same boring Blogger background, it is so refreshing to see this new and improved look! If you too are looking for a change in your blog design, I highly recommend you work with her. She has great ideas, is easy to work with and very quick with getting back to you when you have questions. Thank you so much Emma!

Now I have a question for all of you.....this blog makeover has got me thinking about my blog title, "RaisingZ". Is it unfair to the new baby to keep the name of my blog "Raising Z"??? We could give the baby a Z name but there are not that many choices and I am not sure if it is fair to name a child just so that I can remain true to a blog name. I feel totally attached to Raising Z as my blog persona and can't imagine changing it. That being said, what if my new little one is C or M or J or even X....will they resent this blog because their name is not in the title?? What would you do if you were me?

So in honor of my new look and need for advice....I am doing my first ever give away! I am giving away a $15 gift card to AMAZON (I'm starting small here but who doesn't love Amazon???). So if you would like to enter (your chances of winning are good, there are not many of you out there, mom you can enter too!), please leave me a comment with either a compliment about my new look (I am so shallow) or some advice about my blog name dilemma :) The contest closes on Friday, September 25th at 11:59 PM EST. and the winner will be announced on Z's 3rd Birthday (this Saturday) :) Good luck and thanks for commenting (feel free to start following this blog too if you aren't already, I am in a contest with the hubs and would like to get above 30 if possible :)).

14 comments:

Amanda {My Life Badly Written} said...

Personally I think you should keep the name you have. Then you can write posts about the new baby and start each one "Raising __ (insert appropriate initial)"

EG; Raising __ - The first 3 months
or Raising __ - The Birth

That kind of thing, then the new bubs won't feel left out!

Well that's what I would do anyway...

LOVE the new layout! I am needing a blog makeover but am so indecisive I trawl through free designs and then can't make up my mind!!

Mom said...

As the Neene for Z and "W,X or Y", as well as any future, I would like to see the new ones acknowledged. As the oldest in the family, you never had to come after anyone else. Maybe you should ask you sisters opinions, since they always followed you.

I would keep "Raising", but include the new one in some way. Raisins Z (and Y too!)

Just a thought.

Love ya!

MommyBrain said...

The new look is fabulous! The colors are my favorites :) As for the name ... oh, that's a toughy ... but I think I agree with your mom ... add the new initial. I am the oldest, too, but my husband is the baby of his family, so he always reminds me to consider my younger siblings.

Or ... you could launch a whole new blog (or two) like I did ... ToddlerBrain and BabyBrain ... actually, I don't advise that - I am going crazy trying to keep it all straight!

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

i like the name too although if it weren't nearly the end of the day i could prob come up with an alternative

love the blog

Anonymous said...

I like the new look! I'd also change the name. If I were the second I'd eventually be bugged by it. (also he/she can give you one more reason to feel bad) Countdown to baby mode!

Shawna (who still can't figure out how not to be anonymous)

Connie said...

LOVE the look of the blog! Wow...it's so happy and clean looking. Great job!

I would pick a brand new name.....it's not that big a deal really and people do it all the time. In fact, my blog name has not always been The Young and The Relentless. It was once called The Weiss Heir's. LOL!

Melissa B. said...

In the marketing world, they call it "branding." Stick with the name, it's what your readers are used to. SITS sent me by, and I'm glad they did...Happy Thursday!

MamaB said...

Love the new look! Very chic! As far as the the Name you can change it slightly and go with Raising A to Z! Of course that means if you have a girl its would need to be Amelia (wink wink)!

Mom said...

I like the Raising A to Z! There are some really great A names. Then you won't have to change it when you have a third.

Love ya!

Cara said...

Stopping by from SITS...blog looks pretty!!

Cara
Cara&Jenn
forwardmom.blogspot.com

Emma @ Outmumbered said...

Thank You!! I agree... it looks fab! I'm not sure if you should change the name or not, but when you decide drop me a mail and I'll change it over for you free of charge.

Sarah said...

Love, love the love the new site, fresh, clean, warm, open and inviting - perfection!! And yes, the name...as you know I have been wondering myself what you would do about this. Part of the problem is the address, could people easily be automatically re-routed for a few months? I do think that your address and name title should be the same, and yes - I am stuck because I think that although this is so well developed you do need to change it...Raising Z to Raising Me ..in many ways what you are blogging about is your transformation into motherhood etc. He (they) are the vehicles, but the ponderings, thoughts, suggestions etc are yours, and anyway this time you might want to leave it a bit more open-ended :) Honestly though, as a devil's advocate - knowing you I doubt very much that jealousy and competitiveness will be strong traits in your children. You were and are Zs first, it is after all your love for him and S that got you to #2 after all. Without Z there would be an X or Y! Good luck!

Joy said...

visiting from SITS.
Like the blog color, although I never saw the old one.
As for the name, I'm in the same dilemma. My blog title is 2 Girls & 2 Guys. It was 2 Girls & a Guy until my baby boy came along. However, my URL is joyandleia.blogspot.com . Leia being my girl. I'm planning on leaving the URL alone for now since the name of my blog includes him. Maybe you could do that?

Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden said...

I love your blog design! I don't know what it looked like before, but the colors are great and your header is beautiful. Great job!

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