Thinking About Blog Re-Design: Please Share!

Blogging is a funny thing, isn’t it?  I mean, it’s real, and it isn’t “real” all at the same time – you know what I mean?  I mean seriously – try telling an older person about your blog and how you write about your life on the internet and then how complete strangers comment on it except some of them aren’t complete strangers anymore because you’ve actually developed a friendship with some of them and may have even met some of them in person.  Awwwwwwkward!  I’ve definitely gotten a few glazed-over looks. haha!

But blogging IS a real part of life now and there are real people making livings off their blogs and getting book deals and it provides a real source of friendship, encouragement, and inspiration for those who do it (at least it does for me, anyway!). 

So since I do spend a lot of my time in this invisible-but-very-real world, something I’ve been wanting to do for months now (okay actually years) is get a new design for my blog.  Sometime back in 2010 I paid to have a designer revamp my site and give it an updated look from the standard Blogger template. 

Well, unfortunately it was a total disaster.  This girl took MONTHS to do my design, didn’t listen to what I asked for, and was overall horrible to work with.  In the end she actually apologized to me and offered me some work for free in the future (nooooo thank you!), so I’ll give her some credit for at least admitting she didn’t do a good job.   I mean, at least by the end we were in agreement together that she pooped out on me! haha 

{Thankfully I just checked out her personal blog and it looks like she doesn’t do design work anymore – so there’s no need for me to warn anyone else about her – whew!}

Anyway, I’m itching for a fresh new look!  I’d love something crisp and clean and white and a place where I feel like I can breathe, not feel claustrophobic.  God has been very gracious and I’ve been steadily earning a little bit of money each month through my Google ads on the sidebar, so I’d like to put a little of that money back into my blog design now.   We’ve been putting my ad money aside toward our “new car” fund  (aka “used car” fund, lol) since both of our cars could die at any second, but I talked it over with Chris and he is ok with me rolling a little of my blog money back into the blog.  Yay!

My blog is getting a makeover!  SHUT UP.  {A little Stacy London for ya ;) }

So my question is: have any of you had good success with a blog designer?  I’m just looking for someone reasonably priced and ethical – that’s not too much to ask, is it?!  lol  I have about 10 websites saved on my Pinterest board so I have a pretty clear vision of what I’d like.  Anyway please share if you have someone you know!  Thanks guys!

And happy Saturday!