A Different Look for The Occasional Nomads

Posted on by Laura & Brett

Yes, we’re still The Occasional Nomads, but with a new look!

I felt like I needed a change this week, so I’m trying out a different design for the blog. I’m going to give it a few days and see how I like it, and how readers like it.

I’m not sure yet how I feel about the blog’s name being downsized in the upper left corner, but I do like the new picture (taken in Kyoto) and the themes of the blog being highlighted on the splash photo. It’s different without being too different.

Let me know what you think! The design change was free, so I’m not out anything for trying it out, and easily can go back to what I had before.

Published by Laura & Brett

Slow traveling the world with a sense of adventure!

32 thoughts on “A Different Look for The Occasional Nomads”

  1. I get an email every time you post and there wasn’t anything different about it.? I have been with you since I’m Losing It Here so I know you like to freshen things up now and then!

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    1. You’re not seeing the picture of the little roadside Buddhist shrine? With all the little Jizo statues wearing bibs?

      My site is acting weird as well though. We’re have trouble with our Internet connection tonight.

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  2. The email doesn’t reflect the changes, but once you click on the post, it takes you to the website, and this shows your “new look”. Love it! Just beautiful.

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  3. I also get the email but I did click in to see the new look, which I like, along with the picture up top.

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  5. It took more than 2 minutes for the photo of the trunk of a tree to emerge which only happened while I read comments. Otherwise it just looked like sand with ripples in it. What I first saw was a focus on individual words regarding dream, travel, etc. Those words are nice though I must agree the title of your blog is diminished. For what it’s worth I use an iPad but it’s fairly new.
    Change can be good. I’m wondering if the sizing of the photo may be an issue?
    I enjoy your blog and will keep reading. Thanks, Sonja

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    1. I resized the photo so hopefully there won’t be future issues with the loading. I forgot that pictures size from my camera is HUGE and always need to be resized. I rarely use the camera any more – the camera in my phone is so much easier, and takes great pictures on most occasions.

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  7. I like the new look and I’m not having any issues with viewing it. I’d like to learn more about how to use WordPress, so did you take a class or did you teach yourself through trial and error?

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    1. WordPress is super easy to learn and use – I taught myself. It’s very user-friendly. I don’t know everything, and only use their free products, but if you have questions I’d be happy to help.

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    1. This is my one unhappiness with the new page theme – I tried to fix it, but as it’s a free theme there’s little to nothing I could/can do to change it. Well, maybe there is, but I don’t want to pay, and don’t know enough to change the code otherwise.

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  9. I get your posts through “following” on WordPress so it doesn’t bring me to your actual site, just a “reader view.” When I clicked through, I could see your new site design. Love the photo!

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    1. Thanks! I like the bigger splash photo, and like that the blog’s themes are highlighted. Not to happy with the name of the blog being so small, but the other two things win the day for me.

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  10. I quite like the picture. I prefer your previous page theme (or something similar) where your blog name and themes were central, all posts and comments, etc. are accessible without too much scrolling. I find there is more white space with the new page theme that I need to scroll more to read the post and comments.

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    1. The blog name placement is my one disappointment with the new theme. I’m going to see though if I can figure out how to enlarge it.

      The comment button is now to the left of the post; if you click on it you will go right to the comments. Otherwise it’s pretty much the same amount of scrolling as the old way.

      Are you accessing it on your phone or another mobile device? There is more scrolling required on a mobile device.

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  12. I love the picture! I’m impressed you can handle WordPress. I like to think of myself as pretty savvy, but I feel like an idiot trying to use it. I’m scared to death to try to change anything because it will be all day before I get it fixed! I’ve actually thought of taking a real, live class on it, but right now I need to focus on actual posts ha ha.

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    1. To me, WordPress gets difficult when you try to change things. That’s why I stick with the free themes and such, because the tasks involved are fairly simple and routine. What currently drives me nuts with WP though is that they like to “update” things. They recently changed the dashboard, and left off any link to comments, for example. I did find a link back to the old dashboard where I can more easily find and use things, but that’s an extra step I’m now required to perform.

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  13. It’s very nice… though I guess I’d prefer a photo of Hawaii in all its beauty (and you in it?) over the picture of the Buddhas wearing aprons. And maybe a color theme that’s not so dark, but colorful. This isn’t a gravesite; we are celebrating that you are living the dream you worked so hard to achieve!
    So, theme is great! I’m just suggesting that you adjust the colors… but we’re glad with whatever you decide.

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    1. The little buddhas in the picture are Jizo, the protector of children and travelers, so the picture is very meaningful to me. The site isn’t a grave, just a small shrine erected in a neighborhood, where residents have given Jizo little bibs to symbolically “protect” him from the elements. Shrines like this are all over Japan. It’s a very evocative photo for me, not just for the travel connection, but because we go to Japan so frequently and are closely tied to the country because of our son, his wife and grandchildren.

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  14. I was initially taken to your old screen and had to click at the bottom to get to this location. Lots of scrolling, I don’t really like change but I will adjust as always. Whatever makes you happy, I will continue to follow your blog.

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    1. Yes, there’s a bit more scrolling, especially in the comments, but it depends on how many people comment. I think it also depends on what type of computer you’re using. Lots of white space too, but I personally like white space. I’m still evaluating it all.

      Many thanks and much appreciation for being such a loyal reader for so long!

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  15. The photo is great but takes up so much room on my laptop screen – in fact the entire photo doesn’t fit. Also when I tried clicking on the photo, it didn’t take me to the most recent post.

    Like the 2017 reading list!

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    1. Libby – Sorry you’re having trouble! The photo is a”splash” – it should fill the entire screen when you come to the site, and then “rolls up” when you scroll down to the latest post. Nothing is supposed to happen when you click it. Same for the reading list or about pages – after you click them you need to roll up the photo to read them. BTW, my computer is an 11-inch Macbook Air, so pretty small, and everything fits onto my screen. The photo you see on the screen should be the entire cropped photo.

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  16. I like the picture… First time on your site… I enjoyed reading some of your frugalities… From a like-minded frugal person. 🙂

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