Notice anything different? I’ve been dreaming of a new look for a while. It took a lot of searching, but once I found the mastery of Randa Clay and her amazing free templates, I knew I found the right look for Afrobella. So what do you all think? I’m going to be tinkering with fonts and colors and stuff over the next month or so, so bear with me if things change. And even as I look over this post, I realize how much has changed with the new template. Like, look — my links are in alphabetical order now! And they don’t overflow out of some overstuffed category anymore! Fresh, clean, new, fun. I like it. But let me know your thoughts – good, bad, whatever.
So without further ado, let me announce the winners of the Cover Girl Queen Collection giveaway — Paulicia and Neo Sew Mama (who has a pretty cool blog, I might add)!
So lucky ladies, I will be contacting you via e mail. PLEASE write back ASAP, or even better, contact me immediately at bella@afrobella.com with your mailing address. And AHEM, Danielle from Maine — I’m still waiting for you to write back with your contact info for the Salte earrings! I sent two e mails and nada. So holla back!
I for one like it. Its crisp clean and refreshing. Good look!
My eyes, my eyes! It’s too bright Bella! lol
I liked the natural earth tones of the old template that beautifully complemented your fierce logo. This white is just not doing it for me, but it’s always good to experiment and try new things!
I love the new look, its bright and fresh. The logo POP’s and blends well with the new look.
I love it, Bella! The colors balance very nicely. =) I’m a little worried that text may be hard to read on the left side, but other than that, it’s a fresh, spring-y look.
I have a short list of stuff I want to change — and that’s definitely one of my concerns, Licier. I want to move the text a little over so the background pattern doesn’t detract from the words, and change the fonts on the headers, and the color of the font on the right. Other than that, I am really feeling it. =)
And I should go to bed so I can wake up for work on time. Night night, bellas!
LOL — I know, right! I’m up late writing in the dark, and the new site template just lights up the whole room. I’m saving up for a customized template in the future — designed by Zillz, no doubt… but until then, if it’s for free, it’s for me! And Randa Clay has been incredibly helpful to a total non-techie like me, helping me to customize the look and figure out the transition. Still getting used to the big change, but I like the simplicity of this.
I like the bright Bella,because it makes the whole page pops.I use to have to squint to read the site ,but now i don’t have to do that ,because it screams Read Me!Everything stands out now so don’t change to much about the new look.
I’m really feeling the new look. Very refreshing 🙂 I would agree that the only thing that I would change is a re-alignment of the background and text. No need to mess with a good thing but I’m sure whatever you settle on will be fab. Lookin good girl!
P.s. Thanks for the blog love 🙂
Love the new graphics and layout! This is MUCH easier for me to read. Appreciate your efforts to keep AFROBELLA fresh.
hpy2bnpy
I do love the new look. It is bright and fresh. I do agree regarding the re-alignment. Keep up the great work. I also love how the design and colors of the green and brown dots brings out the redish/yellow in the afro. Love the blog keep up the great work!
Congratulations on getting a look you like! The best thing about your site is the content, not the way it looks so as long as I can read what you’re writing, it’s all good!
Bella,If Danielle from Main does’nt want those earrings I will be happy to take them.
I am loving the new look to the website. It is really refreshing and makes everything really standout. I read your blog everyday but rarely comment. I love how your topics range from from natural hair care to politics. Keep up the great work.
Tee hee, Mrs. Mckinzie… I’ve officially e mailed Danielle THREE times now. Where you at, Danielle?? If I don’t hear back from her within the next month or so, I might have to pick a new winner. Never had to do that before.
I really need to come up with some kind of official giveaway policy for winners who don’t get back to me in a timely fashion. What seems fair to you, bellas?
Love the new look!!! As for the giveaways, it may be helpful to pick an extra (alternate) at the time you are picking the winnder and when/if said winner doesn’t respond in a timely fashion you move on to the alternate/runner-up. If you don’t already use those random number generators are great.
Luv the new look!!
I like the overall feel of the new layout. I would love to see more of the colors from your logo, but this is definitely fresh!
Looove it! So fresh and so clean! =)
Loving the new layout!!!!
I love the new look. It is full of color and vitality.
the new look is great but what happened to the list of websites that you reccomended, they were usually posted on the right hand side of the page?
I love it. I can read it easily now. It was a bit tough before.
I agree, I love the “freshness” of the new look, but the white is a bit bright. But overall, it’s great!
WOW! For a minute there I thought where am I… but this is very cool. I think change is always a good thing. I especially like how your logo, just flows with theme and pops here and there. And did you always have the tag “all shades of beautiful”? Definitely love that touch. I look your forward to seeing the many shades of afrobella on display.
Miss Afrobella, loving your new layout! So cute! Thanks so much for this blog that makes me think while reminding me that I’m beautiful too.
Bella! I’m lovin’ the new look!!!!
I love it.
i like the overall lay out and the crispness. i like that the logo is extended and more incorporated. i liked it before but it did seem just stuck on. but the white background makes the bella girl look like she is wearing a mask or white make-up like a silent film star. i don’t like that. the other brown page was maybe too dark anyway. but it is refreshing, if a bit vanilla. i like the cheerfulness and the motion that draws your eye all the way down the page with the swirling dots.
Hey Augusta,
the links are all still there (I think! Gotta check to make sure none fell off) but now there are no categories — everything is alphabetized on this new template. Still getting used to not having Beauty Addict and Concrete Loop at the top of my links anymore…
Simone, I see where you’re coming from with the “bit vanilla.” I decided to go with a plain white background because I wanted it to look super clean and bright and fresh… but you are right. Most of the popular websites have a white background and the dark brown of Afrobella’s previous template was very different from most other sites. RE: the logo, this is the original way it looked, actually. We (my husband and I…. well, mostly him cause he’s the techie) worked to make the background of her face brown, because the last site had a dark brown background and the white face looked REALLY weird on there. But we’re continuing to experiment, and whenever we’ve got a spare moment we’ll tweak the fonts, the font colors, and maybe play with the logo a little bit more.
Thank you all for your sincere feedback.
I like the new layout. It’s nice to switch it up now and then, and this is bright in fresh, just in time for spring… even though it’s still a couple months away.
My two-cents on the giveaways… give them a week. If they don’t get back, put it back out on the table for those faithful who are on your site EVERY DAY (people like moi) :oD
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!!! new look 🙂 and it’s looking good too!
I love the new look. Everything pops out.
Afrobella, I *love* the new look! Clean and fresh! Plus, the new layout works well in the Firefox browser — had some problems with the ads showing up in weird places with the previous look. You go girl!
Jamila
Jamila White, Chief Joy Officer
j.blossom and co.
info@jblossom.com
http://www.jblossom.com
(888)5-JBLOSSOM toll-free
*fun, natural bath & body products for girls!*
oooh i love this new layout too the side design is great. im not feeling the white i must say…because i was loving your earthy-ness…maybe a cream? but i understand how it goes with free templates, im using one myself!
Love the new and improved look.RESPECT!!
I actually like the new look, too! It’s funny because I thought my computer was screwing up again at first but now I see “the light”. it’s fresh, fun, and modern.
Bella, I sent you an email with my address. I can’t wait to try my new make-up! I’m SO GIDDY about it!
This is the suitable weblog for anybody who needs to seek out out about this topic. You understand so much its nearly exhausting to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply nice!