I must be PSYCHIC. No sooner did the virtual ink dry on this post then Cheri Lucas of WordPress sends out a note about all of the new changes afoot at WP HQ to enhance our blogs, A Week of Responsive Themes.
I swear, I do not read minds nor am I involved in corporate espionage. I’m innocent, I tell you. INNOCENT!
Anyway, back to the present space-time continuum.
I’ve noticed that a lot of my fellow bloggers changed their WP themes with the start of the new year. At first, when I arrived at their sites for new posts I thought I was lost, but then I quickly realized that I’d been to these addresses before.
Not unlike redecorating your home or apartment, our individual WP themes (our blog homes/apartments) deserve a new coat of paint now and then, too; or, maybe the furniture just needs to be rearranged. Like, moving those end tables out a bit, and hanging a painting up over there and taking down the moose head over there.
Or, you could just call Ty Pennington of TV’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and have him tell you to your face, with his trademark megaphone blasting, that you need to throw everything out and start all over again. MOVE THAT BUS! I would’ve recommended Gordon Ramsey of Kitchen Nightmares, but he YELLS!
Now, I’m perfectly happy with my WP Triton Lite theme and have grown accustomed to its virtual skin. It has all the features that I need and works just fine for me. Plus, I’ve got six more months to go on my “lease” before WP comes calling to ask if I want to renew for another year.
The Triton Lite theme is a keeper, but I would like to interject a little more of The Palladian Traveler’s personality to the template to attract a bit more attention — views, likes, comments, followers, etc. (wink-wink). To that end, I recently updated my HEADER photo. Like it?
I know you don’t judge a book by its cover, but a little twinking here and there, subtle changes on the outside, can’t hurt to draw attention to your blog and bring a few more eyeballs into the tent to sample your wares.
Updating your brand now and then certainly can’t hurt to keep things fresh and, most importantly, keep you, the author, and your creative juices flowing. After all, lot’s of us probably spend an inordinate amount of time — more than we should, actually — behind the computer, staring at that screen working on our content.
Look, the weather outside changes pretty much daily, so why can’t our individual, 16×9 virtual worlds change frequently, too?
If you’ve read my ABOUT page then you know that I swapped out my hometown St. Louis Cardinals baseball cap in the USofA for a Borsalino, which is way more fashionable here in fashion-crazed Bella Italia, where even your underwear has to be color coordinated!
After recent surgery to remove a questionable blemish on my upper forehead (I’m fine. Thanks for asking!), I now really do wear a Borsalino on my noggin’. I’m not claiming that I could give Borsalino HEADliner Alain Delon a run for his money — or outrun the repeated rat-a-tat-tats coming from his “Chicago typewriter” — but I do admit that I enjoy wearing that hat wherever I go, even while I write. It inspires me. And, as part of my “extreme makeover” I plan to stamp each and every new post with my Borsalino badge, starting with this one.
Question is, which badge do I choose? What do you think? Drop me a note and let me know. And, feel free to copy the URL address from any one of the colorful TPT Borsalino badges above — sans Alain Delon — and then create an image WIDGET and post it somewhere on your blog’s homepage. That way we can all virtually meander along the cobblestone together sporting a brand new, cool and stylish look.
If these subtle additions to my blog don’t take, then maybe I’ll head back to the drawing board, or call Ty Pennington for advice or go searching through WP’s 220+ Theme Showcase for a replacement. On second thought, maybe I’ll just contact Alain Delon. He’ll know what to do.
Ciao for now.
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I really like your blog theme – it has class. And the Borsalino that seems to match best is the one on cobblestones. Right? I recently changed mine because I wanted a theme that allowed my posts to fill up more of the screen. I hope I didn’t throw you too much – I don’t want you to feel lost when you visit me. Great post!
Thanks Pat. The Borsalino on Cobblestone is duly noted. Pick up a “virtual” one if you like.
Yes, definitely the cobblestones! The hat suits you. 🙂
Thanks for the feedback. Looks like the cobblestone motif is running, I mean meandering away with it.
Thanks Lynn. The hat on cobblestone seems to be where everyone is leaning.
The one against the brickwork, I think , although it depends on the other elements that you’re trying to coordinate with!
Luffy – The Borsalino over the cobblestone. Good choice. I agree, I may have to “color coordinate,” but if I had to pick one, the Cobblestone is where I meander. Thanks!
Glad to know I am not the only one who felt the urge to try a New Year’s shake-up of sorts. Sleep..? Who needs it when there are background shadings to change around 500 times?! And for all of the lost sleep, I wound up with only a slightly altered header to show for it.
For what it’s worth, I love your theme (and content!) and agree with the comments above…the cobblestone-hat!
Thanks Misbehaven. Cobblestone continues to lead the pack. This blog change is fun, but time consuming. So, I’ll continue with little twinks here and there.
I’m with the cobblestones – or is that cobbleques? – too. Although you may need to swap that Borsolino for a fetching panama come the summer months?
They make Borsalino’s for summer wear, too, in the Panama style. Cobblestone selection is duly noted. What’s your head size?
Alain Delon was one of my fave French actors, so handsome and gifted! The Borsalino looks very much like our famed Akubra, only the Borsalino seems much more refined and classy, just like your blog theme. I think a different hat for each different post on a rotational basis would be the way to make us sit up and take note. Now, as to the header image, I think a re-think is in order! Lovely post. 🙂
Janina – Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Funny, I do have an Akubra-like hat, as well as the Borsalino, in my closet. It’s a Stetson, and looks sort of Indiana Jones-ish. About my header — the backend of an antique Italian car — it would help to understand the license plate to understand the reason why I updated the look. VI stands for Vicenza, where I live; 01 represents the first car licensed; and, TPT for The Palladian Traveler. I’ll probably keep it up there, or rotate it around with others I have used — like your fine suggestion on the hat motif. Thanks again. G’day!
It’s always great to find a hat that suits and gives one a certain style, shall we say! The header — I now understand. Look forward to whatever rotations happen! And, please, don’t use that G’day business again with me….it is so ocker, and I’m not an ocker….okay!! I’m a refined lady….LOL. 😉
That hat is very dashing, Tom. I really like your new theme. btw, I had that Mojito for you. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia. Have another one for me tomorrow and one every day while you’re basking in Belize. Off to the slopes mañana. CHICKEN WINGS!
Love the hat, especially on the small stone background. Great pair. Nothing wrong with change.
T-Lynne — Thanks for your vote. Looks like the Borsalino on the cobblestone is running away with it.
I’m all for change, especially when it involves a roadster and a hipster hat! (And I guess Alain Delon isn’t quite what he used to be either, so I don’t think you need worry about comparisons!).
W-Gene – AD is still dashing in his old age. I should be so lucky when I get up there. Of course, I’ll be sporting a Borsalino, and nothing says cool and hip like a B’lino. About that ride, I wish!
My vote goes to the cobblestone too, Tom, it’s perfect!
Thanks for casting your vote for the “cobblestone” hat. Seems like that’s one everyone likes most and fits best with my theme.
I’ve been taking some time out from my travels to have a mooch around your site, really lovely, Tom! xxx
Mooch all you like. I enjoy the company :>)
I stayed with the same theme, but recently overhauled my blog. I like doing it, but must control doing it too often. Thanks for visiting an liking my stair post. They might be fancy and called cobblestones just for fun.
Thanks for coming into the hat shop!
Alain Delon is the most beautiful man in film history. So, don’t feel too bad:)
Thanks, Maria!