Santa came early this year…
And he brought me a brand new blog! Finally, after months of putting it off, I’ve moved to a self-hosted site.
Can you see it?? For me, at the moment, the new header shows up (as well as the new layout). But the site isn’t completely up-to-date; it’s showing the latest entry as my Pumpkin Cream Cupcake post. And I’ve received a few emails from readers who are getting 404 error messages. Boo. It should all straighten up soon, though!
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I want to know your opinions.
What do you think of the new layout?
Any features you’d like to see (such as a blogroll)? Or additions to the sidebar?
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Also, what do you think of the new header? I had way too much fun designing it!
Freya says
First impressions, before a proper look round? Love it! Much better 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Congrats on the move!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
I love the new header!
Gina G says
love it Katie girl! 🙂
Cassandra says
Looks great! I have the same Santa hat – it’s the best!
Cynthia says
Love the new header!
Albizia says
I absolutely love the new look. It’s so chocolate-y! Yum! The header is beautiful, the layout is nice, too. I only wonder why there are no pictures at the related posts. Maybe it is one of the features that still don’t work properly? At least the links lead to the posts. No 404 error messages for me 🙂 .
You can add whatever you want to the sidebar. I am not a big fan of blogrolls but you can post links to things you find interesting.
Let’s see what comes next 🙂
Healthy Chocoholic says
Love the new site!!!!!!! The header looks awesome! I hope that it gets completely up to date soon! =D
Eric Jaffa says
Congratulations on getting an updated website. Looks good.
Jennifer JCD says
Yay! It works! Keep up the excellent work you do to keep this blog up and running. I always start my day with some CCK. 🙂
Ellen @ Undercover Runner Eats says
I WANT TO SEE A BLOGROLL! PRETTY PLEASE?!
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Looks fantastic, Katie! I absolutely love it! 😀
Gloria says
I love it!! That pic of you in the header is adorable. And all that chocolate is making smile 🙂 Congrats on the big move. This gives me a little more confidence to start my own blog because the header and graphics is the part I’m most worried about – I have no computer skills!
Katie says
Haha me neither!! They definitely make it easy, though. You learn as you go along :).
Kayla @ Little Miss Healthify says
Love the new blog! You did a great job on the header and I love the color scheme! Great job, Katie!
Kim says
Ooh, I love the chocolate-coloured tabs;)
Brandie says
I do like it! To be honest, I think I’d have liked to see a more recent picture in the header or maybe just one we hadn’t seen before? New blog, new picture! Of course you’re beautiful in all of them lol… I’m so impressed with your blogging savvy! How fun to have your own site! 🙂 Congrats darlin 😉
VEGirl says
Hi Katie, I agree with Brandie. A new photo would be great!!!! Love the chocolate/roses background, too. So exciting for you!
VEGirl
Brandie says
Sorry did that new picture bit seem critical? Ack, sorry! Just was waving an opinion Lol 🙂
Katie says
No no, I love constructive criticism. As for the header, it’s a work in progress. It may still change again lol!
Brandie says
Oh yay 😉 I looked at it and then thought maybe it was too much. One more thing though, and I don’t see where to fix it myself (?) but I don’t get a notice from my subscription anymore about your new posts! Do I need to re-subscribe somehow or… ? 🙁 I just realized today that it was weird I hadn’t “heard from you” (lol) and so I checked in and sure enough, there are posts, I just didn’t get my notice 🙁
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Ugh yeah, I’m working on trying to import my subscribers. I really hope there’s a way, and right now Zestycook (Cory) is helping me. But in the meantime, you can always subscribe at the top right of the blog, by clicking on the email message (Do you see where there’s a twitter button, a facebook button, and an email envelope all together at the top of the page? Click the envelope :).)
Sorry for the trouble!!
Brandie says
No worries darlin, I just wondered if I was doin somethin wrong! 😉 I’m off to click an envelope…..!
Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey says
Katie!! This is soo excellent; I love your new blog! I’m very excited for you. This is great and I can’t wait for the new content.
Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey says
P.S. What host are you using?
Katie says
Bluehost
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
Congrats! It looks fantastic!
Alisa Cooks says
It looks great Katie! I can’t wait to hear more about the direction.
MaryZ says
Love the header! Still getting 404 errors when trying to reach some of the older posts…but I’m sure in time it will all work out! Nice job!
Katie says
The new header (and site!) look great! It looks so clean and professional. Keep up the great work!
Jess@atasteofconfidence says
I like the new header!
Lisa C. says
Love it! Love it! Love it! You are so darn pretty! 🙂
Anne says
I’m so excited to have all your recipes so easy to link to – at least it looks like it will be easy from my initial click. It took a little while to find where to leave a comment. Perhaps you could have “Leave a Comment” be the link instead of the number of comments being the link. Also, when your site first came up, the menu bar was across your face. =( But when I put my cursor on it, it popped down where it should be. I think the gremlins are still playing with your site. It looks great and I’m sure was a lot of hard work. Congratulations!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hey Anne! It now says “add a comment” 🙂
Shanna says
Honest opinion on the header, I have seen better pics of you. For instance, the one you have in this article with the Christmas hat is beautiful. They way you are holding your head in the header makes you look disproportioned.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thanks so much, Shanna, for being brave enough to be honest! And I’ll be honest too: I love the photo… but you’re right, it just looks off in the header! I’m still brainstorming for the header, but there’s just been so much else to do that it got put on the backburner once I at least had SOMEthing to go with. But, as I said to Brandi, I’m probably going to be changing it up a bit :).
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says
I LOVE IT!!!! Honestly, it looks fantastic!
Little Bookworm says
Congratulations on the new blog. 🙂 It looks amazing! I think a blogroll would be could, but up to you of course!
Little Bookworm says
*I meant good not could! 🙂
Laura @ Meet Virginia says
Yes to blogroll!
abby says
ahhhhh it’s beautiful! YOU are beautiful!
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
Great job! Love your blog name!
Camille says
I really, really like the new blog.
I am having trouble seeing photos, but aside from that, everything seems to be working just fine!
Claire says
Congratulations Katie! It looks fantastic.
Blogroll would be intereting because then we can see who you like to read. What site were you with before the move?
I hope this new chapter in your blog will lead you to an even more exciting blog-life and more blog world friends. Well done again it looks beautiful 😀
melissa @ the delicate place says
yay worked for me, looks cleaner and easier to navigate win win!
Fi says
Fantabulous! Loves it, very creative Katie:) xx
Amber Shea @Almost Vegan says
It all looks a-ok to me!
Bianca- Vegan Crunk says
Love it!!! The chocolate in the header is great….and I love how crisp and clean the layout is. I’m totally J though. I REALLY need a re-design too.
Stephanie @ Lunges and Lunch says
Congratulations!! 🙂
Namaste Gurl says
Yay for new self- hosted blogs and another yay for great Cory! He helped me move into a self- hosted domain as well as design my whole layout on my site– you should check out my new site, by the way (from one blogger to the other!) 🙂
I love your layout– nothing needs to be changed! A blogroll might be fun though 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Your site looks great too :). I’ve been there before. I especially love the header font!
Rachel (tea and chocolate) says
Looks wonderful! The header is lovely, by the way.
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
The blog looks fresh and interesting (as I did before too!) and I love the new layout 🙂 you look very cute in your header too!
Valerie says
I loved your old site, but this one looks like a snazzier version of the old CCK we’ve all come to love. I’m excited to keep reading :).
Julia says
I love the header! so cute!
the one thing i’m not so sure about is how all of the posts but the two recent ones are at the bottom like all stacked up (not sure how to describe this). When I first found your blog and when I find new blogs I scroll through a lot of their old posts. this makes that super hard !
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hi Julia, thanks for the feedback. When I get some time (i.e. when I get everything else set up the way I want it), I’m thinking I might change it to three posts showing before the stacked ones. As long as I remember to do it, that’s my goal. 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
Your new blog is awesome!!!!!!!
It reminds me of Heab’s, very clean, simple, same “feel” when i am here in the comments section typing a comment…It pretty much makes me cry that I dont have a WP blog b/c I want this look for MY blog! It’s Beautiful, Katie!!!! Job well done!!!!
Can’t wait to hear about any new content thoughts and what you’ve got going on 🙂
Will reply later on today on email. Pressed for time at the moment 🙂
Marissa says
I especially love the side photo of you. It’s gorgeous! But I love the header too. It’s so bright and, well, you! Bright and cheery!
Michal says
Katie!! I love the new site so much! 🙂 Ive been thinking about you bunches latley and I hope your doing good! Miss you!
Hayley says
Love it! What are the advantages of a self hosted site? Just curious. 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
You just have so many more options, with plugins. Plus it looks more professional. And you have more control over everything.
I haven’t even begun to explore all the fun plugins I can add yet lol!
Haylee says
Wow I cannot believe I just spelled my name wrong in that last comment.. haha clearly I need some sleep.
By the way, I made your Smore’s babies a couple of days ago and oh.my.goodness. So good! Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Ann Claire says
Love the new blog! I espicially love the new header!
As for features, I think a blogroll would be nice.
Cara Craves... says
Looks great!
I am sure it’s nice to see everything coming together
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Love the new blog, Katie!! The header’s super cute 🙂 And you make a GORGEOUS santa! Err..Misses Claus I mean?
Sarah says
Long time reader, first time commenter. I adore your blog, Katie!!! And the new one looks beautiful :).
Erika @ FoodFitnessFun says
Love the new header Katie! Scratch that. I love the new “look” in general! I wouldn’t change anything. 🙂
emily says
i love the new site :). and that pic of you in the santa hat is sooooooo pretty :).
Sarahishealthy says
Great new site! I loved the old one, but this one is even better. But really, Katie, as long as you’re writing it, I don’t care what it looks like so much :). It’s the content that matters.
Jennifer says
Yum, I love that photo with the chocolate. You look so pretty in it :).
Like the other commenters before me, I think the new blog looks great but as long as you keep giving out such delicious recipes and zeal for life, I’m going to read even if it’s just a white screen. Thanks Katie!
whitney says
Love the new page! It looks beautiful 🙂
The only thing I don’t like is having to type in my name, e-mail, and website everytime I leave a comment! 🙁
Whitney
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hmmm, wasn’t that the case with my old blog too, but just the first time you signed in? Hopefully it saves your info, so the second time you go to leave a comment, it remembers you!
(Also, email address isn’t required) 🙂
eatandrun says
Looks great, Katie 🙂
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
It looks great Katie!!! Although, you should be holding some fake flowers or something in the header 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
LOLOLOL!!
Susan says
Katie this looks fantastic!
Love the header, love the layout, love it all!
A blogroll would be cool, and maybe an archives in the sidebar?
Pure2raw Twins says
I know we are late in responding but love the new site and header!!! xoxo
the twins
moon says
Dear Katie,
I love your blog!! I can’t believe you are around 10 years younger to me, but your recipes are awesome and healthy!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
🙂 🙂 Aww thanks!
moon says
I am definitely inspired by your raw whipped cream..your recipes are very innovative.
keep up the great work, and good luck with school!
Baking 'n' Books says
How have you found the change to a self-hosted site? Worth it? Do you have to do all the “behind scenes” stuff on your own??!!! I love it either way!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Love it :). You definitely have more control and more options. Sooo worth it :).
Whitley says
Hej (I live in Sweden, lol but I am American), Katie
I love your blog it is so inspiring. I am also quite a healthy eater, I have stopped eating most meats (I eat fish from time to time) and this transition was super easy but I would like to go vegan and i have attempted this but kinda fell off the wagon. lol A few reasons, one being i moved to Sweden and i am a student so my budget is small and i don’t have the best cooking area but they bigger thing was everyone making such a big deal about me trying this. I don’t care what people think but their constant questions got to me and i got tired of talking about it and it made going to get togethers hard and not so fun. Do you have an advice? Oh and i made your chocolate chips cookie dough dip for a party tomorrow… wonder what they will thing! 😉
Keep blogging, i love it!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hi Whitley!
I guess maybe in America it’s more common? But it wasn’t always that way! And I went vegan when I was living in China, so people definitely thought I was weird.
Here’s a post I wrote that kind of relates to how to act around others: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/11/20/special-diet-parties/
Sending hugs from texas!
Ella Robinson says
Love the new blog header, I’m not a fan of the blue colour on the border of the blog though, i don’t think it does your amazing food justice
Lizzers says
Very nice!! love i sooo much more!! i’m glad the recipes stay just as good and never change from there awesomeness!!!=))))