Life Makeover

I can't believe how different my life--my world is from just 7 weeks (and one day) ago. I didn't believe everyone when they told me how different things would be, and every day I'm becoming more and more of a hypocrite doing things I never thought I'd do. Motherhood is truly giving me a makeover. I'll be going into my motherhood confessions soon enough, and I've even added a section for them so watch out!

To go along with my life makeover, I had a blog makeover. What do you think? My friend and designer Danielle aka The Design Girl did it. And as usual, did a fabulous job! I wanted to go back to my "blogging roots" focusing on writing (less giveaway and sponsor flair), plus add more space for photos since I'm trying to develop photography skills.


To do this I thought I wanted a more basic look, but we were also able to remove the cartoon and add a personal touch up top with a silhouette photo of me and my daughter taken by my friend Becca from Grand Felicity Photography.

I also have added comment moderation for now because the spam comments are THROUGH THE ROOF!


So, what do you think?

I know a few of my friends have asked me about who designs my site, so if you're looking for someone who can take your vision and make it a reality check The Design Girl out!

Also, she does scrapbook kits, incase you're into digital scrapbooking, and she's having a sale this week for her design-iversary.

She is also offering my readers $10 off any blog design you order from her, just tell her I sent you!
I hope you like the new look as much as I do and will join me in my new quest.--My journey THROUGH motherhood.


And notice my new signature...

The Design Girl: March of Dimes Sponsor #38

Short story: I.. The self-proclaimed "Baby Makin' Machine," found making a baby isn't as easy as I had hoped. So to take my mind off baby makin' I'm spending a month raising money to help March of Dimes babies. Read the long story about how this fundraiser got started here!
Read my latest TTC update here.

And this is it... The last sponsor feature of my fundraiser for March of Dimes, and your last chance to hop into this great contest and effort we're doing!

I couldn't think of a better blogger and friend to tell you about than my blog designer and friend... A friend who actually inspired this fundraiser idea because she's always doing her own for charity... My friend Danielle aka The Design Girl Studio.

Everyone is always asking me who designed my blog and I'm always happy to point you to her.

Danielle is a 20-something girl that majored in Sociology and fell in to graphic design.

"I have always loved art and design, so when I started a blog back in April 2007, I was determined to make it over on my own," she said on her "About page." "After 4 months of studying HTML and Photoshop, I started 'Blogs by Danielle.' I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but over 600 blogs later, here I am. It has been an incredible journey, and I am excited to see what lies ahead in the years to come."

In 2008, she took a graphic design course at a local art school and simultaneously spent four months in a graphic design internship. She learned so much about design, and was able to apply a great deal of what I learned to my little business.

With this expansion, I realized that I needed a name change, and in February 2009, I became "The Design Girl."

Her most recent expansion includes designing her own line of digital scrapbook kits."I have set up shop at Polka Dot Plum, and am enjoying every moment of it," she said. "This is something I have wanted to do for well over a year, so it is very exciting to see this dream come to life."

She also makes freebies for people to download.

StationaryInvites

She pretty much does it all! On a more personal note, she has a heart for children and animals {she have a few cats and a dog -- all rescues}, and has been fortunate enough to be able to give back through raffles, giveaways, and donations. She lists the organizations that she gave to on her blog, and she's always open to suggestions for new organizations to work with.

"I love my job and all the wonderful people that I have met through the blogging community," she said. "I never get tired of receiving emails full of joy from clients who have just seen their blogs for the first time."This generous designer and blogger has offered to donate her services to one of you! She's great to work with, fast, and a wonderful communicator! She's designed hundreds of fabulous blogs! She's donating one of her beautiful Premade Designs to one of my donors. EVERYONE who donates is entered to win this prize! You can choose which one you want, and customize parts of it. There's lots of cute templates to choose from.If you donate just $1 to the charity I'll give you 1 free ticket to win this prize from The Design Girl Studio! Not only are you helping a charity but you get 1 ticket in our GIANT drawing! You can donate by clicking the "chip in" button to the right or by clicking here. (Paypal is NOT associated with the drawing, just with donations. Questions about the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

This is just one of more than 40 prizes (worth over $1500) that's up for grabs in the drawing! See the full list here. 100% of the funds raised are going to March of Dimes, to help save babies!

Read how this got started here!
Check out all of the prizes here!
Have a giveaway? List it here! Offer extra entries to your peeps for donating!

The Good Cause

When I first started noticing blogs I saw it as an interesting way to express oneself. Not necessarily to anyone in particular either. A lot of blogs I came across were for the purpose of self-expression, or a way to ventilate one's opinions on a particular topic or two that's crossed their mind.

I started this blog as a way to put down my feelings about taking on the next milestone in life. What was a journal and hobby has become a true joy an treasure. But what's better... I've met some of the most amazing people though blogging which I wouldn't have had the opportunity to come across otherwise.

I'm a journalist. And one of the things I pride myself in is doing stories that help and inspire people. Stories that move people to action. It's not me, but the people I meet and interview... The people in my stories that bring about the greater good in the world.

Just recently I've started to realize that same movement is visible... If not more so in the blogging realm. Never have I crossed paths with so many inspiration people trying to do good in such a short time span.

One example of this is with Danielle, the woman who re-designed my blog. She's offering her design services for free to a lucky donor who gives toward helping starving children in China.

You see... Due to limited resources, many government orphanages in China can’t afford to purchase formula powder. Instead, babies are given substitutes like sugar water or rice powder to ease their hunger pains. As many of you mothers know, these substitutes do not provide the nutrition a child needs, and the result is malnourishment, sickness, and underdevelopment.

I won't go into all of the details but I hope you'll consider going over here and donate what you can, no matter how small. One hundred percent of the money goes toward the New Day Foster Home's Formula Project! I'm going to give up one fast-food meal this week so I can chip in!... It'll be good for me, and these children. And hey... Your contribution could also get you a new free blog design!

Is it just me, or does like just seem so inspiring at times? I've always been a believer in the fact that people are good. And sometimes running into little things like this just go to show that! What other blogs/ people/ things inspire you? I love inspiration!!

The New Look and Special Discount!

What do ya think? I was liking my template before. I'm by no means a blog designer, but I like to think of myself as one. You know... Reporter by day, blogger by afternoon and wannabe blog designer by night.

Well believe it or not, I was getting sick of the pink. Not totally, but pretty much. And I began to feel a tad bit guilty "what if I have a boy and my blog has been pink all this time?" All of these things were going through my mind, so I made the decision to change it up.

I'm not gonna lie, I was really nervous about turning my baby--My project over to another designer. There were times when I thought "forget it, I'll do it myself!" But the trial and error was becoming too much. So I found Danielle.

Great woman, a future mama herself, and an awesome designer. I told her what I had in mind and we worked together 100% of the way. She was so fast and really honest (so was I). I felt so comfortable telling her what I wanted and well... LOOK! To be honest I was like "I like pink but I don't want too much pink" and she took it from there!!

If you're looking to get a redesign, or a design for your blog, or maybe a new website, check out The Design Girl. I didn't even know you could DO half the stuff she does on blogger! And get this... From now until the 28th this month Baby Makin(g) Machine's readers will get $20 off her basic and standard packages! Follow that link and you'll get $20 off your deposit ($15 instead of $35)! Just tell her I sent you :) So check it out! It's worth it being cute!

You can email her your requests or ask her questions at thedesigngirl@gmail.com