90% of the design on KERF I have figured out myself – through Google and WordPress forums. There’s an answer> for everything out there! Piece of advice: learn FTP first (which is really not hard – just downloading Filezilla) in case you crash your site, which I have definitely done!
I’ve been wanting to make the site a bit more…modern for a while now, and I’m nearly there! With a little help from my old bud Zesty Cook, who does blog design as a side job if you need help (!), I was able to get the push in the right direction. PHP is SCARY STUFF!
Note the new footer:
expanded Archives and Categories (which were drop-down for the longest time but now opened up for your convenience)
and brand-spankin’ new nav menu and sidebar headers!
I did the buttons myself last week!
I’ve got one more thing to do for the time being!
Zest and I worked well into the noon hour, but since I’d had such a late breakfast, I was OK hunger-wise to get in a workout. I just ate a fig for some quick energy!
You know how yesterday I didn’t want to be caught in the gym? Today I had a craving to go! It’s like intuitive eating – don’t force yourself or deny yourself and life will happen naturally.
I biked there on this gorgeous day and spent some time climbing stairs with my new Real Simple. Then headed home. I’m planning some weights tomorrow!
We are low on food in our house, which means it’s a sardines day!
My favorite kind:
I mashed the tin (with my eyes closed, per usual!) with cilantro pesto and salt! Simple as it comes. So good!
Sardines and a cinnamon raisin english muffin? Why not!
Side salad. My favorite mix. I just LOVE the flavor profile of the honey, olive oil, lavender salt with the sweet veggies
Today I also added some Orange-Rosemary Pecans by Hail Merry, a potential opensky item. They are amazingly delicious!!
Get get enough of our homemade seltzer either!
Enjoy your afternoon!
Jen @ keepitsimplefoods.com says
Impressive! Kudos on learning all that crazy tech stuff. It’s still a mystery to me…
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
Everything looks great, Kath! Keep up the good work 🙂
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
The site looks awesome Kath! Mmm that sandwich looks delicious, too.
Candy (Healthy in Candy Land) says
My site wants to look and function like yours when it grows up!
Kamaile says
LOVE olive oil and agave drizzled on spinich. I’ve been having it daily and I love how simple it is.
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I’m glad to know a lot of the design can be done yourself! Now I just need to take the time to learn!
Christie {Nourishing Eats} says
Looks great, Kath! One of the tricks I have learned (I also build websites and blogs on the side) is this site called thesis mule css. Just google it and it gives you the code for your custom php file. Very cool.
KathEats says
Oh neat – do you have a link for that? I can only seem to find Double Mule – is that it?
[email protected] says
beautiful site, beautiful lunch. KERF seems to just get better and better! Keep up the wonderful photos and content..
love,
cathy b.
Joyce @ Flowing to Fifty says
Lookin’ great! Very modern.
You are so good at salads….I’m in need of inspiration. I may look back over some of your posts. AS for the fish……..hmmmm…….small fish in a can……:-(
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
ah, i totally know what you mean about PHP being so scary. anytime i get the urge to mess with my blog, i always feel like i’m holding my breath just waiting for something to go wrong. it’s an uneasy feeling for sure. i love the new look!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
Love the new look! A lot of that is somewhat over my head but I’m learning!
Amy @ ChicFitness says
The site looks gorgeous, I love it! I’m just getting started so I don’t know where to begin with any of the tech stuff.
Jess @ atasteofconfidence says
like the new footer!
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Oh gosh, I am having SO much trouble with FTP! I can’t get my new header up for my new self-hosted blog (which is yet to be launched, for that very reason) and let’s just say…there’s been tears, and hair pulling, and fury….I’ve as good as given up now! Which host are you with?
KathEats says
Oh no, bummer. I use Dreamhost. Do your theme not have a custom header?
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
It does – I just can’t work out how to change it! It’s so frustrating, espec with a Mac, cos half the tutorials are from PCs so don’t make much sense/I’m doing the right stuff (I think!?) but it just doesn’t…work. Do you know anyone who could help?
KathEats says
Ahhh I was going to until you said Mac!!!!!! I might be able to, but I’m out the door. If you want to G-chat me in the AM?
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Aah I’ll be at uni then (your AM is my PM) – could I email you maybe? Do you use CyberDuck or FileZilla, cos I’m thinking they are the butt of my problems!! I really hate technology :/ but thankyou soo much for offering to help!
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Aaah I changed my theme, so it has a bunch of different options- now it’s 10x easier to do, so I think i solved it 🙂 *panic over* 😛
KathEats says
Oh good!!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
Love the new design 🙂
maggie @ livingfoodjunkie says
Your site is looking beautiful Kath 🙂 That is a lot of tough techy stuff to learn, kudos to you for conquering it! 🙂 And your lunch looked delicious btw! I love putting anything on cinnamon raisin english muffins, always ends up tasting great 🙂
Sophie says
I noticed the new buttons the other day! I’ve always loved how your site looks!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
Someday I’ll get the little extra nudge I need to move away from the free WordPress site and make my blog more my own. In general, I do a lot of computer learning the same way you do — when in doubt, look it up on the internet! Seeing other self-taught bloggers out there is very motivating.
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
you just got me craving sardines!
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
I love the updates – they look great. I definitely need to start learning more about ftp, html and all other things blog related. I haven’t even figured out how to set up tabs to separate pages OR how to make it so I can reply to comments on my blog yet ((
Christine @ Merf In Progress says
Your meals so often look like faces to me. It makes me happy.
Anne @ butter and bear says
The blog looks great, love all the new designs.
Paige(Running Around Normal) says
That’s awesome you made those buttons yourself! WordPress forums really do provide a wealth of knowledge!
Kelly says
Sardines and pesto? I wonder if they would taste good with traditional pesto. Hmmmm….The blog looks great!
Sana says
I like to footer! Fancyyy!
Jessie says
Love the footer! Everything looks great.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Looks good, Kath. 🙂
I’m actually implementing the exact same footer layout on my blog!
[email protected] Sweet Life says
I love your design–one of my favorites out there!
Dorry says
Love the new footer! Lots of pretty pops of color.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
The tech improvements are gorgeous!! I love seeing so many colors of oatmeal:)
suki @ [Super Duper Fantastic] says
Looks great! 🙂 Good job.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
The site looks great Kath. I don’t really want to do a redesign, but I want to make mine more user friendly. I need to set some time aside to do that soon. Have a great afternoon!
kerri [email protected] says
Love the Button Up technology. Also the salad looks divine!
Eileen says
You lost me when you combined the sardines with the cinnamon raisin English muffin.
Just kidding … I’ll be back to find out what you had for dinner. 🙂 Anyway, the modifications to your blog look great.
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
I love the new footer! So KERF!
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
I love the new format! Very modern 🙂
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
wow – it all looks so wonderful!
Little Miss Fitness says
I just stumbled upon your blog and I love it. 🙂 Wow, such a wonderful story of how you got started! I can’t wait to read more!!
P.S. Never have sardines looked so tasty!
KathEats says
Welcome!!
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
I love your new footer! It looks great — and all of your other changes look good as well. I like the colors — very “Kerf” 🙂
I like how your plate of food looks like a face!
Nancy-The Wife of a Dairyman says
love the blog tips….your site looks great:)
Sardines….I’m not as brave as you! enjoy!
Baking 'n' Books says
Looks beautiful.
I never had sardines before – why do you close your eyes??
KathEats says
Because they are gross to look at!
Tracy @ Commit To Fit says
The site is looking great! I am in the process of creating one, and it certainly is a long, learning process, but totally worth it in the end (I hope 🙂
Simply Life says
the updates are looking great! What’s FTP?
Annette says
I am working on some awesome stuff for a site too-php, sitezilla, all the works 🙂 Gotta love it
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
Kudos on the techiness! I love the buttons.
stacey-healthylife says
That’s very high tech all things that you are navigating on the site.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Everything looks great around here! I cant wait to get to updating my site, but I’m so nervous because it’s so time consuming!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
I love the new blog features, especially the Tribute to Oatmeal in the footer!! Such great photos and SO much colour. Nice work, Kath!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Haha I love that you mash it up with your eyes closed! Maybe if I did that I wouldn’t be so scared of eating them! 😛
[email protected] says
I am in love with the footer action down here… good stuff!
Christine (The Raw Project) says
Wonderful updates and I’ve been there with crashing WordPress. 😛
Angela (the diet book junkie) says
i’ve never had sardines before (to my knowledge.) i hear they’re really good for you though!
kate says
I dont get all the computery stuff, but I love what you are doing with KERF. The footer photos are gorgeous.
joni says
love the new footer!
ever put your URL into:
http://waybackmachine.org/
it’s so neat! your blog has gone through so many changes.
me thinks a new header is on it’s way. the serif font, just doesn’t do your blog justice anymore.
KathEats says
WOW that is a cool site!!!!!!!!!!
Vanessa says
Oh how I wish I knew how to make my site as fun and technologically awesome like yours!!! One day I hope.. It all looks fabulous by the way 🙂
Hannah says
Sprouts and sardines! What a brilliant idea! Oh, how I wish I had the knowhow (or the money to employ someone) to make my blog look better. Yours is looking great!
Melissa says
Sardines scare me. But seeing you eat them is making me brave . . . think I may have to pick some up on my next TJ’s trip!
Love the site designs! You are one talented lady, Ms. Younger!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
Oh wow, Kath, you probably have close to a degree in computer programming after all the self-implemented blog changes you’ve done and figured out on your own! Majorly impressive!
I’ve been working with Jenn and she’s in charge of all my major overhaul stuff lately. I used to do it all myself but nearly deleted my blog, my code, you name it…messed things up and so now leave the major stuff to the pros.
Love your buttons and your new footer! Tres chic 🙂
Alaina says
You make sardine’s look good! Maybe I need to expand my palette more. 🙂
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
I love the new look and the thumbnail pictures at the bottom of the page!
Heather says
it looks great! I am not tech savvy like you but I understand a few things. it is alls o overwhelming though! good job!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
I LOVE forums. I always feel like the most reliable info comes from them since the people in there are users too. It’s awesome to have the support of real people that aren’t out to make money!
Nicole @ A Vegan in the House says
The new look is great. I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished. Although you salad dressing is simple it looks yummy. I’m going to have to try it.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
Gah! FTP makes me want to cry. I don’t know the first thing about it.
Ling says
ok- so i think i was on your wave length today! i tweeted what kind of sardines to buy as i was wandering through Whole Foods– is there a reason you like oil more that water? (btw- great improvements on the site!!) have you tried the sardines in mustard? how crazy is that!!
KathEats says
The oil ones just seem to have more flavor – liked smoky!
Steph says
Love the design Kath! I just started a blog with my friend Chloe, and the techie side is so new to us both. I just signed up for Zesty’s blog tips; thanks for sharing! I’m excited to be a part of the blog world, and hope to learn how to continually improve our site. Thanks for your tip about FTP…I’m going to go google that now!
Kiran says
Kudos for your techie expertise! I am a self taught myself, and nothing better than hand coding designs on my own 🙂 Love the new layout Kath, so much neater and bright 🙂
Rachel @ Healthy Teacher says
I eat sardines almost every week or some sort of canned fish meat. Today I tried canned oysters. I would like to recommend that you never do that. They smelled like something that came from the innards of a dead animal. I threw it away in the classroom of one of my teacher friends trashcans. She gagged. Then, she sat the trashcan by the “problem children” in her class. The oysters looked like overgrown maggots and tasted rancid.
BUT SARDINES ARE SO GOOD. Especially with olive oil.
Meagan says
I love the sprouts + sardines combination. I always add dijon mustard and I think it’s the BOMB!
CaSaundra says
Lovin’ the new layout Kath..looks great!!
p.s. Would you take a minute and vote for my Pink Velvet POM cupcake here: http://www.pomwonderful.com/cupcakecontest/
You can definitely spread the word if you would like–thanks a million!
Kelsi says
after you mentioned the wordpress forums, i checked them out and they have been so helpful!
Allison @ Happy Tales says
That’s so awesome that you’ve done the majority of your blog work yourself… good for you!!!
Anne P says
Love the new design! SO cute.
Cat @ Well Savannah says
Love everything. Isn’t Zest the BEST in the world?! I hope that one day I can grow our blog to be big and pretty like KERF! 🙂
Teri H says
When I saw the sardines with the cilantro pesto I knew I had to try it! I just bought some cilantro pesto at the Farmer’s market… so I picked up a tin of sardines… Just tried it today! SO GOOD! Thanks for sharing!