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Sunday, January 18, 2009

New blog title?

I think it's time for a new blog title & facelift. The blog name I have now is a makeshift one I just typed in one day. And then inertia set in. I'd also love to have a more visually appealing blog layout & design.

So, here are my top two ideas:

#1) Stand & Deliver with the subheading Don't Take Birth Lying Down
This is the name of my doula business too, and I like the play on words. One downside of this title & slogan is that it narrows the focus of the blog a bit to just childbirth (not that I would change what I write about, but it makes the blog seem like it's only about birth--which is something you could say about the current title, too).

#2) I Am the Same, And Yet Different
This line comes from an inscription on this statue in Eze, France by Jean-Philippe Richard. The sculpture was titled "Justine ou Isis" and was accompanied with the following short poem:

Vous m’avez reconnue…
Je suis la même
Et pourtant autre

You recognized me...
I am the same
And yet different.


I took the picture this summer, and I would love to incorporate it into the blog template/design. I like this blog title because it conveys a thoughtful, introspective approach and can apply to all aspects of mothering, not just pregnancy.


So, which one has your vote? Any other suggestions? And, could I tempt one of you to help me design a visually stunning blog layout/template? (Possibility of a free Second Womb ring sling in exchange for your work!)

29 comments:

  1. Stand and Deliver fits your blog perfect!

    Nikki who styled my blog, may be willing to trade a blog design for a sling. Just follow my nav bar to her. She has recently asked me about slings and budgets.

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  2. I like #2.

    I got nothing for ya on design. :/

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  3. I've always loved Stand and Deliver as the email addy you link here, it's excellent. I am thrilled you're considering putting the phrase to more use!

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  4. Stand and Deliver, I like this very much. I can not wait to see the back ground.

    Jamie

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  5. I just can't decide. I like "Stand and Deliver" because it's very spunky and take-charge-of-your-experience. But I like the other one too, and I like the picture so much too. Hmmmm...I don't have any good pictures or images in mind yet for #1.

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  6. hehe, what a dilemma...i like stand and deliver for the reasons you do...and its shorter and catchier too, possily better for a blog title...but you could incorporate the other into your blog sub text...but i still ike your current one!

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  7. What about "Stand and Deliver: Don't Take Life Laying Down"...it lets you stay broad (not wholly birth-centric) but of course has that birthy flair...

    As for design, well, I just had a fabulous design done for my etsy shops/shop blog and at a very reasonable price. I'd suggest browsing etsy a bit and looking for someone whose style you like, and seeing what they can do. I believe there are a couple of crunchy mamas who do web design...the one that comes to mind is mamaslittlemonkeys.etsy.com so she might be up for trading for a sling... you never know until you ask!
    I don't think it would be at all difficult to create a blog banner that utilized your photo on one side with the words on the other...I know how to do that part, I just don't know how to do the rest of a blog design...

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  8. I like Mommy Bee's suggestion. The second idea is a bit bland, I think. I mean, if you can't say the words without referencing the photo/statue (which is/are gorgeous!), then I think that's your clue the words don't really sing.

    I say that having at times absolutely hated my own blog title for being too ordinary (but I always retain it bec. it's very apropos).

    I actually like your current title quite a bit. What if you tweaked it, like, "True Face of a Mother" or something? of a Woman?

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  9. I like #2. And the photo is absolutely gorgeous. I have a little post on my family blog on how to make your own background (I started designing my own, they are very simple, but you can do a lot with practice!) Here's a link if you wanted to check it out: http://thethalmanators.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-background.html

    Good luck! And, of course, the title of your blog matters less than the content, and I've think you've already got that down great!

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  10. I like #1 with the 2nd part added, but I can't help but think of the movie every time I hear it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_and_Deliver We had HBO when I was young and I saw this movie dozens of times and it would be really difficult to not think of that every time.
    For this reason, I prefer #2...
    especially with the art that could accompany it.

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  11. Another vote for Stand and Deliver as mama's need to stand and deliver forever after birth. The other could be somehow in the side bar to explain your views or as part of "an about" me section. I do not have any children yet. Still,I read your blog with great interest even though I can no longer have a natural birth. This summer I had an ab myomectomy to remove fibroids after having a miscarriage most likely caused by the fibriods.Anyway, I still read because even with a future c-section I think your views on creating the birth you want are very powerful and apply to motherhood/life as well. So thanks for always being so candid.

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  12. I would use both! Stand and Deliver: Don't Take Life (or birth?) Laying Down for the blog title. Then use the picture in your design and put the poem in the side bar. I really love #2 the best, though it's not a super catchy title. Then again, it doesn't really have to be that catchy because what you write will speak for itself! My blog title is just a poem, the one I want to live my life by.

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  13. I think you should call it "life" because it chronicles aspects of your life, as well as discusses the ways in which we welcome life into this world. Just "life". I think it would be cool

    ; 0)

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  14. I like the idea of mixing the two as well; Stand and Deliver: don't take life lying down. Otherwise the first one, the blog is birth focused, it make sense to have an obvious birth reference.

    I do like The True Face of Birth though :)

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  15. Here's another vote for Jenni's idea with the subtext of "don't take life laying down." The layout for that, I can't help but think that it needs to be very clean, and monochromatic like your blog is now. Maybe look at some stock photo sites to find a photo that would fit.

    The second idea with photo is beautiful, and does encompass all things motherhood, but with a focus on pregnancy and birth: which is pretty much a sum of your blog. A layout designed around that photo would be beautiful and very classy. but I'm still not changing my vote.

    I want to see Stand and Deliver.

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  16. I think that the first title/tagline, along with the photo from the second idea incorporated, would work very well. After all, the lady in the picture is standing too!

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  17. That picture is gorgeous, and deserves a spot for sure...but I like your current title, or the Stand and Deliver one, with some variation of "don't take life..."

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  18. I seem to be in the minority, but I really like the second one. It's not as quick and catchy as the first, but it's very true and a whole gammot of material fits under it. The picture is stunningly beautiful, and you should definitely find a way to use it.

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  19. The second one, "I Am the Same, And Yet Different," is in fact a more broad title. The first one could certainly be a title for a blog entry.

    I also like what Mommy Bee said:
    'What about "Stand and Deliver: Don't Take Life Laying Down"...it lets you stay broad (not wholly birth-centric)...'

    I think you should use that picture of the statue in some capacity, no matter what blog title you go with! It is very beautiful :)

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  20. I'm indecisive! I like them both, I especially LOVE that picture. I would love a minature of that statue in my home.

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  21. I like Mommy Bee's suggestion.

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  22. i am loving Stand and Deliver....or Stand and Birth....love the power given to mom in that statement.

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  23. I vote for the second one!

    I like that it widens the perspective, and also love the photo.

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  24. I'm with Kelley. "Stand and Deliver" makes me think of the math movie, not about motherhood or babies... I love the photo of the statue.

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  25. I think it's ery funny. makes yout think "huh? wha? ooooh... I get it!"

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  26. I really like your current title. It is so beautifully simplistic. Stand and Deliver does make me think of that movie as well. I vote for keeping the same title, with perhaps a new layout?

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  27. Where is this beautiful statue at??? WoW!!! I LOVE it! and obviously your blog has been redesigned already. I LOVE it! It is Gorgeous!!!

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  28. It's in a botanical garden in Eze, a small village perched on a cliff outcropping overlooking the sea in the French Riviera. There are numerous statues by the same artist within the garden, but I only took pictures of this one.

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  29. It's such a beautiful picture. So calm. So strong.

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