Hey guys! I hope your week is off to a great start.
By now you’ve noticed that things are looking a liiiittle bit different on the blog. Some of you have probably knew the change was coming when I switched over my social media handles last week, but “foodiecology” is a thing of the past.
Welcome to a Cup of Catherine!
I am so excited to finally have the new blog up and running, and I owe so much to Melissa at Bee Sweet Photo + Design (you may also know her from Melissa in the Making).
Melissa is the reason that A Cup of Catherine even exists—without her design skills and technical knowledge, you’d be looking at a very sad, empty page!
Why A Cup of Catherine?
The quick answer: I needed a change! The long answer is a little more complicated. You can read more about the reasoning here, but I haven’t really felt like the name “foodiecology” fit for a long time. My original blog will always have a special place in my heart, but ever since I started writing more about pregnancy, motherhood, and other things besides food, I have felt limited with that name.
The best things about blogging will always be the therapeutic aspect and the community, but I’ve long wanted to switch from a free platform to a self-hosted, “mature” blog that could grow with me and my desires to find freelance opportunities. I feel like A Cup of Catherine will do just that. Plus, I am a former English major who loves alliteration. 😉
The Changes
My favorite change is the handy recipe index that’s part of my theme (Foodie Pro). While my photos could use some help, I love how the widget automatically lists my recipes according to the categories I’ve given them.
My contact page is much more useful than my previous one; you can easily e-mail me through the built-in form, see all of my social media handles (which are all “cupofcatherine” to match the new URL) in one place, and locate my stats (if you’re a brand or another blogger looking to collaborate in some way).
Melissa also created some sidebar image links that will take you directly to some of my favorite post categories. Basically, we’ve worked to make my site more navigable and my best content more accessible. You can also access my archives and categories in the footer.
I am not 100% finished with the site, so you may notice a few tweaks here and there. For the most part, though, this is it! Apart from the vastly different appearance, nothing else about my blog will change. I will still share recipes, fitness recaps, weekly thinking out loud posts, and posts on parenthood.
I hope you like A Cup of Catherine as much as I do! Melissa was a joy to work with—she was patient with my inability to choose a header (but really, all the ones she created were fantastic), she answered any questions I had about the more technological things I hadn’t (still haven’t) learned, and she intuitively knew exactly what I was going for with this design (it helps that we have similar tastes).
If you’re looking to change up or create your own blog, check out Bee Sweet Photo + Design!
Check out Catherine's new #blog! Thanks a million to @MintheMaking with Bee Sweet Photo + Design for her mad design skillz. Share on X
I love your design! It totally fits you (even though I loved the name “FoodiEcology”). Funny story, I was looking for decorations for my room/home gym/office yesterday and found an artsy sign that says “bloom where you are planted”!!!!!! I couldn’t believe my luck because I LOVE IT! I look forward to seeing the new layout and how it works for you 🙂
Thanks, Ellie! That’s so cool – I need to find something like that, too.
Good luck Catherine ! You definitely have a gift for writing. God Bless
Thanks so much, Mary.
I love the new look Catherine, and name!! I think a cup of Catherine fits you perfectyl 🙂
Thanks, girl! ❤️
IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL!! Congrats on the beautiful redesign, so excited for you!
Thank you, Leah! ❤️
Your new site looks so good 🙂 I’m really happy for you!
Thanks, Megan 🙂
I am loving the new look – and name! It definitely feels like the perfect fit!
Thanks, Kristy! ❤️ I am hoping it gives me more freedom & a better “home” than foodiecology. But I’ll miss it a little
LOve the new site, and the reasons behind it. Seems like you made the perfect changes!
Thanks a bunch, Susie. Change is good!
This looks so good!! I love the new design. This sounds crazy, but this design is a lot how I imagine you to be in real life.
Thanks, Kate! Haha, it’s doesn’t sound crazy. Although I think the design is cleaner and more sophisticated than I actually am 😉
Yes, a cup of Catherine is totally what your blog feels like, when I come, because I want to take up a cup of tea and just listen to you share your experiences and what you’re learning. Your site is so clean and pretty and so ‘you!’
Thank you, Emily! That means a lot ❤️ I tend to write like an English major, so sometimes I struggle to write like I’m talking to friends.
I love the new design, Catherine! Over time, our blogs naturally take on their own personality, and it’s not always the same as what we started with. I love that you’ve found your voice and groove and now you have the blog to match!
Thanks, Ellen! Yep, I think most of us have changed a lot since we started blogging! But…change is good. 🙂
CONGRATS on your new clean and neat layout! It’s always fun to have a fresh start!! I need to get on re-doing my site! At years end I will! I will be going out of the country for 2 weeks, which means, no blog updates, which means – I can give it an overhaul! 😉
Thanks, Gigi! Two weeks abroad sounds magical – I wouldn’t be thinking much about blogging either, but who knows? Maybe you will find some inspiration to change things up 😉