TODAY, MAY 18, IS MY GLORIOUS BIRTHDAY. *pops the confetti and dances around*
I’m not much of a birthday celebrator tbh—I’m a bit apathetic about it because I’ve spent childhoods not doing anything particularly special and I’m turning a year older which is frickin’ scary—but that doesn’t mean it won’t be an awesome day! I will make it one with my friends and loved ones!
In honor of my birthday (and upcoming Summer), Charlotte and I gave The Novel Hermit a much-needed revamp—a semi-facelift, keeping with the general design look! Do you see anything different? ;D
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE BEFORE?
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[/lightbox][lightbox type=”image” src=”http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y425/thenovelhermit/Screen%20Shot%202015-05-18%20at%208.39.17%20AM_zpsiuu3jkzv.png”]
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WHAT’S NEW?
[row][column size=”1/2″]
| WAVES |
|---|
Rest assured, it has stayed the same shape. (No worries, Kelly. ;D) I would never part with it.
However, the waves have a new color scheme and texture to it! Since I wanted a header change, whatever background I used in my header needed to be in my waves too, and voila! Look! It’s more aqua! The colors are bright and eye-catching, and the water glistens! THERE’S STARS IN THE WATER. 
[/column]
[column size=”1/2″]
| HEADER |
|---|
AQUA WATER. HERMIT CRAB. STARS. HAVE THE PLANETS ALIGNED? PRETTY MUCH.
You might be asking me, “Cee, what does planets and the ocean have anything to do with each other?” Well, the sphere in the header reminded me of a planet, and I mentioned it to Charlotte and asked her to put some planets around it like they were revolving around it (because I like space!). This is the beautiful outcome. I’m so in love with it. The circle looks like a hole cut into the walkway to see the ocean under it. The waves and the header matching is so perfect. SO. MUCH. LOVE.[/column][/row] [row][column size=”1/2″]
| SOCIAL MEDIA |
|---|
Aqua + monochromatic! Hover over each social media button, and see the awesome!
I remember seeing a design blog with this kind of social media style, and pestered Charlotte about creating one for me back in October (it didn’t come into fruition because of life priorities). But here it is now! [/column] [column size=”1/2″]
| RESPONSIVENESS |
|---|
FINALLY.
Charlotte managed to work her magic and make this blog responsive on mobile and iPad. It should be easy viewing on your phone now! (Hopefully?) I know it’s not completely responsive for alllll resolutions, but we made due, considering the design code isn’t ours, and it was never coded for responsiveness from the beginning. [/column][/row]
| ETC |
|---|
Other than those obvious changes, my color palette changed to match the waves and the header (goodbye teal + lavender, hello aqua + red); the search bar and the blockquote is now the texture and color of sand; there’s a fabulous “read more” style because I was never that fond of the one I had; and the archives for the tags and categories are no longer excerpt. Huzzah!
(The blog design’s structure has stayed the same to what Mitchii designed, but Charlotte and I added a bunch of things to make this design even more awesome. Fun fact: this entire concept with the different wave colors and that header was created just a week ago!)
Thank you again to the beautiful tropical fish, Charlotte, for doing all this! <3 She knew exactly what I wanted. She’s the best.
| GIVEAWAY |
|---|
Because it’s my birthday as well as my site design’s facelift, I’ve decided to give away two boxes of awesome books + a $20 book from The Book Depository!
THE RULES
- Giveaway #1 is only opened to the US. Giveaway #2 is only opened internationally (as long as The Book Depository delivers to you).
- The giveaway will run from May 18 to 31, 2015.
- You must be 13 years (with your parent’s permission) or older.
- You will be disqualified if you pick up entries you haven’t done.
- If the winner does not respond to my e-mail within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner.
- I am not responsible for any items lost in the mail.
1. For US people ONLY, there will be two winners who will each win a box of YA books (which includes A Thousand Pieces of You, Pushing the Limit, and many more!):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2. For international folks ONLY, you get to pick any book you want as long as it’s $20: a Rafflecopter giveaway
I’m completely in love with your new blog design! It’s GORGEOUS! Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day. :)
Ugh Cee, it’s fucking amazing to finally see this all come together and it feels so surreal the header concept only came about just over a week ago and then that other idea too which you know I love but wasn’t the right time jkdjalsdjkaljdlaksdjl. Even though it’s still Mitchii’s coding and her design structure, it also feels so new *wipes tear*
And then the banner which I made like what, two days ago? AND HOW IT BLENDS IN SO WELL WITH EVERYTHING UGH I CAN’T AT MYSELF. I SERIOUSLY CAN’T. WHO AM I.
Happy Birthday. I love the blog design, the waves make me think of the beach and summer.
LOVE the new look!!!
Happy happy birthday dear girl! I really love the design! I think the little crab is my favorite, I like him better then the little narwhal even though that was cute too! It’s so fun to get a design isn’t it? Just like new clothes but for your blog! I hope you have an amazing day!
❤️Brittany T
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope it’s amazing! :)
I also really LOVE the look of your blog. It’s SO cute!
<3
Happy happy birthday! I have always loved your blog design, but now it’s even more adorable!
I totally dig the new look! Also Happy Birthday and thanks for an awesome giveaway!
The blogdesign is gorgeous! I really really like it :) also, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Happy birthday, Cee! I love the new design, shades of blue/aqua are my favorite color, so I like the pops of blue and the social media section with all the variations of blue is awesome:)
I love the new look! :D Happy Birthday and thanks for adding an international giveaway!
Happy birthday! :D
Love the new desing! Everything has like a cool, summer vibe (and the little stars in the waves aahh!).
Thanks for the international giveaway :)
Happy birthday Cee and congrats on the new look! It is FABULOUS. Seriously, how does your blog get prettier and prettier each time? Also I’m having way too much fun hovering over your social media icons. They’re so much fun! The ombre / reverse ombre is GENIUS. You & Charlotte really did an amazing job :)
Happy Birthday! I wish you the best and I hope to read more of your reviews!
Blog looks awesome! Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, beautiful Cee! I’m so, so in love with this blog design. I’m torn between pinpointing the waves (those GLISTENING STARS though) and the header (the waves + crab + PLANETS) as my favorite part of it all. I hope you have a lovely day <3
I’ve been following your blog for awhile now, and I absolutely love the content that you put out. Happy birthday!!! And I wish you the best and for your blog as well ^_^
Happy Birthday! Love the new design. The colors are fantastic, they make me feel happier. I like the sand search bar below the lovely crab. You always have wonderful things to read. I love reading reviews and finding myself with a even longer TBR list. I hope you have such a wonderful birthday. Thank you tremendously for the amazing giveaway. We should be giving you presents, not the other way around. But thank you!
Happy birthday! I love your theme update, the social media buttons are adorable. I love the fact that it is both ombre without hovering and it does it the opposite way when you hover. It’s those kind of details I love in a blog because it shows someone has thought long and hard about it. I can’t believe this was designed just a week ago, it’s amazing! I love design updates like this where it isn’t an overhaul, more an update and polish on what you originally had. I cannot wait to see your blockquote as sand, well done creating and keeping with a theme on this, I never have that kind of dedication, I just want to go with what’s pretty.
IT LOOKS GLORIOUS. I love the vibrant blue color and those planets look adorable :D The ombre effect on your social buttons is a very nice touch. I like how your design still maintains that sort of simplistic/easy-to-the-eyes look. And, Happy happy birthday to you!
Oh I like your new design, it has a more summery feel than your previous desing. I have to admit I wondered about the planets and what those had to do with anything, so I am glad you explained that and the hermit crab is so cute! And yay for making the design mostly responsive. It’s getting more important now that google changed it’s rules.
I know I’ve already said it twice but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CEE! I hope you’re having a splendid day full of presents, and ogling this gorgeous design.
IT IS SO BRIGHT! I love it. Heaps of blog designs are very mellow with their colourings, but this is so beachy. I love how the waves look like water, and the sand texture accents – LOVE.
Also the planets are adorable, and so is the little crab. Charlotte and you did an amazing job of transforming Mitchii’s gorgeous design into something new and fresh! :D
Again: have a great day!! <3
Happy birthday!! (again, since I just tweeted at you haha). I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THE UPDATED DESIGN. IT IS SO GORGEOUS. I wish I had more things to say, but really I am so in love with the theme and you that I have been rendered speechless.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a really good day! :) I love the new design! The blue is so bright and the planets really add to the theme. :) I especially love how colorful it is!
Happy Birthday!! Love the new design, so colorful and easy to read! Congrats!! :)
Thanks so much for the chance.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CEE!!! I hope you have a fantastic year :D I absolutely love the new design – just the shading difference in the blues makes it seem so much brighter and cheery. And I do love the stars in the waves ;)
*makes grabby hands at social media gradients*
ONCE AGAIN HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY WOOHOOOOOOOO /confetti confetti confetti!!
THE BLOG DESIGNN!!! ITS SO PRETTTTTY! THE WAVES ARE EVERYTHING, never let them go ok!!!!
AND THE PLANETS ARE SO CUTE AND MINIATURE AND URGH I LOVE IT
Happy birthday! Hope you had a great day! The new design is great and I love the shares of blue. Just looking at it makes me think were in Summer (when really it’s Winter here in Australia).
I love the new layout, it feels so summery to me! Happy Birthday, I hope you got everything you wished for!
Happy birthday! I really like the more saturated colors! They are really summery. Also, I love the new little crab. He’s adorable!
CEE this is BEAUTIFUL! Charlotte is a design goddess!!! The blue water is even MORE beautiful than it was in the previous layout – which I thought would be impossible because I loved it so much! I also love the new image on the sidebar – the planets around it really add a nice touch! ;D
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY again, even though it was yesterday XD <3
CEE! I love the new look, and I am in love with the social media. THE COLORS. This is the loveliest birthday gift you could give yourself. :D
Happy birthday again, Cee!
I’m in love with the social media buttons on the right! SO FREAKIN’ COOL!
Love the planets as well as waves that glisten with stars. Uber cool!
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day.I love your new look, especially the aqua water.
Thank you for having an international giveaway! From South Africa :)
Happy birthday! All the best wishes from Slovenia! It’s great that you treated yourself to a blog makeover, I did much the same thing last month.
I really like your social media buttons now, they’re easy to find and beautiful, which is sometimes hard to achieve. I love that you’re sticking with the crabs – but sad that Pluto isn’t a planet anymore :)
And I like that the “read more” button on your homepage works as a divider between posts, that’s a nice feature.
Happy Birthday, even if it is late! I like the new design, and hope you have a wonderful day,month, and year.
I LOVE THIS CEE (AND CHARLOTTE) why are you two amazing please teach me your ways. I dig the aqua very much as with the waves texture!
And I can’t press “submit comment” before wishing you a very amazing, lovely birthday! I wish you all the best in this upcoming year, both in your life and this blog! Let’s do this!
Happy Birthday! I have always loved how your blog looks and I am loving the new look as well! I am happy to still see the waves! :D Great new look!
Your blog’s new design is so cool! :) Happy Birthday and more birthdays to come! Mine’s on the 29th and I’m also running a Birthday Giveaway. Link’s on my blog’s side bar. Have a great week! ♥
I am so late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CEEEEE!! I hope you had a wonderful b’day celebration — and just in time for summer, too! *throws confetti*
OHMYGOD CEE, I LOVE IT. THE TEXTURES. AND THOSE PLANETS ESPECIALLY. It’s like the kind of logo I wanted for my blog (since my blog name’s kind of sci-fi themed), but had no idea how to make, and asdfkds;as BLESS YOU AND CHARLOTTE FOR BEING SUCH DESIGN QUEENS AND COMING UP WITH SOMETHING SO FANTASTIC. The colors definitely make me think of summer and sparkling beaches!
And I know that it’s a really small detail, but I loooove the background picture you used for the search bar! It’s so subtle but eye-catching at the same time. :D
Happy birthday! I hope you had an amazing day! The good thing about getting older is that you’re now wiser! I love the new design! The blue-teal color is my favorite color, other than purple, so of course I think it’s gorgeous! The starry waves are stunning!
Happy belated birthday, Cee! I hope you had a great day (and hey, we’re birthday buddies! Mine is the 19th May). I love this new design, especially the waves and the new header. It all looks so gorgeous and really suits the blog. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Charlotte is obviously very incredible.
Happy belated birthday!! I think your design is really nice!!! The teal is perfect!
Happy Belated Birthday (mine was the 21st of May). I didn’t do much, just enjoyed the day. Thanks for doing a giveaway on your day! I love the new design.
Happy Birthday!
Definitely love the brighter, bolder look and the new graphics. It’s beautiful. :)
Happy belated birthday! I really love the color scheme, it kind of makes me think of summer and fun.
Happy birthday!
I really like the planets above the The Nove Hermit graphic and the waves above and below are also really cool! =D
Happy birthday! ;)) Yours has always been one of my favorite blogs, I especially love Holy, mother cover so much! ;) Now I love it so much more because of the design! It makes me happy, and it makes me want to lay on the beach reading books and listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore! the colors are so bright! ;) Go on like this, you’re awesome!
Happy birthday! Like the clean blog design
This is so cool! It is really awesome that you are doing this :)
Happy birthday! I love the new design. I like the bright colors. It pops out, especially the waves on the border. I also like the addition of the planets. Very cute~ :)
I love the new design! The waves look extra awesome, I love the color scheme, and I think the space/sea clash up is adorable! Just love, so much blog design envy right now!
The18th was my birthday too ha. This blog design is a pretty thing too. I don’t know why but I just love light colors when it comes to blogs. It just looks really good to me c:
I kinda screwed up in the bloglovin entry. The link to mind us bloglovin.com/yadangfishes
Happy Birthday! The new color you chose is one of my favorites, so bright and cheery! I hope you had a wonderful day with your friends and family, and possibly a delicious cake :)
Hi there Cee!!! Or Comic Pimp! :D I didn’t know your birthday was like, May 18th, which is my Dad’s birthday too. I didn’t get to celebrate with him coz I was away for 1 week for a school thing. Bummer!!!
Anyway, I hope it is never to late to wish you a happy birthday and I hope you stashed more comics and books than ever! :D Wishing you all the best, pimp! :D
Love,
Jayvee :D
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I really like the new blog layout! It reminds me of summer and is adorable. The blue colors are very pretty too. :)