SURPRISE! Our blog has a whole new look!
categories: hwtm
If you’ve been here before, you might notice that a few things have changed… (if it still looks the same, try refreshing the page). We’ve been hard working on the new template for a while now…and hope that you like what you see! Here’s a list of the 10 main changes:
1. in the spotlight – new section at top where favorite articles, blog posts, and other features from throughout the entire hwtm site will be highlighted and changed weekly.
2. popular posts – new sidebar section where the most visited posts from the past month are highlighted for quick reference
3. recent comments – new sidebar section where the most current chatter appears
4. archive/search results thumbnails – little pics on post listing pages to make your searches easier. See an example now. (this applies to recent posts & future ones…might be difficult to go back and upload thumbnails for all previous 876 posts though…!)
5. categories – new hide/expand functionality so you have more categories at your finger tips, but without taking up too much space. (expand function currently being updated – should be live soon)
6. archives – new hide/expand functionality for easy reference
7. hwtm around the web – quick links to other places you can regularly find hwtm content (flickr just now getting going – more to come soon).
8. entertaining ideas archives – we’ve had tips to great articles around the web & blogosphere before (formerly known as “fab reads”), but they’ve always disappeared as new ones rotate in. From here on out, the featured articles will go to an “archives” page so that you can always access them. We’ll try to get some of the old ones back up over the next week as well.
9. good stuff – a place to highlight miscellaneous fun stuff – news, real parties, cool products, etc.
10. updated blogroll/friends – with click to expand functionality to make it easier to focus on what you’re looking for (more currently being added)
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And special thanks to the sponsors that make it possible to keep the blog going: you now get both images and text links 
(see left sidebar).
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Wow! This looks incredible! I’ve been a devoted fan for some time and I always love checking Hostess Blog and the website for updates. I never expected a whole new look. I love the movie at the top. Super cool… You always amaze me!
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:21 pm -
Congrats on the new look of the Blog. I am simply in love with everything at Hostess with the Mostess. Feeling totally inspired… I might have to have a party sometime soon just so I can recreate some of the ideas on this site. LOVE the new look & feel!
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:25 pm -
Oh my gosh!!!!
And when I didn’t think this blog could get any better.. it did!!! It looks amazing and I love it. This will make it so much easier for me to browse around!
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:25 pm -
It looks fabulous! I love it, easy to browse around and search for past posts.
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:32 pm -
Congratulations Jenn! The new layout looks great and most importantly, the new features bring an added value.
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm
BTW, I am glad you like the colorful cake stands. -
Congratulations – looks amazing!
Sep 15, 2008 at 12:44 pm -
I like your new design Congratulations !!!! It will take some time to get used to it.
I read that your changed from blogger to wordpress. May I ask you why, I am a bit frustrated with blogger, but I am afraid to move the blog.
Congratulations again. Your posts are always great.
Sep 15, 2008 at 1:04 pm -
Great new look! The rotating Spotlight is a very cool feature. Congrats on the revamp!
Sep 15, 2008 at 1:30 pm -
I love the new layout (except on a mac in both Safari and Firefox the large blog image and comments are cut off on the right hand side so I can’t read what everyone writes).
Would love to be added to your wedding blog roll if possible.
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:12 pm -
I am linkin’ the new layout and look! Happy makeover!
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm -
Thanks, everyone!
BestWeddingSites – Thanks for the heads up! Which version of Safari and FF are you using? It looks okay in both on my Mac, but there could be an issue with older browser versions, so that would be great to know.
Also – when you say “large blog image” – do you mean within the post or one of the images on the sidebar?
Thanks!
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:35 pm -
i like how the changes are practical and easy to follow, i didn’t feel overwhelmed by them. they made sense.
very nice!
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:40 pm -
Hi Jen – the blog looks great! Nice work. Ditto on previous comments – I wouldn’t have thought it could have gotten better.
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:42 pm -
Love the new look, but some of my favorite blogging friend links are gone…have they been removed permanently?
Sep 15, 2008 at 2:47 pm -
Hi Shari –
Sep 15, 2008 at 3:02 pm
They’re not gone permanently – I’m just still adding them all back in – along with some new ones! I have to re-upload all the sidebar content into the new template, so it’s been a lot of work :0 They should all be back by tomorrow though! -
Thank you! I truly appreciate your site & all of the great ideas & resources!
Sep 15, 2008 at 3:35 pm
:~) -
Hi Jenn – I’m using Safari 2.0.4 and 2.0.0.16 Firefox – I know I need to get the updates, just never seem to find the time to click “update”. The large blog image I was referring to is the one that is part of the main blog post. Let me know if you need any other info.
Sep 15, 2008 at 5:08 pm -
Wow! Everything looks fantastic. I love the design, and all the features make the site so user-friendly. Cheers!
Sep 15, 2008 at 5:23 pm -
Love it! Everything looks so fresh and so clean clean. I’m particularly enjoying the new date format on each post. It’s delicious.
Sep 15, 2008 at 5:48 pm -
Fun! I love it – especially the spotlight box at the top. Everything is so cheerful but chic at the same time
Sep 15, 2008 at 7:09 pm -
luv luv it – super easy to navigate – keep it all coming!
Sep 16, 2008 at 2:18 pm -
You never to cease to amaze me!!! I LOVE the new site. You Rock!
Sep 16, 2008 at 4:33 pm -
Shiny and new is right!!! Love the new look!
Sep 17, 2008 at 6:35 am -
Hi Jenn! Your site looks great! I love the new look! Dunno if you remember me from the Hip Hostess Event in SD.. I met you there! Just saying hi and keep up the great work! You’re awesome!
Sep 17, 2008 at 7:49 am
