The changes:

I have updated the links on the navigation bar below the header so it looks   nicer.  I have added pages containing recipes, inspiration boards, and a how to page which contains links from all over the blog so older helpful posts are easier to find.

The sidebar has undergone a major overhaul.  I have added a much nicer welcome message that better describes this blog.  Below that, you will find quick links to contact me, subscribe to the blog, follow me on Twitter, and view my Flickr account.  Clean and easy!  I like that the buttons are bigger because they are much easier to see now.  I love having everything in a centralized location instead of broken up into two sidebars.

There is also a search bar below the quick links and easy access to my categories and archives from months past in simple drop down menus..

 The Sponsors section is pretty much the same aside from an updated button linking to a new page I created displaying the rates for sponsoring Dream in Domestic.  You can view them here.  I have not really talked about sponsorships much on here because I think many people look down on the whole subject in the blog world.  I believe that blogs take up a huge portion of a person’s time and provide valuable information as well as entertainment, both of which people pay money for in other modes (buying a book for information or going to a concert or movie for entertainment).  Because my blog is completely public and free (which I am happy about), people can stop in and receive information or be entertained at no cost.  However, as much as I love writing my posts, time is a huge cost when it comes to blogging, so having a sponsor or two here and there helps make up for that cost and helps me to pay to keep the blog running as well as buy supplies for crafts, buy groceries for recipes I make, and so on.  I welcome anyone who would like to help me fund this blog (for a very affordable rate) and I would love to help promote wholesome companies at the same time.

That’s my spiel. Sorry – back on topic!

The rest of the sidebar should look familiar, but updated.  I love blogs that have a section of products they want or really like.  I started one a while back and then abandoned it.  I am going to do my best to keep it updated not only for all of you but for me as well because it helps me keep track of what is on my shopping list, or at least on my list of things to keep on my radar while shopping or surfing the net.

There also is a still a button that links to my Amazon Store which lists products I love as well as products on my wishlist.  I will be updating this periodically as well, so if you are interested, be sure to check back from time to time.

Besides the fonts, a couple other aesthetic things, and dumping a bunch of useless widgets on the sidebar, that is all that I’ve finished so far.  Note: Those bullets on the Blogroll are driving my crazy and I’ve been trying everything to fix them.  When I tested all the changes earlier, this was not a problem, but coding hates me so it’ll take me a while.  Please bear with me!

Still on the list of things to do:

• More pages to make navigating much easier.
• Edit the About page.
• Redo the tags and categories on every post.  I don’t know if I’ll get to that right away.
• Add a little more to the sidebar to make it more interactive.
• Update the sidebar more often.

What do you think?  Is it easier to look at?  Even better if it’s easier to navigate.  Please let me know of any errors or things that seem out of place on your end of the screen!  Thanks again, Chelsea for inspiring me to finally sit down and make the changes I’ve been meaning to make since I changed this layout in January!  Talk about procrastination!

My goal over my time off from school was to revamp this blog baby of mine by making it look better (check) and making it more user-friendly (check in progress).  I have also been adding things to make my blog more interactive and to reflect me more.  I’d like to let everyone in on the few changes I’ve made so you can be in the know and you can get to know me a little better.

1) I have created an Amazon store that simply houses all of the products I use and love.  I have seen other bloggers do this and think this is a much easier way of promoting products I use (without any incentive from the manufacturers of the products but a small incentive from Amazon if anyone buys one of the products I list) than answering emails over and over.  Plus, I think it lets everyone in on a little bit of my life that the blog itself does not always reflect.  You can find the button that links to my Amazon store on the right sidebar.

2) In conjunction with the Amazon store, I also have a section within the store that lists products I have been longing to purchase but have not gotten around to yet.  This not only helps me keep track of everything, but I like seeing other peoples’ wishlists, so I figure if anyone actually reads my blog, maybe they would like to see mine as well.  I mainly keep it on Amazon because it is easier and directs me as well as anyone else who would like to purchase these items to a page where they can be purchased easily.

3) I am now accepting sponsors.  On the left sidebar toward the top is where they will be unless they become too cluttered.  I never planned on having sponsors, but I’ve been contacted by a couple companies and think that there’s nothing wrong with promoting businesses that sell products I like (and you all will like, too).  I just thought I’d keep everyone informed!

Those are the few changes I’ve made in the past week and hope they will help Dream in Domestic to be the user-friendly, interactive, and most importantly, the fun and informative place I intended it to be when I first started writing posts.

Why do we have so much stuff?

Why do I have so much stuff?

Why do Americans have so much stuff?

Why do girls have so much stuff?

Why do kids have so much stuff?

It just goes on and on with no definitive answer, but it’s been eating away at me.  Sure, growing up as the only child in my house (I do have an older brother but he was in college by the time I was four years old) meant I had more than kids with many siblings, but room was never overflowing with useless things.  Yet, somehow, even after separating all the items into keep and sell piles, I still have a ton of stuff I can’t get rid of – either for future use or for sentimental value.

Then, even though I move about three-four times a year (once to school, once back/forth for Christmas break – although I don’t take all of my stuff – and once at the end of the school year back home) I still am always amazed at how much stuff I have to lug around.  I mean, it’s not as if I have nick nacks and clothes overflowing in my closet, even though my suitcase did look like this (and that was not all of it):

but compared to a lot of people, I have less clothes and fewer accessories but somehow it all adds up.  So I’d like you to tell me – why do we have so much stuff?  Why is it that I still go shopping and come home with things even though I already have plenty but I always find a way to justify the purchase and most times use what I buy for at least a little while?  Why do we buy things certain that we will use them forever and then find them in boxes in the basement a few years later?  Why?  Please tell me I’m not the only one!