This blog post has been waiting to happen since Monday night when I re-launched, but every time I try to finish it, I always end up fixing other things in the site (OC stuff). Anyway, here it goes, finally.
Welcome to the all new Chasingdreams.net!
As June 19 was approaching, the date of domain renewal for Chasingdreams.net, I had to think really hard and consider how I want to take this site moving forward. I have to admit, the thought of trading this *ehem* cheesy-sounding domain name for a more serious, professional portfolio-sounding one crossed my mind countless of times. But, needless to say, I just couldn’t let “Chasing Dreams” go.
And it’s not only because I’ve invested the past 5 years of my life in this site, or that I’m too lazy to think of a better name. Mostly it’s because my life advocacy and desire has grown deeply embedded within the two words that make up this domain name, which means it didn’t make sense to change my online brand anymore.
Granted I registered this site at a time I was feeling lost and directionless, needing an online channel for my own selfish purposes. But God has a way of turning things around for His glory, which is exactly what happened to this site.
And so we came to this point. Five years. Hey, that’s the longest I’ve kept a domain name in my 13 years of blogging! The first two domain names I owned lasted for a total of 3+ years, not counting the free-hosted blogs. Five years is a lot of time in the blogging community and I want to do a little victory dance for having kept it this long. At five years, I thought it was the perfect time to do this overhaul of sorts.
What’s New
If you’ve been reading/lurking on this blog for a while, you should be able to connect the dots. I’ve mentioned this “change” in this post when I decided that I needed to start fresh. When I talked about pursuing my passions at the start of the year, I knew that this is one of them. When I redesigned the blog in February, I also said as early as then that I was foreseeing major changes happening around here come mid-year.
My desire for this site is to be a channel that would inspire others to pursue their dreams and the calling that God has for them. (While also pursuing my dreams and the calling God has for me.) For a long time I imagined doing this through blog posts and photographs, and through a generous serving of my life story. I want to believe that we can all learn from each other, and we can use these God-given experiences to encourage and inspire other people for His glory.
But while I was doing that, this platform has extended my reach to female bloggers, creative entrepreneurs, and men and women who have specific dreams and visions for their own businesses and their own blogs. People who, just like me, have something to say/offer and dreams to chase.
For people who, just like me, have something to say and dreams to chase.
And so I started helping people build their own online platforms, after office hours. I’ve began helping design their websites, blogs, and even special events. Most of my projects lately are collaborations with people who are aching to fill this same hole, who desire to help others find their niche, and their voice, online.
And oh. my. heart. It feels sooooo good. So good to exercise my passion in design, while also helping others, while also earning on the side. The monetary part is the cherry on top of the icing on the cake, but well, if I get to do something that doesn’t feel like work and it pays the bills too, why not right? :)
In the next few weeks I’m going to start posting my recent design work and building up my portfolio. I have many many many dreams for this space, and I hope you feel excited as I am. :)
To know more about my dreams for this site, and the road to getting here, feel free to read these related posts:
- About Chasing Dreams – and yes, that’s about ME too.
- Time to Chase Dreams – my first post ever
- Chasing Dreams, Year 3 – this wasn’t about the site, but well, sort of.
- Happy 4th Birthday, ChasingDreams.Net! – June 19 last year
- Chasing Dreams 2014 – Rebranding CD early this year
- Halfway Through 2014: Starting Fresh – just a few weeks ago
- My One Word for 2014: Passion – starting this year with a passion
Congrats! I still admire your online home. I’ve been seeing your twins smiling at me for quite sometime and I can’t wait to see the changes. Everything’s twice as good as before!!!
Thanks Camille! And thanks, also, for the email. Haha, sorry about that. I figured having the twins’ faces up there would lessen the blow of the site being down for a few days. :)
I love the new lay-out of your blog. I am thinking of getting a new lay-out for my blog too. http://littlemisshoney.com
A new layout once in a while is always a good idea ;)
I browsed through your site and saw that you’re about to give birth! Congratulations, I’m excited for you :)
Thank you so much… Any day now… I might try the Fancy Girl Designs when I have the time after delivery and all to fix my blog… Maybe in a few months after, hehe…
Thank you. I just say this… My baby boy is 4months now.. I emailed a few weeks back asking for quotations on a new blog template/design. Don’t know if you got it though. Hope to hear from you soon.
Ohmy sorry! Just saw your comment. I didn’t see your email, maybe it went to the spam folder. I’m going to look for it later and reply to you asap. Thanks Honey! And congratulations on your baby boy, I’m so sure you’re having the time of your life ;)