New blog graphics, plus advice with colour scheme needed!

I am the owner of a popular parenting blog and I really need a redesign.

My blog is about gentle/alternative parenting, family life, and green/sustainable living. It is predominantly based on parenting but I'd like to move more into general family life with the focus being on aspects of parenting.

I recently attempted a redesign, but as you will see when you visit, my photoshop skills are minimal and I am somewhat creatively challenged when it comes to design!

The kind of feel I want is alternative, edgy, colourful and funky. at the same time I want it to be quite simple, so as not to distract from the content. I want it to look professional without being unfriendly.

I will need a new header, a background, plus text graphics for my sidebar and for the pages at the top. I will also need some advice with the colour scheme of the rest of the blog. The whole site needs an overhaul.

I really don't know very much about how this works and how to implement it without affecting SEO so I really need somebody who knows what they are doing. I already have somebody who can help me with actually implementing the changes so I don't need any help with coding.

When bidding, please provide an example of your work - like the link to another website you have designed.

BLOG ADDRESS - www.alternative-mama.com