Add other attributes to signup

Hello,

Would it be possible to add other attributes to the subscription block/page? For example I want my block to look like the following:

Newsletter:
Hey wanna sign up for this sweet newsletter (or something a little more professional)
First name:__________________
Email:______________________

It has first name as well as email. I know this can be done with civicrm's "profiles" but the block or page created from "profiles" does not confirm the email, it just adds the users information without checking it.

Thanks