Hi, I’m Kate, welcome to my site!   I’m a bargain hunter, design lover, and incurable DIYer.  I’m a mother to three amazing kids, living in Northern California’s Wine Country. 

I’m a simple gal with a simple dream:  transforming the drab into the fab with an arsenal of paintbrushes, primer and power tools.  I’m in pursuit of diamond style on a dime, and I refuse to believe quality must always be expensive.  I completely reject the notion that second hand is second class.  I shop thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores, and Craigslist with an eye for transforming and repurposing found objects.  Like I always say, I’m out to make my world fabulous, for less, one do-it-yourself project at a time. 

I’ve been passionate about design, décor, and do-it-yourself projects for as long as I can remember.  Mr. CG and I have been remodeling homes and spaces for years, so I finally decided to start writing about it.  This site is where I share my adventures in DIY projects, interior decorating, and home improvement.   My passion is finding hidden potential in the most tired of objects.  I adore rescuing a dated piece and revamping it with a fresh new look. 

Q:  Background please. 

A:  I’m a lawyer by trade, turned mommy, turned DIY blogger.   After graduating law school, I worked as a district attorney for several years before hanging up my prosecutor hat and becoming a stay-at-home mom.  

While taking time off from the law, and with infants in arms, Mr. CG (my husband and partner in DIY) and I decided to expand and remodel our home.  We acted as general contractor through the entire two year process.  From designing the floor plan to picking each and every fixture, we earned enough miles from home improvement store purchases to fly our family to Timbuktu and back, first class.  People called us crazy to take on such a project with babies who didn’t sleep through the night.  They were right.  At one point, the entire back wall of our home was “missing” during the rainiest months of winter.  While we temporarily lost our sanity, we dramatically increased our knowledge of home construction.  

We Survived This Expansion & Remodel and Lived To Tell the Tale

 

Q:  Will we ever learn the names of your family members ? 

Unlikely.  I love to share their faces but not their names.   Call me a privacy *freak* ~ it just helps me sleep at night.  

Q:   Why are you so obsessed with the color blue in your home ? 

It’s probably a phase.  But I do find the color blue quite soothing.  Read more about my blue period in this post  about my family room. 

Q:  Do you still practice law ?

Not right now.  I gave up my small practice earlier this year to focus on the blog.  I might go back someday soon, but currently loving interacting with all of you, comparing paint swatches and dreaming of perfecting spaces.    

Q:  Do you have a nanny ?  Do you ever sleep? 

No.  I’m raising my kids, it’s my #1 job.   And yes, at least 7 hours every night.  You don’t want to mess with me when I’ve had less.  :-)   

Q:  Did you have to apply or interview to become a member of the True Value DIY Blog Squad ?

Nope.  They found me.  I’m still pinching myself.  

Q: Will you ever do videos on your site ?

I’d love to feature videos, but I’m not so savvy at editing them, plus I think I’d rather watch NFL football than edit home videos.   Perhaps someday . . .

Q:  How can I become a sponsor or participate in a giveaway on your site ?

Thanks for considering this site!  If you’d like to become  a sponsor, check my rates here.   My blog policies page explains all about giveaways. 

Got any other questions you want me to answer ?  Drop me a line at centsationalgirl@gmail.com  and I’ll update this page with the answer! 

Thanks so much to all of you who read my musings, you inspire me to keep writing !

Kate