Greetings friends, there’s a great interview with me over at Style at Home where I answer 20 questions they ask a series of decorators and designers. 

Want to know which designer I’d love to shadow for a day ?   What I’d buy if money were no object ?  My favorite Hepburn ? 

Have a look, right here !

Thanks so much Lauren. 

I’ve been blogging for well over a year now, and in my quest to keep my toe in the know, I stumbled across ProBlogger a few months ago.  I like to read ProBlogger’s daily tips because I am trying to learn everything that I might want to think about maybe, perhaps, considering or actually doing someday with this blog when I either discover how to clone myself or give up sleep entirely.  I subscribe to ProBlogger to absorb helpful bloggy stuff to incorporate here and there.  Today is the Seven Links Challenge, where I am playing along by listing seven links in these categories:

1. Your first post
2. A post you enjoyed writing the most
3. A post which had great discussion
4. A post on someone else’s blog you wish you’d written
5. Your most helpful post
6. A post with a title you are proud of
7. A post you wish more people had read

OK, today I’ll bite.

Here are my Seven Links:

#1)  My Very First Post.  First let it be heard all across the land that I’ve almost deleted my first post many times, but something in the back of my mind keeps saying, “Aw, how cute” every time I read it.   I confess that my very first post was about . . . . . chocolate shoes.  

I remember sitting there at my computer, stumped about what to write about (in hindsight, why???) and going to Google images and typing in the word ‘chocolate’. 

Somewhere between the third and tenth page, this image (pictured right) came up. 

So I wrote about it.  Right here.  My favorite thing about that first post is the one and only comment from across the sea.

Now that you’ve read my very first post, we shall speak of this no more.

It’s unlikely I will ever write about chocolate shoes again.  Although *confession* they are fabulous.   

#2  The Post I Enjoyed Writing the Most.    This is really challenging question to answer.  This online journal of my adventures allows me to connect with people across the globe that I’d never ever meet in my lifetime.  It’s really extraordinary.   I enjoy writing just about all of my posts, although some days I am sillier than others, like this one about fuzzy pillows. 

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A would like to send out a loud musical glittery puffy heart THANK YOU card with a giant balloon drop to everyone who participated in Tuesday’s survey.  Over 1,700 responses and climbing, wow !  It is so refreshing to hear what you have to say, especially about things I never even notice or think of.  I’m still absorbing all of your constructive input, and I can’t express in words how truly grateful I am to all of you who took the time to respond.  

First let me say that I still consider myself a complete amateur in this blog world and have incredible respect and admiration for those who are the real experts out there, who’ve been doing this for years and years.   They are the experts, and I bow to their skills and professionalism.   There are some bloggers out there that blow me away they are so awesome.   They inspire me greatly.   As for me, I’m still learning so much everyday, and I’m just incredibly thankful that anyone at all stops by to read and share with me.  

There were a few questions that kept coming up, so I thought it a good time to address them in a post.  And because it’s impossible for me to not have photos, please enjoy these pictures from the past that are completely irrelevant to what I’m writing.   Okay, here goes.  

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It’s been a melancholy week, with plenty of tragedy in the news.  In these times, I am reminded that it is the simplest things in my life that I value the most.  Despite all of the bad news, there were a few things that made me really smile this week.

Leftovers from Christmas

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I’ve been making my list, and checking it twice.  Yep, it’s my traditions list.  There are just certain rituals that I cannot escape every single December – in fact, I look forward to them all year. 

It’s just not Christmas in our family unless we . . .

1.  Pay a visit to Santa. 

I refuse to stand in those long lines at department stores or malls and pay money for pictures with Santa.  Honestly, that’s my definition of hell.  I prefer take the kids to the free Santa at the local tree farm.  That’s where I eavesdrop and get a hysterical earful.

Here’s last year’s snapshot. My four year old knew her window was short so she’s wasn’t wasting a second.   The two year old never got a word in. 

“Santa, make sure the puppy carrier you bring me has the spotted dog, not the one with the plain brown dog, no I want the spotted puppy in the purple doggie carrier.  Make sure !  And I want the Polly Pockets with the puppies in the orange box.  The orange box, okay?  And I want the Dalmations movie, not the first one with the mean Cruella, the other one.  I want number two.  Number two !  Dalmations number two!  You got that Santa ? 

Oh.  And I think my brother wants a train.” 

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Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no!  it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken.

-Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116

recited at our wedding

September 5, 1999

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Yep, it’s still me.   Just a little enhanced.  LOL.  

Ooooooh, it’s all just soooooo purty!   Well at least I think so.  You’re looking at the nearly completed, totally transformed, new and improved Centsational Girl™!  I’ve been working with a site designer for the last few weeks with a new concept for where I want to take this blog, and we’re so close to achieving the aesthetic goal.   September is my birthday month, so this site is a Happy Birthday present to me from Mr. CG.  Awwww, thanks shmoopie. 

I must admit, I miss my peonies and my damask background a little bit, but the ‘bloom was off the rose’ so to speak.  Now I’m loving the new illustrated header and the amazingly organized navagation bar.

Say farewell to the old CG:

* Sniff Sniff.  Sigh *

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Okay, so I finally sat down to answer some of your questions from this recent post.  Quite frankly, I’d rather talk about DIY or design instead of myself, so I’m going to answer a few questions now and perhaps some more later.   Because I’d rather focus on some of my upcoming projects.  So here goes:

Q from Jen and Maman Tattoo, Your girl’s room is so beautiful. What does your little boy’s room look like? 

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Hello friends.  I’ve received a few emails lately asking some very intriguing questions.  Some out of left field, but that’s OK. As much as I value my privacy, I thought I might give y’all an opportunity to get to know me better. 

I’m sure many of you could care less about who I am or what makes me tick.  If that’s you, check out one of my DIY links or click on over to some of my other blogger friends.  I’m cool with that. 

But if you’re curious, go ahead and ask away. 

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I happen to be one among millions of multitasking moms who never sits down during the day.  Funny as it sounds, for me it’s relaxing to stay busy, because I can’t relax until I’ve accomplished my tasks for the day.  Between my tiny law practice, raising two small children, cleaning my house, managing a growing blog and finding time for my projects, I have plenty to do. 

The lovely, gracious, and creative Camila at High Heeled Foot in the Door (my most favorite blog name ever) is featuring me today in her series called “IN HER SHOES”. 

For a glance at a day in my life….

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