Tag...I'm it!

My friend, Lori, at Lori May Interiors, tagged me in a game of Q and A for bloggers. The past few weeks have been busy and I haven't done my usual amount of blogging.  So today I decided to sit down and answer the questions.  For those of you that don't me personally, maybe today will help us feel a bit more like friends!! 1.  Do you have a pet...and if so, what kind?

I guess I have to answer yes, since we do have two fish. Though are fish technically a pet?  We don't have anything that my kids would qualify as a pet. I don't do poop clean up, and I'm not a huge fan of hair on my furniture (my apologies to dog and cat lovers.  But right now, it's not for me).  We did 'give in' to our kids' constant request for a pet...they each got a beta fish in August. But honestly, even the daily feeding and weekly (read: monthly :)) bowl cleaning is a bit much for me!

2. Do you watch reality tv?

If you don't watch reality tv, then please skip to question #3 before you pass judgment on me.  If you are a reality tv viewer, then please continue reading.  Yes, I LOVE reality tv.  The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, The Kardashians, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Khloe and Lamar, Tori and Dean, The Amazing Race, Celebrity Apprentice.....what am I missing? Oh my gosh - do I even have a life? How do I watch all of those and still find time to keep up my house, blogging and spend time with my family!?

3.  If you could change anything about your home, what would it be and why?

I really do love our house and love the layout. And while it is 15 years old, the builder did a great job using white cabinets and white trim as to not date the house.  Having said that, the striped wallpaper in our master bathroom and gold fixtures really need to go....and the carpet  too (yes, there is CARPET in that bathroom)!

4.  Is your desk neat or messy?

When I started writing this post, my desk was messy.  Please prepare yourself....this picture is not for neat freaks.

But tonight, I can honestly say it's tidy!  Dan worked this weekend so the kids and I spent a quiet Saturday at home.  They played in the playroom and garage (see question #10) and I spent some quality sorting and tossing papers at my desk.  It's such a happier place now!

 

5.  What is your favorite home resource? Online or actual shop?

I think my very first favorite resource is actually shopping in a store.  Being able to touch and see the product in person is so valuable.  But for convenience, catalog shopping is a close second. I love getting the mail everyday, and when there is a catalog for me, it's even more exciting! Online is also a great resource for covering a lot of ground within a short amount of time. But colors can vary so much with photography and computer screens that I don't always trust online...so I'd say my primary choice is hands on shopping in a store.

6.  Do you DIY? And if so, what is your favorite project?

I do DIY - quite often. I love a good project and love creating.  My favorite project since blogging has been my $7 personalized doormat.

 

The doormat has been one of my most pinned pictures on Pinterest and received a large amount of hits on my blog, so it appears to be a favorite of my readers as well!

7. What is your favorite food?

Ice cream. Need I say more?!

8. What is your favorite design trend right now?

Industrial....I'm very drawn to industrial lighting though haven't decorated with any in my house.  And I love Tolix styled chairs.  I love the simple design paired with a farmhouse table. And they appeal to me as a mom too - easy clean up! Wipe it down and you're done!

9. What's your favorite childhood memory?

In middle school, my family went away for Christmas.  We got to ski during vacation and sled on Christmas day.  It was one of those trips that was exactly what you thought a Christmas vacation should feel like.  Family time, skiing, sledding and snow.

10.  What is your favorite room in our home and why?

Last year we added on 500 square feet for a new playroom.  The kids playroom used to be in our dining room.  As toys migrated into the kitchen, I would often literally just kick them back into the playroom.  Now the kids have 500 square feet for all of their toys.  We can close the door. Let them be loud and let them make a mess.  I think it's great. And I THINK the kids like it.  But I KNOW my kids love our garage.  It's cold in there, it's dirty and the cement floor is cracked. But it turns out, when you back the cars out of the garage, it makes a great place for rollerblading and playing!

Apparently the garage makes a great place to play "office" too!  Why would you play in a brand new playroom when you can play in a cold, dark garage!?

11. Why did you start blogging?

Over two years ago, I was searching online for inspiration for a centerpiece.  That research led me to the very first home decorating blog I'd ever seen, Somewhat Simple.  And that day, my love affair with blogging was born. I immediately thought "I could do that!" but I struggled with feeling like I had anything unique to offer the blogging world.  While my ideas may not be all that different, I have my own voice in my writing, which makes me unique.  It took me two years to get the courage to create my own blog, but better late than never.

And now Tag - YOU'RE it!  It's the following blogs turns to answer questions:

It's a Hodgepodge Life

A Simply Klassic Home

How to Nest For Less

Mrs. Hines Class

AKA Design

Rules *You must post the rules *Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions to ask the people you’ve tagged *Tag 11 people and link them in your post (Sorry - I only selected 5 blogs!) *Let them know you have tagged them

And here are your questions:

1.If you had a spare $1000, on which home decor project would you spend the money?

2.What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?

3.What is your ideal date with your significant other?

4.How would you describe your decorating style?

5.Why and when did you begin blogging?

6.Do you watch reality tv?

7.What has been your favorite/best post from your blog in the past year?

8.If you had a free day to shop in a nearby city, which home decor stores would you make sure to visit?

9.When do you blog/How does blogging fit into your day?

10.In which sports activity do you or would you participate?

11.What is your favorite decorating trend right now?

linking up to:

stylish once again, a simply klassic home, create with joy, my 1929 charmer, under the table and dreaming, homemaker on a dime,  i heart naptime, sisters of the wild west, nifty thrifty things, the sweet talk shop,  i should be mopping the floor, between naps on the porch, making the world cuter, diy home sweet home, skip to my lou, sumo's sweet stuff, craft o maniac, our delightful home, the southern institute, home stories a to z, how to nest for less, todays creative blog, tip junkie, my uncommon slice of suburbia, adventures of a diy mom, romance on a dime, knick of time interiors, uncommon designs, michele raven designs, savvy southern style, the thrifty home, mrs. hines class, chatty chics,  a turtle's life for me, polkadots on parade, happy hour projects, the shabby creek cottage, the 36th avenue, somewhat simple, the sweet talk shop, funky junk interiors, tatertots and jello, craft envy, be different act normal, stylish once again