7 things ...

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">x</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EOvueaH1aPKKKEThPoD3oen-bN6CWdlFELC-pAARDgag3npQVdPxuoo2vSmN38EY8VO1BzdfNuQmcj4YE9GZ3z48WJxIQjY5YGnMnu7xpH62k3JBnHqqKWdMDzfdSJWwPX_8q2bdTZNb/s1600/7things.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EOvueaH1aPKKKEThPoD3oen-bN6CWdlFELC-pAARDgag3npQVdPxuoo2vSmN38EY8VO1BzdfNuQmcj4YE9GZ3z48WJxIQjY5YGnMnu7xpH62k3JBnHqqKWdMDzfdSJWwPX_8q2bdTZNb/s1600/7things.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><div><div style="position: relative; width: 500px; height: 500px;"><div><div style="position: relative; width: 400px; height: 400px;"><!-- Begin Image --><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/bit_about_me/set?.embedder=971780&.mid=embed&id=29108688"><img alt="A bit about me" border="0" force="1" height="400" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFlZKdi0wcDVKNEJHbnl1ZE8xQWRNSHcAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg" title="A bit about me" width="400" /></a><!-- End Image --></div><!-- Begin Title --><br /><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/bit_about_me/set?.embedder=971780&.mid=embed&id=29108688">A bit about me</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.embedder=971780&.mid=embed&id=971780">designvignettes</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/">Polyvore.com</a></small><!-- End Title --></div><br /><!-- End Image --></div><span style="font-style: italic;">As a recent recipient of the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekend-list-of-stylish-blogs.html">Stylish Blogger Award</a>, I now have the task of listing seven things about me that you may not know. Trying to come up with this type of information when I have been sharing the details of my life and work on this blog for the past two years (just realized I forgot my anniversary – I started blogging on March 2, 2009) proved to be a difficult task. I needed a couple of days to think about something new to share. Here is what I came up with ...</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >I don’t love to exercise.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">I am a sitter. I like to read and write and sketch and compute. I have to force myself to get up and move (when my kids were little and I was chasing them around all day, I didn’t have that problem) so I joined a doubles tennis team 3 years ago. Now I know I will fit at least a few hours of cardio into my schedule </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >each week </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">because I made a commitment to my partner and the team to be there. What I enjoy most about tennis is that it feels a lot like meditation when I allow myself to focus on the tiny yellow ball and remember to breathe.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >Sometimes I forget to breathe.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Do you ever find yourself holding your breath? If I am really concentrating on something I tend to hold my breath. I have noticed myself holding my breath when I am in engrossed in writing (not so bad) or when I am playing a game of tennis (definitely not a good idea here). When I catch myself doing it, I try to counteract it with a series of deep breaths. After taking in more oxygen, I feel calmer and much more capable of handling the job at hand.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >I love to escape in the printed word.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />I am in two book clubs. I like the social aspect of them plus I like to have a schedule of books to read. If I had to choose, I would be picking books based on their covers (I can’t help it, I am a graphic designer after all!) Sometimes the monthly picks are hard to get through (we are reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Room-Novel-Emma-Donoghue/dp/0316098337/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299533683&sr=8-1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Room</span></a> by Emma Donoghue in one, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393064662/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1MB5XZN9522Q57FPM9DZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Townie</span></a> by Andre DuBus III in the other) but getting together with the other moms in town is a nice way to connect and have some purely grown-up time (plus we always have wine : )<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >I don’t love to travel.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />I used to before starting a family, but now the thought of going places I have never been before </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(plus packing for it) </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >unnerves me. I guess I have gotten too accustomed to our daily routines. Once we get to our destination I always enjoy it, but it is just the thought of not knowing what to expect that bothers me. I am working on getting better at exploring outside of my comfort zone, however, and even signed up to attend <a href="http://www.blogfest2011.com/agenda.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blogfest 2011</span></a> in New York in May. Going by myself to New York is something I have never done before, but I know once I get there I will be surrounded by lots of great people that I have met through blogging. If you see me there looking like I am not sure which direction to head in first, feel free to lead the way!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">My house is far from perfect.</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />When I go to meet a client, sometimes they will apologize for the way their house looks. Maybe there are toys on the floor or laundry isn’t put away. My reaction? I have four boys and live in a fixer-upper ... my house never looks camera-ready even on a good day! I would love to be able to open the door to guests and know that everything was in its place. Chances are, however, that there would still be boxes of something to sort through hidden in a closet somewhere. Life just seems to take over and there are only so many hours in the day. I would much rather spend my time creating something tangible than tidying up.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >I enjoy watching TV with Ben & Jerry</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">.</span><br />At the end of the day, I just want to kick back and relax in front of the TV with a bowl of good ice cream (although to be honest, I eat it right out of the pint). My favorite shows right now are <span style="font-weight: bold;">Modern Family</span> (makes me laugh), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Parenthood</span> (director Ron Howard nails it), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Housewives of _____</span> (about the most drama I can handle), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gossip Girl</span> (for the set decorating) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Nate Berkus Show</span> (I like to keep up with what he is doing). I also can’t wait for the <a href="http://thenovogratz.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Novogratz</span></a> family to come back on the air (they will have a <a href="http://www.editoratlarge.com/articles/home-by-novogratz-to-premiere-on-hgtv-this-summer">new show this summer on HGTV)</a>. Now that is a family I can relate to!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I would like to know more about my readers.</span><br />I wonder sometimes if I am sharing information that my readers enjoy. What do you like about design blogs? Are you looking for something in particular? Working on a renovation? Curious about design? What would you like to see more of in this blog? Introduce yourself with a comment or email me. I would love to hear from you!<br /><br />Email: yblacker@verizon.net<br />Yvonne Blacker Interiors <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yvonne-Blacker-Interiors/120075651336740">on facebook</a><br />follow me <a href="http://twitter.com/yblacker">on twitter</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>

7 things ...

x A bit about me by designvignettes on Polyvore.com As a recent recipient of the Stylish Blogger Award , I now have the task of listing se...

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Weekend list of stylish blogs

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">x</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxQFY6LU9peV8KY_wIbAq5xVApEtlVGjmnbNZLtc7_ua6ShluW3LOsqbsH9q7ZyjcByxvTQ3oGIojZRTC8G2gyW7Fw7wcSKM9e1w9ng__YbXwUD2hJQ6aCkzYto4CWxIaQZzciPXKJmAx/s1600/stylish_blogger_award8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580637706302976162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxQFY6LU9peV8KY_wIbAq5xVApEtlVGjmnbNZLtc7_ua6ShluW3LOsqbsH9q7ZyjcByxvTQ3oGIojZRTC8G2gyW7Fw7wcSKM9e1w9ng__YbXwUD2hJQ6aCkzYto4CWxIaQZzciPXKJmAx/s400/stylish_blogger_award8.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 215px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This week I received a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Stylish Blogger Awar</span><span style="font-size:130%;">d from Tricia Mitchell of the Avolli blog <a href="http://swedishantiques.blogspot.com/2011/03/skonahem.html">Swedish Antiques</a>. I was honored to be on her list of 10 stylish blogs that she follows, as I am a fan of her blog and the gorgeous Scandinavian pieces that she sells on her site, <a href="http://www.avolli.com/index.php">Avolli</a>. After receiving the award, each recipient of this online honor must then select 10 favorites of their own and share these links with their readers. Tricia and I actually share a number of favorites. She chose four that I would have put on the top of my list:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.completely-coastal.com/">Completely Coastal</a><br /><a href="http://creategirl.blogspot.com/">Create Girl</a><br /><a href="http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/">for the love of a house</a><br /><a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">Surroundings</a><br /><br /><br />All of these women design bloggers (including Tricia) were featured in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-england-finery-issue-one.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Finery</span></a> issue 1 (see pages 64-66)</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5tp3F6LM81Fu5YJ8gS6wTqDK399-fNr3iAYcxZCSiWP8rw6MFNVp1pOdphKJhMpHPWCxa6Ks-66o00M_3FafDJTG4JvB5pyxw_WwSPBooBRX_wGQ704zUdeqMVPLmAmFIcB0NwAz9gcs/s1600/stylishbloggersnef.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580636715772469682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5tp3F6LM81Fu5YJ8gS6wTqDK399-fNr3iAYcxZCSiWP8rw6MFNVp1pOdphKJhMpHPWCxa6Ks-66o00M_3FafDJTG4JvB5pyxw_WwSPBooBRX_wGQ704zUdeqMVPLmAmFIcB0NwAz9gcs/s400/stylishbloggersnef.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Meet our Stylish Bloggers ...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">For my list, I would like to include the other design bloggers who grace the pages of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >New England Finery</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. I visit these blogs for on-trend inspiration whether it be about fashion, decorating, gardening, art or living a stylish life. Pop by and say hello to ...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.finelivingmuse.blogspot.com/">Fine Living Muse</a> (starting with editors letter, page 2)<br /><a href="http://elizabethwertzphotography.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth Wertz Photography</a> (cover and pages 22-35)<br /><a href="http://www.seamstheshop.blogspot.com/">Seams Couture Blog</a> (cover and pages 22-45)<br /><a href="http://gallerydellapiana.blogspot.com/">Gallery Della-Piana</a> (page 45)<br /><a href="http://everywomansstylist.blogspot.com/">Dress Your Best</a> (pages 52-53)<br /><a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.wordpress.com/">Kim Smith Designs</a> (page 55)<br /><a href="http://www.irwinfelddesign.com/blog/">Irwin Feld Design</a> (page 56-57)<br /><a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/?page_id=57">Dunes & Duchess</a> (page 59)<br /><a href="http://rutlanddesigner.com/blog/">Vermont Designer</a> (page 66)<br /><a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/">Focus on Design</a> (see pages 70-71)<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakOtTHL2elXS3Fo9XsRszDu0Qux_RAlD1TcDzEn0wXV1sXUFnHa4L1RNP7DTRZMLI24plMPzM0AZwWKblvp48SDZH7-BUkOQsS48WuH0qVnmLkOyKdcH61kSEuY9W4NJsmAmgkHsDHIt-/s1600/lquinn.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_1J8VO2wmunmzcVySGb6lrEkcsg9URPRokncqnrLTezcqvQhKTR1fIoQjtR8PykzawG3XsbInQST7Uf4cMdoAP_HnHDpYtJUwCh773jvTbD9jK7PsvQYCJyWmxUZV-H_eRizgCTCaJ21/s1600/scala2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580633259166387730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_1J8VO2wmunmzcVySGb6lrEkcsg9URPRokncqnrLTezcqvQhKTR1fIoQjtR8PykzawG3XsbInQST7Uf4cMdoAP_HnHDpYtJUwCh773jvTbD9jK7PsvQYCJyWmxUZV-H_eRizgCTCaJ21/s320/scala2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >Bonus link ...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">For my final link, this blogger was not actually in the magazine, but her sister-in-law was. Jenny Scala (page 12) provides the <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Fine Living</span></a> retail shop with her favorite seasonal </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >“Style Pics”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories). While Jenny loves fashion, she also appreciates delicious food and healthy recipes like the kind you will find on the blog of her sister-in-law </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Lucinda Scala Quinn</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> who happens to be the executive food editor of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Martha Stewart</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > Living Omnimedia</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and the host of Hallmark Channel’s foodie favorite <a href="http://hallmarkchannel.com/mad_hungry/home">Mad Hungry</a>.<br /><br />For recipes and highlights from her show visit <a href="http://blog.madhungry.com/">Mad Hungry Blog</a> (but don’t go there on an empty stomach!) I like reading her blog since I can relate to the fact that Lucinda also has a home full of boys to feed (she has three – older than my four – but with the same huge appetites!)<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ad7Qxn8lErhzTgDCIhOWUlDT9nhJCA48RJUOM7673y1XtVLHJ1ZhITg1gFImwtyPWQEX9LBp-9H-JNXLVaHScCrequ7SHcSpzPrHWPWI7iC2lLYhs8HevrThDNeleJnFavOBunTenAdd/s1600/seven.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yrnSH_mWnTn3nWPcGqNLCt_2xZ8pl264IoMtOZyBhL3M06u2WMp91mRbDmPV75xPW2UbTcDh_zAbJAWQjeKIaX1vsxZtZD8mOuVYBIBMTwXYYjJwQcnuojuAYEHEjrGE_SUTxPjW0DMs/s1600/seventhings.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMgBh3AdgwRX-n2G990O-_S7gSUBprQjcecwtVYCsZf4hp9phFChvHzo7sRU0l0rRWm76yHtRf9VIpi_9vaE9NFYnb-eLJUfxDETSLc-uyCGfrnopSgT0EHHij2cPg8kIHaGAXKb-XLEn/s1600/7things.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580645761493428034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMgBh3AdgwRX-n2G990O-_S7gSUBprQjcecwtVYCsZf4hp9phFChvHzo7sRU0l0rRWm76yHtRf9VIpi_9vaE9NFYnb-eLJUfxDETSLc-uyCGfrnopSgT0EHHij2cPg8kIHaGAXKb-XLEn/s400/7things.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 152px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Along with spreading some “blog love” as a chosen stylish design blogger, I have to provide a list of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >7 things you might not know about me</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. If you are one of my chosen ten, you are invited to do the same on your blog (including choosing 10 blogs that you find stylish and letting them know that they are on your list). I will put together my </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >7 things</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> list and post it next week. In the meantime, have a great weekend and I hope you enjoy this list of stylish blogs worth following. Thanks again to Tricia for including me in this fun “pay it forward” exercise!<br /><br />xo Yvonne</span>

Weekend list of stylish blogs

x This week I received a Stylish Blogger Awar d from Tricia Mitchell of the Avolli blog Swedish Antiques . I was honored to be on her list o...

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