Q&A with Kate: Centsational!

I'm thrilled to be bringing you this week's Q&A -- it's from my very favorite blog Centsational Girl. I've been drooling over Kate's gorgeous home and elegant projects for long time, and I eagerly look forward to each new post. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into Kate's life, and definitely check out her beautiful blog!

Blog Name: Centsational Girl

Blog URL: www.centsationalgirl.com

Location: Sonoma County, California

How long have you been blogging? Since Feb 2009

How did you get into blogging? I started reading some of the pioneering blogs on home improvement, then thought it would be fun to write my own story of remodeling, renovation and DIY projects.

Something your readers should know: I have a great passion for home decorating, nesting, fixing up and staging homes. I never get tired of working on projects and writing about them. But more than anything, I really love the holidays, and I have a great lineup of crafts and home decorating projects scheduled for the end of November. I'll be doing "Twelve Days of Christmas Decorating" starting the day after Thanksgiving. I hope your readers will follow along and perhaps be inspired!

Five things you love: Great interior design, fabric stores, my tool cabinet, red wine and being a mom.

Biggest pet peeve: Anything that wastes my time unnecessarily for no good reason at all.

How old were you when you started using your skills? I began decorating and home improvement in my mid twenties when my husband and I built our first house. I've been obsessed with it ever since!

How do you accomplish tasks with small children at home? My 5-year-old is in kindergarten, and my 3-year-old is in preschool 4 mornings a week, so that is when I shop for supplies and run errands. In the afternoons, after taking them for some exercise, I try to spend an hour or two working on my project of the day. I blog at night after they go to bed.

Top five must-have tools: Staple gun, power screwdriver, hot glue gun, a level, and a spray paint gun!

Favorite house project: Anything that involves paint or fabric -- my two favorite tools for sprucing up a space.

Most challenging project: Adding on to our home through the cold rainy winter. I don't recommend it!

Any total project disasters? I've worked on over a dozen crafts or projects for hours only to step back and say "That's just not good enough!" So yes, there are plenty of projects I consider "failures."

Got any recommendations for beginners? Find what you love and stick with it. Do you love scrapbooking and cardmaking? Decorative painting? Crochet or quilting? Graphic arts? Fixing up furniture? Flipping homes? My best advice is to ask yourself what you'd really like to do and just go for it without fear of failure. It's only when we challenge ourselves that we really bring our very best creativity. I'm still learning to challenge myself everyday!