Thanks for the mention

I received an award last week from two wonderful blogger friends:

The sensational Anita from Castles, Crowns, and Cottages

and
the wonderful Lee Ann from The French Maid's Place

What an honor to be mentioned on their blogs.

I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about myself.

Here I go...

1. I am a total foodie. 

I giggle when I find a perfect chef's knife or a great piece of grass-fed beef 

(normally from Whole Foods where I now do most of my grocery shopping). 

Cooking is the art form that provides me opportunities to be connected to my heritage.

I live the 90/10 rule. 

Ninety percent of the time I eat healthily, 

the other 10 percent I eat whatever I want 

(especially French Macaroons!!!) 

and I truly enjoy the decadent 10% without a shred of guilt.

2. I am a planner and love taking care of the minutia of projects other people may find annoying

(hence my day job as a Program Manager).

I am a problem-solver by nature, so coming up with plans for weddings 

(how to feed 100 people within a budget and still have a buffet table that looks like a million bucks), 

or assessing project risks for clients is what I do best. 

 3. My favorite instrument: cello. 

Music inspires me. It moves me. It enlightens me. It gets to the center of my heart. 

I love ballet. 

I love movies that cause me to think, keep me at the edge of my seat,

or make me laugh like mad. Not a fan of horror films.

4. Some smells make me feel happy to be alive: 

Coffee, peaches, basil, rosemary, thyme, a fresh-cut lemon, orange flower blossoms. 

5. I love the character of older homes, and appreciate good craftsmanship. 

 6. I am a disaster when it comes to organizing pictures. 

I have over 2000 of them waiting for me in dusty files. 

I can't seem to decide the proper way to organize them 

(by year? by event? by...ugh...what!!!???) 

so I haven't done anything with them. 

Once I figure out a system, 

they will go on simple black pages with a few facts and notes. 

7. I have a thing about trees. 

I see trees move softly with the breeze as
I am walking and they stop me right in my tracks. 

I stare at them. 

I smile.

They somehow remind me that I am part of this wonderful human experience,

with limited time on this earth.

I want to make the most of it. 

I make efforts to live in the present,
and to remind myself to enjoy this very minute, 

this current challenge,
this one moment of happiness. 

Minutes are unique. 

I smile at all of them.

Like I smile when I see the trees, swaying in the wind. 

Life can be utterly wonderful, if we allow it to be.

So now...I am supposed to pass this award to 10 other bloggers that have inspired me during 2010.

For the sake of time (otherwise I will never publish this post!)

I am choosing four fabulous, creative friends:

1.  Annie from Firefly Hill Style

2. Diana from Express-O

3. Kristy from A Page of Inspiration

4. Lisa from Lisa Go Lightly

Tell us 7 things we don't know about yourselves.

Can't wait to read about these wonderful women!

To them, this award:

Thanks for coming by,

Images via