Back when I was an itty bitty baby blogger, I took a big step and went to my first blog conference – Blissdom.  I went by myself and roomed alone, so it was a little intimidating.  I awkwardly walked around, hoping to recognize someone from their 125×125 profile picture or maybe someone would recognize me, but I wasn’t hopeful of that.  I did manage to connect with some other DIY/Home Decor bloggers within an hour or two of being there and more began to gather. Someone suggested a group picture, so we bunched up on a grand staircase, turned sideways, so we all looked skinny and smiled.  In the midst of the tummy-sucking-in and hip twisting, someone next to me said, in a soft voice, “Hello.  I love your blog.”  I was taken aback that someone knew who I was, so I turned to see who my “fan” was.  The

Before I get into today’s post, I just want to share how encouraging it is to hear how many you are going to pull out your china and silver and start using it regularly in response to my spurring yesterday!  I started to chuckle at the thought of all of the families who came home to a set table with folded napkins and fancy place settings…probably thinking there mom has finally lost it or there was bad-news-bomb she was about to drop.  I love it.  Anyway, onto my topic today… I used to be an HGTV junkie.  Remember the days of (the original) Design on a Dime and Room by Room?  And when Candice Olson and Sarah Richardson hit the scene and brought it to a whole other level?  HGTV was like my comfort background noise when I was at home.  I loved watching the makeovers and getting new ideas.  Sarah started