Dearest Diva Readers,
top:2px;padding-right:5px;font-family:times;”>You’ve read my words, suffered through my comma splices & I fear that my high school English teachers (both of whom subscribe to this blog & to their credit have never once emailed me a page of red scribbles) cringe over my tendency for turning nouns into verbs and creating new words. What you might not know is that I speak with the same punctuation marks with which I write… and almost all my sentences end in an exclamation mark. I thought it might be fun if rather than reading diva details that, instead, I would let you LISTEN to me TALK in the first of a series of Podcast Interviews Ronda Carman, author of All the Best, is conducting on her sensational site!
I had an amazing opportunity last week to spend time tête-à-tête with Ronda Carman who happens to be one of the most successful design bloggers in the blogosphere. Google practically any mega name in design and you’ll find Ronda’s name paired in association with that person. A walk through her website finds an unparalled resource of “All the Best” designers, artists, entrepreneurs, movers & shakers and global taste makers. When I first started blogging, unbeknownst to Ronda, she became my hidden mentor. I stalked (er… I meant to say “studied”) her blog, the people that she profiled, and her way with the press, the personalities & paparazzi. This girl had style & as one who recognizes style I licked the crumbs of her site. And all along I had this secret fantasy that someday I might appear on her pages!
Flash forward 2 years and Ronda sends me a tweet saying “I’ll be in Berlin, can we meet up?” You would have thought I was meeting the Queen such was my excitement – I was meeting my Blog Hero in the flesh! And perhaps Queen isn’t so far off, for Ronda could easily be labeled “The Queen of Design” with the designers acting as her entourage! Needless to say, I was a little nervous. After sitting down face to face with Ronda & her darling husband for dinner chez moi, I was so amazed by what an approachable, kind, honest & utterly nice person Ronda was that I forgot how intimidated I had been to meet her and just started having fun! She has that way about her.
If I can say one thing, Ronda truly epitomizes “All the Best”.
Now, pop on over to Ronda’s site and eavesdrop on the conversation she & I had as we discussed my life story, revealing how the dreams of small-town girl growing up in rural Oklahoma lead to a life in Europe and starting a business abroad.
Listen Here:
Until next time,
The Antiques Diva™
(seen with All the Best author Ronda Carman)
Wine In India
nice blog
That was so fun to read, it's a small world after all!
That Ronda is all the best and she was my very first blog (artwork) header!
I loved meeting her and seeing her rise to stardom!
pve
I too was fascinated with Europe and traveled there when I was a teenager.
After college I married an American born, European raised and the week we were married, on the cover of "Gourmet" was my hometown, KY and Monaco – so we knew it was meant to be. I know you were meant to be where you are too!
pve
I love it!
I can imagine easily your feelings
Thanks for the listen and the peak at your apartment Diva
Live your dreams!
a+
Your life story Toma is interesting. You are a Diva!!
What a beautiful story you have! I'm so glad you shared it with us. I share your love for Europe, which actually led me to move to Rome right out of college…without a plan or a job…just a dream 🙂
Have a wonderful day*
thank you for your lovely comment Toma, it's lovely to meet you. I've really enjoyed learning about you from the podcast! with a degree in english literature your fear of past teachers seems unjustified – you write beautifully!
wonderful story, thank you for sharing it with us all 🙂
x
I'm heading over to hear two of my favorite blogger chat right now, how wonderful!
Hi Toma,
I loved hearing your podcast and what an amazing life you are having.
From the little 5 year old with the stack of yellow National Geographics, (we had the same stack) to going on to be peeking in on Yves St. Laurent, across the river.
Such a great story and I enjoyed hearing all about the Antiques Diva.
Enjoy your week.
Hugs
Carolyn
What a treat! The podcasts add such an interesting element to the traditional blog. Nice touch, and nice story.
Gregory
Wonderful podcast, great to "hear" you talk about the things that are near and dear to you! I cannot wait to hear more of Ronda's podcasts.
I loved the podcast, your choice of style icons and hearing about the gift of style from your mother – priceless!
Ronda,
I meant every word… Hmmm… I should take on writing your press releases – I'm loving your new title "The Queen of Design"! Seriously, you rock, my friend.
Toma
Oh my goodness you flatter me! What a wonderfully kind blog post!!! The feeling is mutual and I look forward to spending time together again very soon!
Best,
Ronda
xoxo