If you have followed this site for awhile, chances are you've heard me gush about all of the wonderful characters I have crossed paths with since launching SoWalScene.com...how I am convinced that South Walton is so unique because of the Spirit of Place those who live and play here weave into the fabric of life in paradise.
When I crossed paths with Seleta - first online on her F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S interior design/lifestyle blog "Simply Seleta" - and then soon afterward face-to-face at a local event - my internal radar immediately picked up that she possessed the qualities of one of these people I talk about and it was decided I would just have to spend more time getting to know her. Well, I have and yes, my intuition was correct. Turns out Seleta is a dynamic, witty, gracious, beautiful woman with a fierce eye for interior design and all things pretty. She is a kindred creative, open-minded spirit and I just love hangin' with this lady - she constantly inspires me. Seleta is also {I'm doing the motherhood bow here} Mom to four under the age of 10, the demands of which she juggles with those of nurturing her wildly popular blog. I caught up with my new friend for this week's SoWalScene.com Q&A. Enjoy!
How long have you lived in South Walton?
Almost two years.
You were born and raised in....?
Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, raised in Biloxi and grew up in Atlanta from the fifth grade and up. You could say I'm a Southern girl who loves the city life. And the best lizard catcher you'll ever meet.
You already live at the beach - where do you vacation?
In my world, there are two types of vacations: the ones with the offspring and the ones without. The ones without usually involve places like Grand Cayman, Vegas, New York and hopefully soon Paris. But the ones with offspring are places like Walt Disney World, Atlanta and visiting friends in Colorado. For years my husband has had a plan to take us all to Maine for a month in the summer. I kept protesting, "we're not going anywhere that far until everyone's out of diapers." Looks like this may be the summer for a long trip since our fourth just crossed that no-more-diapers finish line!
What book(s) is on your nightstand?
An obnoxious stack. I'm a jump-all-around kind of reader and drawn to books about medical topics, faith and child rearing. They relax me. Go figure. Reading about design before bed gets my mind too stimulated and I can't settle down. A few from my current stack are, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, The Perricone Promise by Dr. Perricone, and Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Dr. Kenneth Bock. And I just finished Celerie Kemble's To Your Taste.
If you were to come back as someone else, who would you be?
A tall, thin blonde who has the brain of Albert Einstein, the business sense of Warren Buffet, the style of Jackie O. and the heart of Snow White. Hopefully my husband would marry me all over again.
What is your single greatest achievement so far?
I'm gonna have to go with "giving birth to 4 amazing children." Forget any other achievement in life, when it all boils down to it, these little guys are what matters the most. I love every last one of those little suckers.
What is your favorite restaurant in South Walton?
It's all according to mood:
- Swanky: Fish out of Water
- Cozy: sushi at Old Florida Fish House
- Tasty: lunch at Smiling Fish
What 2 things can you not live without?
Aspirations and creative expression.
What would you do if you won $1 million?
Launch an Internet design show, snag a loft or condo in Atlanta, and start up my dream philanthropy "Arts Alive" [a volunteer program offering ballet and art lessons to underprivileged youth].
If you could change one thing about yourself, it would be...
I'm tempted to mention a physical trait or even say, "better execution of my goals", but that would point to what I really need to work on, which is perfectionism.
You are granted one wish. What is it?
The end to any kind of human suffering and disease. We'd all be set for life!
The best thing about South Walton is....
The day to day beauty of our surroundings and wholesome environment it provides for our children. As someone who loves living life in the fast lane, moving here has afforded me a chance to take a step back and enjoy the simple things in life. We've built countless memories with our children here and have developed some lifelong friendships. Wouldn't trade that for the world.
What is the greatest love in your life?
My husband. He completes my life and our family.
What are the most important qualities in a friend?
Loyalty, honesty, crazy sense of humor and the ability to empathize. I'm very fortunate to have friends who are like my family. [Holla to my peeps]
Would you say happiness is found or made?
Most definitely made. Life just doesn't present you a silver tray of happiness, you have to find it and work with the God-given gifts and opportunities you've been given. Sometimes it's easy, other times it's incredibly challenging. I'm a big believer that when we're pulled out of our "comfort zones" there's a chance for incredible personal growth. What's usually waiting on the other side is pure and raw happiness. The best kind ever.
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To read more SoWalScene.com Q&A's, visit the People & Celebrities page.
{photo of Seleta by Tommy Crow}
