About Shelly
So, here’s the “about me” page, or whatever. Yay. I always find this page to be the hardest one to do. I’m going to try to do this fast, because I never know what to say. So if it doesn’t make sense - well sorry. Talking about myself usually isn’t a favorite pastime of mine. Neither is shopping.
Oh my God - yes I did say “I hate shopping.” And yes, I swear, I’m a female, and always have been. I’m just a weird one, I guess.
So anyway, let’s see…tidbits of info…
I’m originally from a farm in West Virginia, but I recently moved to Connecticut. I’m the oldest of six kids - my husband is the youngest of six (yes, he’s spoiled). Yes, I still have all of my own teeth, and I do wear deodorant. I’m not a complete redneck. However, I do have an odd (occasionally mean, but not on purpose) sense of humor, and I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth more times than I can remember because of it.
My actual college degree is in the culinary arts - technically, I’m actually a pastry chef. However, I began my “stints” in web design when I was around 18 years old, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. In 1999, I began my own web design business, which has grown enough to satisfy me and my husband. Over the past few years, CSS and PHP have become obsessions, and I’m the kind of person who loves to share new things.
Which brings me to what this site is about. I did this because I’ve learned a lot about things through my years as a web designer. I’m constantly amazed at other designers I work with (and even others who aren’t designers, but are interested in web design). I don’t know if it’s just that I’m such a nice gal, or that I’m some kind of “teacher-type” personality, but I do feel the need to share what I’ve learned so that others behind me don’t have to go through the same crap I did when I was trying to learn.
I’m big on web standards, validation and the like. It saddens me when others think (and many times voice) their opinion that web standards and pure CSS design is for “snobs”. Maybe people like me come across that way, but I know I don’t mean to. I just get excited about it. To me, standards are important, and CSS is important. Why? Because I look at the end result. Yes, CSS is in it’s infancy, and it has some issues. but even at this young age, it’s so extremely powerful, I do not understand why anyone would choose to ignore it - especially when the eventual end result is a standards for ALL of us to work by. It is my belief that, in the end, the result of the work and support of people like me will provide the easiest path for those in the future. People like me hope to end the issues with cross-browser compaitibility, and force a standard to which all browsers live by - so there will be no further need for hacks and extra stylesheets to “make them all look the same”.
That’s me, though. I’m a “glass is half-full” kinda gal, and you may think I’m naive. But from my personal experience in wading through these issues, I have to say I’ve always come out in the end still looking towards that brass ring. And I do it for you - whether you like it or not.
Anyway, there you go. Hopefully you enjoy your experience here. I know things are relatively new, and there’s not much now but I’m always looking for new challenges and ways to improve this site so it can be as helpful as it can be to anyone who needs it. I’m always open for suggestions and challenges - so feel free to click that “contact” link and drop me a line at anytime if you have any ideas, comments, questions or challenges for me to tackle. I’m so up for it.
Have fun!