We are all voyeurs of sorts - I mean people watching could be considered a sport (been to the airport lately?). We also like to know who we are talking to - and that is very important in the world of business and blogging, too. I love visiting sites that have About pages that give me some insight into the person making it all tick and photos make it even more fun.
However,
I am guilty of not really putting my true face forward on this site and around the blogosphere in general. I have my DesignHerGal persona - and while she is a cartoon, I created her and tried to make her look as much like the real Char as possible. (What do you think? A good representation or no?)
David Airey has given me a reason to put my face front and center - he has tagged me for The Face Behind The Blog Collection. Afterall, I consider so many of my readers as friends or at least associates, so I’m guessing you’d rather talk to a real person than an illustration.
So here are a few glimpses into the real me…

My handsome husband of 12 years and me

Hanging out with my super smart son - and the original inspiration behind my working from home

Doing what I love best - coaching gymnastics. This is a few years back and the star pupil is none other than my daughter.

Isn’t she the cutest? Again this is a few years ago, because this little dear will start Kindergarten in the fall.
And to think David could mistake me for Gayla?
Even more bloggers who have decided to join us are:
- Paul Enderson at Reflections
- Rob at 2Dolphins
- Zep at the In-Sect
- Ingo at Stixster
If you have participated in this fun exercise, please leave me a comment so I can add you to my post. Don’t be shy - if I could do it, so can you!

where I share my favorite tips, tools, reviews and commentary on web design, marketing, blogging, new media and related topics. For more about this site and the voice behind it, check out my









85 Comments»
Gayla McCord
10. May 2007 | 23:32 hOh Fun! Cute pics Char! Your family is just too cute!
Is that natural curl in your hair?
Char
10. May 2007 | 23:55 hThanks Gayla - and yep, that would be natural curl.
Wendy Piersall
11. May 2007 | 02:59 hWow Char - this is so cool! As I get to know you better, it’s really wonderful for me to put all these pictures to a voice and a blog. I feel like I know you so much better just by reading this post! Thanks for sharing and we will TOTALLY miss you at SOBCon!
Doris
11. May 2007 | 03:29 hHey.. finally! I always wonder why I don’t see pictures of Char, except for the one you sent me for HOW feature… thanks for sharing more of you! This is a fun exercise… I’ll try doing it later or over the weekends. Have a lovely wkn.
Ingo
11. May 2007 | 06:27 hThat´s fun. Nice pictures of you and your family.
The Face Behind The Blog Collection : David Airey :: Creative Design ::
11. May 2007 | 08:05 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
David Airey :: Creative Design ::
11. May 2007 | 08:25 hHi Char,
Okay, okay, you don’t look like Gayla.
Great pics though! I never knew you taught gymnastics so it’s good to see a little of the face behind the blog.
Thanks for joining in and I’ve linked to this article back on my original post.
Char
11. May 2007 | 11:27 hWendy - Have fun at SOBcon - we’ll be checking on all of you.
Doris - thanks - I can’t wait to see your pictures.
Ingo - are you going to join this meme?
David - yes, I have been coaching gymnastics full time or part time (like now) since 1984.
Sarit
11. May 2007 | 11:54 hIt’s always nice to link a picture to a name
This is a very nice post.
Ingo
11. May 2007 | 14:45 hChar - Thanks for tagging. I joined this meme.
Getting To Know You at Lost in Cyberspace
11. May 2007 | 17:46 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect […]
Julia Temlyn
14. May 2007 | 16:31 hNeat! It’s always nice to see real faces of people whose sites I read. Thanks for sharing.
Denise
14. May 2007 | 18:29 hI haven’t visited your blog in a while and I absolutely LOVE this theme!
Robert Hruzek
14. May 2007 | 20:50 hHowdy, Char! The Blue Shark recently retired to warmer oceans (since everyone saw me at SOBCon anyway), and now MY real photo is at Middle Zone Musings too!
Char
15. May 2007 | 02:46 hRobert - we’ll miss the shark but it is great seeing you, too. I am so sad I missed SOBcon, but will definitely make it next year!
Denise - thanks for the compliment. I’m still tweaking, but this one will stay for a while.
Dawud Miracle
16. May 2007 | 19:25 hHi Char.
Great to see you. Your kids are beautiful. Thanks for sharing your family with us.
And thanks for reminding me of this post. David tagged me last week and I said I write on it this week. Now, however, it’s Wednesday and I’d forgotten. But you so kindly reminded me.
Liz Strauss
16. May 2007 | 23:05 hChar!
What a delightful series! How wonderful to get to now people in this totally new and friendly way. thank you for thinking of it.
Your family is beautiful
We Talked about Being Home, Sweet, Home - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once.
16. May 2007 | 23:29 h[…] The face behind the blog […]
Char
17. May 2007 | 16:17 hDawud - I am looking forward to seeing what you do with this meme! You are so creative - I’m sure it will be good.
Liz - thanks for the kind words. I think you just had the largest face behind the blog event this weekend! It has been fun to see the pictures and read the post-event accounts. I’ll be there next year - promise.
Getting to Know You — Lisa Sabin-Wilson
23. May 2007 | 01:26 h[…] other ‘Faces Behind the Blogger’ participants you may want to check out: Char @ Essential Keystrokes Paul @ Reflections Ingo @ Stixster Mom […]
The Face Behind My Blog - Dawud Miracle @ dmiracle.com - (formerly Healthy WebDesign)
24. May 2007 | 16:46 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes […]
More About The Face Behind This Blog » Become a Remote Control CEO
28. May 2007 | 19:37 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes […]
Dawud Miracle
29. May 2007 | 08:46 hI finally added my post to this meme. Take a look.
iFFECT.NET » Blog Archive » The Face Behind THIS Blog
30. May 2007 | 03:38 h[…] Char at Essential KeystrokesPaul at ReflectionsRob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-SectIngo at StixsterStevie at Lost In CyberspaceThe Paper Bull at (oddly enough) The Paper BullLisa Sabin-Wilson at Just A Girl In The WorldDawud Miracle at dmiracle.comWendy Piersall at eMoms at HomeDennis Bjørn Petersen at Petersen Inc.Randa Clay at Randa Clay DesignDrew McLellan at The Marketing MinuteBecky McCray at Small Biz SurvivalPhil Gerbyshak at Make it Great!Steve Woodruff at StickyFigureDave Olson at Live the GREAT life that you desireGreg at Become a Remote Control SEOAriane Benefit at Neat Living Blog This blog loves links - it loves them so much that the NoFollow attribute has been removed from all links that appear in comments. That means comments equal Google Juice! […]
The Face Behind The Blog update : David Airey :: Creative Design ::
30. May 2007 | 10:11 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
See, I’m Not Just a Drawing
31. May 2007 | 10:41 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes […]
Thomas - Technical Blogger The Face Behind The Blog Collection «
7. June 2007 | 03:27 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at ReflectionsRob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-SectIngo at StixsterStevie at Lost In […]
Face Behind Blog Update by rammel firdaus
7. June 2007 | 09:11 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
My Life In Five Chapters
8. June 2007 | 07:06 h[…] who have participated are: Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The […]
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9. June 2007 | 20:47 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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12. June 2007 | 11:01 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The […]
Face Behind the Blog - this life o' riley | Riley Central
12. June 2007 | 15:48 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
The Face Behind The Blog by rammel firdaus
14. June 2007 | 01:02 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
Katie
18. June 2007 | 11:21 hYour cartoon you is too cute. What a fantastic idea and the result is perfect for you.
“The Face Behind The Blog” Meme » Sha Money Maker dot com
19. June 2007 | 13:42 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
“The Face Behind The Blog” Meme : Dirty little secret, ways to make money online
20. June 2007 | 03:33 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
The Face Behind The Blog Meme : Dirty little secret, ways to make money online
21. June 2007 | 01:05 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
Face Behind the Blog - Meme | Blogging on Tech, Web 2.0 and Money Making Tips
23. June 2007 | 07:07 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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24. June 2007 | 19:03 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
The Face Behind the Blog | Blog That Outside
25. June 2007 | 09:10 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
The Face Behind The Blog. My Story at Bob Meets World
25. June 2007 | 15:54 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
Bloggrrl
25. June 2007 | 19:54 hMy 8-year-old son is very definitely my inspiration for making a go at freelancing. Cute pictures!
Roberta Ferguson touched me! | Foximus Internet Business Blog
26. June 2007 | 09:07 h[…] at Foximus Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
Artist by Nature Blog : Original Oil Paintings & Art by Leanne Wildermuth » The Face Behind The Blog
27. June 2007 | 15:41 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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28. June 2007 | 13:43 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The […]
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1. July 2007 | 13:15 h[…] at BobMeetsWorld.Com Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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2. July 2007 | 00:42 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes […]
Double Tagged
3. July 2007 | 14:43 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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3. July 2007 | 22:49 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at […]
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4. July 2007 | 12:27 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
Robyn
10. July 2007 | 16:13 hHi Char, what a lovely family you have. It was fun to see your chicks… This meme was fun!
The Face Behind the Blog: Johnny Fuery at a glance » Really Smart Guy » GeekSpeak, Real Estate, Landlording, Technology, Business Ideas, Web Marketing » Blog Archive
14. July 2007 | 16:21 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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17. July 2007 | 14:04 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at […]
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23. July 2007 | 05:29 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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25. July 2007 | 04:57 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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25. July 2007 | 23:12 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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30. July 2007 | 11:11 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
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30. July 2007 | 23:51 h[…] And the braves ones who already have thrown aside the velvet curtain… Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at ReflectionsRob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
.::hip & cool...i'll always be::. : hipncoolmomma.com
31. July 2007 | 23:09 h[…] Francine Shern’s MomGayla at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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1. August 2007 | 10:42 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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2. August 2007 | 12:26 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
The face behind the blog: Facibus Reviews at Facibus On Blogging
3. August 2007 | 05:34 h[…] Airey :: Graphic Design Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The […]
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3. August 2007 | 06:05 h[…] Airey :: Graphic Design Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The […]
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3. August 2007 | 07:38 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect […]
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3. August 2007 | 15:48 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
The Face Behind The Blog « Tales of A Melodramatic Moron
3. August 2007 | 20:58 h[…] in Graphic Design : Thess in Thesserie : Lisa Sabin Wilson in Just a Girl in the World : Char in Essential Keystrokes : Paul in Reflections : Zep in In-Sect : Stevie B in Lost in Cyberspace : Char in Stixter. I can go […]
Mika
5. August 2007 | 13:01 hHello..
I’m in.
-
Mika at Text Unlimited
moderately-confused pinay in deutschland - the face behind the blog
6. August 2007 | 13:11 h[…] Airey :: Graphic Design Gayla at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
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6. August 2007 | 14:20 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect […]
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7. August 2007 | 11:52 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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8. August 2007 | 03:24 h[…] Airey :: Graphic Designer | Gayla at Mom Gadget | Char at Essential Keystrokes | Paul at Reflections | Rob at […]
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8. August 2007 | 10:13 h[…] at Mom Gadget Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect Ingo at Stixster Stevie at Lost In […]
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9. August 2007 | 19:51 h[…] of A Nice Place in the Sun|Joe of all is one, one is all |Nick of Anything Goes|Gayla at Mom Gadget|Char at Essential Keystrokes|Paul at Reflections|Rob at 2Dolphins|Zep at The In-Sect| Ingo at Stixster|Stevie at Lost In […]
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10. August 2007 | 12:31 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
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12. August 2007 | 23:03 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect […]
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18. August 2007 | 00:43 h[…] of A Nice Place in the Sun|Joe of all is one, one is all |Nick of Anything Goes|Gayla at Mom Gadget|Char at Essential Keystrokes|Paul at Reflections|Rob at 2Dolphins|Zep at The In-Sect| Ingo at Stixster|Stevie at Lost In […]
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20. August 2007 | 06:48 h[…] Char at Essential Keystrokes Paul at Reflections Rob at 2Dolphins Zep at The In-Sect […]
Liza's Eyeview
22. August 2007 | 11:27 hNice “meeting” you.
What an excellent, informative, helpful and fun blog you have. I’d be back for more reading.
Liza
Ugly Mailbox.com
24. August 2007 | 07:50 h[…] ones who’ve “shown their faces”: Gayla at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
This is me!
27. August 2007 | 09:39 h[…] at Mom GadgetChar at Essential KeystrokesPaul at Reflections Rob at 2DolphinsZep at The In-Sect Ingo at StixsterStevie at Lost In Cyberspace […]
Dani
29. August 2007 | 00:22 hHi! Just posted Face behind the blog as to follow your meme, do visit my blog to know more about me, thanks
The Face behind the Crown! The Crown that won't fit the face!
27. October 2007 | 08:35 h[…] bloggers who got tagged. if you’ll do this, just add your link in the end.Gayla at Mom Gadget | Char at Essential Keystrokes | Paul at Reflections | Rob at 2Dolphins | Zep at The In-Sect | Ingo at Stixster | Stevie at Lost […]
Robyn
8. November 2007 | 11:37 hThough I’ve visited your blog a few times, this is the first I’ve checked to see who the face is behind the blog. I feel David Airey’s challenge to participate helped us know our blogging community even more. It’s great to really meet you!
Char
8. November 2007 | 12:02 hRobyn - thanks so much!! Having a face to put to a name is always wonderful.
paradise5000
23. November 2007 | 19:17 hChar, I enjoy reading your blogs, I am new to the blogging world and the information in your blogs is really helping me understand the In’s and Out of online blogging. By the way you have a beautiful family and your husband should be very proud of you.