Wednesday Gratitude #12 at Heart and Home: New Friends and A Daughter"s Wisdom

For a look at Friday's Show and Tell post click here or the home button above.


                        

Greetings my friends! How's it going? Remember the other day when I mentioned the unseasonably warm temperatures we were enjoying? Well, today it rained - all day! What is going on with the weather, I wonder?

If you're here for the first time welcome to Wednesday Gratitude! It's the day to post "whatever makes you happy and your heart sing". If you are joining the party remember to link in below, and mention Heart and Home in your post. Thank you! I'm also posting for Tablescape Thursday and Show and Tell Friday (see below!).  Stick around for news about a wonderful giveaway, at the end of this post.

“Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness; they are the charming gardeners who make our soul bloom.” - Marcel Proust
Do you recognize this person?

She's the lovely Delores, from Vignette Design.  I've been following her inspiring and beautiful blog, and we had been e-mailing back and forth for awhile. Since we don't live too far away from each other we thought it might be fun to actually meet in person. We spent some time together, shopping at Ikea.

I'm so glad we did! I had such a great time! I felt like I was meeting with an old friend I hadn't seen in awhile.

 You might think it a bit strange to meet with someone you only know from the internet! At first I wondered: am I turning into one of those people, who makes computer dates? That's a little strange and creepy!! But, do you know what? Nothing about our afternoon was uncomfortable, we clicked just like that!

Delores is warm, and sincere, and funny, and we have the same fabulous taste!  We were even dressed the same. No kidding, we looked like twins: jeans, boots, t-shirt, blazer, jewelry. We even have pretty much the same haircut. (But, her hair looks better and she's definitely the cooler, hipper twin!) Here's proof:

 It was fun and really great to spend the afternoon with someone who just got it -  it being the blogging bug and the reasons behind it. We talked about that a lot, and laughed, and shopped, and had some lunch at the Ikea cafe. (We even ate the same thing: salad and Diet Pepsi!!)

What a great afternoon and the start of a really real friendship. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have met you, Delores!

Look at these gorgeous mums, in one of my favorite colors:

And what do you think of these adorable white bird salt and pepper shakers?

I got them for $3.00 at Pier One.

They are perfect for the bird lover (that's me!)

Today, April 28, my youngest daughter turns 14 years old. In her honor, I've created this tablescape for a family birthday dinner. Because of the gloomy rain I decided to use cheery colors and the place mats I purchased on my shopping trip to Ikea with my new friend Delores, from Vignette Design.
(BTW - you really will love her blog, go check it out as soon as you're done here, and let her know I sent you.  She's got a great eye for design, her blog is full of wonderful ideas and beautiful vignettes - just like it's name - and she's got style!)

As we were strolling along inside the store several people stopped to ask me which aisle I had found those mats on! They are very bright and cheerful, perfect for this grey day.

They were $2.99 for four. How could I pass them up?

All the rest of the tablescape items are things I've had for years.

I love the blue stemware in this light.

Aqua colored glass candle sticks,

 and blue, glass beaded bobeches add the perfect amount of sparkle!

You already know how much I adore tulips.

These are reaching for the sun.

Inexpensive, dark blue, glass plates add drama.

Bright yellow and pale green linens bring more "sunshine" to the table

A pretty glass beaded dragon fly adds some whimsy, for the birthday girl!

What I've learned from my 14 year old:

1. You can never have too much sparkly nail polish.

2. Laughing is good for you.

3. Pout when you feel down, and forgive and forget quickly and easily.

4. Study (or work) really hard, and then go have fun.

5. Be loyal.

6. Only eat when you are hungry.

7. Sleep late when you are tired.

8. Give hugs and kisses to the people and friends you care about.

9. Squeal with delight at the smallest things.

10. Embrace new technology.

11. Learn about the olden days (the 1980's) for historical reference.

12. Be yourself.

My heart is huge with love and gratitude for her and the joy she brings to my life.

Happy birthday Miss M.

and now for some exciting news:

To help celebrate my daughter's birthday,

two of my lucky readers

 will win a full year's subscription

 to Traditional Home Magazine.  

 You read it, you love it, now win it for one full year!

 For an entry do one or all of the following:

Become a follower,

Leave a comment,

 Link to Heart and Home in a post!

You get an entry for each!

Let me know which you've done.

 A winner will be chosen by

random drawing Friday May 7.

Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

I'm linking to Tablescape Thursday, at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks, Susan.

 I've also linked this post to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home. Hi Cindy!