Tuesday, April 27, 2010

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! 

34 comments:

vignette design said...

Oh Heidi,
That was such an incredible post! Yes, we had a fabulous time and could have talked for two more hours! What a beautiful table setting for your daughter's birthday. Those Ikea placemats were the inspiration and you went with it! I will get my post up late tomorrow.....
xoxo Delores

Gypsy Heart said...

Two gorgeous women! I'm so glad you had an opportunity to meet and had such a good time. I've met "friends" in person that I've communicated with via the net and it is a normal feeling for me. I think because you have communicated so much via the written word. One friend lives on the south side of my city and I'm on the north side ~ we meet somewhere in between. :-)

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Looks like a very festive celebration with your tablescape. I adore those candle holders & bobeches.

xoxo
Pat

P.S. I'll be back to link up ~

Denise Marie said...

terrific post!! what a great set of things you've learned from Ms. M. I think that is why we have children...to learn. lol

What a great meeting for ya. I suppose I'd click with anyone I've made bloggie friends with instantly in person. I think it is a gift from the Lord...all this technology. There really are others out there that think and dress like us and would shop at the same place and eat salad too.

We don't have to have known them forever for them to be forever friends.

xox!!

Pinky said...

You are BOTH young, hip and gorgeous! So glad you got to meet and connect so well! You even had almost the exact jewelry on! I love your table, so bright and cheery for your daughter's birthday! Love the placemats! The blue glass dishes are so pretty too. I will be linking up to Susan's later when she puts up the link. Now I ahve to jump over to Dolores's blog! I love the inspirations from your daughter: they are pertenant to anyone at any age!!!!! XO, Pinky

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Heidi, I just saw Delores post and had to come see yours. So fun that you two met and you are both stunning. What a great day. I love your beautiful tablescape. It is just gorgeous. The flowers and the colors are so cheerful and so inviting. Beautiful dishes and linens. Hugs, Marty

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Heidi,

I came from Delores Blog and was curious about your tablescape. So I learned that your daughter had birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MISS M.

The table is really chic, I like especially the blue glasses. The candlesticks are gorgeous.
Greetings, Johanna

Kathysue said...

Hi Heidi I am here via Delores. So glad she sent me here. You have a lovely blog and I might have missed it. I love blogland and meeting new people that are like minded. It looks as if you two had a wonderful time together, I can get lost in Ikea, Love the placemats. Your 14yr old sounds like a very wise young lady. I post 7 things you don't know about me today and it would probably fall in line with your gratitude post. Thanks for sharing a bit of your day with us out in blogland, Kathysue

Rose H (UK) said...

Aha, the other twin separated at birth!
Hello Heidi, thank you for your sweet comments and visit. I love the table setting, the blue really looks great especially with those lovely tulips. The little dragonfly is sweet too. Sounds like you and Delores have a lot in common and are firm friends.
Hope your dear daughter has a super birthday!
Best wishes,
Rose H
P.S. I love visits to Ikea with my daughter :o)

The Tablescaper said...

Hi Heidi:

I've visited your blog before, but am here via Delores tonight.

Love the drama in your scape!

- The Tablescaper

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Heidi, great tablescape. So glad you and Delores had such a great time. I think it would be great to meet a fellow blogger in person. Wish y'all weren't so far away. Cute that y'all wore the same thing. Great minds think alike!!

Marigene said...

Great that you and Delores got to meet, lunch and shop!
Cute table...love the cobalt and aqua together.
Happy birthday to your daughter.

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Heidi~ ~What great fun going to lunch with a blogging friend. I have one of these meet ups planned for next week. Can't wait to meet the talented gal in person. We probably would have not met without the blog community. Isn't it great?
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Debbiedoos said...

That is awesome to meet a blogging buddy! I recently met a new blogger here in my local area...short and sweet visit. She has a local business and happened to be in my area. You ladies look incredible and what a fun day! Your table looks great too...lovin the colorful placemats!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh how fun to have lunch with a bloggy friend! Looks like a wonderful day. Happiest of Birthdays to your daughter.

Dena Pickle said...

I'm visiting from Vignette design! and I'm a new follower!
I love your Ikea tablescapes! I wish I'd known, I would have gone shopping with you!
dena
sweet pickles and chocolate
BTW-I LOVE Traditionl Home Mag and my sub is up for renewal. LOL

Kelee Katillac said...

Hi Heidi!

This is so cute -you and Delores!!! Love it!

Your tablescape is so fun and bright! Just wonderful!


I wish I could have hung-out with you two crazy girls!

love, kelee

vignette design said...

Hey Heidi,
1) I'm already a follower! 2) I left a comment too.
3) I linked to Heart and Home!. Oh, and I love Traditional Home! I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Delores

Carol at Serendipity said...

I came from Delores's. What a fun day you two must have had. Beautiful tablescape.

Carol

Tricia said...

How fun to read your post immediately after Delores'! Your table turned out splendidly -- so festive for a teen daughter's birthday! You have given me some great ideas for using MY blue glass plates. Yay for "invisible friends"!

Unknown said...

I became a follower! And I would so love to win a subscription to TH - a great magazine!

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

Hi Heidi
I'm a new follower and I've posted a link to my blog.
Hope your having a wonderful day. Happy Birthday Wishes to your daughter.

Lorna ~ Lace and Ivy Cottage said...

Heidi,
You and Delores scored big at IKEA! Great deals, but far more, a new friendship. I'm a new follower and happy to have found you! Happy birthday wishes to your lovely daughter!

Kelly said...

You received a lot of wonderful deals.
Kelly Bookend Diaries

helenabelle said...

Sounds as if you and Delores had a wonderful girls day out!! Your table setting is great, I too, love the placemats they seem to set the whole mood for the table! I hope you and Delores have many more happy days together. Don't you just love blogging???
Fondly,
Ann
@
The Tattered Tassel

Sherry said...

I love the bright colors you used in your tablescape. I am working on my table for dinner guests tomorrow and you have inspired me to add a slplash of bright color. I have been a follower for a time and have enjoyed your blog.

Miss Merry said...

Hi to the Ladies who Lunched! I am sure your daughter was in love with your tablescape, colorful and sparkly! What a lucky girl!

Shirley said...

That's a beautiful table you did with the place mats as an inspiration. Perfect for a birthday celebration! And what fun it must have been to meet, shop and lunch with another terrific blogger!!

Tamra said...

Just found you through Vignette Designs. Love your blog and just became a follower.

Nice to have found you.

Beth said...

Pretty tablescape. Love the orange tulips and the blues. Delores sent me over and I enjoyed both of your posts!
Beth

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

Don't we all just love IKEA.. I am IKEA fan too! and what I like about IKEA is their decorating ideas that ever changing.. and all so much fun and practical..

thanks for sharing.. have a good weekend!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sounds like you ladies had an enjoyable time. I met up with 3 bloggers and to a bead show with one of them another time. It was like I already knew them and looking forward to another get together.
Have a great weekend.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Me again. Was going to add - what a pretty table setting. I really like the blue stemware. Happy Birthday to your daughter.

Lana said...

I, too, have loved Vignette Design for MONTHS! How wonderful that you two got to meet and GO TO IKEA! (Now that I've moved to Huntsville from Washington, DC I have to travel a LONG way to get to one!)
And what a VIBRANT tablescape! Those colors provide such an immense contrast to the others and really "sing" together!

Hugs,
Lana

Mikey Fuller said...

Love it! I've just recently started shopping at Pier One after 'giving-up' on ever thinking I'd find a treasure there again! Wish I had an Ikea nearby! I'm new to the blogging world and just became a follower of your blog! I hope you'll visit my blog, too!