Thursday, April 30, 2009

An Award, What I Won and Meeting Janie and Laurie!

I would like to thank Laura Lu of http://hiddenpromise.blogspot.com/ and Lorna of http://laceandivycottage.blogspot.com/ for presenting me the The Lemonade award which is given to bloggers who show an "Attitude of Gratitude"... that they are happy with their lives under any circumstances! I really appreciate receiving this award especially coming from 2 very special and talented people. You should visit thier blogs so you would know what I mean. Laura Lu is a very talented decorator and artist. You should see the table that she painted. And Lorna, OMG! I cannot imagine anybody having 9 children! I had 3 and I could hardly keep up when they were growing up. Talk about an attitude of gratitude. I am so sure there is a lot of that going on in their household! Please take this award if you have seen me visit your blog because I know that you deserve it! Thanks again, Laura Lu and Lorna. I do display my awards and they are at the bottom of my blog.
This blog is not all about awards. I am so happy and blessed for having so many blogging friends. April is truly my favorite month. I think this month this year was my best birthday ever! Please stick around cause I want to share what I just won and pictures I took meeting 2 beautiful bloggers.
We came home late last night from a fun trip to Chicago and I saw packages both in front of the house and by the garage. I've been busy shopping, LOL! But the most exciting package of them all was the box that I got from Leigh of http://lbratina.blogspot.com/. I was so excited, I could hardly wait to open it, in spite of all the other boxes I had to open and the luggage that I had to unpack.
Just look at all these goodies! Oh Leigh, thank you so much for sending me all these. I LOVE ALL of them! Let's see what I have here...a pretty tote bag with lots of happy bows, a package of beautiful dotted paper napkins, a garden tool set (which I am sure will come in handy since I have lots of projects going on in the garden).

I am so sorry the coffee cup's handle came broken but I am so glad it can be glued and that's exactly what I am going to do cause I just love it. It is just so pretty. Our delivery men are not very careful. Do you see the packets of margarita mix? I can't wait to try them. I also got some wildflower garden seeds, yummy candies, packets of vitamin C booster (I need those too after coming from a hectic trip and the swine flu outbreak).
And look at the beautiful gold picture frame! It will blend so well with my decor at home. Also shown here are books: "The Power of a Positive Wife", hmmm.... John would probably want me to read that first, " Puttin on a Grits, A Guide to Southern Entertaining", Fried Green Tomatoes at The Whistle Stop Cafe", "Better Homes and Gardens Trade Secrets" and a cookbook. I am so excited to start reading them. Since we are new to the south, I can really learn from these books.
I also have a new Lip and Body Balm.

Thanks, Leigh for all these fine items! You are so kind and so generous. I love them all.

I have been dying to tell you about our meeting with Janie and her hubby, Alan in Chicago. Here's Janie, aka Blondie's Journals. Isn't she beautiful? They picked us up from our hotel and then we took a taxi to go to West Town Tavern. Alan could not have picked a better place. The atmosphere was perfect, very quaint and charming.
A lovely and happy sweet couple!
Just look at this charming bar!
And here is the awesome foursome! The food was also delicious. I had white fish, Janie had scallops, Alan had pork and John had pasta. Everything looked good and we all enjoyed what was served to us. We had such a good time eating and conversing. It was like we have known each other forever.
And I could not believe how sneaky Janie could be! My goodness, John and I wondered why the waiter brought 4 saucers right after we ate our meals since we have not even ordered any dessert. And that was followed by 2 sweets with candles. I don't know how Janie did it cause she never left the table and she was right next to me. But let me tell you, the desserts were one of the best that we have ever eaten. They were simply scrumptious!
Yummy!
It was time to go and Janie and Alan took us back to the hotel but we had to take pictures one more time. I didn't want to show you this cause I look pregnant in my coat...LOL, but I just want to show you how close we instantly felt towards one another. John and Alan got along so well too.
Thank you, Janie and Alan, for the wonderful evening. We love you! And remember, you promised to be our guests here someday! And we just want you to know that we just had the best birthday of our lives!
Here's just one more story that I would like to share. I hope you don't mind my long post.
I met Laurie, aka Bargainhunting with Laurie, before I even started blogging. That explains why I have not blogged about this. She and her hubby, Danny were on their way to New Orleans to attend a friend's wedding and they stopped by our little town along the way. We met with them in a bar downtown. And here is Laurie! Isn't she a beauty also?
We couldn't stop talking. We had so much to talk about and yet we just met. Our hubbies could not barge in on our conversation so they just started their own. LOL! Isn't the bar pretty?
Cheers!

Laurie even got to meet my 90 year old mother.
I tried to persuade them to stay longer. I would have loved to have them over at home for breakfast and then take them antique shopping but they were in a hurry. I was still very happy they stopped by to meet us. Laurie, next time you come by again, you have to stay longer, ok?
Just like Janie, it was an instant love affair. Isn't it incredible how warm we feel towards blogging friends? This is true even with bloggers that we have not even met personally. I am so thankful that I discovered Blogland. It surely has expanded my world of friendship.Thanks for stopping by. I am always thankful for that!
























24 comments:

KBeau said...

How much fun to get to meet some fellow bloggers. I hope to get to do the same some day.

Blondie's Journal said...

Christine,

If anyone had a better time then you in Chicago, it was me!! What a fun night! We are still talking about it... You are so right about feeling like we have known one another forever and I will always feel gratitude for your friendship.

I am glad you made it home safe and sound and to come upon your wonderful gifts. What a lot of great stuff!! I also loved reading about your meeting Laurie~ I like her blog so much!

You probably have a lot to catch up on but I want to thank you for all the wonderful things you said about Alan and I in your post. We loved meeting you and John and we will certainly meet up again!

xoxo
Janie

Justine said...

What a great post, Christine! Filled with fun and friends. Happy birthday to you! I love that you said you look pregnant in that picture, 'cause Janie's hand is on your bump! LOL!

And wow, what a package you got in the mail! Holy schmoly!!!!!

Justine :o )

Chandy said...

I love this post and so jealous that you got to meet two wonderful blogging buddies! I'm glad you had a great birthday, Christine! Well deserved! The places you went with both ladies were look so charming alright, I'd love to go there!

Hugs!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

It is so neat you all got to meet!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Congratulations on your win. Your gift box looks fabulous. So many wonderful things. I love that you have had the opportunity to meet two fellow bloggers. That is just wonderful. It looks like you all had such a great time. I am thrilled for you. Glad you had a good trip and a great birthday. Hugs, Marty

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Ok Christina,
I am like really jealous! How cool is that to meet 2 of my favorite bloggers and of course I would love to meet you. If you come to Wisconsin.... Love the gifts, they are so lovely. I am trying to talk hubby into a trip down south this summer, so who knows, Cindy

susan said...

Christine--great post! You hit the jackpot with the gift!! You are so right. I really do feel as if I know some of my blogging friends. I am envious of your "live" meetings!! Hope your birthday was a happy one!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Christina,
I forgot to say how cute you all look! Cindy

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Christina, I very much dislike seeing pictures of myself, but it was so much fun to see these pictures and remember how much fun our meeting was! When I was reading about your fun with Blondie and her husband, I was thinking that that's the way it was with us! Then, I scrolled on down and there we were! I also wish we could have stayed awile. You know how badly I want to go shopping with you! What a wonderful package you got in the mail-so full of fun things. What a fun way to celebrate your birthday-meeting a fabulous blogger AND getting a fabulous package. laurie

Unknown said...

Hi Christine,
Congratulations on your win!

I really enjoyed reading about Laurie and Janie-two of my favorites!

Thanks for sharing,
Diane

OCDesigner ~Athella said...

Christine You all look like you are having so much fun... I remember when you and Laurie met. That was fun for all of us to read about.
Congrats on the good stuff you got and Thanks for sharing! ~Athella

Jill said...

I loved this post, just reading about what a good time you had with friends. How great is that?!
I am so happy you had a wonderful time. You all look sooooo happy in the pictures. This was the first pic I have seen of your hubby! :)

Have a wonderful weekend!! :)

Jill

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Hey Christine!

Happy Birthday! SO glad that you got the package!! I hate that about the coffee cup. It was so pretty, but dont feel as though you have to keep it if it is broke. I am glad you enjoyed getting it.
What a fun post! Lucky you for getting to meet some sweet bloggers! Isnt bloggerland wodnerful? I count myself lucky to count you as a blog friend!

Joyce said...

It is so much fun to meet other blog ladies. Looks like you all had so much fun. I met the Georgia ladies at a luncheon that Susan at betweenanpsontheporch set up this winter. You can find the photos on her blog. I was not blogging then but they all convinced me to start and I love it. I hope to meet more blog gals when I travel. Maybe you will be in our area of the woods one day to meet with us to. Now that would be fun. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Joyce

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

What a wonderful birthday celebration! I can't believe you've met Laurie! I live so close to her and haven't met her yet! I'm jealous! You know I have relatives in New Orleans...might have to stop by sometime myself! Glad you had a wonderful birthday! God Bless you today! Lauralu :)

DesignTies said...

Sounds like you had great visits with your blog friends :-) The surprise birthday desserts in Chicago were such a nice and thoughtful touch :-)

I've only met one of my blog friends, but I'm hoping to meet more of them one day. Especially my blog friend in Australia... I want her to invite me to visit her in her great new house!!! ;-)

And all those gifts you got in the mail.... that's even better than Christmas!! Enjoy all that cool stuff :-)

Kelly @ DesignTies

SmilingSally said...

Congratulations on all your goodies and for your blogging buddies.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Christine, I loved this post. Blogging friends are the best! And I'm so glad you got to spend your birthdays with Janie and Alan! Neat! And that you also got to meet your friend Laurie and her hubby! Looks like a great time!

xo,

Sheila :-)

Kat said...

Christine, what a great time! I just knew that Janie would be a doll in person, and I had no idea that you had met Laurie also. How fun! Two of my very favorite bloggers. Congrats on your prize, lots of really neat stuff. Just keep traveling and pretty soon you may meet everyone in blogville! Kathy

Lady Katherine said...

Love the tour, I would have been in a panic over the windows! lol Such fun to see places through your eyes! Love the party, that was so sweet! Was it your Birthday, If so Happy Birthday! Loved the oleanders and tulips. Love the pic of your DH climbing! You have such a lovely family! The girls look just like you! Now I remember Laurie doing an article on meeting you, but I loved the pic of you two in the bar. So fun!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa Miller said...

Christine I have missed so many of your awesome posts recently! Sorry I'm having such a hard time keeping up with everyone.

You and Laurie look GORGEOUS! How great that you all were able to meet.

~Happy belated Birthday to you as well! ~Melissa :)

Nicole ~ said...

Congrats on the award! It is so awesome that you got to meet two wonderful ladies; it really looks like you bonded instantly. That so exciting. Nicole

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