How weird is this???
While I am here in Virginia, I spent a free afternoon in Leesburg to shop and check out The Cottage, a store I’d heard about but never been to, its about 30 minutes from our apartment.
While I was chatting with the co-owner, Ann, Pam walked in and she recognized me. Behind her was Debbie Shue who was in town from NY to teach classes at the scrapbook store where Pam works.
Now, what are the odds that we would run into each other? Pam and Debbie both went to Silver Bella last year, and I know them through that and through blogs. (sorry about the blurry picture, but also, what are the odds that we take dozens of photos and none of the ones with all of us are any good?)
I am from Kansas, Debbie is from New York, none of us were staying in Leesburg, we just all decided to go to a store there at the same time.
If I had stopped for lunch first, or if they had gone to Lucketts before The Cottage, we’d never have met up.
Lucky that we did! Not only was this a cute and cottagey shop that I fell in love with and had a great time browsing through (I’ll post my beautiful bargain finds later), Pam, Debbie, and their pal, Kitty, invited me to hang out with them for the day.
We spent quite a while in The Cottage, and all found fun things to purchase. We visited with Ann, who was nice as could be and seemed to enjoy the coincidence of our meeting as much as we did.
Istn’t this store so pretty? I could have just moved into any of these cozy displays she has set up.
After the Cottage, the three gals asked me to go to lunch with them, and on to some other antiquing.
While out shopping, I came across some of the prettiest hats I’d ever seen, with tons of dainty flowers on each. But- they were a LOT more expensive than what I usually buy. ($15- $28, but LOADED with blossoms)
I decided that the rule about not spending more than $7 on a hat doesn’t apply on vacation or during my birthday week. 
Not only did I find a new store I absolutely love and 3 flowery hats that I couldn’t resist, I had a fun day full of laughs, shopping, and lunch, PLUS, Debbie was able to squeeze me into the class she was teaching the next day.
And my new pal, Kitty offered to lend me supplies, since I didn’t have any with me.
I thought I was borrowing scissors and glue, but she showed up with the fullest, most professional scrapbboking kit I’d ever seen. It was a joy just to poke through it all.
Shopping, crafting, great food, fun people, romantic dinners with my husband, I may never go back to Kansas! I love it here!!
My husband surprised me with one of the fanciest schmanciest dinners ever at a private dining club. The Tower Club at Tyson’s Corner.
The service there is so outstanding and detailed, they even had our name on the mints at our place settings!
We were greeted with complimentary champagne for my birthday. I had the Maryland crab appetizer (you just have to order that when you are in this part of the country) and as gourmet-licious as the whole dinner was, my favorite part of the meal was the white chocolate and lemon surprise birthday cake.
"Happy Birthday" was written in dark chocolate on a sheet of white chocolate and the whole cake was covered in curled bits of the white.
A tray of tiny desserts came out with the coffee along with a goodie assortment of coffee mix-ins. Orange peels, cinnamon sticks, real whipped cream and shaved cocoa.
I was so impressed, I almost couldn’t eat it, it was just too lovely. But I did. 
I have the BEST husband.
Last night, dinner on the 17th floor with a view over looking the capitol, tonight dinner at Piedmont Country Club with this view out the window. Yep, not a bad kickoff to my birthday week.
I don’t think turning 50 years old is looking too bad at all. I have a pretty lucky life! I am looking forward to the next 50, I plan on living as long and as well as my Great Aunt Caroline that you are all making cards for!
Wow! What a fun trip- shopping, crafting, fun people to visit with, romantic dinners- and Rich is wearing a tie!
Just by way of contrast- Jeff took me to lunch today at Little Jake’s Eat It and Beat It.
I love that topiary dog- he reminds me of Milo- the dog that squeezed out of the gate AGAIN today- I caught him trying to break back INTO the yard.
Wow, what an awesome weekend. Hope your birthday celebration continues throughout the year.
What fun to be recognized from your blog.
Looks like a wonderful trip and happy birthday. 🙂
I think the meeting at the store was just meant to be. I just don’t think something like that is just random, God is always up to something!
Loved your pics of the store, it looks like a great shop! Thsnks for sharing.
So glad you had such a nice birthday!
What an incredible trip you’ve had! It sounds like perfection at it’s best! And those desserts!! I can almost taste the lemon cake!!
Hugs, Sherry
Oh what a fun trip for you! I don’t believe this is your 50th, you look way too young! All my best to you for your birthday…..
Hey! Good to hear from you and even better to hear that you are having such a good time. Yeah I totally agree with the vacation and birthday rule…buy what you like! You only celebrate your 50th birthday once, though there are another 50 to come…Have an nice time, enjoy!
I don’t think this trip could have been any more wonderful. I do think the birthday fairies are smiling on you.
Every last detail sounds utterly perfect. And, I think your husband feels he has the best wife, too.
Happy Birthday Week! What a great start! How fun to run into blogging friends, as well. Looking forward to seeing all the goodies you bought!
oh….looks sooo wonderful!!!! can’t WAIT to see what your birthday, day looks like!!!
wow!!!
What a fabulous, fortuitous, fun type of day! The Cottage looks like a great place to shop AND for serendipity. If this is the beginning of your 50’s —-WOW! Can’t wait to see what you purchased.
Kathy
Happy sweet birthday wishes Karla. My what a birthday you are having. Enjoy it all xoxoxox Clarice
Hey Karla! Happy Birthday Week!! Wow! Some major husband-brownie-points gathering going on!! A 50th birthday should really be celebrated with 50 parties, shouldn’t it – one for every year!! Isn’t it fun to meet up with people you’ve been blogging with?! I’ve now met a couple of gals I chat to online and we’ve had the BEST time! Looking foward to more fun photos of your birthday adventures! Bear Hugs! KRIS (Tag Along Teddies)
wow what a fabulous week.
i can’t believe you ran into those girls, how fun!! and your hubby is a keeper!!! what a nice man.
you are glowing.
oxooxx,
jessi
Hi Karla,
I came here via the Snooty Woman’s Club. I had never heard of that site before. Discovered it quite by accident while surfing around. I’m so glad I found your blog. It’s fantastic. I’ll be back often to visit.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Charlotte
Happy Birthday Karla! There used to be a store a lot like this here in Colorado Springs that I loved to visit, but then she sold the old house and moved to a shop and had to downsize. It’s just not as neat as the house was.
What fun! How wonderful to run into people you have met before, in a totally random place, miles and miles from home! It’s Kismit!
And what a wonderful husband! The restaurant looks wonderful and the food amazing… what a special time!
Karla what a fabulous shop where you met up with the girls. Such fun.
Oh what a lovely dinner and yummy birthday cake,
Alison
It is indeed a small world 🙂 Happy Birthday Karla!
Hugs,
Dena
Karla, Happy Birthday to you! Fifty? Yea sure, you’ve the energy of a fifteen year old!!! Have been out of touch for a week, migraines and no phone line ICK!!! Sugarwings looked adorable with her new shoes and dress! Going to get to work on Aunties card! Will email you if her address is missing, lost some online files. Later,Lori
It sounds and looks like you are having a wonderful time!! What a great way to turn 50!!
Happy Birthday. 50 is a great age isnt’ it? (I’m close enough to be able to say that) So much fun to look back on and look forward to. What a small world blogging is becoming. Looks like lots of fun in that fabulous shop. I Wish for you- many, many more happy birthdays.
Hi Karla, Oh it looks like you are having a wonderful time. And your birthday dinner, Wow.
Karen
Happy Birthday, dear Karla! Fifty is but a drop in the bucket when you’re as full of life as you are! =)
Karla– enjoy your wonderful birthday week!!! You deserve it! Your dinner looked absolutely fabulous and I can’t believe your luck at The Cottage! (I want that green bedspread, btw!!!) I didn’t know if you’d be checking your blog so I didn’t comment on the last post. I hope the rest of the time there is just as fantastic!!! (And we’d love to have you permanently in this part of the country!!!)
I love your small-world story – that’s amazing! Glad you’re having a fabulous birthday weekend.
Wow! That dinner was over the TOP! What a fun time you’ve had here this weekend! And I had such a great time thrifing with you today! Have a terrific birthday week and a fabulous time at your party!
Karla, how FUN that you got to meet up with those girls and do some great shopping…that store look just amazing! you look just gorgeous at your birthday dinner!!! hubby looks pretty spiffy too, and i love how he is looking with you in that picture, he looks smitten!!!
OH Karla, what a great store and how fun to run into fellow bloggers! You look so lovely and what a wonderful evening you got to spend with your hubby. Now, that’s a great way to spend a glamorous 50th birthday! I’ve got to say that that cake looks FABULOUS! Bravo to that hubby of yours. We may be flea market gals, but we can certainly enjoy a little pampering and it looks like your sweetie made great plans!
Happy Birthday to you. What a cute shop and all. You deserve a wonderful birthday. Congrats.
Happy Birthday….Hope you have a year even better than last.
Hey Miss Hat Wisperer,
Glad that you started your birthday week like you did…I wonder if you have to bring your own doggie bag to a private dining resturant? Do they do take out? i would have had them wrap up the goodie assortment of coffee mix-ins so that i could have my own taste test back at where ever I was staying. So happy to see the topiary dog among the other pictures and blurry or not -it’s good that you remembered to have a picture taken with all the shopping you were doing. Happy happies
Happy Birthday. Looks like you are having the time of your life. You are right, what a wonderful shop! I see lots of things there that I have. Oh, I’m in love.
Dona
Oh Karla … so glad you had a wonderful birthday weekend! What fun!
Happy Birthday Karla!! You look gorgeous with your husband..you can see how much he loves you in that one picture…so sweet!
That shop is wonderful! xoxo Heather
Its smaller than you think. My mom and Sister went shopping in Leesburg this weekend too. My first job was in Tysons Corner and I am now living in California. So your birthday celebration is now coast to coast!! Kathie
What an amazing coincidence – isn’t that just amazing??!! I think that kind of timing just blows my mind…so many minutes that could have change,d and then altered that whol’ meet-up’!! I just love it!!! That is bizarre!! Great…but bizarre!
From the pictures and the stories it sounds like you had an absolutely GREAT time…treated so lovely, and had sooo much eye candy to look at …along with some delicious ‘food candy’ too!!
Happy Birthday!
Debra Johnson
What a wonderful birthday. I hope you live long enough to become a Smuckers lady. (when you turn 100 you can have your pic on a smuckers jar) that is one of my goals. Happy 50th.
-Mya
Karla, that good start celebrating your birthday, after all are the “First Fifty”.
Oh Karla…what a great story, great store, great day and great husband!!!! Happy Birthday sweetie!!!!
Happy 50th Dear Karla!
loved the pictures of your adventures of shopping and the elegant dinner with hubby was priceless……you enjoy the rest of your week..
Brenda
Oh that store!!! And the blog friends…amazing. What a great birthday meal with your hubby :)!!
Happy Birthday, Karla!!!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend- thanks for sharing!!
Love,
Jenn~
Hey, girl! You are in my neck of the woods (I live in Manassas and work in Leesburg!). What a fun time you are having! You deserve it! You should come back out or stay out for two more weeks – the Lucketts spring Antique Market on the 17th and 18th!! WooHoo!!
~Lolly
That store looks amazing. I am sooo jealous! Glad you had an amazing weekend, thanks for sharing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARLA!!!
You are so beautiful and look waaay younger than you are!
You so deserve the love and pampering that you are being lavished with!
Enjoy. Savor every moment.
Blessings to you!
What a sweet husband you have…he’s definitely a “keeper” 🙂 I just turned 40 and my husband surprised me with a party which was a lot of fun (I guess he’s a “keeper”, too!).
Have a fabulous day!
Julie
Happy Birthday! Your looking good girl!
Now….I want some of those $7 hats. I live in a town that has a quaint antique area (Clovis, CA.) Do you think I can find $7 hats? No way. I tried etsy,the cheapest was $10 plus shipping. No luck on ebay either. I am bummed and you are hoarding yours LOL. You need to put together a variety pack so I can purchase them 🙂
Hope you continue to have a lovely,romantic trip!
What a great story, running into those gals at the Cottage! Thanks for sharing it and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday to you! Sounds like you had a great birthday. I’ve been to Tyson’s Corner – a lovely place to spend some time. Too funny about meeting up with everyone!
Karla
What a beautiful place for a rendezvous 🙂
Omgoodness! How fun is that! And what an amazing to run into each other in! I will have to put it on my list of places to visit someday! You look so beautiful on your birthday…and what a fabulous time you must have had…you were beaming!!!
Karla,
I hope you have a happy Birthday week. It all sounds so wonderful and the food especially the cake looks wonderful….
Looks like it is all wonderful, glad you are having a blast. What an adorable cottage shop too.
c
Oh Karla,
What a wonderful birthday you are having. You husband is so sweet to give you such a romantic and fancy dinner to celebrate. Enjoy the other birthday festivities. Whooo Hooo 50! Enjoy! Amy
Let me add my “happy birthday” to your many well wishes. So glad you had a wonderful time.
Happy, happy belated birthday! What serendipity that you met bloggers on by chance & got to play with glitter mist to boot! What a lovely dinner, and you and the hubby are such a beautiful couple. How charming how smitten he is of you!
😀
Congratulations on reaching the fab fifties.
I’m so glad your week was so wonderful and filled with fun.
~elaine~
How fun Karla! You totally deserve it! I am so glad you have a wonderful hubby who treats you like the Queen you are. 🙂
Birthday hugs sent your way!
Joy
xo
EEEEEEEEKKKK!!!!! Where have I BEEN??? Omigosh! Omigosh! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY sweet Karla! You are FABULOUS AT FIFTY!!!! Birthday hugs and kisses!!! XOXO
What a wonderful day!! Hard to think of a better way to turn 50! Happy Birthday and God bless.
Terri
What a fun day you had and a lovely end to it as well! Ya just never know who you are going to run into! Great shop, too!
Becky
Happy Belated birthday. You don’t eeeeeeeven look 50!!! What is your secret?
wowzers- love all of the gifts and the stores. So FUN that you ladies caught up together. You looked very pretty in your dress!
Happy Birthday from Tami in South Texas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARLA!
Oh I am soooooo glad you had such a beautiful one because you deserve it! I’m right behind you girlfriend… that’ll be me next year (of course I won’t be as gorgeous as YOU)
May you have 50 more blessed birthdays indeed! Thank you for sharing your moments with us!
Much love,
Kim