Meeting Trina !

Our meet-up was some months in the planning, with false starts and bad weather spoilers, but it finally happened. Last Sunday evening, I got to meet the completely lovely Trina, owner  of her very popular blog Tea Time With Trina .

She and her charming and romantic husband were in Northwest Arkansas for business, and we met up at our favorite PF Chang's China Bistro. Dan and I were late, of course, and it was my fault (more about that to follow ...) but we found them waiting patiently in our reserved favorite booth.  So nice!

Trina is even more lovely than in her blog photos. She is as delicate, and her features even prettier and her open smile more welcoming than you can tell from her blog. But, until you meet her in person, you really can't appreciate what seems to me her lovely core of serenity and calm. She has an attentive quiet that is madly attractive. She is interested and interesting, and that always makes for good conversation. And she has the best natural posture of anyone I've ever met. She doesn't show off and go on about the use of chopsticks (like some short persons present at the table) and I don't think she even had seconds (unlike the rest of us. Some had thirds ... "Go, Dan!") Trina is wonderful, and it was my great pleasure to meet her and the equally wonderful Mr. T (he has a name, but I'm not sure they want it public, so I'll just punt.) We hope to see them again soon, as Mr. T is often in the area and Trina joins him. How cool is that?

We were almost the last diners to leave, and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Neither Dan or I could manage our camera ( we've never used it with the flash! Duh ...) so Trina sweetly sent me a couple of photos to plug in here. Thank you, Trina, for keepsakes of a lovely and memorable evening!

... and one with our fellas.

We were only about 10 minutes late, but it was my fault because we squeezed in a quick stop at the big Northwest Arkansas Mall. It took just a tad longer than I planned. I don't get there often, and it was a great treat. I've been pining for a pair of red, ankle strap d'Orsay pumps, but haven't found any yet. I did, however, fall hard for a buttery soft pair in a deep pinky-coral at Aldo. The price was right, and as they didn't have my size but offered free shipping, that took a little extra time to arrange. Late, but for a good reason: great shoes.

Although I don't have them in my possession yet, here's a picture of The Pump That Made Me Late for Dinner with Trina. Not quite, but almost red.

It was too rainy and windy to photograph on Sunday, so here's a re-creation of what I wore to dinner.

This skirt is the second I've made, and I am in love with this Chinese brocade. The swirling dragons and pheasants are rendered in metallic gold, light red and light green embroidery. So pretty. Not a summery fabric, but I'll wear it anyway with lighter weight tops. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Next, a more casual, summery print maybe? I'm currently a one trick pony with this pattern, but it's precisely the shape I want, and that's the best reason to do it myself.

The exposure in the photo below is stranger still, but I wanted you to get a better look at the brocade. You can see the black-on-black blossoms woven into the background more clearly.

I just had the best day!  Thank you, Trina, for all the travel time ... I'm so happy to have met you at last!

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Please pop over to the wonderful blog of one of our favorite fellow-bloggers at Terry's Two Cents .  He was kind enough to feature me among some of his favorite "likes" of the week, and I'm among some stylin' company!  Thank you so much, Terry!