Vanity Porcelain Roses

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Good Morning!

We finally got some snow here in Indy. It’s not much but I am so glad to see it! This weekend was nice and quiet. On Saturday I just puttered around the home (I love doing that), went to the grocery store, soaked my nails, and went and had a wonderful dinner at Longhorn. I got the grilled chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, green salad, and a glass of wine. It hit the spot!

On Sunday, I worked on the blog, did some boutique inventory, and went to Von Maur. I wanted to look at some Estee Lauder products in person. I am really curious about a new scent that I just found called Dream Dusk, a lipstick called illuminating shine and the intense brightening cream. The cream is suppose to help reduce your scaring. I already use the Perfectionist Pro and it has been working beautifully! 

Speaking of Estee Lauder products I saw on Saks Aerin Lauder’s home decor items. I immediately fell in love with her Introduction Bloom Porcelain Flower. 

 

photo credit: Aerin.com 

 

Isn’t it gorgeous! Aerin and Estee are notorious for creating beautiful vanity items. 

 

 

Now they do come in two different colors. The darker color is called berry. 

 

photo credit: Aerin.com

 

They are made of ceramic and measure about 5.7″ in diameter and 2.1″ in height. They are just lovely pieces!

So lovely that I had to order my own!

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

I have no regrets! Most of you have already seen my dresser/vanity and know that I love beautiful vintage items and this rose is a wonderful addition. It’s classic, beautiful, and will be timeless. 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this photo so that you can see the size of it. It fits right into the middle of my hand. It’s not too big or too small. Honestly, I ordered two! I wanted a second one for my office at work. I seriously have no regrets ordering these. Now I know that they are a bit expensive so I searched online to find something similar and a bit less expensive and I found this one and this one on Amazon. 

Beautiful things are so hard for me to pass up. Especially something that has the potential to be a family heirloom. I love heirlooms. I have no heirlooms from my family but have a few from my husband’s family and I think that they are the best things to have. It shows your family’s taste, their minds, and their heritage. Lauren, our daughter, is going to have a LOT of heirlooms from me. I just hope that she cherishes them. 

Have a great Wednesday!

 

Boutique news: With Valentine’s Day fast approaching I wanted to put some of my dresses on sale. The Lillian Vine dress is still on sale and now the Frances dress is on sale as well as the Charlotte Velvet dress! I think all of those would be a great dress to wear on a date night! And if you purchase one of those dresses you get a free pair of earrings your choice! Just put a note in the note section when you are finishing your purchase! 

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

 

Macaroni Soup- A Comfort Food Recipe

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Good Morning Everyone,

Goodness, these Fridays sure do come pretty fast. January is almost over and I keep looking at my closet thinking, “okay I have to do a cleanout soon”. There are a few items that I need to put on my Poshmark closet account and I few items that I need to donate to the women’s shelter. Speaking of women’s shelters I have not been able to volunteer at Dress for Success for almost two years now and it has made me so sad. The pandemic has really ruined a lot of things but we will continue to pray and move forward. 

I did want to share that my macaroni soup came out so good! I was so happy with the results and had to share it will you guys!

 

 

It was so simple to make. I followed the instructions. I browned the meat with olive oil and chopped up my veggies. 

 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

One thing that I did differently and that was cook my pasta separately. The instructions do call for you to cook your pasta with the meat and veggies but I didn’t want that. I cooked it separately and then added all of the veggies, seasonings, and broth together. 

 

 

I love seeing all of the colors and textures. It was so good! I did add some beef bouillon and they gave it a little more flavor. It was so warm and tasty. 

 

 

I did bake some french bread and we had this with it as well. It was so good. I had it for lunch twice this week. The recipe was so simple, the ingredients so affordable and the soup was so filling. The link to the recipe is here if you wish to try it and I hope you do. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for reading!

 

Just a reminder the Lillian Vine Dress is only $20 this weekend. It’s a great transitional dress! 

 

 

 

 

 

A Checklist for Cozy

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Good Morning,

Our temperatures here are beginning to drop. I still can’t believe the weather that some states are getting. So far here in Indy, we have been able to dodge the snowstorms. I can’t believe it! We are suppose to drop tomorrow down to the single digits and everyone is complaining. I keep telling people, “we are due”! With cold temperatures in mind that had me thinking about Paula Sutton’s “Checklist for Your Cozy Nesting Space”. 

I read this in her book a few weeks ago and wanted to share her tips.

 

My cozy blanket

 

  • Her first tip is: A favorite warm blanket. Getting cozy is all about staying toasty and warm. You may not have an open fire, but a good-quality blanket reserved for this exact moment of the year will make it feel extra special.  (I purchased this cozy blanket from Amazon. The link is here. ) 

 

My candles 

 

Her second tip is:

  • A scented candle. Never underestimate the benefits of smell and calm-inducing aromas. Lavender reduces stress levels and helps you to sleep, ylang ylang is known for its relaxing properties and has been found to aid issues of anxiety, depression, and even high blood pressure (although always check with your doctor to treat serious medical issues); lemon and other citrus scents are good for calming stress- they are also said to improve memory!  (I am loving these Tory Burch candles another favorite candle is fresh cut lilacs from Bath and Body Works.)

 

The third tip is:

 

 

And her last tip is:

  • Your favorite hot drink. Warm milk is a great addition to your calming routine. Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can make you feel calm, and hot drinks naturally provide comforting feelings. Chamomile and lemon balm are also known for their calming properties if you’d rather not drink milk. ( I drink chamomile tea every day. It’s my favorite! ) 

 

Just reading this list makes me want to stay home and “cozy up” in my bed with my blanket, soft socks, scented jasmine candle, and a cup of hot tea! Have a great Wednesday!

 

 

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

Breakfast with the Madame…

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Good Morning Everyone!

Happy MLK Day! Dr. Martin Luther King was always a wonderful leader that I enjoyed studying in school. I hope that we continue to have wonderful leaders like him. Today I plan on taking a 2-mile walk around my neighborhood and finishing up some house chores. I also plan on vising my local Homegoods store to see what goodies they may have. It is always a hit or miss with that store.

This weekend I did some house cleaning, scheduled some more house chores that I need to get to. Like I really need to clean my chandeliers and wash my blue and white gingers jars that are in my kitchen on top of the cabinets. I am still in tax mode and hoping to get that finished in the next few weeks. Also, I don’t know if I mentioned this but this was going to be the month where I was going to go to my first concert! BUT… Diana Krall has postponed her tour for now and I am so devastated. I was so looking forward to it but we will wait and be hopeful that we will get some new dates here soon. 

I did get a wonderful package this weekend…. 

 

 

I started following this company called MME.Mink on Instagram. And it’s pronounced, Madame Mink. I had to search some videos to figure out how you say it. I watched this interview on Instagram to get an understanding of what Jane the owner was like. 

 

 

It was a wonderful interview and I knew that I was going to love her products. I originally wanted this tote here but I decided to go smaller. That tote is super large but I do still love it. I don’t know you guys I may order it later. 

I ended up ordering the LadyJane in Moss and I could not love it more!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

I love the fox and the gold details. The tag does have “Mrs. Shockley” on it! I grin every time I look at it. 

 

“Having tea with the Madame”!

 

This is a super high-quality basket bag. I mean you can tell when you hold it. It is not some flimsy wicker bag. It is structurally sound and has weight to it. On the inside, there are two pockets for your cell, a side zipper pocket, and tons of space. 

 

photo credit: L. Shockley 

 

This bag is definitely going to be a classic for me and I am hoping to pass it down. Maybe a granddaughter will want it! 

 

I did share this on my Youtube channel. You may watch it below.

 

 

 

This post is not sponsored. 

 

Planning a Tea Party

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Good Friday Morning,

I am ready for the three-day weekend! I plan on getting a few house chores done, work on my taxes, and maybe go antiquing. I will try to record a video for my channel but we will see. I do plan on trying a new recipe this week.  It’s called macaroni soup and I will share it if it is a success! 

I have been getting back into reading The Art of Tea by Victoria Magazine during my lunch breaks. I haven’t gotten too far in the book. I have a tendency to try to rush through a book because I feel like I am on a timeframe to read it but I am trying to break myself of that. Do any of you do that?

 

photo credit: Tallwood Country House.com

 

I am still in the first part of the book and in this section, they are discussing the planning part of a tea party. I honestly love this part just as much as enjoying a cup of tea. One of the best tips is planning ahead. Some of the questions that the book mentions that you should ask yourself is:

  • How many guests are anticipated?
  • Will the party be casual or formal?
  • Will the tea but themed, or is it an occasional function?

 

Photo credit: Pinterest

 

The book also suggests looking for recipes from your favorite books. I know making these has been on my radar for a while now. Also having personal touches for each guest. I like the idea of having a tea basket for each guest. A tea basket would make a wonderful gift. You could include tea, of course, a vintage teacup and saucer, wrapped pastries, and other items. 

I have been wanting to have a tea and lunch at The Tea Room of Rustic Root. It’s a new tea room that is near me! I can’t find anyone to go with me so I may have to just go alone. That is something that I do often. I will probably grab a small table in the Lilac room. That room is my favorite so far. 

I hope you all enjoyed these tips and pick up your copy soon! It’s a wonderful read and is full of recipes as well. Have a wonderful weekend! 

 

 

This post is not sponsored. 

 

 

Jewelry from the White House

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Good Morning,

I got a few new shipments arriving soon (not for the boutique). I am a little nervous about one of the decor items. I will share it once it arrives. In today’s post, I quickly wanted to share some jewelry that I recently found on the White House’s website!

 

The first pair are these gorgeous starburst earrings inspired by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy!

 

photo via Pinterest

 

This starburst collection was inspired by one of Jackie O’s brooches. She purchased a 19th-century brooch while she was in London and it was during her first few months as First Lady. Her three-stranded pearl necklace has always been an inspiring piece as well. 

The website has lots of beautiful jewelry. You should definitely scroll through the website and look at all of the treasures that they have. Another blogger who shared the jewelry and home accessories from the White House was Jenny from Tallwood Country House. You should read her blog post as well. I would love to visit the White House someday or maybe work there! Who knows.

Have a great Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Style of Jessica Fletcher

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Good Morning Everyone,

I had a pretty good weekend. I watched a new action film called Infinite with Mark Wahlberg and it was not bad. We went and had dinner at Chic fil A on Friday and someone dumped a cup of ice in the parking lot near our car and I slipped and fell on it! I just laughed when I hit the ground. My purse somehow shifted behind me and I landed on it! It was perfect! I could not have planned it better myself. Once I recovered my family and I just laughed all the way home. I told Lauren, “well I guess I was due”. I had not slipped and fallen on ice in about 3 years. I was due”. 

I am planning my year. I’ve got to get doctor’s appointments scheduled and I am trying to meet with a dietitian this year! That is one of my goals for 2022. I am also gearing up for my first tax year for A Home for Elegance. I can’t believe it! I am going to be a nervous wreck until this is done. Goodness… 

I am also teleworking today, yay! I have not teleworked in months and I am so happy to be able to do this today. I know the rest of the week will be busy but I am going to enjoy this today. Alright now on to today’s post. 

Have any of you ever watched Murder She Wrote? I started watching it a few years ago. It was on one of those nights that I could not sleep and needed something good to watch. One thing I noticed was her clothes. Did any of you ever pay attention to the outfits she wore during those episodes?  Here are a few to jog your memory…

 

 

 

 

photos via Pinterest

 

She looks sensational right? I wish celebrities and T.V. stars still dressed this way but unfortunately being nude has become more popular. 

 

 

I have to say I am a big fan of how she wears her scarves. I mean how chic is that? I read online that in a 1992 interview a costume designer by the name of Eilish Zebrasky was “careful” to fit Angela Lansbury in fashions that reflective her age. I would have to say that she did a wonderful job!

 

I spy a blue and white lamp…

 

 

 

I will surely be taking some tips from her fashion. In most of these photos, I would say that you can still wear these outfits today. I also love the mysteries. Murder She Wrote is just a classic television series that I am so glad to be able to still watch. It could be that I am getting older but I crave more shows like this. I always pray that the Lord can help me to find beautiful things to watch. Let me know what your favorite classic shows are. 

Have a great Monday!