The Manor on Meridian ~ The Show House 2026

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Good Morning Friends,

I am trying to get back into the swing of things. I just got back from a work trip last Thursday and have my second one coming up really soon. I have ordered some new suitcases and will be discussing what I have learned about traveling that works for me on the blog. Let me know below if you would be interested in that kind of blog post. In the meantime, let me share what else has been keeping me busy and that is the show house!

Now some of you know that I am the social media director for the St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild. I joined in 2022 and love the work that we are doing. The show house is our number one fundraiser of the year. 

This year’s home is called the Manor on Meridian. 

 

 

This year the show house is located at 5141 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. It was built in 1930 and is about 5,700 square feet. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It was an early example of a “spec” home, constructed not for a specific owner, but in anticipation of one. It did not sell initially but once the library was added the home finally secured its first owner. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

I will share the entryway in my part 2 of the show house. I kept trying to get photos, but someone was either there or the lighting was not right. Now this is the dining room. The interior designer for this space was Blake Richardson. Blake is one of my favorites and is a maximalist at heart. He decided to paint the walls the color Amaryllis pink by Sherwin Williams. I loved the silk chinoiserie wallpaper panels, the Asian china cabinet and all of the dreamy antiques in this room. There is Wedgwood china, Wedgwood crystal, and 1950s flatware from Thailand. It is truly elegant! 

 

 

I really want to buy the panels but goodness, I don’t think I could swing the price! So sad! Here is an up-close look at the dining room table setting. 

 

There are so many layers to this room. There is so much to look at and take in. 

 

 

Next up is the Curio Room by the beautiful Sallie Lord from Greyhunt Interiors. This was the library that was added to the home and Sallie decided to turn it into sitting room part gallery. It showcases collected objects that tell a story through design, artifacts, books and heirlooms. I love those leopard stools!

 

 

Now I loved designer Eric Scott. He is so sweet. He had the family room, and I thought he executed it so well. The teal couch was inspired by Sallie Lord’s room, and I loved how the designers were inspired by each other. Eric added a curated selection of furnishings, combined with an electric mix of fabrics and textures. The space had artwork from Anna Afashar and beautiful lighting from Ferguson. 

I hope that you have enjoyed the tour so far. I will be sharing a part 2 next week. I hope to take a few more photos, but we will see. The show house has been quite busy. Have a great weekend!

 

  • This post is not sponsored. Some text is from our program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April Favorites ~ 2026

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Hello Everyone,

I have decided to share my April favorites a week early. I have a lot going on next week and will not be posting to the blog. Of course, I will share any elegant adventures or finds that may occur. My newsletter will arrive the last week of April and I am currently working on a survey. I want to get everyone’s opinion about the future of the boutique and blog. 

Photo via Helena Simon.com 

 

First on my list is this new website discovery. I don’t know how this website ended up in my feed, but I am glad that it did. Helena Simon is a designer who crafts beautiful brooches. This one is a dream! The cherry blossom branch brooch is handmade with silk organza and two 14-carat gold pins. It is on my dream list! 

 

 

Next is this lion tissue box that I purchased for my home office. I love the gold trim and lion head. Then I decided that I needed a little extra protein the mornings before my walk. So, I ordered these small glass bottles to put my favorite protein drink Owyn in. It helps me to not waste my drinks and gives me a little boost before my walk. 

 

 

Oh, this was an interesting purchase from Amazon. I saw another influencer using this and thought I would give it a try. It is a such a treat and helps with puffiness and inflammation. I think it will be my go-to self-care treat this hot summer!

 

 

 

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and I am sharing some gift ideas on my page here. I think this peony candle would be a great gift idea. The scent is light and floral and just look at this adorable, fluted candle holder. During my recent HomeGoods spring shopping visit , I picked up these absolutely stunning faux roses with vines! I mean these are a dream. I am now trying to hunt them down at every HomeGoods in my city. I need more!!! 

 

 

And last is a new YouTube channel discovery. I found Chic Between the Lines earlier this month and have really enjoyed this channel. I hope that they record a second season and I would love to see more vlog style videos as well. I hope you all enjoyed this month’s favorites. I hope you have a great week, and I will see you all in May with blog posts about the show house! 

 

 

  • This post is not sponsored. Affiliate links attached. 

 

 

 

 

Evening with Designers ~ 2026

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Hello Dear Friends,

I am posting this a little late but that is okay. I am trying not to keep myself to such a strict schedule when it comes to posting on the blog when it is a busy week. We had our Influencer/ Press Day at the show house. We had lovely weather and great people. This is always an exciting time!

 

 

This was me on Influencer Day! We had a great turnout and the house looks WONDERFUL! It always surprises me how our designers pull it all together each year. It sort of magical!

 

photos via: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

Here are a few snippets of the from our show house! We have some great new designers, lots of colors, and very supportive sponsors.  This particular home was built in 1930 as one of the first spec homes in Indianapolis. It is 5,700 square feet and has 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. 

 

 

This is the dining room. Just look at the amaryllis paint color! There are lots of layers, Staffordshire Dogs, and Waterford Crystal. I will have more details in the next few weeks.

 

 

The weather turned out so great! It was nice to thank our sponsors and celebrate our designers. It’s a great start to our show house year and to catch up with members as well. 

 

 

Mr. Shockley, always joins in on the festivities. He serves with me as a docent each year and everyone is getting to know him. Oh brother! But it is nice having a very supportive husband and someone willing to serve this wonderful organization! If you are local, please stop by the show house. We have lots of events going on including a Mahjong event! The link is here if you are interested. Have a great week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reflective Post ~ Thoughts on my Youth

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Hello Friends,

I am trying to start my week off in the right direction. I am focusing a lot on planning around my energy and my thoughts. This past Easter weekend was lovely. We had family over and spent time with the new granddaughter.

 

 

I kept the table setting simple this year. Our adult kids wanted baked spaghetti for Easter dinner. It is a family favorite. I also picked up this vanilla cake with whipped icing on the outside and inside. It was so delicious! This cake has been a family favorite for years. 

In today’s post I wanted to revisit a post that I wrote and shared in 2020. I can’t believe it has been six years already, but a lot has changed in me since then. It’s called Thoughts on my Youth, and I wrote it during a time where I was working from home and FINALLY got a chance to breathe and actually sit down and think about what has happened in my life for the last 15 years. 

I went back recently and re-read that post and watched the video of Beyonce making her comment. I sat with it for a moment and what makes me happy is that I wrote that post six years ago and it documented where I was. It also helps me to understand why I made some decisions in the years after. 

 

 

Photo via: Aerin Lauder

 

 

Now I still wish I had studied abroad and visited a few countries, but who is to say that I can’t do it now? There is a comment in that post from a reader named Arabella and she mentioned that maybe this is the time, when I am older, that I am suppose to have my adventure. Perhaps I will appreciate it more now than I would have in my 20s. And you know what, she is absolutely right! Now since I am working on my health and building my life team a lot has changed in the last 6 years. The Lord has given me adventures. They are small, but I think he is building my confidence to have bigger adventures in the future. 

I think at that moment I needed time to sit and rebuild. As most of you know I started therapy two years ago and have started my hormone journey.  I honestly think that time is working out as it should. That post that I wrote was the beginning of me entering my “seeking season”. I shared what I learned about those seasons in this blog post. 

So, with all of this being said I am saying, my time is working out the way it should. I am learning to trust HIS process. It will still be a journey. I am still learning but I want to have my journey with God when I should. 

Have a great week! 

 

March Favorites ~ 2026

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Hello Friends,

I had a wonderful quiet weekend. I spent most of it at home. I needed a weekend to get chores done. I clean up my flower beds, swept out the greenhouse, and reorganize it. I cleaned my bathrooms, washed some clothes, and even gave myself a pedicure! The weather was wonderful! I even enjoyed some ice cream and watched a few movies. It’s been a while that I have had a weekend that I felt productive. 

I am still learning to “plan around my energy” and I am trying to pay attention to if I am living well. Let me know in the comments below how your spring cleaning is going. 

 

photos: via Mrs. Shockley 

 

First on my list of favorites is a floral bouquet that I purchased for myself. I normally purchase flowers from my grocery store. They have not been great but this month I actually found some wonderful blooms. It was nice and speaking of blooms my tulips are coming up in my raised beds! It has been such a nice surprise.

 

 

Next up are handbags! I got a call in early March from my SA at Coach. She told me that Coach was requesting that all of the green Coach Empire 48 bags be returned to the warehouse! I have no idea why, but when you try to search for them now you cannot find them. I was glad that I grabbed one before they were sent back! My second tote purchase was the Knightsbridge Travel Bag from Holland Cooper. Jade the founder of Holland Cooper posted a video about it in October of last year and I was finally able to purchase it this month! It is sold out already but get on the list to be emailed about it being restocked if you are interested. 

 

 

Next is another FBMP purchase! If you watched my recent video you will know that I am working on my guest bedroom. I share more details in my video, but I found this beautiful vintage queen size headboard and footboard on FBMP. I am now on the hunt for a mattress and then let the fun begin! I can finally put the room together.

Now that spring is here, I can finally open the windows. I ordered these curtain tiebacks after another influencer shared them on her page. They are what I call Amazon chic!

 

 

 

 

This was such a beautiful moment at home. At this moment I was planning my week for beauty and wanted to capture it. I shared a small reel on Instagram. I had a candle burning, it was quiet, and very enjoyable. I am trying to take moments like this once a week to work at my desk and embrace the beauty that I live in. 

 

 

 

Here are some of my pockets of peace! I went antiquing last week and drove to Thistle and Thyme. It is an amazing antique store in my city. The owner does such a beautiful curating her store. I just love how everything is decorated and placed in the store. You can tell it is with purpose. While I was there, I spotted this red and white faux floral arrangement. Now I don’t have any red in my home, but I could not stop looking at these. They have been there for a while because I remember seeing this arrangement months ago. I decided to buy it. It has landed on my desk for now. I actually don’t mind it being there.

And last is my home office. I was sitting at my Mahjong practice table one morning, I was there practicing, and I saw this area in my office. I loved my settee with the faux fur throw, my pillows, chinoiserie stool, and Mrs. Alice urn. It just made me smile.

My newsletter will be hitting your inboxes soon. Have a great week and Happy Easter!

 

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Laundry Room Update ~ Part 2

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Hello Friends,

It is finally spring and I am hoping that I can get rid of my coat soon. I have been wearing a coat most of this month and it has not been fun. My tulips are starting to peek out of my flower bed, and I am headed out to my greenhouse soon to do a clean out. We really need to get in the yard and do some cleaning up. I hope to get that done in the next few weeks. There is always something when it comes to home life. 

The latest project has been the laundry room. The last time I reorganized this room was in 2020. I loved what I did then but lately it has gotten worse to me, and I wanted to install some cabinets, so we did. Finally! 

 

 

This is what the room looked like before. I really needed to go through all of my linens and blankets. I needed to look at all of the products that I had. I needed to get rid of extra hangers. There was so much decluttering that needed to happen. 

Once we got everything out of the room, I was able to see the space and figure out how I wanted it to look. I donated bags and bags of old sheets, blankets, and other linens. I threw out old products, swept, and moped the floor. It felt so good getting rid of everything. 

 

Cabinets installed by Mr. Shockley

 

Ahhhh! It felt so good getting these installed! I smiled like a kid! We went to HomeDepot and purchased these beautiful Hampton Bay shaker wall cabinets in the gorgeous dove gray color. I also picked out these handles as well. Everything looks so good! All of our products and cleaning supplies are stored away. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Now does this look familiar? This is my old closet organizer from my 2018 update! I did not want to get rid of these. I knew they would be a perfect fit in the laundry room. It looks so wonderful and provides more storage. I ordered some valet rods to install on the cabinets to use to hang my clothes from. 

I also could not resist adding some blue and white ginger jars. What inspired this was Randi Garrett’s laundry room. Oh my goodness do I LOVE this room! I would also love a dog bath and a separate linen closet. I mean a whole room! I am so happy with the changes and have already loved the difference that this has made. 

Don’t you just love decluttering? Have a great week and be elegant! 

 

 

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Antiques & Brie

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Well, it’s a snowy cold week here! Yeah you read that right, we have snow in March!!! Now the good thing is it will not stick but good grief! I am so worried about my tulips. I hope they will be okay. 

I am still trying to “plan around my energy”. If you watched my latest video, then you will know what I am talking about. I have a very low stress weekend planned. I really want to head to an antique store, but we will see how things go. 

We (the Guild) had an event a few weeks ago and it was marvelous! I have been wanting to share it. It was an antiquing event at Midlands. Now I have shared this place before numerous times, and it is still a feast for the eyes! 

 

photos via: Mrs. Shockley 

 

We walked in a saw a vintage table laid out with wine, tea candles in wine glasses (I will be stealing this idea), cheeses, nuts, crackers, pita bread, chocolate, and this amazing brie! I love that the antique store used crystal and silver in the table settings.

 

 

This was the amazing brie. One of the hostesses told me how to make it but I seriously needed it written down. I know it had brown sugar in it, almonds, and layers of gooey brie cheese. It was truly magnificent!

 

 

 

Look at this fantastic table setting! Now this is how you greet your guests. I loved the many layers that it had and all of the antiques surrounding it. We had vintage chairs, and beautiful Asian screens. 

 

 

The store is huge. It’s an old warehouse with probably hundreds of vendors. Everyone carefully curates their spaces and makes it look like a store. 

 

 

 

I love it when a vendor styles their space in a way where you can visualize the items in your space. I think it provides or assists in giving you ideas and inspiration. Now here is one of my favorite rooms in the building. I call it the chandelier room! It’s a dream when you walk in and has so many layers. There are linens, and vintage pieces, pillows, curtains, lamps, and on and on! 

 

 

I found this charming vintage inspired vanity. The fabric is a showstopper! I had to grab it. I have nowhere to put it, but I will figure it out later. I could not leave it there. The price was only $50 so I thought it was a steal. 

 

 

 

It also has a lot of storage in addition to its beauty. Who knows, it may end up in my closet or dressing room. That’s what I want to call it. 🙂 I really hope that we can do this event again. I loved it and thought it incorporated so many things. It involved supporting a small business, friendship, connecting, and food.

 

Have a great weekend everyone!