Beautiful Trinkets at H & M

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Well we are back home from my week long work-training trip in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, I only got to see the indicator tree in full bloom. A snow storm hit D.C. on Wednesday that shut down the city and slowed down the process of the cherry blossom trees.

No need to worry, they were not damaged and apparently are on track to bloom the first week of April. My husband and I are seriously considering taking a 3-day weekend trip to seem them. Just me and him no kids. We have NEVER done this before but we are thinking about it.

So this week I will be sharing some beautiful finds, items that I purchased and places that I visited while in D.C. I hope that you enjoy this week’s posts.

Now today I wanted to share some beautiful home trinkets at H & M.

Shopper with Clutch bag
Now I love this tote! I saw it in person in D.C. but I saw it in the beige not pink and the H & M store there was closed because of the snow storm!
The next chic item that I adore is this porcelain cup.
Porcelain cup
Isn’t this a wonderful little cup? I would love to have this for my morning hot water, lemon and honey. 
Glass Soap Dispenser
Now isn’t this a wonderful item? So feminine and elegant. I am torn!!! I want both the pink and turquoise. I would use one for hand lotion on my desk and the other for soap. 

Glass container
Another great little trinket. Can’t you see this on your dresser next to a bouquet of lilies? Oh tres’ chic! I want this one in pink and turquoise also. 
Glass Pineapple Jar
Who doesn’t want a great pineapple? I have a few and this one is really cute. There is also a ceramic one that is only $3.99!
Textured Box
Now doesn’t this look like something you would find on your chic grandmother’s dresser with her vintage pearls and Hermes scarf? I adore it and think it adds great texture to your vignette. 
And finally this glass dome looks like a wonderful item to have for any home. It’s so versatile. You could use it for flowers, small decor items or just have it by itself in a room or on a table. It’s quite lovely. 

It looks so stunning with the orchid in it. All of these gold accessories are available on the website. 
I hope that this post provides you with beautiful inspiration for your home. All of the prices are great too which makes it really hard not to buy everything!!! Enjoy!!
(photos via H & M)

Headed to Washington, D.C. ~ 2018

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Next week I will be in Washington, D.C. for work. My family will be with me. We are so excited to go this time. The cherry blossom season has been predicted and it will be next week! Peak season is suppose to begin.


Aside from the work I will be doing we plan on visiting a few places that we missed last year. We want to visit the National Gallery of Art again (see my post here from last year). The National Museum of African American History and Culture is on our list as well as the National Archives. I absolutely adored the Library of Congress (see my post here if you missed it).  



I also want to see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. We manage to miss this monument last year. So I am hoping that we can get this in this year. 


And of course the cherry blossoms. I have been dreaming of this moment for a very long time. I hope that the Lord can work this out for us. 



I will return to blogging after my trip. Have a good week!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Sage Kitten Heel

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This is just a quick shoe post. I know some women don’t like kitten heels but I am such a fan of them. I found this just walking around Payless.

I love the color. You guys know that pink blush and dusty rose are just my absolute favorite colors. These are called the Sage Kitten Heels by Christian Siriano. They are really comfortable and very chic. There is a cute little black bow on the side of them. 

I hope that you can stop by and take a peek at them. Enjoy!!!!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Rug Runners in the Kitchen

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Adding small details to my home gives me joy. Even if it is something small. A new vase, curtains, pillows and some blue and white ginger jars, whatever I find buying for my home always gives me such great happiness.

I was on Pinterest recently looking at kitchens and saw how some people had put rug runners in their space. I thought that was a great idea. It took me awhile to find one that I liked and one that my family would tolerate but I found this small runner at HomeGoods a few weeks ago.

This is my kitchen. Now this looks like a normal size rug but it isn’t.

It is a blue, white and gray runner that I found at HomeGoods. I paid about $40 for it. 

I do like the way it looks and my husband has not complained about it at all. 
Some inspiration that I found on Pinterest…..
Love the farmers sink and how the island is blue and the kitchen cabinets are white. 
I do like how some homeowners take risks. Sometimes it turns out great!

Now I must admit I do love the color of these cabinets with the gold hardware. It looks so chic to me!
Oh sorry forgot, the runner looks great too!
I do hope that you enjoyed this post and are inspired to take a second look at rug runners. One in your kitchen just might give it that extra pop of color or texture that you are seeking. 
Enjoy!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley & Pinterest)

My Daughter’s Paint Party

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Time sure is flying by. My daughter was 9 when I started this blog and this weekend she turned 13! Incredible right? Well, I no longer have control of the themes of her parties.

Last year we had a party at a trampoline place called Sky Zone and the year before that we had a gymnastics party for her. I did love the flower arranging party that I had for her a few years ago. This year she said that she just wanted a paint party at home with friends.

It sounded good to me! I jumped on my favorite craft website called Oriental Trading. I purchased everything I needed from there and it turned out great!

DIY Canvases

Paint Palettes
Water brush Set


Craft Paint Set


Paint Splattered Backdrop
I used these paint buckets as favors for the guests. They were a big hit!!!
Paint Bucket Favor Container
And these artist lollipops were just to cute to pass up!
I filled the paint buckets with candy and toys. 

These artist party dessert plates were so creative and they looked great with the artist party beverage napkins.
My daughter had a good time with her friends. It turned out to be a great quiet birthday party!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Anniversary Lunch at the CakeBake Shop

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It was our 14 year wedding anniversary last week. We have been together for 15 years total. It has been a long time. This year I wanted to have lunch at the Cake Bake Shop. My husband and I went there in 2016 for lunch (see here) and I have been wanting to go back ever since!

The owner Gwendolyn has redecorated for the spring and there are more flowers and fu-fu than ever before! It was my feminine mother-ship!

Faux flowers cascading down the sign. 
Walking up 
These faux cherry blossom trees were just gorgeous!

This is one of my favorite photos. Doesn’t this look so dreamy?

An up-close look at the counter
Wonderful aren’t they? Does everyone see those huge macaroons?
This is where you would have tea with friends. It is a charming room.

You can also buy some of the china! I seriously would like to buy a cup and saucer. 
The Gift Shop
So my husband and I sat down to order and this was the view from my seat.
So lovely….



The benches
I ordered the chicken salad sandwich on croissant with arugula salad.

My husband had the three cheese cavatappi with breadcrumbs and baguette. 

And for dessert we both ordered the caramel salt cake which is not on the spring menu at this time. 

We got it on the last day. 
We had a lovely lunch and got everything packed up and ready to go. 

I had a separate order for a co-worker also. She wanted to try some of the cake. 

Before leaving I had to visit the ladies room but saw this in there. I think this is brilliant and my have to use this idea in my bathroom. I love the tea cart idea!!!



A chandelier in the bathroom, how fitting. 
Coming back to my seat. I just could not get enough of this faux cherry blossom tree! Isn’t it exquisite?

This was in the window next to the dinning area. It was so sweet!
I had a wonderful time with my husband and cannot wait to visit her new location!!
That’s right she is opening a second location soon and it is suppose to be bigger. 
I am so looking forward to it!



(photos via Mrs. Shockley, all photos are my own)

Dinnerware at Pottery Barn

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Last week I mentioned the new dinnerware collection from Monique Lhullier (see here). On the website it looked absolutely stunning. We only have one Pottery Barn here in my city so before I headed to South Carolina last week I had to get there to take a peek.

Walking into the store and they have all of these faux flowers for sale. Isn’t it picturesque? 


Botanical Shop
Very pretty dinnerware

The salad plate 
Dinnerware collection

I really like these plates!!
But of course I had to walk around. I saw this collection which is called the Chinoiserie Dinnerware Collection.

Another collection that I saw was the Sophia Dinnerware Collection. Beautiful for the blue and white lovers!
Beautiful black and white napkins. I tried finding these online. No luck!
My husband and I looked at a few more things. Like this K. Hall Blossom collection which smells so good! Oh gosh, it is in my shopping cart online now! I wanted to purchase some of the tea towels from the Monique Lhullier collection but they were sold out. So I will order those online as well. After walkin around I decided to stop at Anthropologie.
I normally don’t like the clothes but the home decor and scents are always good. That is where I found this colorful vase. It is called the gardenshire pitcher and it is just lovely in person. Can’t you see this on your dresser with a bouquet of peonies? I know I did as soon as I saw it. 
Well, I hope you enjoyed these finds and check out your local Pottery Barn store. And always live elegant everyday!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)