A Cluster Earring

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I just wanted to share this great cluster earring that I found at Aldo. It is very affordable and very chic.

Malamocco Pink Earring

As my daughter would say, they are very snazzy. Great for the upcoming holiday parties!
Enjoy!!!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Sweater & Tote Shopping at H & M

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Just a quick little post. I decided to take some of my lunch break time and get away from the office for a bit. I always like taking a little walk. It helps me clear my head and sometimes it is very inspiring. I get info for the blog or it gives me ideas for home.

So last week it was H & M. I saw a few things that I liked and just wanted to share them….

Love this coat!
Wool-blend Coat

Great blouse, I may need to go back and get it!
Satin Blouse

Great colors!
Beaded Appliques
This is great!

Love the bug details!
Sweater




This is a giant infinity scarf! I couldn’t find it online but it is quite lovely

They have the best totes! I do wish some were a little bit bigger!
Black tote


Handbag

Great skirt, it has little sparkles. 
It’s always fun shopping in H & M. They always have great fashion pieces at great prices. Enjoy the finds!!!!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Putting Beautiful Things on Display

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If you have been reading the blog long then you understand my need or desire for beautiful things. I share that necessity constantly on the blog. I also feel like having beautiful things on display to look at or to enjoy can bring about great pleasure in life. I always have something beautiful on display. Whether I am in the car, home or work I always have some thing beautiful to gaze at…..

In my home office, a soft throw on my piano seat….
In my work office, my coat and scarf hanging with the brooch facing me so that I can see it sparkle….
Blue and white hanging in my office….
Faux flowers in my home office above my computer….
A vignette in the bedroom….
The dresser in our bedroom….
Flowers in the kitchen….
Flowers in the kitchen again…. this is a weekly occurrence. 
Weekly flower shopping. That should look beautiful in your car. 
And last but certainly not least my car freshener. Even that should be lovely….
I am not saying that you should do these things but live your life according to whatever beauty is for you. People get these weird ideas that they have to mimic someone else’s life. That is not true and if you are doing that you won’t be happy. You won’t be at all. I had someone recently ask me if I do all this to impress people. I said, “Certainly not!” I could care less what people think because they reality is you are going to talk about me anyway I mind as well live my life beautifully. 
And so I do and sometimes that just bugs them more. Ahh, oh well. It’s funny sometimes. It funny how people want you to stop. But I realize it is because the light is just too bright for them. So they want to dim it. Well, I won’t. I will continue. I must…..
Display beauty…… whatever you are.

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)


To read some of my post on living beautifully see, here, here, here, and here. Oh gosh why not one more here.

My First Trip to Ikea

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Okay, alright…… I have never been to Ikea before now. I have seen the catalogs and have took a peek on the website and I must admit that I am NOT an Ikea fan. Some people do love it and unfortunately I am not one of those people.

But my co-workers and friends just kept saying, “Well since you have never been to the store you can’t say that you don’t like it.” Our first Ikea store just opened in Fishers, Indiana. So I decided to go and see what all the fuss is about. I went and sorry I still don’t like it but I did see a few things that caught my eye but I am really a traditional, antique furniture kinda of gal.

First walking in….

Not my kind of light fixture but neat to look at….

I didn’t like any of the couches.

Peonies

Great kitchen! Love the back-splash!

Black farmhouse sink…. very chic!
Sink

Faucet

Love the dishes hanging on the shelf.
Picture Ledge

Plate~ off white

Clear plate

Love the color!
Kitchen, gray

This is a dream island!
White farmhouse sink

Beautiful bedding

Great affordable china!
Teapot

Love this screen, so elegant!
Room divider

They did have great looking clothes on display.

Affordable kitchen essentials

Great affordable china and stainless steel cutlery sets for $20!
Great Christmas gift ideas!

Pink dishes!
Dinera

Faux flowers, very pretty

Like I said, great accessories on display. Great Mossimo tote from Target!
Quilted Tote
Here it is in gray.

Love the gray plates!

I did pick up a few things. 
I didn’t know that there was a restaurant in the middle of the store and bakery! It was okay maybe it was because I went during the first two weeks of the grand opening. Maybe it will be better to visit in a year. I am willing to go and look a second time but not for awhile. I am sorry but I would rather go to an antique store or an auction and find good quality furniture that will last me for decades. I hope that you enjoyed this post and maybe you have found something in Ikea to go and take a peek at. 
Enjoy!!!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Autumn Candles ~ 2017

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Okay, I recently posted about Bath and Body Works Essential Oil Candle collection (see here if you missed it) but now their autumn collection has just debuted and I have some favorites that I picked up already.

Black Cherry Merlot
This is great. I have it in my car and a room spray. The dark cherry is so scrumptious and woody. 
Peppermint
I love peppermint scents. They put me in such a Christmas mood. 
Tokyo Petals
Cherry Blossoms and Strawberries
Autumn Apricot
This has been my absolute favorite! It has been so hard finding it in stores! I found one in one location and the other all the way across town! I don’t know why but they are so elusive. 
Rose Water & Ivy
Very nice and subtle. 
Well, I hope you enjoyed my autumn candle suggestions. They are lots more on the website for you to review and ponder. Enjoy!!!!

(photos via BathandBodyworks.com)

Home Memories

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This is just a small post about life memories. I love keeping memories and my daughter loves going through the boxes that I have of all her photos, artwork, graded papers, birthday party mementos, and clothes.

I don’t have much from my childhood so I wanted to make sure that I captured my daughter’s life as much as I could. I also have kept all of my cards from her and ornaments. Keeping memories, I believe is another way of having a beautiful life. It shows your children and family that you care enough to document your life with them. If you keep things continue to collect.

I can’t wait until I have some grandchildren to share all of the memories that I have. Enjoy!!!

I keep most of our memories in boxes like this.

In here I have all of my cards and I write the year on the back of each one. Something I learned from my mother in law. 
In this box I kept some of Lauren’s baby clothes and her first costume! I love looking at these and seeing how small she was. Boy, does the time really fly!
I have kept all of Lauren’s birthday cards and artwork. She will love this when she gets older. 
For each school year I take a photo and make her write down a few things. I also keep some of her work, report cards, drawings, and photos with friends from each year. She will enjoy looking at these with her kids and talk about her school years in the future. 
Well I hope that you have enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to continue to document your life as well. 

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

The Enchanted Home~ Christmas Ornaments

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I have been a fan of Tina’s The Enchanted Home since 2014. She has a beautiful blog and wonderful shopping website for those of us who are fans of blue and white. My friend recently shared with me her purchase from Tina. She bought some blue and white ginger jar ornaments.

They are so lovely. I just had to buy some.


I was able to purchase 2 of these. They are mini ginger jars. They are quite large and fantastic!



Blue and White Ornaments


I wanted these too but I believe they sold out quickly!

(UPDATE ~ they have been restocked, hurry!)






If you have a chance go and check out her website and blog. You will truly be inspired. 

(photos via Mrs. Shery)