Ann Taylor Silk Scarf Giveaway!!!

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Good Morning Everyone!!! Well it’s time to start my second giveaway. It’s been awhile since I have done one of these (see here if you missed it). So I figured why not start off the year with a wonderful giveaway.

It is quite beautiful. I purchased one for myself also. I could not pass it up!

Opulent Floral Silk Scarf
Here is an up-close photo. It is a wonderful blue and I love the pink in it. 
It is 100% silk! and is very elegant. 
If you are interested in entering, please comment below as to how you found the blog. I am so curious as to how people find me. It would be wonderful to know how. I would love to open this giveaway to everyone but I am not sure how to ship items overseas. I will announce the winner next week! 
Good luck and thank you!


(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

UPDATE: I have opened this up to international readers! If you would like to enter please comment below. 

A Friend’s Home Tour

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A lot of my friends know that I enjoy beautiful things and spaces. My friend Lindsay lives on the east coast either New York or D.C. (I can’t remember) but she is always on the move. She came home for the holidays to spend time with family. She inboxed me once she went home because some of the rooms in her mother’s home reminded her of me and I was so glad that she did! I loved all the rooms and just love her mother’s decor! I was so happy when Lindsay said that it was okay for me to share some of the photos on the blog.

Isn’t this buffet table gorgeous? And I spy blue and white underneath!

Love the blue and white on the tree!
Aren’t the wing-back chairs great?
Love the table and chairs along with the blue and white rug! I must find this!
Aren’t the chair slip covers so charming? I love the lace table cover.
Love the blue and white in the kitchen!
The prints and knick-knacks are so chic!
I even love this vintage bench sitting in front of the stair case. I love receiving these photos from my friend and found some items that I am inspired to look for. 
Thanks Lindsay for the photos! 
They are truly living elegant everyday!

(photos via Lindsay D.)

Converting my Earrings

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I love shopping for earrings but there is one thing about earrings that drives me crazy and it is where the post is positioned. I like to have my earring post in the center of the earring. It balances well on my ear when they are made that way. But I have been seeing a lot of earrings where the post is at the top of the earring. Oh, that drives me nuts because then I know that when I wear it; it will pull on my earring hole more. So now when I find an earring that is made that way I convert it.

I purchased these recently. They are fine but I hate where the post is. 

Do you see? It is at the top of the earring which would mean pain for me. 
So I purchased a bag of these from Hobby Lobby. 

I break off the one that is on the earring and superglue the new one to the center. It is so much more comfortable for me and the earring is hanging from the center of my earring instead of dangling. 
I have been doing this for years. Here is another pair of earrings and brooch that I had to fix. I glued new backs to the earrings and a new fastener to my brooch. 

I let everything sit for 24 hours before I wear it. It’s a fun little craft and it helps me continue to wear my jewelry. I do hope that you enjoyed this post and that it inspires you to come up with some ways to repair your jewelry. Especially, if it is jewelry that you adore. 
Enjoy!!!!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Top Posts of 2017

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Goodness, another year of blogging has flown by. I can’t believe it! Well time to share what blog posts were popular this year. I had quite a few and then I had my favorites. I want to thank all my readers for coming by and reading. It is always fun chatting with everyone.

Weekend Flats
Although this shoe is no longer available, it was quite popular on the blog this time last year.

Champagne Truffles
These were so delicious! I hope that I can get another box this year!
February Finds
Gracious Recoveries
This was a huge hit on the blog!
Social Graces
Another huge hit on the blog!!!
Inspiring Calendars

Picnic Ideas
I need to do this soon!

Beauty Everyday
One of my favorite blog posts of 2017!
My favorite blog posts from 2017 are: Inspiration for a Dining Room Table, the Beauty of Accessorizing, My Cupboard Update, Beauty in Waiting, The Library of Congress, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, of course my Lunch at Laudree in NYC, my Lunch at the Symphony with my friend, my Berry Tart that I finally got right this past year, and my Blue and White Collection. I am very grateful to the Lord for allowing me to do so many wonderful things in 2017. I am hoping that 2018 will be a wonderful year for my family and for my relationship with God. Thank you for joining me on this journey. 
If you would like to see past top blog posts you may view them here. Enjoy!!!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

The Nutcracker ~ 2017

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This is our third year seeing the Nutcracker and it was just as wonderful as the first year. My mother-in-law joined my daughter and I this year. I believe my mother may join us next year. We will see.

This year I let my daughter talk me into getting balcony seats. I don’t think that I will be doing that next year but I did enjoy the view of the ceiling. 

This year we have a different Sugar Plum Fairy but she did a wonderful job!

They all did a magnificent job and I hope that we will continue to go each year!
I hope that you attend the ballet whenever you get a chance. To see my previous posts about the our Nutcracker visits see here and here.
Seek the arts!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley and IB.com)

Lunch at the Ayres Tea Room ~ 2017

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Time for my Ayres Tea Room post! Yes, we went again for lunch and it is such a joy to go to! I love it but my family…. not so much. But they are good sports and go for me. I remind them that I only get to go once a year. If you missed my post from last year about it you may see it here.

Still love the wallpaper and the vintage photos.

My favorite hot tea to get while I am here. 
Vintage silver for your hot tea. 
Chicken velvet soup, always delicious! If you want to see the recipe you may view it here.

The Classic Tea Experience is what I always order. 
This year was the first year we ordered dessert. This is the lemon berry marscarpone cake. It is a lemon sponge cake layered with mascarpone and mixed berries!
We had a lovely lunch as always and will be visiting again next Christmas!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Kitchen of the Month ~ December 2017

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Happy New Year Everyone! I wanted to start the year with this beautiful kitchen tour. These kitchens of the month in House Beautiful sure have been marvelous to see. This month it is a kitchen by designer Alison Pickart. It is absolutely stunning as all the kitchens of the months in House Beautiful have been.

photo credit Erin Kunkel 

Love the table in the center by Restoration Hardware. The greenery flowing around the window is captivating also. Just simple and beautiful. 

photo credit Travis J. Photography

Love the cabinets and wreaths.

photo credit Travis J. Photography

A holiday dessert station for guests. A wonderful idea…..






To see the rest of the kitchen and read more about it click here. Enjoy!!!!!

(photos via House Beautiful.com)