A Whimsical Garden

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While I was scanning through the pages of Traditional Home, something captured me. This beautiful, whimsical garden. I was just telling my husband how I wanted the front of my house to have a whimsical elegance to it.

So when I saw this garden I thought, “Wow, there it is, my dream garden.” This was in the October 2009 issue of Traditional Home magazine. I have just been studying it and staring at it for weeks! The garden was created by a man named Stan Fry and apparently it’s a series of gardens unified together. See the photos below and click on this link here to see the original article.  I hope you love it just as much as I do.

The photo that started it. 

Just spectacular!!!

The front of the home, need I say more. 





(all photos Traditional Home.com)

Anthropologie Tea for Me

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I took another visit to Anthropologie and what did I spy with my little eye? Another great tea cup! I just had to have this! It is really big and looks wonderful on my desk at work. I have used it multiple times already. If you missed my Anthropologie store tour see it here.

This cup was in the clearance section of the store.




(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

My Floral Sandals

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Looking for floral sandals this season has been hard! I love floral prints, especially sandals!! My ideal summer wardrobe is a white lace shirt, black skirt and floral sandals. I just think that look is so fresh and chic.

I did a long and hard search on Amazon and stumbled across these beauties. I was a bit apprehensive about ordering them but I have been so please with the way they fit and how they look that I am considering ordering a second pair! They are just lovely.

They are called the Brieten Rhinestone Sandal. 
They come in 4 different colors.







(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

The Best Way to Make a Hamburger

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I love hamburgers!! But then again who doesn’t… check out this wonderful video from Southern Living.

My hamburger at home




(video via Youtube)

Perfume Dos & Don’ts

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We all love perfume and have our favorites but there are some dos and don’ts that you should know. I came across an article in the December 2008 Better Home and Gardens magazine that gave 5 reasons for how to wear perfume.

* Don’t
Over-douse yourself. Spritzing yourself over and over in the morning doesn’t make a fragrance last all day. Instead, reapply sparingly at 6-hour intervals. And as a rule, perfume should never be noticeable beyond an arm’s length.

* Do
Combine your scents. Mix up your fragrance wardrobe by layering different aromas-a lovely, the original scent may emerge.

* Do
Store perfume with care. Most fragrances will last for years, provided you keep them away from extreme temperatures and heat, which can alter and “turn” the scent.

* Don’t
Buy a fragrance because you liked it on someone else, Scents smell different on each person, depending on her body chemistry, how dry or oily her skin is, and even what she ate for dinner the night before. Try it on your own skin if possible.

* Don’t
Buy perfume on the street. You can’t be sure of the source or even if it’s the real thing, turning a bargain into a blunder quickly.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Dipping Oil from Williams~Sonoma

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Williams~Sonoma is a place I just love to visit! My husband and I always stop in to smell whatever they are cooking in the test kitchen and to see what new items they have. I love looking at all the dishes. My husband enjoys looking at the different types of seasonings they may have.

He stumbled on to the dipping oils. We purchased two and love them both!! You have to try them. They are absolutely wonderful with warm french bread and if you don’t know what french bread to try see my blog entry here about that. Enjoy!!!
We purchased the rosemary garlic and sun-dried tomato.




(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

Pier One Starburst Mirror

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Okay, these mirrors have been the rave for awhile now. I must admit I have been wanting one for sometime now but I have had the hardest time find one. When I would find one it wouldn’t be the right shape or the price would be astronomical!

I try to visit Pier One once a few months just to see what new items they have. So, when I walked in and found this I almost passed out!! The perfect starburst mirror. I absolutely love it! It is the size of a 9 inch dinner plate but it is perfect.

Pier One calls it the Gold Burst Wall Decor





I love the way it looks in our family room. 





(photos via Mrs. Shockley)