Mother’s Day Gift Ideas ~ Small & Elegant

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Good Morning,

My busy month of May is about to begin. I am serious. I barely have any free time in the month of May. I will be sure to share what is going on but let’s get into some gift ideas for Mother’s Day which is May 14th!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

First on my list is this beautiful lettuce ware candle from Tory Burch. I purchased mine last year and have been slowing using it. I don’t want the scent to go away! I love it so much. The scent notes are jasmine, gardenia, and pink pepper. It is such a lovely gift for the floral lover and grandmillennial at heart. The Oiseau candle would be perfect as well. 

 

 

My second suggestion is the Fresh Floral Recovery Calming Mask. I have been using this for a month straight and I have seen great results! So I wash my face with my normal facial cleanser then put this cream over my face and go to sleep. In the morning I follow my normal skin care regimen. Everyone has been coming up to me asking me what foundation I am using or makeup! I just look at them and say ” I am not wearing anything”! It has really changed the tone and texture of my skin. It’s a wonderful gift to help mom moisture at night! 

 

 

Another beauty suggestion. I love Sally Hansen nail products and I use this product on my nails at night. This is the Color Therapy Nail and Cuticle oil. It has a light scent and I just rub it on my nails and cuticles at night. Such a small but glorious luxury. 

 

 

Fourth is a new tote organizing luxury. I have been eyeing this pencil case from Notiq for quite some time now. I am so glad that I ordered it. I can now find my pens pretty easily and it stops my bags from having pen mark everywhere! Mom might move this! I think the Notiq water bottle is a wonderful gift as well. I love using mine!

 

 

Last on my list is a wonderful pair of mules. This is one of my weekend outfits and I paired it with my Ann Taylor patent mules. These are so elegant as well as super comfy! I have the plaid print coming soon. It’s a perfect, elegant, low heeled shoe for mom or you for that matter! 

There is also the glorious Amazon wrap! I love this and will be ordering it in black and gray this week. This quilted tote from Amazon is still a favorite and mom might like the size as well. There is also my Vintage Vanity Collection! It has launched on the boutique website! Please go and check it out! One of those vintage items might be great for mom as well! 

I hope you enjoyed my Mother’s Day gift guide. Please let me know if you have purchased one of these items for your mom. I would love to know. 

 

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

Adding Something New…

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope everyone is well! I have been so busy the last few days trying to get things done for Lauren. Our college list is full of to-dos! I am also gearing up for the Showhouse. It is done and the house tours start next Saturday! I am nervous but excited at the same time. My mother-in-law’s birthday is next week, and I am still trying to get her birthday gifts. She is so hard to purchase for. There are a lot of events coming up and I am just trying to make sure that I stay on top of everything. 

I received a great response on my recent Instagram poll about adding the vintage Elizabeth Arden beauty jars! I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek below. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

Beautiful, aren’t they? What I learned is that they date back to the 1970’s -1980’s era. I am still trying to find out more information on them. I think that they are so beautiful and if you love a beautiful vanity like me then having one of these is perfect for you. They will be on the website soon! Have a great weekend! 

 

 

A Desk Update

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Good Morning,

Everything is in full bloom here! My Canadian choke cherry tree is blooming and so are my lilac bushes! My peonies are coming up as well! I’ve got the Peony festival scheduled on my calendar. I hope we can attend this year!

Lauren’s college visit went very well. There is a lot that we have to do. She got to see the campus, her potential dorm room, and meet her Art Director! It was a very productive day. I on the other hand, got a new delivery recently…

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

This was my desk in my office. It is actually my dining room table from my first apartment in 2002! I have been using it as a desk all this time. It has been great. It has provided me with the space that I needed and saved me a lot of money! Most of you know that I have been on the hunt for a new desk for some time now. I have been collecting office inspiration for a few years now and I am still trying to find items and decor pieces that fit into my style and what I need. 

 

 

I went back to the furniture store that I purchased my new dining room table and dresser from and found the desk version of my table! 

 

 

I do love it. It is called the Charthouse Office Desk and I got it on sale 2 months ago! I got a steal! It’s not on sale now so I am really happy that I got it while it was. 

 

 

It has so much table space. I love having all this room. I can actually do some paperwork in my office and write! I have never had that before. My old dining room table was not big enough if you can believe that. Also, the color goes so well with my office decor. My office is my next project area. I am trying to wait until the kids go to college. I can’t believe that I am staying that but they both will be going in the fall. My stepson is taking his furniture in his bedroom so I can finally clear out his room! Yay! I am going to move some things in there and get rid of some other items. I can’t wait to purge both of their rooms! 

Another idea that I have been thinking of is adding vintage pieces to sell from my antiquing adventures to my website. This past Sunday I found these gorgeous vintage Elizabth Arden vanity jars. 

 

They had “made exclusively for Elizabeth Arden in Japan” on most of the porcelain jars. I had to buy two!

 

 

Gorgeous! Now my question to you all is if I went back and purchased a few more of the jars and added them to my website would you purchase any? Let me know in the comments section below! 

 

Easter Sunday & A New Recipe

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Good Morning!

Happy Friday Morning! We are headed to our daughter’s future college today! They are having a “welcome freshman” kind of day and we want to get a head start on events and deadlines to come. Wish us luck! I have a feeling it is going to be a busy day.

I am still thinking about my Easter dinner. It turned out to be such a great day with family. We really sat and enjoyed ourselves. I love sitting at the table and just enjoying a meal. Hearing how the boys are “adulting” now has been so interesting. Hearing them discuss marriage and families had been eye opening! I am always praying they God will lead them in their decisions. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

This year I added more rabbits to my decor. I purchased the gold rabbit from the At Home Store. He is actually on sale right now for only $10! Get it while you can! 

 

 

I really did experiment with my table setting this year. I brought in my blue and white of course and I wanted to use my lily plates from Pender and Peony but I didn’t have enough. They sure did look great on my table while it lasted. I matched them with my lily goblets from Pottery Barn. It looked so pretty!  

My family wanted turkey and dressing this year so that is what I made along with some mashed potatoes and green beans. We love dinner rolls so I baked some of those as well. Now for dessert I made Jennifer L. Scott’s black forest cake!

 

 

I was really nervous about making this cake because I have never made anything like this nor have I tried it. Baking the cakes was really easy. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

I think most of the trouble and time went into making the whipped cream frosting. I have never made this before, so I was quite nervous. It took about 10 minutes to finally get stiff but once it did, I felt relieved. 

 

 

I added the cherry pie filing right from the can and putting it together was so easy! I am so glad that I tried this!

 

 

I LOVED the way it looked! I thought it was so pretty! It was simple, tasted good, and was elegant. What more could you want for a beautiful celebration?  I hope you all try Jennifer’s cake and let me know in the comments section below if you have already made black forest cake? Let me know if there are different things that I could add. I would love to read your comments. Have a great weekend! 

 

Becoming a First Lady in your Life ~ Thoughts on Elegance Series

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! We kept things simple and spent time with the kids. We sat at the dinner table and just talked about life. It turned out well. The weather here this week is suppose to be outstanding. It will be sunny the whole week and in the 50’s and 60’s! So happy! 

For Easter dinner I did try Jennifer L. Scott’s black forest cake. I will be sure to share that later this week and my new desk finally arrived! I will be sharing that as well but today I wanted to share a beautiful email that I received from a company called Notiq. I have shared this company before and absolutely love their products. On a weekly basis, Notiq sends out these very inspiring emails. I had to share the one that I got this week. It was called “Elegant Secrets/ Become a First Lady”.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

In her newsletter, VJ, the founder of Notiq, said, “What if you were a First Lady? Who will you be? What will you be known for?

While the term First Lady is often associated with the wife of a president or leader of a nation or state, the Oxford English Dictionary defines First Lady as the leading woman in a particular activity or profession. I am here for the latter. 

As a student and (humbly) connoisseur of Elegance, I have learned that while I may not be the First Lady of a nation, I can choose to live as an elegant First Lady in my private life. How? You might ask. 

It all begins with a mindset.

For a long time, and for many reasons, I suppressed my dream of fully living an elegant life. The truth is, I was afraid of distinction. I was scared of what people might say if I showed up and was (one of) the most stylish, thoughtful, graceful, or refined in any room. The idea that I could carry a secret dream of living as an elegant first lady in my own right was terrifying yet possible.

Today, I wish to inspire a fresh perspective. 

Will you consider seeing and carrying yourself as an elegant first lady? I know life is not always easy or perfect. However, what if you and I embrace a meaningful mindset that inspires us to live out dreams others judge impossible or unrealistic? What will a renewed perspective like this do for you? 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

I imagine:

  • You’ll show up differently everywhere you go. 
  • You’ll look and feel your best. 
  • You’ll take better care of yourself.
  • You’ll commit to speaking better.
  • You’ll give more thought to what you wear or what you eat.
  • You’ll likely work on your posture and decorum.
  • You’ll be more likable and approachable.
  • You’ll stand out and become more.

Remember, many first ladies were (are) ordinary people like many of us who were not born with the position of First Lady. They simply grew into their roles with intent and dedication to learning. (Hint! Hint!)

From history and in no particular order:

  1. Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was admired and revered for her impeccable grace and style until this day. (1961 – 1963)
  2. Lady Michelle Obama commands our attention with her intentional style, fashion, and poise. (2009 – 2017)
  3. Lady Nancy Reagan’s refinement and support of the arts will remain unforgettable. (1967 – 1975)
  4. Lady Bird Johnson’s warmth and love for beauty inspire diligent care and devotion. (1963 – 1969)
  5. Lady Louisa Adams’ sophistication and fluency in music and arts are noteworthy. (1825 to 1829)

Frankly, every first lady from history has something we can learn from. I simply selected a few to inspire you.

For now, I am grateful for the person you are. Might I add? I am excited about the person you are becoming. I am also confident you (too) will make a memorable and noteworthy impact.

Until next week,

VJ | Founder & Chief Elegance Officer

 

Now how inspiring was this email? I was thrilled and absolutely enjoyed this email from VJ. I just had to share it. I hope you all enjoyed this motivating email and absorb it into your mind and soul! 

An Elegant Car?

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Good Morning Everyone!

I had a nice quiet weekend! I did not do much and was quite happy with it! I ran a few errands on Saturday, came home did a few chores, ate dinner, then some desert and watched a movie. It was very nice! Our weather was okay. We did have a tornado warning Friday evening but thank you Lord we did not have any touch down near us. I finally managed to post a video on my Youtube channel. Here is the link if you have not seen it yet. 

I think that I mentioned that I am on an organizational kick, and I have been purging and organizing my life honestly. I created a list in my phone called “home projects” and on that list I have things that I need to purchase along with details and measurements if needed. One area that I worked on recently was my car. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

One of the first things that I needed to buy was a SUV Trunk organizer. I have needed one of these for years! I had a basket that was literally falling apart, and I had my grocery bags, scarves, and whatever else shoved in that small little basket. I told my husband that I could not take it anymore and ordered this. My world has changed completely!  

It has 3 sections. One section is for my scarves, the middle is for my canvas grocery bags, and the third is for my car cleaning sprays, scents, and ice scrapers. I love it!

 

 

The second item was these purse hooks. Now I have seen these in multiple places but never really looked at them. My life has changed! These stop my totes from falling all over the car. They stay in place and everything stays organized. I am going to be ordering this set next. I like these a little better! 

 

 

Next was this car steering wheel cover. My car is all black on the inside and I wanted a pop of color but not too much so I ordered this new steering wheel cover. It’s black and beige and adds just enough color and a custom feel to my car. It comes in a few different colors. I also needed a new cell phone holder so I decided to order this one and I love it! I hooked it up to my vent and my phone is now up where I can see it. I am no longer looking down while driving. That drove me nuts! It’s not safe. I love having my phone sit higher up. 

I know that many of us don’t carry money anymore but sometimes coins seem to find their way in my car so I managed to find that coin holder that was in that Instagram reel that I shared in my newsletter. I have this sitting inside my car door. I can now place the lost coins that find their way in my car in this holder. I am still thinking about getting this car trash can and this tissue holder. I still keep my favorite napkins in my glove compartment, but I think this tissue holder might be a great idea. 

Let me know in the comments section below if you need to organize your car! I hope that I have left you with enough organizational tools to accomplish your goals! Have a great day!

 

fyi: This post is not sponsored. I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links.

March Favorites ~ 2023

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Good Morning,

It’s the last day of March… wow! And it’s still cold here. It’s quite annoying but I am trying to make the best of it. We are gearing up for prom! Lauren and I dropped off her prom dress earlier this week for alterations. I scheduled her hair and makeup appointment. I purchased her jewelry and glitter clutch. I am not sure if I will post a picture or not. I will have to wait and see how she feels about it and how things go. But so far so good. I will try again to film a video for YouTube. Every time I schedule this something comes up, but I will try. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this month’s favorites. 

First on my list for March favorites are my recent Loeffler Randall dupe find from Amazon.

 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

 

I absolutely love these! I went and ordered them in black as well. They are so comfy and so pretty on. I hope that they get them in pink. I would love a pair in pink seriously! 

 

 

Second on my list are my new scarf rings! Now if you follow me on Instagram then you would have seen a reel of me showing you how to use this. It is so easy to use and so elegant! I took one to Washington with me. It was so chic and they are so affordable. 

 

 

Speaking of Washington, D.C., the azalea garden at the National Gallery of Art was a dream. I have shared this before. It never gets old. If you ever go there stop by and look at the art and make sure to see the azalea garden. It is for the most part always there. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

The fourth item is my new jewelry travel case. I am ashamed to say that when I travel, I normally just put my jewelry in a box. It usually works out okay but having an actual jewelry travel case is soo much better! I worry constantly when we travel about my vintage earrings being damaged or lost. I remember a few years back; TSA opened my suitcase and went through it for whatever reason and dumped everything everywhere! I was so upset. Now if I would have had a jewelry case then I think my suitcase and jewelry would have been in better shape and protected! 

 

 

Speaking of organized suitcase, I purchased my first set of packing cubes. I watched a few videos on YouTube and was convinced to try some. I am so glad that I did! Above is how I packed for my trip to Washington. I felt so organized, my clothes stayed in place, and everything had its place. It was so wonderful! I felt like I got more packed in my suitcase because of the packing cubes. 

 

 

Sixth on my list is my monthly luncheons with my friends from the Guild. I love having these! Honestly, I did not understand the importance of female friendships until recently. I never saw healthy female friendships when I grew up.  I only saw my mother have her “friends” and as soon as they left her sight, she would just talk about them so bad! So I assume that’s what friendships were, and I never wanted it! But now that I am older, I now know that friendships are so much more and that what I saw was not correct. We have so much fun during our monthly luncheons and I look forward to them each month! 

 

Okay one more shoe favorite….

 

 

Now I have never been a white shoe kind of person, but I saw these on the Ann Taylor website and could not resist! They are so pretty on! The heel is the perfect size, and the color is outstanding. It has a bit of cream in it and will go with a LOT of items in my wardrobe. I can’t wait to wear them this spring and summer. 

I hope flowers and trees are beginning to bloom in your world. My heart is longing for beautiful blooms right now. Have a great weekend!

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

 

Oh I wanted to tell everyone that some of the boutique’s dresses and accessories are on my Poshmark page! If you want to make an offer you can and shipping is cheaper! Here is the link!