Small Goodwill finds in South Carolina

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Whenever we travel I always find a Goodwill store wherever we go. I love going to Goodwill stores in different states! I figured each state will have different items for sale and that is a great opportunity to get some lovely pieces in my home. I visited one in South Carolina, of course. I didn’t find any clothes but I found the picture and floral arrangements below.

My husband always gives me a hard time about faux flower arrangements but when we got in line to pay for my items a few ladies were “eyeballing” my arrangements. One lady even spoke up and said, “Well, I didn’t see those back there”. I just smiled and looked at my husband. I love my pieces and will enjoy having them in my home. If you missed my Goodwill shopping in New York post read it here.

My Andre Meyer picture and peony arrangements that I purchased at the Goodwill.
I paid $10 for the picture and $3.75 for each arrangement. 

Here is a better photo of the picture. I love it!
Do you see the villa in the back?
I hung it in my upstairs hallway. Now I am just waiting on my husband to paint the walls.
Hint, hint!



(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Our Stay in South Carolina

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Well, we are back home and back into the swing of things! Our vacation in South Carolina was wonderful! The weather was nice and warm and the flowers were already starting to bloom. We always stay at the Inn at USC when we visit Columbia. It is a wonderful hotel! It is so clean and I love the breakfast offered every morning!

Our room is always clean and I love using the gym facility. My daughter loves the hotel and that to me speaks volumes. I didn’t take any photos of our room because they came out too dark but here is a glimpse inside the hotel.

The lobby inside the hotel

I love the vase.

My husband and I outside the hotel. We were sitting in the rocking chairs.






We ate dinner at the Blue Marlin. This was the teriyaki salmon with yukon potatoes
and collard greens. 

Outdoor dining at the Blue Marlin

This was my dinner at Hoskins Restaurant. 
I had fried chicken, a baked potato and cabbage. 





My dessert… this was a caramel, pecan brownie cake.






This was the second hotel we stayed at. It was called Ocean Dive Beach and Golf Resort.
It was a great stay!

This was our view from the hotel we stayed in at North Myrtle Beach.




(all photos by Mrs. Shockley)

Flower Napkin Rings

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I must admit I love standing in long grocery lines! Sounds weird, yes I know but it is the only time I can browse through magazines. I recently saw these beauties in the Oprah Magazine and just could not resist!

They are gorgeous!! These would be so pretty on a table set for dinner with girlfriends, bridal shower, or wedding. And they are priced pretty well. So pretty…..
Flower napkin rings
(photo via Deborah Rhodes.com)

The Details of Estee Lauder’s Bedroom

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Last month I purchased Aerin Lauder’s book Beauty at Home and it has been absolutely stupendous! I have really enjoyed reading about the history of the Lauder Family and Estee’s home. On page 191 of the book, Aerin explains in detail Estee’s room. These details were so profound to me I just had to copy it from the book and share it…



“Estee’s devotion to blue and white was clear in everything she touched, from the design of a jar of face cream right down to the Porthault linens on her bed…….


She preferred twin beds- both of the original bedrooms had them- and these are French, made of white-painted wood.


On the bedside table, she would always have a pad of paper with a matching pen, a vase of flowers, family photographs, and a white porcelain lamp- the more ornate, the better…..


But my favorite thing in the room is Estee’s Louis XVI-style dressing table. When Eric and I first came here to stay and I opened the drawers, her hairbrushes, and combs, her lipsticks and sunglasses were still there- as if she had never left. On top of the table was an array of perfumes. She felt every woman should have a wardrobe of fragrances- one floral, one spicy, one sporty, one black-tie formal. A silver tray held a selection of compacts-golden, enameled, sometimes set with semiprecious stones. She was a genius at the packaging and she knew how alluring a pretty compact could be. Some, shaped like Faberge eggs, held solid perfume. “

(from Beauty at Home)



The book to me is a must-have for those of us who love beauty and the details that come in making it.

Estee’s vanity
(photo from Aerin’s Instagram)

On Vacation ~ South Carolina 2015

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Well, today is Friday and in 2 days my family and I will be heading to South Carolina! I am excited! Since I was promoted I have to attend a paralegal course for the United States Government. Once my class is over we will be heading to Myrtle Beach for a few days. I will not be blogging this upcoming week but will share my adventures once I return! Thanks for reading! See ya soon!

Photo by Mitchell Hartley on Unsplash














Garbage Disposal Refresher

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I think this is a simple and great idea! I normally use lemons but oranges sound even better. I saw this on the Style Me Pretty Living website. The article is called “How to Clean your Whole Kitchen with 10 Basic Ingredients”.  You should definitely read it if you have the time.





CITRUS GARBAGE REFRESHERS

Put a few citrus peels into a muffin tin or ice cube tray and fill with vinegar. Freeze until solid and transfer to lidded container. To use, put a cube down the disposal and run it. The ice actually helps to sharpen the disposal blade, and your smelly kitchen will be replaced with a super yum citrus scent!

photo via Style me Pretty

My Studded BCBG Heels

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These shoes have been on the scene for awhile now. I must admit I got sucked into them too. But they are just too fabulous to ignore. The Valentino Rockstud Pump turns heads wherever it is!!! But honestly and truly not many of us can afford the $995 price tag!

I have been on the hunt for a “cheaper version” for sometime now. I found maybe two pair that were close but not close enough. But this weekend I stumbled on a pair that are so close to the original Valentino pair I just could not pass them up.
I found the BCBGeneration Darron Pump at DSW this pass weekend!! I posted them on my facebook page and got a lot of comments! They are well liked by all. If you love the Valentino Rockstud pump as much as I do but don’t want to pay the $995 price tag these could be your next best option. See below and enjoy!!!!

The Valentino Rockstud Pump
My BCBGeneration Darron Pump

They look great and are super comfortable!!
(photos via Google and Mrs. Shockley)