Beauty Lessons from Living in Paris ~ Thoughts on Elegance Series

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Good Morning,

I am so ready for the weekend! Tomorrow is my last Showhouse shift. I am looking forward to it. It has a really bittersweet kind of feeling. On one hand I am so excited to be there and on the other hand I am so tired! My weekends have been so full because of the schedule. Sunday is Mother’s Day and I really don’t even want to leave my house! But I will. There are some things that I need to get from Lowes. I really need to get my porch cleaned up and I really want some new furniture for my porch. I will be sure to update you all if I purchase anything! 

 

In my quest to find information for my “Thoughts on Elegance series”, I recently stumbled on to this article about what living in Paris has done to this antiques owner from America. I have been following the author of this article since 2020 and I am in love with her antiques account Madame de la Maison. 

 

Aki with her signature red lips.

photo credit: Ajiri Aki

Ajiri wrote a wonderful article about how living in France has changed her views on beauty. I especially loved how honest she was in the beginning of the article. She said, “In 2011, I moved to Paris with a $700 weave and green contact lenses camouflaging my dark brown eyes. I was chasing the superstar-meets-supermodel look I aspired to throughout my twenties when I lived in New York City. I lusted after luscious flowing locks like Beyoncé’s and a long, lean body like Naomi’s. (I tried each and every fad diet to attain that body—most of which required severely unhealthy calorie restrictions and pungent elixirs that left me in a rotten mood for days). What’s more: I hated my wide nose and gap teeth and spent hours researching possibilities to change them”. 

Wow…. I read that paragraph over and over. I think we all have been there. Trying to be something that we are not. You have to finish reading the article. It is truly eye opening and inspiring. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I ordered Ajiri’s new book called Joie A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life. I have been reading it for a week. You guys it is so good! She is really honest about her life in France.

She gives tips and locations on how to enjoy Paris as well. I hope you read the article in Vogue and let me know your thoughts! Have a wonderful weekend! 

 

 

My Third FBMP Purchase ~ Pale Green Settee

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Good Morning Everyone,

What a busy weekend! We had our neighborhood HOA sale this weekend. A few things have sold out from the boutique and have been removed from the site. Lauren went to prom and she ended up having a great time! On Sunday I had another showhouse duty shift. It was very crowded despite the pouring rain that we had. I am completely wiped out! This week at work will be pretty busy as well as my upcoming Saturday. It will be my last showhouse shift. We take a break off for the summer. I do plan on having lunch with the ladies in my group once a month and next year’s house has already been chosen! I can’t wait to see it. I will be sure to share some photos from this year’s home. 

As you can see by the title, I have found another treasure on Facebook Marketplace! I have been looking for a new settee for office as well as a new desk chair, and bookcases. I have a few things saved on my list but saw this beautiful settee and had to reach out!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

When it appeared in my newsfeed, I took a big sigh! I was so beautiful, and the price was only $175! I could not believe it! I messaged her right away! As I waited for her to message me back, I began to study the color and the beautiful wood. I love the pale green color. It’s something different and unique yet elegant. When she reached back she told me that it was available and that I could come by her warehouse to pick it up. Wait a sec? You have a warehouse? There’s more!???

 

 

She told me to come to Violet Vintage Rentals and when I walked in my mouth hit the floor! So many beautiful, vintage pieces, and china! Turns out that her and her husband have a party rental company that allows you to rent their beautiful furniture for your parties. I have my eye on those white and gold shelves. 

 

 

Isn’t it stunning!? I can’t believe that I found this by buying an item from Facebook Marketplace. 

 

 

There were rows and rows of vintage teacups, china, elegant vases, vintage mirrors, and other elegant props. You can borrow it all for your parties. 

 

 

And every so often, they have garage sales! They had one this past Friday, but I could not go! I was so frustrated. These two pale green chairs are for sale on FBMP right now. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

Of course, I could not leave without my pale green vintage settee. There was a man there by the name of Richard who worked on their restoration projects. He restored this settee. He told me that it was from the 1920s! I could not believe my ears. I could not wait to get it home and put it in my office. It fits perfectly and I love looking at it from my desk. 

 

 

The scallop detail on the back is amazing! I wish I had a better way of showing it but I don’t at this time. This settee has hardly any damage to it. I adore it with each passing day. 

All I can say is FBMP is becoming my source to find furniture for my home. I usually can’t find things in the store. It’s usually too modern or has the farmhouse look which is something that I am not interested in. 

I have about 10 more items saved on my FBMP list. I will be going back to Violet Vintage Rentals for their garage sales. I don’t think that I could continue to pass those up! Let me know in the comments section below if you have purchased from FBMP! I am curious about your finds.

I also wanted to let everyone know that I only have a few more dresses in the boutique. The inventory is getting very low on some of the dresses. I only have two Daphne Flutter Dresses, and only two of the Maggie Stripe Mid Dresses. I did add a size 3x to the list in the mauve and white. It does have a sewing defect on the right sleeve and is on sale for $15. I do plan on trying to get some more inventory, but we will see. Enjoy our day! 

 

 

My Feminine Workweek Outfits

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Good Morning Everyone,

Goodness we are back in the 40s! It is freezing here! So disappointing but oh well. On Friday, my husband and I went to our first Guild cocktail party! We had a really nice time. 

 

I wanted to be comfortable, so I wore my fav blush lace blouse, shimmer skirt, Ann Taylor pumps, and Ann Taylor pearl clutch. My husband wore is white blazer and navy slacks. I told him that he had a “Great Gatsby” look. Do you also notice the Sarah Flint scarf in his handkerchief holder? 

 

 

We had a great time! I also finished my first shifts as a docent. I will be sure to share the Showhouse for this year later this week.

In today’s post, I am sharing what I would wear to work on a normal basis. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

In this photo you will see a pink blush blouse. It is the same blouse that I am wearing in the photo with my husband. I try to have pieces in my wardrobe that I can wear to multiple places. I actually have this blouse in cream and blush. I love it! It is from Express (last season). The skirt is actually from Amazon and I have it in 3 different colors. The floral tote is from Express . It’s still available and only $47! The cream sandals are from Ann Taylor and are so chic! 

 

 

One of my favorite work week perfumes is Aerin Lauder Rose de Grasse. Every time I wear it people follow me and ask what it is! It’s lovely!

 

 

Next is this beautiful lace top that I found on the Express clearance rack! I paid only $20 for it and I normally wear it with a cardigan if the office is too cold and I brooch to close up the chest part. My skirt is from H&M. I purchased it about 10 years ago. My shoes are the beautiful Rose’s Parker Sling from Sarah Flint and my handbag is the Louis Vuitton On the Go tote. 

 

 

I would wear these vintage clip earrings with this outfit to the office. They add just enough sparkle to my outfit. 

 

 

This is a third example of what I would wear to the office. My blue blouse is from Ann Taylor (last season). I have it paired with a regular black skirt, my Sarah Flint Perfect Emma Gracie. My handbag is from MME.Mink. Everything in this photo is sold out. 

 

 

I would pair this outfit with my earrings from Nicole Bathie. 

 

 

Here is a fourth example. I love this sage green blouse that I got from Ann Taylor about 4 years ago. The skirt is the navy version of my pink skirt from Amazon, the heels are from T.J. Maxx, the pearls are J Crew (you can find these on Poshmark), and the floral tote is Tory Burch which I found at the outlet mall 2 years ago. 

 

 

I have paired this with one of my favorite scents, Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan. 

 

 

And my last outfit inspiration is this blue and white dress that I found at Old Navy last summer, my Sarah Flint Perfect Emma Gracie, my Mme.Mink tote and J Crew pearls. I have never been afraid to mix colors and patterns. I believe mixing colors and patterns makes your wardrobe fun and you will wear more of it. I am not matchy-matchy and never will be. Wear what you love! 

 

 

With this outfit I wore my favorite scent from Bath and Body Works, Night Blooming Jasmine. I hope they bring it back. I adore it! 

I hope that you found some wardrobe inspiration from my looks. Let me know in the comments section below what your favorite items were. I would love to know. Have a great day!

 

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.

 

 

 

 

April Favorites ~ 2023

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Good Friday Morning,

It has been a very tiring week for me. I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and had to do a glucose test which was awful. In addition to drinking that extremely sugary drink, the nurse could not find my vein, so I ended up getting stuck two extra times! Not ideal for me but I got it done and now I can talk about some options with my doctor next week. I just hope everything goes well. 

This evening my husband and I will be attending our very first cocktail party! It’s the opening party for the Guild’s Showhouse and I am a little excited about it. My first shift as a docent will be this weekend so wish me luck. I will share a few photos of the home in addition to last year’s home and the year before. Now let’s get into some favorites for the month of April. 

 

 

My first favorite was our daughter’s college visit. It turned out to be a very pretty day and I wore a dress, beautiful scarf, and my glitter pink sneakers! I am so glad that I did! I was so comfortable, and I still felt chic. I also ordered this lace slip shorts to wear under my dresses. They are so good! I need more! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

My second favorite is this beautiful room in a church where we have our Guild Meetings. This is one of the other rooms. I just love the decor and paint color! It’s the “perfect pink” for me. 

 

 

Third on my list is my new Nespresso machine! I adore it. I can now make my own chai tea lattes! I have had it for a week now and love making my own foam oatmilk. 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Next are my lilac bushes! They are in full bloom. I wish these lasted forever!

 

 

Fifth on my list are my new mules from Ann Taylor. Now how elegant are these? These have been my weekend go-tos! They go so well with my dresses and cardigans. I still feel put together comfortable and elegant. 

 

 

 

Sixth is a new organizational find from Amazon! I saw one of the influencers that I follow have this in her bathroom and I had to order it. It’s outstanding! Everything fits on it and I still have room for other beauty items. It’s great and look at the gold buttons! 

 

 

As I mentioned earlier the Guild Showhouse starts this weekend. This stove is in the kitchen at the Showhouse. It’s my dream stove. I love it so much! After I heard the price on it I now know that it will stay a dream stove!

 

 

And lastly are these new tea bag filters that I found on Amazon! I have teatime every day and some of my tea bags fall apart and I don’t have a filter to pour tea. So, I ordered these and could not be happier! You get both the silver and the gold. 

I hope you all enjoyed my favorites for the month of April. The monthly newsletter should be going out soon! 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.

 

 

 

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!