Roasted Chicken- Simple & Delicious

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I have really fell in love with this recipe this year. It is so simple to make and has graced our dinner table so many times for the past few months!! Once I learned how to make it now I keep chicken and red potatoes in our fridge every week!

I do the following:

* Rise off my chicken and pat dry
* Season it with salt and pepper
* Spray my baking pan with Pam and pour a little olive oil into it
* Rise off my red potatoes and cut them into halves
* Place them into the pan and sprinkle them with salt, pepper and olive oil

* I then place my chicken on top of the potatoes or you can put the chicken into a separate pan
* Sprinkle some more salt, pepper and olive oil onto the chicken
* Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 -50 minutes

Let it cool off and serve with some vegetables and french bread. My family loves it. Below is a link to Ina Garten’s (The Barefoot Contessa) video for roasted chicken. Enjoy!

My roasted chicken


Perfect Roast Chicken-Food Network – YouTube

(click on the link to watch the video)

Goodwill Shopping in New York

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I had to visit a Goodwill store while vacationing in New York. So while my husband was at the Yankee’s game I went Goodwill shopping!

Let me start by saying I have never been in a Goodwill store that had security. This Goodwill store had a security guard at the front door! I was blown away! But once I started to look around I then realized why they did.

There were some nice things in this goodwill. It sure wasn’t like the goodwill stores we have back home! There were lots of designer clothes and shoes. There were rows of china and dishes. I was in heaven! Some of you know how I LOVE to shop at the Goodwill store, consignment stores and flea markets (see my blog entry here about that). I also love finding antiques and learning about them (see my blog entry here about vintage pieces).

So take at look below of all the goodwill shopping I did while on vacation and photos from a few other stores I visited. Thanks for reading!

Shelves and shelves of dishes and china

The teacups were so pretty




They had silver or silver plated teapots. I was not sure which it was but it was beautiful. 






So many clothes!





Look at this Jones New York coat for only $29.99. 
It was in excellent condition!

This was a great Anne Klein coat!

I couldn’t believe the price on this classic London Fog trench coat!
Only $19.99!




I loved this Calvin Klein coat!




But I ended up buying this LL Bean wool coat for only $12.99!
It is $249 online! Fantastic!





I purchased these crystal candle holders for about $4 each.
These shoes were another great find! I paid only $9.99 for them and they are 
about $200 online (see here). 



This photo was from the Homegoods store in New Jersey.
I loved these blue and white dishes. I purchased one of the ginger jars from this collection. 




I loved this polka dot teapot at the Homegoods store!
Very cute!

More dishes and I love the chandelier candle holder.
I also purchased these shoes from Ninewest for $22.
Here is the ginger jar from the blue and white collection and I loved this
white tea cup trimmed in gold. 


My Visit to Laduree in New York

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Laduree was at the top of my list of places that I wanted to see during our vacation in New York. It is located on Madison Avenue and I wasn’t sure if I was going to see it but I did. Madison Avenue is so fantastic!

There are so many great stores on that street! You could spend hours there but the only store I wanted to see was Laduree. When I walked into the store I was in awe. It was so beautiful and everything was just so lovely!

I just smiled the entire time I was there! It was an absolute delight! My husband was happy for me to. He knew that going to Laduree was something that I talked about often.  Especially, when he mentioned us going to New York for vacation. So take a look at my photos below and if you ever get a chance to visit New York take a visit to Laduree. You won’t be disappointed!  Lastly, read my blog entry from April about Laduree (see here). Enjoy!

Outside the store with my goodies!




This cabinet was filled with Laduree totes, gift bags and candles.
I purchased a black Laduree tote last year from Ebay. 






The window shelf completely decorated with treats! So beautiful!




The area upfront near the sales clerk. Look at all the delicious macroons!






They also sell perfume. 






I purchased a set of 6 marcoons. They were only $21. 
I got the rose, vanilla, pistachio, chocolate & lilly of the valley. 
They were excellent!

(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Using Cloth Napkins at Home

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I have been adding small but elegant lifestyle changes to my life. I have always loved using dishes instead of paper plates. I love drinking out of glasses instead of plastic cups. There is nothing wrong with using paper dishware but for me I just want to use my nice things everyday.

I hate the motto of “saving things” for later. Why? Later may never come. So why not use your beautiful dishes now. Why not drink out of glasses now? What is wrong with using nice things everyday? Since when are we not good enough?

Well, we are. So I have been using my things everyday. I have now moved onto napkins. I have been reading Style & Simplicity by Ted Kennedy Watson for the last few weeks. It is absolutely inspiring! In the chapter called “Dish Towels” he mentioned using good quality dish towels as napkins. I thought what a great idea! He mentioned that his favorite were Le Jacquard Francais dish towels from France.

I have been buying mine from the local flea market. They are wonderful. I have now placed them in a basket on the counter so that after I prepare our plates for dinner we get into the habit of grabbing a linen napkin instead of a paper towel. I love using them and so does my daughter.

My linen napkins at home; ready for dinner
Having dinner with cloth napkins. It’s a small but great luxury. 



I am now in the habit of using my beautiful vases for weekly fresh flowers. 
It’s nice having them at the table for dinner. 

Puppies & Sunday Lunch

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We have a boxer named “Bishop”. We have had him for about 2 years now. He is my baby! I love my boxer. Well, we recently bred him with a female boxer and they had about 8 puppies. One died because of complications but the other 7 are doing quite well.

The family of the female boxer has invited us out to see the puppies a few times now. We have enjoyed watching them grow. Below are some photos from our recent visit. Enjoy!

The family’s home. Isn’t it beautiful…….




The drive there….. not in the city




Look at all this space! The boxers have all this room to run!


The backyard. Soy beans are growing behind their home. 



My husband holding one of the gorgeous puppies!



Oh, he is feisty! He did not want a photo!




Me holding my favorite one… Isn’t he cute?




More puppies




They fed us a great simple lunch! It was pulled pork sandwiches, alfredo macaroni with broccoli,
green beans, salad, and corn on the cob! It was wonderful!




Last but not least homemade cheese cake with homemade blueberry sauce.
Oh, gosh it was to die for!


This couple has a fantastic catering company called OnSiteCaterer. Please check out their facebook page. Their food is delicious!!!
(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

On Vacation ~ New York City 2014

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Hello all, my family and I are going to be on vacation this week. It will be a short one but I am so excited to be going to New York City!! The last time we were there was in 2007 and my husband and I were attending a two-day wedding. We didn’t get to visit much of the city but from what we did see New York is just splendid!

Now we have about 5 days there and we are hoping to do more sight-seeing of the city. I will post whatever we see and do upon my return. Until then…….. enjoy your week everyone!



Photo by Liubov Ilchuk on Unsplash

(photo taken by Mrs. Shockley)
I am hoping to visit Laduree in New York 


Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash
I want to see the Floral District

And of course the Statue of Liberty! We will see!

Coach Handbags

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I love this season’s new summer handbags. One of my favorite designers is Coach. Their bags are affordable and are made of great quality. I have about 5 leather Coach bags. One thing I love about Coach is their repair policy. They will repair any bag of theirs no matter where you purchased it for free!



I recently sent a bag there for repair. I purchased it last year from Von Maur and one of the straps began to tear. I went to the Coach store downtown in my city and they sent it off with no problem for repair. It took about 6 weeks but it was worth it because they put new hardware on my entire bag!!


I was so excited to have my bag back and that Coach stands behind their products. As long as they keep making fantastic designs and continue with customer service, they will always have a fan! Below are my Coach bags and a few of my new favorites from this season. Enjoy!!! 

Me with my Coach Madison Lindsay Satchel 



My Coach North South Coral & my Coach Cognac North South Satchel (similar here)
My Coach Saffiano Black leather tote (similar here)

My Coach Diaper Tote (similar here)

I sold this a few months ago. 



My pink Coach diaper/laptop tote




(all photos are my own )