Simply Summer Hats

It’s that time of the year where big floppy hats are great accessories to have! I have to admit I love the big Kentucky Derby hats that are worn to that great event.



Summer hats come in all shapes, colors, and styles. I am a big fan of the big southern hats. I think I have a large head so I feel that those types of hats compliment me well. 


I took a short visit to Steinmart recently and found a few hats there. The selection was great and the prices are fair. I believe that every woman should have her “favorite” hat. No matter what your style is a hat and scarf are must-have accessories for your wardrobe. Read my blog post about my Hermes scarf here. Below are a few hats that I found at Target and Steinmart!


Lastly, watch the video I have below from Southern Living. It is a video of the celebrities at the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet event. The derby hats are fabulous! Enjoy!

Please excuse this horrid selfie! I normally do not take photos with my phone in the picture but no one was around to take my photo. I loved this
hat at Steinmart. It was Ninewest and the price was $24.99!


The hats at Steinmart. The prices started at $24.99!

The Merona Striped Floppy Hat. It is $11.99 at Target!



This is me in my black floppy hat I purchased at New York and Company 
a few years ago. 


Click on the link below to watch the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Event

Kentucky Derby Red Carpet | Triple CrownWorthy Momen

(all photos are my own)

My Second Hand Finds

As most of you know I am a thrift store shopper! I grew up shopping at thrift stores with my grandmother so it’s in my blood! I love going to Goodwill, flea markets and garage sales. My home is full of great finds that I have purchased over the years.

I started shopping at antique stores a few years ago. I simply love going and looking at all the items and the decor. Thrift store shopping has become an essential part of being a good homemaker for me. My husband even appreciates the time and effort I put into making our home lovely. I love cleaning and organizing. You can see my blog post here about home-keeping.

Sometimes I even hear him tell a visitor where I purchased an item. One thing I wish I had more of is passed down family heirlooms. I have nothing from either one of my grandmothers so starting this heritage for my daughter has been rather important to me.

Along with decorating I also love having my home smell divine. I love when people walk in and say how good my home smells. If you wish to know what I use to keep my home smelling great please read my blog entry about home scents here. 


My favorite second hand places to shop are the Goodwill, Value World and the Beech Grove Emporium. See my blog entry here about the emporium and my blog entry here about my Goodwill shopping.

Now below I am going to give a tour of my “Sitting Room” in my home. I do enjoy using this room. It’s a great place to host my girlfriends when they come over for a little chat and maybe some tea. I hope you enjoy looking at my finds just as much as I do. Enjoy!

I found this leopard cloth at the Beech Grove Emporium for only $7.99. The shag pillow
I found at Garden Ridge for $12.99. 
I am a huge Martha Stewart fan. So whenever I see her books at the flea markets I buy them.
I purchased these at the Half Price Bookstore. Fantastic right? I love my Jane Seymour “Making Yourself at Home” book. It was a great Ebay purchase. 



More Martha Stewart books 

And more Martha Stewart books. I purchased these for $1!



I have some of my books sitting on my brown trunk. I love this trunk! It reminds me of a Louis youknowwhat. But in time I believe that I will be able to purchase one of those trunks!



I found these plates at Value World. I only paid $2.50 each!



I love my gigantic floral arrangement. I actually purchased this from my mother-in -law’s friend. She was downsizing and needed to get rid of some things. She sold it to me for only $10! But it originally had these ugly green and gold roses. I pulled all of those out and replaced them with flowers I love. 



I purchased this antique pitcher and bowl from the Goodwill store. The price was only $25 but on that day everything was 50% off! So I paid half!


These Royal Albert cups were purchased at the Emporium for only $5 each! There other large tea cup was purchased from the Manor House antique store but it closed its doors last year! Sad face! The angel statute was a gift from my husband years ago. 



The goblets were a gift from my mother-in-law. My pink and white cherry blossom tea set was a birthday gift from my husband from the Teavana store.  The other tea cups were purchased from the Emporium. I will pass down these items to my daughter.



This floral wall decor was purchased at the Old Time Pottery Barn. I thought it was splendid!



This table was purchased at a garage sale from my neighbor for $5. The other table items were purchased from T.J Maxx



Okay, I had to have a chandelier. I love it! I purchased it from Lowe’s. 



This lovely mirror picture was purchased from Hobby Lobby. 



All of my pillows were purchased from T.J. Maxx and the Goodwill. 



Oh gosh! I found this fantastic tapestry at the Emporium for $16!



My bamboo table I found at the Manor House for $29. My tray and pineapple are from Marshal’s. 



Overview of the room
Another view from the stairs. 




I just recently found this beautiful vintage lamp at the antique store for $25! 
I wish I knew what the year of it was. 



I found this gorgeous wing back chair from the Goodwill for $40.
It is in great condition. What a find!




This is my chair in my office. My husband purchased this for me at a garage sale!




Here is another view of the room. 




I found this lamps at the Goodwill store for $3.99 & $5.99!



I purchased these window panels from the flea market. 
I loved the fabric that was added to them. I paid $20 for both!



I don’t know where to put them yet so I just sat them on the nightstand in our bedroom. 



I have been inspired by the Enchanted Home blog. 
The blue and white looks so classic!



I will be redecorating my family room and kitchen with the blue and white decor. 



This was a great find. I found this at the antique store. The Royal Albert Old Country
Roses plate and tea set! I was so excited when I saw it! 



Now if you need some ideas on how to decorate your space then read my blog entry about ideas here.
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Steinmart ~ Affordable Accessories for Living

Steinmart is a boutique-style mens and womens’s department store chain. Additionally, home decor, accessories and shoes are all available at discount prices. I love visiting our local store here in Greenwood, Indiana. I have found some great home decor and feminine accessories.

I love shopping for sandals here too! They seem to get the most feminine floral sandals that I have seen. You won’t find any of those high platform sandals here. If that is your thing, then okay. But for me I love the floral kitten heel sandals and heels.

I also love the wide range of home decor. They carry items that I can’t find at my local T.J. Maxx. I still love T.J. Maxx but it’s also nice to come to Steinmart to find some items that are not sold in every store.

I took a visit this past weekend and found some great items! Take a look below and go and visit your local Steinmart or shop online! Enjoy!

Pretty necklaces for just $14.99!



This matching bracelet was only $9.99!



This was gorgeous! It was only 14.99!



More necklaces 



Ralph Lauren scarves only $24.98.



Pierced and clip earrings only $9.99!



More jewelry offered at an additional 25% off!



I really loved this green bracelet but I noticed that one of the jewels fell out! Sad face!



Michael Kors bags for $119!



More Michael Kors totes



Pretty dinnerware for really great prices. 



I really loved these acrylic glasses. They were only $4.99 each! I purchased a few. 



What cute trays. These would be great bridal or birthday gifts! Only $14.99.
It says, “You must have confused me with the maid we don’t have”. 

This one says, “Home of the Queen and her loyal subjects”. Cute! 


I adore this painting. I don’t know the price. I was to frightened to look! 



I love this painting also!

Light Summer Dinner~ Taco Salad

I loved taco salad as a kid! Whenever my mom made it we were always in the house ready to enjoy it! I learned how to make this from my mother but have changed a few things to suit me. This is a simple recipe so anyone can make it. I hope you enjoy it!

* 1 pkg of ground beef

* 1 bag of tortilla chips (of your choice, I use the Tostitos brand and I love the hint of lime flavor)

* 1 pkg of taco seasoning

* 1 tomato (diced of course; I use a can of tomatoes with the peppers and seasons already in it)

* lettuce

* 1 bag of mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese (your choice)

*  1 bottle of Ortega taco sauce

First you brown your ground beef. Then you sprinkle in your taco seasoning. Cook it for about 3 minutes more. While its finishing I grab my bag of chips and I place a few on my plate. I then take my meat and top the chips with it.

Next, I put on the cheese so it can melt on the meat. Then I add the lettuce, tomatoes and lastly the Ortega sauce. It is such a simple and fast meal. My family and I always enjoy it!

My taco salad 

The Peony Garden

I was recently complaining to my husband about how I can’t find any peony flowers to buy in the floral shops! I keep seeing all these wonderful photos on Instagram from some of the designers that I am following. They are all posting these wonderful photos of their peony centerpieces and gardens.

Well, one of my co-workers received a bouquet from her husband for their anniversary and guess what flowers she had? Peonies!!! I was so excited to see them. So I called the floral shop where she received them from. I told my husband that I was going to buy some after work. He then called the floral shop and had some delivered! I was so pleased!! Finally some peonies of my own and they smelled so good!

 So here are some photos of my gorgeous peonies and here are some more photos of inspiration from peony gardens that I have found on the internet. Also, I have attached Martha Stewart’s Youtube video of her Peony Party and a video of her and Kevin Sharky doing some peony flower arranging. Lastly, if you love flowers just as much as I do then read my blog post about Floral Brooches.  I hope you enjoy the photos and the videos!

My husband also found me some yellow roses at our local Costco! 
They are lovely aren’t they? 
My peonies from my husband 


My bouquet at work 



My peonies at home. I loved them!!!



Peony Party – Martha Stewart

(click on the links to watch the videos)
(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Life: Beautiful ~ A Faith Based Magazine

I must admit that I am a christian. I know that is not popular but it is the truth. That has been my faith all my life. I usually keep it to myself and just try to let my life speak for itself.



I am always trying to find wholesome books or magazines to read. I discovered Life Beautiful Magazine sometime last year. My family and I went to visit Barnes & Nobles one evening after dinner. I scanned the magazine shelves for beautiful reads and stumbled on this magazine.


I picked it up and opened it. I was pleasantly surprised at the layout and the articles. In every issue, there is an article from Joyce MeyerDave Ramsey, & Marriage 911. There are always recipes, articles about decorating & parenting. You name it the magazine has it. 


One of the greatest assets about the magazine is their mission statement. Below is a list of what the company believes in:

Belief Statement:
Life:Beautiful is published on a foundation of the following beliefs:
1.      We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
2.      We believe in one God, the Creator who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, and that He was and remains both God and man.
3.      We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His own divine image; that they sinned and incurred physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God; and, as a result of Adam’s sin, all humans are now born with a sinful nature and stand guilty before God.
4.      We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and that all who believe in Him and receive Him as personal Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit and become children of God.
5.      We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Advocate.
6.      We believe in the blessed hope of the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and gives spiritual life to all believers, enables them to understand biblical truth, empowers them to live godly lives, and equips them for service and witness.
7.      We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved.

I think this is a wonderful magazine to purchase. I believe they only send out publications four times a year. I have purchased a few and they have been a joy to read. So check out their website and add Life Beautiful Magazine to your choice of reading!






Book Review: Tips on Posing for Pictures

As some of you may have read from my recent blog entries, I am reading a book called A Guide to Elegance. I only have a few chapters left and I am very disappointed. I have really enjoyed reading this book.

It will be a book that I will revisit over and over. A few weeks ago I read the chapter called” Photography” and in this chapter Genevieve discussed how to pose for pictures and to always look your best. Here are some of her tips for great photos. I found them very interesting:

– You should stand straight with your toes turned outward, with one leg placed a little ahead of the other, and with your body turned slightly sideways, so that the camera will capture a three-quarters view.

– Unless you are very young, you should always smile at the photographer; otherwise, the expression lines around the mouth are apt to make you look disagreeable and tired.

– You should always remove your dark glasses for an outdoor snapshot, but never look directly into the sun.

– If you are being photographed stretched out on a beach or the deck of a boat, it is more flattering to prop yourself up on one hip and an elbow and present your body in profile, instead of lying spread out flat like a fried egg.

– The most frequently recommended position for the hands- lightly crossed on your lap- always seems terrible stiff; if you don’t know what to do with them, you can place them behind your back, but never on your hips.

– Lastly, it is better for the camera to be angled at you from a low position rather than from above; which always has a foreshortening effect.

Also, just in case you missed it, please take a look at my post called 100 Ways to be Elegant. I simply love reading this list. It is so much fun! Enjoy!

(all photos are from of Pinterest)