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!

 

Nicola Bathie ~Spring Table Styling Tips

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Good Morning,

It’s the last week of March! My goodness! I have been so busy this month and I am gearing up for a busy April as well. In the first week of April I am taking the flower arranging orientation class for Random Acts of Flowers. I am so looking forward to arranging bouquets for hospital patients! Then we have Easter! I look forward to listening to my favorite preachers and teachers discuss our Lord’s triumph and spending time with family. This year I decided to make turkey and dressing along with Jennifer L. Scott’s black forest cake. I will share how that all goes. 

We also have our daughter’s freshman day at her soon to be college, and the Guild’s Decorator’s Showhouse starts! Lots of things going on! I also hope that the weather will be a little better. I am so looking forward to seeing the peonies this year. I know everyone is looking forward to spring. I was recently looking at my Victoria magazine and saw an article about Nicole Bathie’s beautiful tablescapes. 

 

Photography via Nicola Bathie McLaughlin

 

In the March/April issue she gives her tips on how to decorate with vintage pieces and antiques. Nicola mentions to “not be afraid to layer.” I am learning about and experimenting with this technique. It truly is all about what you want. I know things that I put on the table have been conversation starters. 

 

 

She also mentions that “petite bud vases add intrigue in between other accessories; they also make the perfect take-away treasures for guests.” I love that idea! Using a single bud vase as a gift? It’s simple, elegant, and I guarantee you the guests will love it. I know I would. If you want to see the rest of Nicola’s ideas just read the rest of the article here. 

I really love Nicola’s style and I get a lot of inspiration from it. I hope this article brightens your day. It did for me! Have a great Monday!

 

 

Shopping with Discernment

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Good Morning Everyone,

I am so ready for sunny weather. It doesn’t even have to be really warm just sunny weather. We have had snow flurries, rain, snow, rain, bitter cold temperatures, and more rain. Goodness! My peonies are starting to come up and I am getting a little worried. I am also ready to wear some of my pretty Amazon sandals! I purchased these in blue and black. I can’t wait to wear them!

Speaking of shopping, in my post today I wanted to talk about how I am trying to shop with more discernment. Remember a few years ago how I was talking about how I did not want to do any “bogus shopping”? I am still working on that, and I must say that I am getting better and better as the years pass.

I was doing some shopping recently and noticed how I take more time to purchase an item. I think about how this would fit into my wardrobe. How I can wear multiple items with it. I think about the colors and if I have colors that go well with it. How is the fit? Is the dress or skirt long enough?

 

 

I then begin to ask myself a few serious questions. How long do I think I will have this? Will this item stand the test of time? Will I be able to wear this in 10 years? 

 

 

I also noticed that when I have my eye on something I dig a little more. I try to find videos on YouTube of someone giving a review. I read the reviews on the website. I am even pulling out a measuring tape trying to gauge how big the item is and where it will land on me. Honestly, I was not doing all these things before. 

 

all photos via Mrs. Shockley

 

So what has changed? I think all of the “bogus shopping” that I have been doing all of these years finally caught up with me. I noticed how lots of those items ended up in my donation bag or on Poshmark and it really started to bother me! Because once you start to add up how much you are spending and how much is ended up in that donation bag you then realize that you are literally throwing money away! I am trying to hardest at this point in my life to really pay attention to my wardrobe and really get serious about how I want to look and how much I want to spend! 

What do you all think? Tell me below what your wardrobe journey has been like? I would love to hear your stories and learn something from all of you. Have a great weekend! 

 

 

A Busy Worktrip…

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope you all had a great week last week! I am happy to be home but I really enjoyed my work trip. We worked pretty late most nights. I didn’t get back to my room until about 6:30 sometime almost 7 but I learned so much this trip! I have a lot of work ahead of me in my office this week but I am glad to be back.

This was the first trip that my husband and I have ever taken without kids. It was so weird to be honest, but it was very freeing. Our daughter and step-son really enjoyed being home alone and have a little bit of freedom.

When we got to the airport, I was a little worried about how my TSA precheck would go. I signed up for it back in January and got a “known traveler number”. I put that number when booking my flight and was curious as to how this would work. I am NEVER going back you guys! Oh my goodness! I literally went to a different line at the airport and practically walked through security. It was wonderful!

Once we landed we checked into our hotel room. I will be honest. I did not like our hotel room but I was not paying for this trip so beggers can’t be choosers. After checking in we headed to the National Gallery of Art. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Here is my airport outfit. Comfy and chic to me. These shoes were my saving grace! The office was a 12-minute walk from my hotel room. I am saw glad that I purchased these. I got them from DSW. My lilac coat was a Goodwill find from several years ago, and tote from Kate Spade which is now sold out. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I always love coming to the National Gallery of Art. I love seeing the Monets’ and the azalea garden. Isn’t it stunning? It truly takes your breath away when you see it in person.

 

 

So pretty….

 

 

photo credit: Mr. Shockley 

 

I did not take a lot of photos this time. I really wanted to walk around and look at the art. There were a lot of kids everywhere too. I completely forgot about spring break. There were kids and guides everywhere. You can never really enjoy it when it’s crowded. So my husband and I did the best we could. 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

My favorite painting this year was this. It’s Daniel in the Lion’s Den. I did not get who the artist was, but I just could not stop starting at it. I loved it so much. I loved how Daniel’s eyes were focused on the Lord and not his fears. It spoke to me greatly!  

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I will say this. Our hotel was located on the same street as the Capital. Now how great of a view is that? Just lovely! I hope everyone enjoyed catching up with me today. I wanted to let everyone know that I have reached out to a few of my favorite influencers to ask their thoughts on elegance. I am calling it my “Thoughts on Elegance” series. I hope that they all reach back to me and I can post their ideas on how to be or live in an elegant way. Have a great Monday!