September Favorites- 2025

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Good Morning Friends,

Well I turned 43 yesterday. I had my yearly birthday dinner at the Cake Bake Shop and decided to do a little antiquing.

 

 

I found this beautiful emerald green brooch, peacock hair pin, pearl earrings and Wedgewood dish. I also found this huge vintage swan. The biggest prize was my blue and white Wedgwood lamp! So happy and I only paid $60 for it!

I feel like I am a little behind on my September favorites but it’s fine so here we go. There may be a lot for this month. First is a new shopping website that I learned about called Over the Moon. 

 

photo credit: Over the Moon.com 

 

 

This website has a lot of elegant designers and carries clothes to homeware. It is absolutely beautiful, and everything is high quality. You should look around the website just to “window shop”.

Now this bag went viral on TikTok and I did order it. I was a bit afraid because I don’t trust a lot of the viral ads but this I had to at least try it. I ordered the Velantra Weekender. Now it has not arrived yet and rumor has it that it can take up to two months (which is nuts)! Once it arrives, I will share if it is good or bad. 

The next item was the orange marmalade jam from As Ever. We all know that this is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex brand and I have to say that it is delicious! It’s sold out of course but I would recommend it if you can get your hands on it! 

 

 

Next up is this garden tea party body scrub from Dove. OMG! I usually don’t use body scrubs because they irritate my skin, but this is so good and smells like a floral garden. I enjoy using this for a beautiful bubble bath on a self-care day. It comes in a variety of scents and did not disappoint. 

A few weeks ago I was shopping in T.J. Maxx and decided to go over to the jewelry counter. I normally don’t see anything that I want until I saw this bird cocktail ring. I could not resist. It had chinoiserie vibes to it and was only $14.99! I looked this up and it is actually $60. I ended up finding it here for a much cheaper price. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Oh Chico’s! I never shop here but for some reason this  Jaguar Brooch popped up in my feed. Once I saw it, I knew that I had to have it. Look how beautiful this is and chic! I know it will take a little confidence wearing this but don’t be afraid. Wear beautiful things. I loved wearing this and will be wearing it more now that cardigan and coat season have arrived. 

 

 

I got something fun! I have not had a coloring book in decades and have always known about adult coloring books. I have seen them but never wanted one until I saw this on Amazon. Again this popped up in my feed. I don’t know how. This book is called Le Bouquet Coloring Book of Classic Illustrations. It is full of beautifully illustrated floral bouquets and is so pleasing to the eye. I have really enjoyed coloring in it. It’s only $10. Enjoy! 

 

 

Now this beauty has been on my wish list for months! I have been following this brand for a few years now and this was my first order. This is the Mrs. Alice pink chinoiserie tole urn and it is massive. I posted a reel of me unboxing it on Instagram. It is absolutely stunning, and I must have it in green for my downtown office. Since we are moving spaces, I have some new ideas for my new office. I really want a vintage secretary in it with the green Mrs. Alice urn sitting on it with some gorgeous flowers. Oh, my goodness, I can see it now. 

 

 

And lastly is a new FBMP purchase. This beauty showed up in my feed and when I went to find out who the seller was it turns out it was one of our show house designers! Blake Richardson has fabulous taste so when I saw that it was him, I was thrilled. I went over and picked it up and got to see his wonderful vintage home. What I also found out was that buttercream yellow is the color of 2025! Who knew! Now should I reupholster it or not? 

It is currently sitting in my home office, and I do enjoy looking at it from my desk. I hope everyone has enjoyed this month’s favorites. The newsletter should be hitting your inboxes soon. Have a great week! 

 

 

 

 

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Perimenopause the Journey Continues…

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Hello Friends,

How is everyone doing? This past weekend was nice. I took it easy and went to a friend’s daughter’s wedding. I had a great time with my Guild Girls and my hubby. We ate, drank, and laughed. On Sunday, I went and did something. So I have been working on “building my life team” and I started looking for someone to help me with my eyebrows. I went on a search for someone and found Meraki Artistry. I will be sharing my eyebrow lamination experience soon!  

I wanted to give you all an update on my perimenopause journey. I wrote my first blog post about it last year in July and the journey is continuing. Here I am a year later, a little smarter, and a little more patient. So what has been going on this last year?

Well, I stopped the hormone pills, and I did go to the dietitian for almost a year.  For a year I was working with my dietitian, and I recently decided to take a break. I learned a lot about what foods would work for me in this time of my life and protein. I took lots of blood tests this year and learned that my protein was too high! Oh great another worry. Also, I loved my dietitian, but a lot of these weight loss companies are really pushing these weight loss medicines. I think they are great, but I just keep thinking, “I can’t stay on these all my life and the weight will come back eventually”. So far now I am working on keeping my carbs low and trying to focus more on eating protein whenever I do eat. My dietitian was wonderful and hope to go back to her soon. She is still a part of my life team. I am not on any diet medicines at this time. 

I have added strength training to my workouts, and I am still walking. I love my morning walks and cannot live without them. I am taking more strength training classes at my Pilates studio, and I am really enjoying them. What I am also working on is eating less at dinner. I must admit, I can eat more at dinner and it’s not good. So that has been my focus lately. 

 

Me in Washington, D.C. a few years ago. 

 

Have any of you heard of Midi? My dietitian mentioned them to me earlier this year and I do remember Jennifer L. Scott discussing them in one of her videos. At first, they did not take my insurance, so I decided to wait. But then I got an email that they did so I called and made an appointment with one of their perimenopause doctors. I took some blood tests and discussed my hormones, weight gain, hot flashes, headaches, sleep, and mood swings with the doctor. Of course, she said that I am in full blown perimenopause! I knew that! We decided that I would try birth control pills again and those made me feel worse! So I got off of those quick! I then decided to try HRT. I am now using an estradiol patch and taking progesterone at night. I feel a whole lot better I tell you and I am sleeping! I will be meeting with my doctor from Midi in a few weeks (this will be my third appointment) to discuss some more things from my blood test, but my protein has dropped! So that was happy news. 

 

 

Photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Life has become a journey for sure. Other items that I am focusing on are my thoughts. I heard a comment recently from Joyce Meyer’s Podcast called Talk it Out. She recently had a doctor on her show called Dr. Axe and he said some things in the first 5 minutes of this podcast that I just have to share!

“When I look at medical conditions for today, I think about half of it is diet or food related. That’s a big piece but I actually think that stress, spiritual, and mental health is equally if not slightly more impactful to our physical health and that’s very true of specific conditions. I’ll give you an example of how this cascade works with hormones. Like the hormone that most affects other hormones in the body is cortisol. And so, if you are stressed and living in a state of fear and worry and you don’t believe that God is a good father and that he’s going to be there for you and protect you; then you’re living in a constant state of insecurity, and your cortisol is higher. When cortisol is high that causes insulin to go high. Now your blood sugar when it is high that imbalances estrogen. And then the other thing that imbalances is then your thyroid hormones, T3 & T4. So having stress can be very disturbing to women’s health.”

WOW! You all should watch that podcast. It was very impactful, and I learned a LOT. I am one of those women who struggles with believing that God will take care of me. I will be honest. I am. So, this is something that I am working on and started with my Christian therapist last year. 

Another comment that Dr. Axe made was when your doctor tells you to stop stressing but they NEVER tell you how to stop stressing. He mentioned building things in your life that make you happy. That is how you combat stress, and he is right. That is another reason why I started going on and creating “elegant adventures” and started building my life team. If you need more life inspiration my blog post Tips for a Balanced Life may help and my How I Romanticize my Life Daily is other. 

Let me know in the comments below how you are doing on your perimenopause or menopause journey. I feel a little better this year than last and just hope that it keeps getting better. 

 

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My First Mahjong Class

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Hello Everyone,

Boy has it been a heavy week. I don’t want to repeat or talk about everything in the news but Lord you know our hearts and hear our prayers for EVERYONE!

Last week was a busy one for me and this past weekend was busy as well. We had our annual neighborhood HOA sale and a LOT of the boutique items sold! When you visit the page, you will see a lot of items gone and some marked down items as well. I hope to have a new arrival coming soon. 

But today friends I wanted to share how my first Mahjong Class went! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I found a company called Meet at Mahj and decided to sign up for their Mahj 101 class.  This group is run by a woman named Jamie and she was so nice and knowledgeable. She had a great team of women with her, and they were knowledgeable themselves and fun! They have a new studio in Zionsville, Indiana and offer lots of services. In my first class she explained the history of Mahjong which I appreciated and went to explain the rules. There is a LOT to learn. There were terms that I had never heard of in a game. 

We were taught how to plan American Mahjong. There is also Chinese Mahjong which I believe is a little more complicated. Each table had its own Mahjong tiles set and were so beautiful. I loved how she and her team decorated each table in its own theme. We sat down in groups of four and my group did not know each other which honestly, I like. I am in a chapter in my life where I don’t mind meeting new people. 

After she explained the history we went over what the tiles meant and each team member was assigned to a table to made sure that we all understood and could ask questions if we needed to. We were taught how to “wash the tiles”, the Charleston, how to deal, and how to pass which was interesting as well. We were taught how to push out our tiles and to make sure that the “dragon tail” faced a certain way. There was so much to learn during this class!

 

 

 

Once we went through the rules we started a game. I was not in a hurry to win or even understand it. I wanted to take my time and learn it. I wanted to enjoy the moment. I also wanted to be sensitive to the women in the room and not take a bunch of photos or videos. Some people may not want to be on camera, and I try to be mindful of that. 

Mahjong is a mental game I will say that. Each year a card comes out on how you should “create your hand” and I found that to be interesting! My table and I played our game and it took us a while, but we really enjoyed each other’s company and helped each other. I also brought my chinoiserie Mahjong set which the host of the game loved! She will be adding a Mahjong boutique to her game room which I loved that idea. Unfortunately, I did not win the game. My tiles were bad, words right from the teacher. I kept drawing tiles that were not helpful to my hand that I was trying to build but nevertheless I really enjoyed myself. 

The studio was decorated beautifully. I loved all of the pink, the wallpaper frames, chinoiserie fabrics, and tile sets. It was a great time! 

 

 

My Mahjong Set from Etsy

 

 

I will be returning to take Mahjong 102 and will be going to some of her open game courses. There is also a membership if you wanted to join and play all the time. I think that I am going to really enjoy this and look forward to meeting new women. Lord I need some Mahjong women in my life and hosting game nights at my home. I am speaking that into existence! 

Here is my set above. I adore it. I have my mat (mine is sold out here is one similar), tiles, tile racks, tile bag, and Mahjong bag. 

 

 

 

Let me know in the comments below if you have heard of Mahjong, play it or have played it. I am also interested to know if any of you have a girl’s game night! Have a great weekend! 

 

  • Affiliate links attached 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Toile Collection

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Hello Friends,

I had a really nice weekend this past Saturday. I received a message on TikTok (@Mrs..Shockley) regarding an antique store in Noblesville called The Annex by Thistle & Thyme and I went to visit this weekend. It was so lovely. I am in a point in my life where I only want to visit antique stores that are carefully curated. I don’t want to go to flea markets or antique stores full of junk. I have visited a few recently where I walked half of the store and just walked out. They were just full of junk and I have no interest nor time. 

I had a thought recently. I was repeating my morning affirmations while heading into work and I began to think about the word curate. I will explain it in another post. I promise. Last week I went to my first Indy Chamber meeting. The Indy Chamber is a non-profit organization that helps small business owners. They also have a Women’s Business Center and last week I attended my first event called Women and Wealth. It was a great opportunity to network and learn more about the organization. 

I also have lots of fun things going on this week. On Tuesday, I will be attending our Guild Luncheon to start off our next designer showhouse. I was recently added to our Supervisory Working Group for the Department of Justice which is a huge honor because it is so competitive. So that means my first meeting is this week. I have a Guild Director meeting, and my first Mahjong class is on Thursday. I am so excited! 

On Friday, our neighborhood is having its yearly fall HOA yard sale and then after that I am attending an interior designer workshop for Judy Bates Designs! It’s a fun and busy week. Speaking of interior design have any of you seen the new toile collection by Brandon Maxwell at Pottery Barn?

 

photos via Pottery Barn 

 

 

Can we say gorgeous? This showed up in my feed on Facebook and I just had to take a look at it. There are a lot of toile prints out there some are good and some (I think are really bad). I love toile with animals and nature. I believe that could go with your decor more.  This upholstered dining room set is stunning! 

 

photos via Pottery Barn 

 

I love this table skirt and reversible throw. The table skirt is not available on the website yet. I don’t know if it ever will be. If someone finds out, please let me know! Of course, the collection would not be complete with dinnerware and utensils. 

 

 

Ceramic pumpkins and vases are included in this beautiful collection as well. I love the combination of the toile and stripes. I think they flow together so well. I must admit the pumpkins were very tempting. I even love the doggie bed! Oh my goodness, so cute and chic. 

Let me know in the comments below are you a toile lover or not. Have a great weekend! 

 

 

  • Affiliate links attached; this post is not sponsored. 

 

What is “Hostingcore”?

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Well hello September!

My favorite month of the year! Not because it is my birthday month but because of all of the wonderful things that come with it. September always whispers autumn to me. I am trying my best not to rush this season but to actually pay attention to the days ahead. It is so hard with busy schedules, and work but I really want to make an effort. When our daughter was home for the summer, I was talking about something, and I can’t remember what it was. She then said, “be present”. Which of course is my phrase of the year. Being in this new season of life is requiring a lot of that. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful 3- day weekend. Goodness those go by so fast. I always want to get a lot done but I actually ended up watching the first Downtown Abbey movie from 2019. I really enjoyed it. Now I have not watched the series, but I intend on watching the movies. Looking at all of the decor and clothes always puts a smile on my face. Which made me think of a recent trend that I stumbled on months ago. Have any of you heard of “hostingcore”? 

 

 

My sitting room 

 

 

 

An article by Kate Lickert from Veranda Magazine described it as follows:

“With looming financial uncertainties and a growing desire to foster deeper connections, we’re entering a new era of entertaining at home. One of TikTok’s latest trends, hostingcore, embodies this design and lifestyle movement by encouraging you to transform every corner of your home into an open invitation. It’s not about hosting flawless soirées (who has the time or patience for that?). Instead, it’s about curating a space so warm and considered that guests feel at ease the moment they step inside.” 

Okay, now I like the sound of that and honestly try to embody that every time we have guests. I think the older I get the less fuss that I want in my life. 

 

My Thanksgiving tablescape from 2024

 

 

The article goes on to say:

“The hostingcore trend is casual in nature, but still inspires you to romanticize your gatherings (think: the kitchens and parties in Nancy Meyers movies). For example, the “good dishes” are meant for everyday use, the playlist is always queued up, and there’s always a chilled bottle of wine in the fridge. Hostingcore isn’t about being the perfect host; it’s about creating a thoughtful atmosphere and turning everyday moments into special occasions.” 

I would add that hostingcore is not only about preparing for these events but about everyday life. If you live this way with these items, then it’s no longer hostingcore but you will be living beautifully at your core. I think most of us who are in this space try to live this way every day. I love that this trend is happening and of course hope that it continues. If you want read the rest of the list click here. I also have a few elegant items on my Amazon list. You can shop it here. 

Have a great week!

 

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August Favorites ~ 2025

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Oh come on cooler weather! I really want cooler temperatures. This past weekend I was doing a few chores and felt myself sweat a little. I am trying not to rush the season, but it is so hard when you are burning up! I hope everyone is doing well. My husband and I went to another new restaurant for us. It was called Traders Point Creamery. The scenery was beautiful, and it was a very quiet and delicious dinner. I will share it on Instagram soon. Okay, now time for the most popular post on my blog, my monthly favorites!

 

 

I went antiquing recently in Franklin, Indiana and found a few beautiful items. I shared this on Instagram recently. The first is this large but outstanding bust that I found! I went down on a Saturday to shop then that evening I began to stew about this large bust that I saw. I could not resist. I had to go back and get her. Do you blame me? I found her at Fren Chic. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

I also purchased these vintage replica pearl clip earrings from 1992 from Fren Chic. Then I popped on over to the Salvage Sisters which was down the street. As soon as I walked in, I saw this beautiful vintage chinoiserie table. They only wanted about $30 for it. I have placed it in my office and will use it around the house for whatever task I need. Then I walked around and saw this stunning red toile teapot. Pictured below. 

 

 

This cost me around $70. I was not happy about the price, but the size and color were marvelous, and I simply could not leave it there. I just couldn’t. Next up are my splendid Ralph Lauren Adrienne Wingtip pumps. These are practically sold out everywhere! I tried these on while in Orlando in June, but they were the higher heels, and I wanted a kitten heel. I found a pair at Macy’s, but I think Dillard’s is the last store to have the kitten heel version. I saw Lydia Millen trying on a pair in a recent video and I thought, oh well I am on trend! 

 

 

 

Next up is my new Estate Planner from Nikki Boyd. I also shared a reel of this on my Instagram. I cannot express how beautifully done this book is. I have always wanted a binder of some sort that explains in detail my wishes and provides my daughter everything she may need to plan my affairs. Get this as a gift for a loved one to begin that difficult conversation because trust me you should. After going through and dealing with my father’s affairs…. I just can’t express enough how important it is. 

Then my monthly dinners with my girlfriends is everything! Earlier this month we went to a Turkish restaurant here in my city and it was so delicious. I think I am in love with the appetizer tray. It had Hummus, Tabouli, Babaganush, Eggplant Salsa, Dolma and Ezme. It was a dream and so good! 

 

 

 

Flowers are still a monthly favorite of mine. Although I have not had a good selection in my stores lately this gorgeous bouquet of white garden roses came from Trader Joes. It was so needed and enjoyed in my bedroom! 

Then my team and I decided to have lunch at the small Cake Bake Shop in Broad Ripple. We all enjoyed it and had a wonderful time. I have not been to this location in years. Love the Eiffel Tower Ferris wheel in the window. 

 

 

 

Then lastly, I found a chinoiserie scarf from Amazon. I had to share it. It’s very elegant and the colors are perfect for the upcoming autumn season. Well farewell to August and happy September to everyone! I love September! The weather is perfect; it’s my birthday month and well it’s just a great time of the year. Have a great week!

 

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Senses & Sensibility ~ At Home

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Hello Friends,

Is anyone tired of the heat? I know I am! There have been several days recently where I wanted to sit out on my porch with a book and dessert but could not because it was way too humid! I have been so sad this summer season. I have not had one flower in my greenhouse. It has just been so unbearable in it. But I am hoping to have some help soon. I just finished the summer session on my Land Gardeners Create Academy lesson. I love it!

Well, we are about to close on August, and I am gathering my August favorites for next week’s post. But in the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this little snippet from Gracious Home- Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome from Victoria Magazine. 

This list comes from the lovely author Melissa Lester from Victoria Magazine.

Heighten feelings of serenity by looking beyond the aesthetics of your interiors to consider the entire sensory experience of being in your home.

  • Take a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy your surroundings so that you will awake to a welcoming environment. When time does not allow for following through on this suggestion fully, consider the one area that is most important to your sense of well-being and focus your efforts there.
  • Whatever your favorite genre, set a tranquil mood with soft strains of music. Slow and simple melodies with gentle harmonies promote relaxation.

 

 

Screenshot- via Pinterest (Aerin Lauder Dressing Room) 

  • Open your windows during a spring shower not only to reduce humidity and ventilate your home but also to savor the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops, along with the delightfully earthy odor know as petrichor. 
  • To infuse your home with a fragrance known for calming properties, turn to lavender, chamomile, or vanilla.
  • Stash a variety of soft blankets in different weights near conversation areas. 
  • Lend a sweet floral essence to clothing by tucking sachets brimming with potpourri into drawers and closets. 
  • Fill a pretty bowl with fresh seasonal produce. A bushel of apples adds autumnal color to the kitchen while encouraging a wholesome snack. 

 

Photo via Pinterest 

 

 

  • As it circulates the air, let an oscillating fan lull you to sleep with the relaxing sounds of summers past. 
  • In a glass atomizer, craft a signature fragrance by diluting a few drops of essential oil and a pinch of Epsom salts in distilled water. Spritzing pillows and bedding with the aromatic spray may inspire dreams of the garden. 
  • If you have a fireplace, set a table before the hearth for the coziest wintertime dinners. 
  • Add moisture to the air by simmering redolent ingredients in water or apple juice and refreshing the liquid, as needed, throughout the day. Consider citrus slices, fresh herbs, and spices for the medley. 
  • Savor the sensory of experience of making a pot of coffee- listening to the percolate, inhaling the brew’s slightly nutty aroma, taking that first bracing sip, and tasting its fresh roasted flavor. 

 

 

Photo credit via: L. Shockley 

 

 

A few of these I already do. I hope these provide some inspiration to add a little beauty to your everyday lives. Don’t be afraid to add a few things. Sometimes I think we get in our own way. Step aside and try at least one of these and let me know in the comments section below. I also have some new elegant Amazon finds on my favorites page.  Have a great week! 

 

  • This post is not sponsored. Affiliate link attached.