Famille Rose ~ New China

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Good Morning Friends,

And it has been another super busy week for me at the office. I am looking forward to this upcoming 3-day weekend. I intend on getting caught up on house chores that I have not been able to get to. Like washing my cabinet doors and curtains. I also plan on ordering a few things for the boutique but we will see how that goes. I did order the floral pearl cluster earrings and when I opened the package they were the ugliest earrings I have ever seen! Sorry but I want to be honest. So those will not be going on the website. They looked so wonderful and elegant online but in person….. no thanks.

I have a new find alert! I did check out some new china on the Williams Sonoma website. I saw it online and thought I need to go and see this in person. The china did not disappoint…..

 

photos via Mrs. Shockley 

 

I saw this set online and had to order it. I ordered the boxed appetizer plates first. After I ordered this set I knew that I had to get more. Aren’t they stunning? This is called the Famille Rose collection for Williams Sonoma. It is microwave safe and dishwasher safe.  This collection is inspired by Chinese porcelain. The collection has beautiful details of floral and fauna. 

 

 

Once my appetizer plates arrived I knew that I wanted more pieces. This particular design was inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain. Love all of the colors! 

 

 

I couldn’t stop there and kept walking around the store to find more pieces. I then found these. They come in 3 different colors. I chose to get the pink rim and blue rim. I love the eye-catching color palette and the embellished floral motif. 

 

 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

I decided to play around with layering the plates. It was so much fun coming up with different combinations. 

 

 

Oh be still my heart….

 

 

 

Another item that I ordered where these Lily of the Vally wine goblets from the new Monique Lhuillier collection.

 

 

I love this glassware collection. It’s an everyday luxury. I am already using them for our everyday dinners. I also use them for my morning breakfasts.

 

 

 

 

photos via Mrs. Shockley 

 

I am really enjoying my new china plates from Williams Sonoma and my new wine goblets. You guys know that I am a firm believer in using what you have and I am using my new pieces. I only purchased a few. The store didn’t have complete sets of everything. So I just purchased what I liked. I may order full sets down the road but for right now I will enjoy these myself. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

 

This post is not sponsored. 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.

 

 

A Gorgeous Savannah Home

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Good Morning,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. My husband and I went to our favorite Japanese steakhouse for dinner and we just kept things simple. He did get me a bouquet of roses from Grace Rose Farm. I always hate the first few days but by day three they start to look wonderful. And he also ordered me one of my wishlist items. I finally got a copy of Estee Lauder: A Beautiful Life. I will be sharing it on my Youtube channel here soon. 

During my lunch break a few weeks ago, I was on One Kings Lane’s website drooling over this settee and spotted this gorgeous townhome from the 1800’s. Now some of the decor in the home I am not a huge fan of but can we just admire the outside of it. My goodness! If you want to read about it and see the rest of the rooms you may view it here.

 

 

photo via Chia Chong 

 

Stunning isn’t it? I sure wouldn’t mind being quarantined in this beauty. It’s 8,000 square feet and it has a pool! All I would need is Instacart dropping off my grocery and a florist delivering my weekly bouquets. Dare to dream right? Have a great Wednesday!

 

Note: Spring is approaching and the Frances Floral Maxi is on sale for only $20! It’s a beautiful dress and can be worn to many events, photos, as well as everyday elegance! 

 

Lunch at a New Tea Room

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Good Morning Everyone,

I am sorry for not posting on Friday. I just got extremely tired by the end of the week. I did not sleep well a few days last week. I don’t know why but I was falling asleep at 11:00 p.m. and waking up at 2:30 in the morning! It was awful. So by the time Friday hit my body just caved. I don’t know what was going on but I was just so tired. I sleep in a bit on Saturday and sleep in until 9 on Sunday. Sleeping until 9 is pretty late for me. I am normally in the bath by 9 on the weekends. 

I feel a little better today. Happy Valentine’s Day or should I say Happy Galentine’s Day to all of you! I actually looked up the definition for that and it said: “a day in which women celebrate their female friendships”. I do consider all of you my friends and hope you all treat yourselves to some wonderful “take-out” and a bouquet of flowers. Why not?

Speaking of treating yourselves I treated myself to a wonderful solo lunch early last week. I think I mentioned that I found a new tea room in my city. This tea room is actually only about 10 minutes from me. I have been wanting to go but could not find anyone to go with me so I decided to take myself. So I left the office early and had lunch at The Tea Room of Rustic Root. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

I made a reservation for one and I requested the Lilac Room. I loved the space. 

 

 

I brought some reading material to enjoy while I ate. I did not want to spend the whole time on my phone. I felt like reading and enjoying the atmosphere. 

 

 

I also ordered a hot cup of tea. I loved using their china. I had the ginger & lemon green tea. I added a teaspoon of honey and it was wonderful. 

 

 

I was really surprised when my meal arrived. I didn’t expect a huge portion but it was pretty hearty. I ordered the turkey panini and it came with a small garden salad. I ordered raspberry vinaigrette to eat with my salad and I loved it. It also came with a cinnamon scone. The turkey panini also had this herb mayo on it which was pretty tasty. 

 

 

Okay, I have never had a scone this good but it was so good!!! This was also the first time that I had clotted cream. I wanted to eat all of it. What a treat!

 

 

I sat, ate, read…. it was a nice afternoon. 

 

 

Loved the chandeliers. 

 

 

This was on one of the walls in the lilac room. I love it and kept thinking about how I could accomplish this at home. I know Amazon has lots of plate hangers now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This beautiful lilac wallpaper was on another wall. I could see this in my master bathroom. But you all know my husband….. he hates wallpaper. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Above all, it was a wonderful afternoon that I got to spend alone and enjoy a wonderful meal. I do plan on going again. I promised myself that I would. I think it is okay to dine alone. I am seeing more people do it now. We need to take the fear out of it. Spending time in solitude is a wonderful thing and can be done well. This place also reminds me of the Kopper Kettle Inn that we visited a few years ago. I may have to go back.  Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

 

Morning Things….

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Good Morning,

Our snow is melting and it is a bit warmer this week. I did something fun yesterday. I will share it on Friday! I did forget to mention in Monday’s blog post that I did go antiquing again. I found a NEW antique store. It is called SoBro Vintage Market Antiques. I will be honest it looked pretty crappy outside but when I walked in and was blown away! These booth owners have really good taste. I will be returning in the spring when the weather gets better. 

I have begun a new furniture quest. I am on the hunt for a secretary desk and a Chinoiserie-inspired table that I will use as a desk. I have the vision in my head and will give examples of what I am looking for later. I will start with Facebook Marketplace for my search. 

Today I wanted to talk about my “morning things”.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I have changed my morning routine this past year. Because of working from home and my new position, I have had to move things around. Most of you know that I am in a new office and this space is quite larger but there is no window for light. I must admit sometimes I miss my windows but this location is so much better! I am also on the intermittent fasting routine. I now have my first meal or my “tea time” does not start until 11:00 a.m. It is still an adjustment. When 10:00 a.m. hits I tell you it’s hard for me now to start tea time! 

My “morning things” are my china. Of course, I love the small blue and white plate that I use for my cinnamon raisin English muffin. I toast it in our breakroom and while it heats I use our water machine to add hot water to my “tea for one” teapot. You guys know that I am loving my new teacup from Homegoods. I only purchased two teacups. One for home and one for my office. 

 

 

You will also notice that I have a sandwich bag full of grapes. I have to have some sort of fruit in the mornings with my muffin and tea. The tea that I have been drinking for the last 2 years is chamomile and roasted dandelion. I love this combination together. You will also notice in the first photo that I have my painting of the Water Tower along with some “table beauties” nearby. Above are some of my table beauties. Every morning when I walk into my office I look at my table. I must admit my eyes go right to my new porcelain rose. I purchased one for my office as well. 

Once I come back from the breakroom, I sit down say a quiet prayer, eat my grapes, muffin, and sip my hot cup of tea with honey. While I am enjoying “tea time”, I am listening to Mozart, checking emails, and looking around my office. Morning things…..

 

Have a great Wednesday! 

 

 

 

Would You Travel Alone?

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Good Monday Morning!

My Mondays always seem to be hectic to me. I do have a routine and system so everything is ready in the morning except for my body. It does not like Monday mornings. This weekend was okay. Since I worked from home on Thursday and Friday of last week it felt as if I had more time off. It was so nice teleworking those days. I’ve got to take a least one day a week to telework. I think that would help bring a little peace throughout the week. 

I ordered too many things online. I have about 7 packages coming from Amazon. I think I shared that I am trying to order Lauren a few things as well. During some of my downtime this weekend I watched a few videos on Youtube. Since I love French living a video was “suggested” to me from Youtube. It was called, “I went to Paris Alone- How to find Joy in Solitude”. The title alone pulled me in….

 

photo via: Instagram

 

That got me thinking and honestly, I have been thinking about this for a while now. Could I travel alone? I mean if I were single and had no husband or child would I be traveling. Could I be brave enough to travel alone?

And the answer is yes! I have dined alone several times especially when I am traveling for work. Being in my own company has never bothered me. 

What about any of you? Have any of you ever traveled alone? Anyone ever traveled overseas alone? I am mainly interested in women traveling alone. That intrigues me. 

 

 

I have posted the video here. I do hope that you all enjoy it! Helena has lots of wonderful thoughts on traveling alone and the culture in Paris. Watch the video and let me know your thoughts! Have a wonderful Monday!

 

 

Vintage Roses- A New Book

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Good Snowy Morning,

And we have tons of snow! It is so cold here and it will be in the negatives tonight! I am working from home today as well. I am hoping that I can go out and run errands on Saturday but we will see. I am trying to get some things ordered for Lauren’s 17th birthday! Can you guys believe she will be 17 next month? Her favorite party of mine was the flower arranging birthday party that I threw for her in 2015. She was only 10! Her paint party was a blast as well. Time is slipping away, really fast. 

I think most of you know that I ordered the Georgianna Lane Book called “Vintage Roses” and I could not be happier with it. It not only has beautiful photography but is very informative. I wanted to share some snapshots of it below. 

 

 

 

 

I love a soft pink rose. I wish I could find these at my local grocery store. This is called the Heritage rose. It was introduced by David Austin in 1984. 

 

 

This flower is called Tasogare. This is a sugary, sweet-pea lavender in hue. This is a Japanese rose introduced by Morji Kobayashi in 1977. Tasogare means “sundown time” in Japanese, and is also used as a metaphor for old age. 

 

 

 

Queen of Sweden! Isn’t she beautiful? This is a beautiful English Musk hybrid that was introduced by David Austin in 2004. It is a cross between an Old Rose and a Noisette. David named it to commemorate 350 years of friendship between Sweden and Great Britain. 

I could just stare at it for hours. I may have to take this book with me to the garden nursery when it gets warm and ask if I could grow these here. 

 

 

These deliciously blowsy roses are called Penelope. I have ALWAYS wanted something like this growing on the sides of my home. I think these became popular again by Sarah Jessica Parker in the television series called Sex and the City. It is a hybrid musk and can grow around 59-79 inches. It can grow taller in warmer climates where it can turn into a climber. It is tolerant of shade and can withstand poor soil if it must. It was created in 1924 by Reverand Joseph Hardwick. 

I hope you all enjoyed this little snapshot of this stunning book. Please stay warm and enjoy your weekend!

 

 

Winter Antiquing

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And a Good Morning to you All! 

Well, we have not received much snow here in Indy but we are forecasted to get 14 inches from now until Friday!!! Yes, you read that correctly 14 inches in my area! So my plan today is to get into my office quickly, get some of my work done, grab my laptop, and work from home the rest of the week. I will be leaving my office early today. I don’t want to get stuck in the ice storm that will be arriving BEFORE the snow! Wish me luck!

It will be nice to work from home for a few days. Lauren will be home as well e-learning so it will be nice not having to rush out the rest of the week. One of my new books just arrived. I ordered Vintage Roses and I cannot wait to take some time this week and read it! It is so beautiful!

Okay now let me share what I found at my favorite antique store.…

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I spotted these gorgeous plates as soon as I walked in. I have no idea what the name of the pattern was but I loved the blue!

 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

The next item were these charming pink vases. It was only $12 for both! I am still regretting not buying these!

 

 

The next thing that I spotted was this elegant green dish. I have no idea what it was but I loved the color. Beautiful right?

 

 

I walked around some more and spotted these vintage wine glasses. I wish I had room for all of these things. I adored the wine glasses to the right on the second shelf. Goodness, I should have just purchased them. 

 

 

Here are some more goodies in this chair. I could not pass up that blue and white trinket dish or the pillow. Just look at all the rich colors and textures. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

In the end, I purchased a pink-tinted vase, a gold rope tray, a Chinosiere ginger jar, a Limoges floral platter, the textured tasseled pillow, the blue and white vintage tray, and the gold plant stand. I spent under $50 on everything. I am so excited about my finds. I can’t wait to use everything. I do use my things. If they are beautiful that just makes life so elegant to me. Now I am going to get my day finished and come home. We will see how much of this 14 inches we will get! 

Enjoy your Wednesday!