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Planning a Tea Party

January 14, 2022/6 Comments/in Inspiring Books /by mrs.sshockley

Good Friday Morning,

I am ready for the three-day weekend! I plan on getting a few house chores done, work on my taxes, and maybe go antiquing. I will try to record a video for my channel but we will see. I do plan on trying a new recipe this week. It’s called macaroni soup and I will share it if it is a success!

I have been getting back into reading The Art of Tea by Victoria Magazine during my lunch breaks. I haven’t gotten too far in the book. I have a tendency to try to rush through a book because I feel like I am on a timeframe to read it but I am trying to break myself of that. Do any of you do that?

photo credit: Tallwood Country House.com

I am still in the first part of the book and in this section, they are discussing the planning part of a tea party. I honestly love this part just as much as enjoying a cup of tea. One of the best tips is planning ahead. Some of the questions that the book mentions that you should ask yourself is:

How many guests are anticipated?
Will the party be casual or formal?
Will the tea but themed, or is it an occasional function?

Photo credit: Pinterest

The book also suggests looking for recipes from your favorite books. I know making these has been on my radar for a while now. Also having personal touches for each guest. I like the idea of having a tea basket for each guest. A tea basket would make a wonderful gift. You could include tea, of course, a vintage teacup and saucer, wrapped pastries, and other items.

I have been wanting to have a tea and lunch at The Tea Room of Rustic Root. It’s a new tea room that is near me! I can’t find anyone to go with me so I may have to just go alone. That is something that I do often. I will probably grab a small table in the Lilac room. That room is my favorite so far.

I hope you all enjoyed these tips and pick up your copy soon! It’s a wonderful read and is full of recipes as well. Have a wonderful weekend!

This post is not sponsored.

Jewelry from the White House

January 12, 2022/2 Comments/in Fashion Posts /by mrs.sshockley

Good Morning,

I got a few new shipments arriving soon (not for the boutique). I am a little nervous about one of the decor items. I will share it once it arrives. In today’s post, I quickly wanted to share some jewelry that I recently found on the White House’s website!

The first pair are these gorgeous starburst earrings inspired by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy!

photo via Pinterest

This starburst collection was inspired by one of Jackie O’s brooches. She purchased a 19th-century brooch while she was in London and it was during her first few months as First Lady. Her three-stranded pearl necklace has always been an inspiring piece as well.

The website has lots of beautiful jewelry. You should definitely scroll through the website and look at all of the treasures that they have. Another blogger who shared the jewelry and home accessories from the White House was Jenny from Tallwood Country House. You should read her blog post as well. I would love to visit the White House someday or maybe work there! Who knows.

Have a great Wednesday!

The Beautiful Style of Jessica Fletcher

Good Morning Everyone,

I had a pretty good weekend. I watched a new action film called Infinite with Mark Wahlberg and it was not bad. We went and had dinner at Chic fil A on Friday and someone dumped a cup of ice in the parking lot near our car and I slipped and fell on it! I just laughed when I hit the ground. My purse somehow shifted behind me and I landed on it! It was perfect! I could not have planned it better myself. Once I recovered my family and I just laughed all the way home. I told Lauren, “well I guess I was due”. I had not slipped and fallen on ice in about 3 years. I was due”.

I am planning my year. I’ve got to get doctor’s appointments scheduled and I am trying to meet with a dietitian this year! That is one of my goals for 2022. I am also gearing up for my first tax year for A Home for Elegance. I can’t believe it! I am going to be a nervous wreck until this is done. Goodness…

I am also teleworking today, yay! I have not teleworked in months and I am so happy to be able to do this today. I know the rest of the week will be busy but I am going to enjoy this today. Alright now on to today’s post.

Have any of you ever watched Murder She Wrote? I started watching it a few years ago. It was on one of those nights that I could not sleep and needed something good to watch. One thing I noticed was her clothes. Did any of you ever pay attention to the outfits she wore during those episodes? Here are a few to jog your memory…

photos via Pinterest

She looks sensational right? I wish celebrities and T.V. stars still dressed this way but unfortunately being nude has become more popular.

I have to say I am a big fan of how she wears her scarves. I mean how chic is that? I read online that in a 1992 interview a costume designer by the name of Eilish Zebrasky was “careful” to fit Angela Lansbury in fashions that reflective her age. I would have to say that she did a wonderful job!

I spy a blue and white lamp…

I will surely be taking some tips from her fashion. In most of these photos, I would say that you can still wear these outfits today. I also love the mysteries. Murder She Wrote is just a classic television series that I am so glad to be able to still watch. It could be that I am getting older but I crave more shows like this. I always pray that the Lord can help me to find beautiful things to watch. Let me know what your favorite classic shows are.

Have a great Monday!

Thriving is Elegant…

January 3, 2022/4 Comments/in Elegant Living, Inspiring Posts /by mrs.sshockley

Good Morning and Happy 2022!

Do you remember my post in December called “Word of the Year”? Did you pick your word yet? My word is trust. I need to trust the Lord more. I am not good at it. I have several reasons why but that is another blog post. Have any of you picked up the January/February issue of Victoria magazine? Oh it is good but then again they always are.

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

I picked up my issue a few weekends ago and have been savoring it ever since. Sometimes I read the “Reader to Reader” section and sometimes I don’t. For some reason, I read this month’s section and I am so glad that I did.

A lot of readers were giving their hopeful expressions for the new year. Two of the letters that were sent in captured me. One reader wrote:

“The other day, I was going through my stash of inspirational greeting cards when I ran across one that a close friend gave me years ago. The purple-and-gold note has a saying from Maya Angelou emblazoned on the front: “Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant”. This sentiment resonates with me, particularly now as I am looking to make some big changes in my life. I am setting “Be Elegant” as my theme for 2022. That phrase will remind me to move beyond mere survival thinking and, hopefully, will motivate me to become a woman of style, and grace, to flourish, to grow, to succeed, and to live life to the fullest”. ~ Jacquie Koewler (Redmond, Washington)

Now, how great was that? I marked this in the magazine and plan on absorbing this myself. I have never heard of this quote before from Maya Angelou but I can assure you it will remain in my mental rolodex from here on out! Maybe I should change my word of the year to this quote for the year.

I just loved this letter from Jacquie and will be keeping it close by. Another item that I wanted to share that I found in this month’s magazine was the Antiques and Garden Show in Nashville, Tennesee. I really want to attend this! I spoke to my husband about it and we are trying to see if it will work with our schedules and finances. Did you see who the speakers are?

Well for starters Martha Stewart is one! Oh my gosh! I have been wanting to meet her for years. Bunny Williams is also a speaker as well as Alexa Hampton and Christopher Spitzmiller. There will be antiques and gardens and it would just be a dream to me. It really would. Of course, I will keep you all updated if we make the trip.

Let me know in the comments below if you have ever heard of this quote for Maya? Have a great Monday!

Caramel Cake ~ New Recipe

December 31, 2021/7 Comments/in Recipes /by mrs.sshockley

Good Morning and Happy New Year!

We have nothing planned this evening. Just a quiet dinner at home, my cheeseboard, some wine, and maybe a movie. I am putting up my Christmas decor today, washing bed linens, and vacuuming my entire home. I am also burning my fresh cut roses candle from Yankee Candle. It is one of my favorite scents. I want to wish you all a Happy New Year filled with peace, health and of course elegance!

Now I want to share my glorious semi-homemade caramel cake recipe!

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

Okay, so this is a semi-homemade recipe. The cake part is actually a basic yellow cake. I used the Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake mix and it turned out so wonderful. It was so moist and delicious! I also decided to use a bundt cake style pan and I loved the way it turned out.

Now the caramel icing is homemade and I decided to give this recipe a go and it worked out beautifully! It only required 4 ingredients and a lot of stirring but it was so worth it and my entire family loved my cake! Now the recipe did not call for pecans but I just kept looking at it and my husband asked me if I was okay with how it looked and I said, “you know I do want to add some crushed pecans”! He said go for it and I did. It added the perfect amount of crunch and salt to my sweet caramel cake! I could not be happier!

This was my table setting this year. I wanted something with blue in it. Last year and the years past I always had red and this year I wanted something different. I do love the way it turned out!

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

I can’t believe how fast this year flew by. I hope 2022 is a year of peace for everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!

December Favorites ~ 2021

December 29, 2021/6 Comments/in Monthly Favorites /by mrs.sshockley

Good Morning,

I feel like I am the only person on the planet who has not taken down their Christmas tree. All of my friends have shared that they have already taken down their trees but then I was reminded that I have 3. That’s completely different. I will be leaving the office early on Thursday to get started on taking them down. I did order a new flocked tree! I am so excited. Every time I order a new tree I donate an old one. I am also going to be adding some new decor. I want more ribbon and some velvet bows for my trees next year. I will be getting those ordered here soon.

Okay time to share my favorites list for December. I can’t believe it’s the last week of 2021!

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

Okay, I could not help it! I had to get these and I have no regrets! They are gorgeous in person. I love them so much. The fabric is so rich and sophisticated. It is a timeless shoe seriously! I hope Tory continues with these kinds of designs! I wish I could get this fabric on one of her totes!

The second is my chinoiserie-inspired scarf. I shared it on the blog here. I believe it is still sold out but I would keep an eye on the website if you are interested!

Third is my Christmas cactus. It begin to bloom in late November and then by early December I had this. It turned out so wonderful this year. My old supervisor gave this to me in 2016. It was the smallest little plant and I am so proud that I have been able to grow it to this size. I hope that I can continue to keep it alive.

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

Fourth is my beautiful Nutcracker! I found her while grocery shopping. I saw the hair and thought, oh my she looks very similar to me. I think she is gorgeous and is a wonderful addition to my Nutcracker collection!

The fifth has been the poinsettia that I had in our bedroom. It added such a Christmas feel and was a beautiful arrangement to have. I would recommend you get one for your bedroom next time!

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

Sixth has been this year’s wrapping paper. I love the colors and the velvet ribbon that I used. It looked so sophisticated.

And the last is my new Van Gogh Irises picture frame that I picked up at the Newfields Museum after my tour of the Lilly Manor. Once I saw it I knew that it would be a great addition to my office!

Okay, I almost forgot this! I don’t know how I have not seen this on Youtube! This movie was directed by Karl Lagerfeld and was released on Youtube in 2013! If you are a Chanel fan you will enjoy this immensely. It is only 30 minutes but is deliciously elegant!

Oh, one more. I found so many wonderful things to watch on Youtube this month! I found this wonderful Youtuber to follow. Her channel is AMAZING! She lives in Paris and takes you on her brocante flea market excursions and she recently toured the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Oh, magnifique!

I binged watched her channel after Christmas! It was wonderful!

Well, that does it for my December favorites and the end of 2021! Goodness, the years are going by too fast. The boutique does have a new plus-size arrival. The Flora Ruffle Blouse is available for purchase! I am so happy to finally have a plus-size blouse for the boutique finally! I do hope that you all are enjoying the boutique. We will see how year 2 goes!