Our Trip to Universal ~ 2025

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Hello Everyone!

I had a busy weekend, but it was great! I took the day off last Friday to go and pick up my newly reupholstered chair.  It is gorgeous! I will be sure to share some photos later. Once I returned home, I had a representative from California Closets come by and design a closet organization system for my walk -in closet. I am in love with it and hope to get it done soon! Then later on that afternoon one of our Guild members had a Chanel jewelry party at her home. I had a blast! She had great nibbles around to eat, and the jewelry was stunning. I purchased two pairs of earrings and a necklace. Of course I will share photos later. Lastly on Saturday, I attended a Garden Soiree! I was invited as influencer. It was a great time to network with other people in my city and see a beautiful property and garden. 

Okay so I am finally getting around to sharing our trip to Universal Studios in Florida. We went in June. It has been almost 3 weeks since we have been back. I have been busy I tell you! Well I took some photos, not a lot. Again, my word of the year is “be present” so that is what I was trying to do while in Florida. 

I will start off with the hotel. We stayed at the Hard Rock Resort which was a 10-minute walk to Universal. I will say it was a beautiful hotel, and the staff was incredibly nice!

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

The hotel was very clean and had lots of amenities. There were restaurants on site, rock music playing downstairs in the lobby with music videos, a Starbucks, and so much more!  As I mentioned the park was such a short walk from our hotel. We could also take a ferry. We passed this beautiful area of water every day. I actually loved looking at this on our way to the park. 

 

 

It was so HOT! I mean hot. I actually got a terrible heat rash the first day and it lasted for more than 10 days. It hurt and itched at the same time, but I powered through it. Once we got to the park we split up from the girls and they headed to Harry Potter. Walking around was an experience. I was not getting on any rides but wanted to see Universal. My husband and I did get on the Bourne Stuntacular. If you are a Jason Bourne fan, then you will certainly enjoy this. 

 

 

We did catch up with the girls in Diagon Alley. I will say this the Harry Potter World was put together quite nicely. There was a lot to see, and I think the Disney team did a great job creating their merchandise. All of it was very nice. We walked around, saw the dragon blow fire out of its mouth, and ate lunch at the Leaky Cauldron with the girls. 

 

 

Another place that we dined at was the Hard Rock Restaurant. Lauren loved it! She loved the pink Cadillac spinning around in the middle of the restaurant. I loved the service, the space, and the food. This salad that I got was so satisfying! On a day where it is 100 degrees, having this salad was so refreshing and needed. 

 

 

I did manage to get in a pool day. The pool area at the hotel was stunning. It was well kept and had a food and bar service. I ordered lots of things from Amazon to wear to the pool. This swimsuit cover up looked so chic along with this striped swimsuit. I also ordered this swimming cap to match as well as this beach tote. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

It was so nice just sitting by the pool and reading. I brought my Bunny Mellon book to catch up on. This is a really big book, and I need to finish it. It is really good! It is so fascinating to read about all of the connections and history that this family has. They started Listerine!

 

 

And the last place that I will mention is this restaurant which was so hard to get into! The Chocolate Emporium was a real treat. The food… all I can say is OMG! You really need to watch the video to get an idea about how much of an adventure it was. The staff was incredibly nice, and we got to meet the characters as well. 

Overall, it was a really nice trip and was a dream for Lauren. Because we stayed at the Hard Rock hotel, she had early access to the park and Express passes! She hardly waited for any ride! She and her friend Ana were in Cloud 9! As parents it’s a great feeling to be able to do this for your kid. When I was growing up, we never traveled anywhere. So, I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this for my kids. 

Next week, I will be sharing my day at the Cake Bake Shop in Disney!!! 

 

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A Bathroom Decor Refresh

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Good Morning Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend! We just grilled and hung out with the kiddos. I did go to the fabric store to pick up some new fabric for my cane chair that I purchased on FBMP in March of 2024.  I hope to be dropping it off soon with the reupholster. I always look forward to his transformations when it comes to my furniture pieces and fabrics.  I am trying to plan a day to just stay home. I really need some “stay at home days”. I want to relax and get some things done around my home. I also just want to hang out alone and try to recharge.

I do have some exciting events this week. On Friday, I have a consultation with an organizing specialist from California Closets!  She will be coming by the house to look at my closet and hopefully the laundry room. I want to see what designs she can come up with to reconfigure my closet and laundry. 

I also have an influencer event. I will be sharing that next week. For the past few weeks, I have been working on a simple decor refresh for my master bathroom. I was inspired by my friend Nicole Blair’s bathroom revamp that she did for a client of hers in May. 

 

photos via: Nicole Blair Instagram 

 

Here are some screenshots of the bathroom refresh that Nicole did. I was so inspired by the wall of beautiful florals and art. I loved the small chandelier that she added in the space. I think it added the right about of elegance and luxury. This space for was an elderly woman and I tell you something changes in you when you update your spaces.

 

 

This was a screenshot of the video that Nicole posted. I fell in love with floral valances that she added to the window. I loved them so much that I went on the hunt and tried to find something similar. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Sorry I could not get a better photo of my new valances, but I found this blue and white chinoiserie inspired set on Amazon. They look so good in my bathroom. I originally had this green set of curtains up. They have been there since we moved in. I have tried multiple curtains for this space, but nothing seemed to work. It is exciting to have a curtain refresh after 12 years. The photo on the left is the first set of pictures that I purchased. I started building my wall of art in May. In this spot I had a giant print of a flower. I had that print for almost 20 years. I found these at HomeGoods but Amazon had a few here, here and here. 

 

 

 

As the weeks went by every time I went to HomeGoods or T.J. Maxx I would check their picture area and see if any new goodies appeared and I found vintage inspired photos and frames bit by bit. It was a process for sure. I wanted to make sure that each photo fit the section and blended well with the other photos. I added this starburst mirror in the middle. I bought that over 10 years ago and it has just been sitting in my decor bin. The landscape photo at the bottom was a T.J. Maxx find from a female artist. 

I then thought that a wall plate was needed so I search Etsy for one and found the blue and white platter for only $44! I found a small blue and white ginger jar at HomeGoods. The area was slowly coming together. 

 

 

 

 

Here is the final look. I may change the pink vintage photo. I do like how it ties in with the pink rose photo in the middle. I will be sharing a reel on my Instagram page if you want to take a peek. Honestly, I am glad that I did this. I needed a refresh in this bathroom. I thought about changing the wall color but I don’t know what I want yet so we will see. 

I hope this has provided some inspiration to all of you. Keep in mind it does not take much to add beauty to your life. It can come in small doses like this. Enjoy your week!

 

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June Favorites ~ 2025

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Hello Friends,

I am back from Florida, and I will tell you that I am exhausted! It was soo hot. I mean unbearable HOT! The first day that we were there I changed clothes, got settled in the hotel and we went to Universal. The moment I stepped foot outside my body immediately began to tell me that it was too much! I got a heat rash the first night that we walked around and I still have it a little. I will be sure to share my adventures soon. Until then these were my favorites for the month of June.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

First on my list are peonies. I am still finding peonies! JP Parker posted on their Instagram account that they still had peonies for sale. I jumped right into my car and drove down to Franklin. Once there they let me have my Megan Sussex moment. If you watched her series on Netflix, then you know what I mean. They let me go into the back and pick out my own peonies. I came home with this stunning bouquet to enjoy before leaving for my trip. They also signed me up for their floral arranging classes! I could not go to the one in June but I am hoping that they will have one in July!

Next is my all-white outfit that I wore to the office. I have always been afraid of all white but thought I would give it a try. My dress is from Bloomchic, slingbacks are from Target, handbag is from MME. Mink. I added a pearl necklace, some pearl earrings and my look was complete. I got lots of compliments that day as well. 

 

 

Third is my new obsession, avocado toast! Now I have always been intimidated by this dish but decided to give it a try. I found a basic recipe online and made it. It turned out great and I have made it twice already. It is so good! 

Next are my new raised beds! I ordered these from Home Depot and the installation was pretty easy. What took so long was filling it. My husband and I looked up ways to fill it in a cost-effective way. We used old logs, dirt, old flowers, and it turned out well. I planted sweet peas, hollyhocks and other flowers. They look great in the back yard next to the greenhouse.  

 

 

Fifth on my list are my monthly dinners and/or adventures with my Guild girls. This month we had appetizers and cocktails at the InterContinental Hotel in the Astrea Rooftop Bar. It was a blast! The view was spectacular and so were the appetizers and cocktails. This night was so needed. My father has passed away a week before and dealing with his funeral arrangements was a nightmare! He had no money nor plans in place and I had a sister whom I never met wanting us to spend money and I just refused. Spending time with my girlfriends and talking things out with them helped me to finalize my decisions. It was needed! 

Next up was my first massage! That’s right I got my first massage at Woodhouse and it was a dream. I got the Swedish body balance massage, and it was heaven! I also added in some heated rocks and oils. My goodness! I need to go back and get another one especially after dealing with Universal Studios! 

 

 

 

And lastly was my latest visit to interior designer Tiffany Skillings newly renovated studio. She has completely redecorated her office space and had included these living spaces. This bed with all of the layers was so inspiring. I also loved the pink paint color on the walls. I will have to email her and ask the color. I did not take a lot of photos because I wanted to be there in the moment and soak in all of the decor items. But if you live in the area, you should go and take a visit. 

Finally, we have another work outfit. I love this maxi skirt from Ann Taylor. Sorry I cannot link it; it sold out quickly! I loved pairing my blue and white slingbacks from Target with this blush maxi. I think the colors flowed so well. I added a lace cami, and cream Chanel inspired cardigan. I was very pleased with this look. Remember, wear your best. Even if you don’t feel like it. 

I hope you all enjoyed my June favorites. I did not have a lot this month. June has been a rough and busy month for me. I do hope that things will slow down here soon. Oh, I did want to share some news. I recently created a LinkedIn account for A Home for Elegance. If you have an account, you can follow me as well. Have a great week!

 

The Act of Loveliness ~ Enrich Your Daily Life

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Good Morning Friends, 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day weekend. We spent ours at home with the kiddos. All three adult children were home and spent time with Mr. Shockley. He loved it! I also got him this practicing putting mat from Mark and Graham. He absolutely loves it! I was so happy to see him using it with the kids. 

Well friends my family and I will be heading to Florida next week. I will be taking a break from the blog. We will see what elegant adventures I can come up with while in Orlando but before I go, I wanted to share this lovely list from Victoria Magazine’s new book Gracious Home, Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome. Oh, and did everyone hear that Jennifer L. Scott has a new book coming out? OMG! So excited. 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Author Melissa Lester wants you to consider these suggestions for cultivating a spirit of welcome that enriches your daily life.

  • Address areas that greet you upon entering your home, first clearing away clutter and then arranging vignettes that will delight your eye each time you open the door. 
  • Even when dining along, choose pretty plates, and flatware appreciating the glimmers of beauty these special pieces add to your meal. 

 

photo credits: via Pinterest

 

  • Display framed prints of favorite scriptures or quotes to remind yourself of wise and encouraging words.
  • Sleep on the finest bedding that your budget allows. And if your nicest sheets are hidden away in a cupboard for safekeeping, realize that most household textiles actually fare better with regular use and laundering. 

 

photo credits: via Pinterest 

 

  • Assess the scene that awaits when you open your eyes each morning. Would repositioning the bed afford a clearer view of the world outside your window? 
  • As often as possible, snip a few blooms to create a fragrant posy for your bedside table, desk, or bathroom counter. 

 

Photo credit: via Pinterest

 

And lastly

  • Develop routines that ease your into and out of the day. The benefits of a cup of tea in the morning and a stroll through the neighborhood at sunset can last from dawn to dusk. 

I really hope that you found some inspiration in this list developed by Melissa Lester from Victoria Magazine. It has all of the items that are in my daily routines. There is order, beauty, tea, flowers, home decor, and a view of the world. Enjoy your weekend.

 

The boutique has some accessories on sale. Shop here! 

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2025 Decorators’ Show House & Gardens

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Hello Friends,

The weather has been wonderful and I have been in my garden most of this week! My sweet peas are starting to come up as well as my hollyhocks. Fingers crossed that everything comes up beautifully this year. I do have to repurchase my parrot tulip bulbs. I don’t know what happened to them but the seem to vanish in my pot in my greenhouse! I think something ate them or took them out. It is very confusing. 

I am a little late posting this, but the show house has ended for this season. I was so busy. I was a director this year, so I barely had time to really enjoy it. There was a lot of running around and I a lot to learn this year. We had a great turnout, and I think everyone really enjoyed it!

 

 

photo credit: Haven Media 

 

This year’s house was called the Baxter home and had some incredible history. It is also owned by one of our lovely Guild members. The original Baxter family moved into the house in 1931. I loved the French Norman style design and the stone on the home. It was so pretty!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

The home was originally 4,400 square feet and now spans approximately 7,000 square feet. The photos above were a few snapshots of the living room that was designed by BWR Home. Designer Blake Richardson is known for his maximalist design and bold blending. I renamed this room the “Ralph Lauren Room” because of all of the equestrian inspiration. 

 

 

 

I feel in love with this painting above. It did not make it in the show house, but it was there while I was doing a house-sitting shift. Designer Todd Ottermann, created a beautiful wall of art in the entry way and second floor landing, and this piece is in his inventory. I think it is stunning! 

The room in the photo to the right was called the Golden Apple Cafe. It was designed by Greyhunt Interiors.  Sallie Lord was there in person discussing the room and I just really enjoyed meeting her and talking about wallpaper. She was trying to “fight for my honor”. My husband was there helping me with a house shift and Sallie was telling him that wallpaper is not all that bad. Thank you Sallie! 

 

 

This space was called the Hideaway, and it was designed by Catherine Marrano Interiors.  What I loved most about this room was well everything! This room was originally the laundry room, but Catherine turned it into a multipurpose space. She added the murphy bed which maximized the space and just look at the color of that wood! I loved the warm wood tones and the beautiful greens. It came together so well. 

 

 

 

The last space that I managed to get a photo of while running around was the called the Keeping Room. It was attached to the kitchen which had green colored Viking appliances. I loved the beautiful natural sisal rug and all of the cozy fabrics. I am now on the hunt for a sisal rug for my family room downstairs. I want to layer it with my blue and white rug. Both the keeping room and the kitchen were designed by MW Harris, LLC. 

We had lots of awesome sponsors this year and continue to raise money for Eskenazi Health. We also had some new decorators join the show house! This year marked the 64th year and we continue to be the longest running show house in the country. If you are local, I do hope that you will stop by next year and help us continue this tradition. If you want to take the virtual tour you can do so here.  Just double click on all of the spaces to move around. Enjoy the tour and let me know what your favorite room was in the comments section. 

 

  • I am a member of the St. Margaret’s Guild. 

 

 

 

 

The Peony Season ~ 2025

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Hello Friends,

What a week for me. I have been really busy at work, and we buried my father on Thursday. So, there has been a lot going on. Rick and I did get my raised garden beds installed in the backyard, and I have planted some seeds! I planted some sweet peas, moved my tulips to the beds, planted some larkspur, hollyhocks, verbena, and lemon balm. I am so excited about this new garden journey and of course will be sharing it here soon. 

The peony season this year certainly came and went as usual. I hate that this season is so short. It feels like you can’t fully enjoy it. I of course went to the Peony Festival this year again. It has become a yearly tradition for me. It was so CROWDED. It was actually almost unbearable! I am hoping that they will consider making it two days next year or get a bigger venue. It was really crowded. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

I am carrying the MME. MINK Carlton Basket tote. 

 

My husband and I did not stay long but I did get to visit my favorite vendors. I picked up some candles from Linnea and some peonies from JP Parker.  Oh my goodness, their new candle, Lilac, is a dream. The notes of lilac and moss, oh my goodness! It is really good! After the festival we stopped and had brunch. The weather was great and of course riding in a car full of peonies is a treat. 

 

 

I cannot resist the coral peonies. Now they are not as fragrant as the pink or white, but their layers of colors are breathtaking. Just look at these. I actually picked up this bouquet from Whole Foods! That had such a wonderful inventory this year. Expensive but wonderful. Also I found this beautiful swan pitcher at HomeGoods. 

 

 

Overall, the I enjoyed the peony season this year. My peonies came up beautifully. I even had a surprise new batch appear in my front garden this year. I always look forward to this season and make sure that I enjoy it thoroughly. I always make sure to gather all of my bouquets for a picture on my dining room table. So fleeting and such a glorious season!

Have a great weekend! 

 

 

May Favorites ~ 2025

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Good Morning,

I have some sad news to share. My father passed away unexpectedly last week. He lived in Georgia, but I am glad that we were able to settle things and make peace with one another before he left. Planning everything has been hard, but we are getting through it. 

Life has had some interesting challenges recently but in spite of the challenges God has been very faithful. Truly! Now on to some of my favorites for the month of May!

 

 

 

First up are my Ann Taylor Loft skinny scarves. These are so beautiful! I was quite surprised at how lovely they were. They are great for your neck and your handbag. Wrapping them around my totes has been a true treat. Now my scarves have sold out, but the Loft has these which are a pretty close design. Order them while you can!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Next up have been some self-care moments at home. I work-out Monday thru Thursday. I have my morning walks, Pilates, Rebounder class, kettlebell class, and I lift weights. On Fridays I take the morning off to enjoy some downtime before heading into the office. I get up early, have my devotional time , then I head downstairs to my quiet and beautiful sitting room to enjoy what I call a beauty book. For the last few weeks, I have been reading Aerin Lauder’s new book Living with Flowers. I usual light a candle and for the past several weeks I have been enjoying my peonies. 

Another self-care item has been my weekly Thai food dinner. On Wednesdays, after Pilates, I order my favorite Thai dish. It’s a beef soup with rice noodles and some spring rolls. This is so delicious to me and is a real treat every week.  

 

 

Speaking of peonies, did you see my David Austen roses on my Instagram page? Oh my goodness has this season been so rewarding. They are like a dream this year. They are starting to climb my trellises and the scent is heavenly. I fertilized them before they bloomed, and I think that made them happy! Even my husband cannot resist smelling them. Next up has been my new smartwatch. I am not a smartwatch person, but I wanted something to monitor my sleep. I have been so curious about it lately. This smartwatch that I ordered from Amazon has been outstanding. It syncs to any phone and is so easy to use and it monitors your sleep. I need more REM!  

 

 

 

Have you seen these blue and white chinoiserie shoes from Target? These are similar to the other slingbacks that I shared last month. They are so chic, and sooo comfortable! My goodness are these comfortable. I have gotten so many compliments.

On the right you will see this stunning green ginger jar. This item was on my wishlist for almost a year! Unfortunately, they have risen the price. It was $250 and it is now almost double that which is incredibly disappointing. Rick got it for me for Mother’s Day. The funny thing was I did not know that the price had gone up so when I sent Rick the screenshot it was from last year with the $250 price tag. Williams Sonoma honored that price and let Rick order it for $250! Happy! 

 

 

Eighth on the list are some new candles. While I was in Ohio last month, I visited their World Market store and stumbled on these beautifully scented candles. These are so delightful! I really loved the hydrangea hyacinth and the wild jasmine scents. Also, they are only $16.99 and are pretty large! They would be perfect to try in your home. There are other scents available. 

 

 

OMG! Look at these ankle tie pumps from DSW! They are perfect for spring and so comfortable! The heel 3 inches high and the lace is 21 inches long. They are so elegant. I could not resist ordering them in polka dot and in the floral print. I have gotten so many compliments. 

 

 

Tenth on the list is my new arrival for my boutique! The blue chinoiserie clutch is now available to purchase. It has a vintage style shape and blue and white color combination. It is perfect for parties. You can also use my code “spring10” for 10% off of your purchase. You can use that code sitewide! 

 

 

Next up is my recent video with Dr. Minju Witte! I hope you all have had a chance to watch and let us know in the comments section about a second video. I so enjoyed having Dr. Witte in my home and we had a wonderful time recording this video! It’s your questions answered by Dr. Witte! 

 

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