June Favorites

/in , /by

It’s the first full week of summer and honestly, it has not felt like it yet. It’s been rather chilly here in Indy. I am NOT complaining! There are a lot of us here that are enjoying it.


It’s time for my June favorites…. already. I have a few new favorites this month. Most of them you guys know about already so let’s jump right in…


First on my list is this YouTube fitness channel that I found called Popsugar Fitness. Oh my gosh, it is so wonderful! I use to be able to look at my on demand and find free fitness videos but like all things they are no longer free. So it forced me to take a look at YouTube. I have an app screen on my t.v. so I can use the big screen to watch these great fitness videos and work out to them. I have been working out to this latest video below….



And this one as well.


They are awesome!


Second, on my list has been my spring dresses and skirts. I have purchased quite a few for this season and it has been great being able to just grab one from the closet, add a cardigan, some great kitten heels, pearls and head out the door!

Third on my list has been (of course), my new dining room table. I have had it for about three weeks now and could not love it more. I am so pleased with our table and chairs. It’s so elegant to me.

Fourth on my list has been my recent crock-pot dinner. On Father’s Day we kept things simple and just ate dinner at home. My husband wanted to put some filet mignon on the smoker but it would not stop raining. So I just suggested that he let me put them in the crock-pot. They turned out so wonderful! I am not a steak person but it was delicious! I added some bourbon brown sugar marinade, some salt, butter, and they cooked for 10 hours. The steak feel apart in your mouth! My family loved it!

Fifth on my list has been (of course) this year’s peony season. It was such a great season this year. I had over 5 bouquets that were flawless. Thank you Lord for creating such beautiful flowers!

My office 







Sixth on my list has been this season’s blueberries! Oh my gosh! I can’t stop eating them which honestly is a good thing. They have been so good! I am glad that I am learning how to eat things in their proper time.

Seventh on my list has been my new canvas pictures from Tuesday Morning and Homegoods. There is nothing like a new photo to make a room feel brand new. Switch out some of your pictures and change the look of your rooms in your home.


And last on my list is my new pink polish color for spring and perhaps summer. It is called Fuzzy Wuzzy. Hysterical right? But it is the perfect pink for me. I do love it and will probably wear it the entire summer.

That is it for my favorites for June. I could add more but this is enough. I hope you all find some inspiration in some of my favorites and make sure that you look up the perfect season for buying your produce. I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed.

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Royal Albert Breakfast Set

/2 Comments/in , /by


My table at home



It’s Friday!!!!  I always feel bad when Friday comes around. We should be enjoying all the days of the week right? I am trying to work on that. I should not be celebrating just when Friday comes around. Really all of life…. we should be enjoying. That is a goal of mine. All days have value. 


I was texting my friend earlier this week and we both have a love for Royal Albert Old Country Roses china. Now I only have one teacup and saucer. One…. I have been wanting more pieces but my goodness it is expensive!


She sent me a snapshot of her breakfast set!!! Oh my gosh, do I love it! So, of course, I jumped on eBay immediately and naturally I found her set for $349! Hmmm, excuse me? I believe she paid under $50 for hers! NO FAIR!!!! But I did manage to find one teacup and saucer set for under $30 so I made an offer and it arrived this week and I couldn’t love it more. 

The small one is the regular size and I purchased it about 5 years ago. I bought it online from eBay and I think I paid around $20 for it. The bigger one is the breakfast cup. Gorgeous isn’t it?  

Such a lovely print!
It was fun comparing both of the prints and sizes. I know that I would like at least one more of the breakfast cups and I know that I want some of the dinner plates too. I wanted to bid on some this week but the seller was on vacation. I will try again next time. 

Well, I hope that you all enjoy this post. Enjoy your days always. I know that the older I get the more I want to run my own race and enjoy my own journey. If any of you have any Royal Albert Old Country Roses china at home let me know in the comments section. I am always on the lookout for new pieces to purchase. Have a great weekend!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

A New Book ~ English Etiquette

/in , /by

Photo by Євгенія Височина on Unsplash

I love a good etiquette book. Especially one that teaches common decency, grace and excellent lifestyle choices. Most of you know and I mentioned this on my Youtube channel on Sunday that Jennifer L. Scott posted on her Instagram account a book called English Etiquette: The Motivation Behind Manners. 


Of course, I went onto Amazon to find it and looked at the “preview” for it. The chapters for it looked amazing! The book is divided up into different sections. The first chapters are about Why Etiquette Matters, followed by Common Decency in One’s Own Castle, there is also a section called Gallantry and Grace, and so on and so on. It looks absolutely intriguing. 

Then I begin to search a little further and noticed that there was a second book by the same company, The Darling Academy, called Ladies Like Us. This book is about giving gentle guidance on what it really means to be a lady. They also discuss true grace, quiet confidence and surrounding yourself with everyday happiness. 

I think I may need to order both! I then went to the Darling Academy’s website and was blown away at how beautifully done it was! 
Tyntesfield Gibbs National Trust

You must visit the website. There are lots of articles on etiquette and English living. I will be taking a look tomorrow during my lunch break. I am sure that it will be a website that you will enjoy! Also if any of you already have these books let me know your thoughts please! I would love to hear them. 


Thanks for reading!!! 













(photos via Pinterest and The Darling Acadmey.com)

Flowers are Life

/in , /by

Summer begins officially this week and I am already dreading the summers here. It is so hot and humid in Indy. For the first time this year, I felt like we actually had a spring! We have had 60-degree weather for most of the spring. Some nights have even gotten down to 40 degrees! I love it! I love those crisp mornings. Especially heading into the office during the weekday. I love those morning walks. 


Some mornings I get a chance to look at Instagram for a bit and I always smile when I see a post from Cathy Graham’s account. If you are not following her than I would suggest that you should. Cathy is an awarding winning artist and fashion illustrator. Her first book Second Bloom: Cathy Graham’s Art of Table was published in 2017. In her book, she covers elements that will make any event shine.  Her beautiful photos will put a smile on your face every time. 

I love all of the colors that she uses and her whimsical style. I have been taking a second look at single stem arrangements. 






Beautiful and yet so simple. 

Her gorgeous vanity. 

A recent arrangement on her Instagram account. 
Someone recently asked me, “Why do you love flowers so much”? Was it because of a grandmother or parent”? I simply told her, “I don’t know”. I just do”. But honestly, how can you not love flowers. It’s natural beauty. They are just splendid creations. I have always loved flowers and I always will. I hope that you have found inspiration in this post and follow Cathy’s account. I have also attached a video of her doing what she does best. Creating beauty. Have a wonderful Monday!!!!





(photos via Pinterest & Instagram)
(video via Youtube)



A Dining Room Update ~ Part 2

/2 Comments/in , /by

So here is where we left off. My Charthouse Dining Room Table arrived two weeks ago along with my beautiful host chairs. I was then told that my other four chairs would not arrive until sometime later (this past Tuesday). 


Well, they have arrived and I adore the way my new dining room table looks.

My Queen Anne Chairs look lovely and are very comfortable. I selected the water white color. I wanted a neutral color and something that would give the table a fresh look.  I am so pleased to finally have a “normal” dining room table. It’s nice to have a sophisticated eating area rather than something that feels like a bar. 

It’s been a long journey but I am glad about our selections. 



Love my pom-pom throw that I found at Homegoods. It looks so comfy hanging over my host chair. 


The dark color of the table is the perfect look. I love a dark table with neutral color chairs. The contrast between the two goes so well with our other home decor. 

I look forward to entertaining this holiday season and for many seasons to come! 
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Simple Picks

/2 Comments/in , /by

Good Morning! I was not sure if I was going to be able to get a blog post together for today but here we are with something simple. 


Darn those Ann Taylor Factory emails! I found some beautiful yet simple pieces to share today. 


First is this lovely boatneck sweater. I love a good boatneck. They are so feminine and classy and this one comes in nine different colors. Oh joy!   

I ordered it in slate blue. I can see it now with a pair of pearls. 

Next is this simple yet beautiful striped shirtdress. The price is outstanding and who would not want this beautiful piece in their wardrobe? It’s so versatile. You can wear it to work, a wedding, church, dinner with your husband or with a friend. I know I look forward to wearing it. I ordered it for myself. 
The third item is this soft but fitted ribbed trim sweater. This also comes in seven different colors. I had to order it in the dogwood pink. It was too pretty not to. 
And last but there certainly was more that I wanted to order are these charming pom-pom slippers! Aren’t these lovely? I had to have a pair and at $14.99 who wouldn’t! They also come in three different colors and I had to have them in the frosted pink. Wonderful right? 
I hope that you all enjoyed these simple little finds. These slippers would also make a great gift if any of you are looking for something. Well have a great Monday and remember to look your absolute best today!



(photos via Ann Taylor Factory.com)

Thinking about Weddings

/2 Comments/in , /by

I was recently reading some of my first year’s blog posts. I remember my first post about weddings. I was so inspired at that moment. I had just started my new Pinterest board and was getting the swing of social media. 


Do you ever look back on some of the pins that you posted to your own boards? Do you see a change in how your taste in clothes and decor may have evolved? I know for me my taste in things is changing but I still love weddings!


In 2016, I wrote about Renewing Our Vows and we still want to. Our 20 year anniversary is about 4 years away so we will see. I was recently pinning some new photos to my wedding board and wanted to share a few that are just so magical and elegant. I thought this would be a wonderful way to start a Friday morning. Looking at wedding dresses….













photo credit Jonathan Borba 

I really love how delicate and exquisite this is? It’s stunning!
I don’t know why I love this dress but I do. I love the white and blush together and how the shoulders are showing. I don’t mind that at all. I could definitely see myself wearing this with my hair down and lots of curls. 
I also love this. I believe you could wear this again. It’s simple yet elegant. 
Another dress you could wear again. I don’t know why I am drawn to these simple dresses. I guess it could be a sign of age? Not sure but I want much more feminine and delicate clothing. 
Love the details in the sleeves and the layers and layers of tulle. 


Other photos that I have been pinning are ceremony decorations and details. 
I would love to have a ceremony like this and renew our vows in dress one or two. 
Like a dream….



I hope you all have a wonderful Friday. Oh, fingers crossed you guys! I posted my new dining room table and hosts chairs last week. They are suppose to deliver my four Queen Anne chairs, a new host chair (the zipper is broken), and my daughter’s new bed on Tuesday. I hope everything comes. It’s been a long wait and we have not been able to use our new table. Then on June 22nd, my new dresser will arrive I am looking forward to that new piece also. I may not post anything on the blog on Monday but hope to have a full blog post on Wednesday with my new complete dining room set. 

We will see…




(photos via Pinterest)
If you wish to follow my Pinterest wedding board you may do so here.