Posts that inspiring an elegant life

An Afternoon with Dior: Lily of the Valley Tea

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Good Morning Friends,

We have returned from New York! This trip was a bit more relaxed than our previous visits. I didn’t want to visit any of the usual tourist attractions this time. Instead, I wanted to slow down, wander, enjoy beautiful meals, our friends, and simply experience the city at a more leisurely pace.

I’ll be sharing our New York adventures with you over the next few weeks, so I hope you’ll come along with me. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying these last days of summer.

We are also gearing up to move Lauren back into her dorm for her SENIOR YEAR! I can hardly believe it. How is it possible that she is already beginning her senior year of college? It seems like just yesterday we were moving her into her freshman dorm. Wow—time really does fly!

But for now, let me take you back to one of my favorite afternoons in New York.

 

photos via: Mrs. Shockley 

 

There are afternoons in New York that feel almost dreamlike, and my Lily of the Valley Christian Dior tea at The Lowell Hotel was one of them.

From the moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere felt wonderfully removed from the city outside. The hotel was elegant and intimate, with beautiful cream-colored interiors, polished details, fresh flowers, and the softest golden light. And there was a delicate floral fragrance in the air that reminded me of jasmine—subtle, fresh, and wonderfully calming. It made the entire experience feel like entering a private garden in the middle of Manhattan.

 

 

The setting was especially beautiful for afternoon tea. I settled in at a beautifully dressed table surrounded by classic New York elegance, with china, silver, fresh flowers, and the prettiest little details. Everything felt refined without being overly formal.

 

 

 

The Lily of the Valley theme brought its own sense of romance. Lily of the valley has always seemed to me like one of those flowers that represents quiet luxury: delicate, graceful, and unmistakably elegant. It was the perfect inspiration for a tea experience associated with Christian Dior.

 

 

 

And then there was the tea itself.

The beautiful Dior-inspired porcelain, the delicate floral patterns, the teapot warming gently on the table, and a cup of fragrant mandarin jasmine tea made the afternoon feel wonderfully indulgent. I loved the ritual of pouring the tea, taking my time, and simply enjoying the moment. There is something about afternoon tea that encourages you to slow down—and in New York, that feels like a luxury in itself.

 

 

The sandwiches were beautifully arranged on the bottom tier, with delicate little tea sandwiches that were almost too pretty to eat. The middle tier featured the most beautiful little desserts, including a bright lemon-colored pastry and a raspberry creation that looked like a tiny work of art.

And the top tier? More beautiful sweets, including a little cream-filled pastry and a refreshing-looking dessert served in a glass. I was absolutely smitten with the scones and Devonshire cream. Oh my goodness! Those were my favorite. 

 

 

The room added to the magic. Tall windows brought in the greenery outside, while the floral arrangements and traditional furnishings created an atmosphere that felt timeless rather than trendy. It was elegant in that very special New York way: polished, romantic, and quietly glamorous.

What I will remember most, though, is the feeling.

The jasmine-like fragrance in the air, the beautiful flowers, the Dior details, the delicate china, and a warm cup of tea in my hands all came together to create one of those little New York memories that stays with you.

Once I had finished my sandwiches, scones, and desserts, I thought our lovely tea experience had come to an end. But then my waitress surprised me with a little extra treat—Dior cookies!

They were almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. 😊

I tried so hard to save them and keep them for as long as I could. They were just so pretty, with all of their delicate details, and I knew they would make such a sweet little souvenir from our afternoon.

Well…I did eat them.

I couldn’t resist!

I knew they weren’t going to last forever, and honestly, I decided they deserved to be enjoyed rather than simply admired. They were just as delicious as they were beautiful, and they were the perfect little ending to such a special afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

It took me a while to leave the hotel. The intoxicating scent of jasmine and the effortless elegance of the space made it surprisingly difficult to walk away. Instead, I wandered through the hotel a little longer, taking in every detail and snapping a few photos along the way.

The floral arrangements were unlike anything I had ever seen in person. Each one felt like a work of art, with layers of texture, rich colors, delicate details, and an elegance that was truly unmatched. Everywhere I looked, there was another beautiful arrangement or thoughtful detail that demanded a second glance.

 

 

I did eventually leave the hotel and make my way down Madison Avenue, stopping into a few shops along the way, including Hermès, Loro Piana, Creed, and Dior.

At Dior, I wandered into the Dior Home store, where I couldn’t resist taking a few photos of their beautifully styled table settings. As I studied the china, I found myself admiring the details and, once again, wanting another set of teacups. Everything was thoughtfully curated, right down to the fresh floral arrangements that filled the space.

The customer service was equally exceptional. There was a beautifully dressed gentleman from Venezuela who was incredibly kind and gracious. He seemed to appreciate our warmth and kindness as much as we appreciated his, and before we left, he surprised me with another set of Dior cookies. It was such a lovely and unexpected touch that made the experience even more memorable.

This was such a wonderful day and exactly what I wanted my New York trip to be—filled with beauty, peace, and genuine experiences that I would remember long after returning home.

And, of course, I couldn’t stop thinking about those beautiful Dior teacups! I eventually found and ordered a Christian Dior teacup and saucer set on eBay. I’ve included the link here if you’re interested in taking a look for yourself.

I hope you enjoyed coming along with me for this part of our New York adventure. Thank you for reading, and I’ll be back soon to share more beautiful moments and experiences from our trip!

 

 

 

A Dress Code at Home

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Hello Everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday! We kept things simple this year by having dinner with our kids and spending the evening watching movies. It was a relaxing way to celebrate together.

There are so many exciting things I am preparing for right now, and I look forward to sharing an update with you very soon.

I am still reading Living Beautifully Together by Alexandra Stoddard, and I recently came across a sentence that really made me stop and think. She writes, “A man who wanders around the house in only his underdrawers insults his wife and children.”

That quote immediately got me thinking about the way we dress at home. We’ve discussed this topic on the blog before, so it isn’t a new conversation, but it is one that I believe is always worth revisiting.

The way we present ourselves within our own homes says something about the respect we have for ourselves and for those we love. While comfort certainly has its place, there is also value in dressing with a sense of care and dignity, even when no one outside the family will see us. Home is where our habits are formed, and the atmosphere we create begins with the small, everyday choices we make.

 

photo credit: Pinterest

 

I simply adore this vintage photograph of a mother and daughter in their nightwear. I have been searching for a gown like this for quite some time now, as there is something so graceful and timeless about it.

Making sure I have lovely, modest gowns to wear to bed has always been a priority for me. Even when I lived alone in my apartment at just twenty years old, I wore vintage-style gowns around my home. They made everyday life feel a little more beautiful and always brought a smile to my face.

I have long believed that what we wear at home influences how we feel. Slipping into a pretty gown at the end of the day transforms an ordinary evening into something a bit more special, reminding me that elegance is not reserved for public occasions—it begins within the walls of our own homes.

 

photo credit: Pinterest

 

Another inspiring photograph! This image features Jasmine Guy from the beloved 1980s television show A Different World. I have always admired the effortless elegance portrayed in many older television shows. Even in quiet moments at home, the women were often dressed in beautiful robes or flowing gowns that reflected a sense of grace and self-respect.

I know television isn’t always an accurate reflection of everyday life, but these images remind me that there is beauty in creating a lovely home environment and in dressing with intention, even when no one else is around. There is something undeniably uplifting about slipping into a beautiful nightgown at the end of the day. It transforms an ordinary evening into a peaceful ritual and reminds us that elegance begins at home.

What is your dress code at home?

 

New Office Space

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Hello Friends,

Well, I have been sick. Last week I had the flu and could barely get anything done in my life. I took a break from the blog and honestly should have taken more time from work, but I was finally getting caught up when I got sick. 

This past week Rick and I had our 22-year wedding anniversary, Lauren turned 21, Rick turned 50ish, and Ely turned 26! It’s crazy to know and realize that I am now in this pocket of life with adult children and a new grandchild! 

I am also trying to get back on track with my health, food, and rest. I hope you all enjoyed the newsletter and enjoy Jennifer’s video. This month I am trying to focus on “planning things around my energy”. Because of daylight savings I thought this would be a good nugget to take from Jennifer’s video. I hope to continue to explore that list this year. Okay, now onto my new office space downtown!

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Now let’s start off with my vintage secretary. I have already shared this on the blog, and I was a little nervous about it being in my new office space. Now I can’t imagine my space without it. It is the perfect piece. My US Attorney has complimented on it several times already. It houses all of my personal items and some office needs. It is truly and dream and helps me to live a beautiful life in this space as well. 

 

 

Next up is the front of my office. I brought along my vintage chairs. Of course, chairs are needed in my space for guests, but I like having my own chairs. We also have my nesting tables from FBMP and my vintage mirror that I purchased during the pandemic. Everything flows so beautifully and makes the space so comfortable. On the wall is a new picture. I found this chinoiserie style painting at HomeGoods and everyone loves it! It looks like a vintage scarf or wallpaper. Again, it ties in my chairs, mirror and, colors. 

 

 

Here is a snapshot of my desk and windows! I finally have windows. You can see my floral arrangement, Ralph Lauren dragon lamp, my porcelain tissue holder, Wedgwood dish (it holds my paper clips and paper clip remover), elegant storage box, pink Stanley and office chair. There are hints of blue and white everywhere. The large piece in the back is my wardrobe, and it houses my coats and other accessories. 

 

 

Now I did add curtains a few weeks ago. I decided to add some cream and white ones but then I realized the next day that the cream looked more yellow and I did not like how that looked so I took them down. I think the sheer white looks better but now I feel like my curtains need to hit the floor. What do you all think?

Overall, I am loving my new space and enjoyed bringing in new vintage pieces and using them. I always say you should enjoy the space that you are working in. It should be elegant and functional. It’s so funny sharing my spaces over the years. Here was my space in 2022, and this was my space in 2014! How funny! You can definitely see my growth. 

 

Have a great week!

 

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Small Lux in my Powder Room

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It is so cold! It has been so frigid this week! BRRRR! I have been trying to stay warm and stay at home. Goodness! This week will be hard because I have some meetings and we are moving buildings here shortly. I do look forward to decorating my new space. 

In my free moments I have been doing things that relax me. I have been able to pick back up in reading some of the books that I ordered and purchased recently. One of them is called A Life in Good Taste by Caroline Gidiere. This book is so good! I have a lot of pages “bunny eared”. I wanted to share her ideas about the powder room since it inspired me around the holidays. 

Most of you know that in 2021 I did a little powder room update and I still love it! 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

I still demand that the door stay open and I still love being in here. Around the holidays I always try to make sure that necessities are placed in here for convenience. Caroline says, “entering a powder room should feel like opening a little jewelry box and finding a hidden gem. I love to cover the space in pattern, even on the ceiling, for a luxurious and enveloping sensation.”  

I believe that my stencil chinoiserie painting created that enveloping sensation in our powder room.

She goes to say, “to me it is the height of comfort to have a fragrant bar of soap and pristine hand towels close to the faucet.”

 

 

 

I found this vintage peacock napkin holder from an antique store and added to my powder room during the holidays. I loved it so much that it will now stay. Now I do have hand towels. They are not monogramed but I like to make sure that they are clean. I purchased this basket and placed it on the floor. Inside are fresh towels that I can just grabbed whenever we have guests at our house. 

Caroline said, ” my favorites are floral hand towels from D. Porthault, whose offerings are so special that I often don’t pay attention to whether or not they match the surrounding elements.” I love the idea of having quality hand towels but sometimes you just can’t afford them. You can find great ones at affordable prices at HomeGoods or these that I found on Amazon. 

 

 

 

Another thing that I love seeing in other powder room are the soaps that some families use. I have been able to try out or test other products because of what a powder room may have. I love the soaps at Bath and Body Works. This one is my absolute favorite! I also love the Nest brand. They have beautifully scented soaps. I purchased these soap dispensers from Amazon and have gotten compliments from all of our guests and added this jasmine scented lotion to the powder room. Everyone enjoyed using both products. We cannot forget about scents. I love a Bath and Body Works wallflower to add to the senses and to help alleviate any other smells.  Again, it’s the small luxurious items that you can offer your guests for a wonderful experience. I know using the bathroom is not a fun thing sometimes but why not offer some elegance while using yours. 

I hope you all found these tips helpful and will take a second look at your powder room. Turn it into your jewel box if you can! Be bold and enjoy. 

 

 

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Becoming A Better Life Curator

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Good Morning Friends,

It is the middle of October already! I have printed off my Christmas shopping list and started thinking about my Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, and decor. It just seems to be creeping up on us! Last week I had a fantastic hydro-facial at Restore Skin Therapy. I will be sure to share that next week. Now let’s discuss my topic… becoming a better life curator.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I have been thinking about this phrase for a while, and it popped in my head while driving to work one day. I was thinking about how I wanted to live. How I wanted my home to be, how I wanted to travel, where I wanted to travel, what I want to wear, and how I want to spend my time. I said the words “curate” and then it just came to me. How do I better curate my life? 

 

My new Asian Chinoiserie secretary desk from FBMP

 

To curate means to select, organize, and look after the items in a collection or exhibition. I know recently (maybe in the last year), I have been trying to get better at selecting. When I am out shopping, no matter the price, if it is not a heck yes when I see it then I don’t buy it. My husband and I just went to the Cincinnati outlet mall, and we were in the Ralph Lauren store. He kept picking up things and I just looked at him and said, “is that a heck yes”? He got a little frustrated with me at one point, but I really wanted him to think. I did the same thing looking at a sweater that they had and necklace. I ended up buying only ONE thing in the whole outlet because I was asking myself that question. I want to do better at selecting when I shop. The first step to being a better curator.

Next up is organize. I have set my sights back on my closet. In July, I shared that I had a consultant come from California Closets to give me a closet design. I still love this design and want to do it but for now I have other home projects on my list. That does not mean that my current closet needs to stay the way it is, so I have another option in mind that I want to try. I will update you all of course. 

Third is to look after items in a collection. The photo above is a recently FBMP purchase. One of our interior designers, Blake Richardson, sent the link to me after I told him that I was on the hunt for an Asian Chinoiserie secretary. This desk is literally a dream desk for me. I spoke with my husband about it and looked at the measures. I thought it might be too big for my new office but four days later I could not stop thinking about it. That’s when I knew that this piece was for me and I only had a limited amount of time to get it. So I reached out to the seller. Turns out it’s over 40 years old; she and her husband traveled a lot and believe that it is from Spain. I told her that I would take care of it the next 40 years. I intend to look after this item. 

 

photo credit: Pinterest

 

I believe that being a curator of your life includes everything. It includes what you read and watch to what you eat. All things need to be carefully curated. It goes along with “building your life team”, to seeking life seasons, to etiquette, and past choices. I am currently trying to curate my vacation for next year. I want to go back to New York and have Lily of the Valley Afternoon Tea at the Lowell Hotel! I would like to see the Belizaire painting which is currently housed at the MET in New York and dine at La Mercerie. Of course, the Ralph Lauren store and an antique store are on the radar. But I am carefully curating it. We will see what we do. 

I know this living with beautiful things is a risk that I take daily. I risk it being stolen, broken, or lost. But I would have rather had it then not at all. And I truly believe that. Let me know your thoughts below. 

Have a great week!

 

 

 

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! 

 

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The Parlor PS ~ New Restaurant Discovery

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Hello Friends,

It’s still HOT! Now I don’t want to wish the summer away but I sure do want to wish the heat away. I really want to sit on my porch, read a book and maybe have a glass of wine. But it is still too hot! On Friday, Lauren and I went to see Freakier Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsy Lohan. It was really cute and Lauren loved it. I also worked on my garden a bit. I have not been able to put anything in the greenhouse this summer it has been far too hot. We also visited a new restaurant about 40 minutes from where we live. It is called the Parlor PS. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

A co-worker told me about this restaurant last week. She mentioned that she was going there to have tea and you all know that I love afternoon tea. But once she showed me the website, I knew that I had to visit myself! This restaurant just opened in March and is located in Mooresville, Indiana. As soon as I walked in I immediately loved the Victorian decor. 

 

 

I am a chandelier girl and this had them everywhere. I also loved the deep blue paint color. It looked so beautiful with the matching chairs. It was a beautiful balance of old world charm and the Victorian era. 

 

 

I loved the china and teacup sets. You can tell that the owners carefully curated their antiques for this space. The wallpaper blended seamless with the paint color. 

 

 

 

Now the menu had lots of southern food and comfort food options. We ordered the southern biscuits to share. That whipped butter that they gave us…. OH MY GOODNESS! I could have licked it out of the bowl. It was so good. I also loved the homemade apple butter. 

We all ordered the half fried chicken withe bacon jam. It was a tasty combination. The homemade garlic cream and mashes potatoes were perfect along with the green beans. Now their gravy had a hit of expresso to it. You may want to try that if you go. 

They also had a great list of mocktails all alcohol free. I really want to go back for a tea time. I think that would be quite enjoyable. 

 

 

I did journey upstairs to see their event space. It’s a great space for baby shower, bridal showers, and small events. 

 

 

 

I did enjoy myself and hope to return soon with my girlfriends perhaps. If you live in the Indianapolis area and want to give them a try then you should. My co-worker also told me that they have an antique store next door! I completely missed that. If you decide to visit let me know. It’s a really cute space. 

 

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