Posts that inspiring an elegant life

A Blue Bug & Boutique Hotel

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And a Happy Monday to everyone! I have quite a busy week this week. I have a new staff member starting today, a staff meeting on Tuesday, and a possible pop-up shop on Friday. So we will see how things pan out. 

We had a good weekend. We tried our best to spoil my husband but things always happen where we have to focus on the kids. On Friday we went and looked at our daughter’s dream car. She will be a junior in high school in a few months so we figured this was a good year for her to drive. Our daughter has always wanted a Volkswagon Beetle in sky blue and our good friend found the car! I couldn’t believe it! We are so excited for Lauren and are praying vigilantly for her to be safe. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

She is super excited and can’t stop smiling. It is a wonderful thing to be able to do things like this for your kids. I hope that all of you had a great weekend and celebrated your fathers, husbands, and whatever special guy you have in your life. 

Now on to this gorgeous hotel that I learned about on the Victoria magazine website. The hotel is called Hotel Paris Marais Caron de Beaumarchais. I have never seen a hotel like this but this hotel speaks to me in so many ways. 

 

Photo credit: Hotel Paris Marais Caron.com 

 

The very first thing that captured me about this hotel is that they do not have a traditional front desk area. The lobby features a living area completely decorated with 18th-century antiques! Oh my gosh!

 

 

 

I can’t believe how gorgeous this hotel is. When you walk in there is a fireplace, candles, and a crystal chandelier. 

 

photo credit: Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais.com

 

And you all have to check out the bedrooms! Oh my goodness, they are stunning! They are truly an elegant dream. Each room is decorated with 18th-century antiques, some have beautiful views and a wonderful breakfast option. 

 

 

Doesn’t this look wonderful? This is the breakfast that they offer. This would be a dream for me. To stay in such a beautiful hotel, wake up to this beautiful breakfast, and stare out my windows. Such a beautiful dream! I really hope that I can go to France one day and stay in a hotel like this. Wouldn’t you?

I really hope you all enjoyed this beautiful hotel. I would love to know if any of you have been to France and stayed in a hotel similar to this one. Please share your story below. 

Before I end today’s post I wanted to let everyone know that my new earring arrivals are available on the boutique’s page. I really hope that you all enjoy them. Have a great Monday!

 

 

Ivy Vine Earring

Camellia Pearl Earring

 

 

 

This post is not sponsored. 

 

 

New Home Decor Websites

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Hello Everyone,

The weather here has been so great! It has been sunny and the humidity has vanished for now. I am on the hunt for a new company that can reupholster my chairs. I have a vision in my mind. I just hope that I can find someone to help me make it a reality soon!

Now on to some beautiful new websites that I have recently discovered. The first is called French Garden House. I found this website on the Victoria magazine website. This website is filled with exceptionally beautiful french country home antiques. 

 

photo credit: French Manoir Instagram 

 

My favorite selection is their jewelry selection. I love a good brooch! The second website is called Mrs. Alice and it is a GORGEOUS website! 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Alice Instagram 

 

Mrs. Alice is a tablescape company that offers beautiful accessories for your dining pleasure. You could probably spend hours on this website staring at all of the items. They are just stunning. 

 

 

Just look at these candlesticks! It is a grandmillennial’s dream!

 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Alice Instagram 

 

There are so many beautiful accessories on this site. I do hope that everyone enjoys scrolling through it and finding their favorite items. I have a few on my list that I would love to order! 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

My Second FBMP Purchase ~ White Armchairs

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Oh goodness, you guys I am so excited. As you can tell by the title I had a wonderful weekend! On Friday I decided to work half a day and get some housework done. I think I shared on Friday that I was looking for some antique or vintage armchairs and that I had found some on Facebook Marketplace. 

Well, I am so happy to share that I was able to pick them up early Friday afternoon! This is my second Facebook Marketplace purchase. I shared my first purchase in March. I am still loving my china! 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

I saw these beauties and had to make an offer! 

 

 

Aren’t they gorgeous? Very grandmillennial. She responded pretty quickly and we had made an arrangement for me to pick them up on Saturday around 7 in the evening. Well, 7 came and went and I was really frustrated! I thought, “oh no did she sell them”?

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

But she responded (thankfully) and we rescheduled for this past Saturday. Then I reached out on Friday and asked if I could pick them up early and she said yes! Yay!!! I do love them and can not wait to start looking for new fabrics! I will be changing the color. I may go with white or cream again but I would love to add a different fabric, maybe toile or some chinoiserie print on the back. What do you all think? 

 

I decided to add my blue and white chinoiserie pillows to them. I purchased these pillows when I was 20. It is one of the last decor items from my first apartment.  These chairs have no damage. There are a few stains and spots but nothing that concerns me. I also think I paid a really good price. She wanted $200 and I asked if she would take $150 and she agreed! I’ve seen one chair like this go for $200 by itself in a store so I am really pleased with this price! 

 

photo credit: Lauren  (my daughter)

 

Okay, so that is Mrs. Shockley $200 spent total on two wonderful items on Facebook Marketplace. I pray that my luck continues. We will see. Oh, and I also wanted to remind everyone that the dress sale is still going on for the boutique. My new earrings are ready for purchase. I decided to name them Vivian. The Vivian pearl drop earrings are ready and I am hoping to get more in stock. We will see how these do. And lastly, the Beverly tote is 10% off this week! I hope you guys all enjoy the boutique. Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table Manners with French Girlfriends

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Good Morning,

Today I just wanted to post a short video that I watched last month from my favorite blogger Sharon Santoni. She shared this beautiful video from her friends Octavie and Cecile and their beautiful store called La Maison du Bac.  I do hope that you enjoy it!

 

photo credit: La Maison du Bac Instagram 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for Beautiful Things…

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Hello and Happy Monday,

I hope everyone enjoyed that fast weekend. I didn’t do much. I ran my normal errands, got my nails done, and waited on some orders to come in. I also watched a bunch of romance 90’s movies on Tubi. They were all a part of the Harlequin romance series. They had a few movies on the Tubi app so I watched those. They were pretty good. Watching movies that are over 20 years old just reminds you of how far downhill we have gone. I hate a lot of t.v. shows today. I watch a lot of old stuff but let’s move on. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

My roses are doing well. Thank you to my good friend and reader of the blog Mya, I was able to save my roses from some pesky slugs that kept eating them! I am happy to report that they are now slug-free and happy! 

I have recently been on Facebook Marketplace again! I have been looking for some blue and white armchairs. I was inspired by the photo below from Nicola Bathie. 

 

photo credit: Nicola Bathie Instagram 

 

I have found a few sets and will let you guys know if I purchase anything soon. I have also been on Madame de la Maison website. I love this woman. She is my hero. Being able to turn a passion into a career is the dream for everyone. 

She has so many beautiful pieces on her website. I am sure that I will be purchasing something in the future. What beautiful things are you searching for? Anything on your radar? Please share below we would all love to hear. 

 

Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

Decor Evolving

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Dear June,

Please don’t go by so fast! I hope the Lord hears my request. I am ready for it to get a little warmer here but not humid. I hate the humidity! I don’t have many plans for the weekend. I did just order my first etiquette book! I know, I know… I don’t own one. Well, I don’t own an official etiquette book and I felt like it was time. So I ordered the Emily Posts Etiquette, 19th Edition: Manners for Today. 

I am really excited to see it and read it! Of course, I will share it once it arrives. In today’s post I wanted to share a recent photo that I found in my phone’s photo gallery.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

This was our living room in our first home in 2008! It’s funny, my husband and I were just talking about this house. I still remember the day we closed when we purchased it. I couldn’t believe that I was a homeowner at the age of 25! It was a great feeling. 

When I look at this photo I remember what I purchased, how much I paid, and why I purchased it. The two pink chairs should look familiar. I still have those but they are in my boutique/ home office now. My mother found those at a Goodwill store if you can believe it!

The gold curtains are from Walmart and I still have that giant floral arrangement. I paid only $10 for that thing! My mother-in-law’s friend sold it to me. I adored it and still do. I still have that as well. It should look familiar. It is in my sitting room on the left side of me if you watch my Youtube videos. I replace the flowers every couple of years. 

As I stare at it I realize that I was a “grandmillienial” at 25 and maybe younger. I remember sharing my bedroom in high school in one of my blog posts. I had “old lady” stuff then. 

But I do know that as time has passed my style has changed a bit. In this photo, you will notice that there is no blue and white. I didn’t own any.  I did start to notice it at this time. I see other things in this photo that are not there that I love now, and it just brings a conversation back to my mind. 

I had a dear friend tell me that every 10 years your style will change and I continue to believe that she is right. So what do you all think? Has your home decor style changed in the last decade? If so what did you love back then that you don’t now?

Leave a comment below. I would love to know. Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Summer Purse Essentials

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Good Morning and Happy Memorial Day!

My family and I are keeping it simple today. We are just hanging out at home, we will grill a bit and wash the cars. Most of my house chores I finished yesterday so it will be nice just to relax. I picked up this most recent issue of Victoria magazine and there are quite a few beautiful articles that I can’t wait to read. I am looking forward to that. 

In today’s post, I wanted to share my summer purse essentials. I shared my Covid purse essentials last year and thought this would be good to share now since it is June! Can you believe it? We are halfway through the year already! 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

Oh before I get into my list I had to share this photo. I stopped by JP Parker flowers again to pick up some more peonies. I could not help myself. 

 

 

Whenever summer arrives I always check my purse for my summer must-have products. I love the anti-bacterial hand spray from Bath and Body Works. This french lavender scent is my absolute favorite. I also add my small bottle of Caudalie facial spray. It helps me to feel refreshed after a hot day. I love spraying this on my face for a cool-off. I also always decant my favorite body spray in a smaller bottle. This is a small bottle of Amazing Grace from Philosophy. I have to have a small bottle of some scent in my purse. I hate coming into a building and have that “outside smell”, oh that drives me nuts!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Now on to some items that are a little more personal. It gets really humid here in Indy and sweating is everyone’s problem. I love buying these Summer’s Eve personal wipes. They are great for your personal area and whenever I use them I feel so refreshed. I also love using this spray. You can spray it in your lower area and some of the scents are floral. They are wonderful. I have been using them for years!

 

Mrs. Shockley, home

 

I hope you all have found some useful and helpful information in this post. I know talking about summer sweat and personal products is never a fun thing but for me it’s necessary and it’s how I maintain being elegant. Let me know in the comments section below if you have used any of these products! Have a wonderful Monday and enjoy your holiday!

 

 

 

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