Posts that inspiring an elegant life

Beauty from the Cans

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I saw an article recently about a floral designer by the name of Lewis Miller who is turning trash cans in New York City into bountiful beautiful floral arrangements. It is quite remarkable and frankly the best thing I have seen in a long time…..

photo credit Lewis Miller 

photo credit Lewis Miller 


                

                            photo credit Lewis Miller 

    

photo credit Lewis Miller 

Goodness, if I saw this it would stop me in my tracks. This is seriously living elegant every day.



To view, the article see it here.

(photos via designbloom.com)

A Lunch Break at the Symphony

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Earlier this month I attended a symphony during my lunch break! It was a wonderful experience. A co-worker of mine sent me an email called the “Lunch Break Series” with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

I had never heard of it before but apparently they have it every year in July. So I looked at the list of music that they had available and I purchased a ticket for the Classically Romantic Series.

I couldn’t wait to go and see what it was going to be like. So on Friday I stopped at Subway and ordered my sandwich and drink and headed to the theatre.

Walking inside
I went inside to find my seat and wait for my friend. 
I sat down and looked around. There were people of all ages and children. 
It was nice to be able to send eat your sandwich and enjoy the music! The conductor’s name was Ruth Reinhart and the music that they played was Overture to Egmont, Op. 84 by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Three Dances from the Bartered Bride by Bedrich Semetana and Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy by Piotr llyich Tchaikovsky. 





My friend and I both sat and listened to the music. It was very serene and lovely. It was so nice doing something different for a lunch break for a change. The session was about 45 minutes. It was just enough time to get back to the office.
I wanted to attend the following Friday’s session. It was called the “Music of John Williams”. The conductor was Richard Kaufman and it was mostly Star Wars music. I am not a Star Wars fan but there was one piece that was going to be played that I wanted to hear and it was the music from the movie “Sabrina”. I love both versions but the 1995 version is my favorite. 
I can’t wait until next year. I am hoping to attend more concerts like this in the future. 
(photos via Mrs. Shockley & Google)

My Daughter’s Violin Lessons

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For a few years now our daughter has been wanting to learn to play the violin. So we finally listened to her and found her a private teacher.

She has only been going for a couple of months but I tell you I have enjoyed it just as much as her. I really enjoy her teacher and really love hearing my daughter play this beautiful instrument.

Here is her teacher’s home. It is very special to me. It remind me of a grand Victorian home. The drive to her home is lovely too. We pass a lot of farms and green, green fields! It is always a nice drive in the evenings. 

She has this great wrap around porch. I mean it is huge! She has flowers all around her home and lots of birds…..
Now in her music room there are lots of rugs and each one is different. I love the original hardwood flowers and don’t mind all the wallpaper. 
Here is another view of the music room. She has every instrument in this room that you could possible own! There are two big harps sitting here. She has three pianos in this room, guitars, flutes, clarinets, etc. I usually sit on the flower sofa and listen to Lauren practice. 
For me this is another aspect of enjoying beauty in my life. Listening to my daughter play the violin, sitting in a Victorian home, learning about instruments, looking at all of the flowers in her garden and watching my daughter smile. 
Enjoy the small outlets of beauty in your life whatever they maybe…..
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Sunday Wine Tasting…

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After our big delicious dinner at the Kopper Kettle, my husband wanted to stop at this winery called Buck Creek Winery. It looked very simple so I did not know what to expect.


When we walked in and they had all these wines with the medals around them. I was impressed….

We then went to the counter and it was five tastings for $5! Great deal!


This was the list and you can see the five I tasted.


My husband and I ended up with two bottles. We loved the Rocio. It was a carbonated wine. Very good and we loved the Road House White. It was very tasty. Most of the wines I tried there were very good. 


After you make your selection, you can take your goodies home or you can go outside and relax and sip your wine with your loved one. 

The scenery was quite nice and it was a beautiful day. We will be going back again. We could not stay we had the kids with us and wanted to enjoy it alone. 


(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

A Sunday Lunch…

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My family and I try to visit new places when dining. It is always hard to get out of a rut. We can be very routine with restaurants because we get to know the staff and usually order the same dishes.

My friend Kim suggested this place. We were a little apprehensive but in the end it turned out very well…..

This restaurant is called the Kopper Kettle Inn. The waitress gave us a brief history of the place. She said that it was a tavern, then a bed and breakfast, then they turned it into a restaurant. It has been a restaurant for over 95 years! 
This place was also a part of the Underground Railroad. Very interesting….
I loved all the vintage rugs and antique furniture. 

The light fixtures and murals were beautiful.
After oooing and aweing at everything we sat down to order. 
We sat down to vintage plates! Wonderful!

We had homemade chicken noodle soup, salad and dinner rolls.
Of course the main dish was the fried chicken which was delish!!

There were lots of sides and everything was family style which forced you to pass dishes 
around and talk. No cell phones please! (I tried to hurry and take quick photos)
After the wonderful dinner we went and toured the upstairs that was full of antique furniture. 

Then outside to the gardens….

It was quite lovely and it was nice to dine somewhere different. It was about a 25 minute drive for us but we enjoyed seeing all the farms, land and yards and yards of peonies! It was quite enjoyable. 


(photos by Mrs. Shockley & Lauren Shockley) 

My Visit to Ann Taylor

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Now Ann Taylor is one of my fav stores! Especially when it is 40% off time! Great prices and wonderful chic pieces that you will have for a long time.

Their stores are always pretty!





Oh my so chic…..




I always love all the cream and white they have. 




My favorite part of the store. The clearance section! Ahhh home….




Okay, I could not help it. This bracelet was too chic to leave. I had to purchase it. 
This is called the tropical cuff bracelet.


It is outstanding and will be timeless. 
I hope you enjoyed this quick little tour and consider looking into Ann Taylor. Their collections never disappoint. 

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Beauty Everyday….

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I try to spend every day of my life enjoying beauty everyday. Sometimes I get sly remarks from family, friends or co-workers but I try to press on.



My photo of peonies



I will never understand why beauty bothers some people. I wear dresses or skirts every day and it bothers some people. I don’t understand. I have had some women try to stop me from wearing them. They make remarks like, ” you know I know some stores that sell great pants, or ” doesn’t it bother you to wear skirts every day?” 


I chuckle on the inside because I can see right through it. So I tell them, “Thank you for the suggestion but no, I love skirts and dresses and will continue to wear them. Some women move right along but others well…. they still try. Yet I still continue to enjoy the beauty of skirts every day….

Me at my piano weekly piano lesson

I love pretty dishes and cups and use them every day. I have had some remarks about that too. I have china at work also. I use a pretty teacup for my hot water, lemon and honey every day and I use an antique blue and white plate for my breakfast pastry every day. 




I think some people are afraid of beauty because they have been in darkness for so long that the “light” of beauty frightens them. But not me I run toward it. Whenever I see beauty when I am out I take photos. This photo below is of a cupboard filled with blue and white ginger jars. It is at my favorite retail store called Von Maur. 

And this is near the lady’s bathroom. Great right?
My peonies at home

I have beauty in every corner of my home. Fresh flowers are everywhere if the budget allows it. 
My garden in front of my house.




I have beauty outside of my home. I love sitting on my porch with my family watching the hummingbirds eat from our feeders and smelling the flowers. 

Whatever “your beauty” is enjoy it. Don’t let people try to talk you out of what is not their own. If you enjoy wearing skirts or dresses every day continue if you use china at work continue, if you enjoy flowers continue if you love blue and white continue, if you worship God, continue. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
My obsession with french chateaus…




For those of us that love beauty and share it. Let us continue.




 

This is a wonderful video that I found recently about blogger Mimi Thorrison. This is a wonderful video of how to enjoy beauty every day. She has flowers around and her recipes look simple and delicious. The language is not in English but I do hope that you enjoy it. I know I did!