Home Updates, Accessories & Tours

Summer Candle Love

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It’s August 1 and my daughter’s first year of high school has begun. Sighing… I can’t say it enough. This year is moving too fast.


There have been so many things going on. I’ve been doing so soul searching about my career and trying to re-group and ask myself questions about where I want to go in the future.


It hasn’t been easy but I am hoping that the Lord will shed some light on my career journey soon. It’s Friday and I had some new candles delivered yesterday. Oh my gosh, you guys, I have found the perfect rose candle for me.

It’s called ballerina rose from Bath and Body Works. It is perfect. The notes are rose petals, peony blossoms, summer greenery, and essential oils. It reminds me of fresh-cut roses from Yankee Candle.





My second favorite has been the new gingham scent which has notes of freesia, white peach, and fresh clementine.





And my last favorite has been the freshwater & aloe scent. It has notes of water-flowers, aloe blossoms, and ozonic accord (not sure what that is but it smells good).




But I have a feeling that ballerina rose will be my summer favorite and maybe even a fall favorite. It is that good! I hope that you all can get to the store and check out these scents. I will share my July favorites next week. That month flew by so quickly. I will have to do a mental review to remember what I used the most. Have a great weekend!








(photos via Mrs. Shockley)



A Dresser Update

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Good Morning Everyone! I am beginning to count down the days until vacation. I am looking forward to being home and going to Florida. I am also hoping to get to Naples while we are there. I have always wanted to visit there. 


If you follow me on Instagram then you saw my recent photos of my dresser. I am so happy with my new piece! The photo above is the old dresser that we purchased a few months before we got married in 2003. It has served its purpose and we have moved it to our future guest bedroom. 


This is our new dresser. It’s called the Charleston dresser and it is lovely! I had to wait an entire month before I could get it delivered. It has been selling like crazy! 
The first thing that I noticed about this dresser is that it stands taller. My old one you had to bend down to pick up items from it. So looks like they are designing these better!

I adore all of the compartments for storage! I forgot to show the other side of my dresser in my video. I have two necklace storage areas located on both sides of the dresser. 

This was the other side. 
I am using both of my side drawers as toiletry storage areas. It’s nice to have those items stored away instead of having everything on your dresser. It has less clutter on it now. 

I now have a place for my heirloom items. 
I have room to look at my perfume collection. 

More space for freedom!

I am using my blue and white canister from the Library of Congress in D.C. as a place to hold my glitter puff. 
To live elegant every day is a dream. 
Even if it is just a simple dresser. I know that I will enjoy this for years to come. I hope that you all were able to view my YouTube video for this. If not you may see it below. 
Thanks for reading and watching!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

A Dining Room Update ~ Part 2

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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)

Office Inspiration ~ Part 2

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The last time that I wrote a post about office inspiration was in 2014. The very first year I started blogging. I must admit my taste in decor has changed slightly…..


I was reading another blog and she mentioned this inspiring office space on the One Kings Lane website.  Now I believe that most of us have heard of them. They sell some of the most beautiful furniture, art, and home decor that I have ever seen. I couldn’t tell you how many times I have wanted one of their vintage Hermes scarves!


I clicked on the link and it was like I could hear a beautiful chorus. So much inspiration…


This is the office of Stellene Volande’s. She is Editor in Chief of Town & Country.

photo credit Tony Vu

Okay, can we start with this beautiful chinoiserie desk? How gorgeous is this? I actually saw one of these in an antique store last year. I wish I could have purchased it but it was really expensive! 



But don’t worry it has not left my list! I will own one of these or something similar to it!

photo credit Tony Vu
Now opposite of the desk is this beautiful gold mirror from Ralph Lauren, a gorgeous photo of Babe Paley and I love the glass desk with gold accents and ranunculus. 

photo credit Tony Vu

I think that it is wonderful that she is using the glass desk as a double table. I really like the lacquered bamboo chairs. 
photo credit Tony Vu
This etagere is gorgeous! Do I spy a silver tea set? I believe this is the Darian Tea Set by Ralph Lauren and one’s office could not be complete without blue and white. 

photo credit Tony Vu

Here is a look at the office with the desk cabinet open. Look at all of that wonderful storage space! 
photo credit Tony Vu
And what an elegant conference room? I would sure love to have meetings in this space. 
photo credit Tony Vu

I love, love, love this space. One could get so many ideas from this. I know one thing is for sure. I am definitely going to keep looking for a chinoiserie desk. I think a piece like that would be wonderful to own. If you wish to read this article you may view it here. There are so many details in this one room. Enjoy it!

(photos via One Kings Lane)

A Dining Room Update

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Well, the moment of truth has finally come. Back in 2017, I posted a blog entry about dining room inspiration. Last week we finally purchased a dining room table and chairs and I am so excited! 

This was our dining room table and chairs. It has served its purpose. I only purchased this back in 2008 because it was within our budget and it was the only table (at the time) that had 6 chairs. 

I will NOT miss this table. I hate the bar room style dining room table. The chairs are not comfy and I hate that I had to buy chair cushions every year because the chairs are too hard. Not to mention, this past Christmas when I hosted, my husband’s 88-year-old grandmother tried to sit in one and it was too high for her and she slid right out of it!

Nightmare….

This is going to my step son’s house. He will enjoy it more. I believe it fits more of the bachelor lifestyle. 

(In the store)

This is our new table minus the chairs. Our table arrived on Thursday (see below) and I could not love it more. My other four chairs will not be available for delivery until June 11th and they are Queen Anne style chairs. 

(Now in our home)





(My new host chairs)



I can’t wait until my dining room is complete. I will post more photos once my set has been delivered. It’s been a long journey waiting for this and I hope that everything comes together as it should. 

Enjoy your weekend!




(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

A Stroll in Homegoods….

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Hello Everyone, it’s Monday and we are starting another week. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. I really enjoyed mine. My mother had knee surgery a few weeks ago so I have been going over checking on her and cleaning her home. It’s been a challenge for everyone but we are muddling our way through it. 


One of my favorite things that I got to do was go to Homegoods. Now it’s unfortunate that you can’t order online yet so if I find any of the items online I will provide a link of course. 


This was one of the first things I saw in the store. I absolutely adore this faux arrangement! My husband is not a fan of faux arrangements but I am! It is truly gorgeous!

The next items that I saw were these two planters. Some of you may have seen my hibiscus trees on my Instagram account and I purchased these for them. I believe they will look stunning in these planters.

I am so happy to see that the blue and white era is beginning to pick up here in Indiana. We are slower than molasses catching up with things so when we do it’s like a miracle!

This was my favorite. I may have to go back and get it!


Now I found these items in the clearance section…..


There was this large vase for $9! And yes I did purchase it.

This large blue and white bowl was calling my name but I did not purchase it. I couldn’t think of a place to put it. 


Then I saw a few pieces of art…

Blue and white monkeys

This was stunning. It had a bit of shimmer to it. 

Now, this I love. I don’t know why but I do. I did not purchase it but could not stop staring at it. 
Saw this….a beautiful ghost chair. Now I already have one so I was not tempted to buy it but if you are interested the link is here. 

And finally I saw these beautiful glass and floral jewelry boxes. How chic are these?


I wish I could have found a link but I could not. These would be great for a teen daughter (if she is willing). It was a wonderful trip and I found lots of beautiful things including a new beautiful blue and white Ralph Lauren lamp (original price $105; sale price $45) and this sophisticated floral Ralph Lauren pillow (on sale for $25). Both of these items will be going to my office today. 

As always I love sharing beautiful things and finding them. Being a woman is a wonderful thing. I embrace it every day. 

My plan is to post a new video this Sunday. I am not sure what content I will present but I hope it will be fun and inspiring. 

See you all soon!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

My Acrylic Chair

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Last month one of the biggest florist companies that we have called McNamara had a garage sale. Now they do this every year and every year I try to make plans to go. Well this year I said that I am going and I made sure that I scheduled it!
They had lots of faux flowers, pictures, Christmas decor and furniture. I spotted this stack of acrylic chairs in the back. Now I wrote about this in 2017 so I was really surprised to see these there. I have always wanted an acrylic chair and just thought that they were way to expense right now. 
But they had these priced at $40 each! A steal!!!! I could not wait to get it home and get it all cleaned up. 
A good soapy towel and some Windex took all that old dust and dirt off quickly. 
It looks lovely…
I placed it in my office here at home. I looks really chic and I got a feeling that I am really going to enjoy this chair. It’s something different which is so hard to do here in Indiana. As I mentioned everyone wants the same clothes, furniture, cars, etc. It’s frustrating sometimes but no matter. I will continue to following the beat to my own drummer and move forward in the things I love. 
If you are looking for an acrylic chair or ghost chair Target has this one and this one in seven different colors. 
What are your thoughts on ghost furniture? Elegant or non? 
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)