Home Updates, Accessories & Tours

A Passion for Plates

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I love plates! I love dishes!  I just started last year with buying matching plates for dinner. I saw several designers setting their tables for dinner or parties and I thought, “goodness, I have no nice plates”.

So I started my quest at the flea markets and goodwill’s. I like old dishes. I have found some of my best plates at the flea market. I have just a small collection below but I am very proud of what I have so far and I use my plates everyday.

I will continue to add to my collection. I have also added a video from designer Bunny Williams. She sets her table beautifully and her new dinnerware collection is lovely. Enjoy!

My plates. I use the white and the blue and white plates everyday!
I found my blue and white bowl at T.J. Maxx and my other floral bowl at the thrift store. 




The stripe plate and the floral plate are from the Martha Stewart Collection.
The small plate with the green flowers is from France.  



My Martha Stewart Collection setting. I love it! My good friend gave me the entire set!

I love this giant bowl. It has a chip at the top but it is still functional. 

I thought these were so pretty. This set came from T.J. Maxx.

This crystal plate I found at the thrift store for $12!


Setting A Table with Bunny Williams – YouTube

(click on the link to enjoy the video)

Small Details Around the Home

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Everyone has small items or decor details around their home that makes it their own. It’s the little things (I think) that can bring your home together. I am always decorating and changing things in our home all the time.

A friend told me recently that a woman’s taste in clothing and home decor changes every 10 years. I thought about it and noticed that for me, well she was right! It has been 10 years since I changed details and furniture in my home and recently I have been on a decor spree!

I have all these ideas for my home but I will take my time in decorating. I have a board on Pinterest called Decor Details. It’s like a giant scrapbook page full of small details around the home. I love it! Below are some of my small details around my home. Also, if you missed my blog entry about Vanity Beauty or Homekeeping with a Pet, see here and here. As always, enjoy!

The island in our kitchen. I am starting to decorate with all my fall items.

I found these panels at the flea market. 
I just placed them on our nightstands. I love the way it looks.




My silk flower arrangement. I love it!
It’s in our bedroom.







 I love these eggs! They remind me of the Faberge eggs.
T.J. Maxx was selling these years ago so I purchased about 6 of them!
When you open them there is a music box inside. 


I love small luxuries.
 I added a pillow and soft blanket to my chair at my desk for decor and comfort.
The pillow has a little “bling”on it. It’s DKNY.


I added this small photo of art to my side of the sink.
I think it adds a little something special.




This little teapot was given to my by my sister-in-law at her bridal shower.
I thought it was a great gift since the party was a tea party.
I have it sitting on my bathtub corner. 

Last but not least my kitchen utensils. I saw Martha Stewart doing this in her kitchen.
She was using pitchers and white canisters to keep her tools in.
I thought it looked organized and sophisticated. 

My Perfume Vanity Tray

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I love perfume. There is nothing like having a signature scent that you enjoy. I like several perfumes! It’s pretty bad. I don’t really have a signature scent but I love florals and anything that smells clean. Lately, I have been wearing my Vera Wang Signature. I purchased it while we were in New York in 2007.

I have gotten many compliments on it! I’ll have to get another bottle. Below is a photo of my perfume vanity tray. As you can see I have a lot of favorites! But I just enjoy being a woman and wearing perfume is just another great factor of it! 
My tray includes:
Vera Wang Signature
Banana Republic
Lolita Lempicka  (so fantastic!)

Clinique Happy in Bloom (this was a nice surprise)

Philosophy Amazing Grace (I carry a small bottle of this in my purse)
Victoria Secret Chiffon Peony Freesia Perfume (this was a gift from a friend and surprisingly good!)



(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

My Floral Arrangements at Home & Work

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I love having fresh flowers in my home. I think having them around just bring warmth, beauty and elegance to any home. I simply love decorating with them also (see my blog entry here about that). Over the years I try to take pictures of my arrangements. Sometimes I will use them as my screen savers or the wallpaper on my phone.

I just think they are a joy to have and to receive them. I try to make sure I have an arrangement at home or at work. I always tell my co-workers, if we are here 8 hours a day your space should be lovely. So below are some of my bouquets from the last 3 years. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I have had in receiving them.

My most recent arrangement from my husband. 
Hydrangeas & lilies… 



Gladiolus at home




Yellow gladiolus at work




I call this my wild flower arrangement




This was my favorite gladiolus arrangement so far this season. 




Pink roses & astromelias

This arrangement was from my husband & I had it at work





Stargazer lilies and gladiolus at home




Another favorite of mine; these are Casablanca lilies and they smelled fantastic!




Tulips on my nightstand beside my bed

Pink tulips at work

Gladiolus and astromelias (I think). I just remember it being terribly cold this day. 




Another winter arrangement. I remember it being around Christmas when I brought 
these to work. It was yellow roses and pine branches. 




Stargazer lilies at home. 




Me with my lavender roses from my husband (last year). 




Roses and lilies at work 




Another delivery from my husband. 

Pink roses and pine branches

Gerber daisies from my husband. This arrangement is from 2011. 




My beautiful lilies from the Floral District in New York

These were spectacular! Yellow roses and from my husband.

And last but certainly not least, my first peony arrangements.
 I was so happy I found these this past spring. I can’t wait for next year!


Flea Market Silver

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Every Friday I pay a visit to my favorite flea market called the Beech Grove Emporium. A few weeks ago one of the booths had some silver pots, trays & cups. On the tag it said the Benedict Inn. The Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center  is a place where you can rent a room or space for your special occasion.

I was so excited about my silver teapot set. The price wasn’t that bad either. I don’t think there’s a lot of real silver in it but it’s very beautiful and I am quite pleased with it. I have been learning a lot about silver and it’s value. Trina Leavers a woman I follow on Youtube posted a video some time early this year about her silver tea set.

It is gorgeous! Below is what I purchased at the flea market and I have also provided the video for Trina. As always, enjoy!

My tea set! 

I love these mint julep cups. They were great for my flower arranging.

tea downton abbey style, sterling silver teaset – YouTube

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

My White Binders

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I love magazines and books! Sometimes when I am looking through a magazine and there is a page I want or an idea I will usually try to google it if I don’t want to buy the whole book. Pinterest has been a new thing for me. I have only been on it for about 2 years. I love keeping all my ideas on my boards but sometimes I want physical copies.

I started my “white binders” a few years ago (since 2005). I started collecting magazine clippings and printed sheets to catalog my inspiration. It is a lot like Pinterest only I have a book or binder. For me it’s like creating my very own magazine.

They are full of things I love. I keep my outfit inspirations and my decor ideas. I catalog ideas or items I have bought for the house. They have become my “brain” on review. I love it when my daughter pulls them out and starts looking at them. She begins to ask questions about my ideas or why I love something. It has been wonderful.

I would encourage anyone who loves beautiful things or decor to start a few Pinterest boards, scrapbook or start creating your own binders. It will tell you a lot about yourself and what you like.

My binders at home

My binders


Organizing the Fridge

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I love looking into a clean and organized refrigerator. It makes the whole kitchen feel complete and cooking much more enjoyable. I love cleaning and organizing but for some reason cleaning the fridge seems to be something I don’t enjoy as much. So I do daily cleanings and weekly cleanings to make sure that it does not get out of hand.

 Below is a go to list from Real Simple.com . It is very helpful and has great tips on keeping your fridge in order. It’s that time of year where we tend to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables so keeping your fridge in order is a wonderful thing to do. Enjoy!





Our fridge at home. I love my Samsung!



My favorite stainless steel cleaner. I use it on all my appliances.
Just spray it on your appliances and wipe down with a dry paper towel. 
Fantastic!