Home Updates, Accessories & Tours

Furniture Shopping for my Home

This past summer my husband and I went furniture shopping for our family room. We have had the same furniture for over 7 years. I am so ready for a change. I am hoping to buy some new pieces this upcoming fall but we will see.

We went to Haverty’s furniture store which is located here in Indianapolis. I have to say I just loved the store!!! They had such a great collection and the prices where pretty fair. Below are some of the pieces that I picked out. I haven’t purchased anything yet. I am still looking. Let me know what you think.

I loved the nightstand next to the bed. Just beautiful….

This sectional is what I am going for. 
I want a gray sectional because the decor colors in the family room and kitchen
are going to be blue and white. 

These lamps would fit right in with the blue and white decor.

An up close photo of the lamps.
The side tables… love!!




I love the coffee table. It’s sturdy and is an excellent source for storage.

Oh, I just love this rug!! This would also go great in the family room.
It is timeless and can hide stains well.
Now we already have a dining room table but I just loved this one!!
I wish I could get it! The cupboard in the back, gosh I would love to 
store my china on that!!!

I have always wanted a tufted headboard and this is the bed I picked out.
I think it is timeless and classic. I could have this for years!!

And last but certainly not least.. the starburst mirror. Now I want one a little bigger
but I loved the way this looked. 



(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

How to Fold Hospital Corners

I didn’t really understand this concept until I saw a how-to -video from Ballard Designs. Once I saw it I loved the way it looked. It also got me thinking about my fitted sheets. Sometimes those are so hard to get on the bed and this would be a nice change every other week. So I think I am going to give the hospital corners a try. Below is the how-to-video from Ballard Designs. Enjoy!


Photo by reisetopia on Unsplash
To watch the how-to video click here.



Simple Christmas Details

I can’t believe Christmas is just in a few short weeks! It came too fast but I am ready. My local grocery store had small poinsettias on sale really cheap. So I purchased a few and placed them all over the house. It makes it look so festive and I like the idea of having real plants around our home. Below are some photos of my home and also watch the video from Mrs. Nikki. I love her ideas about simple tips to make your home festive. Enjoy!!!

My poinsettia in my sitting room. I just placed it in my vase from T.J. Maxx.

Our family room has 3 full size Christmas trees and each one has a different theme.

I placed this poinsettia on my nightstand in my gold vase I found at the thrift store.

This is my reading area in our bedroom.

My poinsettia on my island in my kitchen.




Our dining room table. 




To watch it on your mobile click here.
(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Home Tour with Timothy Corrigan

I first heard of Timothy Corrigan on the Quintessence blog earlier this year. Stacy Bewkes and Susanna Salk were able to video a home tour with Timothy in his chateau. It is absolutely stunning!!! Timothy also wrote a book about his renovation and decor process for this chateau. An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Luce: Decorating a Great French County House is a wonderful story of the restoration of this home. Amazon will allow you to view the “inside” of this glorious book. Below is the home tour with Susanna Salk, as always enjoy!




(photo via Timothy Corrigan’s Instagram)




To watch the video on your mobile click here
(video via Youtube)

Faux Poinsettias

I was watching QVC one evening during the holidays last year and one of my favorite hosts’ Lisa Robertson decorated the stage for Christmas. On that day they were selling faux poinsettias. Lisa had the poinsettias on the side of the staircase and I just loved the way it looked.

So I went to my local Joann Fabrics and purchased about six faux poinsettias for under $25! I put them by my staircase and I just adore the way it looks. If you can get your hands on some faux poinsettias by all means give it a try! They won’t leave a mess and are pet friendly! Lastly, below is a video of Lisa decorating her home for Christmas. Enjoy!
My poinsettias at home

If you wish to watch this from your mobile click here.

Christmas Plates

I have been on the hunt for Christmas plates since this spring! It has been really hard trying to find something affordable and beautiful. Last month I was doing some shopping in Walmart (not fun) & just looking around when I spotted these plates below.

They are from the Better Homes & Gardens collection. I just loved them! They were affordable and very pretty! I have gotten plenty of compliments on them and I am very pleased with them. I used them for our Thanksgiving meal and I will be using them throughout this winter for dinner. 
As I said before, “always use your best”. My family and I will enjoy these plates all winter long! My photos are below as usual. Enjoy!!  
My table setting during Thanksgiving

The dinner plate

(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Our Barbie Christmas Tree

I love Christmas and I have started to decorate for it. I put up about 4 Christmas trees each year. One of my favorites is the Barbie Christmas tree. I started buying Barbie ornaments about 10 years ago. They sold them at the Hallmark store but they discontinued the line about 2 years ago. My mother in law has a Barbie Christmas tree that she started about 30 years ago and was the inspiration for mine.

I wanted my daughter to have a Barbie Christmas tree. I wanted something to pass along to her. She loves it and so do I! I wish the Hallmark store still sold them. We were very sad when the stopped. Below are some photos of it. Enjoy!! 
Our Barbie Christmas Tree!!

I love our pink star. I found it at T.J. Maxx for $6 a few years ago!



I love the ornaments. I love the pearl garland I found at Menards. 
My daughter found the Barbie Dorothy one at an antique store

These ornaments are The Little Mermaid, Disney’s Brave, Fancy Nancy, 
& Cinderella. 




This ornament was a great find! I purchased this at the Hallmark store.
It’s a giant Barbie head with hair accessories . The Barbie in tweed is great also!

In this photo is Barbie the Rockstar, Cinderella, the shoe chandelier, 
& my Victorian home. 

The “Good Witch” from the Wizard of Oz. 

Another shoe chandelier and candy house.  





I forgot which Barbie’s these were but both are beautiful. 
I love the Barbie closet ornament. So chic….

And last but certainly not least the poodle skirt that sits under the tree.
I love it!



(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)