Blog posts that inspire

Radiate Calm ~ Part 2

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I don’t know about most of you but I really had to “dig deep” this past weekend and find my solitude and radiate calm for myself and my family. 


To be honest I could not believe the madness that took place. I understand the concerns and worries of our country but to destroy businesses and take advantage of a horrible situation just really shocked me!


I could not believe what some people were doing. Even here in my own very city they spray painted our monuments, busted windows, set fires, fought, and stole. I never thought that I would say this but I hated my own city. It was horrible to watch. 


Not only that a jewelry store that I visit often for repairs and go look at vintage jewelry was broken into Saturday. All of their jewelry was stolen, including the vintage pieces. My heart sank…


To know that their our individuals out there who took these items knowing that they are not there for “justice” but for greed just infuriated me. 


So I took the weekend and a few days to calm myself…. Yes buildings can be fixed and items (some) can be replaced but that still does not make it okay. You are still committing crimes. I had to remind myself that God is in control and to stay off of social media especially Facebook because there are some individuals who don’t share the same beliefs I do. 


I searched my blog for past posts on calmness and found this one that I wrote in 2018 called Radiate Calm.





My porch at home. We spend a lot of time here. 

I read my post and reminded myself that I do not have to act like that. That staying calm is assertive. When you remain serene, you’re communicating that you have the situation under control and there’s nothing to worry about…… It’s tempting to fly off the handle in a confrontational moment, but far more valuable to bring goodwill and order back to an unraveling situation. Maintaining a sense of equanimity even when matters are tense disarms antagonists, builds trust, and forces everyone involved to focus on the problem logically rather than emotionally, allowing for a better and quicker resolutions”. 


I pray for our country constantly. We really need some guidance and peace at this time. Until then I will do my very best to respect all people and remain as elegant as I possibly can. 






(photos via Mrs. Shockley & Pinterest)





A Wish~ A Friend Overseas…

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Good Morning Wednesday,


Today is my husband’s grandmother’s funeral. It will not be a fun day but it will be a day of healing and peace. She is at rest now and I hope she enjoys heaven. 


A few weeks ago I was thinking about all of the places that I want to travel to. I want to see Europe of course but I also thought about the pyramids in Egypt. Would I like to see those? There are so many places in the world that one would want to see. 



























Photo by Sergey Mind on Unsplash





That got me thinking about a friend. Having a friend in a different country. I would love to have a friend (a very trustworthy and beautiful friend) who would be willing to share their country with me. I just recently had a friend move to London but you never want to be overbearing to people and ask about visiting and staying with them. That could be hard.

But oh how I wish for the day. I dream of taking one of Sharon Santoni’s Provence Tours. I have been wanting to do something like this for a very long time. Her tours are perfect for someone like me. 



















Photo by Eva Dang on Unsplash



A tour like that would be perfect with a girlfriend. No husband or kids! Sorry…

How do you guys feel about that? Do any of you have a friend overseas that doesn’t mind you coming and staying? And if so where have you gone and what have you done? Please share in the comments below. I would really like to know. 


Thanks for reading and enjoy your day!


Learning about Cookware

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Good Morning Everyone,


Back to clocks springing forward. Never fun. I hope you all had a great weekend. Ours has been a little rough. My husband’s 89-year grandmother passed away this past Thursday so we were dealing with that.


Although, this was not a huge shock to anyone. She had been really sick for a while and was just ready to go. That may sound a little harsh but she expressed it. I always find it fascinating when someone has embraced their own death. That to me takes a lot of peace, faith, and courage. I hope that when it is “my time” to depart I hope that I can embrace “going home” as well.


With all of the recent, viruses, and health scares it has one looking at everything. I was recently watching a video regarding cookware and how certain chemicals can get into your food. So it got me thinking about my very own cookware.


So I went and pulled mine out and saw all of these scrap marks and thought, “oh heavens, did all of that get into our food?” Oh, dear…


So I continued to watch Lisa’s video and thought maybe I need to pay attention to this.


I then realized that I did keep some of my husband’s stainless steel cookware and I thought I would try that out for a few weeks. 


Now they work great! I do have a hard time scrambling my eggs in them but I think I just need to get the hang of it. 

So what are your thoughts about cookware? Do you have a preference? What do you know about chemicals? Please share your thoughts below. I am very curious.



Thanks for reading!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)


Grand-Millennial ~ Are You One?

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It’s Friday and already time for the weekend. I had a great breakfast meeting with some lovely ladies this week, tried lunch at a new spot (loved the turkey burger and fresh fruit) and de-cluttered my office. 


So it was a good week. My supervisor texted me an interesting article recently about “grand-millennials”. Has anyone heard this term? I know that because of my age (37) I am considered a millennial but I don’t act like one. 


My interests are completely different and I don’t mind it. But when I read this article about grand-millenials I was so intrigued and relieved. I am not alone!


Definition:
Grand-Milliennial- Ranging in age from mid-20s to late-30s, grandmillennials have an affinity for design trends considered by mainstream culture to be “stuffy” or “outdated”—Laura Ashley prints, ruffles, embroidered linens. Unlike that of the late-aughts hipster, their taste for the antiquated isn’t ironic; it’s less twee than timeless. And although there’s a good bit of shared DNA with prep culture, the two terms aren’t entirely interchangeable; the grandmillennial is less Lilly Pulitzer, more faded D. Porthault.




Mix and Chic: Inside a bright and breezy Southern Mississippi home with a modern twist!


(Emma Bazilian- House Beautiful Magazine)






You’d probably never in a million years guess that this shot is of Aerin’s office, since it’s not, as she says, the “typical” office environment. Our favorites in this room include the green-velvet couch, the way its pattern riffs off that vibrant throw pillow, and how her art and photographs are so casually leaned up against the wall.





photo credit Aerin Lauder 



I know and believe in my heart that I am a grand-milliennial. I have a love and appreciation for things of the past. 







I need and adore things that are well-made and built to last. I agree with the article. As you scroll through Instagram or Facebook everyone’s home does start to look alike. Everyone has that stark white house and boxy looking furniture from Ikea. No disrespect to Ikea but I love an antique style buffet with a few dings and scratches on it. 


Charles Faudree


So what do you think? How do you feel about this new term? Are you a grand-milliennial? 


Let me know in the comment section below. Have a great weekend!





(photos via Pinterest)


Unknown Thoughts of 2020

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Good Morning Everyone,


We are already in the third week of January and normally I would have some thoughts of what I would like this year to be like and for the first time…. I don’t have any. 


This has never happen to me before. I am on unknown territory. I recently had an office issue. I don’t want to really get into the details about it but it made me re-think a lot of things. 


Because of the recent issue, I have become more open to looking into different opportunities. What it also taught me was people will surprise you in more ways than one. 


























photo credit Marchioness Instagram




You want to always believe the best about people but sometimes you just have to face the facts that some people are all about themselves. Now they may not mean to hurt you or be disrespectful. I just believe that some people are so focused on themselves that they don’t think about anyone else. 


It’s all about their goals and dreams. But as Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows who they really are the first time, believe them”. 


I now believe some people. 


































But I know one thing that is always with me and that is my faith. I have been praying for direction for this situation and my future. It is so hard staying in a situation that you know is not good for you and wait on the Lord. But I want God’s best and to me I know it is worth the wait. I just need the strength to still be gracious, professional, and elegant while I wait. So Father help me. 


I think that we all have had life experiences that have forced us to become confused and lost. One thing I am grateful for is that my home life is well and that helps me to stay in the game.

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and remember to keep things in perspective. The Lord is working always. ~










A Gentle Reminder

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Hello Friday….already,


It’s been two days since I have been in my garage and so far so good. About two weekends ago I picked up a Victoria magazine from the store and found an article called, Moments of Solitude”.


Boy, do I need these. This article was so beautifully well written and the pictures just make you want to climb right in. I wanted to share this beautiful article with all of you as we close out our first week of 2020. Enjoy your weekend.



Moments of Solitude


* Finding solitude in hand written letters and a cup of tea.

Moments of Solitude

This is beautiful. I can see myself sitting here planning my spring garden. “Okay, so how many hydrangeas and rose bushes do I want to plant this year”?






A double bouquet is always my favorite thing. Especially on a bedside table. 


Moments of Solitude


A beautiful cup of tea next to you and as you look over at the window you can see the snow falling gracefully for hours. Pure solitude….








(photos via Victoria Magazine.com)



Holiday Etiquette- Quick Reminders

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Hello Everyone,


With Christmas being next week, I thought I would share these tips from etiquette expert Myka Meier, founder of the Beaumont Etiquette program.


We are all either going to be a host or guest so these tips are wonderful to read and to put into your mental rolodex for the holiday season. 


I shared these last year on the blog. Andrea from The Glampad, interviewed the lovely etiquette coach last year and provided a series of lessons on her blog.  


Inspiring & Dreamy



For the host…


When guests RSVP, ask them if they have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Make sure there are plenty of dishes to accommodate anyone’s dietary needs.
For larger holiday dinner parties, it’s okay to set your place settings and table decor at least one day in advance of your party. By setting the table in advance, you can focus on food preparation on the day of the event.
Ensure that your table’s décor, including flowers and candles, do not block the view across the table and therefore make conversation between guests difficult.
Try to prepare as many dishes as you can ahead of your guest arrivals. This way you are able to entertain as they arrive and not rushing in and out of the kitchen to check on the meal. We suggest having some light hors d’oeuvres and drinks to serve when guests arrive, as they’ll be hungry when they arrive and it may take time to get all the food on the table.
If you have family or friends who can help out, delegate responsibilities to them. For example, have one person responsible for greeting guests, one for taking coats, and one for making sure all guests have a full drink in hand.
The host or hostess should always sit closest to the kitchen in order to be able to access it quickly should a guest need anything.
Be sure to turn off the TV during the meal and put on seasonal music instead. This will help everyone enjoy both the food and the company all the more.
Be over prepared. Thanksgiving tends to be an over indulgent holiday. Plan for plenty of food and drinks if possible, so that if someone wants a second helping you can graciously serve it to them.
If you wish to say a prayer or toast do so before you begin the meal, and make sure the host or hostess initiates it.


For the guest:
One should arrive at an event at someone’s home between the time listed on the invitation and 20 minutes after. Do not arrive early as the host or hostess is most likely putting last minute touches on various elements of the party. When you arrive, offer to help the host or hostess in any way you can.
If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, do notify your host or hostess when you RSVP.
It’s likely your host or hostess has spent hours if not days preparing. Show respect, enthusiasm, and mirror their effort by dressing in the spirit of the holiday!
Before you take a seat at the dining table, ask if seats are assigned. There may be a seating chart that the host or hostess has organized.



Honest Questions:
Are hostess gifts always required?
It is always appropriate to bring a gift to someone’s home. The host may tell you not to bring anything, but they won’t refuse your thoughtful gesture once you arrive at their home. A hostess gift can be a small item, such as a candle, home-baked goods or a set of decorative cocktail napkins.
What should you do when someone gives you a gift and you don’t have anything for them in return?
If this situation happens you should not draw attention to the fact that you don’t have a gift for them. Instead focus on showing the person who has gifted you a present gratitude. If you felt the need or desire to you can always send a gift to them at a later date.
And these are just a few of the many questions on the blog post. If you wish to read the post you may view it here.
I hope that you all have found these tips useful. I know I have and will continue to return to this blog post for many seasons to come. 
Have a great Wednesday!






(tips and information Andrea, The Glampad.com)


photos via Pinterest