Blog posts that inspire

Motivational Tips to Help you Clean your Home

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Cleaning our homes is something that has to be done. There is no other way unless you can hire someone to do it for you. I don’t have that luxury and I do enjoy cleaning so it doesn’t really bother me. But for those of you who hate cleaning, there are tips you can try to help you get it done. Of course, these tips are from the glorious book At Home with Madame Chic. I have just devoured this book over the last several weeks. It is just fantastic!!! Below are some tips from Jennifer about things you can do to motivate yourself into cleaning.


*  Play music while you clean and organize. Music injects energy into the whole process.

*  Listen to an audio-book. Audio-books run for hours. Think about how much you can accomplish while listening to a riveting story.

*  Time yourself while you clean. Figure out how much time you want to devote to caring for your home, set the timer, and get going. Don’t forget the music!

*  Assess and celebrate your progress. When you see visual evidence that your home is getting in order, you will feel the push to preserve. Don’t stop now!

Photo by Austrian National Library on Unsplash

Chic Tips for Working Women

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I have been continuing my reading in At Home with Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. Today I want to give a list from Jennifer on tips for working women. We are all working women whether you are a stay-at-home mom or you have a career. Most women today are working. I just loved these tips from Jennifer and I thought they were very helpful.

Getting Ready: 

1: Pack your briefcase and tote the night before. While you’re there, make sure to clear out any clutter, such as old receipts, tissues, loose change.

2: In the evening, lay out your clothes you will wear the following day (I do this every night), right down the corresponding accessories, so you are not pulling out the contents of your lingerie drawer to search for the right shade of tights in the morning rush. I know a chic working woman who keeps her stockings in separate bags according to color so she’s not trying to figure out which is blue and which is black in the dim morning light. This would come in handy if you forgot to lay your clothes out the night before.

3: Plan what you are going to have for breakfast the night before and set out any necessary ingredients (keep the refrigerated food together, set dry ingredients on the counter-top). Blend your morning smoothie drink and keep it in the fridge ready for the next morning. Set the timer on your coffee machine so you awaken to the fresh aroma of your favorite brew.

4: I still advocate sitting down to eat breakfast, but on those mornings which you are running late for the train, you can always put that smoothie in a to-go cup or thermos.

5: If you are taking the kids to daycare on the way to work, make sure everything is packed. Layout their clothes for the day, keep the sunscreen accessible, and pack any snacks and water bottles that might be needed, Keep this all by the front door so you don’t forget anything.




Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash

Mental Chicness

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I love this “Chic Tip” from author Jennifer L. Scott 


It is a great thing to be on top of current events and know what is going on in the world, but be careful that you don’t obsess and internalize all of the negative news of the day. Practice processing it without allowing yourself to be manipulated. Be informed, but be aware of how the media often use fear tactics to grip readers. While you are reading, try to filter out the spin and see the information for what it is. If a situation is upsetting you and causing you to live your life in fear, take a few deep breaths and bring yourself to the present moment. Right in this very moment, you are okay. If you can do something today to help the situation, do it. If not, try to send the situation love and move on with your day. ~At Home with Madame Chic

Photo by Ilyas Bolatov on Unsplash

Beauty Interview with Aerin Lauder

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I love Aerin Lauder. I recently posted an entry about her home tour (see here) if you missed it. Her home is so fantastic. I recently stumbled on this interview with Sally Hughes.



The interview with Aerin is so inspiring and as a look around the decor is also inspiring. I am now interested in bringing gold accessories into my home. Watch the video and get to know Aerin and her brand. Enjoy!!!

(photo via Aerin Lauder Instagram)
To watch this on your mobile click here.

Personal Arcadia

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I follow a Youtube channel called BellisVintage. A few weeks ago they posted a video called “the Personal Arcadia of Sir John Richardson”. I loved this video. It is a tour of his home. I have watched it several times already.  Also Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic wrote a blog entry about him, see here. You take a look at the video and see why, sheer elegance……

Photo by Sophie Vinetlouis on Unsplash

Photo credit: Tim Knox   ( The Guardian) 
Sir John Richardson


To watch it on your phone click here.

Creating Beauty ~Oscar de la Renta

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The legendary fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died on October 20, 2014. I think we all loved Oscar like he was our very own personal designer. I for one loved his wonderful attitude toward elegance and pleasure. I followed his channel on YouTube (see here). 



About a year ago Oscar posted a video of an interview that he had with interior designer Miles Redd.  I loved the comment that Oscar made, he said, “I don’t want to see one tulip in one vase. I like to see 10,000 tulips in one vase”. That sounds like something I would say. So watch the video and fall in love with Oscar all over again. 

Photo by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Unsplash





To watch the video from your mobile click here.
(all photos via google)

Naming your Home

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I’ve being thinking about this idea. It was in the Style and Simplicity book by Ted Kennedy Watson. He said:

Naming your Home

WHY NOT? This practice should not be reserved for old, stately English manor homes. Whether you live in a studio apartment or a grand mansion, naming your home makes it more personal. “Come for drinks at seven to the Gainsborough” sounds much more intimate than just giving your street address. It adds a specialness to your home. We often give a gift of a personalized item (notepads or tote bag) with the house name on it when we have weekend guests.

I thought about this and said okay, maybe I can name my home. I was thinking of naming it “East Heritage”. What do you think? Should one name their home?

Our home
I posted this photo on my Instagram and tagged the author Ted Kennedy Watson in it.

Below was his response. I was so excited!!!



I read Ted Kennedy Watson’s book #styleandsimplicity. I love the idea about naming your home. I have no idea what to name it. Any ideas? @watsonkennedy; #ahomeforelegance

watsonkennedyI love that you are going to name your home! Just something that has meaning to you when you think of it and it makes you smile when you say it. Fab house, btw! Bestest, Ted
smsshockley@watsonkennedy; thank you! I was thinking of East Heritage.
watsonkennedyLove it! Come for dinner at 7 to East Heritage sounds perfect! I think you have a winner. Have fun with it!