Blog posts that inspire

Becoming a First Lady in your Life ~ Thoughts on Elegance Series

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! We kept things simple and spent time with the kids. We sat at the dinner table and just talked about life. It turned out well. The weather here this week is suppose to be outstanding. It will be sunny the whole week and in the 50’s and 60’s! So happy! 

For Easter dinner I did try Jennifer L. Scott’s black forest cake. I will be sure to share that later this week and my new desk finally arrived! I will be sharing that as well but today I wanted to share a beautiful email that I received from a company called Notiq. I have shared this company before and absolutely love their products. On a weekly basis, Notiq sends out these very inspiring emails. I had to share the one that I got this week. It was called “Elegant Secrets/ Become a First Lady”.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

In her newsletter, VJ, the founder of Notiq, said, “What if you were a First Lady? Who will you be? What will you be known for?

While the term First Lady is often associated with the wife of a president or leader of a nation or state, the Oxford English Dictionary defines First Lady as the leading woman in a particular activity or profession. I am here for the latter. 

As a student and (humbly) connoisseur of Elegance, I have learned that while I may not be the First Lady of a nation, I can choose to live as an elegant First Lady in my private life. How? You might ask. 

It all begins with a mindset.

For a long time, and for many reasons, I suppressed my dream of fully living an elegant life. The truth is, I was afraid of distinction. I was scared of what people might say if I showed up and was (one of) the most stylish, thoughtful, graceful, or refined in any room. The idea that I could carry a secret dream of living as an elegant first lady in my own right was terrifying yet possible.

Today, I wish to inspire a fresh perspective. 

Will you consider seeing and carrying yourself as an elegant first lady? I know life is not always easy or perfect. However, what if you and I embrace a meaningful mindset that inspires us to live out dreams others judge impossible or unrealistic? What will a renewed perspective like this do for you? 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

I imagine:

  • You’ll show up differently everywhere you go. 
  • You’ll look and feel your best. 
  • You’ll take better care of yourself.
  • You’ll commit to speaking better.
  • You’ll give more thought to what you wear or what you eat.
  • You’ll likely work on your posture and decorum.
  • You’ll be more likable and approachable.
  • You’ll stand out and become more.

Remember, many first ladies were (are) ordinary people like many of us who were not born with the position of First Lady. They simply grew into their roles with intent and dedication to learning. (Hint! Hint!)

From history and in no particular order:

  1. Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was admired and revered for her impeccable grace and style until this day. (1961 – 1963)
  2. Lady Michelle Obama commands our attention with her intentional style, fashion, and poise. (2009 – 2017)
  3. Lady Nancy Reagan’s refinement and support of the arts will remain unforgettable. (1967 – 1975)
  4. Lady Bird Johnson’s warmth and love for beauty inspire diligent care and devotion. (1963 – 1969)
  5. Lady Louisa Adams’ sophistication and fluency in music and arts are noteworthy. (1825 to 1829)

Frankly, every first lady from history has something we can learn from. I simply selected a few to inspire you.

For now, I am grateful for the person you are. Might I add? I am excited about the person you are becoming. I am also confident you (too) will make a memorable and noteworthy impact.

Until next week,

VJ | Founder & Chief Elegance Officer

 

Now how inspiring was this email? I was thrilled and absolutely enjoyed this email from VJ. I just had to share it. I hope you all enjoyed this motivating email and absorb it into your mind and soul! 

Shopping with Discernment

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Good Morning Everyone,

I am so ready for sunny weather. It doesn’t even have to be really warm just sunny weather. We have had snow flurries, rain, snow, rain, bitter cold temperatures, and more rain. Goodness! My peonies are starting to come up and I am getting a little worried. I am also ready to wear some of my pretty Amazon sandals! I purchased these in blue and black. I can’t wait to wear them!

Speaking of shopping, in my post today I wanted to talk about how I am trying to shop with more discernment. Remember a few years ago how I was talking about how I did not want to do any “bogus shopping”? I am still working on that, and I must say that I am getting better and better as the years pass.

I was doing some shopping recently and noticed how I take more time to purchase an item. I think about how this would fit into my wardrobe. How I can wear multiple items with it. I think about the colors and if I have colors that go well with it. How is the fit? Is the dress or skirt long enough?

 

 

I then begin to ask myself a few serious questions. How long do I think I will have this? Will this item stand the test of time? Will I be able to wear this in 10 years? 

 

 

I also noticed that when I have my eye on something I dig a little more. I try to find videos on YouTube of someone giving a review. I read the reviews on the website. I am even pulling out a measuring tape trying to gauge how big the item is and where it will land on me. Honestly, I was not doing all these things before. 

 

all photos via Mrs. Shockley

 

So what has changed? I think all of the “bogus shopping” that I have been doing all of these years finally caught up with me. I noticed how lots of those items ended up in my donation bag or on Poshmark and it really started to bother me! Because once you start to add up how much you are spending and how much is ended up in that donation bag you then realize that you are literally throwing money away! I am trying to hardest at this point in my life to really pay attention to my wardrobe and really get serious about how I want to look and how much I want to spend! 

What do you all think? Tell me below what your wardrobe journey has been like? I would love to hear your stories and learn something from all of you. Have a great weekend! 

 

 

A Busy Worktrip…

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope you all had a great week last week! I am happy to be home but I really enjoyed my work trip. We worked pretty late most nights. I didn’t get back to my room until about 6:30 sometime almost 7 but I learned so much this trip! I have a lot of work ahead of me in my office this week but I am glad to be back.

This was the first trip that my husband and I have ever taken without kids. It was so weird to be honest, but it was very freeing. Our daughter and step-son really enjoyed being home alone and have a little bit of freedom.

When we got to the airport, I was a little worried about how my TSA precheck would go. I signed up for it back in January and got a “known traveler number”. I put that number when booking my flight and was curious as to how this would work. I am NEVER going back you guys! Oh my goodness! I literally went to a different line at the airport and practically walked through security. It was wonderful!

Once we landed we checked into our hotel room. I will be honest. I did not like our hotel room but I was not paying for this trip so beggers can’t be choosers. After checking in we headed to the National Gallery of Art. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Here is my airport outfit. Comfy and chic to me. These shoes were my saving grace! The office was a 12-minute walk from my hotel room. I am saw glad that I purchased these. I got them from DSW. My lilac coat was a Goodwill find from several years ago, and tote from Kate Spade which is now sold out. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I always love coming to the National Gallery of Art. I love seeing the Monets’ and the azalea garden. Isn’t it stunning? It truly takes your breath away when you see it in person.

 

 

So pretty….

 

 

photo credit: Mr. Shockley 

 

I did not take a lot of photos this time. I really wanted to walk around and look at the art. There were a lot of kids everywhere too. I completely forgot about spring break. There were kids and guides everywhere. You can never really enjoy it when it’s crowded. So my husband and I did the best we could. 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

My favorite painting this year was this. It’s Daniel in the Lion’s Den. I did not get who the artist was, but I just could not stop starting at it. I loved it so much. I loved how Daniel’s eyes were focused on the Lord and not his fears. It spoke to me greatly!  

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I will say this. Our hotel was located on the same street as the Capital. Now how great of a view is that? Just lovely! I hope everyone enjoyed catching up with me today. I wanted to let everyone know that I have reached out to a few of my favorite influencers to ask their thoughts on elegance. I am calling it my “Thoughts on Elegance” series. I hope that they all reach back to me and I can post their ideas on how to be or live in an elegant way. Have a great Monday! 

 

 

 

The Whole World is a Garden…

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Good Morning Everyone,

I have had a rough week and weekend. I got sick! I have not been sick in about 2 and a half years. I have no idea what I had but I needed a few days to rest and recover. I will also be taking next week off because I will be in Washington, D.C. for a work trip! I am really excited but nervous. This trip is not for training, but I will be evaluating another district. I am excited to meet other supervisors in my field and to learn more about leadership.

As far as sight-seeing, I am not sure how much time I will have to get out and look around. I am so glad that I got to see a lot in my previous trips so I will not be so disappointed about this one if I can’t see everything. I will be flying in early on Sunday and I hope to get to the National Gallery of Art before they close and before my evening meeting with my team!

I will be sure to share whatever adventures that I may have. In today’s post I wanted to share what I recently read in the March/April 2023 issue of Victoria Magazine.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

“Gardening is a sort of metaphor for so many areas of life. What we plant with intentionality, water with love, and cultivate over time is what will grow throughout our lives. Frances Hodgson Burnett said it this way in her book The Secret Garden: “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden”. 

I often ponder that we do not merely have the potential of cultivating and nurturing beauty through our physical gardens; we also possess the ability to become gardeners of souls, friendship, life. We plant a vision for loveliness, goodness, and love by sowing word of encouragement and wisdom. We water the seeds with expressions of kinship and add sunshine through life-giving affirmation. In relationships, these moments of creativity, personal attention, and integrity foster growth. 

I often told my daughters that I love women, in general, and love being a woman so very much. Women seem to be those who light candles in dark places, bring order from chaos, express love to hearts longing to be noticed, add intelligence to conversation, and give healing and hope to the weary of body or soul. Women are born with the capacity to civilize. In short, as those who plant seeds of inspiration in all the small and large actions of our lives, we have the potential to cause our people or culture to grow more refined, more honoring of others, more respectful of virtue. Women at their best are born gardeners, bringing to life all that is good and beautiful.” 

“Cultivating Seeds of Imagination”, writer in residence: Sally Clarkson. 

 

I absolutely loved this excerpt from that story! This really resonated with my soul. I do believe that we can plant a seed of loveliness, and goodness. The world has made it so hard to accomplish this lately but reading this gave me a little more hope. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. I hope you pick up a copy. This is not sponsored but I genuinely enjoyed reading this and hope that you did as well. Talk with you all very soon!

 

Similar post…. “Beauty from Mom”. 

 

 

Trying to Stay in Beauty

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Good Morning Everyone,

Sighing…. It has been a long weekend. Nothing really bad just dealing with people. Today I get to take my car to the collision center finally! Driving around my car with dirt on it and with all the damage from the accident has not been fun! But I keep reminding myself that I am still blessed despite the issues going on. 

I was recently inspired by something….

 

photo via Pinterest

 

I saw this photo on Pinterest and it inspired me to pull out an antique that I purchased some time ago and use it. Do you see the silver container with the Q-tips in it?

 

photo via Mrs. Shockley 

 

I realized that I had something similar to that and decided to pull it out and use it! Now how great is that? I love it! But something also triggered me looking at it. This past weekend my family and I were eating dinner a Chic fil A and my husband noticed a table with two women sitting there. For some reason they were staring at us and had their noses turned up. My husband became irritated but then realized that we can just ignore it. I could not. I then became infuriated and wanted to confront both women at the table. 

I slowly began to talk to myself in my mind and began to rehearse and remember certain scriptures that encouraged me. We then got up from our table and began to walk toward them because we were leaving the restaurant. Once I passed them one with the attitude gave me what I call a “fake smirk”. I then cut my eyes at her and continue to walk. When I turned around, I saw her eyes follow my daughter. I mean she turned her head all the way around! I felt myself turning into the Incredible Hulk! 

I talked myself into leaving and getting into my car but I am going to be honest I wanted to go right back in the restaurant go right up to her face and ask her what her problem was! I have just about had it with women and their attitudes, and it is getting worse! I went to sleep still angry about the situation and woke up the next day feeling horrible. Then I walked by my new antique Q-tip holder. I saw how beautiful it was next to my sink and at the moment I realized who I was. 

I was a woman who created a life built on beauty and elegance and I was letting a stupid moment like that get the best of me and I didn’t like that. I felt defeated for a moment but then I was reminded that I did not act on it. She didn’t win. I did. Because I was the leader, and she was following me. Not the other way around. I remembered Jennifer L. Scott’s quote, ‘be too big too care”. I need to make that my word of the year. People are just nasty in so many ways. I know that the Lord is helping me to find balance in beauty and firmness. I want to be firm when needed and remain in beauty at all times. What are your thoughts? Any recent issues for any of you? Let me know in the comments section below and put out those beautiful antiques to use. Enjoy them!

 

 

A Great Start to 2023…

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Happy Friday Friends!

I have a few things planned for this weekend. I really want to go through my closet and do my seasonal closet review. It helps me keep things organized and in perspective. I really get honest with myself about what I am wearing and what I am not. Then I am packing up and cleaning my stepson’s bedroom. He NEVER comes home. So, my husband and I recently told him that we are taking over his room. Well, it will be me taking it over. I am turning it into my workout room. That boy never comes home, and his room sits! 

I am so looking forward to this new season in life. Although I will miss him being around, I will certainly enjoy more space! I still can’t believe it is 2023. I have my word for the year, and it is “worship”. Last year my word was “trust”. I know that the Lord wants me to worship him in all that I do. Especially, in my daily life. I hope that I can honor him by doing that this year. He has already sent a blessing my way this year. 

In early December, an editor from a digital magazine called NashvilleVoyager Magazine reached out to me and asked if I wanted to be a part of their inspiring stories series. This series is for individuals who are influencers, business owners, creators, artists, etc. I was really shocked when they reached out to me. I asked how they found me, and she said that someone from their magazine did. I am still curious as to how and who. 

I agreed to her small interview and a few weeks later an article about me was published on their website!

 

 

This was a wonderful surprise and a great start to 2023. When you have a moment, you can read the article. I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I hope you all still enjoy reading the blog and love shopping the boutique. Having this blog has been such a wonderful blessing to me over the years and I find myself going back and reading my old blog posts. This website is like my “giant journal”. It has captured my life over the last 10 years, and I hope it has been a blessing to you as well. Have a great weekend! 

 

 

 

 

An Elegant Bookstore…

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Happy New Year Everyone!

Welcome to 2023! Honestly, I still cannot believe that I am still blogging! I am actually a little shocked! I do love it and trying to come up with new blog posts every week is a lot of work. It’s not easy that is for sure, but I do love it and I am glad that you all are still here. I hope your holidays were excellent. It went by rather quickly. Our holiday was great, but I am exhausted and still have another busy week. I was able to fit in some antiquing. I found a new store! OMG, I think it might be the best I have ever seen. I can’t wait to share it here on the blog very soon! 

Speaking of new stores, I did see an article recently about this new bookstore created out of an 1840s Greek Revival townhouse. I had to share this especially since many of you are readers.

 

photo credits: Sarah Winchester

 

Now how elegant is this? I would love to visit a bookstore that looked like this! It’s outstanding! I loved how the owner spoke about what her vision was. “I always envisioned that the store would be in a townhouse, and I could picture people wandering from floor to floor and exploring nooks and crannies,” says Melissa. “I wanted it to feel like you were in someone’s personal home.”

 

photo credit: Sarah Winchester

 

Now let’s talk about the decor. Melissa, the owner, reached out to her longtime interior designer Cathy Kincaid. Now how great is that? I love Cathy’s work! I am a huge fan and I am not surprised by how beautiful, sophisticated, and balance that each room has in this bookstore. I have watched Cathy’s recent video on Schumacher 1889’s channel more than I can count. 

Cathy decorated each room in her signature style. Lots of blue tones, with pops of red, different fabrics and textures. 

 

photo credit: Sarah Winchester

 

Now this was my favorite part of the bookstore. I love how Melissa added a special events component to the store. She said, “event planners have access to a variety of tablescapes, as well as the café’s curated specialty menus created by Chef Colleen Suhanosky. For those wanting a wine consultation, a sommelier from a nearby private club is available. In addition, the bookstore has engaged with floral designer Cailla Quinn of Ephemirus to create special arrangements tailored to each event.” 

I LOVE this don’t you? I think it is fabulous! It’s a very creative way to get customers into your bookstore and gives them another opportunity to use the space! I think it’s genius. You could have meetings here, host a book club, small bridal shower, anything! The parties are limitless. 

I do hope that you all enjoyed this beautiful new bookstore find and you can read the original article here. I will be sharing a recent article about myself here soon! I can’t believe it! Have a great Tuesday!