Items that I loved for the month

January Favorites ~ 2024

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Good Morning,

Oh my goodness everyone, I had a good weekend, but I sure do feel like I was hit by a truck this week! I don’t feel sick but I am emotional and physically drained. I had lunch earlier last week with some of my Guild friends to work on a special project for the showhouse this year. During our lunch we started talking menopause and perimenopause which I think I am in the thick of. 

I talked about how I loss 18 pounds during Covid and then last year it ALL came back within a few months. My friends shared a doctor with me that has a podcast, and I have started watching some of her videos regarding symptoms of perimenopause. I am on a journey right now to figure things out, but I will be SURE to share with you all what I am learning and supplements that I have started to take. 

I also binged watched Operation Niki’s organizing videos on Instagram. Oh my goodness! I love them all. I have so many items in my Amazon cart. Lord! I have also joined TikTok! My handle names are of course @ahomeforelegance and @mrs..shockley. I hope you can find me and follow along. Now let’s get into my favorites for the first month of 2024! 

 

 

You all know that I have been on an organizational kick recently and finding this bag was a part of it! I get stopped non-stop about this bag and the trolley that it comes with! I mean even men stop me about it! This has been a game changer. I normally carry two totes to the office every day and having this tote that I am able to put on the trolley and pull it into my office has been wonderful. Now my particular color is quite expensive but there are other colors that are a little less. Let me know if you get one!

 

 

The second was a crazy find! So for Christmas last year I really wanted a Christian Dior advent calendar but at $1,000 (with products) I could not stomach spending that. Also, with products it could be hit or miss with if you like them or not. I really just wanted the calendar part and then it dawned on me, “hey I wonder if anyone will just sell the calendar on Poshmark”. So I checked and found one! This particular seller was selling hers for just $40 and I quickly added it to my cart and purchased it. It is so elegant, and I cannot wait to use it this upcoming holiday season! 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

Now with these shoes I understood the power of an influencer. These shoes were posted on the LTK app. There were about 4 pairs left in my city and I thought I would just pop by one and pick up a pair. Wrong! By the time the evening came there was only ONE pair left and I had to call the Target which took them 2 hours to answer the phone, to find out if the pair was still there! I was able to put them on hold and pick them up but oh my goodness! My city was filling online orders because of the demand! It was incredible! So glad I got a pair but sadly they are sold out! 

 

 

My fourth favorite is a table full of wonder. While I was putting away all of my Christmas decor, I decided to change my floral arrangements around my home as well. I put all of the arrangements on my dining room table and saw this. It was so wonderful! I left it like this for a few hours and just enjoyed it. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Speaking of flowers doesn’t this pink bouquet look wonderful in this vintage vase? This was one of my antique finds during my shopping in January. It is stunning and looks wonderful on my dresser. It is from FrenChic in Franklin, Indiana. 

 

 

My sixth favorite was my very first avocado toast! Yep that is right! My very first avocado toast. This had avocado, poached eggs, bacon, and was marvelous! This was what I ordered at a place called the Garden Table with my Guild friends. 

My last favorite is a newly discovered YouTube channel…

 

This channel is called American Viscountess and it is spectacular if you love touring historical castles and properties! You could seriously binge watch her channel. It is quite enjoyable! 

I hope you all enjoyed my favorites for this month. I will have some more organizational finds and decor ideas coming soon!

 

 

 

December Favorites ~ 2023

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Oh my goodness friends, I hope you all have been well and had a wonderful Christmas! I had a wonderful Christmas but boy was I sick! I don’t know if I got food poisoning or if it was upset stomach, but I was down for the count last Thursday thru Saturday. I didn’t feel better until Tuesday of this week! It was horrible! I couldn’t move and liquid was leaving my body from every hole possible. Ugghhhh!

But I got through Christmas, that sounds so bad but I did. My family could tell that I was exhausted and was gracious and helped out a lot. I got some great gifts. I got some gift cards to my favorite places but one gift that stood out to me was my Hermes pop-up book that was given to me from a co-worker! It’s fabulous! I will share photos soon.

Now let’s continue with my December favorites…

 

 

First on my list are my wreaths that I picked up at Michaels. They were on sale, and I have been on the hunt for quite some time. I added them to my stair rail and could not be happier. I do want some thicker ones but what I could do is order two more to have for next year and just add those to the ones I have for a thicker look. I added some satin ribbons as well. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

In addition to the satin ribbon, I got some houndstooth ribbon from Michaels as well. I dressed some of our gifts with it. My husband was a fan!

 

 

More beautiful boxes… I was so surprised when the Estee Lauder counter ladies gave me these beautiful Chanel gift boxes. They are very small but fit perfectly on my vanity as Christmas decor. I will be sure to add them next year as well. 

 

 

The fourth item was my new Julie Vos Monaco cuff. This cuff has literally been on my list for almost a year. I was so happy when they dropped the price by $100 and then I got 20% off! Yay! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

My fifth favorite has been my home office. That’s right being home as much as possible this month has meant the world to me. I loved my Christmas decor, holiday candles, snuggle blankets, and delicious treats. Every time that I had a day to be home, I did not want to leave! My space truly made me happy this holiday season. 

 

photo credit: Laudree.com

 

Okay, I saw a LOT of advent calendars this year but this was the first advent calendar that I REALLY WANTED and sadly did not get. It was Laudree’s 2023 Advent calendar and it was gorgeous! I saw it on Instagram and stalked it for weeks. I told my husband, but he did not order it in time. It’s okay. I will be stalking Poshmark for the next several months. Someone is selling their advent calendar from last year but I don’t want that one. I want this year’s so we will see. I also fell in love with the Dior advent calendar but that one was almost $1,000! I will be stalking Poshmark for that one as well. 

 

And lastly…

 

Have you all seen this video from Helen Mirren? It is wonderful! I looked up some of her beautiful products and I ordered them from Amazon. I ordered her L’Oreal hydrating lip balm, and the L’Oreal Perfect Rosey Tone face cream. I’ll let you all know if I like them. 

I hope you all enjoy this month’s favorites. I have some beautiful tours to share with you all very soon! 

 

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November Favorites ~ 2023

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Hello!

Happy Friday! I don’t have much planned this weekend and I am happy about that! Yesterday my team and I went to the Ayres Tea Room for lunch. It was so good and we really enjoyed ourselves. The temperatures are dropping, and it is starting to feel like Christmas. I have 3 more luncheons to attend and then it will be time to go and see the Nutcracker with Lauren. I am looking forward to it this year.

And now here we are with my November favorites. It’s actually December! So crazy but anyway here are the things that I loved this month…

 

 

First on my favorites for November is my white mum. This was the biggest mum that I have ever had, and I still have it! It looked absolutely beautiful on my blue and white garden stool this fall. 

 

 

Second was my floral arrangement session at Random Acts of Flowers. I try to make sure that I volunteer at least once a month. This was so fun! I met a lot of women and I felt like I was creating something beautiful and meaningful for someone else. #Volunteeringrocks

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Third was the new showhouse! I am so excited to see what the designers are going to do at this year’s showhouse. Did I mention that there is a vintage greenhouse attached to this home? 

 

Fourth has been my Christmas decor for this year. I posted a video on my YouTube channel if you missed it!

 

 

 

Fifth has been this merlot vintage Micheal Kors bag from Poshmark. I was on the hunt for a red or burgundy tote, and this come up in my search! I could not believe it and the color was perfect along with the gold hardware. I got it for a steal!

 

 

 

The sixth is the Barbie Dreamhouse ornament from 1999! My mother-in-law purchased this when it debuted in 1999 and I have wanted it for my tree for years. I found it on Poshmark as well! I made an offer, she countered me and then I accepted! Yay! 

 

 

And last on my list are the gorgeous gift bags from Aerin Lauder. So I went to Von Maur to get some more moisturizer for my face, and I always ask the Estee Lauder counter girls if I could have certain gift bags. I have only been turned down once and was so happy that she gave me two! Aren’t they wonderful? 

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend! The boutique’s sale is still going on. Use code BlkFriday23 for 20% off your entire order. New arrivals included! Have a great weekend! 

 

 

Elegant Amazon Finds

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Good Morning Everyone,

The weather here has gotten quite crisp, and I am loving every minute of it. My husband always has a fit when the temperatures drop but I love the crisp weather. I feel like I can open up all the windows and let that fresh air in the house. It’s wonderful. I especially love it when the crisp air is coming in while I am burning my apple scented candles. So lovely! 

This weekend I don’t have much planned. I just need to make sure that I have my calendars in order, and I finish working on my Christmas list. Speaking of gifts, I am sharing some great and affordable gift ideas from Amazon!

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

First on my list is this fabulous hydrating facial mist from Elizabeth Arden. I have had this for a few weeks, and I love it! Every time I use it someone gives me a compliment about how my face is glowing. I would highly recommend it. 

 

 

My second beauty find is this dusting powder from Woods of Windsor. I found this while watching Lydia Millen on YouTube. She mentioned dusting powder and how no one ever uses it anymore. She mentioned this brand and I had to look for it on Amazon. It is wonderful and the scent is perfect. This is the lily of the valley scent. I will be going back to order the jasmine scent next. This is a perfect beauty gift for yourself or someone else. 

 

 

Next is another great travel find or for daily use. I found this pill travel case on Amazon as well. It is much bigger than the one that I currently have, and I love the separate sections that it offers. I can carry a lot more and a variety of pills. I have my aspirin and vitamins in here now. It’s perfect!

 

 

Now I stumbled on this dusty pink purse bags while shopping for something else. These come in different sizes, colors, and with a draw string for tight closure. They are made of breathable silk. This are so beautiful and would look great in your closet and covering your handbags. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

The last item is the best thing that I have purchase this month! I was inspired to look for atomizers while watching Lydia (again) and decided to a search on Amazon for perfume atomizers. I found these and wanted to give them a try. I have to say they are phenomenal. I love being able to fill each one with my favorite perfumes that I normally cannot carry with me. There are five in a pack and the come with the tools to remove the perfume from your bottle. 

I hope you all enjoy these Amazon finds! I love finding elegant things on Amazon. It’s quite fun!

I do have the new arrival for the boutique finally. The Belle Rose Maxi is available in small, medium, and large. It is so pretty and perfect for any occasion! It is covered in rose peonies! 

 

 

August Favorites ~ 2023

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Good Morning Friends,

Empty-nester week 2! It has been going well so far. Lauren will be coming home this weekend because there are no classes on Monday so we will be so happy to see her. We do have some running around. She has a hair appointment and I have my first waxing appointment! Oh my goodness you guys wish me luck! I have never done waxing before, but I need to try it. Shaving is causing me all sorts of issues! And I mean issues! If you would like for me to share my experience, please let me know below. 

Okay, let’s get into my favorites for the month of August!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

First on my list is this beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas from my very kind neighbor. I was opening the windows to my home office and saw his huge hydrangea tree and thought, “oh I would love a few of those for my crystal vase”. I sent my husband over to ask and he cut me a few! How grand is that?

 

 

Second on my list is the new Aerin Lauder Rose de Grasse perfume called Rouge. I had to go and smell it and it smells just like red roses. It’s quite lovely. If you want to try a sample here is the link to order that. Enjoy! 

 

 

Third on my list is my new monogram tote from Abbot and Lyon! I have always wanted to try a monogram tote and I actually got to see this tote in person while I was in South Carolina in May. A woman walked by me, and I stopped her and asked about it. The quality is quite exceptional, and the price is incredible! I have no regrets ordering it. It is quite large and has lots of organizational compartments on the inside. 

 

 

Fourth was my delicious meal that I got at Ford’s Garage. It was a new restaurant that my family and I decided to try and it was really good. The lime vinaigrette was outstanding! Oh so good! 

 

 

The fifth is my new Kate Spade Leopard tote. I saw a beautiful influencer with this bag and went on the hunt for it. It is sold out everywhere. I managed to find it on Poshmark. Yay Poshmark! This is going to be perfect for the fall. 

 

 

Sixth on my list are these travel contact lense containers. I found these on Amazon and they come two in one pack! Great for traveling or keeping in your handbag for easy access! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Seventh is this incredibly chic white umbrella that I also found on Amazon. I love the gold handle and gold hardware. It is so elegant and comes in different colors. I ordered it and took it to my office immediately. It’s quite lovely.

 

 

The eighth item is this lovely goat milk soap from Beekman 1802. Now I have been watching this company on QVC for years and was always curious about their products. I saw a recent show of their bar soap and after seeing how it lathered on t.v. I had to give it a try, so I ordered it from Amazon. I have been using it for a month and I LOVE IT! Oh my goodness, it is so creamy, and the lavender smell is very light. I love using it. 

 

 

And the last item is my new lip balm from Elizabeth Arden. I found this on Amazon and wanted to give it a try and I must say it moisturizes my lips very nicely. I use it daily and carry it in my handbag. You should give it a try. I will be ordering the 8-hour hydrating facial spray, and hand cream as well. Those items will go nicely in my handbag especially with winter on the horizon. 

I hope you all love my favorites for the month of August. My monthly newsletter will be hitting your mailboxes soon! Please make sure that you check your spam folder if you are not getting it! Have a great day and…

 

 

 

 

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July Favorites ~ 2023

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Good Morning Everyone!

I am on a mission this week to eat less sugar (food in general) and get into the bed on time. I felt awful this past weekend. I was so tired. I know it was because of my bad bedtime habits this past week and my bad eating habits for the last two weeks. I really need to get it together! 

I also have some fun news! I found my vintage cabinet that I will be using for my books. I have a photo of it down below but I have not moved it to its new spot in my office. I am waiting on my step-son to clear out his room next month. He will be taking most of his furniture to college so that will be exciting. 

Now let’s get into my favorites for July!

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

First on my list is my English inspired floral pillow cover. I love it and have gotten so many compliments. It is the perfect and quintessential English inspired pillow cover. 

 

 

Second on my list is my matching English floral inspired napkins from Pottery Barn. I have enjoyed using these at meals. They are large and look lovely sitting on my lap. These are small things in life that make it lovely. 

 

 

My third favorite is my new Chanel-inspired travel luggage bag from Amazon. I could not resist ordering this! I saw it and watched a few videos on it and just had to give it a try. I knew that if it was really bad, I could send it back. Amazon had an awesome return policy. I have not used it yet. I may use it in September for our Atlanta trip. 

 

 

Fourth on my list is my garden. Now it’s very small but I love what little flowers I do have. This year’s hydrangeas turned out so well! I have cut a few and put them inside the house and taken them to work. They are so beautiful!

 

 

The fifth favorite are my beautiful, elegant blouses from Express. I love a blouse with sheer sleeves. It is the epitome of elegance to me and whenever I can find one under $50 then I must have it. They are so versatile and offer simply the best coverage and sophistication. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

The sixth favorite is my new MME. Bentley tote with rose ribbon. I have been stalking this on the website since it launched and really wanted a beautiful straw bag. The bigger one that I have is not something that I could carry every day and the Bentley is. So glad that I ordered it! They come in smaller sizes. 

 

 

And last on my list is my (new to me) vintage china cabinet. A few of you know that I have been on the hunt for a vintage china cabinet with wood shelves so that I can use it as my new book library. I am so excited! I found it on FBMP of course and it is in incredible condition! There is hardly any damage. This was the fourth cabinet that I went to go see and this was the BEST looking one. It is from the 70’s and I can’t wait to clean it up and style it. I am waiting until August to move it to its new spot in my office. My step-son will be moving out of his room next month to attend college with Lauren! I will style it and show photos then. I may even record a YouTube video! I will let you all know soon! Also should I paint it? Let me know in the comments section below!

 

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June Favorites ~ 2023

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Good Morning Everyone,

I had a pretty good weekend. Although I did go and look at a new cabinet for my bookcase and I walked away from it. It just had too much damage and the seller did not want to drop the price so the quest continues. I had some glorious purchases from Poshmark recently. I will be sharing them below as some of my favorites. 

 

First on my list is our daughter’s Open House party. I still can’t believe that she has graduated from school and will be headed to college in the fall. It is so incredible!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

We decided to keep things simple. We ordered most of her food. I really didn’t want to cook anything, and it turned out very well. She was happy and so were we! I was thrilled when she said that she wanted blue and white as her colors. I thought, “well that is just perfect”. 

 

 

Second on my list is my new sage green or pale green nail color. I found this at the grocery store and it is called “Thyme is money”. I was actually inspired by an influencer to try this color. I will share her down below. 

 

 

My third favorite for the month is florals. I don’t know why but I am extremely inspired by florals this season. I always have flowers around, but I am craving an English garden aesthetic. I want it in my clothes, shoes, accessories, and home decor. I just want it in everything! I wore this outfit to work last week and my chief says, “you look absolutely wonderful today”! I said, “thank you. I was trying to channel an English garden today”. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Speaking of florals, my fifth favorite is my new but old vintage Gucci Scarf. I have been searching on Poshmark for years for a vintage floral Gucci scarf. Every time that I found one it would be priced too high. I found this one a few weeks ago and went ahead and made an offer. I love it and I think it fits perfectly into my wardrobe and provides the English garden aesthetic that I want. 

 

 

My sixth favorite are my new vintage insect brooches. I found these on Poshmark as well. I did a search for “bug brooch” and these popped up. I originally made an offer on the green spider but then I received a message from the seller offering me the other two bee brooches as well. I paid only $50 for all three! What a steal! They are a great size as well! Not too small at all, very elegant! 

And my last guilty pleasure for the month has been Lydia Millen’s Youtube channel.

I have found so much inspiration for this channel. I think I may have fallen more in love with pale or sage green. I simply adore Lydia’s dressing closet which you will see in her videos. Her sage green nail polish, bright smile, English accent and exquisite taste. I hope that you enjoy her channel just as much as I do. 

I hope you all enjoyed my June favorites. I wanted to let everyone know that my spring sale is still going on for the boutique. Just use code spring15 and get 15% off of your order. The Vintage Vanity Collection still has pieces left!