A Little Perfume Shopping

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So last weekend I was running some errands and decided to stop in Sephora and look at some perfumes. There are a few that I like then there are some that I love. I wanted to share a few that I have tried and might be buying.

Now I LOVE all of the Aerin Lauder scents from her collection. Good gosh, this is such a good collection! The bottles are beautiful and so are the scents. I have lilac path right now and I have a packet of the samples for the other scents. I just purchased Waterlily Sun hand cream. You can read my blog post about that but I will be going back for the Honeysuckle. 

This is still so good. I purchased a sample to try it out and I still love it. 
Chloe
Now this is a new scent for me. I smelled the Tory Burch original but this Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Lavande is really good. You can smell the lavender notes in it. I got a sample and wore it the whole week. My husband just kept saying how good it smells. You should definitely try it. 
Now this is a classic and always will be to me. I have talked about Amazing Grace over and over. It is such as irresistible scent. It is soft, clean and feminine. 

Now Gucci Bloom is a new scent also. I like it but did not get a sample. I need to get a sample to see how it combines with my body chemistry. You can smell the jasmine notes in this. 

Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme is a men’s fragrance but I wanted to mention it. It is so good. My husband sprayed it in the store and I was a few feet away from him and I smelled it and said, “Oh man, that is good”! So he bought it. 
Now this is not a fragrance but a beauty elixir. I purchased an $18 bottle and I have been using it all week after I wash, moisturize and put on my make-up I spray my face with this. It is really good. It does make your skin glow. I read about the creator of this company about a year ago. See here if you missed it. Wonderful product!
Well, I hope that I gave you all some new fragrances to go out and try. I know I will definitely be getting that Tory Burch Lavande. It is just too good!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Paint Colors for the Bedroom

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We built our home in 2013 so it has been 4 years and we still have not painted our master bedroom nor the bathroom. We have been going back and forth about colors but I am hopeful that this year will be the year.

I am torn between 2 colors, gray and lilac. We also need to paint our daughter’s bedroom and she has chosen light blue. Until she saw my selection of lilac….. great…..

This inspiration…


Love this…


Now here is our bedroom. Our bed is a cream color wing back bed. I think it up against the lilac will be perfect.



Love all the inspiration that Pinterest provides. I am just so excited that my husband will let me have lilac in our room. I am looking forward to it.


Now on this chart, I am leaning toward “radiant lilac”. These are Sherwin Williams paints and my husband loves their products. 



My daughter has been wanting her room painted “light blue” until she saw my lilac paint color choices. I told her that she can paint her room the same color and she has refused. So the deal is if we go with a different color then she will go with the radiant lilac. Problem solved…..


Here were her paint color choices…

She likes the top color “lobelia” and here are other examples….


I love this “silken blue” but she hates it! It’s okay. I am hoping that we will finally have color on the walls and that the last 3 rooms in the house will finally be finished. I also have to pick out a “stain” color for our fence. Looking forward to that too!

(photos via Pinterest and Mrs. Shockley)

A House Tour in Georgetown

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When we were walking through the neighborhoods in D.C. (see here if you missed it) and as I was looking at all of the homes I was dreaming about what they look like on the inside. Well, House Beautiful has given me a chance to take a peek inside a historic row-house in Georgetown.

photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
A beautiful 1901 rowhouse

photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
Love the table in the entryway

photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
The Carver’s Guild mirror is beautiful
photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
A blue and white garden stool. I love these!!!
photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
A series of 17th-century bird prints cover the walls. 
photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
Love this custom farmhouse table from Holland & Company. 
Again, love all the blue and white in the cabinets. 

photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
Going upstairs, the master bedroom is full of blue and white. 
Another garden stool…..
photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
Love the print on the bed, it’s Colefax and Fowler print is also repeated on the curtains. And if you look closely there are french doors to the left. Lovely…

photo credit Ngoc Minh Ngo
This is the guest bedroom. The wall is herringbone wallpaper by Ralph Lauren and faux bamboo nightstands. Lovely guest bedroom.


This is a very nice home tour. If you wish to read the original article you may see it here. 

Enjoy!
(photos via HouseBeautiful.com)

Laxative Organic Tea ~ A Wonderful Thing

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I know this is an interesting subject to discuss but I do want to share a recent find. I am lactose intolerant and it is a pain! When we are on vacation I have to be very careful about what I eat and how often.

Whenever we go on trips I have to think ahead and plan out what I can as far as meals. If we have some dairy I have to make sure that it is towards the end of the trip otherwise it can be a long week.

Recently, when we were in New York I had some dairy early in the trip. I could not help it. The ice cream looked so good and I wanted to try it. But I knew what danger lurked around the corner and I knew that I was not in my own home. So once we left the ice cream shop I told my husband that I needed to find something to help me process it in a smooth manner.

And look at what I found at the local drugstore…..

I found this organic tea called Smooth Move Tea. It is sold everywhere! Walmart has it, Target, and Amazon. It is very easy to find. I was a little unsure if it would work but I was desperate and I am not a fan of Pepto Bismol. I feel worse after I have that!!!

So I purchased a box and it was wonderful!!!! Okay, this is how it works, so simple….

You steep your tea bag in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then squeeze out all the excess water. I add a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of honey to add a little flavor to it. The flavor isn’t bad I just like honey and lemon in my tea. 
Your drink it at night right before bed and when you wake up your tummy is ready to release! It is great. This tea gives your stomach that “gentle push” it needs to relieve you in the morning. This is a senna-based tea and gently stimulates your intestines and aids your body in the elimination process. It takes about 6-12 hours to work but once it gets started it doesn’t stop and I am telling you it works!
 I love it and know that if I have that large vanilla cone from Dairy Queen I can enjoy it because I will have my tea later on that evening and be relieved in the morning. Like I said I know this is a weird subject but I love to share things that I find that work. 
If you are like me and need a little push, you should try it. It is wonderful….
Enjoy!!!!
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Mornings at the Office

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Getting up everyday and having a routine is very important to me. With routines I feel as though I have substance. I mentioned this on the blog before, see here and here if you wish to read them.

I always have flowers in the office. A great way to start your morning….
A small breakfast at my desk. Some pastry or bread and my small cup of peaches….

Big Lenox cloth napkins…

I have my own silverware of course….
I always have my water with fruit in it. See my blog post here about that.

After breakfast, I go to the kitchen and make my hot water, lemon and honey. I keep lemons in the office fridge. 
I answer some emails then I go and wash my dishes. I bring in my own dish liquid. This is a small container with my Ivory dish liquid in it. Why not enjoy my pretty dish liquid here to. 
After my routine, I began my day and enjoy all my office pretties around. I keep my lip balm and lip stick in this blue and white container that my mother in law gave to me. Very nice….
I have vintage pieces all around my office. I found this vase at a thrift store last year. 
I have an aloe vera plant that I keep by the window. It got so big that a few months ago I had to bring it home and separate it! I ended up give away four plants from it! Needless to say that my co-workers were very happy.
I keep a lot of my vases at the top of my cabinets. I do enjoy my daily routine in my office. Wherever you work make it your own. If you have a space bring in something personal to make it beautiful. Whatever that beauty is to you. Enjoy your routines!


(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

The Thilima Pump

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Another quick post about a great shoe. I found this a few weeks ago while in DSW. I had a $10 off coupon and just could not let that go to waste! That’s like throwing away free money. I can’t do it.

I was walking around when I saw this shoe and just had to try it…..

It is lovely. It is called the Thilima Pump and it comes in 3 different colors. Click on the link to take a peek. The price is great and so are the reviews. Enjoy!!!!
(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

13 Beautiful Virtues to Live By

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Earlier last week I was reading another blog and she was discussing the “13 Virtues” of Benjamin Franklin. Apparently, he wrote these in 1726 when he was only 20 years old. These would be the principles that Mr. Franklin would adhere to and aid him in his path.

I was extremely impressed with these virtues and wanted to share them with anyone else who had no idea they existed.

1) Temperance– Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

2) Silence- Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself ; avoid trifling conversation

3) Order– Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time

4) Resolution– Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve

5) Frugality- Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing
6) Industry– Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions

7) Sincerity- Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly

8) Justice- Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty

9) Moderation- Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve

10) Cleanliness- Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths or habitation  (wow!!!!)

11) Tranquility- Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable
12) Chastity- Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness,weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation 

13) Humility- Imitate Jesus and Socrates
I thought this was a wonderful list and just had to share it. These are beautiful beliefs to have in your mind when living and I thank Mr. Franklin for sharing these with us. 
(photos via Pinterest)