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Announcements & Sarah Flint Secret Garden Collection!

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Hello Friends!

The weather here in Indy has been fantastic! We have had sunny skies and 80 degrees! It is so nice to be coat free. I have been working on some new things and I have some announcements.

The first is that I am a second ambassador for a new brand, and I will be sharing that soon. The second announcement is that I was asked by an interior design firm here in my city to do a collaboration with them this Friday!!! I am so excited for this new opportunity, and I can’t believe that they asked me to do a collab! This is my first collaboration in this format, and I am really nervous but looking forward to it. Sassy Green Interiors is a local design firm, and their work is so beautiful. They are one of designers in the St. Margaret’s Show House this year and I will be conducting a Q & A with them called “Timeless Classic Living & Quiet Luxury”. I do hope that you all enjoy the photos and the interview! Another tidbit is that I will be bringing some of my Sarah Flint scarfs and shoes to place in their room to take photos! So exciting!

Now speaking of shoes and beautiful things, I wanted to share some of the new Secret Garden Collection at Sarah Flint.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

First off, I have to share that I finally got one of the pairs of Gracie’s that I wanted. Sarah sent out an archive sale link and I was able to get this for only $199! I know that is still a lot of money but compared to the original price of $595, I have to say that this was a good deal. They are still on sale for $299 and they only have a few sizes left. You can still use my code SARAHFLINT-CCMRSSHOCKLEY for %15 off of your first purchase. 

 

 

Just stunning…

 

 

Of course there is a new scarf in this collection. I shared this on my recent YouTube video, and I have seriously not stopped wearing it. I just love it. The Secret Garden Scarf 45 is a stunning piece to have in your wardrobe. It is made of silk and is utterly timeless. I have gotten lots of compliments already. You truly will be able to have this in your wardrobe forever. 

 

 

I normally don’t like flats, but these Mauve Lace Parkers are sensational! Aren’t they adorable? 

 

 

One more item that has just launched on the website are these silk ties. They are originally for the Grear Sandals but can be worn in different ways. I especially love this way. I can’t wait for mine to arrive. I will be using them as purse scarfs and scarfs for my neck. 

Don’t forget to use my code: SARAHFLINT-CCMRSSHOCKLEY for %15 off your first shoe purchase! Let me know in the comments section below if you order anything. I can’t wait to share my collaboration with you all next week as well as my first tag sale that I got to attend! 

 

*This post is sponsored; affiliate links attached. 

Keeping an Eye on my Posture

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Hello,

Did you all watch the eclipse? Okay, okay, I will admit we were in the path of totality, and I must say seeing the moon completely cover the sun was really cool! I felt like I was on a different planet for a moment. It was quite intriguing. Our whole neighborhood said wow at the same time. It was a moment for sure. 

I have so many health topics and things that I am working on and dealing with. I will be sharing my journey with perimenopause in a later post but today I wanted to share my battle with posture. 

photo via: L. Shockley 

 

I have been trying to pay attention to how I sit and stand. I noticed in a mirror a few weeks ago how my neck looked when I stood naturally, and I did not like it. I had it on my list to try to do some research on sitting and standing better then I (by miracle) received an email with an article from my doctor’s office about tips to help you fix your sitting and standing posture! Funny right!

Here are the tips:

  1. Be mindful of our posture: It might sound simplistic, but being more aware of your posture during your everyday activities can bring about noticeable improvements. Whether you’re carrying grocery bags, lifting boxes in the garage or scrolling on your phone, being mindful of how you are holding, supporting and moving your body can help you make small tweaks to improve your posture and prevent injury.
  2. Stay active: Regular physical activity will help keep your joints, muscles and ligaments moving and prevent stiffness, which can lead to poor posture. Exercises that emphasize body awareness, such as tai chi and yoga, can be especially beneficial in improving posture.
  3. Strengthen your core: can also help ensure the muscles support your back, pelvis, neck and stomach are strong. Exercises such as side planks, hip ups, twists can help build abdominal strength for improved posture support.
  4. Maintain a healthy weight: Carrying excess weight around your midsection can weaken or strain muscles that support your back, pelvis and spine.
  5. Tuck your chin: Want to feel a little bit taller? Stand straight and then slightly tuck your chin, pushing the top of your head to the sky. This decompresses and elongates the neck, helping alleviate neck tightness and ensuring you are reaching your full height potential.
  6. Select Posture-Friendly shoes: Your footwear can have an impact on your posture as well. While sky-high heels might be in vogue, they can wreak havoc on your posture. Shoes with a high heel cause your back to overarch and increase pressure on your knees and back. Save heels for special occasions and instead opt for flats or low-heeled shoes for our day-to-day look.
  7. Evaluate Your Desk Ergonomics: If you spend all day at a desk on a computer, the arrangement and height of your desk, computer, and chair can play a big role in your daily posture. Evaluate your work environment to ensure your computer is at eye level, your feet rest on the floor and your knees and elbows are bent roughly at 90 degrees.
  8. Switch it Up: Neither standing nor sitting for extended periods is ideal for the body, so if you sit for long periods during your day, break up the day by taking walks and changing positions to give your body variety. Then, each time you sit again, you’ll have a new opportunity to reset your posture.

Wow, I am loving these tips. I never thought about the shoe tip but now I can see how your shoes would affect your posture. I never thought about the weight in the midsection either but now I can see that. I hope these tips shed some light for some of you as well. I love a good health checklist and I am happy to add this to my blog.

tips by Kate Bayless from Well U

 

The boutique has a new plus-size arrival! The Garden Maxi Dress is a beautiful floral dress perfect for the upcoming spring and summer season!

 

 

 

March Favorites ~ 2024

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Good Morning,

Easter is this weekend! We thank you Lord for your sacrifice and your love. I still can’t believe how early it is. I am not sure if my kid is coming home this weekend. I hope she does.

I have lots of interesting favorites to share for this month and I hope that you find use in them.

 

 

First on my list is this iron holder. I needed somewhere to put my iron. Every time I used it, I would just place it on my shelf (while it was hot) and it made me very nervous. I always believe that everything should have it’s place. This has been so helpful to have. I can even place the iron on it HOT and push the cord in the hidden compartment. 

 

This is a photo of my cabinet under my sink. It was a hot mess. I kept trying to find organizational shelving that could help me. 

 

 

This is wonderful! I ordered this 3- tier shelving system from Amazon. The drawers slide in and out making the access of products so much easier. It’s been a win. 

 

photos via Mrs. Shockley 

 

I have been on the hunt for a cord organizer since Covid. I saw this on an influencer’s page and had to give it a try. You can literally store your cords inside to hide the horrible appearance. 

 

 

Looks much better!

 

 

My fourth favorite is my newest FMBP purchase. This cane chair was on FB for $50. Now the stripe fabric is a little faded and I may have to reupholster it but it’s quite beautiful. 

 

 

A purse hook? Yes PLEASE! I found myself putting my bags on the floor and various places when I was in restaurants. I have also had to squeeze it in between me and someone else when the floor was too dirty. So, when I saw this, I was desperate to give it a try and I must say I don’t leave home without it. Order one!!! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Sixth on the list are these simply chic and sweet house slippers. I have been on the hunt for a new pair, and I saw Jennifer L. Scott wearing these. I have had them in my Amazon cart for a while and I am so glad that I ordered them. They are quite enjoyable to wear. 

 

 

Next are vintage plates. I was recently inspired by a beautiful, decorated room at the Showhouse this year. Vintage plates have been at the top of my home decor list, and I have enjoyed adding them to my personal spaces. 

 

 

Aren’t these beautiful? I recently received them from Dillards and cannot get enough of the green roses. They are so gorgeous! You can watch my unboxing on my Instagram account. 

 

 

My ninth favorite of the month was a recent discovery. I saw this vintage birdcage at the antique and from the moment that I saw it I knew that I wanted it. Now I am not getting a bird, but I figured I could use this just for decor. I am waiting patiently to make an offer. 

 

 

Last favorite organizational item for the month is this dryer sheet box. I have been one of those people (nothing wrong with it) who kept their dryer sheets in the original box. I saw this on someone’s video and thought well I like that! So I ordered one from Amazon. It’s great!

I hope you all enjoyed this month’s favorites. The boutique is still having a dress sale. Order a few dresses for your wardrobe. Also don’t forget to watch my most recent YouTube video. 

 

 

  • Affiliate links attached. 

It’s Been 10 Years for the Blog!

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Good Morning Everyone!

It is still cold here, but we are used to it. I have swapped out my fall/winter shoes and accessories for my spring/summer items! I think this past weekend just staring at my shoes and accessories made me feel a little sad and that’s when I realized that changing things out will not hurt. Our weather has gotten a bit warmer but wearing a few spring items will certainly cheer me up! I just ordered these amazing green roses and ivory sandals from Dillard’s. I can’t wait to wear them this spring and summer. The dress is on my radar, but I will have to wait a moment for that. 

Please share below how you are preparing for spring!

As you can see from the title, it has officially been 10 years since I started my blog A Home for Elegance. Pretty incredible to me honestly! I cannot tell you how many times I have contemplated quitting. Blogging is hard, coming up with daily inspirational posts is hard! It is SO HARD! 

But I love the space that I have created for myself and for all of you. This blog has also become a journal for my life. There I have been times where I have come to my blog to try to remember what I did or what was the name of a certain place or location. I do hope that you have found inspiration as well!

In honor of my 10 years, I am linking my very first blog post here. As I journeyed back to my first month of blogging, I still remember what I felt and how my home was back then. So much has changed in the last 10 years. I only hope that the blog will get better. That I will be allowed to create my own brand and that beautiful things continue to follow. Thank you for reading all this time. 

Please comment below how long you have been reading A Home for Elegance. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

 

February Favorites ~ 2024

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Good Morning!

I can’t believe it is the end of February and our wedding anniversary is this week. We have officially been married 20 years! I can’t believe it. I remember back in 2016, I wrote a blog post called Renewing Vows and I shared how I wanted to renew my vows when our 20 years approached. 

I must say that in that short amount of time, my views have changed a little. I recently brought it up to my husband about renewing our vows and he imposed a very interesting question to me. He said, “would you want to spend that kind of money on a vow renewal or would you rather travel”. I must say that I thought about it, but my heart strings were pulled by the opportunity to travel. I believe more people are becoming more interested in experiences than things and I can understand why. I am not saying that my desire to have a large wedding is gone but that question did make me think twice. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. 

Now let’s into those favorites for this month…

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

First on my list are my new custom stationary notes cards from Etsy. I was stalking these for a while on the website. So glad that I ordered them. They remind me of the English countryside. 

 

 

I have been adding new organizing items to my home and office and I spotted these. This clear file sorter is perfect for your office and home. I love the gold tips on the corners. I also added this gorgeous gold and white ginger jar that I found at the At Home Store. My ginger jar is not available online, but this one is similar. 

 

 

Nothing like antiquing on a beautiful day. I recently got to go, and these are two of the pieces that I picked up. The clear candelabra and crystal ice bucket are perfect additions to my tablescape inventory. I got the candelabra for only $20 and the small crystal ice bucket for $5. When I looked up the price for the candelabra it was over $150! Wonderful find! 

 

 

My home office has been receiving some small updates here and there. Having my antique finds in my office space means a great deal to me. I could not resist these swan candle holders from Bath and Body Works. They are so beautiful! I went and got two! If you are interested in getting one don’t wait too long. Once they are gone, they are GONE!

 

 

These were so wonderful to enjoy this week. I volunteer at Random Acts of Flowers and sometimes we have an overflow of flowers. This month it was blue hydrangeas! Can you believe it? It was so nice being able to take a bundle of these home. It really made my day. 

 

 

Small organizing tools can make life easy. I saw this fridge Lazy Susan and I thought I would give it a try. It does save a lot of space and is so easy to use. Installing it was nothing as well. 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Continuing with home products, my dream is to update my laundry room but until then adding helpful tools to the room has made taking care of my clothes much easier. I found this stain brush on Amazon and have been wanting to give it a try. I must say it was the best $15 I have spent! Being able to add my stain remover to my dresses and scrub it in with my brush. Game changer!

 

 

I have seen these Amazon belt organizers in several influencer closets, and I have always wondered about them. So I order three for my closet and must say that I have no regrets! These are great! I can see my belts and I feel like it takes up less space. 

 

 

 

 

Another organizing addition to my closet are these wardrobe organizers. You can use them for just about anything. I am using them to organize my longer and thinner scarves. Another game changer for me. It keeps them nice and neat, and I don’t have to worry about where they are. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

And the last favorite for this month is my vintage Christian Dior silk scarf that I found on Etsy. It is so beautiful and one of a kind. I have been watching it for months before I decided to order it and I must say that I have no regrets. It’s stunning!

As usual I hope that you have enjoyed these finds for the month of February. I wanted to also tell you that the boutique is having a $10 dress sale! Some of the boutique’s dresses are only $10. Order as many as you want. Enjoy!

 

  • Affiliated links attached. 

 

A Barbie Tea at the Propylaeum

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What a wonderful, long weekend! I truly enjoyed it. I watched Suspicion with Cary Grant and set my DVR for recording the new Jane Austen inspired movies on Hallmark. They have been really nice so far. I have also been adding LOTS of new Amazon finds to my lists and my Shop my Favorites page on my website.

A few days ago, it was my turn to watch the Showhouse. As a Guild member we take turns assisting the contractors and designers. I always enjoy this. It gives me an opportunity to meet the local designers and learn about companies in my area. 

Another great perk of being a Guild member is exposure to wonderful organizations. I was recently invited to a Barbie Tea theme party at a women’s historical society called the Propylaeum. The Propylaeum was started in 1888 and was created to provide a center for cultivation for women. 

When I pulled up to the historical home, I knew that I would love it.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

It has a very grand entrance. You can also rent some space at the historical home for parties or weddings. 

 

 

Loving the staircase, even with the dated carpet. 

 

 

The floors….

 

 

photo credit: The Propylaeum

I decided to be a good sport and take a photo in the Barbie themed photo-opt area. Not usually my thing but I did enjoy it! I kept my outfit simple yet comfortable. I am wearing a pink blush dress, ballerina cardigan from my boutique, my Tory Burch cap toe heels, and my vintage Louis Vuitton. (I have a 2xl left in light pink of the ballerina cardigan on my website). 

 

 

I stopped, grabbed a glass of pink Moscato, and headed to my table. 

 

 

The room was put together so well and was a wonderful welcome to a drury Saturday morning. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

I sat next to my friend Amy who immediately made me try Earl Grey tea. Yes you read that correctly. I have NEVER tried Earl Grey tea until that ladies tea and I must say it was so good! I also loved seeing all of the vintage china, tea sandwiches and pastries as well. 

 

 

Now most of us at the table did not know each other but that did not stop me from asking who was a member of the Propylaeum and who was not. I wanted to know more about the institution and the leadership opportunities that they offered. Sadly, no one at my table was a member. It was nice catching up with Amy and Margaret, but it was also wonderful to meet new people. 

 

 

Loved the paintings on the ceilings. People put so much more effort into elegant living back then. 

 

 

After the tea, I decided to go upstairs and do a self-guided tour of the home. This room was my absolute favorite. I love the pink paint color, detailed fireplace and floors. This home had tons of rooms. It felt as if the house went on and on. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I also could not get enough of this vintage bed and fabric headboard. Oh magnifique! Just beautiful! There is a Mother’s Day tea scheduled soon. I really would like to go so we will see if I can fit it into my schedule. 

Let me know in the comments section below if you have made any new recent tearoom discoveries in your city.

 

  • Side note: the Elizabeth Arden Vintage Vanity Collection has been added to my Poshmark page. Take a peek, make an offer! 

A Candle Project…

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Good Morning,

The weather here in Indy was great this past weekend. We had lots of sunshine on Sunday. It was so needed. I attended a ladies afternoon tea that I can’t wait to share with you soon. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and we intend on spending it at home. What I do want is a beautifully scented bouquet. Something with lots of beautiful greenery and blush colors. So we will see!

Now I want to share something with you that was absolutely spectacular to me! As you all know I am a part of the St. Margaret’s Guild and we are about to gear up for the 2024 Showhouse. I am really looking forward to seeing how the rooms will be transformed. This year a special project has been added.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

We are working on a signature candle scent for this year’s showhouse, and I am so excited to be a part of this project. I can’t go into details about our specific process, but I can share that working with Penn & Beech candle company was a phenomenal experience!

 

 

The process was so simple and exciting. I have ALWAYS wanted to create my own signature scent and I so glad that I got to experience this process with the Guild. 

 

 

These were some of my favorite oils. I am a floral girl to my core and wanted nothing but floral and clean scents. I can’t wait to share with you all the final product and I will be making an appointment myself to perhaps create a signature candle for A Home for Elegance. I am working with a consultant at this time and hope to start the process soon! I will keep you posted!

 

  • This post is not sponsored.