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Our Trip to Universal ~ 2025

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Hello Everyone!

I had a busy weekend, but it was great! I took the day off last Friday to go and pick up my newly reupholstered chair.  It is gorgeous! I will be sure to share some photos later. Once I returned home, I had a representative from California Closets come by and design a closet organization system for my walk -in closet. I am in love with it and hope to get it done soon! Then later on that afternoon one of our Guild members had a Chanel jewelry party at her home. I had a blast! She had great nibbles around to eat, and the jewelry was stunning. I purchased two pairs of earrings and a necklace. Of course I will share photos later. Lastly on Saturday, I attended a Garden Soiree! I was invited as influencer. It was a great time to network with other people in my city and see a beautiful property and garden. 

Okay so I am finally getting around to sharing our trip to Universal Studios in Florida. We went in June. It has been almost 3 weeks since we have been back. I have been busy I tell you! Well I took some photos, not a lot. Again, my word of the year is “be present” so that is what I was trying to do while in Florida. 

I will start off with the hotel. We stayed at the Hard Rock Resort which was a 10-minute walk to Universal. I will say it was a beautiful hotel, and the staff was incredibly nice!

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

The hotel was very clean and had lots of amenities. There were restaurants on site, rock music playing downstairs in the lobby with music videos, a Starbucks, and so much more!  As I mentioned the park was such a short walk from our hotel. We could also take a ferry. We passed this beautiful area of water every day. I actually loved looking at this on our way to the park. 

 

 

It was so HOT! I mean hot. I actually got a terrible heat rash the first day and it lasted for more than 10 days. It hurt and itched at the same time, but I powered through it. Once we got to the park we split up from the girls and they headed to Harry Potter. Walking around was an experience. I was not getting on any rides but wanted to see Universal. My husband and I did get on the Bourne Stuntacular. If you are a Jason Bourne fan, then you will certainly enjoy this. 

 

 

We did catch up with the girls in Diagon Alley. I will say this the Harry Potter World was put together quite nicely. There was a lot to see, and I think the Disney team did a great job creating their merchandise. All of it was very nice. We walked around, saw the dragon blow fire out of its mouth, and ate lunch at the Leaky Cauldron with the girls. 

 

 

Another place that we dined at was the Hard Rock Restaurant. Lauren loved it! She loved the pink Cadillac spinning around in the middle of the restaurant. I loved the service, the space, and the food. This salad that I got was so satisfying! On a day where it is 100 degrees, having this salad was so refreshing and needed. 

 

 

I did manage to get in a pool day. The pool area at the hotel was stunning. It was well kept and had a food and bar service. I ordered lots of things from Amazon to wear to the pool. This swimsuit cover up looked so chic along with this striped swimsuit. I also ordered this swimming cap to match as well as this beach tote. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

It was so nice just sitting by the pool and reading. I brought my Bunny Mellon book to catch up on. This is a really big book, and I need to finish it. It is really good! It is so fascinating to read about all of the connections and history that this family has. They started Listerine!

 

 

And the last place that I will mention is this restaurant which was so hard to get into! The Chocolate Emporium was a real treat. The food… all I can say is OMG! You really need to watch the video to get an idea about how much of an adventure it was. The staff was incredibly nice, and we got to meet the characters as well. 

Overall, it was a really nice trip and was a dream for Lauren. Because we stayed at the Hard Rock hotel, she had early access to the park and Express passes! She hardly waited for any ride! She and her friend Ana were in Cloud 9! As parents it’s a great feeling to be able to do this for your kid. When I was growing up, we never traveled anywhere. So, I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this for my kids. 

Next week, I will be sharing my day at the Cake Bake Shop in Disney!!! 

 

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  • This post is not sponsored.  

June Favorites ~ 2025

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Hello Friends,

I am back from Florida, and I will tell you that I am exhausted! It was soo hot. I mean unbearable HOT! The first day that we were there I changed clothes, got settled in the hotel and we went to Universal. The moment I stepped foot outside my body immediately began to tell me that it was too much! I got a heat rash the first night that we walked around and I still have it a little. I will be sure to share my adventures soon. Until then these were my favorites for the month of June.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

First on my list are peonies. I am still finding peonies! JP Parker posted on their Instagram account that they still had peonies for sale. I jumped right into my car and drove down to Franklin. Once there they let me have my Megan Sussex moment. If you watched her series on Netflix, then you know what I mean. They let me go into the back and pick out my own peonies. I came home with this stunning bouquet to enjoy before leaving for my trip. They also signed me up for their floral arranging classes! I could not go to the one in June but I am hoping that they will have one in July!

Next is my all-white outfit that I wore to the office. I have always been afraid of all white but thought I would give it a try. My dress is from Bloomchic, slingbacks are from Target, handbag is from MME. Mink. I added a pearl necklace, some pearl earrings and my look was complete. I got lots of compliments that day as well. 

 

 

Third is my new obsession, avocado toast! Now I have always been intimidated by this dish but decided to give it a try. I found a basic recipe online and made it. It turned out great and I have made it twice already. It is so good! 

Next are my new raised beds! I ordered these from Home Depot and the installation was pretty easy. What took so long was filling it. My husband and I looked up ways to fill it in a cost-effective way. We used old logs, dirt, old flowers, and it turned out well. I planted sweet peas, hollyhocks and other flowers. They look great in the back yard next to the greenhouse.  

 

 

Fifth on my list are my monthly dinners and/or adventures with my Guild girls. This month we had appetizers and cocktails at the InterContinental Hotel in the Astrea Rooftop Bar. It was a blast! The view was spectacular and so were the appetizers and cocktails. This night was so needed. My father has passed away a week before and dealing with his funeral arrangements was a nightmare! He had no money nor plans in place and I had a sister whom I never met wanting us to spend money and I just refused. Spending time with my girlfriends and talking things out with them helped me to finalize my decisions. It was needed! 

Next up was my first massage! That’s right I got my first massage at Woodhouse and it was a dream. I got the Swedish body balance massage, and it was heaven! I also added in some heated rocks and oils. My goodness! I need to go back and get another one especially after dealing with Universal Studios! 

 

 

 

And lastly was my latest visit to interior designer Tiffany Skillings newly renovated studio. She has completely redecorated her office space and had included these living spaces. This bed with all of the layers was so inspiring. I also loved the pink paint color on the walls. I will have to email her and ask the color. I did not take a lot of photos because I wanted to be there in the moment and soak in all of the decor items. But if you live in the area, you should go and take a visit. 

Finally, we have another work outfit. I love this maxi skirt from Ann Taylor. Sorry I cannot link it; it sold out quickly! I loved pairing my blue and white slingbacks from Target with this blush maxi. I think the colors flowed so well. I added a lace cami, and cream Chanel inspired cardigan. I was very pleased with this look. Remember, wear your best. Even if you don’t feel like it. 

I hope you all enjoyed my June favorites. I did not have a lot this month. June has been a rough and busy month for me. I do hope that things will slow down here soon. Oh, I did want to share some news. I recently created a LinkedIn account for A Home for Elegance. If you have an account, you can follow me as well. Have a great week!

 

The Act of Loveliness ~ Enrich Your Daily Life

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Good Morning Friends, 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day weekend. We spent ours at home with the kiddos. All three adult children were home and spent time with Mr. Shockley. He loved it! I also got him this practicing putting mat from Mark and Graham. He absolutely loves it! I was so happy to see him using it with the kids. 

Well friends my family and I will be heading to Florida next week. I will be taking a break from the blog. We will see what elegant adventures I can come up with while in Orlando but before I go, I wanted to share this lovely list from Victoria Magazine’s new book Gracious Home, Cultivating a Spirit of Welcome. Oh, and did everyone hear that Jennifer L. Scott has a new book coming out? OMG! So excited. 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Author Melissa Lester wants you to consider these suggestions for cultivating a spirit of welcome that enriches your daily life.

  • Address areas that greet you upon entering your home, first clearing away clutter and then arranging vignettes that will delight your eye each time you open the door. 
  • Even when dining along, choose pretty plates, and flatware appreciating the glimmers of beauty these special pieces add to your meal. 

 

photo credits: via Pinterest

 

  • Display framed prints of favorite scriptures or quotes to remind yourself of wise and encouraging words.
  • Sleep on the finest bedding that your budget allows. And if your nicest sheets are hidden away in a cupboard for safekeeping, realize that most household textiles actually fare better with regular use and laundering. 

 

photo credits: via Pinterest 

 

  • Assess the scene that awaits when you open your eyes each morning. Would repositioning the bed afford a clearer view of the world outside your window? 
  • As often as possible, snip a few blooms to create a fragrant posy for your bedside table, desk, or bathroom counter. 

 

Photo credit: via Pinterest

 

And lastly

  • Develop routines that ease your into and out of the day. The benefits of a cup of tea in the morning and a stroll through the neighborhood at sunset can last from dawn to dusk. 

I really hope that you found some inspiration in this list developed by Melissa Lester from Victoria Magazine. It has all of the items that are in my daily routines. There is order, beauty, tea, flowers, home decor, and a view of the world. Enjoy your weekend.

 

The boutique has some accessories on sale. Shop here! 

  • Affiliate links attached 

 

May Favorites ~ 2025

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Good Morning,

I have some sad news to share. My father passed away unexpectedly last week. He lived in Georgia, but I am glad that we were able to settle things and make peace with one another before he left. Planning everything has been hard, but we are getting through it. 

Life has had some interesting challenges recently but in spite of the challenges God has been very faithful. Truly! Now on to some of my favorites for the month of May!

 

 

 

First up are my Ann Taylor Loft skinny scarves. These are so beautiful! I was quite surprised at how lovely they were. They are great for your neck and your handbag. Wrapping them around my totes has been a true treat. Now my scarves have sold out, but the Loft has these which are a pretty close design. Order them while you can!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Next up have been some self-care moments at home. I work-out Monday thru Thursday. I have my morning walks, Pilates, Rebounder class, kettlebell class, and I lift weights. On Fridays I take the morning off to enjoy some downtime before heading into the office. I get up early, have my devotional time , then I head downstairs to my quiet and beautiful sitting room to enjoy what I call a beauty book. For the last few weeks, I have been reading Aerin Lauder’s new book Living with Flowers. I usual light a candle and for the past several weeks I have been enjoying my peonies. 

Another self-care item has been my weekly Thai food dinner. On Wednesdays, after Pilates, I order my favorite Thai dish. It’s a beef soup with rice noodles and some spring rolls. This is so delicious to me and is a real treat every week.  

 

 

Speaking of peonies, did you see my David Austen roses on my Instagram page? Oh my goodness has this season been so rewarding. They are like a dream this year. They are starting to climb my trellises and the scent is heavenly. I fertilized them before they bloomed, and I think that made them happy! Even my husband cannot resist smelling them. Next up has been my new smartwatch. I am not a smartwatch person, but I wanted something to monitor my sleep. I have been so curious about it lately. This smartwatch that I ordered from Amazon has been outstanding. It syncs to any phone and is so easy to use and it monitors your sleep. I need more REM!  

 

 

 

Have you seen these blue and white chinoiserie shoes from Target? These are similar to the other slingbacks that I shared last month. They are so chic, and sooo comfortable! My goodness are these comfortable. I have gotten so many compliments.

On the right you will see this stunning green ginger jar. This item was on my wishlist for almost a year! Unfortunately, they have risen the price. It was $250 and it is now almost double that which is incredibly disappointing. Rick got it for me for Mother’s Day. The funny thing was I did not know that the price had gone up so when I sent Rick the screenshot it was from last year with the $250 price tag. Williams Sonoma honored that price and let Rick order it for $250! Happy! 

 

 

Eighth on the list are some new candles. While I was in Ohio last month, I visited their World Market store and stumbled on these beautifully scented candles. These are so delightful! I really loved the hydrangea hyacinth and the wild jasmine scents. Also, they are only $16.99 and are pretty large! They would be perfect to try in your home. There are other scents available. 

 

 

OMG! Look at these ankle tie pumps from DSW! They are perfect for spring and so comfortable! The heel 3 inches high and the lace is 21 inches long. They are so elegant. I could not resist ordering them in polka dot and in the floral print. I have gotten so many compliments. 

 

 

Tenth on the list is my new arrival for my boutique! The blue chinoiserie clutch is now available to purchase. It has a vintage style shape and blue and white color combination. It is perfect for parties. You can also use my code “spring10” for 10% off of your purchase. You can use that code sitewide! 

 

 

Next up is my recent video with Dr. Minju Witte! I hope you all have had a chance to watch and let us know in the comments section about a second video. I so enjoyed having Dr. Witte in my home and we had a wonderful time recording this video! It’s your questions answered by Dr. Witte! 

 

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Spring Garden Party – Providence Home

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Hello Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! I wanted to keep things simple and just have dinner and stay home.  My husband did get me this green cherry blossom ginger jar from Williams Sonoma. It has been on my list for a while now and I am enjoying it in my kitchen. I was busy with the show house last week. We had really big crowds and beautiful weather. I was one of the directors this year, so I was running around keeping an eye on everything and relieving the docents for breaks, but it was a lot of fun! I am already looking forward to seeing next year’s house and will share a few photos later of the 2025 show house. 

I am sharing a recent spring garden party that I attended a few weeks ago. It was actually hosted by one of our show house designers Judy Bates. Judy has an interior design company called JB Designs Interior Design and she focuses on clean, classic, and comfort. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

The event was held at a store called Providence Home & Garden located in Noblesville. This store is a home decor store that offers a cafe shop as well. It was beautifully decorated, welcoming, and smelled wonderful! 

 

 

This first event was a mini cocktail workshop with a complimentary cocktail to sample. I am not a cocktail person but have grown to become interested in it since the kids are getting older. The company that taught this portion was called MixoIndy. They are a local company that teaches in person classes, and they provide everything. I cannot remember that name or ingredients for this drink, but it was so delicious! 

 

 

The next event was table setting and Judy took the lead in this portion. She talked about the furniture, china or dishes, napkins and floral arrangements for table settings. We looked at one of her table settings for indoors and outdoors. There were lots of laughs and down-to-earth conversations about how one could live with beautiful items which I am always discussing here on the blog. We went outside to look at one of her outdoor table settings and to hear her ideas. One of them was to use a blanket as a table cover for the outdoors. GREAT IDEA especially for the summer!  

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Once Judy finished discussing her table settings we went inside to shop with our discounts and gather some flower arrangements outside the store. Overall, it was a fabulous experience, and I am so glad that I attended. It gave me an opportunity to talk with Judy, visit a new store, try a cocktail, and learn a few tips and tricks about dining and making drinks. If you are here locally, I would encourage you to visit Providence Home and Garden in Noblesville. If you love home decor and are looking for different places to then drive up there. It’s a beautiful store with a wonderful staff. Also if you are looking for someone to help you decorate your home or your elderly parents’ space then contact Judy Bates. She is adding that new feature to her company which is helping family with life transitions. 

 

I will be sharing a reel of this event on my Instagram page here. 

  • This post is not sponsored. 

 

 

 

 

 

Building My “Life” Team

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. We kept things simple. I cooked a turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and made a caramel cake. We sat and spent time with our adult kids. We are now in the process of planning our summer trip. We are tossing around ideas and trying to figure out who wants to do what. I know that Lauren would like to visit Universal Studios in Florida, so we are trying to figure that out now. 

Also because of changes at my job and leadership, all of my work trips have been put on hold. It’s been very disappointing, but I am doing my best to trust that the Lord is working things out. Everything happens for a reason and that could be another reason why I am feeling lead to build my “life team”. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

As I am entering my mid-forties, my mind is changing and focusing on different things. At first, it was always the kids, my husband, this person or that person. I am now in a chapter where I want to focus on things that I want and need in my life for these next seasons. Health is taking a center stage in my life. Since I have started my perimenopause journey, I believe in building a team of professionals who are in my life to help me make it the best journey that I possibly can. 

I am starting with my primary care physician.  I have had her for over 10 years, but I am wanting to take a turn to a doctor who focuses more on functional medicine and who is willing to listen to me a bit more. Next is my OBGYN, again I have had her for 10 years, but I want someone “different”. Both of these doctors have been phenomenal; I just believe that I need new doctors in the next chapters of my life. 

I have a wonderful dentist. Our family has been going to her for almost 10 years, and I don’t want to leave her. She has been such a wonderful part in my life team and has guided me through my dental process and has been a wonderful asset. Next is my eye doctor, who again has been another great factor in my life team. I have been going to Dr. Shah for several years now and we are now discussing my options as I age and head into my 50s. She is open with me about her struggles as well because we are both in the same age group. 

Next is my dietitian who I started going to last year. She was a referral from my primary care physician after I complained multiple times about my hormonal weight gain. She has been absolutely heaven sent! I love my dietitian. She is so kind, informative, smart, and long suffering! Last month I was so upset with my hormonal weight gain I wanted to quit everything. She talked me off the cliff and gave me some info. She told me about an online doctor website called Midi that specialize in hormones.  Now I have heard of them before but didn’t think my insurance would cover it and it turns out they do!!! I have my first appointment coming up in the next few weeks. See that is what I am talking about…a life team!! 

 

 

 

In the next few months, I want to start looking for a dermatologist. I have never been to one and would love a consultation about my skin. I have had a facial but actually speaking with a dermatologist about my skin and maybe getting one of those skin scans would be a dream. So that is on my books to start to look for. 

I am still in Pilates class! I started in November, and I am still going. I actually love it. I go once a week for now and have my morning works the other 3 days of the week. I have added in strength training to my workouts as well. Meeting with my dietitian and listening to other podcasts regarding strength training and eating has had me change my workout routines. The other “life” team member that I have added is a therapist. I started therapy exactly one year ago and have not regretted it. I knew that I needed to add this person to my life team. Mental health is such an important part of my life in this chapter. It has helped me to “kick up the dirt” and clean it up. I love my therapist and our sessions. 

 

 

Friends are another group in my “life” team. As I stated in a previous post, I never knew how important friendships were until I saw “good ones”. As I spend time with other women, I am learning more about life, and the importance of trust.  I have been praying for “travel friends” or friend. I need a woman friend to travel with. I am not sure who the Lord will send but I need some girl trips in my life. A trip where we can antique shop, visit historical homes, travel overseas, and enjoy the gardens. I am also on the hunt for a business mentor. I have an entrepreneur spirit, and I want a female friend who has the qualities, discipline, and elegance to be a mentor to me in the business world. Next up is a garden mentor. Now there are a lot of people that say that they can garden but I want an expert. I think I may have one. David Strohmeyer is one of our designers as the show house and I spoke with him recently regarding my green house. I will be sending an email to him soon to set up a time for him to come out and guide me.

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Next to last is an interior designer. Now I have started to meet interior designers at the show house since I am a member. Last year I was able to do a collaboration with one! That was one of the highlights of my year! I know that I can reach out to them to get ideas and maybe do a consultation one day. I would love to redo my laundry room, closet, and kitchen. And last but not least is a fashion stylist. Last week was Influencer Day at the show house and I was able to sit and talk with Nicole Busch with Nicole Blair Wear. I asked her questions about blouses and skirts, colors, patterns, and comfort. It was such a fun conversation. Let me know in the comments below if you would like to see a blog collaboration with Nicole and if so, what would you ask? 

I truly hope that this blog post was inspiring. Let me know in the comments below what your thoughts are about having a “life team”. Have a great weekend! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scheduling Elegant Adventures

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Well friends, how is everyone? Are we ready for spring? The trees in our neighborhood are starting to bloom and my peonies are perking up through the ground. We are waiting a few more weeks before we install my raised beds, and I am ready to have some warmer walking mornings.

Oh goodness… my title. I tell you I have been having some deep life thoughts lately. Especially around how I want to live. There are so many ugly things going on in this world. I try to limit my news watching and doom scrolling. I am also trying to monitor my stress at work. That has been really hard with all of the changes that we have been having.

I came up with this idea “scheduling elegant adventures” when I was meeting with my doctor and therapist. Yes, I have a therapist, and it has been the best thing ever! I have been going for almost a year, and I believe it was one of the best decisions that I have made so far. I was discussing with her my idea about elegant adventures, and she loved it!

I was also discussing it with my dietitian as we talked about my stress management and weight. I mentioned to some of the girls in my Pilates class and everyone took it in like “wait a minute maybe I should try this”. What I realized is that taking a vacation once a year for one week is not enough for me. Not anymore. I need more beauty, more time alone, and more adventures.

So on my elegant adventures list, at least once a month, I go to dinner with my “Guild Girls” and last month we went duckpin bowling.

 

 

We had the best time! I had a blast. I really did. It forced me to slow down, play a game, and enjoy the moment. We went to dinner right after that and it was a wonderful adventure! 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

I tried a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri. It was so good! We also walked around the Bottleworks hotel which was very beautiful. This past weekend I decided to have another elegant adventure. 

 

 

I have been wanting to go and see Swan Lake at the ballet for years now and I got a ticket and went. It was a beautiful ballet, and I am so glad that I went. I sat in the balcony. I sat with two couples. I went alone and had no regrets. The couples were so nice and funny. We all had a great time! Honestly, I have never read the story about Swan Lake and read it in the program. It is VERY interesting. I thought the Indianapolis Ballet did a great job. They are the same production that puts on the Nutcracker each year and the Indianapolis Symphony orchestra played the entire time. Talk about “seeking the arts”. 

For the month of April, I plan on going to Nordstrom Rack. I rarely get to go to that store. I also want to go to Consign by Design again, and this has just been added to my radar for this year. Isn’t this hotel GORGEOUS? This is about an hour and 45 minutes away from me and my supervisor told me all about it. I want to go and stay for a few days, tour the hotel, and have a spa day.  Now how wonderful would that be? My goal is to go and do something that I love each month and take that time to get away and just breathe. Stress and high cortisol levels are a real thing, and I just don’t want them to rule me anymore. Elegant adventures each month for me!