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July Favorites ~ 2025

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Hi There,

I am trying to get my blog posts out and newsletter as soon as possible. I am going to be flying out here soon for a work trip and I am trying to work ahead. My new Mahjong set has arrived! FINALLY! I will be sharing photos soon but let’s get into my favorites for the month of July.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Now first on my list was very hard to get! I watched Meghan’s series on Netflix and loved it! Then I learned about her new business called As Ever by Meghan.  Her first launch of her products sold out in hours. I then signed up to make sure that I could get at least one tin of tea and I did! I managed to order some of her herbal lemon ginger tea. It tastes wonderful and the smell is incredible, and I am not just saying that. I don’t know if they will be relaunching a third batch, but I would recommend that you sign up to get updates. I really want a jar of her raspberry spread. We’ll see. 

 

 

Next is my dinner with girls this month. We went to a new restaurant called Aberdeen Social House and it was delicious! I got the short rib in miso soup and dumplings. So good! Then I got invited as an influencer to the Garden Soiree hosted by the Villages. It was such a great opportunity, and I was so grateful for the invite. I had never heard of this organization, but they work with foster families assisting them with adoptions and providing support. It was a wonderful cause!

 

 

Ohh I have been after a foaming soap dispenser for a while now and I found this on Amazon! I love the blue and white design and gold hardware. I love foaming soaps from Bath and Body Works, but I don’t always love the bottle. This is perfect. I can just pour the soap in the dispenser and still get the foaming effective. 

Fifth are my new Chanel earrings and necklace. I purchased these from the Chanel party that I attended by one of our Guild members. We had so much fun trying on jewelry, eating, and talking. 

 

 

OMG! I love my chair. Do you all remember this chair? I purchased it from FBMP for only $50 and have been waiting to get it reupholstered. The before photo is the striped fabric that was faded and old and the new fabric is a dream. I love this chintz fabric in blue. I went right to it when I went into the fabric store, and I had the same gentleman work on it for me. I have gotten so many compliments on it.  

 

 

No! I have been in denial myself. I am in my reading glasses era, and it sucks! Sorry but it does. I noticed last year that we went out to dinner I would pull the menu away from my face. OMG! I then went to see my eye doctor and she said, yeah you need reading glasses.” I said but I wear contacts. She said that doesn’t matter anymore. NOOOO! So I went ahead and ordered these from Amazon. I have to say that are really, affordable and work.  I have a pair at home, work, and my purse. 

 

 

I know that I mentioned that I had a consultant come from California Closets to look at my walk-in closet and come up with a design. This is what she came up with. I am so happy with the design and use of my space. I really need this and hope to get this installed soon!

 

Last on my list is my Zoltar fortune. Have any of you ever did this? It was at Universal, and I decided to try it. It was very interesting. This is what Zoltar told me….

You are a strong believer in fate. You feel that you have no control over your destiny. Fortunately, you are destined to be very happy indeed. You’ve had some trouble mostly caused by the inconsideration of others. But fate will be kind to you, and you can expect your life to run on a smoother pattern. You have a neat and tidy nature and can’t tolerate slovenliness around you. Since you demand this of yourself and others you will always live in a tidy atmosphere. 

Interesting right? Now I don’t get into tarot cards or horoscopes, but I found this very interesting. 

I hope you all enjoyed my favorites for the month of July. Check your mailboxes and spam boxes for my monthly newsletters. I will be sharing my antique shopping from Orlando when I return. 

 

 

 

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Visiting the Cake Bake Shop in Disney

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Good Morning Friends,

We have had a busy weekend. I had to get a new nail tech. My nail tech quit about 2 weeks ago, so it has not been easy trying to find a new place. I am trying a new location so we will see how it goes. My husband had surgery on Monday! He had to have some bone spurs removed from both of his elbows and the surgery went well. We are in the healing process now and hope that the pain will began to subside soon. 

I am trying to get caught up or work ahead on my blog posts. I have a work trip coming up here soon and will be gone for a week. I always like to make sure that I get my content ready to go. It helps me feel better. I started a new LinkedIn account for my business. It does not look like there is much going on, but I am getting a lot of views and impressions already! Yay! My friend and business mentor mentioned to me that I should start one so we will see how this goes. 

I feel like I am behind on sharing things in my life but that is okay. I am learning to pace myself with all of the things that I have going on. I did film a video for YouTube and I hope to get that published soon. Now without further ado let’s see my visit to the Cake Bake Shop at the Disney Boardwalk. 

 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I honestly expected nothing but the best from Gwendolyn. This location was just as beautiful as the other two. It did feel a little grander, but the beautiful details were there. The location is on a lovely boardwalk right off of the water. I bet this is so beautiful at night. As soon as you walk in you immediately look everywhere including up. All of the crystal and florals are tucked into every little location. 

 

 

We checked in the restaurant then we went to look around in the bakery. This is walking into the bakery. There is also a gift shop which is where I found the swan cup for my pens. There were so many items to look at. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once we finished shopping at the bakery and the gift shop, they called our name, and we got to go into the restaurant. Walking in and seeing the gorgeous carousel table area was a real treat! I loved the design and all of the florals. 

 

 

In the carousel was a table for about 8 people. Now wouldn’t this be a lovely place to celebrate a birthday with some friends? I just can’t get over her chandeliers. I believe she designed those too. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

For lunch I got the chicken salad sandwich on a croissant with truffle fries. It was so good! My husband got truffle fries as well and a slider. For cake I got the red velvet cake. While eating I had to look around and noticed the ceiling. Looks like a work of art almost. STUNNING! 

 

 

 

This location had so many different areas of where you can dine, have a drink or cup of tea. The place was so pretty, and I am still in love with this paint color.

 

 

 

 

I told my husband that I had to get a photo standing under the chandelier and florals.  It looks like a dream! I had a wonderful time at this location and was so happy that we got to make time to go. I was not sure if I was going to be able to come because it was about 20 minutes from Universal and I did not want to leave the girls at the park by themselves but then I realized they were doing their own thing and was not thinking about me! 

 

 

 

We had a really great time, and it felt good to get away from Universal. It was so hot and being able to do something “elegant” helped me to dive back into the park once I had a day to take a break. I will be sharing my antique shopping while I was there and stores that I found. Above is my swan cup that I purchased while I was there. I got two. I needed one for both offices, right? They both look so charming in my offices. It a delight using them and seeing them in my spaces. Remember live with beautiful things. 

 

 

I hope you all enjoyed this post and found the Cake Bake Shop to be as beautiful as usual. I had a wonderful time there and hope to visit it again sometime in the near future. The boutique still has some beautiful pieces left to purchase. The photo above is how I styled Patricia. She is wearing the Lux Cardigan Brooch, Pearls and Chinoiserie scarf. She looks like lovely. All of the pieces are on sale. Enjoy! 

 

  • This post is not sponsored.

 

 

 

A Bathroom Decor Refresh

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Good Morning Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th weekend! We just grilled and hung out with the kiddos. I did go to the fabric store to pick up some new fabric for my cane chair that I purchased on FBMP in March of 2024.  I hope to be dropping it off soon with the reupholster. I always look forward to his transformations when it comes to my furniture pieces and fabrics.  I am trying to plan a day to just stay home. I really need some “stay at home days”. I want to relax and get some things done around my home. I also just want to hang out alone and try to recharge.

I do have some exciting events this week. On Friday, I have a consultation with an organizing specialist from California Closets!  She will be coming by the house to look at my closet and hopefully the laundry room. I want to see what designs she can come up with to reconfigure my closet and laundry. 

I also have an influencer event. I will be sharing that next week. For the past few weeks, I have been working on a simple decor refresh for my master bathroom. I was inspired by my friend Nicole Blair’s bathroom revamp that she did for a client of hers in May. 

 

photos via: Nicole Blair Instagram 

 

Here are some screenshots of the bathroom refresh that Nicole did. I was so inspired by the wall of beautiful florals and art. I loved the small chandelier that she added in the space. I think it added the right about of elegance and luxury. This space for was an elderly woman and I tell you something changes in you when you update your spaces.

 

 

This was a screenshot of the video that Nicole posted. I fell in love with floral valances that she added to the window. I loved them so much that I went on the hunt and tried to find something similar. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Sorry I could not get a better photo of my new valances, but I found this blue and white chinoiserie inspired set on Amazon. They look so good in my bathroom. I originally had this green set of curtains up. They have been there since we moved in. I have tried multiple curtains for this space, but nothing seemed to work. It is exciting to have a curtain refresh after 12 years. The photo on the left is the first set of pictures that I purchased. I started building my wall of art in May. In this spot I had a giant print of a flower. I had that print for almost 20 years. I found these at HomeGoods but Amazon had a few here, here and here. 

 

 

 

As the weeks went by every time I went to HomeGoods or T.J. Maxx I would check their picture area and see if any new goodies appeared and I found vintage inspired photos and frames bit by bit. It was a process for sure. I wanted to make sure that each photo fit the section and blended well with the other photos. I added this starburst mirror in the middle. I bought that over 10 years ago and it has just been sitting in my decor bin. The landscape photo at the bottom was a T.J. Maxx find from a female artist. 

I then thought that a wall plate was needed so I search Etsy for one and found the blue and white platter for only $44! I found a small blue and white ginger jar at HomeGoods. The area was slowly coming together. 

 

 

 

 

Here is the final look. I may change the pink vintage photo. I do like how it ties in with the pink rose photo in the middle. I will be sharing a reel on my Instagram page if you want to take a peek. Honestly, I am glad that I did this. I needed a refresh in this bathroom. I thought about changing the wall color but I don’t know what I want yet so we will see. 

I hope this has provided some inspiration to all of you. Keep in mind it does not take much to add beauty to your life. It can come in small doses like this. Enjoy your week!

 

  • Affiliate links attached 

 

 

 

 

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 

 

2025 Decorators’ Show House & Gardens

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Hello Friends,

The weather has been wonderful and I have been in my garden most of this week! My sweet peas are starting to come up as well as my hollyhocks. Fingers crossed that everything comes up beautifully this year. I do have to repurchase my parrot tulip bulbs. I don’t know what happened to them but the seem to vanish in my pot in my greenhouse! I think something ate them or took them out. It is very confusing. 

I am a little late posting this, but the show house has ended for this season. I was so busy. I was a director this year, so I barely had time to really enjoy it. There was a lot of running around and I a lot to learn this year. We had a great turnout, and I think everyone really enjoyed it!

 

 

photo credit: Haven Media 

 

This year’s house was called the Baxter home and had some incredible history. It is also owned by one of our lovely Guild members. The original Baxter family moved into the house in 1931. I loved the French Norman style design and the stone on the home. It was so pretty!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

The home was originally 4,400 square feet and now spans approximately 7,000 square feet. The photos above were a few snapshots of the living room that was designed by BWR Home. Designer Blake Richardson is known for his maximalist design and bold blending. I renamed this room the “Ralph Lauren Room” because of all of the equestrian inspiration. 

 

 

 

I feel in love with this painting above. It did not make it in the show house, but it was there while I was doing a house-sitting shift. Designer Todd Ottermann, created a beautiful wall of art in the entry way and second floor landing, and this piece is in his inventory. I think it is stunning! 

The room in the photo to the right was called the Golden Apple Cafe. It was designed by Greyhunt Interiors.  Sallie Lord was there in person discussing the room and I just really enjoyed meeting her and talking about wallpaper. She was trying to “fight for my honor”. My husband was there helping me with a house shift and Sallie was telling him that wallpaper is not all that bad. Thank you Sallie! 

 

 

This space was called the Hideaway, and it was designed by Catherine Marrano Interiors.  What I loved most about this room was well everything! This room was originally the laundry room, but Catherine turned it into a multipurpose space. She added the murphy bed which maximized the space and just look at the color of that wood! I loved the warm wood tones and the beautiful greens. It came together so well. 

 

 

 

The last space that I managed to get a photo of while running around was the called the Keeping Room. It was attached to the kitchen which had green colored Viking appliances. I loved the beautiful natural sisal rug and all of the cozy fabrics. I am now on the hunt for a sisal rug for my family room downstairs. I want to layer it with my blue and white rug. Both the keeping room and the kitchen were designed by MW Harris, LLC. 

We had lots of awesome sponsors this year and continue to raise money for Eskenazi Health. We also had some new decorators join the show house! This year marked the 64th year and we continue to be the longest running show house in the country. If you are local, I do hope that you will stop by next year and help us continue this tradition. If you want to take the virtual tour you can do so here.  Just double click on all of the spaces to move around. Enjoy the tour and let me know what your favorite room was in the comments section. 

 

  • I am a member of the St. Margaret’s Guild. 

 

 

 

 

The Peony Season ~ 2025

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Hello Friends,

What a week for me. I have been really busy at work, and we buried my father on Thursday. So, there has been a lot going on. Rick and I did get my raised garden beds installed in the backyard, and I have planted some seeds! I planted some sweet peas, moved my tulips to the beds, planted some larkspur, hollyhocks, verbena, and lemon balm. I am so excited about this new garden journey and of course will be sharing it here soon. 

The peony season this year certainly came and went as usual. I hate that this season is so short. It feels like you can’t fully enjoy it. I of course went to the Peony Festival this year again. It has become a yearly tradition for me. It was so CROWDED. It was actually almost unbearable! I am hoping that they will consider making it two days next year or get a bigger venue. It was really crowded. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

I am carrying the MME. MINK Carlton Basket tote. 

 

My husband and I did not stay long but I did get to visit my favorite vendors. I picked up some candles from Linnea and some peonies from JP Parker.  Oh my goodness, their new candle, Lilac, is a dream. The notes of lilac and moss, oh my goodness! It is really good! After the festival we stopped and had brunch. The weather was great and of course riding in a car full of peonies is a treat. 

 

 

I cannot resist the coral peonies. Now they are not as fragrant as the pink or white, but their layers of colors are breathtaking. Just look at these. I actually picked up this bouquet from Whole Foods! That had such a wonderful inventory this year. Expensive but wonderful. Also I found this beautiful swan pitcher at HomeGoods. 

 

 

Overall, the I enjoyed the peony season this year. My peonies came up beautifully. I even had a surprise new batch appear in my front garden this year. I always look forward to this season and make sure that I enjoy it thoroughly. I always make sure to gather all of my bouquets for a picture on my dining room table. So fleeting and such a glorious season!

Have a great weekend!