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July Favorites ~ 2025

 

 

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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June Favorites ~ 2025

 

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!

 

May Favorites ~ 2025

 

 

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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April Favorites~ 2025

 

 

Hello to the end of April!

The last few weeks have just been flying for me! I have been so busy since the show house started. Also don’t forget if you are local to grab your tickets! If you decide to visit, please put my name S. Shockley in the “do you know a Guild member box”. I would greatly appreciate!

With all of the busyness in my schedule this last few weeks, I am glad that I have been able to enjoy my lilac bushes. They have started to bloom, and I have cut off a few pieces to enjoy at the office and home.

April has been such a great month for me as far as “elegant adventures”. I have a few places to share with you all very soon! Now on to favorites for this month.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

First up are some new discovery scents. I found this stunning peony diffuser from Anthropologie! It showed up in one of my newsfeeds and I could not resist. It is porcelain and practically a work of art. You simply drop your oil scent liquid onto the peony itself and enjoy the scent. Really stunning. The second is their floral peony blush candle. Just look at the jar that it is in. Can you imagine having that on your desk full of flowers or pens? It’s so beautiful. The scent is lemon with blackcurrant, peony and whispers of sueded woods. 

 

 

Next up are more lush floral scents. I found this super large swan candle at HomeGoods. It is so big and beautiful. I shared a small video of it on my Instagram page last week.  The scent is peony as well. Check out your local HomeGoods soon. The second is another Anthropologie find. This linen spray bottle is the most beautiful bottle that I am ever seen. It is covered in beautiful birds, and floral prints very similar to chinoiserie. It comes in other scents as well and would be a perfect gift. I gave a bottle to our daughter in law for her birthday. 

 

 

Now this was a part of my elegant adventures for April. I think that I mentioned that we had an “Influencer Day” at the show house and it went so great! I had a wonderful time meeting Nicole and Lindsay and so grateful to them donating their time to the show house. My sixth favorite is this stunning blue and white ceramic vase from Mark & Graham.  This vase has a botanical illustration, and you can have it monogram. It’s a perfect Mother’s Day Gift! 

 

 

Next are my recent antique purchases. I have had this vintage French dresser for over a month. I purchased it from FBMP and it is from the 1960s. It is a perfect fit in my sitting room. The second is a green settee that I picked up at a tag sale last week from one of our interior designers from the show house Jenni Eggers.  I love Jenni’s style and decor selections. When I saw this green settee at the sale I gasped and knew that I had to take it home. The details are stunning and so is the color. I am so happy with it. I am currently sitting on it as I write this blog post. I moved it into my home office. 

 

 

Ninth on my list is my porcelain vase that I purchased at the antique store.  It reminded me of the Josepha Canister from Aerin Lauder. I am currently using it to put my cotton balls in. I love it! The last thing is this veggie and fruit saver. These are perfect for limes, lemons, avocadoes, and tomatoes. I am so happy that I decided to give them a try. 

I hope you all enjoyed my favorites for this month. I wanted to share with everyone that if you use code “Spring10″ you will get 10% off of all items in the boutique and that includes new arrivals. We have the new Lux Cardigan Brooch and the Caroline Pearl Earrings

 

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

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March Favorites ~ 2025

 

Good Morning,

It has gotten chilly here again which is not fun because I just swapped over my closet to use my spring and summer accessories. Cleaning my closet every few months is so fun and important to me. It forces me to review my clothes and ask myself “are you wearing this”. It’s really good for keeping down the clutter. 

Oh my goodness, there has been so much going on. Next week I will be conducting my virtual training online. We are turning in our PowerPoint presentations this week and doing sound and edit checks as well. My nerves are starting to kick in, but it is exciting! 

Okay, now I have had a lot of beautiful finds this month and hope that you all enjoy them. 

First on my list is the beautiful Stoneware Cabbage Tea Pot, teacup and saucer set from Target. This sold out as fast as I could post it! They restocked it, then it sold out again! Keep it in your cart. They just might restock it.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

 

 

Next are my recent Facebook Marketplace finds! I found these vintage nesting tables. The seller said that they belonged to his grandmother and then his mother. He sold them to me for only $20! I decided to move it to my office, and I love them so far. My second is the Bombay drawer chest. The seller actually has a store near me, and it is the same seller from my green chinoiserie inspired cabinet. It is so lovely. I love the shape, the color and all of the storage. I plan to move it to our future guest bedroom. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FBMP finds continue. March was a big month for finds. In addition, to the two above I found this gorgeous round vintage table. I only paid $150 and again the owner told me that it belonged to her grandmother, and she had it for over 50 years. I told her that I would take good care of it. My family really loves this table. 

 

 

 

 

This next find has changed my grocery store shopping for me. I saw this on Instagram and knew that I had to get one. This magnetic phone holder can be used on shopping carts, strollers, and fitness bikes. I took it to the grocery store a few weeks ago and was so happy with it. I could keep my grocery list app opened while I shopped and checked off items. It was excellent!

 

 

 

 

Now let’s talk bags. I don’t know if I have mentioned that I have gotten a few new bags this month. I think that I mentioned the Coach Empire 48 bags that I got. I was not even looking for these because I knew that they were sold out, but my local Coach store had the black one in stock (it was the last one) then they called me to show me the maple and I could not resist. 

 

 

But my heart still wanted the Kisslock Frame Bag. When I saw Carrie from Sex in the City carrying it I just knew that I had to have it! The classic shape, gold hardware, and soft leather was the draw. I told my new Coach SA to call me if one surfaces. A few weeks later she did! A woman who I was talking to while I was getting the maple Empire 48 had both the black and dark brown Kisslock. Little did I know that she was thinking about returning them and she did! Katy called me immediately asking me if I wanted it and I said YES!! I am so happy and love it so much! I still want the black one and the honey Empire 48. If you are interested in my swan keychain you may find it here along with my Coach chain. 

 

 

Now if the Coach Kisslock is out of budget for you I did find this lovely tote from Caroline Hill. I have been on the hunt for a cream-colored tote and this hit the mark. I have gotten a lot of compliments on it. It has lots of room and the quality is pretty good. She has several more in different colors. 

 

 

 

Flowers are always a favorite. My husband got me these white roses for our 21st anniversary in February along with a copy of Aerin Lauder’s New Book Living with Flowers. This book is stunning of course, and I have just started to read it. I love Aerin Lauder’s esthetic and find inspiration in all of the pages. 

 

 

 

Target has been on point with their slingbacks. This is my third pair from them. These gorgeous slingbacks are perfect for spring and summer. I love the raffia design, in sole cushion and two-inch heel. The price is not bad as well. Order while you can. Target just keeps selling out of things. 

 

 

 

And my last favorite has been a new YouTube channel! I found Heather from Oh So Lovingly a few months ago and really enjoy her energy and the fact that she enjoys being herself. She has a cute home and has good taste. I am loving her antique adventures around Buckhead, Atlanta. You will enjoy her content, trust me! 

Well, that is it for March my friends. I hope that you found some wonderful inspiration this month and let me know in the comments below how you are doing. Have a great week! 

 

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February Favorites ~ 2025

 

 

Hello,

Well this felt like the shortest month ever! February always feels this way. We are celebrating our 21-year wedding anniversary this week. Lauren will be 20 next week! Can you believe it? Good gosh! I have a 20-year-old. We are already preparing for her junior year in the fall. It’s crazy how time is flying.

For Valentine’s Day, my husband and I went to St. Elmo’s. It was our first time, and I have to say that the food was really good. I was hoping that it would live up to the hype and it did. He also got me some lavender roses from Grace Rose Farms. Watching these open for the week was truly a treat.

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

First on my list is the new Aerin Lauder vanity collection. This collection is inspired by 19th century Italian decor.  I am in LOVE but it is a little pricey. I have it on my wishlist so we will see. 

 

photo credit: Aerin/ Instagram 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My second favorite are these cherry blossom trees from Amazon. I saw Nitra B. share these on her Instagram page and I had to take a risk and order them. They are a DREAM! I love them so much! I ordered two. One for my office and one for home. I love them and I am now on the hunt for some blue and white planters to place them in. 

 

 

My third favorite has been a pleasant surprise. Lydia Millen mentioned these faux collars that she ordered. Now I have seen these before but never thought about trying one. I have a few dresses that I have to use a brooch to close up the chest part because I feel like it is a bit too low. I decided to go ahead and give these a try and all I can say is WOW! They are a perfect fit for my dresses and look so elegant on. 

 

 

 

 

Oh my goodness! I am loving these spring scents from Bath and Body Works. I purchased the springtime greenhouse, backyard honeysuckle, and white cucumber & mint. I am looking forward to using them this spring season. 

 

 

 

I saw these gorgeous floral ginger vases and jars and HomeGoods a few days ago and had to grab one. Check your local store. They may not last long. 

 

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

These wonderful yogurt cups have been a wonderful luxury to my life. I add my favorite yogurt, granola, blueberries and pumpkin seeds and I am in heaven. If you love yogurt but want to add your favorite toppings to it, you should definitely try these cups! 

 

 

 

Now it has taken me years and I mean YEARS to find a shelf that would fit in the corner of my garden tub and this one seems to work. I wanted something to store all of my products near the tub and it has been so hard trying to find something. This stackable shelf from Amazon has worked wonderfully and keeps everything where I need it. 

 

 

Now I don’t know about you, but I love a good “What’s in my Bag” video. I recently saw Nicholas with this new bag in one of his vlogs and was dying to know what it was. In this video he finally shares it. I love being inspired to buy quality items and to be expose to beauty and elegance. That is one of the things that I love about vlogs. The exposure that you get from another person’s world. 

I hope you all enjoyed my finds for this month. I have been planning to post a video to my YouTube channel for about a month now, but have not gotten around to filming the intro. I will do that soon. Take care! 

 

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Top Blog Posts of 2024

 

 

 

Good Morning Everyone,

I am a little behind on my 2024 recap. I have been so busy at work and the show house is about to start up again. I also have been doing some FBMP shopping. I will share a new purchase here soon as well as my living room refresh. Thank you to everyone who continues to read the blog. As most of you know, I started the blog in 2014 and here I am 11 years later still going. The boutique is on its 4th year! Please let me know your thoughts below as to what you may want to see in the boutique’s inventory. Now let’s see what you all loved in 2024!

 

January 2024 

 

 

February 2024

 

 

Photo credit: The Propylaeum 

 

 

March, 2024

 

 

 

April 2024

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

May, 2024

 

 

 

June, 2024

 

 

 

July, 2024

 

August, 2024

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

September 2024

 

October 2024

 

 

 

November 2024

 

December 2024

 

 

 

 

The one post that has STAYED consistently popular on my blog is 100 Ways to Be Elegant! I mean it is incredible how this blog post from 10 years ago still manages to get views and stay on my charts for so long. It’s always nice to review the year. Sometimes when I go back and look at everything that I have done I have a feeling of appreciation and gratefulness. The Lord truly sends blessings my way and opportunities. Thank you for reading!