Victorian Elegance

 Oh, to have lived in the years of Queen Victoria's reign.  What girl wouldn't love to dress from head to toe in such elegance?

I have been dreaming of this time over the last couple of month, studying fashion and hair and everything Victorian.  

 Like just about everybody I know, I have  also become addicted to Pinterest. Each visit does not disappoint, but rather leaves me with one glorious idea after another and boards full of beautiful photos from the time I spend there. 

 These are just a few of the dresses that I have tried on over and over again...in my mind that is.

I can almost hear the swish of the fabric on the floor.  Why all the Victorian era dreaming?  It's soon to be that time again in Eufaula, Alabama when the town dresses up to greet all the guests that will arrive to tour the homes and learn of it's amazing history.  Pilgrimage 2012 is just around the corner and  this will be my second year of volunteering at the Petry- Honan House.  I love that they ask their volunteers to dress in period fashions and for a few short days I get to step back in this beautiful time in history. 

Stop back to visit as I will share pictures of the day or better yet come to Eufaula and take a little trip back in time for yourself.

We've Only Just Begun

 It all started with a little white Christmas Tree in a Thrift Store window.   I really don't need another Christmas Tree but after changing my bedroom to Ruffles and soft blues and whites,  I couldn't resist.   I thought I was being rather frugal.   Ha....I needed ribbon, bulbs and more mercury bulbs and hearts of course. It is after all a bedroom tree.   Grand total....well, I must keep that a secret lest my hubby band the thrift store shopping.

 But the beauty of the little tree is the first thing I see when I get up and the last thing before I fall to sleep.  

 I love the mercury glass bulbs.  

 I love the ruffles too.   I got these curtains from my friend Debbie who owns a beautiful shop in St. Cloud, FL called Vintage Soul.   The curtains were meant to have the ruffles on the bottom but they seemed to get lost behind my furniture so I turned them upside down for now.  I am actually thinking of making them like roman shades.   

Everything is becoming merry and bright as we begin the joys of decorating and so I am off to finish the bedroom as I have only just begun.

Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture and The Prairie Bed &Breakfast.

 Some people talk about their dreams and their one day plans and some people go into action and actually bring their dreams to life.  This would be well said of Rachel Ashwell's  newest adventure as well as her life.    She sets a plan and a goal in place and then goes after it with passion.   Her latest dreams completion is, The Prairie Bed and Breakfast and the opening of yet another beautiful Shabby Chic Couture shoppe on the property of her ranch in Round Top Texas of which I had the pleasure and I do mean pleasure of visiting.

 Sometimes all you have to do is take pictures and  let them speak for themselves which is what I think will work just fine for this post.   Filled full of beautiful things, the shop is perfectly ready for the guests that will be coming to Round Top/ Warrington/ famous Flea Market and Antique week.  

 On September the 27th at 6 p.m. there will be a book signing of Rachel's latest book and store opening. Having been to her store opening in London  I can tell you it will be a very special evening.   I wish that I could be there but I was blessed to have been able to visit The Prairie this week.  

 You will find the shelves are filled and waiting for visitors to make that bed of their own as beautiful as any one of the beds the sleepy guests of the Prairie slips in to at night.   

 Isn't the lavender big cushy chair wonderful?   I know my daughter has placed this on her wish list.

 Like me and so many that will grace the doors of this beautiful place you will walk away with many Shabby Chic Inspirations!

 From the linens to the lamps.....

 Did I mention the linens.......ahhhhh....the linens!

 Who ever dreamed that Rustic could ever be so beautifully inviting and the Chippy so sweet?

 You simply will not want to miss this visual treat and if you are lucky enough to stay in the B&B...You are lucky enough!

 The Prairie Bed and Breakfast would be a wonderful place to escape to for a honeymoon or for some re-kindling.

 My husband found this place to be equally as wonderful as I did.    But then again,  he is pretty wonderful for taking me here to visit and one day I do hope to come back as a guest.  However, with the visiting of The Prairie and the leaving I came away with renewed passion to get on with completing our plans of a Bed and Breakfast for The Shabby Old House.  

Once again Rachel....YOU INSPIRE ME!   

Queen Mary's Garden

 I  was certainly in the pink today.

I have never been among so many glorious roses.

Queen Mary's Garden is such a beautiful place.

If I had a care today they vaporized walking among the roses.

with my best friend.

Need a Big Garden Inspiration?

 I have been stepping through one grand gate after another enjoying breathtakingly beautiful gardens. 

This one is at the Oxford University in England.

Oxford began to flourish in 1167 when the English king, Henry 11 ordered all students and scholars in France to return home.  

The dining hall and the stairway were used in the filming of Harry Potter.  It was hard to capture a good picture while on a tour with many others.   All I seemed to get were heads and sneakers.

In 1968 President Bill Clinton won a Rhodes Scholarship and with that the opportunity to study at Oxford where he studied government and played rugby.

And I,  just finished walking through the halls and grand buildings and in the garden and my mind is full, perhaps not with the wisdom of what so many others have learned in this place but full no less of appreciation for the experience.

Need a little Garden Inspiration?

 Do you need a little garden inspiration?

While taking my daughter boot shopping in South Tampa we  visited all of my favorite shops on S. Manhattan St. Three Fabulous Shops filled with wonderful furniture and decor.

First stop was the beautiful outdoor space at Relic.

Makes you just want to go outside and plant something doesn't it?

 If you don't have a green thumb then just strategically place a floral picture for a pop of color.  

 I love this happy looking metal bird.  It just may keep the cranes out of my garden!

 I love all the pots.   They can look rather attractive all grouped together when not in use.  

Isn't this grouping wonderful.  I am less likely to forget to water a pot of plants that feeds me.  Here we have plantings of herbs and flowers and vegetables all in a pot.

So when the stress of this life gets to you and you just happen to be in Tampa, step into this sweet secret garden section called SPROUT at Relic.  We will step inside the 3 fabulous shops all a garden stones throw from each other making this destination a great place to take your girlfriends.  Make sure you bring a truck.   You are going to want something I promise!

Enjoy your weekend.

Hugs

Becky

With a good pair of boots....

My daughter is going to a Kenny Chesney concert next week and what proper concert attending country music loving lady wouldn't dress for the occasion.  So off we went to Keys Country, one of the best boutiques in South Tampa known for country girl bling and boots.

 This cute gal is one of the owners.  

 Check out the wall of boots that awaited us!  

 My personal favorite were the Abby Rose Old Gringo Boots.   Obviously they were others too because they didn't have my size.   However we played in the boot pile trying on this one and then that one.

 I loved these blingy boots!    

 I also loved the brown and tan boots and my daughter the floral boots.   Now mind you, boots are an investment.  The low end starts around $250 and the ones I had on were $450 so settling was not an option for us no matter how dog gone cute the other boots were.   Feeling all good about ourselves about not being impulsive or keeping ourselves from being shot by our husbands we left empty-handed.  As we were driving home my daughter got a call from her hubby and placing me on speaker phone we agreed that with a major birthday approaching she should have the boots she wanted.   I told him that he would never regret the purchase as I had purchased the boots that she is wearing below when I had had the same major birthday. ( I won't mention how many years ago that was, ok?)

 Do cowgirl boots ever go out of style?

She makes an old pair of boots look great doesn't she?

These are the boots she chose.
So with that we would have to agree with the Keys Country slogan however adding to it just a bit... 
" I'm fairly certain that with a new pair of boots, a sweet mini dress and a string of pearls I could rule the world and look awesome at a Kenny Chesney concert!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

 I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.

It's nice to be pampered isn't it?

The memories of those sweet expressions should help us all to face....

MONDAY!

WISHING YOU A BEAUTIFUL WEEK!

White Wednesday

Joining Kathleen and all the girls for White Wednesday...
Let me introduce our little Ava.