About Shelley

Hi, I’m Shelley Scholl, the writer and curator behind Curated By Shelley.

I’m a Dallas–Fort Worth–based lifestyle writer sharing first-hand guides, honest reviews, and practical recommendations drawn from the things I actually do, use, read, visit, and love. You’ll find detailed Disney Cruise Line advice, DFW experiences, books, Mahjong, sourdough, gardening, fitness and wellness, home finds, and everyday life with my dogs, Walt and Lilly.

Why I Started Curated By Shelley

My goal is to give readers the specific details I wish I had before spending their own time or money. That means explaining what worked, what did not, what I would do differently, and who may be better off choosing something else.

My Disney Cruise Experience

Travel—especially Disney Cruise Line—is one of my deepest areas of experience. I have spent more than 130 nights sailing with Disney and have stayed in everything from Deck 2 oceanview staterooms to Concierge suites. I have sailed Concierge on the Disney Magic, Wonder, Fantasy, and Wish, and I use that experience to explain not only what is included, but which upgrades are genuinely useful and who may be happier saving the money.

What Else You’ll Find Here

I write from direct experience as a DFW resident, a romance reader, a beginner-turned-enthusiast in hobbies such as Mahjong, sourdough, and gardening, and a woman navigating midlife health, fitness, beauty, and technology.

How Reviews Work

Unless a post clearly says otherwise, the opinions on Curated By Shelley are my own. Reviews identify whether an item was purchased by me, gifted, sponsored, or accessed through another arrangement. Affiliate relationships never determine my conclusions, and I aim to include drawbacks and the type of reader or buyer for whom something may not be a good fit.

For questions, corrections, or collaboration inquiries, please use the Contact page.

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My Mahjong Starter Haul: The Prettiest Tiles, Mats, and Accessories Worth the Splurge

Over the last few months my social feeds have been filled with gorgeous Mahjong setups — colorful tiles, acrylic racks, chic mats, and stylish bags. And if you’ve recently started learning American Mahjong like I have, you know how quickly the accessories start calling your name. So yes… I have a confession to make. I may have spent a little money on Mahjong supplies lately. But honestly? Every piece is so pretty and so much fun to play with that I have zero regrets. And as a beginner, I’m discovering what I actually like while building a setup that makes me excited to sit down and practice. Here’s a peek at the Mahjong goodies I’ve picked up so far — including a few that are quickly becoming favorites. My First Mahjong Set (Amazon Find) Like many beginners, I started by looking for a more affordable Mahjong set before diving into the boutique options filling my Instagram feed. After some searching, I landed on this 160 piece pink engraved American Mahjong Game Set with Carrying...

Blanks in American Mahjong: The House Rule That Completely Changed My Game

If you’ve spent any time in the online American Mahjong world lately, you’ve probably seen one surprisingly heated debate pop up again and again: Blanks or no blanks? Who knew six little tiles could spark such strong opinions? When Mahjong first started taking over my social feeds, I kept seeing players passionately debate whether blanks should be used in play. Some people swear by them. Others act like they should never touch the table. Naturally, I needed to understand what all the fuss was about. First things first… What is a blank tile in American Mahjong? Most American Mahjong sets come with six blank tiles . Their official purpose is simple: they're backup tiles. Examples of Blanks paired with Jokers for reference. Set on the left is my My Fair Mahjong Confetti Purple . Set on the right is my Amazon set from My Mahjong Trove . They happen to be resting on my Paper Rifle Co Garden Party Mousepad (I told you I was obsessed!) Lose a tile? No problem. Add a sticker to a ...

I Tried the Sourdough Bulk Fermentation Float Test, and It Actually Worked

Bulk fermentation is still the part of sourdough that can humble me. I can feed a starter. I can stretch and fold. I can shape a loaf. I can bake a loaf that makes my kitchen smell amazing. But knowing exactly when bulk fermentation is done? That is where things can get tricky. My last few loaves had definitely overproofed on the counter. Not dramatically enough to be a total disaster, but enough that I could tell I had missed the sweet spot. The dough was a little too relaxed. The final shape was a little harder to manage. The oven spring was not what I wanted. So when I kept seeing a new bulk fermentation trick online, I was curious. The idea was simple: when your dough is ready for bulk fermentation, pinch off a small piece of dough and drop it into a room-temperature glass of water. Keep the glass next to your main bowl of dough on the counter. When the little piece of dough floats, bulk fermentation is done. It sounded almost too easy. So of course I had to try it. The Sourdough B...

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