Sunday Drive

The weather was beautiful on Sunday so we drove out to the country to view the changing leaves against a clear blue sky.

I wore a vintage St John Country white jacket which was a gift from my dear friend Mitzi. The long sleeve gray tee is from Kohl's. The straight leg jeans are from Chico's. The reptile and suede short boots are by Vince Camuto from Nordstrom.

The earrings are old from Stein Mart. The ring is one of my favorite gifts from Mr. Mickey. The pony hair belt is from T.J.Maxx.

White, orange, and green pumpkins in a huge field along the way.

A stream runs through the Laurel's Recreation area.

After Work Gathering

On Thursday evening, some of our friends gathered for drinks at the Johnson City Country Club.

I wore black jeans, a three-quarter sleeve white tee, and a wide silver cuff from Chico's. The white jacket is from Express. The animal print shoes are from Nordstrom. The woven leather belt is by Michael Kors from T.J.Maxx. The necklace is one of my own designs.

My shoes are by Louise et Cie. An idea for a flat style is below.

Saturday - Part One

Saturday was a very full day. As we were going down to visit the Inn's restaurant for breakfast, we ran into some of Mr. Mickey's high school friends who asked us to join them. They were a delightful group!

During the early part of the day, I wore jeans with a white tank from Chico's. The black jacket is from Express. The animal print booties are from Nordstrom. The black belt is from T.J.Maxx. 

After a very relaxing couple's massage at the fabulous Martha SPA, we took a nap before getting dressed to see the play at the Barter Theatre, just across the street from the Inn.

The wind was blowing, and it was quite a bit cooler today, so I wore an asymmetrical red jersey jacket from Nordstrom over the white tank and off white jeans with animal print booties to see the play My Fair Lady.

The flowers along the way were delightful.

We have been to the Barter Theatre many times, but My Fair Lady's performance was the best yet. Holly Williams, as Eliza Doolittle, was outstanding!

We took a quick walk across the grounds of the Inn as a storm threatened to arrive before we made it to the porch.

Now I just have enough time to get dressed for cocktails before our dinner date.

I sometimes ask the chef for a vegetarian dish if there isn't anything on the menu that appeals to me. On rare occasions, I will order a pasta dish or something with fresh local fish.

Many restaurants here in the east offer lots of meat and potatoes in hearty portions but not many vegan dishes. Sometimes the best option is a baked sweet potato with a salad. I will always return to my regular eating habits on Monday, so these little weekend trips don't get a chance to do much damage. Drinking lots of water and eating a salad are my keys to maintaining when there isn't anything on the menu that I want to order.

The hearty breakfast I eat ensures that I have almost enough nutrition to carry me through the day. I rarely feel hungry until around two or three in the afternoon. A salad or a small plate of steamed vegetables is enough for an early dinner/late lunch. Many times when your body gives you a hungry signal, it is actually water that you need. I drink lots of water all day.

Labor Day Auction!

We sometimes spend a holiday morning attending an auction at the Sterling Gallery in Johnson City.

I had my eye on these leather top chests, but the price went way too high for my budget.

Several other items got my attention, but my patience ran out before the items came up.

Sometimes I score big at auctions, and sometimes I leave with nothing... like today.

We still had fun and got to visit with some other friends who were also treasure hunting.

The blouse is from Talbot's. The light wash straight leg jeans and cuff bracelets are from Chico's. The red bag is by Tahari from T.J.Maxx. The shoes are by Guess, and they are also from T.J.Maxx.

Wear It Wednesday - Trends

The half-tuck or the messy tuck has been around for years.

By tucking in the front of my shirt, I can show off the belt detail. Tucking in the whole shirt can make you look really thick waisted. Additionally, I have no bottom at all, so that is not something I want to show off.

This is a very soft flowing tie front shirt from Chico's, which means there is already less material in the front, so it looks neater. A shirt that is full length in the front sometimes feels too bulky above the belt, but this one works nicely. The ankle zip jeans are also from Chico's.

Interesting belts are great, but I only wear them low-slung over a long tunic, with a jacket, or with a half tucked shirt because I do not want to draw attention to my thick waistline.

I will not be embracing all the trends (such as wearing high heels with sweat pants), but when a trend comes along that serves me well, I will make it part of my look.

Many of you have asked me what I wear on days off or when Mr. Mickey and I are not attending some function. This is a typical day off look for me.

After I walk three miles in the morning, I come home, eat breakfast, shower and get dressed for the day.

I work mostly from the office in my home, so there are days when I really don't need to go out for anything. I get dressed and put on makeup even when I stay home alone. If I were married and my husband would be home later, you can bet I would be doing this every day. We owe it to ourselves and to the loves of our lives to look pretty every day. 

Looking my best helps me feel more confident and be more productive. You can hear it in my voice if you call me while I am still in my PJs. I cannot fathom being in my pajamas at noon, but I see women going out to get the mail (at the Post Office!) or to pick up the trash bin late in the afternoon, still in their bathrobes.

If you are guilty of wearing those paint-stained old yoga pants around the house all the time because they are so comfortable, throw them away today. Wear a clean pair of jeans and a nice shirt or something else from your closet that you are saving for good. Every day of your life is a good and special day. You are important, and you deserve to look pretty every day. 

With the launch of this post, I will reach one million views on the blog today. I am honored to have been welcomed into your world so many times. I hope that my words and outfit ideas have served as a positive example for you. That is always my goal.

New Boyfriends ... Jeans

Wearing red, white, and blue on the 4th of July can seem like a costume. Throwing caution to the wind. I did it anyway!

Today we visited Founder's Park in Johnson City. The project is part of the renaissance of old downtown, which is just beginning. It's a fascinating time as galleries, shops, cafés, and loft living are all planned for wonderful old brick buildings dating from the 1920s.

Johnson City has long been known as a sleepy little railroad town, but that image is slowly changing as crumbling old warehouses are being torn down to be replaced by biking trails, parks, and public art installations.

One of the many art installations is this playful granite gator about to take a bite out of my leg. It is by Craig Berube-Gray from Key West, Florida.

The park is built around the natural flow of Brush Creek, which passes through the town. During times of heavy rain, the creek will now have plenty of space to expand.

On beautiful sunny days like today, families now have a lovely downtown green space to sit on a bench, go for a walk or play by the creek.

Today I am wearing those new boyfriend style KUT from the Kloth jeans I told you about last week. They are from Dillard's, but several department stores also carry them.

The blue and white striped top is from Chico's, as is the red long sleeve top tied around my shoulders. The shoes are Anne Klein Sport via T.J.Maxx.

Saturday in Asheville

We often drive across the mountains to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon in Asheville.

On this day, I wore a metallic gold open-weave cardigan with a white tank and a long necklace from Chico's. The khaki jeans are from T.J.Maxx. The bag is from the Coach Outlet. The shoes are from Shoe Carnival.

We love the mountains' scenic views along the Interstate 26 drive, even on a cloudy day.

Sidewalk cafés abound in Asheville. We enjoy strolling through galleries and shops and then stopping for a while in a café to watch people and listen to the street performers who are often really good. 

Many people bring their dogs along, so there are often doggie dishes outside the cafés and shops.

Later in the day, we couldn't resist the wonderful chocolate truffles at The Chocolate Fetish. One for you... one for me...

"I started playing dress-up when I was three, and it will continue until I can no longer buckle my platforms." ... my own quote. Mr. Mickey said I should share it with you.

The rain started to fall after six o'clock, so we made our way back to the parking garage after another lovely afternoon in Asheville.

While we were shopping at Dillard's today, I found a fabulous pair of white boyfriend jeans made by KUT. Do you know of them? This is my first pair of both boyfriend style jeans and the brand KUT. I will share them in a later post. 

I never wear white pants on a rainy day because the water spots on the back of the legs caused by walking on wet sidewalks often cause permanent stains.