For The Fur Babies

Giving back to the community is imperative to me. That community includes the pets that become a part of our family and also those that get discarded.

Last evening we attended the Dogwood and Cattails Ball to benefit the Humane Society of Washington County.

It was great to see so many of our friends who also came out to help support the animal shelter. Our shelter is a no-kill organization. No matter how long it takes for an animal in our foster program to find a home, it will remain in our program until the best possible home can be found. Thanks to this program, 1300 healthy, happy animals have been adopted into loving family homes.

The Oustanding Animal of the year was awarded to a special dog named Arabela, who serves our country by disclosing improvised explosive devices (IEDs are simple bombs made and used by unofficial or unauthorized forces).

I fell in love with a sweet pitbull named Chloé!

Chloé was rescued from a very inhumane breeder situation and given a loving forever home. She showed her gratitude with kisses, snuggles, and a tail that wagged non-stop.

Rather than buy another ball gown that I will never wear again, I used old items I already had in my closet. This year's ball's theme was based upon the Great Gatsby, so I went with separate pieces that sort of reflected that theme. 

The simple knit tank dress with a side slit is a couple of years old. The tuxedo-style jacket is old from the Travelers Collection at Chico's. The little evening bag is many years old. The shoes are old by French Connection via Saks Off 5th.

Favorite Looks for 2015

Looking back over the blog posts for 2015, some looks stood out as my style and comfort favorites.

Fun in the Winter Sun

Studded Tweed and Faux-Leather Jacket

Black and Blue

Weekend Fun!

Jewels of the Vineyard

Fabrizio Gianni Jeans

Friday Date Night

Wearing Long Tunics

Dressed For Dinner

Covered Perfectly Vest and Tunic

Les Misérables

Casual Elegance

Out On The Town

Fifty, not Frumpy Anniversary!

 What Do You Eat?

Trip to the Beach

Eat Smart Even On Thanksgiving!

Spirits of the Season

The Comfort Zone

As I edit my wardrobe and shop less, my style has evolved into comfortable and easy.  A combination of mostly solid neutral color pieces that fit my body and personality makes up a wardrobe that serves me well. Unique accessories add the finishing touch that makes each look my own.

I hope that these examples have helped you to create your own wardrobe of easy, comfortable looks. More importantly, I hope that my healthy eating tips have encouraged you to make better food choices. Fashion is a fun way to express yourself, but a strong and healthy body is priceless.

White Jacket on Black Friday

Do you go shopping on Black Friday? Wild horses could not drag me to a store on this day! I am not a fan of crowds or shopping, so I stayed home, cleaned my house, and went for a walk because it was a warm sunny day in east Tennessee.

I did ride along with Mr. Mickey at the end of the day as he ran a few errands, such as going by the Mercedes dealership.

After completing my chores, I slipped into an average daily look for me. That is an old jacket from Express, the V-neck tee is from T.J. Maxx last year, worn with old boyfriend jeans from Chico's. The fringe suede shoes are by Steve Madden via Macy's. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th.

I do wear white pants, jackets, and blouses all year long on sunny days. That old no white after Labor Day rule has been laid to rest.

My hair looks a lot more controlled here because I used a new product by Moroccanoil. It smooths and conditions as it defines your curls. I haven't gotten used to using it yet. I forgot to fluff my hair after it dried, so this look is too controlled for me. I do like a bit more of a messy look. I will get the hang of it.

I will share my top ones with those who have asked me for tips on posing for photos. I don't always have these in my mind while we are shooting, but they make me look my best when I follow them.

1. Stand up straight and tall.

2. Don't shoot in the full sun. Move both the photographer and you to a shady spot. To avoid the fisheye effect, have the photographer stand a few feet away from you. Mr. Mickey was almost too close in the first photos, making my legs look shorter.

3. Turn your body away from the camera while you turn your face toward the camera and place your feet at different angles.

4. Lift your chin and smile an easy small relaxed smile. A big fake smile always looks like a big fake smile.

5. Look into the lens or slightly away from the camera.

6. Relax your hands and tilt your shoulders back slightly.

7. Practice looking confident and comfortable in front of the camera. It will always show in your pictures. Confidence is the greatest accessory!

Suede Trench Coat

A trench coat is one of those pieces that always feel stylish and elegant. Create one from supple faux suede in taupe, and I am absolutely smitten!

I wore this fabulous trench by IC Collection from My Fair Lady to brunch on Sunday. Everyone, even my fashion-challenged Dad, complimented me on my coat.

I enjoy the mixing of textures in subtle colors. For example, I am wearing a long layered crepe tunic in black over faux leather front leggings and a crystal bead and gold chain necklace, all from Chico's. The coat's faux suede relates to the suede and animal print touches on the shoes, which are old from Nordstrom. The woven front black leather clutch from Saks Off 5th shows well against the faux leather of the leggings and contrasts nicely with the coat's suede.

The roll-tab sleeves are perfect for this time of year when the weather is just barely cool enough to need a coat. The hems are not finished, making the coat a bit edgier, but this also gives it a smooth hemline.

The epaulets and a back overlay are other lovely details that make this coat special.

We had brunch at the Blackthorn Club, which is always beautifully decorated with abundant flowers for each season.

There are so many fabulous pieces at My Fair Lady. I had a tough time choosing what to buy when I was there earlier this month. Thankfully, their website is easy to shop from. Jon and Julie, the owners, and their very professional staff are extremely patient and helpful.

A Look Back

2014 was an excellent year for those of us who prefer the uncomplicated casual style. Below are some of my favorite looks from the past year.

A jacket with jeans seems to be my uniform.

Goofing around on my birthday getaway weekend in Virginia.

Thank you for all your kind comments and good wishes. Mr. Mickey and I are both feeling much better each day. We look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you in 2015!