Sunday, May 29, 2016

The Perfect Summer Day

Spending a beautiful sunny day in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is pure bliss for us.


I wore my version of a tee with jeans and sandals. 
"Personal style is the interpretation of a trend." 
You may quote me.




This fabulous asymmetric hem top from Birdie James was a gift from the owner Michelle Taylor. Birdie James Authentic Chic is a new store opening this weekend at 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 111, located in the Shelter Cove Towne Centre on Hilton Head Island. I am so excited to visit this store on my next trip to Hilton Head. From everything I have seen, this will be the perfect place to find upscale styles with a nod to comfortable ageless classics.




The necklace is a vintage estate piece from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock. The Lilly Pulitzer straw clutch with gold accents is also from Finely House Couture last year. The Vince Camuto sandals were from Belk last year. The sunglasses are by Balmain from Saks Off 5th. The perfectly comfortable lightweight white jeans are by Tribal.


There are many great stores and boutiques to visit in Blowing Rock.




One of Mr. Mickey's favorite stores in the world is Kilwin's. The people in the photo below are not walking down the street... they are standing in line to buy ice cream!


The line was not nearly as long when we visited earlier in the day. At least we started inside the store!




Kilwin's is also world-famous for its many flavors of fudge, which they make right there in the window on giant marble tables.


My personal reasons for loving Blowing Rock reach all the way back to my childhood. I spent many happy hours with my beloved great-grandmother Phoebe, wandering around in her seemingly endless flower gardens. Hummingbirds and butterflies danced around us as she showed me new blossoms and explained the plants and why she planted them in the sun or the shade.
































The village of Blowing Rock is surrounded by abundant gardens, winding paths, and shady lanes that beckon me to return again and again. It is a place where I can almost hear Phoebe's gentle voice telling me about the sweet, heady fragrance of the giant irises that return to the garden each spring.