A Splendid Day

September is right around the corner, but our weather is already turning much cooler. Bring out the jackets!

 

Mr. Mickey and I took a drive up to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to do some shopping and have lunch at the Six Pence Pub. We love their vegetarian black bean nachos. 

The flowers in the park draw the most beautiful butterflies, which have my attention below.

Today I wore white jeans and a silver tank from Chico's. The biker-inspired jacket is old from Stein Mart. The necklace is by Erica Lyons from Belk. The shoes are by Ralph Lauren from Dillard's. The bag is from Express.

I also stopped visiting my favorite guys at Finely House Couture, where Mr. Mickey bought the crystal and silver hoops for me. This clutch by Lilly Pulitzer got my attention immediately.

I love shopping in this little pedestrian alley off of Main Street. There are lots of flowers and benches to take a break on.

We took a drive north on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a change of scenery. We landed here at the beautiful Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. Wild ponies roam free here, but we didn't see any during our stay.

Quintessential Style

How many books do you read in a week? 

I normally read at least one book, but I have been known to read as many as five in a week. Reading is my favorite escape during my downtime. Since the early '90s, I rarely watch TV.

I must tell you about a book I recently read, "Quintessential Style" by Janna Beatty with Sharon White.

Some of you know that I have been working on a book of my own; however, after reading this one, I realize all of the things I wanted to share with you have been succinctly stated here. It includes everything you need to know to create the right style for you and your unique personality and body.

I enjoyed this book so much I put it back on my nightstand to read again. It is worth a second read as I slip off to sleep.

You can purchase the book at any of the links at the bottom of this page of their excellent blog.

Marmi Shoes!

I recently wore these MARVA VANELi cork sandals to dinner, and I got so many compliments!

They are so comfortable and lightweight as well as very feminine. I am happy I decided on these sandals because they will be the ones I wear each time I know I will be walking or standing a lot. I love my high heels, but I don't wear them for the whole day anymore.

You can find these and other cute, comfortable shoes at Marmi Shoes.

The tank, pants, and necklace are from Chico's. The cardigan is old from Stein Mart.

How to Wear a Hat

Do you enjoy wearing a hat? Blog follower and lovely friend Joanne looks excellent in her hat and maxi dress.

Blog follower Charlene looks fabulous on her way to race day activities in her wide-brim hat.

A hat can make a fashion statement, keep you warm, keep you cool, and help you avoid skin cancer. 

Women often tell me that they don't know how or when to wear a hat. I learned a lot about wearing hats from my long-ago friend, "The Duchess." When I was in my mid-twenties, she lived across the street from me in a grand townhouse. She wore a hat every day. I snapped this photo on a hot summer day. She was wearing a white linen blouse and a black linen skirt with spectator pumps, and a straw hat with a black satin ribbon. She was about eighty years old here. She knew the world was her stage, and she dressed for her performance every day!

Here are the simple rules "The Duchess" shared with me so long ago. 

1. Never wear a hat on the back of your head like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. It should rest on your forehead so that you can look someone straight in the eye without having to tilt your head back.

2. A lady never removes her hat. (Hat head is not a pretty sight.) Only gentlemen should remove their hats indoors.

3. The brim of your hat should not be wider than your shoulders.

4. Do not wear a large hat to the theatre or any other event where it might block someone's view of an important event. (Manners first.)

5. The crown of your hat should be higher if you have a round face. Avoid styles such as cloches, which will make your face look more round. 

6. If you wear a hat in the evening, it should have a veil.

7. Keep the rest of your look relatively simple. A hat makes a statement on its own, so large earrings, glasses, and a necklace will be too much going on in the same place.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, women even wore hats to cocktail parties!

Try on hats in front of a full-length mirror to make sure the shape complements your face shape and that the fit and proportion are correct for your body. It should rest comfortably on your head, not on the tops of your ears. There should be about a 1/4 inch space above the top of your ear and the hat.

The color can be a different accent color, or it can blend with what you are wearing.

Wear straw or some other lightweight, breathable material in summer. Wear felt or wool in winter to keep you warm.

The fedora style I am wearing below is perfect for my round face because the crown is high, and the brim is smaller. I have owned many hats in my life, but I enjoy wearing the simple menswear-inspired ones most.

If I am outdoors for long periods, I always wear a hat. I have experienced skin cancer and hope never to have to go through that again.

The Capsule Wardrobe

Today's special guest is Dr. Carol Walsh.

5 Keys to Building a Fabulous Capsule Wardrobe

Building a wardrobe capsule is a fabulous way to maximize your wardrobe, expand your creativity, and save significant time and money. With just 10-12 pieces of clothing, you can easily create 3-4 weeks of stylish and fun new outfits. Unlike my minimalist friends who encourage you to downsize to just 10, 20, or even 30 pieces of clothing, I LOVE clothes and have WAY MORE than 30 pieces. However, to successfully wear everything I have in my closet, I’ve created mini-capsules. Mini-capsules take the stress out of that “what am I going to wear today” syndrome most of us feel every morning when we walk into our closet. If you want to get more wear out of your clothes and make getting dressed in the morning exciting and fun, follow these five (5) steps to build your own wardrobe capsules.

1. Choose a Theme – There are several ways you can go with this one. If you work in an office, you may want to create a few Work Capsules and Weekend Capsules. If you work for yourself or from home, you may want to create themes based on your favorite styles like Casual Chic, Boho, Romantic, Urban Edgy, or Sporty Casual. By following a theme, you’ll avoid defaulting to your favorite yoga pants and sweatshirt because you just don’t know what to wear.

2. Choose a Color Scheme – The key to a capsule wardrobe is the ability to mix and match your selections. This is much easier to do if you work within a particular color palette. The picture provided above is a perfect example. The core color scheme is red and yellow. Denim, white, gray, and black are actually neutrals and can be worn with any color scheme, so these neutrals serve as a secondary scheme. You can always start with a neutral color like black, brown, navy, or gray, and then just add pops color, like fuchsia, green, or violet, to add dimension and interest. 

3. Choose a Fun Print or Pattern to Build Upon – You’ve got to incorporate a fun and exciting pattern or print into the mix. This could be animal print, florals, stripes, paisleys, or an ethnic print. In the picture above, I built this capsule around that beautiful ethnic print midi-skirt. From the skirt, I determined the theme (classic chic) and color scheme because I pulled the corresponding colors from the skirt. Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match your prints and patterns. The rule of thumb is to ensure the colors can be found in both garments.

4. Choose Your Accessories – Would you bake a cake and not frost it? Of course not! The same is true of your outfit. You should NEVER wear an outfit without some type of accessory. Try a statement necklace, a few dainty dazzlers, layering bangles, or a fabulous scarf (you can actually use your scarf as the fun print or pattern to build upon). Accessories can also add to your outfit theme and will assuredly take ANY outfit from boring to amazing. Also, don’t forget to add a fun clutch or handbag and fabulous shoes. You can add up to 2 handbags and 3 pairs of shoes to any particular capsule. 

5. Create a Style Notebook – Once you create your capsule, do two things. First, lay everything out on your bed and take a picture. That way, you’ll remember which outfits made up your particular capsule. Second, be sure to stand in front of the mirror and take a selfie of what you’re wearing. If you’re rotating through 10-12 pieces of clothing over the course of 21-30 days, it’s easy to forget what you put together on day 8. It’s absolutely ok to repeat a look, but you’ll want to make sure you’re recreating it purposefully and not accidentally. You may also find ways to improve upon a previous outfit if you remember how you styled it before. 

Finally, have fun! Creating a capsule wardrobe is like putting a puzzle together. It takes a little work to see which pieces go together, but when you’re done, you get to enjoy the masterpiece you’ve created. Once you’re done with one capsule, launder, repair, and/or you’re your clothes to the cleaners. You’ll also want to assess which items are not working for you anymore and determine if you want to donate or replace one or more pieces. This will keep your wardrobe fresh and up-to-date. 

Have fun!

Meet Janet M. Hayes

I will be spending a lot of time ordering products and preparing my warehouse for the busy fall season this week. In my absence from the blog for a few days, friends will be sharing some interesting tips with you. Enjoy!

I was so inspired by a letter from Fifty, not Frumpy follower, Janet M. Hayes. She is a 52-year-old finance professional living with her husband and her elderly mother in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a CPA currently employed at West Corporation as a Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer.

  

She loves to provide healthy meals for her family of three and included some pictures of meals from the past couple of weekends and her trip to the farmers’ market.  She tells me that she has very high energy, which she attributes to healthy cooking, including everything from scratch and very low sodium.  

She spends time on the weekend planning and preparing meals so that she can still come home after a long day at the office and provide a healthy meal for her family. 

Cauliflower “Potato” Salad

I large cauliflower steamed and chopped

2 large celery stalks, diced

1 small red onion, diced

2-3 hardboiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1 cup Greek Yogurt

2 tablespoon Olive Oil based Mayonnaise

2 tablespoon Low sodium sweet pickles, chopped or pickle relish

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (optional)

paprika and parsley, for garnish

Steam Cauliflower for approximately 7 minutes (can steam in the microwave with a bit of water). Do not overcook. Cool to room temperatures and add remaining ingredients.  Chill for several hours to allow flavors to absorb. Garnish with paprika and parsley and serve just as you would potato salad

Oven Roasted Beets with Feta and Walnuts

Heat oven to 400.  Wash beets well and wrap in foil (easy clean up too)

Cook, undisturbed, for at least 45 minutes (it could take much longer for larger size beets), until a thin-bladed knife pierces one with little resistance. Beets may cook at different rates; remove each when it is done.

Allow cooling.  Slice or quarter depending on size.

When ready to serve, splash with a good amount of Organic Balsamic Vinegar, toasted English Walnuts, fresh Rosemary, chopped and crumbled Feta Cheese.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

4 green bell peppers, tops removed, seeded, and halved

1 pound ground turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. ground cumin

1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms 

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped 

1 cup fresh spinach

2 Cans No salt added Diced Tomatoes 

1 Jalapeno, cored, seeds removed (if you like mild salsa, only use ½ jalapeno)

½ yellow onion

1 cup cilantro 

2 garlic clove

1 tsp salt (optional)

1 cup cheddar, Monterey, or other cheese (optional)

Drizzle the peppers with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and roast in the oven at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes until they start to soften.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook the turkey until no longer pink and add the remaining ingredients except cheese, cooking until the vegetables are tender.  Fill the peppers with the meat mixture, top with cheese, and place in the oven until the cheese is melted and warmed through.

Garnish with sliced avocados, Greek yogurt, and cilantro

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janet ran her first half marathon at age fifty and her second at age 51 and is looking forward to many more. She spent her 50th birthday running and working out with her husband, celebrating their health.  

She included some photos of that day and the fun she had with a hula hoop showing off that she could still perform high kicks from her days as a professional cheerleader.

Most of Janet's professional wardrobe is from Ann Taylor and Talbots.  She wears suits to work every day and loves to be fashionable. Her weekend look is very stylish also!

Janet supports my efforts with this blog and would like to help to promote the message of good health also.  She would like women our age to know that they can enjoy good food and good company while making healthy choices that will contribute to their vitality and help them enjoy life more.

I hope Janet's message inspires all of us to start enjoying an active and healthy life.

Busy Week!

I will be spending a lot of time ordering products and preparing my warehouse for the busy fall season this week. In my absence from the blog for a few days, friends will be sharing some exciting tips with you. Enjoy!

My blogger friend Ana Bogusky is helping me out with today's post.

In 2006, my husband and I and our two (now teenaged) children moved from Miami, Florida, to Boulder, Colorado, and our lives changed in many ways. 

We started becoming more aware of the environment, we started eating more carefully, we started caring about sustainability. So I began reading labels on food packaging and joined a CSA, and bought more local. As a natural progression, "Made in USA" products became important to me. Now I am reading labels on clothing, and so many pieces are made in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, etc. It turns out that only 2% of the clothing sold here is made here. In 1960, 95% of clothing sold in the United States was made in the United States. And it turns out that if consumers spent just an extra 1% on U.S. goods, it would create 200,000 American jobs. So I have decided to do my part and commit to wearing more "Made in the USA" outfits, and I post photos of them on my blog, Mrs. American Made.

Some days I just throw on something that I already know works. I am not a model. I am not a super-duper high-end fashionista. I am just a mom trying to look cute on an everyday basis. I feel like I am not easy to dress because I am petite at 5'3" and "curvy." Still, I have slowly accepted those facts and figured out some things about what to wear. I try to always remember the wise words of Stacy London, "dress the body you have." Then I get up and hunt in my closet for something that looks a bit better. A good fit is critical. Another of my style secrets is the outfit formula concept, and I do tend to stick to these formulas, so I thought I would share one with readers here:

1) Bottoms: a pair of jeans (or pants) I love 

+ 2) Top a cute well-fitting patterned top 

+ 3) a blazer or jacket that comes in at the waist

The bottoms can be comfortable, classic, and flattering. I often choose jeans, and there is a long list of denim produced in America at various price points. Some of my favorites include Citizens of Humanity, Paige Premium, Earnest Sewn, and Bullet Blue Jeans. Friends also swear by Not Your Daughter's Jeans (NYDJ) to look slimmer. Since denim is one of the things we do best here in America, all of my jeans are made domestically. Nothing like a good #madeinUSA pair of jeans! Best sure to check your tags. 

Then I choose a blazer that is appropriate for the weather. I have light summer jackets in brighter springier colors and warmer (often wool) jackets that layer well in the fall. This piece is crucial that it fits perfectly. It should button but not pull across the chest. And for me, I prefer a shape that nips in at the waist. Some of my personal favorite classic and well-cut versions can be found by Theory, Rag & Bone, Nanette Lepore, and others.

Then comes the fun part - the top can be almost anything you like that adds interest and coordinates with the other two pieces. I love a floral print, so I am often attracted to those in many colors, but blues and pinks in particular. Like animal print? Go for it. Like geometric patterns? Buy 'em. This is the piece that makes the outfit yours and shows your personality and taste. Sometimes, I go to Nordstrom.com and search #madeinUSA and narrow my search to tops to see what is available, but there are myriad options.

Then you can finish off the outfit with some accessories. I often choose a scarf in the fall or an interesting necklace, but sometimes just the right pop of color with a bag is all you need. A great way to find locally made accessories is to visit craft fairs and handmade markets. There are beautiful jewelry and leather and handcrafted items, and buying those is not only fun, but it supports our local artists and craftsmen. 

So when readers ask for advice, this is what I recommend. Use this formula and make some combinations. Try them out and make some more. And once you make a few combinations that look great, don't be afraid to repeat them. Or in the words of last week's contributor, Donna, "It's okay to wear the same outfit more than once. No one, except you, is going to notice."

Thank you so much for being a guest today, Anna! You can visit her blog, MrsAmericanMade, for more outfit ideas.

Some of my own favorite made in America brands are Covered Perfectly, Fabrizio Gianni, Clara Sunwoo, and I.C. Collection, to name a few. What are yours? Include them in the comments below.

Saturday Adventure

It was the perfect day for taking a long drive into the beautiful mountains of Virginia to visit with dear friends who moved there a couple of years ago.

Our weather is a bit cooler now, so I am wearing jeans, a tank, and a necklace from Chico's with a white denim jacket from J.Jill. The bag is from Finley House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The sandals are by Rampage via Belk.

I was glad I wore the jacket. It served me well on the long drive through the country in a convertible.

I was so happy to see my sweet friend Vicky. We are pictured in her fabulous new store called Missing Pieces, located in Damascus, Virginia. I had so much fun shopping there! She had some beautiful antique pieces and unique treasures from all around the world.

Vicky and her husband have been lovingly restoring this fabulous one-hundred-year-old home by the river for a couple of years.

This is the screened-in porch entered from their elegantly appointed kitchen. The view is of a large wooded island in the middle of a river. Vicky has done such a great job decorating their beautiful home.

We did, indeed, feel welcome!

This is the seating area, including a fire pit and a grill out by the river. That island makes the perfect neighbor!

The fountain is original from the early 1900s!

I can't wait to sit by a crackling fire while listening to the river rushing by.

To my utter delight, these wild baby ducks and their mom came running to me because they knew I had crackers in my hand.

When they finished eating their cracker crumbs, they sat down at my feet!

If you would love to spend a weekend in a beautiful town that is almost as it was a hundred years ago, I highly recommend Damascus, Virginia. 

Several hiking trails pass right through the town, including the famous Appalachian Trail. A unique biking experience can be had on the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is also located here. For these reasons, this is known as a Trail Town. 

Many quaint Bed & Breakfasts are found here. There are also several lovely places to eat and shop. It is located just a few minutes from Abingdon, Virginia, which is also one of our favorite towns to visit.