What do you eat?

Summer means family and friends may be gathering for a potluck meal on the deck or by the lake. Whenever I am asked to bring a dish or plan for a summer event, I always use recipes like the ones shown below.

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Click here for the full recipe.

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Baked Falafel Sandwich

Click here for the full recipe.

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BBQ BAKED BEANS

Click here for the full recipe.

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Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

Click here for the full recipe.

My friend, Diane Smith, is the writer and recipe developer behind PlantBasedCooking.com. We thought it would be helpful to share a healthy meal for those planning summer gatherings.

I always get lots of questions about what I eat and then more questions about transitioning to a plant-based diet. I am happy to tell you that Diane is preparing a course to help people transition to a plant-based diet. Contact her via her website to sign up for the course.

Diane Smith is the editor and publisher of PlantBasedCooking.com. We have so much in common, but most of all, we are passionate about being our best selves and sharing what we learn with others.

I was in a lot of pain, on medication, in and out of Doctor's offices almost weekly, and could not sleep more than a couple of hours. That was all before I switched to a plant-based diet. 

My back, feet, and legs hurt so much I could only walk short distances, even in flat shoes. Now I can walk pain-free for miles, even in heels!

Before at age 54               After at age 58  

The preservatives, sugar, fat, and salt added to most processed foods caused inflammation, fifty extra pounds, severe migraines every week, and numerous sinus infections. Removing those foods from my life allowed my body to heal and my immune system to thrive. I have not had a cold in five years. There are no more migraines! I take no medications now, and my lab results are those of a twenty-year-old. I feel much better now than I did when I was in my thirties. The only change I made was to a whole food plant-based diet. This is one of the most important things I wish I could share with my younger self.

The Shopping is Great!

During my recent visit to speak on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, I slipped away for a couple of hours on Monday to go shopping.

I love to explore Saks Off 5th while on Hilton Head. You never know what treasures you might find there. I purchased a couple of pairs of shoes (no surprise there), a large square silk scarf, and a long asymmetric hem dressy tank top.

An Instagram follower once mentioned that she can never put together a look when she shops there. I always search for unique pieces that fit my style and work with the elements I already own rather than looking for an outfit. 

My closet is arranged in departments so, I rarely wear the same things together in the same way.  If I have a few good looking pieces that all work interchangeably and a variety of accessories, I can go anywhere. I know many women who purchase only outfits but always tell me they have nothing to wear.

Whenever I travel, someone will always comment on how little I take for a three or four-night stay. For example, when I go to L.A. in a few weeks, I will take black, white, and denim pants, four different tops, flat sandals, heeled sandals, some jewelry, and scarves to change the look of the combinations.

My rule is that all the tops must go with all the pants. This formula gives me possibilities for creating several different looks even when I travel by plane with only a small carry-on bag. 

Each time I have visited the Copper Penny store in Shelter Cove, I have found a pair of stylish black pants that will go with everything else in my closet. This store also has a great collection of shoes, jewelry, handbags, and clothing.

Shelter Cove Towne Centre in Hilton Head is a great new shopping area being built where the old mall once was. I love this concept! It is set up with tree-lined streets so that you can park in front of the store you want to visit, and there is a park overlooking the harbor for relaxing with the kids. There are several excellent shops, including a French bakery, numerous restaurants, several clothing stores, gift shops, and many more places to shop or take a break.

The new Birdie James boutique is also located in Shelter Cove. This shop offers a collection of classic staples. Sadly, I missed the grand opening by a few days on this visit, but you can be sure I will be going there as soon as I return to the Island.

I enjoy the sport of looking for a few well-chosen pieces to add to my collection. Most of my shopping is done online these days due to my busy schedule, but I enjoy being able to visit stores when I travel to see all of the colors and textures in person. I also enjoy watching people and studying what makes them look like a success. I have learned a lot simply by watching the women whose style I admire and borrowing tips from them.

I hope that's what you do when you visit my blog. Take the information that is helpful to you and make it your own. We can look fabulous at any age, any size, or on any budget.

On this brief shopping trip, I wore pieces that easily slip off when trying on items. The sandals are from last year by DV Dolce Vita. The pants are by Tribal. The Clara Sunwoo tunic was purchased from ShopMyFairLady.com. The BCBG bag is old from T.J.Maxx. The necklace is from S.M. Bradford, located in Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island.

Accessories Change The Basics

You have likely noticed that I often wear a similar base, including a tunic or tank with narrow leg pants in one color.

This silhouette flatters my shape and height and fits my personality, so I often rely on this basic combination when getting dressed. 

Today I want to show you how I change the attitude and set the tone for different looks by changing my accessories. The same top and pants are worn in each of the examples shown here.

This fabulously comfortable tunic top was a gift from Covered Perfectly. This style is Fit and Flare. The flattering wide waistband pull-on dressy black pants are by Tribal, and they were a gift from Copper Penny.

For this around-town look, I added a black and silver and gold necklace, flat sandals by DV Dolce Vita last year, and a picnic-style wicker bag from J.McLaughlin to achieve a classic look that is appropriate for almost any event.

This top is very soft and comfortable for traveling. Just wash it out and hang it to dry. If you pack it, hang it up when you arrive and when you get up the following day, the wrinkles will be gone. 

For a comfortable travel look, I added flat loafer style shoes from BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th. The scarf can be draped around my neck if I get cold on the plane. It is several years old.

I draped a Michael Kors chain detail silk scarf around my neck for a more uptown look and switched to a gold chain bag from Express. The cork and gold detail wedge sandals were by VANELi via Marmi Shoes last year.

I added a bold medallion necklace and an old cropped moto-style white jacket from White House Black Market old reptile embossed booties to achieve a more downtown urban vibe. I always use a jacket as an "accessory" to set the tone for looks. Also, the Calvin Klein bag is old from T.J.Maxx.

I hope these examples help you see how you can change your basic looks by wearing different accessories. A follower once commented that she could never put together a look when she shopped at a particular store that I often visit. I never think of putting together a specific look when I am shopping. Instead, I think only of adding elements that appeal to me and can be worn in different ways with what I already have to build appropriate looks for any event.

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.

Newberry

Last Sunday, we traveled to Hilton Head from Johnson City, so I wore soft, comfortable layers.

The denim jacket is lightweight and comfortable in air conditioning. It is from White House Black Market. The tank is by Peck and Peck via Stein Mart. The cute khaki pants are by Lior Paris, and this is the Lize style. ShopMyFairLady.com sent these to me. (I am so glad they started carrying these pants!)

I have written before about my frustration with finding a cute, comfortable pair of khaki pants for warm weather. I rejoiced when I tried these on! I tire of white pants every day in summer, so it is nice to find a khaki pair that will work with most of my casual tops. Be sure to wash these in cold water and hang the pants to dry. They will look great and wear well for several seasons if you take care of them. I have been wearing my black ones very often for the past year.

The faux bamboo handle bag was a summer favorite by BCBG from T.J.Maxx last year. The sandals are old by Jessica Simpson.

We love to stop in Newberry, South Carolina, when we are traveling to the deep South. It is a delightful town with a more than one-hundred-year-old Opera House and a great variety of antique shops. Carter & Holmes Orchids is also located in Newberry! We have only stopped in Newberry for brief visits, which always leaves me longing for more time to explore the town and all it has to offer.

On this Sunday morning visit, we thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous brunch at Figaro. We highly recommend it and can not wait to have dinner there. The food was superb, and the service was excellent!

I feel right at home in Newberry, so we are planning a long weekend there very soon.