A Date Night Look

The photo below shows one side of my tiny shade garden.

When I owned my previous home, I spent many hours working in my huge flower gardens every day during the growing season. It soon became way too much for me to take care of alone, so I had to hire help to maintain it properly.

I am enjoying a downsized version of homeownership very much!

This tiny garden still allows me to enjoy watching things that I have planted grow. That primal urge to dig in the dirt comes to me every spring without fail.

On a recent Wednesday date night, I wore a top that is a couple of years old from Chico's. The pants by Fabrizio Gianni are from last year. The shoes are by Sam Edelman from last year. The necklace is an estate piece from Finely House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The sunglasses are by Michael Kors.

Blue has always been my favorite color, so mixing blues with white pants for summer still feels like a natural combination for me. I often look to nature for color combinations. Think of a vivid summer sky, white fluffy clouds, and the clear water of a lagoon surrounded by white sand and palms.

We had dinner on the terrace at the Blackthorn Club.

The flowers around the patio of our club are always majestic!

July 16, 2016, marks five years of Fifty, not Frumpy fun! I have enjoyed discovering what works for me and my lifestyle and sharing it all with you. I hope I have inspired you to only purchase what you truly love and to enjoy wearing it in many ways for years to come. These days I find that I am buying fewer items, giving me more time and money to enjoy fantastic adventures!

The small straw clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. I use accessories to change the look of my basics. Handbags, shoes, scarves, and jewelry are elements that can give your look personality. They can make my combinations of traditional things I have owned for years look more up to date.

Travel To L.A.

I am back from a week in Los Angeles modeling for Covered Perfectly and visiting with my friend Pauline Durban, who started the company.

Mr. Mickey took me to the airport early in the morning on Sunday. I wore the black and white Wendy, Covered Perfectly top with black Tribal pants to travel. The silver flat sandals are by Michael Shannon from DSW shoes. The handbag is old by Cole Haan, and the luggage is by CALPAK. Both items are from T.J.Maxx.

I spent one of the days I was in L.A., roaming around the mall at Sherman Oaks. It was over 100 degrees each day, so outside activity was kept to a minimum. 

I wore old Vince Camuto sandals and an old wrap over the top from Saks Off 5th. The off white color looks excellent with Lior Paris khaki pants from ShopMyFairLady.com. I like these pants so much because they have a smooth wide waistband to wear with all my Covered Perfectly tops. There are no lumps, bumps, and zippers to show under the luxurious knit fabric. Since I never fully tuck in a top, that is the only type of pants I buy these days.

It was great to catch up with my talented and beautiful young friend Lex Mejia, who has been the makeup artist for Covered Perfectly shoots for years. On the day of the shoot, I wore the black Fit and Flare over leggings by Hue.

Above is one of the photos from this shoot. I am modeling the great-looking Simple Comfort Patterned, a new Covered Perfectly top. This is a great gray top to wear with white, blue, or black blazers or vests with jeans. You already know I love that!

An unbelievable amount of work and days of preparation goes into a shoot. When it is over, we breathe a sigh of relief and take a day off to have lunch on the beach, at eye level with the Pacific Ocean!

The Sunset Restaurant at Malibu has a bank of windows that open to a fabulous view of the beach. You can feel the ocean breeze on your face as you dine.

Pauline says, "Can you guess who had what for lunch?"

On another night, we had dinner with a couple of friends at a delightful restaurant in Brentwood. Pauline asked the server for mayonnaise to put on her slightly dry turkey burger. She replied, "Oh, we don't have mayonnaise. We are a vegan restaurant." I am surprised Pauline didn't ask her from what plant they got that turkey burger?

While in Malibu, we visited with one of Pauline's longtime friends who lives on a hill overlooking the Pacific.

I was fascinated with her friend's gardens. Agave is such a majestic plant!

Below is her friend's sweet blue-eyed pup!

A fabulous starfish was on a bench outside her front door.

Below is the entrance to another mall. I love all those palm trees in California!

After a long and productive week, it was time to return home to Tennessee. I snapped this photo as we were about to land.

Mr. Mickey was there to pick me up. Can you imagine all the attention he got as we walked through the airport carrying a card, candy, and flowers to meet me?

I wore my old Chico's top with the silver do-dads over black Lior Paris pants to travel home.

All About Handbags

Today, I share some of my handbag care and storage tips with you, along with a new giveaway. Watch the video below for more info on how you could win this bag by Michael Kors.

The built-in shelves in my closet are the perfect place to store bags and clutches, as well as cuffs and bangle bracelets. 

A couple of years ago, I started using dust covers to protect my bags. I also keep them stuffed with tissue so that they don't lose their shape. I am making smarter purchases now, so I will be keeping my bags for several years, which means I want to take care of them.

I store clutches in a drawer for easy viewing and to keep them free from dust.

This video shows how I organize what I carry in my bags to switch them out so easily. You will also learn how to enter to win the bag I am giving away on the 4th of July!

Congratulations, Pat Willoughby!

You are the winner of the Michael Kors handbag giveaway.

Family Time

On Sunday, my family celebrated Father's Day at the home of my sister and her husband. 

We always take a walk around the grounds after one of my sister's fabulous meals. In preparation for that tradition, I wore a casual look with flat sandals by Nine West from last year. The belt is old from Chico's. I prefer to give an illusion of a waistline with a hook belt worn low since I have a high thick waistline. The Anne Klein white jeans and the BCBG bag are old from T.J.Maxx. 

The Simple Comfort red top from Covered Perfectly is three years old, and it still looks great! These tops have a perfect neckline for me. I love that I can layer them or wear them alone. I am wearing a size large because I like them to fit a little loose if I am wearing them without a jacket or vest.

Fifty, not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are several styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items, or you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special!

My sister lives in the midst of woods, so there are abundant deer and other wild animals. This deer came strolling by the French doors of the dining room while we were having lunch.

I took this female hummingbird's photo from the back terrace.

The back walkway leading to the terrace is lined with hydrangeas and boxwoods.

Her shade garden is always a delight to behold. Grass would not grow beneath the trees, so she created an oasis with hosta, ferns, and other shade-loving plants.

Summer Style

I am the first to admit I don't have a strong summer dressing game.

My sister and I recently spent the day at The Biltmore Estate having lunch and touring the gardens and the conservatory.

From earlier this year.

I wore a Foxcroft tunic from a blog post earlier this year, with dark wash jeans and flat sandals. We planned to do lots of walking, and the weather person predicted cool temperatures for the day. However, instead of seventy degrees, it was more like ninety degrees that day.

Even though I was wearing a long sleeve tunic, I was still reasonably comfortable. I live in an area that isn't normally very hot, and I do not spend time outside during the heat of the day, so I don't have a separate wardrobe for summer. 

I am certain that those who live in areas with long hot summers may laugh at my choices. Even when the tops have sleeves and wear them with white or light wash jeans, I am still fairly comfortable. I wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light color natural fabrics during our hottest weather.

Sundresses and sleeveless tops are not my favorites, regardless of the heat.