Cheers to Three Years!

Fifty, not Frumpy started three years ago today on Facebook!

Mr. Mickey and I celebrated with a lovely evening at Wellington's restaurant within the Carnegie Hotel.

My sandals are DV by Dolce Vita 'Safia' from Nordstrom.

The earrings and the top by Rose and Olive are from Stein Mart. The top isn't tucked in. The wrap front is closed at the hem and the back is long and straight.

The clutch is old from T.J.Maxx and the ankle pants are old from Chico's.

Mr. Mickey and I raise a glass to three wonderful years of sharing our lives and fun outings with all of you. We hope we have many more golden years together!

It was more than eight years ago that Mr. Mickey and I used to sit on this sofa at Gourmet and Company while we were getting to know each other when we were first dating. We still enjoy stopping by there at the end of the evening to visit with friends in addition to having lunch or dinner there at least once a week.

Readers On The Porch

A pair of readers in every room, on the screened-in porch, and in my bag is a now a necessity.

I truly enjoy those moments spent reading on my screened porch surrounded by plants and watching the birds in the wooded area at the back of my home. Even when the wind is blowing or it is raining this is a very pleasant place to sit and relax for a while.

Wherever I am these days, there is a pair of readers close by. The style above is the Tamara. The style below is the Brookside. Both are from Readers.com.

Here is the rest of my look for a casual gathering at the home of our dear friends.

My friend, Millie's geraniums are gorgeous! 

I am wearing a boat neck knit top in black with ankle zip khaki jeans both from Chico's. The shoes are from T.J.Maxx.

This post is sponsored by Readers.com. You can shop from a huge variety of styles here. Their customer service is excellent!

Thank You UPS!

Just minutes before Mr. Mickey arrived for date night, UPS delivered my new shoes from Nordstrom. (It's sale time there!)

If you want to emulate this look but don't want to wear heels try a similar style of shoe with a flat sole or a small wedge.

My sandals are DV by Dolce Vita 'Safia' from Nordstrom.

This is another sandal from Nordstrom that gives you a similar look.

My blouse is from Talbot's. The pants are from Chico's. The sunglasses and bag are from T.J.Maxx.

Rock 'n Roll Soul

If you were also a teen during the seventies, you know the joy of wearing platform shoes and black jeans with a cool jacket.

This look took me back to my teenage years when I lived in jeans and platform shoes.

I certainly didn't understand how to effectively use style, color, and proportion back then, but I thought I looked really cool all the same. This photo from my senior yearbook proves otherwise.

The jacket is by Ruby Rd. from Dillard's a few years ago. The jeans are from Chico's last fall. The shoes are by BCBGeneration via Ross. The bag is by Tahari via T.J.Maxx a couple of years ago. The Kenneth Cole Reaction sunglasses are also from T.J.Maxx. 

Wear It Wednesday... The Look

Do you remember when you figured out which looks flattered your shape? I do... I was over 55 before I had a clue.

The magic word for me is NEUTRALS.

I love the way solid pieces in black, white, silver, dark denim, or deep red all work together. Occasional selections in fuchsia, cobalt, turquoise, or purple also complement all but the red.

Straight leg pants (not tight) and pencil skirts help me to look taller and thinner. Dressing in neutral solids allows me to put together an endless variety of looks at a moment's notice. Shoes, bags, and jewelry make each combination unique.

Jackets, sweaters, and tunics that fall below my natural waist and serve me well without many details. Showing a little skin helps too. A V neckline, ankle baring pants, and three-quarter length sleeves all help draw attention away from my nonexistent apple-shaped waistline. (I still cringe at those times that I wanted to be at the height of fashion and wore a jumpsuit a couple of times in my twenties. Youth is wasted on the young!)

I strongly recommend this little exercise: When you determine your body shape, find a famous person with the same shape who dresses in a style you admire. Study their way of dressing in a variety of situations. Do a Google search of images of that person and look at them for a few minutes each day until it becomes second nature for you to put together similar looks. We tend to emulate the dressing style we see around us just as we pick up the same speaking manner. This is a way to choose your influences.

Soon you will be able to walk into your closet and put together a look for any event in just a few minutes. You will already have a mental picture of a variety of looks that you feel comfortable in. The same success will come when you walk up to a rack of clothes in a store. You will always recognize what part of your winning combination is.

Mastering this tip will save you time and money. You won't need that many clothes because everything you own can be worn in different combinations almost all year long.

The Blue Ridge Parkway

When the sky is so blue, it seems there will never be another cloud, we love to go for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Driving on the Parkway also means we will be close to Blowing Rock and the Tanger Outlet which Mr. Mickey is always happy to stop at so that I can check out the Chico's and Coach stores. The food court is midway between the two stores. I bought the handbag at the Coach outlet last year.

Fair is fair. We stop at Chico's for me, and we stop at Kilwin's Ice Cream for Mr. Mickey.

The line was out the door and down the street!

At last, we are close enough to read the flavor selections! Butter pecan is Mr. Mickey's most favorite. I usually go for something chocolate.

The park across the street is a great place to sit and watch people while you eat your ice cream.

The breathtaking mountain ranges can never be captured in a photo. You must go there and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few miles on a clear day so that you can drink in this awe-inspiring view for yourself.

The navy lightweight jacket is old. The white tank and pants are by Peck and Peck from Stein Mart. The shoes are by Kenneth Cole Reaction, as are the sunglasses, both from T.J.Maxx. The necklace and cuff are old from Chico's.

New Boyfriends ... Jeans

Wearing red, white, and blue on the 4th of July can seem like a costume. Throwing caution to the wind. I did it anyway!

Today we visited Founder's Park in Johnson City. The project is part of the renaissance of old downtown, which is just beginning. It's a fascinating time as galleries, shops, cafés, and loft living are all planned for wonderful old brick buildings dating from the 1920s.

Johnson City has long been known as a sleepy little railroad town, but that image is slowly changing as crumbling old warehouses are being torn down to be replaced by biking trails, parks, and public art installations.

One of the many art installations is this playful granite gator about to take a bite out of my leg. It is by Craig Berube-Gray from Key West, Florida.

The park is built around the natural flow of Brush Creek, which passes through the town. During times of heavy rain, the creek will now have plenty of space to expand.

On beautiful sunny days like today, families now have a lovely downtown green space to sit on a bench, go for a walk or play by the creek.

Today I am wearing those new boyfriend style KUT from the Kloth jeans I told you about last week. They are from Dillard's, but several department stores also carry them.

The blue and white striped top is from Chico's, as is the red long sleeve top tied around my shoulders. The shoes are Anne Klein Sport via T.J.Maxx.

Not Your Daughter's Jeans

This is the only pair of NYDJ I own.

The jeans fit, so I bought them since I have never owned a size 2 pair of jeans in my life. That is NOT a good reason to buy an expensive pair of jeans. I rarely wear them because they are a light wash, but they are very comfortable.

When not wearing a necklace, I sometimes wear several similar bracelets with a large face watch. That's my favorite ring, which was a gift from Mr. Mickey. The watch is from Stein Mart. The bracelets are all old.

The Jessica Simpson sandals are from T.J.Maxx.

I bought the two-piece top from Coldwater Creek a couple of years ago.