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.

Dinner At Red Fish

At the end of our first perfect full day on the island, we had a wonderful dinner with some of the Hilton Head Island members - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce at the Red Fish. It is one of the top-rated restaurants on the Island.

I wore a blue lace swing jacket by Damee NYC with Lior Paris Sasha pants, both provided by ShopMyFairLady. (I have to tell you that these are the most comfortable dress pants I have ever worn.) The layered V-neck tank is from White House Black Market. I carried a clutch bag from a few years ago and wore black suede fringe trim sandals by BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th.

The water on Hilton Head Island gives me the best hair of my life!

The view from our terrace at the Marriott Resort and Spa was spectacular!

I was on that beach walking as the sun came up as often as possible!

I hope you are enjoying seeing the photos from our mini-vacation on the beautiful Hilton Head Island. More tomorrow!

Hilton Head Island Speaking Engagement

Speaking at the Prime Of Life Chamber of Commerce event on Hilton Head Island recently was an incredible experience.

The grand ballroom at the Marriott Hotel and Resort was the location for this event.

I wore one of my favorite looks by IC Collection provided by ShopMyFairLady.com. If you find that they have sold out of this very popular set, please email or call them from the information listed on their website. They will back-order the items for you.

The shoes are by Sam Edelman. The necklace is from S.M. Bradford Co., located at the Harbour Town Yacht Club on Hilton Head Island.

The camera was not cooperating very well. Sadly, this was the only photo that turned out of my talk.

I spoke about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet and how cultivating a positive attitude has impacted my health in the past five years.

I am already looking forward to my next visit to Hilton Head! With me above is Michelle Taylor, who owns a new shop on the Island. Birdie James is opening this weekend at the Shelter Cove Towne Centre. One of my other favorite shops in the same Centre is the Copper Penny. I am shown below with the owner Mary Margaret McGaughey.

Shelter Cove Towne Centre is a fabulous new Centre that offers many great places to shop, eat, and browse. 

We really enjoyed being pampered for a day at the fabulous Faces Day Spa.

In the evening, we had a fantastic dinner with some of the hardworking members of the Chamber of Commerce at the Red Fish. It was the perfect ending to our first full day on the Island.

I was showered with genuine southern hospitality and gifts during my stay.

A Fifty, not Frumpy follower, Debbie Carr came all the way from Delaware to spend some time with me!

I enjoyed meeting many leaders in the community who attended the event and stayed to hear me speak.

The lovely woman with me below is a retired Physician. We were discussing how little training on nutrition is provided in Medical School. 

The warm and welcoming spirit of each person I had the pleasure of meeting this week made this a delightful experience I will never forget.

Blush With Jeans

My favorite Bank President is retiring today.

Our dear friend, Harvey Mitchell, is retiring after 40 years of service in banking within our community.

Mr. Mickey let me know he would come by to pick me up in five minutes to attend the reception in Harvey's honor. Really?

I stopped what I was doing and put on my blush colored jacket from White House Black Market and a pair of many years old heels. Seriously, those shoes by Anne Klein are at least ten years old. 

No time to think about what you are going to wear? There is an art to being able to throw yourself together at a moment's notice. It is a skill I have learned over time. Thank goodness for Pantene dry shampoo!

The super-comfortable dark wash jeans are by Fabrizio Gianni. 

The tank top is by Clara Sunwoo (love!) from ShopMyFairLady. If you want something shown on their site and sold out, they will be happy to backorder it for you. Just email them or call the number on their website. My best friend, Mitzi, and I order from them often. They are always so accommodating. 

The vintage brooch embellished leather cuff is by Made in the Deep South, and it is from my sweet friend Myra's fabulous boutique, The Charlemont.