Column Dressing

Column dressing is using color to create a long slender illusion.

  

I often use this dressing technique to appear taller and slimmer. Choose a top and pants in the same color and a topper in another color. A topper can be a sweater, a jacket, vest, or a blouse left mostly open or even a large scarf draped across your shoulders. 

 

Add accessories that tie into the color of your topper to look really polished and put together. Looking at the pieces already in your closet in a different way can often give you new combinations.

Thank you for reading and for all your kind comments. I hope you have a great day.

A Stroll Through Old Town

The oldest town in the state of Tennessee is Jonesborough. It is about seven miles from my home. Today Mickey and I went for a walk in the town square. It was an overcast day, but a few of the pictures we took turned out. 

Jonesborough was founded in 1779, 17 years before Tennessee even became a state. Can you guess what those steps are for? They represent the steps that were once used to allow passengers to board the stagecoach as it stopped on its way through town. 

 

That's the courthouse behind me. Mickey's office was once located there.

The town has many shops and restored homes. There is a town museum which includes a log cabin and a one-room school-house. Jonesborough is the home to the International Storytelling Center, which holds the annual National Storytelling Festival on the first full weekend in October. 

 

Today I wore a burgundy long sleeve tee with a waterfall cardigan from Ross in the same burgundy tone. The gray side zip pants are from Talbots. The short boots are Nichols from Belk. The bag is old by Nine West via T.J. Maxx. The statement necklace was a gift from Mickey a few years ago.

After a stroll about town in the cool air, it was time for the short drive back to Johnson City for dinner at our favorite Carrabba's Italian Grill. We are such regulars that members of the wait staff often come to our table to visit with us even when they are not our servers for the evening. 

We hope you have a great week!

Window Shopping

After a week of snow and ice, the sun finally showed up today! Early in the morning my neighborhood was encased in ice but the sun soon melted it all.

  

When the weather finally allowed safe passage, I was eager to leave my home for the first time in a few days.

Mickey took me out to lunch and we ran a few errands. It was so good to see sunshine!

I'm wearing straight leg heritage fit jeans and a white tunic blouse from Talbots with Ralph Lauren booties via T.J. Maxx. The red bag is Tahari via T.J. Maxx. The tunic length sweater is from Ross. The animal print chiffon scarf is old. Layering for warmth can be tricky because it adds so much bulk to our silhouettes. To balance this effect I wore the slimmest jeans I have with boots that have a higher heel.

There will be no outdoor dining today!

  

Isn't it wonderful to have a best friend? That's my sweet Mickey with me in this photo.

We both have a weakness for chocolate desserts. A couple of times a month we share one after a light lunch of salad. This way we don't have to give up life's small pleasures.

 

A Sunny Sunday

Mickey and I often take a drive over the mountains to Asheville, North Carolina. It's only about an hour from my house but there's much to see and do there.

 

We walked around that corner behind me and into the artist-owned Mystic Masala Gallery where I found a great necklace.

 

Many of the buildings in Asheville have an Art Deco design. This is the Flatiron Building and in front of it is this sculpture of an iron...

 

  

I'm wearing the new necklace here. The pants are Peck & Peck from Stein Mart. The denim blazer is old from Dillard's. The red long sleeve tee is from Talbots. The red bag is by Tahari and the booties are by Madden Girl.

  

On almost every corner there is a street performer.

This lady sounded so much like Tracy Chapman. 

They were all really good!

The Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street was made famous when Rachel Ray did a segment of one of her shows here. We also had a great meal there today!

Your table is ready! (Mickey's piano keys scarf was the hit of the day. He got lots of compliments!)

We can never be this close to The Chocolate Fetish without stopping in for dessert.

 

 Awesome truffles to share!

New Hair Cut!

I was inspired by my sister's recent new hairstyle, so I visited her stylist this week. After a couple of years of having the same look, it's fun to change the lines a little. 

I have fine thinning, naturally wavy hair, which I stopped coloring after I turned fifty.

The stylist called this a modified wedge.

This is a wash and go look that was styled wet and gently lifted at the roots with my fingers as it dried naturally while I applied my makeup. If I move it too much as it dries, the result is frizz. I never have a lot of time to spend on such things, so my cut needs to be one that works with my hair's natural tendencies. 

I like this cut because it provides a bit of sculpting at the nape of the neck since I never want to add bulk there. The crown is lifted, and the bangs are messy but not puffy. Bangs can either flatter your face or make you look stuck in the 1980s. This cut also flatters my round face and draws the eye upward.   

Thank you for reading my blog and for all your kind comments. I hope you have blue skies this week.

Warm Weather in January!

It was seventy-five degrees here in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina yesterday!

Mickey and I took a drive over the beautiful mountains to Asheville, North Carolina, yesterday. It was much more like a Spring day.

He sat patiently waiting for me while I shopped for hours. Our afternoon included a late lunch 'restaurant hop' through Asheville.  We had an appetizer at Carmel's and then took a stroll down the street to have lunch outdoors at The Laughing Seed on Wall Street. After another stroll, we had divine chocolate truffles at The Chocolate Fetish. 

I had to go looking through my closet for something cool to wear that didn't look too summery. These great fitting side zip pants are from Talbots. (I bought five pairs of this style of pants on the same day!) The off white tank is from Ruby Rd. at Dillard's. The cardigan is old from Target. The large square silk(like) scarf is from Ross. The sunglasses, short boots, and bag are a few years old.

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a beautiful Sunday!

Animal Print Jacket

Life is finally getting back to normal after the holidays, immediately followed by all the issues associated with launching a new website for my company. I was so ready for this Friday date night!

This was such a busy day I didn't have time to do much more than touch up my makeup, change shoes and slip into this jacket. During the day, I wore black low wedge shoes and a purple three-quarter sleeve thin knit sweater.
 
The animal print jacket is made from a wonderful lightweight metallic material. I wore it with a white silky tee and a tribal-inspired necklace by Erica Lyons from Belk. The gray slacks are from Talbots. The evening bag is by Kenneth Cole Reaction. The shoes are BCBG. The large face watch is from Stein Mart. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for reading!
 

Many Shades of Gray

The sky was many shades of gray today, and so was my attire.

 

When our temperatures dip into the teens, I would like nothing better than to sit by the fire and read for the evening. However, Mr. Mickey took me out to dinner, so we were on our way out the door when we snapped these photos.

Sweater from Coldwater Creek. Black long sleeve tee from Chico's. Pants from Talbots. Necklace by Erica Lyons from Belk. The shoes are from a couple of years ago from DSW. Evening purse from T.J. Maxx.

I hope you have a warm and cozy weekend! Thank you for reading.

Change your mind... change your life.

This really awful photo was taken in the summer of 2010. As you can see, I was fully immersed in my frumpiness.

Summer 2010

My reason for posting this terrible photo is to prove that even small changes in what you eat, how you dress, and how you view yourself can make a lot of difference in your life. After seeing this and the other photos taken on the same day of a woman I hardly recognized, I started making small changes every day. Within three weeks, I began to see a difference. Within six months, I had lost almost forty pounds!

Summer 2012

I stopped thinking of myself as invisible and old, which subconsciously allowed me to stop caring about how I looked. A positive attitude is so essential. I started going for more walks and eating only vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grains, along with a few fresh fruits. (Read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman for more information on what to eat and why.) I stopped wearing loose-fitting dull clothes.

I still weigh 143 pounds at five feet six inches tall. Yet, I am 58 years old in the photo above, and I am so much happier than I was even in my thirties and forties.

I don't do any special exercises, but I try to walk more and sit less each day. I don't eat meat or processed foods.

I am sharing all this with you as an example. (There are so few of us over fifty gals in advertising.) I want to show you that even small changes in your life can make you much healthier and help you feel better about yourself. I also want to encourage you to go out and enjoy all that life has to offer. My fifties have proven to me that life really does get better.

I sincerely hope that you will make a firm commitment to yourself to be the most positive, happy, healthy person you can be. You deserve it!

The Rain Hat

I added a faux fur rain hat to my collection this month. My hair in humidity isn't pretty, so there are several hats in my closet. I think this one will be a favorite this winter.

Some of my jackets and coats are now too large for me, but I will get this one tailored. I love the teal blue color. It's a Geiger boiled wool jacket that works great over pants. The scarf is a large square silk(like) material in teal with a bit of animal print from Ross. The bag is a winter favorite from 2011.

The pants were a straight leg style from Stein Mart last year. 

The booties are by Nine West.

The very warm and comfy faux fur hat is from Coldwater Creek. The grey long-sleeved tee is by Vera Wang from Kohl's.

Being silly in the rain brings back sweet memories of my childhood on a farm in North Carolina. The now rare (for me) sound of rain on a tin roof always transports me to that far away simple time. I loved to curl up wrapped in one of my grandmother's hand made quilts on the front porch swing of our old farmhouse and watch the rainfall. When the storm passed, I would go looking for frogs and red salamanders.  Being an only child at that time and living on a secluded farm meant finding playmates in nature.

Thank you for reading my blog and visiting with me on Facebook this past year. 

Red Jeggings

Saturday was a beautiful day! 

For shopping and running errands, I wore red jeggings. Yes, me in jeggings! (They are leggings cut like jeans.) I found these at T.J. Maxx. I wore them with Ralph Lauren cognac brown booties (via T.J. Maxx) and a blue Tencel material tunic from Coldwater Creek. 

The suede animal print bag is more than twenty years old. Proof that if you buy timeless classics, they will serve you for many years. I normally do not wear a shoulder bag, but this small style is good for hands-free shopping. 

I purposely kept all my other accessories minimal and in a gold-silver combination. The large face watch is from Stein-Mart, and the large silver with gold hoops are from B'Dazzled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Jazz Up Your Salads!

Do you get tired of eating salads? So would I, if limited to just leafy greens, but they are among the most nutritious foods we can eat.

Leafy baby greens are almost always the largest portion of my lunch or dinner, but I also have steamed, baked, sautéed, and fresh raw veggies. Baked sweet potatoes are full of nutrients and a great addition to any meal, but I also enjoy having wild rice, quinoa, or other grains. A portobello mushroom cap, zucchini, green beans, asparagus, and squash are also included here. Beans and lentils are an excellent source of protein, and they keep you feeling full for longer.

During the summer of 2011, I was facing serious health problems along with numerous possible surgeries. A dear friend suggested I read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. By changing my food choices and taking a few walks every week, those health problems have been reversed, and I have lost more than forty pounds.  

After reading my Power Porridge breakfast recipe, many of you have asked, "What do you eat for the rest of the day?" I have a combination of the pictured salad and vegetables for a late lunch every day with an occasional glass of wine. Water, almond milk, green tea, and wine are my only beverages. I rarely eat dinner, but I try to choose an entree close to this salad and vegetable plate when I do. By adding a variety of vegetables in season, you will always be able to enjoy an evolving selection of flavors and textures to add to your salads.

I like to create a full of flavor veggie stir-fry to serve as the base for my soups and salads. Start by adding some chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil and rosemary to a thick-bottomed sauté pan. Add chopped onions and mushrooms on medium-high heat until the onions start to get tender, add whatever chopped vegetables you want, and turn down the heat to medium. Add chopped garlic near the end of the cooking time to keep it from becoming bitter. The combination can be used as a seasoning base for cooking vegetables or making soup. I use some unsalted vegetable stock instead of oils to keep stir-fry from sticking. When the sautéed items are tender, I spread them on a beautiful plate to cool while cutting up the fresh vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, celery, and sweet red pepper. I use organic baby greens, triple washed, and layer them over the cooled sauté. I top the salad with the fresh chopped veggies.  

Notice that I do not use any dressing, cheese, bread, croutons, or crackers. I add a little aged balsamic vinegar and good olive oil.

Below: those are cannellini beans and hemp hearts with sunflower seeds atop lightly steamed fresh organic broccoli, frozen organic peas, organic red pepper, sliced avocado, and cherry tomatoes, all on a bed of organic baby lettuces. I have some variation of this type of meal almost every summer afternoon.

For me, being healthy means eating this way 95% of the time. If I am a guest in a friend's home where they serve chicken, I enjoy it along with everyone else. At my next meal, I return to eating plant-based, non-processed factory packaged foods.

Date Night Success!

Last night was date night. I tried on about four different looks before I settled upon this one. On those occasions when all the elements of an outfit come together as they should, it is a time to celebrate.

The jacket has the same charcoal gray background as the pants, which have the same tweed like texture. The burgundy scarf picks up the burgundy tones that are woven into the fabric of the jacket. 

The jacket's small, simple collar is turned up, and the scarf is wound around underneath. I'm wearing a necklace of my own design with a long sleeve black tee underneath the jacket. Note that because I have a round face, I rarely ever wear a turtleneck. A V-neck top is my first choice when practical. 

A large portion of the successful look of this outfit is color. I have soft contrast cool coloring. The jacket's tailoring is effortless and cut close to the body with a zipper closure. It has small upturned cuffs. 

The black long-sleeved tee is from Chico's. The pants and the jacket are old from Coldwater Creek. The small leather evening bag is from Stein-Mart, and the simple black high heeled booties are from Nine West.

Thank you for reading! I hope that this post will help you put together a winning look of your own. 

Autopilot Dressing

Last evening we attended the Jonesborough Progressive Dinner, a wonderful holiday ritual for Mickey and me. The event occurs in the oldest town in Tennessee, which is only about eight miles from my home. 

We take a tour of several historic homes throughout the town and have one course of the meal at each home. There is live music, and the owners are there to tell us about the home's history and architecture. Along the route, one of the Historians is on board the bus to tell us about the building we are about to visit and its relation to the town's history.

Knowing that we would be going in and out of the weather and in various settings, I opted for layers that could be peeled off as necessary. 

During the small amount of time I had to get dressed for the event, not one but two dear friends phoned. Friends always take priority, so of course, I chatted with them while getting dressed, which means I had a total of three minutes to actually think about what I was wearing before Mickey arrived. This thrown together at the last minute look carried me through the evening, but it isn't a winner in my eyes. Let's talk about why.

A better look would have been to button the jacket most of the way up, with only the scarf's top fold showing at the neckline. The open jacket and flowing scarf add too much width to my torso, which doesn't balance with the fuller leg tailored pants. Autopilot dressing means I don't have the extra few minutes it takes to apply a critical eye to what I've put together. The upside is that I accomplished what I wanted to by wearing festive layers that could be removed as needed but remain appropriately dressed for the event. (Wearing red is about as close to a Christmas sweater as I will ever come.)

The pants are from Chico's and the red long sleeve tee is also. The jacket is from Geiger. The shoes are from Ros Hommerson. The scarf is something I picked up at Ross, and the evening bag is from T. J. Maxx.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great week!

Come as you are... Really?

Our society has become so very casual that we now see grown women at the Post Office in pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Would you really want to run into your boss, your potential client, or your high school rival in your pajamas in a public place? It takes only three minutes to get dressed for running an errand if you have a couple of planned outfits hanging in your closet together and ready to slip into. You will be glad you took the extra minutes to put on actual clothes when you have to look someone in the eye and speak to them whether you know them or not. 

You say you are more comfortable in jeans and a tee? These three looks are built around jeans and a tee. You can look really nice and well put together no matter what you feel most comfortable in. 

As our American Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am so grateful for the chance we have had to get to know each other over the past year. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming years.

Invest in Your Style

 

The confident well-dressed woman understands that her core wardrobe will serve her well for years to come if she invests in quality, classics, and colors that complement her own coloring. She updates her look with a few trending items each season to stay current. She does not feel the need to dress in all the current trends from head to toe.

Dressing in too many trends at once actually makes you look older and as if you are trying too hard. Rather than sporting a color-blocked peplum top with skinny jeans, an animal print bag, and platform shoes, try adding a colorful animal print scarf and red flats to update your look. It's a subtle way to say, "I know the current style, but I also know who I am."

Thank you for your kind comments on my last blog post!

Evening Attire

Last evening I walked the red carpet with Mr. Mickey by my side. The cameras were flashing, and there was an adoring crowd. 

OK, it wasn't THAT red carpet, but it was fun!

We attended the 'Spirits of the Season' gala for the American Cancer Society, after which we attended the November performance of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra. The evening's events allowed me to view all ages and sizes of ladies in their evening finery. 

Try to remember that if it isn't appropriate for your age and body shape or size during the day, it doesn't magically become so after dark. I saw dresses that were too small, too short, too plunging, and too shiny for the women who chose to wear them. Some ladies seemed to be wearing every single piece of bling they owned, and if that wasn't enough, they also wore glittery eye shadow. Oh my!

Many of my friends who attend these functions regularly were also at both events.  I noticed that there was a common thread uniting all of us. We were dressed in attire that was devoid of excess glitter, extra bling, or plunging necklines. There wasn't a bare back or arm among us. I dare say none of us rushed down to the local Pageant Boutique to buy a special dress for this event. We looked attractive, comfortable, and appropriate for any evening event. 

Dressing well includes being comfortable. If you look silly in your skin tight satin dress without the benefit of proper foundation garments at home, you will not look better when you get to the event. 

I strongly believe that you should combine the clothes you already own to make them work for any occasion. You have seen some elements of my recent looks before, which proves I make investments in clothes and shoes that can be worn many times in different combinations to earn their worth. 

Your attire at any event should reflect a confident, well-dressed woman who is comfortable in her own skin. I would prefer to look as if I've been here many times and it's no big deal instead of "I'm wearing my daughter's slinky prom dress with four-inch heels I can't walk in."

You may also be attending parties and special black tie events this season so remember these tips when you do. Be comfortable. Maintain your dignity. Be true to yourself. Look special and elegant. Have fun!