Christmas Symphony

One of the highlights of the season for us is attending the Johnson City Symphony Christmas concert.

Having dinner at our favorite restaurant, Gourmet and Company, before the concert is also a tradition we enjoy. Mr. Mickey loves bread pudding above all other desserts. This one is apple cinnamon with blueberries and French vanilla bean ice cream.

The marble staircase at the Seeger Chapel is splendid. The Chapel was beautifully decorated with greenery, poinsettias, and tiny white lights. It was such fun to visit with friends and singing carols during the audience participation segment.

I am wearing a Chico's jeweled sweater with Chico's Travelers pants over black pantyhose with a mink vest that was a Christmas gift from Mr. Mickey a few years ago.

The black and white sweater has jet beads and stones. I chose a hematite colored metal to complement the beading. The color is repeated in the earrings, the buckles on the high heels, and the clutch bag's beading. Except for the sweater and hose, all of my outfit elements are several years old.

I hope your holiday season is filled with friends, family, and laughter.

Garden Club Luncheon

I was honored to be once again invited by my sweet friend, Rose Sorrell, to attend her annual Garden Club luncheon today.

The Hill and Dale Garden Club of Bristol TN/VA.

There were lots of garden-themed items up for auction.

Christmas Carols were played for our enjoyment.

The tree was beautifully trimmed. 

Colorful delightful centerpieces were at each table.

Yummy dessert!

Friends Rose Sorrell, Sandy McGlothlin, Susan Street, and Shirley Carrier saying goodbye at the end of a fun afternoon.

I hope all your gatherings are filled with joy this season.

Annual Progressive Dinner

Our holiday season always begins with the annual Progressive Dinner in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town.

Temperatures dipped into the twenties last evening, so I wore red and black layers, knowing that we would be spending a bit of time outside as we visited each house on the tour.

The tour begins at the Chester Inn Museum.

At each stop along the guided bus tour, there is live music, one course of the meal, and a self-guided tour of each historic home.

This reclaimed barn wood table in a foyer was a work of art.

Old houses often have original hardware that proves hazardous for my high heels, such as this grate with huge holes. I experienced free-falling for a moment in this 1920's house before I realized where I was standing!

The main course was served at Jonesborough’s new McKinney Cultural Arts Center at the historic Booker T. Washington School.

The highlight of the evening is always singing along with The Jonesborough Novelty Band.

A train traveled under this tree!

I am wearing a Geiger boiled wool jacket, a Talbot's long sleeve tee, a necklace from Coldwater Creek, a red scarf, and black wide-leg pants from Stein Mart, with black short boots from Belk. All the items are a couple of years old... (the beauty of basics!)

Rocker Regina

We had a long discussion on Facebook this week about skinny jeans, age, and size-appropriate attire. Today I want to show you Mr. Mickey's beautiful daughter Regina. She completely slays the myth that women of a certain age or size should not be trendy or dress in black.

Regina is true to her self-image in that she always wears what fits her unique rocker/goth/vintage-cool vibe. She can easily wear looks that would make me feel completely silly no matter how hard I try. 

At forty-seven, she projects the image of confident and well aware of trends and makes them work well for her size sixteen frame. 

As I often do on Fridays, I took my staff out to lunch. While we were in the restaurant, I watched people of all ages and life situations interact with Regina. She is so much like her father that she has a timeless, ageless personality and style that anyone can easily approach and talk with. Those conversations always seem to end with laughter.

Thank you, Regina, for allowing me to show your unique style to the followers of Fifty, not Frumpy!

She is the new owner of VintageJewelrySupplies.com.

Mr. Mickey's Place

Some of you asked for a peek into Mr. Mickey's new home.

Last evening we attended our neighborhood pot luck Christmas dinner at our clubhouse, so we snapped a few pictures in his foyer before leaving.

The sculptures on the wall behind me are by J. Cotter.

Not many bachelor pads have a crystal chandelier. This one has hung in several of Mr. Mickey's dining rooms over the years.

There are so many pieces of special art, he has not yet found a place for many of them, but he is still working on it. The bust behind me to the left is a sculpture of Mickey done many years ago. The artist now lives at the end of the block. Small world indeed!

It was 75 degrees here last evening, so I was actually sorry I wore the sweater. The necklace, sweater, and tank are from Chico's last year. The gray slacks were from Stein Mart last year. The Vince Camuto flats are from Nordstrom.

Eight years ago, Mr. Mickey and I met at a Christmas party in our old neighborhood. It was the party that changed my life.

For that first party, I took bacon-wrapped chestnuts, which I almost burned. I had second thoughts about even going to the party after that! For this party, I took something much more simple, southern cornbread and roasted Brussels sprouts. Mr. Mickey made his world-famous deviled eggs, of which none were left. 

No Shave November Event

Last evening Mr. Mickey and I attended a No Shave November cocktail party to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

The silver sweater, long sleeve tee, and necklace are from Chico's. The black pants are old from Stein Mart. The shoes are old by Anne Klein.

The invitation read, "Come as your favorite bearded celebrity."  Mr. Mickey is representing his favorite bearded celebrity.

Some of the fun costumes included a mullet-wearing NASCAR race fan and the crazy gynecologist, as well as one of the fellows from Duck Dynasty. Thank you to the Blackthorn Club staff, who also contributed and participated in the bearded Celebrity contest.

Santa is sad that he lost the contest for best costume to Dr. Seymour Bush, the crazy Gynecologist.

Our club has several of these beautiful fireplaces. I was happy to stand by this one for a while.

It was great to see my sweet friend Nita again. She and her husband (The crazy gynecologist) had just returned from Colorado a few hours earlier to attend the event. We always have so much fun visiting with them.

The Calvin Klein coat was from Dillard's.

“No-Shave November” and “Movember” are concepts created to bring awareness to cancer concerns in men, such as testicular and prostate cancer.  The “general premise” of each of these programs is to grow facial hair throughout November. Some choose to grow just a mustache, some choose to grow a well-trimmed beard and mustache, and some choose not to shave their faces at all. Regardless of the method that each individual chooses, the purpose is the same – To bring and raise awareness to cancer in general and in particular to bring and raise specific awareness to prostate and testicular cancer.

Shopping in Asheville

On a winter Saturday afternoon, blue skies often mean a trip across the mountain to Asheville, North Carolina for Mr. Mickey and me.

We took a break from shopping in the Grove Arcade to visit Carmel's. One of our favorite treats is their homemade pimento cheese appetizer, a house-made blend of cheeses with jalapenos served with garlic crostini.

Later in the day, a cup of hot chocolate was just the thing to take away the chill.

It's always fun to visit the Screendoor to look through an eclectic mix of treasures, junque, and books.

No trip to the Biltmore Village is ever complete until we stop by Chico's for a peek at the sale rack. The necklace, long sleeve tee, vest, and pants I am wearing today are all old from Chico's. The coat is also old from Geiger. The short boots were Ralph Lauren via T.J.Maxx last year. The black Tignanello handbag is old from SteinMart.

I hope your shopping trips have been successful! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Mickey and I were among the guests at the home of my sister and her husband for the family Thanksgiving feast today. I am most thankful that I did not have to do the cooking!

This picture is from earlier in my breakfast nook wearing black So Slimming Ponte pants from Chico's. The long sleeve purple tee, purple sweater, and silver necklace are also from Chico's. The short black Nickels boots were from Belk last year.

Sitting by my sister's wood-burning fireplace is a great place to be on a cold, snowy day!

Mr. Beasley is perhaps the most pampered stray ever! 

He is not amused at having all these loud people in "his" house.

Let the feast begin!

I hope you were also able to spend time with family and special friends today.

Dinner with the Wine Club

After a long busy week, we always look forward to date night on Friday. This evening, we enjoyed a special dinner with friends at the beautiful home of our wine club members. 

The gold necklace, metallic copper sweater, and wheat-colored tank are from Chico's Fall 2013 line. The black pants and low heeled shoes are old.

Enjoying the bouquet of a lovely Veramonte Ritual Pinot Noir from Chile. Cool night air coming off the ocean allows the grapes grown to result in a wine with a bright fruit aroma and flavors of black cherries, blueberry, raspberry, and plum.

Rick graciously conducts our wine club gatherings. He humbly shares his vast knowledge of wine, peppered with stories of his travels worldwide to visit vineyards. It is always a pleasure to be in his company.

It was so nice to spend the evening with dear friends and get to know some new ones a little better.