The Sky Bar

Thank goodness for the weekend and a break from all the to-do lists!

Mr. Mickey and I enjoy Asheville, North Carolina, for the wide variety of events that are always happening, international dining adventures, shopping, art galleries, and the general festive atmosphere, which seems to prevail on summer weekends.

The red umbrellas above mark the Sky Bar. We will visit there later to watch the sun slip behind the distant mountain ranges.

In midsummer, the flowers in planters throughout the city are simply breathtaking!

This street performer absolutely defies gravity.

These fellows found a shady entry from which to serenade the passing tourists. As we walked past, they sang, "I like your shoes." We will never know if they meant mine or Mr. Mickey's.

Wall Street has many unique shops and restaurants. It remains one of our favorites.

You never know what you might find around the next corner, from a crochet covered tricycle to the famous Spoon Lady.

We were captivated by the haunting sound of this performer's electronic "violin." We listened for a long while and even bought a CD from him. His twin brother performs on the same type of instrument in Greenville, South Carolina. The handsome brothers are Stephen and Jeff Neil.

I have wanted to visit the Southern Highlands Craft Gallery in the old Biltmore Oteen Bank building for months. It was great to see all the works of art there. The building has been beautifully restored.

New to the Biltmore Village is the Well-Bred Bakery of Weaverville.

The weather was hot, but it was a beautiful day to be in the city.

Mr. Mickey is a happy man!

As the sun starts to slide down toward the horizon, we make our way to the Sky Bar.

We shared a table with the most delightful beautiful young couple. This is Drew and Blaine. We fell in love with them. It was instant best friends! I felt so sad when it was time for us to leave for our drive home.

Watching the sun slip behind the mountains marked the end of a perfect day.

My top is from Chico's. The white jeans are from Kut from the Kloth at Dillard's. The shoes are from T.J.Maxx. The bracelet is old from a gallery in Highlands, North Carolina.

Cali and York

The top was a gift from Cali and York. Three quarter length sleeves and a boat neck are so flattering in this casual top. The length is perfect to wear with straight leg jeans. I love that the knit is a heavier gauge so that every bump and mark of time is not on view to the world. I am very impressed with the quality and timeless design of all the items I have received.

Find your fashion lifestyle at Cali and York.

A Night Out

Occasionally on date night, we have a progressive dinner, roaming from one restaurant to another.

For the first course, we may have a glass of wine and an appetizer in one restaurant.

At another restaurant, we may have a salad.

Our first course for this evening was enjoyed at Cafe' Lola. This is a great place to meet with friends for a cocktail after work and then come back later in the evening for an elegant date night.

Our next visit was to the bar at our old favorite, Wellington's, in the Carnegie Hotel.

Sometimes we sit by a fireplace or a window with a great view and have a glass of wine and a long conversation. Those conversations often draw in other people sitting around us. This evening, we met a delightful group of women celebrating one young woman's start of med school here at ETSU.

These two beautiful ladies are the mothers of the lovely young women below.

We visited with this delightful group for a long pleasant conversation. It was great to share in the celebration of the exciting life adventure that they are just beginning.

The last stop of the evening was on the patio at our favorite place to visit in town. Gourmet and Company are celebrating twenty-five years in business. So on the 25th of each month this year, there is a special dinner menu and living entertainment on the patio. Tonight's performance was by the great local band, This Mountain.

The festive evening ended with great friends and listening to superb live music.

The Cynthia Rowley shoes are from Belk, and the little black dress is by Ralph Lauren via T.J.Maxx. The asymmetric neckline and ruching at the waist are details that make it unique.  I am most definitely more comfortable in pants and a jacket, but there are occasions when one needs a dress. I am glad I found this one last week.

And now for a little Wear It Wednesday... Many of you hated my cool lace-up black shoes with this jacket and a pencil skirt in an earlier post, so I restyled it for you here as requested. I still love the shoes, but I will wear them with straight-leg pants in the future. The skirt is in the to-go bag.

The Red Carpet

Wednesday date night included having dinner on the veranda at The Blackthorn Club surrounded by beautiful flowers and rolling green hills of the golf course.

The flowers at the entrance are always breathtaking.

A send-off party for Miss Tennessee Teen USA was being held in the main dining room, thus the red carpet.

I have to tell you about this jacket! It is from Chico's as are all the clothes today. The jacket has an almost sheer body with trim that looks like black leather. I love the fact that it is almost weightless. The perfect summer "leather jacket"!

The clutch and sunglasses are from T.J.Maxx. The sandals are DV by Dolce Vita 'Safia' from Nordstrom.

Wear It Wednesday... Tools

There are a few tools of the trade that keep me and my clothes looking their best. Today on Wear it Wednesday I'll share a few.

Don't you hate it when your iron is too hot and you cause a shine on the seam of your new black pants? That's why I use a steamer so often. If you have ever worked in a boutique or almost any retail store you may remember steaming the clothes before you put them out on the floor. I have had a steamer in my home for many years. It saves on taking items to the dry cleaner when all they really need is to be steamed. I use it on all new clothes to freshen them up and for things like a new shower curtain, rugs that have gotten crimped while in storage, and new dust ruffles. You can buy this steamer at Macy's.

I use neutral shoe polish to protect and clean wallets, handbags, and belts as well as shoes. If you have one of those studded leather cuffs that are so popular right now, you should polish it before you even wear it. Get leather pants and jackets professionally cleaned at least once per year.

If you have curly hair use the diffuser tool with your hairdryer. Get out of the shower and scrunch your hair in a dry towel to get out excess water. Don't brush or comb it out. Use your fingers and the diffuser to style and dry your hair. Scrunch it in your hands as it gently dries. This will keep the max amount of curls.

Here's a quick video to show you how.

Do you have a favorite tip or tool to share? Just add it in the comments below. You are welcome to participate in the conversation!

The High Country

We always enjoy our drives into the high country of North Carolina.

This evening we were traveling to the Artisanal restaurant for dinner.

The small town of Banner Elk does a beautiful job with the border of flowers that continues for almost the whole length of the town.

The Eagle's Nest private gated mountain community has a beautiful new welcome lodge.

Flowers and trees always seem to thrive in the high country.

Of all my evening bags this is Mr. Mickey's favorite. I bought it on a long-ago buying trip in Atlanta at the apparel market.

The sateen jacket is from Dillard's. The black brocade pants and blue top as well as the turquoise necklace are from Chico's. The Steve Madden heels are from Nordstrom.

White Linen Moto Jacket

Friday date night was a rainy one, which explains why we are inside, and my hair looks like I styled it into a bouffant. Big hair is what naturally happens in humid weather. 

I love the edgy look of sleek pieces worn with an attitude, but I am too soft and rounded to carry this look off with authority.

I wore the white linen moto jacket from Stein Mart over a black tank from Chico's and a black pencil skirt from T.J.Maxx. The shoes are from Nordstrom. The bag is from T.J.Maxx. The bracelet is an old favorite.

New Hair Style

My hairstyle gets changed about every six months so yesterday I asked Allison to give me a shorter tousled style that does not need to be blown out straight.

I look a bit rumpled because these photos were taken at the end of a busy day.

I am still getting accustomed to styling my hair differently, but this is much easier!

I wore this Chico's blue tunic and white jeans to have lunch with my sister today. The shoes and sunglasses are from T.J.Max.