Lazy Saturday

We don't always have a variety of activities and events planned for the day.

Occasionally I just want to rest and read on the weekend. So Mr. Mickey honors my need for quiet and lets the day unfold at my pace.

With nothing more than a trip to the grocery store planned, we had time to stop along the way at the Mountain Home VA to enjoy the beauty of the grounds this September day.

I have been fascinated with this beautiful rock formation under massive trees since childhood. Did water or wind form the patterns carved into their surfaces? My mind completes the picture with a prehistoric sea that raged across this land during a long-ago time when the earth was young.

This was the perfect day for Mr. Mickey to practice his photography skills. We both want very much to give you a glimpse of the beautiful area and the life we are so fortunate to share.

I wore old jeans and a white tank top from Chico's. The fabulous burnout white tunic is from Cali and York. The animal print platform shoes are by Vince Camuto from Nordstrom a couple of years ago.

I think we found where all the Canadian geese in the area meet for lunch!

Our day of leisure included a light dinner of the interesting things we found at Earth Fare and Fresh Market. We enjoy trying new foods and wines, so we chose two small loaves of bread, three different kinds of cheese, and the 2014 limited release Apothoic Dark wine for our adventurous meal today. The grapes are the variety "Cotton Candy." The cheeses included Beemster premium Dutch tangy, St. André triple cream French, and a spicy pepper gouda. One bread had garlic and olive oil with cheeses, the other included sundried tomatoes and cheeses. There were also oil-cured olives and regular black olives, and nuts with light sea salt. 

The wine glasses bring back memories of a trip to the Banner Elk winery a few summers ago.

For dessert, we shared a small piece of Black Forest Napoleon served on tiny antique saucers.

It feeds my soul to sit under a tree and enjoy the quiet of a beautiful late summer afternoon.

Wearing White

Wear white all year long!

From the early nineteen hundreds, an old etiquette rule that you should only wear white between Memorial Day and Labor Day still persists today. That is an outdated idea from wealthy women who lived in the city during the winter and summered in their second homes by the sea or in a lodge on a mountain. Most people now dress for the weather, not the calendar.

Straight leg off white jeans are paired with an off white tank and a fabulous metallic white Cali and York sweater.

When you wear one of these delicate sweaters, you get the added bonus of coverage without the weight and formality of a jacket. This one was perfect for an early casual dinner at a new local cafe'.

Since the sweater is almost sheer, I opted to wear the same pale creamy white colors underneath for a long, lean unbroken line from the metallic sandals up. 

Another tip: Pushing or rolling up your sleeves and wearing a scoop or V-neck top makes one appear taller and more slender. 

The bold statement necklace stands out, so I kept all the other accessories minimal.

Wearing jewelry or bags that tend to pick or snag can be disastrous with a delicate sweater such as this one.

These photos were shot by Mr. Mickey in Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee.

 

Being small business owners who are also very involved in the political process, Mr. Mickey and I always try to support new businesses in our area. We visited a new cafe' in Jonesborough called the Black Olive last evening. It is a lovely family-style Italian restaurant with great service and a huge menu. We wish them success!

Wear It Wednesday - Prints

These pants are one of the very few print items I bought this year.

Prints are memorable, and they limit the outfit combinations they can be a part of. I rarely even look at them when I am shopping.

These pants were at the end of the summer clearance rack at Talbot's. This will be the only time I wear them this year, so at less than $20, I didn't mind buying them to wear to my family reunion. The look is fun and comfortable for lakeside activities at the beautiful home of my cousin.

The top is from Chico's. The shoes are from T.J.Maxx.

These photos were shot by Mr. Mickey in the historic old town section of Johnson City.

This is an alternative shoe suggestion for those who don't wear heels or wedges.

Labor Day Auction!

We sometimes spend a holiday morning attending an auction at the Sterling Gallery in Johnson City.

I had my eye on these leather top chests, but the price went way too high for my budget.

Several other items got my attention, but my patience ran out before the items came up.

Sometimes I score big at auctions, and sometimes I leave with nothing... like today.

We still had fun and got to visit with some other friends who were also treasure hunting.

The blouse is from Talbot's. The light wash straight leg jeans and cuff bracelets are from Chico's. The red bag is by Tahari from T.J.Maxx. The shoes are by Guess, and they are also from T.J.Maxx.

The Women's Fund Kick-off Party

I am very proud to be a Leadership member of The Women's Fund of East Tennessee, which serves as a catalyst to transform the lives of low-income women and girls in East Tennessee. On Thursday evening, we held the Kick-Off Party for our next year of projects.

The event was hosted at the fabulous home of John Trotter. (His mother, Brenda Wood, is the chair of the luncheon committee.) The home is known as Crescent Bluff. It was formerly the Dulin Art Gallery, and it is on the registry of historic places.

The H. L. Dulin House was built in 1915.

We enjoyed a beautiful view of the Tennessee River as we dined.

The guest speaker was recently retired Tennessee women's athletic director emeritus Joan Cronan.

The band appropriately played Bluegrass music.

These huge urns flanked the entry to the library.

Some of the lovely people who made this evening happen.

The First Baptist Church on Main Street in Knoxville is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mr. Mickey snapped this the next morning as we were waiting for the car. We are on our way to Turkey Creek to shop.

My look for both days included basic pieces from Chico's with shoes from Vince Camuto.

Blue suede shoes by Vince Camuto. I found them for $16.99 at Ross Dress for Less.

Wear It Wednesday - Trends

The half-tuck or the messy tuck has been around for years.

By tucking in the front of my shirt, I can show off the belt detail. Tucking in the whole shirt can make you look really thick waisted. Additionally, I have no bottom at all, so that is not something I want to show off.

This is a very soft flowing tie front shirt from Chico's, which means there is already less material in the front, so it looks neater. A shirt that is full length in the front sometimes feels too bulky above the belt, but this one works nicely. The ankle zip jeans are also from Chico's.

Interesting belts are great, but I only wear them low-slung over a long tunic, with a jacket, or with a half tucked shirt because I do not want to draw attention to my thick waistline.

I will not be embracing all the trends (such as wearing high heels with sweat pants), but when a trend comes along that serves me well, I will make it part of my look.

Many of you have asked me what I wear on days off or when Mr. Mickey and I are not attending some function. This is a typical day off look for me.

After I walk three miles in the morning, I come home, eat breakfast, shower and get dressed for the day.

I work mostly from the office in my home, so there are days when I really don't need to go out for anything. I get dressed and put on makeup even when I stay home alone. If I were married and my husband would be home later, you can bet I would be doing this every day. We owe it to ourselves and to the loves of our lives to look pretty every day. 

Looking my best helps me feel more confident and be more productive. You can hear it in my voice if you call me while I am still in my PJs. I cannot fathom being in my pajamas at noon, but I see women going out to get the mail (at the Post Office!) or to pick up the trash bin late in the afternoon, still in their bathrobes.

If you are guilty of wearing those paint-stained old yoga pants around the house all the time because they are so comfortable, throw them away today. Wear a clean pair of jeans and a nice shirt or something else from your closet that you are saving for good. Every day of your life is a good and special day. You are important, and you deserve to look pretty every day. 

With the launch of this post, I will reach one million views on the blog today. I am honored to have been welcomed into your world so many times. I hope that my words and outfit ideas have served as a positive example for you. That is always my goal.