After Work Gathering

On Thursday evening, some of our friends gathered for drinks at the Johnson City Country Club.

I wore black jeans, a three-quarter sleeve white tee, and a wide silver cuff from Chico's. The white jacket is from Express. The animal print shoes are from Nordstrom. The woven leather belt is by Michael Kors from T.J.Maxx. The necklace is one of my own designs.

My shoes are by Louise et Cie. An idea for a flat style is below.

Wear It Wednesday - Casual

The first thing an image consultant will ask you to do is make a graph showing your wardrobe needs for your lead's lifestyle.

I am often asked what I wear for casual days, but it is a rare day that isn't filled with appointments or social functions. 

Today I will share some casual looks and my thoughts on why they work well or maybe not so much.

On a recent Sunday, I did take the day off to rest and read. With nothing more on the agenda than going to pick up a pizza, I am barely even wearing any makeup.

If I wear capris or cropped pants, I wear a platform or wedge shoe. This style of pants is very unattractive on most people, and flip flops or other flat shoes will make the legs look really short and thick.

Do you believe that a long tunic covers everything?  Unless you have a tiny flat behind, this is a flawed theory. The back of the tunic actually shows the bottom you are trying to hide even more.

A much better option is a long jacket or waterfall cardigan with movement and an open front. The layers are much more flattering because your body is no longer cut into distinct blocks. The eye is moving over the whole look rather than focusing on the one thing you are trying to conceal.

If the jacket or top ends about two-thirds of the way down the bottom, it is much more flattering. The legs look longer, and the behind looks smaller.

An Evening of Wine & Roses

We attended the 2014 American Cancer Society Hope Gala last evening. An Evening of Wine & Roses.

While we were in downtown Johnson City, we took a short detour before the gala to visit The Lady of The Fountain.

The event was held at Orchard Place, the fabulous home of our friend, Valda Jones. 

Photo credits for images above and below: Kingsport Times-News

Our beautiful friends Valda Jones and Caroline Scharfstein chaired the 2014 American Cancer Society Hope Gala of the Tri-Cities, "An Evening of Wine and Roses," in Tim and Ben's memory.

It's always a treat for me to meet followers of Fifty, not Frumpy. This beautiful lady is Diane Hollifield Cupp.

The evening included live entertainment from "Kids Our Age" and a buffet dinner catered by Main Street Café & Catering.

One of the best things about attending fundraisers is getting to visit with friends we may not often see. We dined with our dear friends Natalie Bailey and Von Bailey.

I had dessert with sweet friend Lori Caudell Fatherree.

The outdoor fireplace is a lovely new addition to the property.

The pool is blue. However, the dim lighting makes it appear green.

Another fire feature on the property was this one by the pool. That's glass!

Mr. Mickey was the most dapper gent there!

A wine display at the entrance.

Birthday Weekend on Sunday

On Sunday, we wrapped up our stay at The Martha

and stopped for some photos on our way out of Abingdon.

The residences, churches, and storefronts along Main Street are fascinating.

I wore off white jeans with a chambray shirt and a white tank top for the trip home. All items are from Chico's. The Jessica Simpson shoes are from T.J. Maxx earlier this year.

Many of the buildings in Abingdon date back to the 1770s.

This serpentine brick wall was built using hand made bricks many years ago to give privacy to the home's backyard above.

Our journey's next leg included stopping at White's Mill, which long served the neighboring community. Since the late 18th century, the mill provided meal and flour for the farm and kitchen and a gathering place for sharing news and views.

The Mercantile, formerly the Cumbow Store, provided those store-bought essentials and extras that any home needs.

The contents were left as they were many years ago when the mill was still used.

The port o john is appropriately hidden in an outhouse.

This abandoned store along the way captured my attention from afar.

Before our wonderful brunch at The Harvest Table in Meadowview, we explored Emory, the home to Emory and Henry College.

Saturday Part Two

We celebrate any occasion with a get dressed up and go out to dinner date.

We visited Figaredo's Bistro for my birthday dinner, which is just down the street from the Martha. We ordered different seafood/pasta dishes and a salad. Both were excellent. We are already looking forward to our next visit!

  

These photos were taken at the Inn. The restaurant was bustling, and it's quite a small space. I didn't want to intrude on the other diner's experiences with our picture taking.

For our dinner date, I wore a black jacket and a white Portofino shirt from Express. The waxed denim jeggings are from Chico's.

The Calvin Klein belt and old Kenneth Cole Reaction clutch are from T.J.Maxx. The Nine West heels are several years old. The earrings are from Chico's, and the ring was a gift from Mr. Mickey a few years ago.

Mr. Mickey snapped this photo of a church steeple close to the bistro.