Busy Week!

I will be spending a lot of time ordering products and preparing my warehouse for the busy fall season this week. In my absence from the blog for a few days, friends will be sharing some exciting tips with you. Enjoy!

My blogger friend Ana Bogusky is helping me out with today's post.

In 2006, my husband and I and our two (now teenaged) children moved from Miami, Florida, to Boulder, Colorado, and our lives changed in many ways. 

We started becoming more aware of the environment, we started eating more carefully, we started caring about sustainability. So I began reading labels on food packaging and joined a CSA, and bought more local. As a natural progression, "Made in USA" products became important to me. Now I am reading labels on clothing, and so many pieces are made in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, etc. It turns out that only 2% of the clothing sold here is made here. In 1960, 95% of clothing sold in the United States was made in the United States. And it turns out that if consumers spent just an extra 1% on U.S. goods, it would create 200,000 American jobs. So I have decided to do my part and commit to wearing more "Made in the USA" outfits, and I post photos of them on my blog, Mrs. American Made.

Some days I just throw on something that I already know works. I am not a model. I am not a super-duper high-end fashionista. I am just a mom trying to look cute on an everyday basis. I feel like I am not easy to dress because I am petite at 5'3" and "curvy." Still, I have slowly accepted those facts and figured out some things about what to wear. I try to always remember the wise words of Stacy London, "dress the body you have." Then I get up and hunt in my closet for something that looks a bit better. A good fit is critical. Another of my style secrets is the outfit formula concept, and I do tend to stick to these formulas, so I thought I would share one with readers here:

1) Bottoms: a pair of jeans (or pants) I love 

+ 2) Top a cute well-fitting patterned top 

+ 3) a blazer or jacket that comes in at the waist

The bottoms can be comfortable, classic, and flattering. I often choose jeans, and there is a long list of denim produced in America at various price points. Some of my favorites include Citizens of Humanity, Paige Premium, Earnest Sewn, and Bullet Blue Jeans. Friends also swear by Not Your Daughter's Jeans (NYDJ) to look slimmer. Since denim is one of the things we do best here in America, all of my jeans are made domestically. Nothing like a good #madeinUSA pair of jeans! Best sure to check your tags. 

Then I choose a blazer that is appropriate for the weather. I have light summer jackets in brighter springier colors and warmer (often wool) jackets that layer well in the fall. This piece is crucial that it fits perfectly. It should button but not pull across the chest. And for me, I prefer a shape that nips in at the waist. Some of my personal favorite classic and well-cut versions can be found by Theory, Rag & Bone, Nanette Lepore, and others.

Then comes the fun part - the top can be almost anything you like that adds interest and coordinates with the other two pieces. I love a floral print, so I am often attracted to those in many colors, but blues and pinks in particular. Like animal print? Go for it. Like geometric patterns? Buy 'em. This is the piece that makes the outfit yours and shows your personality and taste. Sometimes, I go to Nordstrom.com and search #madeinUSA and narrow my search to tops to see what is available, but there are myriad options.

Then you can finish off the outfit with some accessories. I often choose a scarf in the fall or an interesting necklace, but sometimes just the right pop of color with a bag is all you need. A great way to find locally made accessories is to visit craft fairs and handmade markets. There are beautiful jewelry and leather and handcrafted items, and buying those is not only fun, but it supports our local artists and craftsmen. 

So when readers ask for advice, this is what I recommend. Use this formula and make some combinations. Try them out and make some more. And once you make a few combinations that look great, don't be afraid to repeat them. Or in the words of last week's contributor, Donna, "It's okay to wear the same outfit more than once. No one, except you, is going to notice."

Thank you so much for being a guest today, Anna! You can visit her blog, MrsAmericanMade, for more outfit ideas.

Some of my own favorite made in America brands are Covered Perfectly, Fabrizio Gianni, Clara Sunwoo, and I.C. Collection, to name a few. What are yours? Include them in the comments below.

Saturday Adventure

It was the perfect day for taking a long drive into the beautiful mountains of Virginia to visit with dear friends who moved there a couple of years ago.

Our weather is a bit cooler now, so I am wearing jeans, a tank, and a necklace from Chico's with a white denim jacket from J.Jill. The bag is from Finley House Couture in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The sandals are by Rampage via Belk.

I was glad I wore the jacket. It served me well on the long drive through the country in a convertible.

I was so happy to see my sweet friend Vicky. We are pictured in her fabulous new store called Missing Pieces, located in Damascus, Virginia. I had so much fun shopping there! She had some beautiful antique pieces and unique treasures from all around the world.

Vicky and her husband have been lovingly restoring this fabulous one-hundred-year-old home by the river for a couple of years.

This is the screened-in porch entered from their elegantly appointed kitchen. The view is of a large wooded island in the middle of a river. Vicky has done such a great job decorating their beautiful home.

We did, indeed, feel welcome!

This is the seating area, including a fire pit and a grill out by the river. That island makes the perfect neighbor!

The fountain is original from the early 1900s!

I can't wait to sit by a crackling fire while listening to the river rushing by.

To my utter delight, these wild baby ducks and their mom came running to me because they knew I had crackers in my hand.

When they finished eating their cracker crumbs, they sat down at my feet!

If you would love to spend a weekend in a beautiful town that is almost as it was a hundred years ago, I highly recommend Damascus, Virginia. 

Several hiking trails pass right through the town, including the famous Appalachian Trail. A unique biking experience can be had on the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is also located here. For these reasons, this is known as a Trail Town. 

Many quaint Bed & Breakfasts are found here. There are also several lovely places to eat and shop. It is located just a few minutes from Abingdon, Virginia, which is also one of our favorite towns to visit.

The Monkee's Ribbon Cutting

It was such a delight to be part of this special evening! The ribbon-cutting and VIP party was held at the new Monkee's in Johnson City last evening. The store will be opening for business tomorrow, August 15th.

My beautiful friend Krista is the owner. She is cutting the ribbon surrounded by her family and staff above and hugging her mother below. 

This fabulous boutique includes shoes, clothing, and jewelry. Since only a few pieces of each item will be offered, there will always be a new arrival.

It was great to see so many of my sweet friends! We are all excited to have this beautiful new store to shop in. The merchandise has been carefully chosen to include modern looks for women of all ages.

A college friend drove all the way up from Atlanta to surprise Krista and her sister!

We had so much fun getting to be some of the first customers!

My dress, which is actually a skirt and top, is from My Fair Lady in Tarzana, California.  Women stopped me on the sidewalk today to ask me where I got it.

Mr. Mickey was also there to help us celebrate this special event.

Q&A How do I pack for a cruise?

Do you enjoy cruising? My guest on the blog today is an expert on the subject. Donna Hull has generously agreed to help me with this subject since I haven't been on vacation for more than two or three days in about seventeen years. 

Donna takes over the post from here.

My husband and I have almost 300 nights at sea on small ship luxury cruises. While exploring the world is a big part of the fun, so is dressing up, especially for dinner, which I appreciate since we live in rural Montana where going out to dinner means putting on a fresh pair of jeans and fancy cowgirl boots.

But packing for a cruise can be a challenge, especially in today’s travel environment. So how do I adhere to luggage weight restrictions, pack what I need and still look good? Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite tips with you.

Determine the dress code

Will your cruise have any formal nights, or is the dress code “elegant casual” for the entire voyage? When I first started cruising, the dress code was usually a couple of formal nights, with the rest of the voyage divided between informal (think cocktail attire) and elegantly casual. Men wore tuxedos or dinner jackets for formal nights, coat and tie on informal nights, and collared shirts with a sports coat for the rest of the evenings.


But with today’s casual lifestyle (and those pesky airline luggage restrictions), many cruise lines are totally casual. My husband and I prefer a cruise with formal nights, but even on the lines we sail, informal is mostly dropped from the dress code. 

Since knowing the dress code is the first step in packing, how do you find out? You’ll probably receive the information when cruise documents arrive about 3 weeks before the trip. But that’s not soon enough for our purposes so ask your travel agent. Most cruise lines also publish dress codes on their websites.

Boomer travel tip: The Cruise Critic forums are a good place to ask questions of current cruisers. 

Prepare ahead

Once I know the number of formal nights, informal nights (if there are any), and casual nights, I search my closet for what to bring and make a note of any new items to purchase. Here’s my process:

Try every item to make sure it still fits and looks stylish (which includes any special undergarments that might be needed).  My husband and I make an event out of this. It’s his personal fashion show, which adds to our trip anticipation.






Make a list of each outfit. I organize mine according to the number of formal, informal, elegant casual nights (and don’t forget daytime wear for port days or around the ship). I bring this master list with me on the cruise to make dressing super easy. All I have to do is look at the list, pick out an outfit for that night’s dress code, and I’m good to go.

Wear every item at least twice, or it goes back into the closet—this is where my list comes in handy. For instance, I may wear the same pair of Chico’s black traveler pants for 7 or 8 outfits (including formal), and none of them will be the repeat of the same look. And don’t forget that accessories can easily change an outfit from casual to dressy.





Boomer travel tip: It’s okay to wear the same outfit more than once. No one, except you, is going to notice.

Limit the shoes

Shoes take up the most room in luggage, limiting how many pairs you bring (sorry, Susan). I use the same approach as I do with clothes. The shoes I pack must go with many outfits. Nude or pewter-colored shoes are good choices as they work with almost any item in your wardrobe. And I always bring a sparkly pair of dress shoes for formal nights. 

Boomer travel tip: Wear tennis or walking shoes on the plane. No, they aren’t chic, but wearing them saves room in your luggage for that fun pair of shoes that you can’t resist bringing along. Plus, who wants to walk through TSA sockless? Eww, the germs.

But my biggest tip of all is to pack clothes that make you feel good about yourself. Wearing a great attitude is part of looking good, too.

Donna L. Hull writes about active travel for baby boomers at My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel. She’s currently offering her personal summer cruise packing list to new subscribers.

Circle of Red

Do you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women?

It is an honor to be in the Tri-Cities Circle of Red 2016. I am pictured below with some of the fabulous women I will be serving with during the coming year. Our mission is to educate and advocate for heart disease prevention.

Knowledge is power, and when you have all of the facts, you can become an activist, advocate, and educator to spread the word and inspire others to make heart health a priority. 

Two of my dear women friends have had heart attacks recently. Neither of them knew they had a problem. Please visit the Go Red For Women website to learn more about living a more healthy lifestyle.

As many of you know, I was not so healthy five years ago. I had several health issues but could reverse them all with a change of diet and increased exercise. Some of you also know that I was homeless about twenty years ago. I started over with almost nothing and worked my way out of that situation to become a homeowner and a successful business owner. I mention these things to inspire you to take care of yourself and believe in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to. 

When you arrive at your goals, I also believe that it is essential to reach back to lift up those who are still struggling. That is why I write this blog and participate in so many philanthropic organizations in my community. I want to use my voice and do my part to help others' lives better and happier.

The clothing and jewelry I wore to this meeting are all from Chico's. The shoes are from Macy's, which is also a great supporter of Go Red For Women.

The Cold Shoulder

The cold shoulder once meant ignoring someone. If you wear these cold shoulder tops from Covered Perfectly, you will not be ignored!

I feel uncomfortable wearing just a tank top in warm weather. The solution for me has been to wear these tops on hot days. They are as cool as a tank top without showing the whole arm.

This cold shoulder top in violet is from Covered Perfectly.

Below is the animal print version as I wore it last year. It is the perfect look for fall days when the temperature is still high.

Fifty not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items for a limited time! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are several great styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special!

Saturday Fun

As we often do on Saturdays in the summer, we drove over to Asheville to spend the day. 

I wore a light blue sequined front top and a long silver necklace, both from Chico's earlier this year. Those are my favorite white pants from Fabrizio Gianni. The sandals are by Rampage via Belk. The bag is by Cole Haan via T.J. Maxx.

We had fun window shopping and people watching at the Grove Arcade. Later in the day, we visited a museum exhibit and a couple of art galleries.

The dog watching is always fun too. This boxer was prancing around wearing sunglasses as if that were perfectly normal.

This flower garden on the street is always so lush and pretty!

We highly recommend the bread pudding at Chestnut!

Look who we ran into in Pack Square! My beautiful high school friend Susan and her handsome French husband C.A. were also in town for the day.

We took the long way home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, where we saw a black bear foraging for food near the roadway as well as this amazing sunset over the mountains.