Leaf Peeping in North Carolina

Finding a great pair of jeans with just the right amount of fading and a fit that lasts all day makes the search worthwhile!

I wore my new smooth-fit slim ankle jeans from J.Jill for the first time On Sunday. I paired them with a faux suede jacket from Chico's, an old long sleeve white tee, and a large square scarf.

Each fall, we look forward to a long ride into North Carolina's mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the changing of the leaves.

We stopped in Blowing Rock for lunch at the Six Pence Pub and then sat in the park with our scoop of ice cream from Kilwin's. (That is a requirement if you are visiting Blowing Rock!) On this Sunday, there was a live concert by the Watauga Community Band.

We were joined by at least a million other people who had the same idea on this beautiful fall day. That means parking was almost impossible! We had to resort to one of our secret spots off a side street.

Halfway through the day, and my new jeans are holding up to my fit-test really well! No sagging seat and constant pulling up of these jeans! 

After lunch, we continued our journey toward Grandfather Mountain and Linville.

Grandfather Mountain has its own weather. It can be covered in clouds when the rest of the area is enjoying clear blue skies.

The Linn Cove Viaduct was the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be completed. Breathtaking views can be enjoyed from every angle as you travel across this marvel of engineering.

Going for a walk in the woods in the fall has been a joy for me ever since childhood.

This scarecrow in Newland was made from lampshades! Mr. Mickey said to tell you he has never ever worn one of these on his head at a party. I don't believe him, do you?

At the end of a long day of traveling, the J.Jill jeans still fit the same as they did this morning!

You can tell from this photo that I just folded the square scarf into a triangle and then draped it across my shoulders. When I put the jacket on, it holds the scarf in place to not have to tie it at all.

A Celebration!

A dear friend's daughter passed the Bar exam on Friday! That evening we attended a small celebration in her honor.

I wore my black cold shoulder tunic from Chico's with their coated black jeans from last year. The necklace is also from Chico's.

The box clutch is old from T.J.Maxx. The sandals are by Bar III Annetta from Macy's.

Style tip: When wearing a long tunic or oversized jacket, the pants must be long and slim-fitting. The shoes should be the same color as the pants. If you combine cropped wider leg pants with a longer top and a different color of shoes, your legs will look very short.

There are some rules of proportion that you can not break. The outdated rule about not wearing white after Labor Day, you can safely break.

Port Corduroy Tunic

Believe me when I tell you port, merlot, wine, burgundy... any of these colors can be your new best friend.

The deep color reflects nicely against most skin tones and makes your face look rosy and healthy. The trick is to find the right tone.

It is the perfect neutral because it goes with almost every other color. (Except maybe red.)

I especially love this port corduroy tunic from J.Jill. It has structural details in the seams at the sides, and it buttons all the way down the front. I can also wear it as a light jacket with a long sleeve tee or a turtleneck when our weather is cooler.

Corduroy is a great texture to add with suede, and the port looks wonderful with animal print. Style tip: Turn up the cuffs and button only the three buttons in the middle to look more current.

Fringe sandals from Macy's by Steve Madden. Jeans from Chico's. Bag from Express.

J.Jill has long been one of my favorite sources for casual classics. These pieces last for years!

A Sister Day

My sweet sister and I recently spent the day together shopping and having a delicious lunch at 128 Pecan in Abingdon, Virginia.

I am wearing flat shoes!

That's my fabulous friend Karen. She is the owner of Foxglove Antiques Etc. in Abingdon. I always find something special there. When I saw those bronze and marble lidded urn cachepots from across the room, I said, "Come to momma!"

There are so many beautiful objects and quite a large selection of design books in the shop.

The garden statuary behind the shop is not to be missed!

Below is a picture of my living room with the new additions to the mantle. When I see something that speaks to me, there is no doubt in my mind when I buy it. Whether it is urns or a fabulous handbag, I know immediately that I want it. If I have to talk myself into something, I walk away. This ensures that I am always happy with the objects I choose to bring into my life. I don't buy anything now unless it takes my breath away.

On this casual sister day, I wore jeans and a silver-gray tank and an old necklace from Chico's with an off-white blazer from Express. The crocodile-embossed leather satchel via Saks Off 5th. The flat shoes are by Halogen via Nordstrom.

Dinner on Saturday

Last weekend we visited the more than 100-year-old Omni Grove Park Inn located in Asheville, North Carolina.

These photos were taken in the Palm Court atrium floor located above the Great Hall of the Inn. It was a very dark and rainy day, so finding enough light to take good photos was challenging.

We like to dress for dinner. Life is theater, and I always want to be dressed for my part!

Even though it appears from these photos that I am dressed in a sea of black, there is a lot of textural interest that isn't showing up.

I always add different textures when wearing a monotone look. Monotone means wearing one color from head to toe. It is a way of looking longer and leaner, but you will want to add interest to these looks. 

I am wearing a sequined black sweater with a low double-breasted blazer, both old from Saks Off 5th with sleek ankle length dressy slacks that are old from Chico's. 

The jacket and the shoes are by French Connection.

From this close up shot, you can see that there are several different textures and details in this combination. The bag was purchased earlier in the day at Cloth, the boutique on the Inn property.

This last photo was taken by one of the fireplaces in the Great Hall. These fireplaces are so large that a man can stand up in them. Notice the large logs in the cart behind me. It takes two men to load them onto the andirons, which were hand-forged in Asheville and weigh more than 500 pounds each.

The Grove Park Inn Getaway

We love to stay at a resort where you can valet the car and just stay on the property for two or three days. Last weekend we visited the more than 100-year-old Omni Grove Park Inn located in Asheville, North Carolina.

You can easily spend the whole day being spoiled in their fifty million dollar SPA.

There are several excellent restaurants as well as shops, and many historical exhibits throughout the property.

These photos were taken in the Palm Court atrium floor located over the Great Hall. Mr. Mickey was looking dapper as usual!

We spent the early part of the first evening in the great hall. It is great fun to watch people and listen to live entertainment while sipping our favorite beverages. Later in the evening, we heard the dueling pianos in Elaine's downstairs.

The Charles Jordan shoes from Saks Off 5th are my new favorites! The gray fringe sweater is old. The bag is from T.J.Maxx. The tank, pants, and necklace are old from Chico's.

A New Giveaway!

Some of my all-time favorite and most comfortable looks include Covered Perfectly tops. They are great for layering or to wear alone.

This month Covered Perfectly is giving away the top of your choice to one lucky Fifty, not Frumpy follower!

Violet Simple Comfort

Draped Front

Red Simple Comfort

Color Block Top

Simple V

White Simple Comfort

 Cascading Vest, worn as a scarf above and as a vest below.

The winner of the Covered Perfectly top of your choice is Patty Burton Kaad from Chicago. Congratulations Patty! Please send me a private message on Facebook or an email at Susan@FiftynotFrumpy.com to claim your gift.

This giveaway is sponsored by Covered Perfectly, which is a small woman-owned business. (Thank you, Pauline, for doing this for my followers!) Covered Perfectly designs, including the fabric, are made here in the USA!

Fifty, not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. Only one discount can be applied per order. There are several 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!

Time Away

My vacations are taken in small slices since starting my company in 2000.

We enjoyed a couple of days of rest at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, during this windy and rainy first weekend of October. The hurricane off the east coast brought strong winds and lots of rain, even in Asheville. That means the lighting was dismal for the whole weekend unless I wanted to stand in the rain for a photoshoot. Which I did a couple of times!

My color selections for this weekend included gray, black, and white. All of the pieces were mixed and matched, which made for very light packing.

The gray jeggings and silver-gray tank top are from Chico's. The faux leather jacket is from Stein Mart. The Calvin Klein bag is from T.J.Maxx. The boots are by Nine West via Saks Off 5th. The black and gray animal print scarf is so old I don't recall where I found it. Even if I show you pieces that may no longer be available because they are old, perhaps you can find something similar in a shop near you or online if you want to copy the look.

Later in the week, there will be more photos of our peaceful weekend away.

Tomorrow I'll be telling you about a new giveaway for one lucky Fifty, not Frumpy follower!

How To Cruise Without Gaining Weight

Mr. Mickey and I are off on another fun-filled weekend getaway, so I asked my friend, Donna Hull, to share more cruise/vacation tips with you today. 

(Note: her tips work for me every day!)

Don’t Gain Weight on Your Next Cruise.

On January 4, 2015, I boarded a cruise ship for the 64-day journey of a lifetime. After months of healthy eating and plenty of exercise, I stepped onto that ship looking and feeling good. At the end of the voyage, I stepped off a ship that served gourmet food and endless pours of wine and champagne; having gained less than 5 lbs, and I still looked and felt good. How did I do that? 

A big thumbs up as I arrive on Silver Spirit. I made my weight loss goal with exercise and healthy eating.
 Now to keep up those good habits on the cruise.

First of all, let me clarify—it’s not about the weight. The main focus should always be on your health. But being able to fit into clothes at the end of the cruise is definitely a bonus. And staying slim while having fun is a double bonus. My healthy cruise strategy allows for both, and I’m happy to share it with you.

Develop a plan of action

Celebrate your health by bringing the exercise habits and sensible eating you practice at home along on the cruise. Do not follow the thinking: “This is my vacation, so I can eat anything I want.” Splurging occasionally is fine; overindulging on a nightly basis is not.

Create an emergency plan of action. If you splurge one night—and you will—know which measures you’ll take the next day to offset that splurge. Don’t wait until the cruise is over!

Pack a tape measure to record measurements every three days. As soon as you notice creep up, double down on self-control, eating habits, and exercise.

Print out a list of positive affirmations that inspire you. Tuck them into your purse. When temptation strikes, read an affirmation from the list before giving in. One of my favorites: “I feel and look great when I’m eating healthy.”

A hiking excursion in Dunedin, New Zealand, is a great way to work off calories and have fun!

Stay active

• Vow to use the stairs for the entire cruise

• Locate the gym and use it

• Take a fitness class

• Practice a water aerobics routine in the pool or swim laps

• Walk the outdoor track

• Walk the outdoor track for 3 laps after each meal (or at least breakfast and lunch)

• Book the most active shore excursions available

• Dance the night away

• Wear a step-counting device. Don’t go to bed until you’ve reached 10,000 steps. Hint: dancing will really up the step count, so boogie down. 

Eat (and drink) smart.

Frequent the buffet for breakfast. You probably won’t find Susan’s power porridge, but there are enough fruit, nut, and grain selections to create a cold version. Many cruise lines also offer protein smoothies.

Revisit the buffet at lunch. You’ll find plenty of ingredients for salads or fill your plate with fruit and hard cheeses. On my cruise, I preferred the small desserts at lunch to the ones served at dinner. I enjoyed a couple of bites and then walked off the calories in the afternoon.

Turn down appetizers in the lounge in favor of a bowl of nuts. Bonus points if they’re unsalted.

Fill your stomach with lots of water before starting an evening of drinking and dining. And I substitute club soda, and cranberry or pomegranate juice served in a champagne flute for my first evening drink. It’s fizzy and looks pretty in the glass.

Think of dinner as an event. Focus on the ambiance, conversation, and dinner companions rather than the food.

Ask for small portions or a half plate at dinner. And skip the bread and starches.

Choose low sodium options whenever possible. My experience is that cruise lines over salt their foods.

Take advantage of the plentiful seafood offerings usually found on ships but ask for sauces to be placed on the side of the plate.

Savor your glass of wine and decline second pours.

Enjoy dessert but stop at 3 bites. Did you know that after 3 bites, your taste buds have been satisfied?

Substitute a decaf skinny latte—a green tea skinny latte is even better—for dessert or order from the low cal dessert menu. Yes, ships have them.

No drinking alcohol after dinner. Sip water instead.

Listen to your body. Suddenly switching from a lean, healthy diet too rich foods filled with fat and calories leads to health problems. Indigestion, heartburn, constipation, headaches, lethargy, and sleeplessness are signs of immediately getting back on the healthy eating train.

Swimming with stingrays in Moorea is my absolute favorite cruise excursion. I giggle every time they bump into me. It’s another fun way to stay active and work off calories.

Final tip: Once you let your guard down, it’s easy to overindulge. Concentrate on fun rather than food and drink, and you’ll return home a healthy cruiser. That’s how I did it. You can, too.

Donna L. Hull writes about active travel for baby boomers at My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel. This cruise lover has spent over 300 nights at sea.