For The Children

When you see the normally impeccably groomed Mr. Mickey sporting a fuller beard in the fall, you will know that he is preparing for one of his greatest roles.

Santa has arrived!

For a couple of hours, these precious children can feel safe in the arms of Santa as they share a laugh and tell him their secrets.

Taking a nap at the feet of Santa.

Our dear friend, Tony Seaton, started this project on his own several years ago because of his sincere love for children. It is now a labor of love for a small group of friends who contribute to buying a coat, shoes, an outfit for school, and a toy for each of these children.

There are tears, laughter, and full-on joy as the day unfolds. One little boy's family had just lost everything they own in a fire that destroyed their home this very morning.

"Here is a gift for you, Santa!"

I love to watch this man give his full undivided attention to the children as they come to sit on his lap and receive the gifts we have provided for them. He makes each child feel as if they are the most important person in the room.

The children's guardians or family members, if they have any, are treated to a full lunch and a day of celebration.

 

I feel so very blessed to be a part of this day and this man's life.

The jacket I am wearing is by Damee NYC from Shop My Fair Lady.

As evening approaches, Santa is also ready for a nap!

This extraordinary day begins early in the morning and continues well into the evening as Santa tries to visit all those near and dear to our hearts.

We ended this very long day at Gourmet and Company, where Santa gave a gift to every person working tonight in our favorite restaurant.

The best gift of all is love!

At My Warehouse

This is the busiest time of the year for my company. We are so grateful for all the designers and bead shops who buy their components from us.

A key member of my staff had to attend to a family emergency out of state this week, which left us very shorthanded. That means I needed to help fill orders in addition to all my other daily tasks. That's why you haven't heard much from me lately. There hasn't been a moment to spare.

 

Do you wear something special on busy days to cheer yourself along? I certainly do! The black jeans I am wearing are by French Dressing Jeans. The short black boots are by Franco Sarto via T.J.Maxx.

I also got these two fabulous bracelets from Jewels of the Vineyard this week. I love the modern look and comfortable fit of these bracelets. They never get in the way when I am working, and they don't make noise.

This is a tiny portion of the orders we packaged and shipped in one hour this week. All those priority boxes and much more will be out the door by the end of the day. My staff is really amazing!

I respect all of my employees so much. It is awe-inspiring to do the tedious work of pulling thousands of tiny items for orders every day and rarely making a mistake. Regina, my vice-president, has a mind like a computer! She sends thousands of packages to clients worldwide and yet remembers unique instructions from repeat clients. Amazingly that is just one small part of her responsibilities.

Q&A About Short Boots

Today's question: "I see young women wearing dresses with black short boots, and it looks so cute. Is that something I can wear after forty? My legs are not very long from the knee to the ankle, and I am only 5' 3" tall."

Dress by Karl Lagerfeld via Dillard's.

Wearing black ankle boots with a dress always makes the person appear shorter and wider. This trend is not very flattering for most women since it adds horizontal lines that visually shorten your body rather than lengthening it. Whereas if you wear shoes with a low-cut vamp that shows more of the leg and the top of the foot, it visually lengthens the leg.

Dress by Karl Lagerfeld via Dillard's.

The vamp is the portion of a shoe that cuts across the top of your foot at the front. A low vamp cuts across the toes' base, while a high vamp can come up the foot even up to the ankle. A heel height of only two inches lifts the body and makes clothes fall better, which gives a slimmer appearance.

Calvin Klein pumps.

If you want to make your legs look longer, seek out pumps or boots with slightly pointed toes and slender heels, as opposed to square-toes, chunky styles, or thick ankle straps, all of which can give the appearance of a shorter, stockier leg.

High Versus Low Contrast

Do you enjoy wearing black with pure white? Maybe that seems like way too much contrast for you.

Imagine a woman with high contrast in her own coloring, for example, a woman with pale porcelain skin and dark hair and eyes. She has a natural stark contrast within her own coloring, so she can easily carry off high contrast looks such as the combination of stark white with pure black.

Alternatively, the woman with soft gray hair, pale skin, and blue eyes might find various gray shades a better level of contrast for her color choices.

Each person will have their own set of color tones that are best for them. For example, your best red will be the same tone of red found on the inside of your bottom lip.

Look into the irises of your eyes. Do you see any gold there at all? If not, perhaps silver is your best metal color.

If you enjoy wearing black and white, your personal contrast level is likely high. If you are more comfortable in the gray and white combination, your personal contrast level is likely on the lower scale.

Learning what colors and intensity of colors work best for you is a large part of creating a successful wardrobe. There is no magic formula that works for everyone, and I don't claim to be a style expert, but I hope that what I share helps you think more about the details and identify what works best for you.

Eiffel Tower Graphic Top

I rarely wear prints, but I couldn't resist this Eiffel Tower graphic top. It's my way of saying, "I love you, Paris!"

This top is made from luxurious poly spandex knit that is very comfortable. There are subtly placed tiny rhinestones on the front. The design covers the front and the back. It has three-quarter length dolman sleeves, so I will be wearing it almost year-round.

I paired the top with a cashmere cardigan from J.Jill and slim-fitting dark wash jeans from Fabrizio Gianni. The boots are very old by Nine West. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th.

Since we were going to a casual brunch at the Grove Park Inn, this was the perfect look for our full day of leisure.

 

I couldn't resist asking this beautiful grandmother if I could take her picture. She wore the perfect look for a day with her family, admiring the gingerbread houses and Christmas trees on display throughout the resort.

Sitting in front of one of the Great Hall's fireplaces at the Omni Grove Park Inn is such a pleasure when the weather turns cold.

The holidays are now in full swing! There are decorations everywhere you look.

Many of you have written to ask how I can eat out so often and not gain weight. Yesterday, I loaded my first plate with every salad and grilled vegetable that was offered. The next plate was a tiny taste of each item I wanted to try. Baked mac and cheese is one of my favorite foods ever! I tasted all the things I love, but I didn't stuff myself with a whole plate full of decadence. I didn't even gain an ounce from our weekend splurge. (I also didn't eat anything later in the day after our wonderful afternoon brunch.)

I use mindful eating and discipline rather than being deprived of the things I enjoy as techniques to control my weight. A great coach once said, "Your attitude is always the most important part of the game of life."

White Jacket on Black Friday

Do you go shopping on Black Friday? Wild horses could not drag me to a store on this day! I am not a fan of crowds or shopping, so I stayed home, cleaned my house, and went for a walk because it was a warm sunny day in east Tennessee.

I did ride along with Mr. Mickey at the end of the day as he ran a few errands, such as going by the Mercedes dealership.

After completing my chores, I slipped into an average daily look for me. That is an old jacket from Express, the V-neck tee is from T.J. Maxx last year, worn with old boyfriend jeans from Chico's. The fringe suede shoes are by Steve Madden via Macy's. The bag is by Zac Posen via Saks Off 5th.

I do wear white pants, jackets, and blouses all year long on sunny days. That old no white after Labor Day rule has been laid to rest.

My hair looks a lot more controlled here because I used a new product by Moroccanoil. It smooths and conditions as it defines your curls. I haven't gotten used to using it yet. I forgot to fluff my hair after it dried, so this look is too controlled for me. I do like a bit more of a messy look. I will get the hang of it.

I will share my top ones with those who have asked me for tips on posing for photos. I don't always have these in my mind while we are shooting, but they make me look my best when I follow them.

1. Stand up straight and tall.

2. Don't shoot in the full sun. Move both the photographer and you to a shady spot. To avoid the fisheye effect, have the photographer stand a few feet away from you. Mr. Mickey was almost too close in the first photos, making my legs look shorter.

3. Turn your body away from the camera while you turn your face toward the camera and place your feet at different angles.

4. Lift your chin and smile an easy small relaxed smile. A big fake smile always looks like a big fake smile.

5. Look into the lens or slightly away from the camera.

6. Relax your hands and tilt your shoulders back slightly.

7. Practice looking confident and comfortable in front of the camera. It will always show in your pictures. Confidence is the greatest accessory!

Eat Smart Even on Thanksgiving!

After my last post a few days ago, there were lots more questions about food. Yesterday was the great American food and family celebration, so I am sharing my tips for successfully navigating this type of event. For some of us, this is the start of the overeating season.

I wore my slimmest fitting straight leg jeans from Loft with a white tank top by Peck and Peck via Stein Mart topped off with a luxurious faux suede shirt by IC Collection from ShopMyFairLady.

I have often said that tight jeans saved my life. When I wear yoga pants or other stretchy, comfortable slouchy pants day after day, it is easy to gain a few pounds without being mindful of it. Before you know it, you have ten or more extra pounds! I have a French friend who tells me she never weighs herself. "When my clothes start to feel tight, I eat less for a few days."

This was a casual family gathering, so I limited the accessories and makeup to a lighter daytime version with one ring and arm candy statement.  The bracelets have been collected during my travels. That's my favorite YSL lip gloss and an animal print clutch from Express. The boots are by French Connection via Saks Off 5th.

My sweet sister is an excellent cook, so she prepared a delicious meal for our family. We enjoyed a perfect day together, sharing memories, laughing, and talking.

As the sun was starting to go down on this bright, beautiful warm day, I snapped this photo of a deer eating in a meadow on a hill.

These are my own essential points to remember at these special meals, which will likely be happening a lot in the coming weeks. I never eat until I feel really full. When I know I will be sitting down to a special family meal later in the day, I eat a very light small breakfast. The servings' size can quickly become overwhelming, so I always serve myself only one spoon full of the items I want to enjoy. It all tastes the same, so why pile a lot of each item on your plate and then be miserable later? 

Throughout the year, my food choices include fresh organic and local vegetables and fruit available at my local grocery stores. I keep an open mind when I shop and just look for those items that look most appealing at the time.

My goal is to eat these foods every day.
a large bowl of dark leafy greens
steamed greens
in season steamed or baked vegetables
a cup of cooked dry beans (If you only have the canned version, rinse well before serving. They have a lot of salt in them!)
an ounce of raw seeds and nuts
at least three fresh fruits
peppers
onions
mushrooms
herbs
garlic


These items do nothing for our health. I eat them in minimal quantities on infrequent occasions, if ever. 
sugar

cheese

bread

crackers

butter

sauces

oils

gravy

desserts

salt

cream

salad dressing

pasta

rice

wheat

Some foods or ingredients can trigger headaches, body aches, and inflammation, and bloating. I avoid preservatives, processed foods, and meat because my body does not respond well to these items at all. Sodium tripolyphosphate, known as STPP, is one such trigger that will bring on a severe migraine for me that lasts for two days. It is toxic poison for some people, yet the United States Food and Drug Administration lists STPP as "generally recognized as safe." I do NOT trust them to make these choices for me. It is wise to determine which foods, additives, and preservatives cause you problems and eliminate them from your life.

My goal when I started this journey five years ago was not just to lose weight. I wanted to eliminate those migraines and the inflammation that was causing me so much pain I found it difficult to walk at times, much less wear high heels. An excellent side effect was that I lost more than forty pounds and gained a tremendous amount of self-confidence along with a robust, healthy immune system.

I enjoy sharing fashion tips with you, but it is much more important to me that I convey how vital it is that you take care of your body to enjoy your life. A friend of mine who is a heart specialist was discussing this a few nights ago. She said, "Many of my patients live their lives without taking care of themselves at all, and then when the heart starts to fail, they want me to fix it."

Q&A Plus 24 Hours With Me

A feature in Harper's Bazaar magazine that I always enjoy reading is "24 Hours With ______". (Fill in the blank with a famous fashion personality or actor.) There are certain questions I get asked all the time, so I thought answering them all here using that format might be fun.

Miss Elaine brush back satin pajamas from Belk are my all-time favorites!

My typical day starts at about 4:00 AM. That's when I naturally wake up. I rarely use an alarm. I make a cup of coffee and go back to bed, where I slowly sip the coffee and think about all the things in my life I am grateful for. Every day is Thanksgiving for me!

4:15 AM. I don't touch my phone or my computer until I have enjoyed the ritual above. Answering emails and resolving issues take about two hours every morning. I read the New York Times online and some of my favorite blogs, as well as scrolling through my Facebook feed.

7:00 AM. I fix breakfast and listen to NPR on the BOSE in the kitchen. After those first two cups of coffee, I switch to hot tea. I drink a lot of filtered water with lemon (no ice) during the day and normally with each meal. I also enjoy adding Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar and cinnamon to my water at least once each day. 

When the weather is nice, I will go for a long brisk walk around the neighborhood after breakfast. Otherwise, I am very active all day and work as much movement into my day as possible. Take the stairs many times a day. Park far away from the building and walk. Walk around that big box store several times at a good pace before you pick up what you came for.

8:00 AM. After cleaning up the kitchen, I make the bed and take a shower. My hair is naturally wavy, so I don't wash it every day, but I will rinse it and then comb it out with a pick or wide tooth comb and just let it air dry while I put on some makeup.

My makeup routine varies, but I always put on eyeliner. I use black liquid eyeliner at the moment. The liner goes into the base of my lashes and on the waterline underneath my top lashes since that upper waterline becomes more prominent as we age. I never put even mascara on the bottom lashes because any darkness there looks too harsh on me. 

I fill in my eyebrows with a gray brow sculpting pencil. I always do my eyes first because that saves me from correcting any flakes or smudges from eye makeup. I use a darker shadow color in the outside corners of my crease and blend well. Never use shimmer on the brow bone as we did in high school. That is really not a good look for us now!

I wear bright (not dark) red lipstick and lip pencil every day. The tone of red will be determined by the color of the top I wear. I line my lips and fill in the full lip with the pencil before applying the lip color with a brush. I blot the color well and apply a bit more in just the middle of my lips and blot again. Staining my lips rather than having color sliding around on them is my goal. If your lips are often chapped and dry, it is because you need to drink more water.

I always blend all the colors really well and use a light touch. I strongly suggest that you go to the makeup counter and ask for your foundation to be correctly matched to your skin tone in natural light. That is the only way I know of to get the right color.

9:00 AM. I get dressed for the day. What I wear depends upon the weather, my appointments, and my mood. I normally start each look with shoes and then build from there. I have been wearing high heels for most of my adult life, so I wear them almost every day. Getting dressed takes ten minutes tops. My hair is usually dehydrated by now, so I comb it out one last time and forget it for the rest of the day.

My day may include a photoshoot, business meeting, or other appointments, errands, or a visit to my warehouse to meet with my team of superwomen. I have the greatest staff ever! 

2:00 PM. I normally eat only two meals a day. I eat very nutritious foods that keep me from feeling hungry in a couple of hours. Lunch will include several types of dark leafy greens, beans, mushrooms, and any other in-season steamed or baked vegetables I have on hand. For dessert, I have one small taste of gourmet dark chocolate almost every day. I sit down to a properly set the table and nice music in the background while I take my time and thoroughly enjoy each meal. Think of food as fuel for your body, not entertainment for your mouth. A few years ago, I read the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman to learn more about nutrition. In the process of getting healthy and building my immune system, I lost more than forty pounds. I have kept it off for about five years with no dieting.

If we go out to dinner, I will order a salad or other vegetarian entree and a wine glass. Being with friends and enjoying getting dressed to go out is my focus. Not the food.

It is normal for me to work until 7:00 PM because, in addition to this blog, I own a company that I am still very much in control of. There may be orders to place, ad materials to write, new shipments to photograph, and website content that needs to be updated.

I start to unwind and relax after turning off the computer and plug my phone into the charger in the kitchen. There are always household chores that need to be done. I wash my face with a good cleanser every night without fail. My skin behaves best when I add moisturizer only in the morning. I do some stretches or balance exercises before dressing for bed. 

By 9:00 PM, I have settled into bed with something I want to read. I like to sleep in a cool dark room with no electronic gadgets or TVs.