Friday, July 31, 2015

Keep Learning!

Have you heard the saying, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”?




In high school, I convinced myself that I had to make my hair as straight as possible or else keep it very short to not look like a wild woman. So all these many years later, I was still clinging to the belief that I needed to make my hair straight.




Recently I decided to let nature take its course because our weather has been so humid it was a losing battle. The result has been that every person who knows me tells me, "Your hair looks so much better like that!" So I have surrendered my blow dryer and flat iron.



Today I am wearing a cool, comfortable casual crinkle cloth tunic from J.Jill. The perfect summer bracelet is also from J.Jill. They have some really great accessories as well as clothes! I have owned many pieces from J.Jill over the years, and I am always pleased with their well made classic styles.



Yesterday I found these Rampage sandals on the sale table at Belk. They are perfect to wear with these white jeans, which are old from Kut from the Kloth.






I often get the question, "What do you wear every day?" This is my favorite look for ease and comfort during summer. In cooler weather, I will wear this tunic with a white tank and faded jeans.



Along with my natural curls, you will also see me in brighter lipstick in the future. Being flexible enough to try something different can be so liberating! Have you changed your thinking about some long-held personal style policy recently?



Thursday, July 30, 2015

Alone Part II

In June, I published a post about enjoying life and going out there and doing whatever you wish, even if you are alone. 


I joined friends for a drink after work yesterday wearing white jeans from Chico's with a navy Portofino shirt from Express.






The Cole Haan bag is from T.J.Maxx. The fringe sandals are by Steve Madden, and they are from Macy's.


This week I received a wonderful email from a reader named Karen. It is full of more great tips I wanted to share with those who are often alone. 

Karen writes, I never married, by choice, so I've spent my entire adult life largely alone, mostly without any regrets. (I will confess to becoming weary, over the last several years, of attending some events and making long drives solo. But if I were newly alone, I'd probably find these refreshing.) I do many of the things you suggested in your post -- the breakfast out is a good one, although I actually prefer an old-fashioned diner if I can find one -- but here are a few more ideas for your readers:

It has to be the right kind of place, but I prefer to eat lunch or dinner at the bar vs. a table when I dine alone. A practiced/friendly bartender will chat with you if not too busy, other people at the bar will often chat with you as well, and you don't have that "everyone is looking at me" feeling that a big, open room creates.

While traveling, if you would like to go out for a drink but don't want to feel like a middle-aged barfly, seek out small "back bars" in upscale or small, out-of-the-way restaurants. When the bar isn't the main attraction, the vibe is low-key and relaxed. The other patrons are likely just waiting for a table, so you don't feel like you're waiting for a pickup.

Attend outdoor festivals and talk to the vendors. My favorites are arts festivals, where the artisans are often making their creations right there and are happy to talk about their work. (You can learn amazing things!) I also like antique fairs and flea markets. Farmers' markets, too, are great places to find wonderful food and talk to the fascinating people who grow and produce it.

Do dress the part -- a stylish hat, dark sunglasses, artisan jewelry are all good -- so you feel less like a "woman alone" and more like a "woman of mystery." 

Find a group working for a cause or interest you care about and volunteer. I've made new friends, gained free admission by volunteering for film and music festivals, and found great reward for working in soup kitchens and with animals in need.

Speaking of animals, if you don't already have one, adopt a loving animal companion. Dogs, of course, allow you to get out and even mix with others at the dog park, but cats can be devoted companions who make your at-home hours a genuine, tactile pleasure. (I'm a cat person myself.) If you adopt vs. buy from a breeder, you also do a very kind thing on behalf of animals who will otherwise be euthanized.

Consider activities that really might better alone. For instance, I walk along a scenic trail by a river almost daily, and I relish the sounds of the water lapping, birds singing, cicadas humming, and farm roosters crowing. 




If you don't already, learn to love to read. Not only is reading an immersion in other worlds and lives (and necessarily solitary), but libraries are also lovely places where a companion is only a hindrance.

Take a class to learn about something that intrigues you. Learn to make jewelry or soap, speak Italian or French, take amazing photographs, or start a new business. You can attend a class through local community centers or college adult learning programs or enroll in an online course.

One of the things I always refused to do alone until recently went to the movies because I just HAD to discuss the film at length afterward. Now I go alone, and when I come home, I go to online review sites where plenty of folks are commenting and discussing, and I can join in.

If you try something alone and have a bad experience -- you just don't feel comfortable at all -- try again at another time. Sometimes it's not that you were alone, but other factors were in play (timing, other people's moods) that detracted from your adventure. I try to give a place 3 strikes unless I'm overwhelmingly repelled.


Thank you so much for offering your experiences to help others get over the hesitation to go out and do things alone, Karen. I appreciate all of you who have offered to help out with future blog posts. More to follow! I love it when we join together to help and inspire each other. I believe we have one of the best communities on the net!

Another reader made this great suggestion as an option for single folks to join in activities and meet other people. Meet-up groups are in every city in the world. It started in NYC right after 911, with all the people who lived there alone were frightened to get out and be around others. They have every interest group from A-Z. Dining groups, wine groups, adventure groups, sports groups, book club groups, movie groups, political groups, hobby groups, spiritual groups, knitting groups, music groups, exercise groups, and singles groups. You name it, you'll find it. Just go to www.meetup.com and pick your city to find the offerings. You can even attend a group event in a different city or country you're planning on visiting.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Summer Goodness Recipes!

Diane K. Smith's health improved a great deal when she started eating a plant-based diet a few years ago. She and I both lost weight when we changed to a plant-based diet, but our main goal was to enjoy better health. 

Diane has created a very informative website where she shares her easy to prepare delicious dishes. Today she has graciously allowed me to share a couple of her fabulous vegetarian recipes with you.
  


Serves 4
Ingredients:
Salad
2 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed and well-drained
1 cup chopped tomato or cherry tomatoes
1 cup chopped peeled jicama
1 cup fresh corn kernels, uncooked (or frozen or canned)
3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
A whole ripe avocado diced.
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4-5 corn tortillas

Dressing:
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 Tbl. honey
2 Tbl. finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1 tsp chopped jalapeño pepper (optional

Stack 2-3 corn tortillas on a cutting board and cut in half. Then cut into about 1/3" strips. Place the strips on a microwavable plate. Sprinkle or spray with water or apple cider vinegar and lightly salt—microwave for about 2 minutes. Check for crispness, keeping in mind that the tortilla strips will get crunchier as they cool. Add more time if they aren't crispy enough. **

2. Toss all the salad ingredients except the avocado and tortilla strips in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. 
4. Pour dressing over salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss. 
5. Top individual servings with avocado and crispy tortilla strips. 

*NOTE: You can also try microwaving them. It works really well! Just put your cut tortillas on a microwavable dish and let them cook for 3 minutes or so. The more tortillas are on the plate, the longer the cooking. Keep testing them for doneness. 

@plantbasedcooking.com

Link: http://www.plantbasedcooking.com/complete-recipes/mexican-chopped-salad-with-lime-cilantro-dressing

Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 package whole grain or gluten-free penne pasta
1 package fresh green beans stem removed and cut into thirds
1 carton cherry tomatoes halved
2 cups packed baby spinach leaves
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1 handful fresh mint
2 tsp white or red miso
2 cloves garlic, rough chopped
1 shallot, rough chopped
1/4-1/2 cup vegetable stock
1/3 cup toasted almonds
Cashew Topping: (optional)
3/4 cup cashews
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp salt

1. Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling and add pasta. Cook according to directions on the package, drain, and reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
2. Steam the green beans until crisp-tender. Add them to a large bowl along with the halved tomatoes.
3. In the meantime, make the pesto by adding the vegetable stock to the bowl of a food processor along with the spinach, mint, miso, garlic, shallot, and toasted almonds—salt and pepper to taste. Process until combined, scraping the sides as needed. Add more vegetable stock if it’s too thick.
4. Add pasta and the pesto to the bowl with the green beans and tomatoes along with enough pasta water to loosen the sauce to the consistency you like. 
5. If topping with cashew crumble, put cashews, nutritional yeast, and salt into a small food processor and pulse until finely chopped and crumbly. Don't over-process, or you'll have cashew butter.

@plantbasedcooking.com

Link: http://www.plantbasedcooking.com/complete-recipes/pasta-with-spinach-pesto-green-beans-tomatoes


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Serves 4
Ingredients:
·         1 package corn tortillas
·         1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained
·         1/2 cup diced red onion
·         1/2 cup diced cilantro
·         1 avocado, peeled and chopped
·         1 mango, peeled and chopped
·         Juice of 1 lime or lemon
·         1 jalapeño, seeded and diced (if you like it hotter, leave in some of the seeds)
·         Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:
1.      To make the tortilla chips:
2.      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Stack about 4 tortillas when on your cutting board and cut in half and then each half into thirds. Place the chips on a baking sheet. If you'd like to add salt, first mist them with a spray bottle filled with water and then add the salt. Sometimes the chips are a little moist, and you can salt them without misting. *(For an easy microwavable option, see below.)
3.      Place in the oven for about 7-10 minutes or until they are pretty crispy and starting to turn golden. 
4.      For the salsa:
5.      Place black beans, red onion, cilantro, mango, avocado, jalapeño, and juice into a large bowl
6.      Salt & pepper to taste. 
7.      If it needs more zing, add more lime (or lemon) juice.

*NOTE: You can also try microwaving them. It works really well! Just put your cut tortillas on a microwavable dish and let them cook for 3 minutes or so. The more tortillas are on the plate, the longer the cooking. Keep testing them for doneness.

@plantbasedcooking.com


Link: http://www.plantbasedcooking.com/complete-recipes/black-bean-mango-salsa

Diane K. Smith is the editor of  PlantBasedCooking.com.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Coral Red with White

On Saturday, we drove over to Asheville to do some shopping and have lunch. 




I wore white ankle jeans and a white tank along with a coral red casual jacket, all from Chico's.



The shoes are by Kenneth Cole from Dillard's. The bag is by BCBG from T.J.Maxx.




I bought the necklace at Chico's a couple of years ago. The main coral red bead in the necklace matched the color of the jacket exactly. I love it when that happens! Great planning, Chico's!


Lunch at the Bistro at Antler Village at the Biltmore Estate was great as usual.





We drove the little blue convertible this weekend and rode with the top down most of the day until a threat of rain came rolling down the mountainside.




We stopped at one of the first Ranger Sation/public rest stops they ever built on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were literally on the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere, North Carolina, just before a huge rainstorm came. I was approached by this beautiful lady named Amanda, who said, "I follow your blog!" That made my week! I love it when I get to meet those of you who enjoy what I share. Thank you for coming up to say hi, Amanda!



Here comes the storm! Time to put the top up and nap for most of the way home. Thanks for driving safely, Mr. Mickey.


Monday, July 27, 2015

Predictable?

Never let it be said that my look is predictable.




You don't often see me in a dress, but today I am showing you a versatile one. It can take you through three seasons and can be worn in a variety of ways.





We had high humidity and heat on Sunday, so I surrendered and let my hair air dry on its own without the aid of a blow dryer and large round brush. I also wore an easy-breezy soft, lightweight chambray dress from Foxcroft.





I will wear this comfortable and cool dress with sandals and minimal jewelry in the hot summer months.





When the temperatures drop, I will layer the dress with a slim-fitting black tank, leggings, boots, and a low slung belt for a bit of spice. These leggings are actually Calvin Klein yoga style pants for workouts. They have three little gold buttons at the back. I appreciate clothing that can serve more than one purpose.



I wear two sizes larger on the top half of my body, so when I buy a dress to fit my shoulders and bust, the rest of the dress is quite billowy. This is the main reason you often see me wearing a tank, pants, and jacket or cardigan combo.




I have several favorite pieces from Foxcroft that have served me well for several years. This dress will be part of my wardrobe for a long while, not only because of the high quality but also because of the classic, versatile style.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Summer Staple

Great fitting white pants could take me through the whole summer.
 

I look for a smooth flat front or no waistband and versatile straight legs made from a fabric that can be dressed up for the evening.



Success! These Audrey Stretch Pants from Fabrizio Gianni fulfilled all my needs.





There is a side zipper, so there is no bulky closure in the front to show under silky tops such as this black layered one (old from Chico's).



The bag is old from T.J.Maxx. The necklace was a gift from Mr. Mickey. The shoes are by Steve Madden.





These pants are made in the USA from 96% cotton, so they are very lightweight and cool. They are also on sale right now at Fabrizio Gianni.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Bring on Your Badass with Style!

This is my first in a series of collaborations with experts in many fields to bring you content that will hopefully expand our minds and enrich our lives.

Have you noticed that you suddenly get a little strut in your walk when you put on certain items from your closet? 

I recently finished doing a Seven Day Challenge with a group of wonderful women. The challenge was called Baby Boomer Woman-Now is Your Time to Fire Up Your Life, and it was so exciting to watch these women start to do things that they had previously shied away from and to feel more powerful.

Life Coach Marianne Cherico orchestrated the challenge, so I asked her if we could share some of that information with you.

Here is the part that each of us found to be most fascinating.

One of our favorite challenges for women was called “Bring on Your Badass.” Marianne began by explaining the definition of a badass, so I will let her take over the blog post from here.


Marianne, in her Badass Look
"A badass is a really cool, confident woman who knows who she is and doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone.

She is not about ego; she shows up in the world authentically without making excuses for who she is.

A badass is cool and sexy and comfortable in her own skin. She does what she wants. She is not worried about whom she does or doesn’t impress, and she is uninfluenced by fads.

A badass wear what pleases her, and she does this with inner confidence. She rocks it!

She also spends her time how she wants, eats what she wants, listens to music she likes, and indulges in things that bring her joy.

The challenge was for each of these women was to post a picture of themselves wearing or doing something that made them feel badass. 

I coach women to feel empowered, so this is one of my tools to tease that innate power out of them, to show them how what they wear might affect the way they feel about themselves.

It was so exciting to see these women come out of their shells. Doing this challenge and being encouraged by myself and the other women in the group gave them permission to put on their sassy pants and go for it.

I found it most interesting that they all tried something that was a stretch for them and may have seemed small by others' standards, but it was huge.

The main thing was that in their inner game, they felt BA.

One woman posted a picture of herself in skinny jeans and a jean jacket.  Her badassery may have gone unnoticed by others, but to her, she was rocking it from the inside out." 


Christine is rocking her look.



“I don’t think anyone would call me a badass. I chose this outfit for my photo op because I feel young and confident when I wear my skinny jeans and a jean jacket. Maybe even a little sassy.” 




"And there was Leah, a woman after my own heart because I also feel badass in animal print," Leah said,

Leah in her animal print.
"I love cowboy hats. Mix with a little Leopard, and you got it going on! My friend added the cats." 

"Another fabulous woman donned a biker chick outfit. She said, “This is my bad-ass look. Biker chick. I told my husband it is amazing the swagger that develops when you put on black leather.”

"And last but not least, here is the fabulous Susan Street, our sweet Southern girl, rocking her BA outfit." Susan says, "It was probably my most badass outfit to date. I felt confident, healthy, bold, and brave. Just a few years ago, I was almost fifty pounds overweight and could barely walk a block in tennis shoes, much less walk a mile in four-inch heeled booties. Life is better at 58 than it was at 38. Way better!"

Susan in leggings, leather, and boots.


"The point of this exercise is that we all have some badass in us. Tapping into this part of yourself helps you show up authentically and from a place of innate power.

It helps you take on the world with an inner swagger.

So next time you are feeling small or want to start playing a bigger game in your life, think about how can you bring on your badassery?"


Thank you, Marianne, for contributing to this project and allowing me to share part of your challenge with my readers. I hope it gives them something to think about the next time they need a little boost.




Marianne Cherico helps Baby Boomer women create a life filled with joy, passion, and purpose so that they can create a Smokin’ Hot Second Half. She is proud to be a member of this generation of women who changed the world for women, presenting future generations with limitless opportunities to thrive and grow into meaningful and authentic lives. 

Marianne's sincerest pleasure is to help these women find their purpose, work through limiting and self-sabotaging beliefs, and step into their own brand of magnificence. You can get a taste of Marianne’s teaching by downloading her free report “How to Plan for a Smokin’ Hot Second Half” on her website here.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Taste Of The Town

Last evening we attended the Taste Of The Town event to raise money for the Johnson City public art installments.


Throughout downtown, there are parks and benches, and art installments for the enjoyment of everyone.



Above is "Genisis," and below is "He Stopped and Turned to the Light," just two of the many rotating art installments here in Johnson City, Tennessee.



The event was well attended!


There was live music and a variety of dishes to try from downtown restaurants.



I was so happy to catch up with some of my sweet friends! Lynda, Sally, and Pam are shown me below. 



Can you believe Sally is 80? She always looks so elegant!




Lynda is mine across the street, neighbor. She makes us laugh so much! She may be only four feet eleven inches tall, but her personality is seven feet tall!







I wore more pieces from My Fair Lady, where they have just received lots of new styles. This open shoulder top is by Clara Sunwoo. They are so comfortable and sassy.

The pants are by Mesmerize. I love the fact that they are dressier, and they have a smooth waistband and zipper closure with no loops or buttons to show under smooth tops.

Both these pieces are made in the USA and offered by the shop My Fair Lady, located in "The Alley In The Valley" 6000 Reseda Blvd. in Tarzana, California. 

My shoes are by Nine West Style. The bag is from Stein Mart. The necklace is from Chico's.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Electric Blue!

Do you take the day off from your regular routine and spend it with those you love, doing nothing special?


I am wearing a cool, comfortable pair of electric blue pants by Fabrizio Gianni. These pants are so soft and lightweight! They are made in the USA, and they keep their shape all day, even in warm weather.









I spent this beautiful day with my sister and two of our beloved cousins enjoying gardens, cottages, lunch, shopping, and ice cream in the park. We talked and laughed for the whole day. It's a therapy that truly soothes the soul to be with those you are most comfortable and happy with.




Since we would be walking for much of the day, I wore flat comfy sandals by Aerosoles and a tank top with a mesh sleeve lightweight Chico's jacket, which are all old.




With me are my life-long best friends and first playmates. My sister, Glenda, is wearing the black top and to my left are Donna and Sherry. I am sorry that more of my sweet cousins could not join us for this beautiful day in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.