Thanksgiving Tablescape in Creamy White

A Simple White Thanksgiving Table

Allow me to join in with the numerous Thanksgiving tablescapes you are most likely seeing on the blogs right now. My tablescape is simple and incorporates shades of white throughout. I'm pleased with the look. 

I have fallen in love with the creamy white pumpkins available now. You saw some of these on display on the foyer table and I relocated them to the dining table with a few extra for good measure. They are sitting pretty on a gold Fall charger and a Thankgsiving placemat. You can't see the words on the placemat, but here is what it looks like: 

                                           Cute isn't it? 

I found these napkins at Tuesday Morning and I feel the words express my Thanksgiving sentiment quite well!

I'm enjoying my thrifted tea cups by Studio Nova. They are the Yao62 design and feature fruits, vegetables and green leaves in the design. Perfect for a Thanksgiving table!

A tablescape in creamy white is perfect for Thanksgiving and doesn't compete with all of the yummy foods that will fill those plates. Would you create a white tablescape? What are your Thanksgiving plans? Hope you will take a moment to share. I love hearing from you. I count my readers among my blessings and I am so thankful for each one of you!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

How To Wear A Monochromatic Tan Outfit

Styling A Monochromatic Tan Outfit

I enjoy wearing a monochromatic look from time to time and decided to style my tan stretch pants and tan tunic top with two different shoe styles for you. 

I've owned this set for over a year and wear the pants much more than the tunic. I do like the look together, however. Both shoe styles work well with this outfit. The Skecher ankle boots are so warm and comfy and my new leopard slippers also work well. Both shoe styles add an extra layer of comfort to the already comfy and casual style of this pants ensemble. I introduced the leopard slippers to you recently when I styled them with my leopard print jacket.

I kept jewelry to a minimum, dressing up the outfit a bit with this double tiered gold necklace. I think gold jewelry is perfect with tan. 

I've talked about these Skecher boots before on the blog. To say I like these boots is an understatement! I own them in three different colors and wear them all throughout winter. Check the link out here. 

I find monochromatic colors to be somewhat slimming which is a nice plus for this outfit. I tend to prefer gray or black but tan works well, also. Both pieces are Basic Editions brand available at Kmart. I notice that they call the color khaki rather than tan. I couldn't find the exact top to link but here are several choices to look at that are pretty. I like how this style tunic has a longer back for derriere coverage. 

Do you like monochromatic styling? Which color is your favorite in monochromatic? Hope you will take a moment to share. Hope you are having a great start to your week!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Weekend Inspiration: Bathed In Prayer by Jan Karon

Bathed In Prayer

I had the great privilege, once again, of spending an evening with Jan Karon recently. You may recall that she is the noted author of the popular "Mitford" and "Father Tim" series. This was the second time in two years that I have been able to meet her in person, this time at a local church here in Asheville. Just like the first time I met her, I found her to be gracious and charming. She has the ability to make you feel as if you are the only person in the room when she talks with you. She greeted everyone by taking their hand, as you see her doing with my friend, Sharon, and I saw her hug many people as they shared stories with her. One young man brought her a gift and we later learned that he credits her writing with being instrumental in his decision to go into the ministry. 

I was excited to receive an autographed copy of her latest book, Bathed In Prayer.  It is a collection of Father Tim's prayers, sermons and reflections from the Mitford Series and they are all based on prayer. 

During the formal part of the event, Ms. Karon answered questions asked by one of the pastors of the church. There were also some pre-written questions submitted in advance by members in the audience. She spoke about how faith had been a part of her life as a child, how listening to the dialects of people she knew as a child found their way into her writing, and about how she committed her life to the Lord in her forties. I have heard her describe her conversion story, more than once, as "coming to the end of herself." She told us of how all of her writing is bathed in prayer, hence the name of her latest book. She asked us to say the word "bathed" and to think how that word feels when we say it. The word seems to roll gently on our tongues, doesn't it?

I looked up the definition of "bathed" on dictionary.com and this is the definition that appeared:

a washing or immersion of something, especially the body, in water, steam, etc., as for cleansing or medical treatment

I have been thinking a lot about what Jan had to say about the phrase, "bathed in prayer."  How prayer is truly something I need to immerse my life in. All parts of my life. Everything. From head to toe. Leaving no part untouched by prayer. Just like when I bathe and  I totally immerse my body in the water, leaving no part untouched. How can I be truly clean otherwise? Just as water is used for cleansing our bodies, prayer is a cleansing of our souls. And yet so much more. It is communion with the living Lord, the creator of the universe. It is communication with my Lord and Savior. It is talking, and hopefully listening as well, to the One who knows me and loves me best. 

Tell me dear readers....have you bathed today? 

You know what I mean.

And, now, I cannot end this post without showing you Jan Karon's shoes!  She literally sparkled from head to toe and I thought these were some of the cutest shoes I have ever seen. If you have read any of the Mitford Series books think of "Cynthia" when you see these shoes! 

Apologies that some of these pictures are blurry. There were lots of people milling about snapping lots of photos and I was snapping quickly at times to get a shot. I did my humble best with the camera, trying not to be in her face. 

Blessings,

Debbie

Zebra Print Jacket and Leopard Print Shoes

Casual Clothing On The Wild Side

I'm styling life on the wild side tonight by wearing zebra and leopard print that is both comfy and casual.

Let's talk first about this zip front zebra print jacket by Onque. This is a new brand to me and I am really liking it. I recently purchased a pair of gray casual pants by Onque and love them! They will go well with this jacket, but tonight I'm wearing jeans. The jacket is a super soft velour that can be worn alone or over a shirt like I have on here. Perfect for relaxing at home or going out to run errands, this easy wash and wear jacket is the cat's meow as far as I'm concerned!

Love this look so much!!

These comfy leopard print shoes/slippers are by Secret Treasures and add another layer of animal print to the style. This cushiony footbed and machine washable shoe slipper is just the right touch for comfort. I have struggled to find a leopard print shoe that I like and this one is purrrfect! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Shop a similar look:

shoe/slipper

Onque casual similar jackets (not zebra print)

Would you wear zebra or leopard print? Do you love comfy and casual or do you prefer a more dressy style? Hope you will leave a comment. Love hearing from you!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Red Ankle Booties and Plaid High Low Dress

Bathrobe or Dress? You Make The Call!

Well, as promised, I am styling my red plaid high-low dress again, this time as a dress and not with leggings or pants. I decided to go for the all red theme, so I'm accessorizing the look with my red straw box purse and my fantastic new red booties. If it's too much red overkill for you just enjoy the beautiful Fall scenery in the background! We're hitting peak week for Fall colors right now. 

In my last post about this dress, I wore it belted. Today, I decided to wear it loose. I must tell you that this dress is not "form fitting" and is quite loose and billowy. It makes it very comfortable, but I'm not sure I love the look. Especially after my husband walked in the kitchen while I was cooking dinner and said, "Is that my bathrobe you're wearing?" Ummmm, no, it's my dress thank you very much! (Men!) Anyway, I do love the loose comfy feel. 

Now, let's talk about these spiffy new ankle boots. I have sworn off buying any shoes that are not comfortable and ones I can walk in for long periods of time. (No more 20 minute heels!!) I have wanted some red booties for quite a while but they are hard to find without high heels on them. I found these at Stein Mart and they are a wedge type style. I didn't know if they would work or not, so I spent a lot of time walking around Stein Mart wearing them to make sure! I got a strange look from one of the sales ladies because I was wearing the shoes for awhile but I wanted to make sure they were comfortable! The brand is Impo and the style is the Garwyn. Check out the link and you can see the shoe up close. They are on sale at a great price, plus I had an additional 20% off coupon that I used, so it was truly a win, win purchase! There is just something about red shoes that makes a girl feel like ooh la la when wearing them! Even if you are wearing them with a plaid bathrobe. Ha!

In all seriousness, though, I do think I would like this look better with black tights added and the dress belted. But, it wouldn't be nearly as comfortable. Sigh...fashion or comfort? What would you do? Hope you'll leave a comment. I love hearing from you. And get yourself some red shoes, ladies. You too will be saying, "Ooh la la!" And feel free to wear them with your bathrobe if you wish! 😉

And, here are two more photos taken on our Fall excursion this afternoon. Photo credits for these two photos go to William Ross. The photo with me is on our driveway. The mountain view is from just up our road. Photos property of Debbie Styles Life.

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Re-visiting Cat Who Mystery Series by Lillian Jackson Braun

My Favorite "Cat Who" Mystery Series

Hey fellow mystery lovers!  I'm starting off the week by sharing, or should I say re-sharing, one of my most favorite mystery series of all time. The "Cat Who" series, written by late author, Lillian Jackson Braun, will be sure to both delight and thrill you as you read about the mysteries solved by Jim Qwilleran and his two precocious Siamese detectives Ko Ko and Yum Yum. 

I actually own all the books in this series having inherited many from my late Mother, who shared a love of this series with me, and the titles I have added over the years. I didn't feel like pulling every book down off the shelf, however, so I'm only showcasing five of my paperback copies in the above picture. 

Lillian Jackson Braun was a prolific writer who actually wrote the first three books of this series in the 1960's, took an eighteen year hiatus, and then resumed writing one book of the series per year until 2007. Braun died in 2011. 

Qwilleran, known in later books as "Mr. Q" by most of the community, is introduced in the first book as an award winning crime reporter with a best seller on crime under his belt who is now struggling as a down and out reporter at "The Daily Fluxion" due to some difficult years in which a divorce drove him to drink. As a recovering alcoholic, he is given assignments to write about restaurants and antiques and lives month to month on a paycheck that just covers his meager expenses. Along the way, mysteries cause him to meet two separate Siamese cats (KoKo aka "Kao Ko Kung" and Yum Yum) and he ends up adopting each cat and they become a loving family of three. 

During a vacation sometime later in Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere according to Braun) Qwilleran reacquaints himself with an old family friend of his mother's, "Aunt Fanny," who dies and leaves her millions to a very surprised James Mackintosh Qwilleran. The remainder of the books chronicle his life as a somewhat eccentric millionaire living with two cats who help him to solve all manner of Moose County mysteries. 

Besides being a millionaire, Qwilleran's claim to fame is a luxurious moustache that sends him "signals" whenever he encounters a mystery. Koko also has a bit of psychic ability which Qwill has learned to trust over the years as they work together to solve crimes. Along the way, many characters return in each book such as Qwilleran's longtime childhood friend and fellow journalist Arch Riker, his longtime librarian love interest Polly and Mildred Hanstable whose last name later changes-but if I tell you too much I'm giving the stories away! 

Being a cat lover and cat parent, I love these books and it has been such a treat to re-read many of them once more. I am currently re-reading The Cat Who Played Post Office and what a joy to remember how Qwill and the cats adjusted to life in Pickax City after years of living "Down Below." Such fun! 

If you're looking for a great mystery series and you are a cat lover like me, then I think you will enjoy the Cat Who books by Lillian Jackson Braun. Let me know if you have read these or if you choose to give them a try, OK?

So tell me, what is on your reading list right now? Be sure to share in the comments section. I love hearing from you!

Until Next Time,
Debbie

Casual Styling For Lunch Out

What I Wore To Lunch-OOTD

Some days just lend themselves to kicking back with a casual style. Days like today, when I knew I would be meeting a dear friend for lunch and a long chat. 

If I had a daily uniform, this would be it. Comfy jeans, a soft shirt, a warm jacket and the most comfortable shoes I can find. It's a basic, laid back style that can be upgraded with the addition of jewelry and accessories. 

My red straw thrifted purse added just the right pop of color, coordinating well with the blue of the jeans fabric and the pink/salmon/brown plaid of the shirt. There are several layers that give texture, as well as warmth,  to this look. Notice the pink short sleeved shirt under the plaid blouse under the blue jean jacket. 

Then notice the addition of gold earrings and a gold necklace to give the upgrade to the casual style. I always feel that adding jewelry means I care to try a little harder to look nice when I am pulling together an outfit. 

The final layer would be these comfy multi-color shoes that hit the sweet spot in blending with the other colors of the outfit without giving a "matchy matchy" look. Not that I have anything against matchy matchy, per se, but I feel this look works together. 

This is a casual look that is easy to copy if you're looking for a similar laid back style. I'll bet you can shop your own closet and find similar pieces. If you are wanting to shop, however, I'll add the links below to the pieces I'm wearing. ( Or at least, similar pieces). This is not a gifted or affiliate post. The links are just for your own information and browsing enjoyment!

I enjoy getting dressed up every once in awhile but this look is my "signature" Debbie look. How about you? How would you describe your signature look? Would you wear any of the pieces included in my OOTD? Hope you'll take a moment to leave me a comment. I love hearing from my readers. And, btw, have you signed up to follow me by email? You know you want to, so you'll never miss a post! Just look for the spot on my right sidebar to add your email address and submit. And please remember to look for the first email that will ask you to confirm you want to follow me by email. Some folks forget that step (or the email goes to spam) and you don't get the emails when I post. If you know you signed up, but haven't been receiving emails when I post, it is most likely because you forgot to confirm that you want to follow me. Just some FYI for my readers because I love you! 

Shop The Look
Skechers GOGA Max shoes  (similar)
Vintage America Blues jeans (similar)
Gloria Vanderbilt blue jean jacket (here)
plaid shirt from Walmart (tags cut out, unsure of brand) (similar)

Until Next Time,

Debbie