Why I Love Wearing Black and White

 Styling Flattering Colors

Black and white are some of my favorite colors to wear. That must be why I have a closet full of these colors! I find the combination of both colors together to be even better like you see here with this zebra print V-neck top.

Black is a slimming color to start with and when you add in horizontal and vertical stripes, it becomes even more slimming. The stripes draw the eye and give a flattering look. No wonder I like this top so much!

Adding a longer black cardigan over a shorter top adds even more to the slimming effect.  A black cardigan is a great go-to piece to have in your closet. 

Black is also a great layering color, especially under a brighter color like this rose print top that also incorporates black and white. Black is as much of a neutral color as white for mixing and matching with other colors.

Black is the perfect color for accessorizing with bold colors like you see in the scarf. The bold colors of the scarf just pop against the solid black dress. 

Of course, the same is true for colors popping against solid white like you see here with the solid white blouse. The blue necklace and bright scarf belt are stand-outs against the neutral white palette. 

And denim and white do look amazing together!

Black is a great color to dress up or down.  Here, I've dressed up a plain black skirt with a ruffled top and some fun sandals. 

And you can do the same thing with dressing up all white like I've done here with a fun belt and some great shoes. 

There are so many ways you can style black and white clothing and accessories either together or separate. Sometimes, you just need a little inspiration. So, I hope I have given you some inspiration to go check out your own closets and see how you might style some black and white of your own! Have fun and be sure to let me know what you find in the comments. I love hearing from you!

BTW, I'm still working out some email issues so this post is still being sent from Feedburner to those of you with subscriptions. The switch over should come soon, though. If you missed the explanation post click here to read it. 

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Changes To My Blog's Subscription Service

 The One Thing Guaranteed In Life Is Change!

Hey Everyone!  Just a short blog post to alert you that I am changing to Mailchimp for my reader's email subscriptions. I had previously been using Feedburner, but received an email from Google that they are doing away with the subscription portion of Feedburner as of July, 2021.  So, I decided to go ahead and go with another email subscription provider. You shouldn't need to do anything as a subscriber. You should still receive an email notification when I have posted something new. If, for some reason, you aren't receiving emails about new posts (and you were previously) please let me know at debbiestyleslife@gmail.com. 

If you should wish to no longer receive email notification of new posts please let me know. I hope that this isn't the case, though. I love all my readers and want to keep my subscribers! You keep me going with Debbie Styles Life! 

Today's post is still being sent by Feedburner to let you know a change to whom you receive email notification from is coming. 

As always, take care and I look forward to sharing more timely posts with you from Debbie Styles Life!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Sunday Drive to Lake Lure North Carolina

 Where Sunday Drives Take Us

When we set out on a Sunday drive I never am quite sure where our adventure might lead us.  Today, it lead us through several small North Carolina towns such as Fairview, Gerton, Bat Cave and on into Lake Lure. 

Lake Lure is a tourist destination with lots of shops that line the streets and is the home of Chimney Rock which you can see from a distance in this picture. Chimney Rock is where the movie, "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed and Lake Lure is where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. We passed pretty quickly through the touristy section and headed to the lake.

The lake was so pretty today and surprisingly uncrowded which is quite unusual. 

We noticed the area around the lake had been developed more since the last time we were there and we enjoyed walking on the walking trail around the lake. I actually played for a wedding at this gazebo location many years ago. Today's leisurely walk was much less stressful than that wedding years ago!

There were lots of boats to watch cruising by today. 

And we found some shadier spots to hang out before continuing on our walk.

Along the way on our drive there was other pretty scenery such as this lovely river. 

And this beautiful old Inn. 

And the many beautiful colors of Springtime! 

Thanks for coming along with me on our Sunday drive.  It's always an adventure albeit a pleasant one!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

When I Look In My Closet

 

Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed Easter weekend and have had a good week so far. I took a few days off from blogging but am back today for a bit of a chat about looking in our closets. We all do that pretty much every day, right? 

Some days when I look in my closet I'm sort of on automatic pilot. I just grab a top to go with a pair of jeans and I'm set for the day. This has been true a lot for the past year. With folks staying home most of the time I haven't had much need for dressing up to go places. And I have a few tops that I just wear over and over again because I don't have to think much about them. They are the kind of tops that I can just pull over my head without thinking. Other days, though, like today, I look in the closet and ponder. I begin thinking about pieces that I own but don't wear very often and how I might try wearing them together to see how they match. Sometimes, I'm pleased with the results and other times not so much. Luckily, today I'm pleased! 😏

I've had my eye on this animal print tunic for a couple of weeks. I came "this close" to adding it to my give-away pile of clothes to take to the Humane Society Store as a donation. And, I've worn it on the blog before. But, something kept telling me not to give it away too soon and then regret it. So, back in the closet it went. And now, I'm so glad I kept it. I think it looks great paired with the cream turtleneck underneath. The cream seems to contrast well against the animal print. But I also need the right pants to wear with this top. When I pulled it out of the closet this morning I thought about the pants I own and wondered if there was a pair I hadn't worn in a while that might look good with this tunic and be comfortable for all day wear. These olive green skinny pants came to mind and when I pulled them on with the tunic it all just seemed to come together! I found the perfect combination of colors and patterns that I like and will want to wear over and over. Isn't it funny how certain clothing combinations (like certain food combinations) just seem to work?! Now, I have to admit that I have worn this tunic with other pants and didn't like the combination nearly as much as I do the combo with the green pants. And by adding the black Mary Jane Skechers shoes which bring out the black colors in the animal print, I feel the outfit just looks pulled together! This makes me wonder what other clothing combinations I might be missing simply because I haven't thought of trying certain tops and pants together? 

The thing is, we (I) can get in such a rut with wearing our clothing. We pull open the closet door, pull out the same tops to wear with the same pants that we have been doing forever and off we go. Taking some time to ponder with the closet door open can be a truly creative endeavor. And, yeah, we won't always like the results of trying a new clothing combination. But, sometimes, we might just hit that "sweet spot" and have ourselves a whole new outfit! Without having to go to a store (or online) and shop. Even better! And another thing...what you like and what works for you might not be the same for other people. I feel really great wearing this outfit. Other folks may look at it, though, and say, "Meh....I wouldn't wear that combination at all." And you know what? That's ok, because we all have different likes and dislikes when it comes to fashion. If you feel great in an outfit, then it is a GREAT outfit. Your opinion is what counts. 

So go open your closet door ladies.....and spend a few minutes pondering. Add a little creative dressing to your day. You just might find a whole new outfit! Be sure to share what you find in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Easter/Spring Tablescapes

 Pretty Tablescapes For Spring or Easter

I enjoy sharing tablescapes with you from time to time and what I have created to show you today will be just perfect for either an Easter or a Springtime tablescape. 

Many elements of this tablescape were very economical Dollar Tree purchases. You know I love blue, so I was excited to be able to add some blue paisley plates, water goblets and placemats as well as navy blue napkins to the dishes I already own.

I used items I already owned to fashion an interesting vignette for the centerpiece. The colorful egg, bunny rabbit and containers were pieces I already owned. To the vases I added silk flowers that I purchased in a variety of pastel colors and added gift bag shredding to the vases to hold the flowers in place. I think it's a really neat trick to use the shredding as a flower holder. It adds color and looks better than florist's foam. This isn't my original idea but it's a clever idea to be sure!

Aren't these flowers pretty? I actually ended up buying lots of these blooms and will show you in a future post how I'm using them. 

I just love the look of the smaller paisley plates on top of my larger white china plates.  It's very economical to add some new style by just purchasing a colorful plate in a smaller size to use on top of other plates you already own. The dessert cups were given to me by my husband's grandmother and are keepsakes. Their color fits right into this tablescape!

I'm very pleased with how this tablescape came together and think it will work very well on many occasions. 

I decided to move some of the dining tablescape elements to the foyer table and am pleased with how they look on this smaller table, as well.  Of course, I didn't move eating plates and utensils to this smaller table! The pastel colors bring Spring to this little table and look so pretty in our foyer. It's nice to know I can use these pieces for more than one type of decoration. 

Are you creating any pretty tablescapes for Easter or Spring? Let me know in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Wisdom From My Backyard

 Where Do You Find Wisdom?

Hi Everyone!  It's kind of been one of "those weeks."  You know what I mean.  I haven't felt my best and we had to have major work done here at the house with a replacement of our septic system and drainfield.  It has rained a lot and we have had some storms although, thankfully, nothing like some folks have had to deal with.  I have just felt a bit "blah" and this evening I decided to walk around my backyard, snap a few photos and look for some wisdom.  Why don't you walk with me? 

"But God made the earth by His power; 

He founded the world by His wisdom

And stretched out the heavens by His understanding"

Jeremiah 10:12

It's amazing how much better I feel after a bit of a walkabout in my own backyard. I find so many beautiful aspects of nature to look at as I walk around. I am reminded of my many blessings and of the many things for which I am thankful. The idea of gratitude has come up a lot in my devotionals this week and sometimes I forget to be thankful. How is it possible to forget such a thing? 

The old proverb says, "A rolling stone gathers no moss."  These stones in my rock garden certainly haven't been rolling as they are covered in moss! I love how pretty and green the moss looks. It adds to the overall patena of these stones and reminds me of the many years since The Mr. built this garden for me soon after we moved in and we have lived in this place for over 18 years now. We must be covered with invisible moss at this point for we have lovingly labored on this land and in our home all these years and our roots run deep with love for our home just as the roots of this moss run deep in the crevices of these stones.

This huge boulder is part of a decorative arrangement of boulders in our yard.  It was actually dug out of the ground on our property during an excavation we had done to divert underground water away from our house. It is solid and strong and was able to withstand millions of years of pressure and heat underground. Now, it is above ground and bravely faces whatever the elements send throughout the year. Fierce winds, pelting rain and scorching sun may chisel the face of this rock but it only serves to add to its character and beauty. I can't help but think of this boulder as an analogy of life. 

This looks like a labyrinth doesn't it?!  It's actually a cleverly disguised bird's nest hidden behind some leaves in the midst of this helter-skelter of branches. The birds were rather smart placing their nest here weren't they? They made certain that they would not be discovered and their eggs would be safe. I do believe the location of this nest took some planning although to some it might look a bit chaotic. But I know better. There is order in chaos, after all. 

The stream on our property is heavy with rushing water due to the storms of this past week. I find the sound to be both relaxing and a reminder of the powerful force behind the water rushing down our hillside. The force of water cuts like a knife and can carve a path in whatever lies in its way. Kept within its banks it remains in control but unleashed and left to its own devices it can flood and destroy. A metaphor for what can happen when thoughtless speech is not bridled or fearful thoughts run rampant in heads. May the force of my words and thoughts carve only good and positive paths. 

Sometimes beauty in nature is incredibly small and you have to get down on the ground to really see the intricate design and the shapes that are hidden. This takes slowing down, physically adjusting position and looking deeply at what is, literally, beneath our feet. This takes effort and is so easy to overlook. How many times I must have walked past this very spot and never noticed the beauty....because I wasn't looking for it. My eyes were elsewhere, I was moving too quickly and I was trampling on top of it to get somewhere else. I'm so glad that I made the effort today to see something that has been there all along but I had never noticed before. I wonder what else I might be missing out on seeing? 

The ivy in our back garden is bright and green and has already begun winding itself around the base of St. Francis.  Ivy can be an invader and has a tendency to spread and, left alone, it would cover the whole garden, strangling out the flowers that will be planted soon in the garden bed. So, at least once a year, I have to prune it back, allowing just enough to be in the bed to look pretty but not to overtake. Ivy has its place but so do the other flowers. I cannot allow it to be overbearing and to take over.  Pruning can be important, both in flower gardens and in the garden of life. 

I'm glad I took this walk around my backyard. It was just what I needed to get my thoughts on straight. There was so much beauty to be found, shapes to be seen, lessons to be learned. The beauty of  God's creation always does that for me and I didn't have to go far to find it!  How about you?  Where do you find wisdom? 

All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,

whose plan is wonderful,

whose wisdom is magnificent.

Isaiah 28:29

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Ways To Style A Spring/Summer Dress Over 50+

 One Dress Different Looks

Hi Everyone!  With warmer weather approaching I thought it might be fun to take a Spring/Summer type dress and come up with lots of different ways to wear it. This is a thin strap MSN dress that I found on ThredUp. I'm choosing to wear a short sleeve cami with it as I feel the top would be too revealing without it. 

I'm keeping this look super casual with some fun sandals that I ordered last year from DSW. This would be a fun look for the beach or for running errands around town.

Next up is a dressier look with heels and my hot pink duster. The colors are very bright against each other and I like the combination. 

Do you enjoy wearing bright colors on bright colors? I do if the colors compliment each other and the patterns don't overwhelm. Since this is a solid on top of a stripe the patterns don't overwhelm. I think this look would work well for a wedding or church. 

Now for a really casual look I've traded the heels for navy blue Skechers and topped it off with a blue jean jacket. 

And here's a similar look with a white jean jacket and sneakers. White sneakers would look better with the white jacket but I don't have white sneakers. We use what we have don't we ladies? 

The weather can always be a bit dicey, especially in early Spring, so it's always best to be ready with something warmer that can be worn. Here, I've added leggings, booties and a long cardi to my dress for a toasty and yet still Springlike look. 

So tell me which look you like the best.  And go have a look in your own closet and see what stylings you can put together with your own Spring/Summer dress! I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. It's rather amazing, isn't it, how one dress can be the basis for so many different looks!

Until Next Time,

Debbie