Weekend Inspiration:Feeling Thankful At Sixty

Thoughts On Turning Sixty

Guess who's sixty? Yep, that would be me. Say it a few times and let it roll over your tongue....sixty, sixty, Debbie is sixty...

I wondered how best to approach this post and thought about all of the different ways I could describe the feeling of being sixty. You know, all the cliches about aging...finding greater wisdom, insight into life, etc. etc. But, to be honest, I don't feel wiser and I can't think of any great insight. Sorry to disappoint. I just feel like me, like Debbie, like I have always felt. I remember my mom talking about how she still felt like "herself in her 20's" as the birthday numbers kept racking up and I totally understand what she meant. It seems like when you reach "certain" ages, there should be some kind of special feeling to go with the age. But, nope, I still feel like me! 

To be honest, if I describe how I'm really feeling about this birthday, I would have to say I feel thankful. After all, it's a privilege to get here. Not everyone is given the privilege of turning 60.

I may have mentioned before that when I was in college there were four of us young women who were close friends. Teresa and I were roomates and Lynn and Mary Lou were roomates.  We called ourselves the "Czech sisters" and had great fun calling the local radio DJ trying to get him to play Steve Martin's "King Tut" song. He always laughed at our "Wild and Crazy Czech sisters" imitation we did when we called. Y'all did watch Saturday Night Live when Steve Martin was on didn't you? We laughed together, acted silly together, shared secrets and did all the silly things that college girls did in the 70's. We dreamed together about what life would hold for us after graduation. After college, we went our separate ways but continued to keep in touch across states with letters and phone calls. About three months after the Mr. and I got married I received a phone call from Teresa telling me that Lynn had died in a diabetic coma. She was 24. Fast forward twelve years to the time when I was back in West Virginia grieving the loss of my Mother. I had lost touch with Teresa over the years, but she contacted me upon hearing of my Mom's passing and shared that her own health had deteriorated and she was living in a nursing home suffering from MS. I heard she passed a couple years later. She was in her late 30's. Of the four original "Czech Sisters" it's just Mary Lou and me now. We are still close friends. And, Mary Lou just became a grandmother. 

Yes, it's a privilege to turn 60.....and I'm thankful for all the blessings of those years.

Psalm 92 speaks about aging with the following:

"They will still bear fruit in old age,

They will stay fresh and green"

I love the hopefulness of this scripture. Aging shouldn't mean becoming stagnant in my opinion. I want to continue to learn and grow and be useful. I want to bear fruit in my life....and for the Lord. I like the idea of staying fresh and green, no matter what my age may be. 

I have been privileged to know a number of women who set amazing examples of how to age. Their continued interest in life, their laughter, their can-do attitudes, their thirst for knowledge, their refusal to give in to the inevitable aches and pains are all examples to me of how to approach this birthday and aging in general. 

Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Perhaps there is wisdom in being thankful....and it is with gratitude that I celebrate turning 60. 

Blessings,

Debbie

*Your thoughtful comments are always welcome!

Buffalo Plaid Jacket Worn As A Blouse

What To Wear To A Birthday Brunch

What do you wear to a birthday brunch on a snowy and cold day? How about a buffalo plaid jacket worn as a blouse, long pants and snugly ankle boots? 

This was my outfit of the day as I made my way to a special birthday brunch hosted by my friend, Sharon, with these lovely ladies attending. How wonderful it was to spend time with these women eating delicious foods, laughing and talking. We all worked together for many years and they definitely made me feel much more positive about turning 60 in a few days! Yes, I'm changing decades! More to come on my thoughts about turning 60 in an upcoming post!

Sharon was kind enough to snap a photo that included me. You can see the yummy quiche, salad and nut breads that we enjoyed. 

Getting back to the buffalo plaid...this top is billed as a "jacket" but to me it is a very soft and cozy blouse and that is how I intend to wear it. It is quality made by Peck and Peck and I found it, where else, at Stein Mart! This top is a bit pricier, to me, but you can feel the quality when you put it on and I did have a coupon for 20% off. The fabric feels slightly quilted but is not over warm, just luscious and cozy. I actually added a long sleeve scoop neck pullover underneath for extra warmth. It was blowing snow here today and the high was only in the 30's so a little extra warmth was needed! Another nice feature to this jacket/blouse is that the buttons are hidden giving a smooth look. And, yes, Cassie photo bombed this shot! She is still a bit sore that Garden was in the last post and she wasn't!

The pants, by Rafaella Comfort, fit almost like leggings although not as tight as leggings would be. They taper in the leg and work well with an ankle boot like I have on here. They also have a faux leather band on the closed pocket which gives a touch of elegance. The material is a soft ponte knit which feels substantial in the cold. I know I will be wearing both of these pieces frequently. 

Although a longer necklace would work well with this top, I chose, instead, a chunkier look gold link necklace with pearls. It fit under the collar nicely and gave just a bit of bling to the look. 

How is your week going? Are you looking for warm and cozy clothing to wear? Is there snow where you live? How do you like the buffalo plaid look that is so popular right now? Do take a moment and leave a comment. I love hearing from you! 

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Thanksgiving Gossip, Christmas Decor, Jewelry Storage

A Little Bit of This and That 

How I Spent Thanksgiving, How I Decorate for Christmas, How I Display Jewelry

Hey friends! How was your Thanksgiving? I'm back from traveling to West Virginia to see family and thought I would share a few things. Today, in true this and that fashion I'm styling life by sharing about Thanksgiving, Christmas decorating and a new way I'm storing some jewelry. There's something for everybody in today's post!

If you are like me, you probably feel stuffed after all the good Thanksgiving food. Our official Thanksgiving dinner was at the home of one of my four sisters. You can see the yummy dessert table above.

And here are the remnants of some of the main foods. I didn't take a picture before everyone started digging in! We were all too hungry! There was also ham and turkey, mashed potatoes and homemade noodles, baked beans and delicious hot roles. I ate waaayyy too much, but truly enjoyed every bite. 

This is the "Christmas Room" that my sister and brother-in-law decorate each year. Isn't it pretty? I always enjoy sitting in this room visiting with family. I got to see most of my family on this trip. We surely missed my Pennsylvania sister and brother-in-law and their children and grandchildren. Our trip was short, but we packed in lots of visiting at different sister's homes and the Mr. was even able to visit an old high school friend, so our time was well spent. We drove back Saturday in order to avoid the heaviest traffic and to allow the Mr. a day of rest on Sunday before returning to teaching and I'm so glad we did this. We checked a traffic app yesterday and the route we traveled was bumper to bumper with back ups. No thank you!

Before we left, I had done quite a bit of Christmas decorating and I've been finishing it up yesterday and today. My style of decorating is to incorporate Christmas objects I love into the regular decor I have on display. I made the decision a few years ago to stop packing my regular decor away and pared down the decorations I use to what I truly love and want to see on display each year. I love the result, but it does not look like some of the blogs who have decorations that color match with their decor and look "magazine ready." But, it's what the Mr. and I like and I'm happy to share my ideas with you! I have so enjoyed my gingerbread chefs in the kitchen and this year, I decided to let my little elves peek out from my Longaberger pitchers. I am planning a gingerbread inspired tablescape for you in a few days. 

Our side table in front of the windows looks very festive. 

And our mantle looks cheerful with the nutcracker musicians, the skinny house and church and the Santa Cats. 

These guys are so cute! I enjoy displaying them each year.

I have displayed two Nativities. My formal white Nativity is still to come. 

Although actually an ornament that can hang on the tree, I love setting this Jim Shore designed nativity on the secretary desk. 

The music box Nutcracker sits on top of a speaker. 

And what should I do with a random blue candle ring? How about decorating the towel holder in my all blue bathroom?

I do believe it fits right in!

And, here is our tabletop tree, decorated with ornaments that we have had for many years. 

And looking oh so pretty with the lights shining in the dark. I love our little tree!

At this point, I'm still debating how to finish decorating the upper and lower foyer, so I'll need to share that later. However, here is the "wreath" on the foyer door. OK, that's a lot of Christmas photos. How about a helpful hint on how to display your necklaces?

You know for awhile now, I have been debating how to organize my necklaces so I can find what I want to wear. I had a small hanger with only three hooks and you can imagine how tangled up all these necklaces got hanging on only three hooks! I decided to use this larger hanger on a bulletin board that I have hanging on the wall. I used several push pins to anchor the hanger and voila...I have plenty of room now to hang my necklaces!

And there is even still a little room to hang some things on the bulletin board. The bulletin board does double duty-I love it!!

So, how was your Thanksgiving? Have you decorated for Christmas yet? How do you solve the jewelry storage dilemma? Hope you'll take a moment to share. I love hearing from you!

Until Next Time,
Debbie

*Photography by Debbie Ross.  Feel free to pin photos. 

Zebra Stripes With A Hint of Pink

Adding A Touch Of Pink To Zebra Stripes

Are you doing a double take and thinking, "Debbie has already styled this top?" You are correct. However, this time I'm styling it in the daylight so you can see it better and asked my awesome photographer husband to shoot the photos! I'm also showing how an outfit that is mostly black can benefit from adding just a hint of pink. Can't see the pink yet? You will!

The first hint of pink comes from my anniversary ring on my left hand. 

And then another hint of pink from my tanzanite ring on my right hand. 

Want to see a close-up of them together?  There is a reason I chose pink rings today....

I wanted my rings to coordinate with the pink in my black and pink flats! Aren't these shoes spiffy looking?! Yes, I know "spiffy" is an antiquated term. But, I just think that these shoes must be called spiffy! And speaking of things that are antiquated...I have a birthday coming up soon. A BIG birthday, if you know what I mean! A changing decades birthday, as a friend recently described it. So...look for a future post. Just giving you a heads-up.

The shoe brand is Clarks and the inside says "Soft Cushion" and "Collection." The style is the Kinzie. Check out the link if you are interested. This was my church outfit today and the shoes stayed comfortable except in the toe area they still need to stretch out a bit. I am wearing socks so that might make a difference. 

I was hoping my husband would take a shot of the overall look including the shoes, but somehow that didn't happen. Guess I'll have to deduct some of his pay, Ha! I liked his pictures, though, so I'm showing them! I love the look of black and white together and adding just a hint of pink, even in the Fall/Wintertime, is a great way to elevate the look! Black and white is a classic and I am loving the zebra stripes! 

As you can see our photo shoot attracted a crowd! Garden also likes black and white! And Cassie says she is offended that Garden got to be in this post and she didn't. 

I will be taking this week off to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. I've already started my Christmas decorating, so look for an upcoming post about that coming soon after Thanksgiving. And, then, there is that birthday....

Until Next Time,

Debbie

*Feel free to pin photos. Photography by William Ross. 

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