More Birthday Fun

Getting dressed up to go out to dinner is half the fun. On my birthday, we enjoyed a delightful meal at Juniper in Johnson City on Friday. If you plan to go, make your reservations about three weeks prior.

We dress in similar colors, but never to match each other.

His daughter, Regina, bought these customized socks for him here. They are his favorite among the drawer full of fun socks.


The formula for my look is a linen blazer, camisole, and long-length dress pants with platform shoes. Wide-leg pants should almost touch the floor. I don’t wear longer blazers without heels because the combination makes the legs look shorter. I would never remove my jacket when wearing this lace and silk camisole since it should only peek out from an open shirt or jacket.

I don’t wear too many pieces of jewelry in the same area. For example, large silver earrings, a showy necklace, eyeglasses, and a brooch on the lapel would have made me look like a Christmas tree. I can’t eat with my glasses on, so I don’t wear them to dinner.

I changed my mind about wearing the brooch as a waistline adornment with these pants because I couldn’t keep the clasp closed when wearing it in this way. However, the idea might work for you with different elements.

Nothing I wore is new except for the brooch (here), which I considered wearing as an adornment at the waistline since the DKNY pants do not have belt loops. I emphasize the waistline with belts to give proportion to my shape, but keeping them in the proper place is challenging when the pants do not have belt loops. The blazer is now on sale here. The other items are several years old.


We enjoyed focaccia bread with herbed butter, ricotta, goat cheese gnocchi, and Wagyu beef sauce for our first course.

We each ordered the special of the night, Alaska halibut with buttermilk mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, and an heirloom tomato puree topping. It melted in the mouth as a burst of delicate summer flavors. The chef had the whole halibut shipped to the restaurant. Next, he filleted the fish and soaked it in milk to obtain the tenderest result we had ever experienced. Every patron near us ordered the same and raved about the dish.

There are always numerous sweet cards from Mr. Mickey for every life event.

We shared a new house dessert featuring cheesecake with a pumpkin pie top layer and other subtle fall spices. It was delicious!

Thank you for all the delightful comments lately. Your kind words gave me a lovely gift.

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63 Comments
  1. What a lovely and scrumptious birthday meal! The month is not over yet, so you can extend your birthday celebration. Actually, I think you celebrate each day, the ordinary, everyday life. Along with many others, I look forward to your posts for inspiration, not only for fashion, but day to day living.

  2. What a perfect celebration. Thanks as always for sharing dressing tips, food and travel ideas. As I’ve said before, what a lovely couple!
    I have to add that your prior post on foods-when and why-was phenomenal! Wow. That is one I’ll keep bookmarked and refer to often.
    Have a great week. All the best to you and Mr Mickey.

  3. A joyous birthday! I love Juniper. The food is delicious and the presentations are over the top! I love the birthday plate! We had such amazing waiter I don’t know why we haven’t been back in awhile.

  4. I cannot express how grateful I am to you for sharing your increased health and decreased weight journey. At 70, I no longer have the svelte body of my youth but was encouraged after reading your post and saw the pictures you posted of your weight loss. So I once again donned my Fitbit as I energetically walked our farm and wrote down what and how to eat. It’s been much too easy to slide into bad eating habits, but your lovely pictures of the meals you eat and the method you follow to be the best you has sparked my “get up and go” once again. Please post more about the foods you eat.
    Thank you so much!
    Debbie

  5. Thank you for sharing your birthday dinner celebration. The dinner looked delicious. Well, that dessert was spectacular visually and I can imagine very yummy too! You and Mr.Mickey are impeccably turned out as always. Wishing you the best!

  6. What a nice birthday dinner ! You both certainly know how to dress. Love Mr. Mickey’s socks.
    Your outfit was perfect. Very simple and very nice!

  7. When I go out to eat I generally will only eat half and bring the rest home. How much of that delicious looking meal did you eat?

  8. You & Mr. Mickey always a re perfectly stylish is a classic way that I just love. May you two share many more happy healthy years with one another.

  9. Happy Birthday Blessings! You looked beautiful in your birthday photo! May the Lord bless you with many more wonderful years of health and happiness with Mr. Mickey!

  10. Dear Susan, I wish you the best for all the days to come. Each of our messages is a part of a reflection of who you are and what you also give us. Your look was perfect, your platform shoes necessary, and your red nail polish on your feet…totally subtle.

  11. You and Mr Wonderful looks like you had a delightful birthday evening.
    Elegant as always. Loved Mr Wonderful’s socks!

  12. Happy Birthday. May you and Mr. Mickey enjoy many more wonderful years together filled with great adventures, good health and much happiness.
    Love Mr. Mickey’s socks. That man really knows how to enjoy life every day.

  13. Wow you two make such a lovely couple, Mr Mickey’s sox are always something that gives me happy vibes. Your birthday dinner looked fab, may you have many more special birthdays to come. many thanks Judi

  14. Happy birthday to you both! I think you two get younger looking every year! You have found the fountain of youth! It’s joyful to see you both so happy and celebrating each other❤❤

  15. So glad you had such a rememberable birthday! Mr. Mickey puts a lot of thought and love into special surprises for you. He reminds me a lot of my late husband.

  16. I love seeing the two of you together! This hasn’t been a good day for me, but your post reminds me there is happiness and hope in the world. Thank you.

  17. Can you tell us where you found the camisole. I have found it difficult to find them that are not too low cut. Thank you and a very happy birthday to you!!!!

  18. My word the food looks scrumptious! It’s good to see sensible portions not piled high , there again I would
    happily want my plate piled high with the halibut , it must have been so flavoursome being fresh.
    As always you both look smart . The verse on your card so sweet and true , the world is definitely bonkers .
    Best wishes Pamela UK

  19. BEAUTIFUL LADY!!!THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! MAY EACH OF YOU HAVE A HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR!! Comp. problems this morn. Have no idea reason lettering is so small. My wishes are much bigger for each of you !!!

  20. Happy birthday Susan from another September SUSAN (13). I thoroughly enjoy all you posts and appreciate you sharing tips and wisdom you’ve gained over the years! FYI the camisole links both go to the same one.Wishing you both many years of happiness & health!

  21. Susan, I have followed you for years and have learned so much from your tips. Now, I dress more confidently and enjoy a flexible but basic wardrobe. Your skin care and makeup tips have done the same for my daily routine.

    I do have a question about the amount of food (measurements) of foods you eat on a daily basis. I’m at a plateau in weight and would like to lose about 10 more lbs. . I want to transition to your healthy eating pattern, but I’m confused about amounts. I cut out sugar, refined carbs, and seed oils in the past so those are not my issues.

    Thanks for sharing your life and a belated @Happy Birthday”!

    Pat (75 yrs)

  22. Hi Susan,
    Oh wow, what a memorable birthday celebration you have had, and such an incredible dinner you had at Juniper. Life is about the shared experience. Cards are my thing, so cool that Mr. Mickey is too. The customized socks are fabulous. Regina nailed it.
    You both look so good, magazine cover ready.
    Sending you a WONDERFUL day.

  23. You looked lovely for your birthday, as always. Wishing you a very happy, belated birthday! I’m a September baby too. Mine was on the 10th and I turned 66. We are having a late celebration in your neck of the woods. We live in Harrison, AR but are traveling to Ashville, NC on October 20th. Can’t wait to see the beautiful fall colors and enjoy some wonderful restaurants in that area. Any special recommendations? We do have reservations at Bouchon one evening. Thanks for any tips you might have!

    1. Bouchon is a wonderful restaurant. Strada is nearby and is great place for Italian. If you are the mood for healthy farm to table goodness Posana is also in the same couple of blocks. If tapas and a drink is all you seek, Cùrate is a delight.

      I hope you thoroughly enjoy your visit!

  24. This is such a happy place. Thanks, everyone, for sharing along with Susan. I feel as if I take a mini vacation while reading these posts and comments .

  25. Happy Birthday!
    Your meal looks wonderful and I love this look. Wondering if you have a link for your bracelett and ring.

  26. You look glamorous! It is hard to let go of the comfortable Knit shirts. Thank you for inspirations! Any tips will help. Happy birthday

  27. You have mentioned Mr. Mickey’s daughter, Regina, a number of times, and we have even seen a few pictures of her and her lovely style. Does he have other children?

  28. Looks like you had a lovely evening! You so deserve it, and many thanks for sharing so much of what you have learned in your life. You are my online mentor!!

  29. Happy birthday! So glad you and Mr. Mickey celebrated in style. You have helped me to pick out clothing that works for me and to leave trends alone that do not look good on my body type.
    ….wish I could wear heels but just can’t anymore

  30. You look wonderful … as does your handsome date. You’ve been such an inspiration over my journey to “purge” my closet these past several years. There is a “fact” that floats around that we only wear about 20% of the clothes in our closet. I don’t know if that is universally true, but my 300+ item closet has shrunken bit-by-bit to about 60 items (maybe 65 in the fall/winter), so 20% of where I started. And that is the perfect amount for me. So often your posts helped me to visualize what I wanted … basic, elegant, simple, and elevated just enough … with a (small) handful of artsy pieces for when that mood occasionally strikes. Thank you for all your help.

  31. Happy Birthday!

    Seems like your having a wonderful celebration
    Love Mr Mickys cool socks- always fun checking them out!
    Your outfit is just the inspiration I needed for an upcomming wedding that is black and white for the bridal party.
    Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement!
    Mary from Dallas

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I share tips and inspiration for using what you already have in contemporary ways. Defining words include effortless, classic, refined, discreet, and elegant. My style is chic, minimal, and timeless with a bit of edge.