Welcome and Thank You!

Don’t you hate it when you go to a website, and several popups and a ton of ads show up all over the page and even within the text of the article you want to read? I do! That’s why I invested more than $30,000 to build this safe shopping and blog website last year. I’m sharing this fact with you because I want you to know the level of my commitment to providing a safe space for women to learn, share, and support each other.

I wanted to create a safe, commercial-free space for us to share ideas and inspiration. If you learn helpful tips, discover a new place to visit, start a healthier lifestyle, or if you are inspired to put together outfits that work well for you, I have succeeded.

We took these photos before going out to dinner. I wore an asymmetric hem top from the Travelers Collection from Chico’s last year over straight-leg pants. The shoes/boots are several years old by Franco Sarto. The necklace is from Caravans in the Grove Arcade in Asheville. The designer is Petra Meiren, a German jewelry designer. The vest was a long-ago Christmas gift from Mr. Mickey.

58 Comments
  1. Thank you, I enjoy reading your blog – without the pop ups etc. I appreciate your investment in us. I love this outfit – you look beautiful as always

  2. “Learn helpful tips, discover a new place to visit, begin a healthier lifestyle, or if you are inspired to put together outfits that work well for you”. Check, check, check and check–that about sums up what your blog has done for me, Susan. I have found your blog meets all that criteria, in spades. Appreciate the inspiration!

  3. Thank you, Susan, for your investment to keep the pop ups off your blog. That’s just another reason your readership continues to grow.

  4. I .truly appreciate your ad-free site. Having text interrupted by an ad is irritating and I even don’t like when the ad is placed in a column along side the text. So thank you for that. Your home is lovely. I remember you gave us a tour at one time. Could you link to that again? Thanks

  5. Good morning, Susan. I appreciate the care you have taken in all that you share. Your blog is the best, always beautiful, classy, and helpful. Thank you.

  6. I love your blog and appreicate what I learn about style from you.I also enjoy wearing several of your scarves and always receive compliments on them. Thank you!

  7. Thank you! You look great (as always) and I enjoyed seeing a glimpse of your home. I appreciate all your efforts and hard work. I am 62 (heavier than I should be) and struggling to find my best self (style and health.) Finding your blog was like finding a friend. I don’t comment very often, however your daily blog is something I look forward to and find inspiration from. So.. thanks again!

  8. Thank you so much for your investment in your “no-ad” blog. It is so easy to get lost in all the ads. Sometimes I stop reading in those sites. Your’s is very pleasant and easy to follow. Thank you.

  9. Oh my gosh Susan — I have just realized we have the same sofa and living room rug! How funny! I also truly appreciate the lack of ads and pop ups in your blog. Several others I read have so many— and one I just stopped reading because they were so irritating.
    Great job!

  10. Dear Susan,
    One reason i frequent your site is indeed for the ad free information. I go crazy over a few websites/bloggers that I follow. Can i name them here? Anyway, one has so many within the context of the article that I actually never click on the “read more” link. I don’t have time to look at all of them. I don’t mind an ad or two on the side, even within, but i mean 1 or 2….not 10!!! Thank you for your diligence!!! Amy

  11. You have succeeded on all counts. I discovered your blog almost four years ago because I retired and my husband and I moved out of state. I discovered dressing as you get older was hard!! You helped with that and still continue to do so. I also enjoy your positive take on life. I saved one of your posts for a long time about making friends as I had moved into a small community and knew no one. The blog inspired me. Thank you for being such an inspiration and the hard work you do for us!!

  12. Susan, thank you so much for all your hard work in making your blog the best there is for the more mature woman. You are a positive influence on so many of us and not only do you look great in everything you wear but you also take the time to explain why you put together your outfits as you do. This is so valuable to us and helps to encourage us women that we are worth that extra bit of effort to feel good about ourselves. Although I live in the U.K.,and in most cases unable to purchase the clothes you wear, I have learnt so much from you. Thank you

  13. I love your blog, and especially that you do not have “pop ups” within the text and all kinds of ads…..so frustrating, and your blog is refreshing that you do not see that! Thank you! Love your blog, and I have learned much from your fashion sense and tips….Thank you again!

  14. I think your website is great! Thank you for everything you share with us who read your blog. It’s great that there are no ads.

  15. Wow, that is a big investment. Like others comments, I do appreciate no pop-ups! Always enjoy visiting your blog Susan and I continue learning 🙂
    You have a lovely home.
    Take care

  16. No wonder I get so excited when you post something new here! It’s classy and elegant and informative. Thank you Susan!

  17. Susan, I love your new look with the soft jackets, soft lines. I am 68 and I understand your comments about needing to change a few things. I’ve been there!
    Now, how about letting us in on how you style your hair!!?? Is it all one length and do you use a curling iron? I’m fascinated!
    -Diane

    1. My hair is naturally wavy/curly. I try to bring some order to the front with a vented brush and a blow dryer, but mostly I let it air dry. The cut is a slightly angled bob which is layered near the ends.

  18. Thank you for the simple elegance and peacefulness of your website. It is a reflection of you. I also appreciate the value you place on us by your investment of time and money.

  19. As always you inspire me to dress better and just be the best I can be. This moment will pass quickly❤️thankyou

  20. Is it OK to wear same color top and pants but different materials? I have some Travelers pants, but am afraid to wear same color tunic tops because the fabrics are different and I’m afraid they will look different in different lights.

  21. You’ve succeeded wonderfully, Susan, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your links, website & blog posts — always timely, always relevant, always upbeat & positive. My life choices have often put me outside what was expected of women, from my career as a civil engineer to neither wanting nor having children & never being that terribly interested in what other people think is “suitable” or “appropriate” (I am most definitely NOT one of the ladies who lunches!). Consequently I sometimes feel out of step with so many “women’s blogs”, especially when it comes to fashion & beauty. But your attitude & focus are so universal I don’t feel left out. I especially love the emphasis you put on knowing what makes us happy (regardless of what others might think), and living our lives to express that — but with a critical (& honest!) eye for what works & what doesn’t. Thank you from this still contrary, not-so-ex-hippie biker girl!

  22. Susan I love your blog. I love your helpfull hints on clothes, travel and just life in general. Thank you especially for the ad free space. I have stopped reading many blogs because I just don’t have time to exit all those ads. They are annoying and it just angers me taking away from the lovely experience and info I’m looking for on a blog. So thank you, thank you and thank you.

  23. Your thoughtful and insightful ideas and advice have me showing much more care and thought to how I present myself everyday.Also, what seems intuitive with people who have a great sense of style ends up being a skill and mindset which one can cultivate and learn from someone like you. Thanks!

  24. I can not add anything to the above comments. All of,us that follow your blog seem to agree that it is the best and we all have learned so much from you. I especially have enjoyed your weekend travels with Mr. Mickey and what you wore and packed for each of the trips. Hopefully there will be many more to come. Several questions: are the pants you sell on your site comparable to the Chico’s traveler pants? Would you post the link to the under garments you wear? when you pick a scarf to wear with an outfit, do you pick it from a scarf that’s laid out flat or do you fold it and then decide? I am having a hard time deciding on one of your scarfs that is shown flat.

  25. Congratulations on your anniversary. Has it really been that long?

    Thank you for being realistic and leading the way in accepting the physical changes that come at stages throughout our lives. Our bodies do change with time. That’s life. We can still look our best and feel good about ourselves. It doesn’t take a small fortune and limitless closet space to do this.

    I’m glad to know I’m not alone on this journey. Thank you for creating this space to learn and grow together.

  26. Thank you for this great website, you’re one classy lady! I discovered it in September and have used many tips to jumpstart my wardrobe. Turning 60 in April helped me decide to try a new look that better reflects my age and experiences. My husband and I have started to enjoy our early retirement, it’s about us for a change!

  27. Your blog has shown me so much about what to look for to find clothing that is flattering. My figure is nothing like yours, as I am plus sized; but your style suggestions work very well for me, and you have explained why some items work and some just don’t, so that I can apply them to plus size items that I buy.

    I have purchased several scarves from your site and love every one of them. I wish that everywhere that I shop was as quick and easy as your site is.

  28. I am one of your readers who truly appreciates the absence of pop-ups on your site. Thank you very much for making this a safe, pleasant and really informative place to meet amd learn.

  29. You look great and I have enjoyed your blog for several years now. It has been so very helpful and congratulations in your 1 yr shopping site anniversary. Thank you!

  30. I enjoy your blog a great deal. You have encouraged me to develop a style that is suitable for my age and petite size. Furthermore, after seeing how very lovely your hair looks, I was encouraged to grow my hair out a bit. I’m loving it! Thanks for all your thoughts on finding those fashions that enhance us as unique individuals.

  31. that’s all well and good that you made a $30,000 investment to your website. frankly, you are selling quite a few items that require a credit card and sensitive information so it’s a no-brainer you should have a secure website and more. as far as pop-up ads? all the big retailers and news organizations have that feature. what’s the big deal?

    1. This project is a labor of love. I want to help women be their best selves and enjoy this season of life while sharing all the things I wish I had known earlier. My purpose is not just to try to sell them something at every visit so that I can make a commission. Pop-ups and ads all over the page interfere with content and also site loading.

  32. Hi Susan I love your blog and all of your help, I was reading someone’s comment and see in the past you had a post about making friends in a new community. Would it be possible for you to share that again? My best friend had to relocate due to family needs and is having a difficult time finding new friends. I miss her so, she is like a sister to me but I am blessed because I have my job and friends here. Thank you

  33. How can I receive your blogs? I thoroughly enjoy them! So important for women over 60 to have this helpful information

    1. I entered your email address for you. You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter. You’ll receive a confirmation email in a few minutes. Please follow the link in it to confirm your subscription. If the email takes more than 15 minutes to appear in your mailbox, please check your spam folder.

  34. I very much appreciate the lack of obnoxious advertising on your website.
    Because I have been trying to upgrade my wardrobe, I ordered from Talbots. Now there is an incredibly distracting ad by them on the Washington Post. It is so annoying I think I will not purchase from them again.

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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.