KonMari, Not Magic For Me

 Top: Keyhole Tunic in Blossom Print by Taylor Dresses (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Skirt: J. Jill, thrifted

Sandals: Born, eBay

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Allie's Adornments

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work & out to see a movie & get ice cream with my boo. I felt ugly all day in this hideous top. My sweetie tried to nicely tell me that I should perhaps not wear this out of the house, but I feel I have to wear nearly everything GB sends me. It was a mess on me...hot fabric, too long, clingy...but at the same time, too big. I felt like a shapeless blob in this top. I normally adore Taylor Dresses dresses...they should stick to those & stop making tops exclusively for GB. The only good part about this outfit was that I finally got to wear this cotton skirt Super Boo found me at Savers...it's an odd color, but soooo comfy. 

I've had a request in at the library for this popular book for quite some time...when they finally sent me a notice that I could pick it up...I was afraid. I was hoping that it might change my life & get me to throw stuff away & be more organized (what would life be like if I knew where everything I had was??). However, after reading all but the last 20 pages of this book...it did not magically alter me. Where she finally really lost me was when she wrote about how she takes every single thing out of her purse every day when she gets home, puts her purse in a bag, thanks it for being of use to her, & puts it away to rest. What I will try to use of the KonMari method is to go through all my things by category, starting with clothing & ask if it sparks joy. Is there really any room in any of our lives for things that don't make us happy?

My sweetie & I went to Sundance because I wanted to see Straight Outta Compton. I loved the art instillation of baker's pans in the lobby. After the movie...ice cream on State St. 

My make-up this day included...Deep Burgundy eyeliner by Stila, Anastasia eyeshadow in Punch Fuchsia, as well as Jilted & Urban from UD, & a mixture of UD Ladyflower & NYX Temptress on my lips. 

JP Harris

 Dress: Faux Wrap Dress in Peacock Print by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Aerosoles?, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work on one day & to a concert on another. This dress was gorgeous, however, I felt it looked better on Kate. Whenever there is a forced tie at the natural waist, I am unhappy...I prefer an empire waist for myself. That, & the shortness, are my only complaints about this dress...otherwise, the psychedelic peacock pattern was marvelous & I adored how the skirt incorporated purple, but the top was just blues...coordinating, but not matchy matchy. This dress had pockets, which is not typical for this brand & an unnecessary zipper up the back. 

Angie & I drove to Spring Green to see JP Harris at The Shitty Barn. Doors are supposed to open at 6, but the band was still sound checking when we got there as they had driven nearly 12 hours from Tennessee & had gotten in later than intended. I've never seen the doors closed before...I adore old weathered things...I will be sad if they ever slap a new coat of paint on this place.

Grilled sweet corn chowder from Enos Farms made a yummy dinner. During break we also had dessert...Angie picked the better of the two, the chocolate beetroot cake...moist & delicious. 

JP Harris & The Tough Choices played some good old-fashioned Honky Tonk music peppered with some great storytelling. While I'd normally say this isn't my kind of music...I bought both of their albums. 

My make-up with this dress included...Blueberry Swirl & Nougat eyeshadows from the Too Faced Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar palette, Pretty Violet eyeliner from NYX, a mixture of MAC Bronze Shimmer & NYX Simply Vamp in Temptress on my lips, & OPI polish in Lost My Bikini in Molokini. I poked myself in the eye with eyeliner the day I wore this to work & ended up in urgent care the next day...so I was not able to wear eye make-up at the barn. 

Sean Hayes

 Dress: Fit & Flare Dress with Ruched Waist by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Bracelets: Vintage, thrifted

Photography: Kate, Angie, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work & to see a concert with Kate & Angie. I had been longing to get this dress ever since GB got it in the spring & I saw it on Kate (which I convinced her she needed to buy). The 4 months of wear showed on this dress enough to prevent me from purchasing, however, it was lovely to wear once...I adored the 40s inspired design, unique dotty pattern, & the fantastic coral color on me. Great length, I loved the ruching around the boobs...the only thing I would change about this dress is to add a less conservative neckline. I would have bought this had it come to me in good shape. 

The Shitty Barn 2 days in a row! We hadn't realized when we got the tickets that this was a rare Thursday night show. Fortunately, it's a beautiful drive. 

Unintentionally matchy girlies, both wearing London Times from GB. This is a great brand & one that I am grateful GB introduced me to. 

Kate looking fabulous. I enjoyed wearing this dress to a play last month. 

Kate didn't want to eat the cauliflower chickpea curry Enos Farms was serving 2 days in a row, so we brought our own picnic. Angie made us heavenly tomato & basil (both fresh out of her garden) sandwiches with fresh mozzarella (and ham for us meat lovers) & I picked up a variety of things from the co-op salad bar & juicy sweet peaches from our neighbors tree. During intermission, I had to get another Marsala gelato sundae to share...soooo amazingly delicious! 

Sean Hayes was marvelous...there was a bit of R&B mixed in with his brand of folk. I am still rather blown away to think this guy is only 1 year older than I am. I know I'm completely rubbish at guessing ages, but I thought he was a decade older. Perhaps if he dyed his hair & wore make-up...?

My make-up this day included...Urban Decay's Slowburn eyeshadow, NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue, a mixture of OCC Lip Tar in Trollop & Electric Grandma, & China Glaze nail polish in Midnight Mission. 

Haley Bonar

Dress: Faux Wrap Dress in Petal Print by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Sandals: Born

Earring: etXarte

Pin & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this gorgeous dress to see a concert at The Shitty Barn with Super Boo, Kate, Angie, & Toby. I LOVED this dress! The splendid watercolor print & bountiful colors...stunning. It's impossible to tell from these photos, but there is a lining that stops around the knees as the bottom is a sheer chiffon fabric. The top of this dress is a stretchy polyester. I was so enamored with this fabulous frock, I managed to block out the flaws...of which, to me, there were two. First of all, I had no choice but to wear a pin to keep the neckline closed (fashion tape was not strong enough) & also, as the belt was attached at the sides, I was not able to tie this under my bust where I would have preferred, but was forced to tie at my natural waist. However, I felt so gloriously feminine & pretty in this dress...those things barely mattered. And look at how the skirt flows in the wind! 

The girlie wearing Karen Kane from GB...the peachy color looked marvelous against her tanned skin. 

2 girlies by the Airstream...there was no one photo where we both looked good...so I picked a silly one instead...I adore Kate's laugh. 

Kate took this adorable picture of Super Boo & I...

As well as one which captures what we are more often like...

The people with the Airstream were traveling around the country from Austin with their cute old dog, selling clothing & other things they made. 

Despite having a cello *and* a violin...I was not in love with the first band, We Are The Willows. I was, however, madly in love with the dessert I got between sets...Marsala wine gelato! with blueberry oat topping *swoon*. I had not eaten dinner there as S. Boo & I had gone to Indian buffet for lunch, but I am most grateful that I had this dessert. 

Haley Bonar! She was mesmerizing...really wonderful & such an adorable 60s haircut. "Wondrously ornate pop" ~NPR Music. 

This ridiculous photo is to model the different purple polishes I had on each hand (I preferred the one on the left). 

My make-up this day included...Stila's Purple Tang eyeliner; Jilted, Urban, & Fringe eyeshadows from the Urban Decay Electric palette; Bite Beauty lipstick in Burgundy; & the OPI polishes, OPI INK. & Suzi & the 7 Düsseldorfs. 

Purple & Yellow

Dress: Juliet Dress in Eggplant by SWAK (size 4x)

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this Juliet dress everywhere...to work, out to eat several times, & to various farmers' markets (although I only put make-up on the day we took these photos on our way to work, other days, naked face). It is such an easy comfortable dress to throw on...I also own it in blueberry. I bought this dress a while back, but my own clothes get ignored while I wear GB...so I was happy to finally wear it out. I adore the empire waistline & soft pettable jersey fabric. Also, purple! 

I found all of these marvelous treasures at one garage sale! I was in heaven! I am going to use the vintage quilt as a tablecloth for picnics. 

I collect old photographs of weddings...I like to imagine how they met & what their lives were like. This particular collection started after my paternal grandmother died & I inherited photographs of her wedding to my grandpa, as well as from her first wedding...that husband died in WWII. 

Kate & I skipped a rather rainy (there were at least several drops!) Saturday market to have brunch instead. We tried a new-to-us place, Oliver's. The drinks were spectacular! The girlie had a Thyme Traveler (thyme infused vodka, grapefruit, & salt), while I tried a Rose Nyland Fizz (gin, Thai rose/rhubarb syrup, cava, & lemon). My Eggs Benedict with house made muffins were lovely, but I was disappointed in the not nearly crispy enough rösti potatoes. 

These London Times blouson dresses from GB look fabulous on Kate...

The much more manageable Sunday market. Fun all female band, Prairie Bayou Cajun Band & free sweet corn boil. 

After market, Kate showed me a pretty nature area she likes to walk & we wandered on the trail for a bit. 

My make-up with this dress included...Sugarpill's Buttercupcake eyeshadow, Purple Tang eyeliner by Stila, a mixture of UD Ladyflower & Bite Beauty Burgundy on my lips, & Woodstock nail polish from Colors by Llarowe. 

I'm taking part in Leah's Outfit August (since this is the first outfit I've worn this month out of my own closet, this is my first time). Check out her fabulous blog to see her outfit's & links to the other lovely ladies taking part. On Instagram, look for #outfitaugust2015 for more photos. 

Should It Stay or Should It Go?

 Top: Etched Floral Peasant Top by Karen Kane (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Skirt: Enwrapture Vintage Silk Sari

Sandals: Born

Earring: Vintage 80s

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work & to garage sales. First of all, I was in love with this top & skirt combination...I felt pretty all day. Then I looked at the photos. Neither Super Boo or I realized that the sun shining in front of me would bounce up to light me from below like a spooky jack-o-lantern. Unflattering. This top was light without being transparent & of course I thought the color was delightful. I had no choice but to tuck this shirt in, however, because it was extremely tight at the bottom. 

There are 2 reasons I've been absent from blogging this week, the first is because I wasn't thrilled with posting such hideous photos of myself & the other reason is because I poked myself in the eye with eyeliner & couldn't see so well. Readers who've been following me from the beginning will know...this wasn't the first time. Thanksgiving 2013, I had to go to urgent care before the feast. I am not sure how I went over 3 decades without ever stabbing myself in the eye...especially since for about 15 years...I used a hat pin to separate each individual eyelash after I applied mascara. 

 Top & Skirt: Lane Bryant

Sandals: Born

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Kathy Barrick

Bracelet: Vintage

I've had both of these items of clothing for a decade or so without ever wearing them...they've been floating around my closet waiting to be dyed a color I actually like...so I thought I'd take it to The Girls of GB when I finally decided to put these on to run some errands. The consensus was...get rid of both items. So out they went! I'm going to try to make this a new feature...Should It Stay or Should It Go? My closet could use some purging. 

My garage sale finds include (above)...2 vessels for flowers, a metal toy elephant made in India, an orange pitcher, a green glass, a holy water holder?, a vintage ice crusher, a vintage red covered cooking dish, 2 vintage table clothes for picnic-ing, & an old tin box. 

Also, a metal letter L (both Super Boo & my last name begin with this letter) & a lovely Nordic Ware bundt pan. 

Scary! The Halloween lighting is much more apparent in my spooky close-up! I was really pleased with my make-up this day too.

My jewelry is staying, but the outfit had to go...