Pretty in Pink 30th Anniversary

 Dress: Magic Dress by Melissa Masse (size 3x) via The Girls of GB sale post

Leggings: Torrid

Cardigan: ?, thrifted 

Boots: Dr. Marten

Earring: Vintage 80s

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this pink ensemble to work & see Pretty in Pink with Kate, then again the next day to run errands. I love these Melissa Masse fit & flare dresses. I have several of them, but this one was the first GB got & we at The Girls of GB dubbed it "the magic dress" because it is so flattering to nearly every body type. It was an *extremely* windy day...I now have dozens of photos of me with my dress flying over my face & exposing my belly. I wanted to wear pink for the occasion...I am aware that none of these pinks match...but I was even less concerned about that in the 80s than I am now. I wore this earring to see Pretty in Pink in the theater 30 years ago...I also had that bracelet in high school. I remember that I wore pink shorts, pink lace tights, & pink pointy heels with tons of straps to originally see this movie, but I can't recall what I wore on top. I *think* it was a pink lace top with a silky pink floral oversized jacket/blazer. 

I was nearly 16 when Pretty in Pink was released...out of all the John Hughes movies...this one was my favorite & I most related to Molly Ringwald's character...although I would have picked Duckie to date. I first saw this movie with Shane, then on a date, & again with Shane. I don't remember ever going to see a movie more than once in the theater back then except for this one. 

 Urban Decay had a sale...

I took a trip to the beauty supply...in search of new products for my hair. I'm not sure what has changed...is our water too soft? My hair not as layered? Old age? Some time in the fall my hair stopped being as full of body & lost a lot of its natural wave. I like to do as little as possible to my hair...wash it & leave the house. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Brown eyeliner from Sephora; Too Faced eyeshadows in Totally Fetch, Cotton Candy, & Sprinkles; Urban Decay lipstick in Crush; & J'Adore My Mani nail polish by Morgan Taylor.

Every Day is Valentine's Day

 Dress: Tea Length Dress in Dahlia by City Chic (size XXL) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Dream of the Crop Cardigan in Burgundy (size 4x) via ModCloth

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Bandolino, thrifted

Earring: etsy?

Necklace & Bracelet: Age Before Beauty 

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit for Valentine's Day...out to lunch with Super Boo & to shop Savers 50% off sale. Despite Valentine's Day also being our anniversary (13 years), we don't celebrate. This dress was gorgeous, I mean...just look at that regal purple! It was that textured fabric I have grown to love & I liked the tea length on me & the way the full skirt pouffed out & draped...I felt like a 50s housewife. However, it would have been impossible for me to wear this sleeveless dress without a cardigan as my bra was sticking out all over...the neckline was extremely low, the straps were way off to the side...& holy cleavage when I sat down. Even my lowest plunge bra was not up to the task. This dress came with a wide belt, but I preferred to wear it without...there were enormous belt loops which also required a cardigan to cover up. 

I wasn't sure how this purple would pair with burgundy...but I wanted to wear this cupid necklace made from a vintage Valentine card & this was my only GB at home. I rather like the combination. Let's talk about this cropped cardigan...I am in love! I bought both this one & green around Christmas, on sale for ~$11 (both colors are no longer available). I have since gotten it in other colors. I didn't think cropped cardigans were for me until I found this Torrid polka dot one at Savers...now they are my new favorite thing. I felt like this dress deserved an event to go to, so I kept it at home for several weeks...I really let this dress down. On this day I was going to go see Davina & the Vagabonds, but decided to stay home. I have to confess...I do that A LOT. I get many comments that I always do such fun things...but I'm really a total homebody. And I hate crowds. You'll see this dress again next week styled a different way (spoiler alert: I backed out of my plans on that day too). 

David & I LOVE Indian buffet...but our usual place has gone downhill, so we decided to give our previous favorite restaurant, Maharaja, another try (it has been years)...SO good. And they were nice to us, just like they used to be at Maharani before a total turnover in staff. In fact, we liked it so much we've gone there 4 times in the last 10 days. 

Savers 50% off sale, day 1. I finally found a black cardigan with sequins! I also got a black velvet shirt with cherries, a Lane Bryant b&w polka dot dress with varying sizes of dots, grey velveteen pants for wearing around the house, a black cardigan, an extremely long magenta cardigan, more cardigans...then on the end...a purple cashmere sweater with a bit of argyle from Lands' End. So soft. 

Savers 50% off sale, day 2 (I actually wore the blue dress in my last entry on this day & got home just in time to blue bag it for the mailman). My finds this day...a pretty blue & green top, a polka dot button up shirt that also has a matching camisole, green argyle cardigan, & another Lands' End cardigan...fleur-de-lys *swoon*. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Purple eyeliner from NYX; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Sonic, Alchemy, Bondage, Last Sin, & Freakshow; & Nars lipstick in Majella. 

Super Boo = Love

 Dress: Peek-A-Boo Perfection Dress by Kiyonna (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Simply Vera by Vera Wang, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Brooch: Vintage

Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble on 3 different days...for Super Boo's birthday, to work & errand, & to vote. This vibrant blue frock from Kiyonna was a delight to wear. It has a subtle textured print & I am growing to love this trend...I like the feel of it. Also, I was smitten with the peek-a-boo lace inset...that & the revealing neckline turn this otherwise conservative dress into elegant event wear...add a camisole & button up the sweater & it's perfect for work. My only issue with this dress was that I *had* to pin it...it wanted me to have 5x the boobs, so without a pin...it sloppily gaped. This is an outfit that would have NEVER happened pre-GB. I hated pink & blue...now look at me. 

This would have been the perfect dress to try out some shapewear with for before & after photos as it is clinging to my rolls. I bought some high-waisted Spanx-like panties back in December, but the tags are still on them. Someday. Maybe. I like comfort. 

 L is for Love.

For David's birthday...we ate out...a lot. In the morning we went to SWAP (where UW gets rid of things & we got multiple book ends, paper sorters, & the BEST find...a big metal divided shelving thing that I'm going to use for organizing crafty supplies) & then had lunch at Jordandal Cookhouse (we buy most of our meat from them at farmers' market)...we shared sweet potato salad, red potato salad, & corn muffins...then pork tacos, a Cubano, & a Banh Mi. I also had a Wisco Pop ginger soda...it was all delicious!! Yum from Chocolatarian, & Sal's pizza for dinner. We tried a new to us pizza...C3PO...chicken, prosciutto, pesto, garlic, feta, mozzarella, red peppers, & caramelized onions. It is our new fav...so much tastiness. 

We voted!

A surprise came in the mail...David got me 2 pairs of the new teggings color, peacock! And a few others...just because. He's the sweetest. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Kat von D eyeshadow in Synth, Dark Wave, & Echo...layered as eyeliner; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Junkshow, Provocateur, & Last Sin; a mixture of Bite Beauty's Quince & Aubergine on my lips; & OPI nail polish in You're A Pisa Work. 

2 Girlies, 1 Dress: Friendship

 Dress: Knot Front Dress in Navy & Red by Lucie Lu (size 5x & 0x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Liz & Me, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: The Gilded Gypsies

Necklace: Vintage

Bracelet: Cindy Forrester (works mostly in ceramics now)

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work & to 2 farmers' markets...I really didn't want to send this one back. Ever. Why did I? Well besides really not needing any more clothing...GB wanted $59 for this dress. I have several of this style from this brand that I bought for $15-25 brand new from GB. GB prices have become outrageous. These Lucie Lu dresses are worth no more than $40...used, $25 at most. I will wait until they are trying to get rid of this dress in the shop for $20...it is getting terrible reviews. I must admit my enthusiasm for this dress is mostly due to the red being so deliciously orangey. And look how adorable it is with that cardigan & shiny blue shoes! I don't care that it is a bit clingy & shows off my bifurcated belly. I love the sweetheart neckline & checkered pattern. 

I don't own any navy tights...how is that possible? There is also black in the dress. 

It is difficult to get a photo of Kate & I where we both look good. At this photo shoot...impossible. So here is a bunch of pictures of us looking silly...it starts out cute enough, but then...

I feel lucky to have 2 people in my life that I laugh so much with, Kate & David. Kate has been my best friend for nearly 17 years. She has taught me so much about myself & friendship. And never giving up. She is always there for me when I need her with kind words & the truth. I remember back in our first year of knowing each other...she called me a bitch. I was shocked. I told her, no one has ever called me that before...she responded...well, they've wanted to. I love you, girlie.

After photos...we went to Shük again for lunch...we both had sweet potato falafel, the girlie had hers in a salad, & I ate mine in a pita. It is unbelievably tasty. 

Then we went to wine tasting...the winemaker Barnaby Tuttle from Teutonic Wine Company in Portland was visiting...he was adorable, especially when telling us how some of the wines are named after Spinal Tap. Also, there was a woman there wearing elephant leggings! I need elephant leggings. 

The next day, Sunday, we went to Olbrich Gardens Conservatory so Kate could wear this summery GB dress. It was delightfully warm & humid...a perfect little getaway in the middle of winter. I wore sandals. 

It was even warm enough to wander in the outside gardens a bit. The hydrangeas were still covered in dried flowers & the girlie pointed out this lovely peeling bark...there is still beauty to be found in a winter garden. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Aja eyeshadow from Sephora's Jem palette as eyeliner, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Asylum, a mixture of NYX Russian Roulette & Bite Beauty's Toast on my lips, & OPI nail polish in Give Me Space (sparkly blue holo...sooooo pretty in person). 

Tribal Print

 Dress: Tribal Print Front Zip Dress by City Chic (size XXL) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Willow Bay, thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Boots: Fluevog

Earring: Babil & Bijou

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble to work. I nearly blue bagged this dress immediately because David hated it passionately...however, I loved the vibrant colors, so I had to give it a shot. The main thing I disliked about this dress was the pleated poufiness of the skirt at the waist, & also the big huge gold zip down the front. Otherwise, I thought it was a fun dress. 

The sun was setting, so we had to find a place on our way home to take photos...this parking lot was quite a discovery...I wanted to use the mural on the side of this building that we drive by all the time, I had no idea the back of it was even better. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Pretty Violet; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Jilted, Urban, & Savage; Bite Beauty lipstick in Quince; & Get Cherried Away nail polish from OPI. 

Brunch is the best meal ever invented...

 Top: Floral Ombre Printed Blouse by Isabel & Alice (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Sunset Stroll Bellini (size 4x) by Kiyonna via GB Try Then Buy

Skirt: Purple Skater Skirt by Lucie Lu via Facebook resale group

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: A'rcopedico, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to Sunday brunch & on another day to work. I had tried this GB housebrand top during their Chicago event & I was expecting to buy it...however, it had shrunk in the months since it has been released. I had been surprised that the 5x (my normal size in their brand) was way too big on me, but the 4x was a perfect fit when it was new. The colors in this blouse are gorgeous & it was a great match with this Kiyonna Bellini. 

Brunch at Angie & Toby's house. Brunch is my absolute favorite meal. David had the brilliant idea of bringing mandarins to juice for  our mimosas...I thought it was ridiculous at first...who wants to squeeze their juice on the spot? I was so so wrong. It was fun & the mandarins made the mimosas zingier. I made sweet potato hash with bacon & rosemary from our 3 season porch (we brought it inside for the winter)...it was perfect as I'd been craving orange veggies. Look at those adorable little pie plates! They were Angie's grandmas...inside them are 3 different kinds of quiche?...frittata?  yummy eggy-ness. But the highlight of brunch for me were the un-cinnamon rolls Angie made. My face fell when she said they weren't cinnamon rolls...but then it turned out to be even better...cardamom orange rolls!! Delightfully delectable. 

Their foster dog, Val, being naughty...I love naughty dogs...but I did not feed her from the table...not even once. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Junkie, UD eyeshadow in Jilted & Urban, Sephora Jem eyeshadow in Jerrica, Bite Beauty lipstick in Burgundy, & Get Cherried Away nail polish by OPI. 

Osteria Papavero & Italian Wine Tasting

 Dress: Bubbly Fit & Flare Dress by Lucie Lu (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Avenue

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Franco Sarto, thrifted

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble to go out with Kate last Friday & on another day to work. I bought this dress from GB back in summer of 2014, brand new, for ~$15. They had a lot of 50% off sales & prices were reasonable back then. The last time I wore this dress was on 4th of July that year. As much as I like having new things from GB, it's also fun to dig into my closet & wear my own clothes. I haven't worn this leopard cardigan in YEARS...& to be honest, if I had been able to find my darker Lands' End leopard cardigan...it would still not have seen the light of day. I actually like this one better for this outfit. I found these leopard shoes at Savers & this is my first time wearing them...when I went out with Kate I wore black boots because I was worried about having to tromp through snow downtown. Dots & leopard are both neutrals...so therefore, this outfit totally matches. 

During the day last Friday & then briefly on Saturday to farmers' market, where Kate snapped this photo...I wore this awful Karen Kane leopard dress. I hated it. I could not be bothered to put on make-up to run errands & wear this hideous "dress"...I had to wear leggings as when I sat down, it was short enough to expose my underwear. Not a good look. I could have made this work...but I find I am having less patience with wearing things I don't feel good in. I closeted this because it had looked amazing on so many of the ladies in The Girls of GB...it just wasn't for me. 

On Friday David & I ran errands which included, checking out what UW SWAP had on offer (we picked up some kitchen utensils), looking at magazines, & Indian buffet for lunch. The Rolling Stone tribute issue to David Bowie came out that day & I wanted to buy it...however, I was disappointed as I had already read all the celebrity memories online...I was expecting more. Check out that marvelous refashioned cardigan! I took a photo of it because I'd love to do that...I found it in Altered Couture & also took pictures of the instructions...add it to my never-ending inspiration pile. Also, caged wine cork necklaces! Not stunning on its own, but I love the idea of using special corks this way. 

Dinner with the girlie at Osteria Papavero. The problem with dim mood lighting...not very conducive to pretty food photos. We shared wild mushroom soup; a local vegetable antipasto, which included squash, spinach, & fennel (I don't remember the details, but it was tasty); wild mushroom risotto; & scallops. We ordered too much delicious food. 

Tuscany wine tasting...I forgot to take photos of the wine...but the girlie is much more photogenic, she is wearing a GB dress from Corey that I had to keep touching because it looked like it would be a sweater dress, but the tweed print was light & silky.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Colorpop eyeshadow in Erotic, UD eyeshadow in Half Baked, Russian Roulette lipstick by NYX, & OPI nail polish in O'Hare & Nails Look Great.