Darling Doggie Dress

 Dress: Angelina Dress in Blue Scotty Houndstooth by Cherry Velvet (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan (thrifted) & Leggings: Torrid 

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted

Necklace & Earring: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Babil & Bijou (no longer online)

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, Daniel, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I couldn't pass up an opportunity to wear a doggy themed dress from one of my favorite brands! From a distance, it looks like houndstooth, but when you get close...actual hounds...very clever. This style, Angelina (the longer version of Brigitte), runs small...or should I say...true to size. I normally can wear a 3x in Cherry Velvet, but I would not be able to in this dress. It's 100% cotton with no stretch & my favorite...an empire waist. The fit of this retro inspired swingy dress is superb, with the darts in just the right place for me. The dress occasionally got caught up on my leggings & didn't lay right...but I would have felt too exposed to go barelegged in this dress. This was delightful to wear & made me smile. I know I've mentioned this before...but aside from LOVING the dresses Cherry Velvet makes...I adore this company even more for including such a wide range of sizes, XS-4X.

The twisted strap cut-out back is charming...good for showing off tattoos, but doesn't get in the way of wearing a typical bra.

Kate, Daniel, & I tried out Lucille on their second day of a soft opening, so there was a limited menu. They are owned by Merchant, which you've seen the girlie & I drinking cocktails at many times. I started off with Strawberry Fields Whenever, which was like an adult fruity shake...& Kate had a beer that tasted like cat urine that had been laundered, then rolled in pine needles, herbs, & lemon (she liked it). We all got our own wood-fired pizzas. I chose asparagus, ham, & artichoke with mozzarella & housemade ricotta...delicious. 

They did an amazing job renovating the space...& I was particularly fond of the ghost signs they uncovered on the brick walls...the one below says...The Future Home of The Capital City Bank...& in the basement there is seating in the former bank vault. After dinner Kate & I walked over to Square Wine for wine tasting...it was incredibly windy & raining. I should mention that I wore the black cardigan on this night & the polka dot one a few days later when I wore this dress a second time...I preferred the dots. 

Two Italian wine makers were touring together & we got to sample some of their wines. This man was from Marco Marengo & his wines were amazing...Kate bought 2 bottles of Barbera & 2 different kinds of Barolo...& if I'm lucky...she'll drink some of it with me. 

My make-up with this ensemble included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Freeze, Half Baked, & Creep; Korean Candy lipstick by MAC; & Conga-Line Coral nail polish by OPI. Also, note...my dog themed jewelry...

I'm linking up to Visible Monday over on Not Dead Yet Style. 

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons

 Dress: Bermuda Dress in Emerald Colorblock by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Liz Claiborne, thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted

Earring: Babil & Bijou (no longer online)

Necklace: Me

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This was a weird dress. The belt & trim were black, but the pattern in the dress was kelly green & dark brown. The fabric was very thin & had an unexpected texture. The belt was attached at the natural waist, but I didn't let that stop me from belting it in my preferred place...under the boobs. I think I must have closeted this because I adore green & Igigi...because sheath dresses aren't usually my thing. I thought this was more flattering than your average sheath, so there's that. I didn't put much effort into styling this, however, I got several compliments while wearing it. 

The first time I wore this dress, I threw it on with no teggings or styling to pick up Kate after her overnight biking/camping adventure. Then after she showered...we ate delicious food at Stalzy's Deli where I got something new to me...pork schnitzel sandwich with a sweet & sour slaw & brown mustard. YUM! I have only recently been enjoying mustard...why?! Also, sandwiches are pointless without a pickle...unless it's PB&J. After lunch...the girlie picked me my favorite flower...lilacs. 

I wore this dress a second time, as pictured, to attend a concert at The Shitty Barn, solo. I don't mind going places alone...I like to eavesdrop on others conversations & pretend I'm invisible...however, people are so incredibly friendly there...that I always end up being talked to...which spoils the illusion that no one can see me.

Enos Farms often makes tasty food...but they outdid themselves with these tacos...this whole meal was amazing...& I got the very last bag of highly addictive corn chips. 

I don't know what to say about this concert other than it was magical & could never be created again...I felt like I was part of this unbelievably marvelous perfect moment in time. Cory Chisel was so kind & generous...he brought along friends, including Jon & his band, J-Council. Jon's the big guy singing above & his voice is surprisingly smoothly soulful...I was blown away. Cory's the guy in the knit hat & he was fantastic...but really shared the stage with Jon. Towards the end of the evening he asked if there were any singers in the audience & the shy woman who was encouraged to come up had such a spectacular voice, it was difficult to believe she wasn't planted there. They sang three part harmony of Sam Cooke covers. Cory somehow had me dancing & hugging strangers. Magical. It was an enchanted evening that I will never forget. 

The band was too big for me to capture in one photo...so I snagged the one above from The Shitty Barn page. 

My make-up with this ensemble included...Urban Decay Black Velvet eyeliner; Sephora eyeliner in Brown (glitter); NYX Green Shimmer eyeliner; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Hustle, Smog, Halfbaked, & Virgin; Electric Grandma Lip Tar by OCC; & Conga-Line Coral nail polish by OPI. 

When Doves Cry

 Dress: Isabella Swing Dress in Idelic by SWAK (size 4x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Array, thrifted

Necklace, Bracelet, & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress had to be mine...I knew that as soon as I saw it in the SWAK spring lookbook...it's the most fabulous 60s scarf print...& the colors *swoon*. And you know I'm all about swing dresses right now...sassy swing dresses...my new favorite thing. The flow of this dress is amazing...it's a light silky poly/spandex blend that can be worn year round. I got this in my usual SWAK size, 4x, but I could have easily sized down & still had plenty of room...however, I prefer the extra fabric in this case. This dress is nearly perfection...the only thing I would change is to shorten the sleeves because I prefer above the elbow length. 

I received this dress weeks ago & didn't notice there were a few places along the seams that the fabric had escaped the thread until I put it on. I called SWAK & was dreading having to complain...but I shouldn't have worried as they have exceptional customer service. The woman I spoke with told me they were out of my size, then went to check to make sure that was true...she told me my size options in this dress, as well as 2 other prints in this style & let me know she could issue a refund as well. I explained to her that it was all about the print...& she offered to take another $10 off the sale price I paid. The amount was back in my paypal account as soon as we got off the phone. I have been buying clothing from SWAK for years & this is the first time my order has not been perfect. Also, I've tried to sew on slippery fabric like this & it left me in tears. So, thank you SWAK for being awesome & friendly. 

Kate got us takeout from Shük...sweet potato falafel (I spared you the picture since I've posted it here a dozen times already)...& we hung out at her place listening to records. I forgot to take photos, but I *think* the 3 below are what she put on the turntable. 

I saw Purple Rain at the theater with my friend Tonya right before we started high school...I remember slow dancing to Prince during my first freshman dance...& listening to Darling Nikki & Head & so many other "naughty" Prince songs that made me feel grown up. Kate & I pondered which other important childhood musicians were left that we'd be sad to lose...I reluctantly agreed with her (only because it's been over a decade since I've liked anything she's done) that Madonna would be big. So, Madonna...try to make it through this year. Then Kate made me re-watch the Bitch I'm Madonna video that I had managed to erase from my mind. Why?!

The next day, as I was dropping off Kate at home after farmers' market...I noticed some garage sale signs in my favorite neighborhood...unplanned garage sale-ing finds include these gorgeous art nouveau soup spoons that the seller said she used to eat cereal with when she stayed with her grandparents (she was in her 60s)...I love hearing stories about the things I buy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Blue eyeliner from NYX; Kat von D eyeshadow in Swoon, Analogue, & Vinyl; Korean Candy lipstick from MAC; Blood Orange lipstick from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in Get Cherried Away. 

Sonny Knight & the Lakers

 Dress: Textural Dots Twirl Dress by Nic + Zoe (size 3x) via Fabfatshion

Cardigan: Lands' End (size 3x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Doc Martens

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64 

I wore this ensemble to see my first show of the season at The Shitty Barn with Angie. I got this dress as part of a mystery box from Fabfatshion. I had it from GB last year & I remember not loving the dress, but liking how I styled it. When I looked through my blog, I discovered I wore it to my first show of the season last year. It's a nice sweater weight & good for a chilly night. The shape is great, but so much grey requires the addition of warm colors to work for me. This dress has definitely been through the wash a bit as it's shorter & tighter than when I first had it...or perhaps I gained a few pounds over the winter?

Enos Farms dinner...normally their food is amazing, but these burgers were stone cold & dry...the rest was tasty. Belfast Ginger Beer...a new addition to their drink line-up & my new favorite. 

Sonny Knight & the Lakers...R&B/Soul from the Twin Cities...a different kind of music than usual for The Barn. I like to sit right in front...so I wasn't able to fit the whole band in. 

I really should make these leopard frames my daily glasses...but I love them so much that I don't want to wear them out, so I only wear them a handful of times a year...isn't that silly?!

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Buttercupcake, Half Baked & Smog eyeshadows from Urban Decay, NYX Simply Vamp lipstick in Enamored & Covet, & Warm & Fozzy nail polish by OPI. 

May 1st, Happy 46th Birthday to Me!

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

Cardigan: Dream of the Crop by Modcloth

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Necklace, Earring, & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This was my birthday outfit. I was afraid of all the white in this dress so I threw a bunch of green & purple at it...then I rather liked it. It looked soooooo springy...especially in front of this budding cherry blossom tree (I'm making this up...I actually have no idea what kind of tree this is). This dress was lovely...it had pretty pleats around the neckline, slightly capped sleeves, an empire waist, & fabulous flow...everything I look for in a dress. I felt pretty. 

Playing peek-a-boo with Super Boo...

I love sushi, so David took me to Red Sushi for dinner...where we had ALL THE SUSHI...& a girlie cocktail. We had some of our rolls with six grain rice & others with forbidden rice (black)...which in addition to looking fancier...are also tastier...in my mind.

These Dream of the Crop cardigans are my favorite...

Wendy Baker makes the most darling jewelry...she works her magic & gloriously stunning things appear that are as sweet as she is. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Stila eyeliner in Tetra, Stila eyeshadow in Glance & Impulse, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Mildew, NYX Pro Lip Cream Palette in The Plums, & OPI nail polish in Dutch 'Ya Just Love OPI?

46th Birthday Party

 Dress: Scuba Dress in Pink Floral by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Avenue

Lace Leggings: Torrid (still available)

Shoes: Born

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble for my birthday party, then on another day to work. I own this dress in solid red & blue...but I resisted keeping this one...mainly because it's made of scuba fabric. The pink was delicate & the coral vibrant...with touches of yellow...stunning against the black background. Fabulous fit & flare shape...basically, this dress is perfect if you like scuba...which I think just feels too thick & heavy. This brand runs big, so a size 24 is the right fit for me. I wore a pink floral cardigan over this at my party, but only because I was running behind (as usual) & just grabbed the first one I could find. These photos were taken on the day I wore this outfit to work. 

I adore these Torrid leggings!! I bought them the last time they were having a 50% off sale...& only because I needed the donut leggings...but these are the ones I fell in love with in person. I thought they were going to be a lace & floral pattern...but they are actual lace. I hope I find lots of pretty outfits to wear them with this summer. Of course I immediately poked a hole in them as I was putting them on. 

We went to Shük for lunch & the sweet owner gave me free dessert & an Izze because David told her it was my birthday. Also, remember the lovely lady from The Girls of GB that offered me her dress that I loved but came to me in poor condition from GB? She oh-so-generously sent along an Igigi dress as well...how nice is that?!

We had planned on having 80s karaoke for my birthday...but I wasn't feeling it...it was a cool rainy day & I just wanted to cuddle up in bed with Super Boo & the doggies. But, bubbles had to happen! We started out the evening with Champagne...& a cute well-behaved doggy that matched Kate's dress...& pig cutting boards! Angie had brought me back a pig cutting board from a prison gift shop out east last summer & Kate gave me this one on this day. I love pigs...they are my third favorite animal (after dogs & elephants). 

How adorable are Kate & Jason?? I need to make a video some time because you just would not believe how adorable they are...

The bubbles continue...& fun with carrots. The girlies dress is from Cherry Velvet....tigers, rrrrarrrrr. I wanted one in burgundy, but they were sold out of my size. 

Kate & David strike a pose & bursting bubbles. Kate traditionally makes me a chocolate orange carrot cake...but this year they came in cupcake form...which I actually liked better....YUM! And Angie made lemon poppyseed cake with whipped cream & the most delicious homemade plum ginger jam. I did not fully appreciate it on this night...but a few days later when I put it on toast I swooned from the perfection of it. 

If it weren't for this picture...I would have forgotten we played Game of Things. Angie is barely in this shot...& Toby never made it into any photos. I have to fill my blog with pictures of Kate so she'll read it ;)

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, UD eyeshadow in Flame, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Buttercupcake, Too Faced eyeshadow in Sprinkles, a mixture of lipsticks...Bite Beauty in Cranberry & Blood Orange and OCC in Trollop, & Woodstock by Colors by Llarowe on my nails.