Strange Things

 Turtleneck: Lane Bryant (size 26/28)

Skirt: Effie's Heart (size 4x) via FabFatshion

Leggings: Torrid (size 4)

Boots: John Fluevog

Shoes: Tahari, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklaces: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Bracelet, both: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit two slightly different ways...a bunch of times...to work, farmers' market, running errands... & other things pictured below. I adore Effie's Heart clothing...they have recently begun carrying plus sizes on their website (only 2 dresses so far...but they are both cute). In the past you could only get plus size Effie's Heart on ModCloth & through Gwynnie Bee. They make their garments out of a heavy cotton knit that is soft & comfortable to wear...& in adorable patterns. 

We had a whole week here in Wisconsin where we opened the windows all day & turned off the heat...we topped out at 70°...now we're back to winter...but during that week I was able to walk around without socks on...& better show off these fun sugar skull leggings from Torrid. 

This sweater...full of loathing...the band on the bottom is small...therefore...it kept rolling up & drove me mad. I used to love Lane Bryant sweaters years ago...but not the last several I have bought...maybe next year. 

Effie's Heart always have pockets...

Amy Bethel: Strange Things. This art show had been up at the library for nearly two months...Kate & I finally made it on the last day. I think Amy Bethel's art is amazing...

I had to go to the mall to pick up an order for Torrid...this is the only time I usually go into Lane Bryant...& they were having a marvelous sale (50% off clearance)...I bought the first outfit, but left the skirt at the store. And! My procrastination paid off, my friend Marianne had posted a photo of this lovely velvet burnout shawl from Target months ago...& it had been sitting open in a tab waiting for me to order it...I noticed it was on clearance & grabbed the last one at the store for $11. 

Poking around Deconstruction...I like these steps...they aren't for sale & are placed here so you can reach all the pretties on this shelf. I took a photo because I think these would be perfect for our bed as the dogs get older & need a bit of help. I also browsed dozens of wallpaper books & was disappointed in the selection...these were the only two that caught my eye. Back in 1998 (the last time I looked at wallpaper)...the offerings were more to my taste. Badly needed haircut with a new person. I'm still considering how I feel about it. 

This event at the library was fabulous. Real Life Library...real people sat down with you & told you their story (~20 minutes). Up to three people would sit at a table across from them & listen. You had to sign up...but only for one at a time (I couldn't sign up for the next one until I was out of the previous session)...that was my only criticism of this event...by the time I was done with my first "book", the next time slots were all full...& the next one wasn't starting for another hour. 

A day of shopping...three skirts & a top from Lane Bryant (~$10 each), my Torrid order...6 leggings & plaid shoes (50% off)...plus I picked up a pretty shawl for $1 & change off the clearance rack, & some NYX eyeliners from Ulta...& 2 bottles of micellar water for wiping off eyeshadow fallout while doing my make-up...I learned about this on a beauty blog & now I don't know how I lived without it.  

Two versions of purple & gold make-up. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Brown (Deep Purple in second photo); Too Faced eyeshadow in Black Forest Truffle, Candied Violet, Gilded Ganache, Marzipan, Champagne Truffle, & Crème Brûlée; MAC lipstick in "O" (Model Behaviour in the second photo), & OPI nail polish in Peel Me a Gobi Grape (OPI Ink in second photo). 

Accidental Restaurant Week

 Dress: Romantic Flock Fit & Flare Dress by City Chic (size XXL)

Jacket: Midnight Velvet, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Boots: Dr. Martens via Modcloth

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Cindy Gibson Forrester

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I got this lovely flocked dress during City Chic's big sale earlier this year for $20. I wore this dress twice...once to have dinner with Kate & again for errand running & work...only because David was out of town when I wore it the first time...so I needed photos. I bought a similar one in red, but this one has an all over print with a cut-out in back...it's a heavy-ish knit...but it will be a good spring dress on its own. 

I still can't believe I found this amazing velvet jacket at Savers for under $10. I wish there were more plus size thrifters online...I follow quite a few second hand shoppers, but they are all single digit sizes. My favorite is Sheila at Ephemera. 

I grabbed these purple & gold baroque Docs on sale at Modcloth for $50...they are all over eBay right now for much more...& this victorian wallpaper pattern is also available on shoes, but I think I'll resist. 

My first order from Society +...the sale was too good to pass up & I've been drooling over their clothes on Instagram for a while now. I got two dresses...Waverly Street Skater Dress in Dark Green & I'm Plaidered Skater Dress in Purple...also a caged crop top in red that is a bit big on me...I should have sent it back & gotten a size smaller...but I never got around to it. Both dresses fit great & I'm excited to wear them. 

On the day I wore this outfit to have dinner with Kate...this is what it looked like...Kate took this photo on her walk to work...she has a great eye...

The girlie & I had plans to see a movie, but first, dinner...accidental restaurant week...the day before, David & I went to Samba & then Kate & I ended up here. We used to plan our restaurant weeks, but have since gotten bored of it...I don't think most restaurants serve their best food...but this Heritage Tavern menu looked delicious...

For our appetizer...Kate chose the roasted beet salad...& I got the sweet potato & duck soup. Also, crazy yummy cocktails...

Kate tried the Evergreen & Ruby first, then Gourds Galore later...while I had a Cherries Jubilee followed by a Grey Garden. 

I had to have the fish in curry sauce for my entree, & Kate went with winter root vegetables which were ridiculously good. 

Interactive dessert...Kate pouring champagne on her tangerine sorbet while I devoured chocolate. The meal was a delight, as it always is. It was snowing quite heavily when we finished, so we decided to skip the movie.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Purple; Goldmine, Freakshow, Beat Down, & Bones eyeshadow by Urban Decay; Bite Beauty lipstick in Aubergine; NYX Lip Palette in The Plums; & OPI Ink nail polish by OPI. 

Weekend in Navy Floral

 Dress: Essential Wrap Dress in Navy Floral Print by Kiyonna (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lands End (size 3x), thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Dansko, gift from SB

Earring: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Necklace: A Luscious Thing

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Wrap dresses from Kiyonna are my favorite...especially when they are in a fun print. I got this dress from GB & was contemplating buying it when I realized I already own it *hangs head*.  It was part of their $40 Black Friday sale last year & David grabbed it for me for Christmas. $40 Kiyonna Dresses?! Collect them all. The Dansko shoes were also a holiday present from him. 

I pass this wall all the time & I've wanted to take pictures here for over a year...tentacles... 

I wore this dress all weekend...I mean, I didn't sleep in it...but it was there...& I showered every day. Friday...work & fish fry with Angie, Toby, her grandma, Kate, & Tony. Catholic church...so there are always disturbing things hanging in the school hallway as you make your way downstairs to the food...anti-abortion letters from kids as young as 4. I don't think that's quite old enough to make up your mind on this serious issue. Brainwashing. But the fish fry is the best around. 

After fish...David & I headed to our new house to work on it a bit...I hacked away at this mosaic. David has since gotten me an electric chisel. 

Saturday...farmers' market with the girlie, then Super Boo & I spent the day at the NARI Home Show...we took some classes & chatted with some folks...getting ideas for our remodeling project. 

A bite to eat at work & Penzeys spices...

Sunday...dinner at Samba Brazilian Grill...they have the BEST salad bar...& then these guys come around with spears full of meat & cut pieces off for you...although I think the cinnamon grilled pineapple is always the choice I get most excited about. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Abyss eyeliner by Urban Decay; Synth, Fran, Analogue, & Legend eyeshadow from Kat von D; 3 lipsticks mixed together...MAC Dozen Carnations, Bite Beauty Mimosa, & NYX Tangerine; & CND Vinylux in Fine Vermillion. 

Season 8: The Queens

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

Cardigan: Northcrest, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Gift from Girls of GB Holiday Exchange

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The problem with getting dressed while rushing out the door & never looking in a mirror...there are always things I wish I could change about most outfits I wear. In this ensemble...I would have clasped the necklace so it was choker length, worn a cropped cardigan, & fishnet stockings. Oh, well. 

I like the idea of these peek-a-boo dresses...but I haven't found the right one yet...here I am in blue...the flash of skin in that one is lace...I like that this one is fishnet. Perhaps a leopard top with a fishnet window & black skirt would be perfection for me?

When I get my craft room set up at our new house (this is going to be a while)...I am going to try cropping a long sweater...too much length looks sloppy. If it works out...all my cardigans will get cropped. 

I may have placed three orders during City Chic's fabulous sale...most of these dresses were only $15-20...& I like pretty dresses. Stop judging me, Kate. 

So far you've only seen me in the red with black flocking below (although the one I wore here was from GB...& looking for a better price on that dress is what led me to this...)...the purple one next to it should be up on the blog this week. 

The biggest miracle is...they all fit! I sometimes have issues with City Chic fitting me in their dresses that don't stretch. 

Season 8: The Queens. David & I are big fans of Drag Race & I was extremely excited when I learned my favorite...Acid Betty...was going to be along on this tour. 

As I was waiting at the venue for Super Boo to park the car...a guy came up to me & asked if I was Meshel...I stared at him for the longest time trying to figure out who he was...I couldn't place him...it turns out he was someone that was in cosmetology school at the same time we were. I didn't remember until later that I never liked him...but I don't remember why...he & his husband seemed nice. I can't believe he recognized me after nearly 30 years. 

We were over an hour early as we thought the show started at 7, when it was really 8...so we wandered next door to a chocolate shop. 

Acid Betty's 2 numbers were disappointing...but Kim Chi & Thorgy Thor were fantastic. 

 I need that yellow vinyl skirt!!

Back at Deconstruction Inc...we bought 2 of the 3 metal grapevine railings above...we are hoping to use them in our backyard leading up to the hot tub...which is perfect as we just learned last week that we have grapes in our yard. It was finally warm enough to wander around their outdoor area...so many amazing finds. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Brown & Jet Black, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fireball, NYX eyeshadow palette in The Brights, Dozen Carnations lipstick by MAC, & OPI nail polish in Mod-ern Girl.