Poké & Bubbles with My Bezzer

 Dress: Navy Floral Shirt Dress by eShakti (size 30) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: MAK via Modcloth

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Clarks, thrifted

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: A Lucious Thing

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I felt like a 50s housewife in this dress. Adorable shirt dress in a pretty print with a fabulous color combination. There was no stretch in this eShakti dress, so I sized up to a 30 & this time it was necessary. Ideal length, good fit, & deep pockets. Really fun to wear dress...my only negative is that I thought the collar was a bit big. 

I didn't like any of the printed cardigans I tried with this...so I went with a solid. I clearly need more cardigans. 

I got endless compliments on this outfit...most often heard was how well these shoes matched the dress. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Abyss; UD eyeshadow in Alchemy, Brokedown, Lucky, & Last Sin; NYX Liquid Suede lipstick in Cherry Skies; & Black Metal Dahlia nail polish by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. 

I wore this outfit to work & then to visit with Angie & Freddie...I love watching his reaction to all the dog licks he gets... 

I wore this dress again the following day to drink bubbles & eat poké with my bezzer, Kate. We discussed going out...but eating in & listening to records sounded like the best thing ever. We listened to Charlie Parr, Pokey Lafarge, & Rasputina. I am the luckiest girlie to have this amazing girlie in my life. 

Poké on Friday night...Indian buffet on Saturday with David. Afterwards, we browsed around Half Price Books, then decided to treat ourselves to truffles from Gail Ambrosius. I just learned a few weeks ago that Re/Dress now has OLIVE teggings...I told David & he said, how many?

We've been remodeling our house for two years, but I rarely share photos here since I don't wear blog worthy outfits to paint in...but here's what we got up to last week...we installed two antique light fixtures in the hallway (we are going to get nicer bulbs) & started hanging the vintage 70s wallpaper...also in the hall. In my office/make-up room...we wallpapered the alcove where my make-up vanity will live, as well as gave the floor the gold glitter treatment. Then I stenciled 5 different designs on the floor & stenciled the area between the two chair rails. I am so happy with how it's all turning out!

Refugee Bruch Series: Central Africa

 Dress: Evergreen Fit & Flare Dress by Hutch (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Leggings: Torrid (size 4x)

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: etXarte

Necklaces & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Jason, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was fabulous in every way...great fit, just right length, snuggly sweater fabric, & gorgeous evergreen color with a herringbone pattern. This is a strictly fall/winter dress, but it's so easy & comfy to wear...& since it's a solid, you can pair it with any color you want to change it up. I went for a green & black palette because I really wanted to wear these leggings...but purple really sparks joy for me with green...so I considered purple & green leggings as well. I will buy this if it comes to the shop. 

The reason I was so keen to wear these leggings is because I've had them a while & have never worn them. I tend to buy a lot of green bits & bobs because green used to be my favorite color before orange got ahold of my heart. However, I don't get as much opportunity as I'd like to wear green.

A solid color dress calls for all the necklaces, clearly. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Overdrive; UD eyeshadow in Radio, Ignite, Stranded, & Double Life; Treat liquid lipstick by Sugarpill Cosmetics; Winter Holly nail polish from China Glaze; & OPI nail polish in Christmas Gone Plaid. 

My two monthly subscription boxes...Boxy Charm & Sephora Play!

 16 years ago on Valentine's Day...David & I first met over email...

 I was not wearing this outfit...but, adorable Freddie! And licking Sadie.

 After Saturday market with the girlie, we again met Jason at Joon for another refugee brunch...this time, Central Africa. 

 Afterwards...I went back to Confectionique in search of something to get for my mom's birthday...I left with the vintage metal fan vase below...I have a similar one...I hope she likes it. 

 On another day, after work...David & I had Indian buffet...& voted in our local primary elections. 

Refugee Brunch Series: Afghanistan

 Dress: Star Print Fit & Flare Dress by eShakti (size 30) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Fashion Bug, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors in Magenta or Fuchsia 

Shoes: Hobbs, thrifted

Earring & Bracelets: Vintage

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

It was so lovely to have this colorful star print dress during these dreary days of winter. The colors in this were marvelously unusual (not the typical primary colors), which made it fun to coordinate accessories. The length was good & the twirl in the skirt was fabulous...but the fit was off. I wish eShakti sizing was more consistent...I size up to a 30 for non-stretch prints (which typically works), but this one was too big on me.

At first I didn't think I had the right cardigan to wear with this dress...but then I *finally* got around to organizing my cardigans. I have SO many that I just hung them all up in my closet so I could see them, but they were in no kind of order. So, I finally separated them into solids & prints...& came across this sparkly number. Sparkly like stars. 

I'm terrible at taking photos of outerwear or purses that are part of my outfit...so here's a coat...I found it when we moved...new with the sale tags still attached. I will admit I have no idea where it came from. It's suede with foofy wool fringe that is always in the way & gets me loads of compliments each time I wear it. 

It was extremely icy & rather cold on this photo day...I penguin walked into a spot & was afraid to move lest I fall on my ass...well, my knees...my ass would cushion my fall, but my knees always get the abuse. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Overdrive; UD eyeshadow in Jilted, Freak, & Stranded; Aubergine  lipstick from Bite Beauty; & OPI nail polish in Get Cherried Away.

I first wore this dress on Kate's birthday...we went to our usual farmers' market, but also checked out the west side market (suuuuper small) because they had a vendor the girlie likes that sells corn tortillas. Then we met Jason at Joon for an Afghani brunch...the proceeds are split between the women who cooked it & other Afghanistan refugees in the Madison area. 

It was all tasty, but Jason's Mashawa was the best. The birthday girl & her beau...

I did not wear any part of this outfit to visit Angie & Freddie...but there was Sal's pizza & baby worshipping. I wore this outfit another time to work & then to browse Confectionique's L'Amour valentine themed market where I picked up a blue beaded tassel & David found a book. 

Pink Polka Dots & Bubbles

 Dress: Polka Dot Scuba Fit & Flare Dress by Gabby Skye (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Charter Club Woman (size 2x), thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I love a polka dot dress. It may be difficult to see in photos, but the dots on this dress are a whisper of blush...which is why I paired it with pink in hopes of bringing that out more. The fit & length on this dress were spot on...& the scuba fabric held me like a hug & gave the skirt enough structure to poof out a bit...extra pleating at the waist also helped with that. The only thing I would ding this dress on is the seam down the middle...I never like the way that cuts up the pattern. Otherwise, 10/10. 

We Love Colors offers a fantastic selection of colors for their tights, however, they don't have a great selection of pinks (either too light or too purple)...so I wore teggings with boots. 

I got a haircut, which I desperately needed...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug; Spiked Eggnog, Gumdrop, & Hot Toddy eyeshadow by Too Faced; Fuchsia Fusion Lip Cream from NYX; & OPI nail polish in Can't Hear Myself Pink! 

I first wore this dress to the January edition of Wasted: Bubbles, my favorite. So much tasty food & sparkly wine. I also met the chick who made the documentary, Old Fashioned: The Story of the Wisconsin Supper Club. She & her husband just moved here from Chicago. Lindsay made some delicious food...including this dip with kimchi in it. The photo of Kate below was taken just after she was licking her plate. 

I was in a hurry to get out of the house...so I threw on this pink & white striped cardigan, even though I knew it wasn't quite right (too summery)...but I later found the pink dotty one & was ecstatic. Aw, look...the girlie petting Jason. 

The wines were put outside after they were poured & brought back in at the end of the evening...many of them were slushy...yum.

Some vintage jewelry acquired on eBay...

Sephora Play! box, some new nail polishes, & a hair cut with Gen. 

Oh, the coldness of it all...woke up on Wednesday a week & a half ago...to -25° (-48° with windchill)...so of course we had to try throwing boiling water into the air...poof, disappeared...

The ever adorable Freddy...with a bear on his butt...

Charlie Parr at High Noon

 Dress: Plum & Wine Tapestry Floral Dress by Chetta B (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: We Love Colors in Rust

Boots: Purple & Gold Brocade Doc Martens via ModCloth

Earring & Bracelet: Vintage

Necklace: Whimsical Floral necklace by Heidi Daus via eBay

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was fabulous...purple & orange fabulousness. It was a good fit & length on me, but definitely runs big as the 24 was perfect, had it come in my typical size, 28, it would have been huge & sloppy. The colors are what really makes this dress a standout for me...it's a grandma's couch kind of fabric & that is always a good thing in my world. The negatives: it has an excessive amount of panels which cut up the flow of the pattern & the material is a light sweater knit that easily pills. But, so pretty! 

We had to take these photos inside the main library because it was sooo cold & sooo windy on this day...but not even close to the -28 we got the following week. 

These Doc Marten boots are purple with a gold brocade pattern...difficult to see inside, even close up. I found them for $50 on sale at ModCloth years ago & I adore them. 

Occasionally, I like to search for vintage jewelry on eBay with a specific theme, such as acorn necklace. It was during one of those times that I became aware of the spectacular jewelry made by Heidi Daus...she apparently sells her stuff on HSN, but I won't hold that against her as it is gorgeous & well made. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Delinquent & Voodoo; UD eyeshadow in Baja, Accelerate, Stranded, & Guilt Trip; Heat lipstick by UD; & OPI nail polish in Deutsch You Want Me Baby?

I first wore this dress to work & run around town with David. The highlight of the day was poking around Z. Bella...the owner, Zoe, has a grandma who collects costume jewelry & fixes it up...& she had a bunch of it for sale. 

Penzeys pickings...the best thing about this presidency has been all the great deals Penzeys has been having. Also, David finally found the knife of his dreams.

 My Z. Bella booty...

The second time I wore this dress was to spend Girlie Birthday Eve with the almost birthday girlie, Kate. First, we had Indonesian food at Bandung...

Then we went to a barnyard wine tasting at Square, which I opted out of (not my thing)...& the lovely Andrea poured me a nice glass of bubbly from the lineup that didn't taste like anything found in a horse stable & I was very happy. 

And, finally...the big event of the evening...Charlie Parr at High Noon.  He's amazing live every single time & I enjoy shows there so much more when seated in the balcony. So. Many. People. But I love spending time with my girlie.