American Players Theatre

 Dress: Speakeasy Print Fit & Flare Dress by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee, Try Then Buy

Leggings: LuLaRoe via eBay 

Shoes: Dr. Martens

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I fell in love with this dress the instant I saw it...so Art Deco...but $90, even if I *was* the first person to get it, seemed steep...but when it went on sale for $50...I made it mine. It was fabulous in every way...although, honestly...I could have done without the red faux buttons. Great fit & it's nice to have a cold weather Effie's Heart dress. 

These leggings really wanted to be paired with this dress...& added all the colors. 

I don't know how long I've had this lipstick...but this was my first time wearing it & it is magnificent...a lovely warm red with glitter *swoon*...so of course I looked & it has been discontinued. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion; UD eyeshadow in Smog, Creep, Sin, & Sidecar; Love+ eyeshadow from Sugarpill Cosmetics; UD Liquid Lipstick in Trap Queen; & Danke-Shiny Red nail polish by OPI. 

I use a lot of Urban Decay products, but this was my first time using their mascara, Perversion...I hated it. Within just a few weeks of using this tube, the bristles on the brush stayed plastered to the wand & wouldn't bounce back. Worst mascara ever. I first wore this dress to see Macbeth at APT with David. It was our last outdoor play of the season. 

Farmers' market looking autumnal. I also wore this outfit to go to APT with David, Kate, & Angie to see A Doll's House & have our final picnic of the season.

Kate had had oral surgery, so David made her a smoothie since she couldn't chew...poor girlie. A Doll's House was SO good...so different than I remember. Next month we are going to see A Doll's House, Part 2...I am curious to see what these characters have been up to. 

Anthology in Madison is my go-to place for awesome cards & fun stuff. Rye after running at the dog park...on our new back porch. And...haircut. 

I'm off to Tennessee to visit my parents & go to Nashville for a few days...see you next week!

Wilder Maker // LASKA

 Dress: Houndstooth Shirred Bodice Midi Dress by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Dr. Martens

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress seemed too formfitting to wear at first...but Kate assured me that it was good...so here it is. I love a houndstooth print, but don't love the seam down the middle. Otherwise it was great...I especially liked the shirring in the middle...with elastic just under the bust...giving me that empire silhouette that I prefer...& a slight hi-low hem. 

These photos were taken with David's new iPhone 11 Pro...on a highly overcast day...in the rain. Not bad...it seems to oversaturate color when the conditions aren't ideal though. 

I've had these brand new Doc Martens for several years...I unearthed them in our move. I *think* this is my first time wearing them.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Bang Bang & Young Love eyeshadow by UD, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Love+, Russian Red lipstick from MAC, & OPI nail polish in A Little Guilt Under the Kilt. 

I wore this dress for our drive home from Chicago...but first, breakfast! Elly's Pancake House was just down the block from our Airbnb...& it looked good. It was not good. The menu stated that their smoked salmon was cured in house...so we both tried it. Big mistake. The fresh squeezed orange juice was tasty. The next day...I wore this outfit again to travel to Spring Green with Kate for our last Shitty Show of the season. But before that...I was at work & my necklace broke. It was sad. It is now in the capable hands of Wendy Baker being mended. I'm not sure how I'm going to live without it. 

Tacos in the rain with my girlie...

LASKA was the opening band...& our favorite of the two. A violin always wins.

Drive-by Fredding...picking up our CSA on our way to work. Indian buffet for lunch...& this month's Boxy Charm box.

Chicago with Kate & Nick Cave

 Dress: Fire Bloom Maxi Dress by City Chic (size XXL/24)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Earring & Necklace: Heidi Daus via Ebay 

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I am madly deeply in love with this style of dress from City Chic...I wish they had a name for it so I could search more easily as they often release new colors & patterns. Once upon a time it came in leopard...& I missed out. Can you imagine how spectacular this would have been on me in leopard print?! I also own this in a lily design. 

Every woman needs a dramatic diva dress in her closet.

Sometimes a windy day adds allure...other times it just gives me wacky hair.

Monday morning at our Airbnb...Kate tries out my dress...

We considered taking a Lyft into downtown...but the girlie somehow found this super surprisingly cheap parking...$15!!! for up to 12 hours. And...the elevator up deposited us right at the door of our favorite Chicago restaurant, The Gage. 

Coffee...& lunch...delicious soft shell crab, beet salad, & smoked salmon BLT. 

After lunch...we walked down the street to the American Writers Museum...which I discovered after looking online for lesser known museums in Chicago. It's been open for two years & they had a special Bob Dylan exhibit running while we were there. 

It took up a relatively small space...but there was a lot to look at, watch, & listen to...including Dylan's copy of Catcher in the Rye.

The history of writers in America...

I sat for a bit in front of this 2 walled art installation...Word Waterfall...quotes, mostly from authors, on America...when this particular quote was lit up...it was accompanied by the vision & sound of flames...

Typing on typewriters throughout the years. They had a digitized version of the scroll of On The Road...but I know I've seen the real thing...but where? And who was with me? No one knows. This was a fun museum &...free bookmarks. I'd go back if they had another special exhibit that caught my eye. 

In the evening, we dined at a Polish restaurant in the neighborhood...Smakosz. They were slammed with concert-goers & only had one server. We shared an order of potato pancakes... Kate had mushroom & onion pierogis & I chose potato cheese & had mine fried. The food was incredible...one of the best Polish meals I've ever had.

Then...on to Conversations with Nick Cave at the lovely Copernicus Center. The girlie & I used to come here years ago to see silent films...& then drive home. Oh, to be young. 

Nick Cave was amazing, as always, & most of the questions from the audience were quite good. He's become a gentler, more vulnerable man since his son died...he turned his grief into something stronger. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. What a perfect day spent with my girlie. 

I also wore this dress to work & out to dinner with David...because pictures had to be taken of this outfit. 

Spring Green // Chicago

 Dress: Green Apple Print Fit & Flare Dress by Unique Vintage x GB (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee 

Leggings: LuLaRoe (TC2) via eBay 

Sandals: Dansko

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This soft knit fit & flare was easy & comfy to wear. The tiny print is of apples with a bite taken out of them...too dainty for me, I wish they had been larger. The fit was great, but the length was a bit short...I wouldn't have felt comfortable wearing this dress with tights. 

I thought the plaid leggings not only matched...but carried the school theme throughout the outfit. 

Guess where I am? David & I were in Spring Green to see plays at APT...so we went to The Shitty Barn between shows & shot these photos. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Junkie, Bang Bang & Young Love eyeshadow from UD, Sugarpill Cosmetics eyeshadow in Love+, MAC lipstick in Dubonnet Amplified & Russian Red, & A Little Guilt Under the Kilt nail polish by OPI. 

David & I were supposed to see Twelfth Night the previous Saturday, but I changed our tickets the day before because the likelihood of it raining on us was high...so of course it didn't rain. However, I think it worked out marvelously to see Twelfth Night in the afternoon, along with the other play we had tickets for at night. We had just enough time between shows to take pictures & get a quick bite at Culvers...the only fast food restaurant we go to. Those Butter Burgers are tasty. 

Twelfth Night was wonderfully acted & such a delightful comedy...we almost wondered if we should skip our second play, August Wilson's Fences. I am ashamed to admit...I had never heard of August Wilson...now I'm hoping they put on a play of his every year. The story was set in 50s Philadelphia & focuses on a black family...what a beautifully cast play...it was achingly good...David & I were sobbing in the front row. He wrote a lovely letter to APT about it as it was one of those rare plays that will stay with you forever. If it hadn't been closing night...we would have seen it again. 

The next day was the final Elkhorn Vintage Flea Market of the season...we had decided the day before to skip it because of rain & exhaustion...both plays were 3 hours long & we didn't get to bed until 1am...getting up 4 hours later seemed like too much. Plus...Kate & I were driving to Chicago in the afternoon. After we checked into our Airbnb...we had dinner nearby at Cafe Marbella. I usually only write reviews for places that are outstanding...but this paella was so insulting that I had to write a review on Yelp:

Cafe Marbella states that they serve authentic Spanish cuisine, which I adore, so it sounded perfect for dinner. The sautéed mushrooms (Setas Al Ajillo) & crispy pasta with shrimp (Rossejat De Gambas) were delicious...both excellently seasoned & cooked. I might go back for those dishes & try out other tapas, but the rest of our experience was so meh that I doubt I'll be back. First of all, the floor was extremely slippery...like wax. I was happy we were seated right by the door so I didn't have to keep myself from falling for too long. I watched other diners experience the same surprise when they stepped into the restaurant. My sangria was terrible, the taste was overwhelmingly bitter because the rind & pith of the oranges had been soaking in it for too long. The salad we shared had lovely dressing, but was otherwise forgettable. However, what has caused me to write this review was the seafood paella. It was awful. Authentic Spanish cuisine? Has the chef been to Spain? What makes a paella most exquisite is the toasted rice in the bottom of the pan (socarrat). This paella did not have that despite being cooked in a paella pan. This paella tasted like a frozen microwave dinner bought at a grocery store. There was no depth of flavor or anything enticing about this sad excuse for paella. Chicago is full of excellent restaurants. This is not one of them.

Those mushrooms & the shrimp on a bed of crispy angel hair pasta...YUM...but just look at that watery mess of paella. After dinner we headed to Steep Theatre to see a preview performance of their next play, Mosquitoes...for $10! We typically come to Chicago to see touring Broadway shows...but I decided to see what else was going on & the first article I came across was a NYT piece about Chicago's amazing theatre scene. 

Housed in a former small grocery store, this storefront theatre was tiny (50 seats?)...but what a gem this place is...the staff was super friendly & the acting was outstanding...I'm still thinking about the dysfunctional family in the play. 

Such a peaceful stage...& so small that poor Kate's ankle was whacked by passing furniture during a set change. I want to see every play this company does. 

Forage & The Harmaleighs

 Dress: Printed Color Block Scuba Fit & Flare Dress by Gabby Skye (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Clarks, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Black/Gold Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Magnifying Glass Necklace: former Etsy shop

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The pattern on this dress reminded me of Spirograph, so I adored it...& those shades of burgundy were so pretty. The fit & length were spot on, but the armholes were larger than necessary. The skirt had a great flare. Being scuba fabric, it was a tad heavy...I would have preferred to wear this dress on a colder day with a cardigan & tights. 

I have a lot of jewelry, but for some reason...this dress stumped me...so I stuck to basic black & gold. 

I'm in love with my eyeshadow here...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Oxblood; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Bang Bang, Drunk Dial, & Young Love; Dubonnet Amplified lipstick from MAC; & Hollywood & Wine nail polish by OPI. 

I wore this dress to have dinner with the girlie on a Monday after work. We ate outside at Forage & it was lovely...their combination salad & grain bowls are delightfully delectable. 

After dinner we headed over to High Noon Saloon to wait for the doors to open...& watched about a dozen people walk by with pool cues in various sorts of cases.

I often polish my nails in the car right before driving somewhere...so they have a chance to dry. I was going to put a coat of this blackened burgundy shade on, but the brush had disappeared! I've never seen this before...so, mismatched orange nails had to stay. However, I did manage to paint them before David & I took pictures of this outfit on another day.

Kate & I were surprised they didn't have tables set up in front of the stage for this show as they often do during the week...so up in the balcony we went. The Harmaleighs were fabulous...I was so worried that the ladies would break up & no more band...but after 6 years of dating...they've kept the band together through their romantic breakup a year ago. Yay! Also, another early show for us as they were the opening band...after their set, we bought their vinyl & went home. 

New Book Book for my new iPhone. After several months of waiting...they've started our concrete project...2 slabs in back for a workshop David is going to build, a backyard patio with a fire pit, & up front...driveway, walkway, & patio. They are working on it right now as I type this...it is soooo beautiful.

Freddie! Along with an amazing drink Angie made with brandy & fresh apple cider that she reduced...& a yummy dinner.