Two Doggies in A Sunbeam

 Dress: Cap Sleeves Berries Sweetheart Faux Wrap Dress by Leota (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: Avenue (size 26/28)

Tights: We Love Colors in Rust

Shoes: Born

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Leota's Sweetheart dresses are always winners for me. While I didn't love this pattern, there were two different colors of orange...so I threw all the orange at it & I like it. Great fit & length. A bit va-va-voom for work, so I pinned it...but not in this photo. This dress is now retired, so if I had wanted it...I could have probably bought it for cheap. But, it was a one & done for me. 

I'm trying to feel pretty here...even though my right leg is still blown up...healing, but slowly...sooooooooo sloooooowly. So, I haven't been dressing up much lately...which means fewer blog posts. On the plus side...I'm completely caught up with outfit photos. 

I was pleased with how this vintage Miriam Haskell necklace went with the orange teardrops in my bracelet/earrings set. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Honey, Tangerine eyeshadow by Make Up For Ever, Dozen Carnations lipstick from MAC, & Morgan Taylor nail polish in Sunrise in the City. 

I first wore this dress to get a facial from Sara at ANiU...I've been getting them every month this winter & it has been luxurious. Not only does she give an amazingly relaxing facial & scalp massage...but she massages my arms & hands as well. Also...I came home to my Sephora Play! box, a workshop being built in our backyard, & a broken closet mirror...I hope it's not still 7 years bad luck if it arrives already shattered. 

On another day I wore this outfit to work with David & to have dinner & cuteness with Angie & Freddie afterwards...

The curtain ladies came to visit...this first photo is the fabric & trim we picked for the dining room...& below it, the two materials we have tentatively chosen for our living room. 

My leg infection has been hurting me so terribly that I had to cancel my plans to market with Kate on Saturday...so she came to visit us, with sparkling wine, on Sunday...where I did not wear this dress. The girlie was our first proper guest to hang out with us in our newly finished, empty living/dining room! The dogs enjoy following the sunbeams.

Necessary Ulta run...I ran out of eyebrows! My quest to fill up my jewelry box with colors I'm missing continues, & an hour between clients at work gives me a chance to relax with a good book. I just finished reading Lauren Groff's Fates & Furies...& am now onto an older book of hers, Arcadia. 

Each Day Is Valentine's Day

 Dress: Red Heart Fit & Flare Dress by Unique Vintage x GB (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: Avenue (size 26/28)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Rampage, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

A heart dress on Valentine's Day...perfection! This dress was cute, comfy, & adorable. The fit was good, but would be better for me in my usual size of 4x. I think of Unique Vintage as running small, but for these GB collaborations, they are true to size. 

As you can see, my right leg still has a bit of swelling...so I opted for comfortable shoes...otherwise, I would have worn bright red shoes with a strap around the ankle. 

It's the middle of February here in Wisconsin & this was the first time it was too cold to take photos outside...so here we have my favorite piece of library art. 

David & I met online 17 years ago on Valentine's Day. But, even though it's one of our anniversaries...we don't celebrate the day. For us...each day is Valentine's Day. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Too Faced eyeshadow in Sin City & Golden Nugget, Love+ eyeshadow by Sugarpill Cosmetics, Spiderweb lipstick from UD, & OPI nail polish in Wocka Wocka!

I wore this dress a few times during Valentine's week...to work, get a haircut, & shop a used jewelry sale at a local plus size shop, Z. Boutique. 

I was rather smitten with my eye make-up, but never did get a great photo. David's Fluevog's came in the mail! They are spectacular. Look! We're all here...why would a person want to go to the bathroom alone?

Freddie! We've missed the last few Freddie/Angie dinner nights due to illness on both sides. Angie made delicious meatloaf, broccoli, & potato casserole...Freddie was grabbing potatoes by the handful...

Vintage jewelry from Etsy...there is definitely a correlation between how much pain I'm in & how much I need to spend on pretty things. 

Super Boo's Birthday Celebration

 Dress: Yellow Star Print Fit & Flare Dress by Unique Vintage (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: MAK via Modcloth (size 4x)

Tights: We Love Colors in Navy

Shoes: Born

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earring & Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Yellow is the color of happiness...& this dress made me smile. Unfortunately, I decided to get this a size bigger than my typical size & it was...surprise, too big. Otherwise I would have bought it. The cut & length were great...& with short sleeves...this dress could be worn in all seasons. 

I was rather pleased with how this outfit came together...especially once I remembered I had a red star bracelet. 

My right leg is still swollen, but not as bad as it was a few days ago.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD, Huda Beauty Neon eyeshadow palette, No Tell Motel lipstick by UD, & Lustgarten nail polish from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. 

How fun are these shoes?! 

I wore this dress for Super Boo's birthday! I picked out about a dozen Fluevogs for David to pick from & these are his fabulous pimp daddy choice...I LOVE them!

Every year on the morning of David's birthday, I present him with a menu of options for things we could do throughout the day...including several events that happen to be taking place around town. Every year, he reads through it...& we do none of it. BUT...this year, we did! Birthdays can be tricky. 

We started out our day at Heritage Tavern for brunch which was delightfully delicious. David had a pork confit omelet & a Bloody Mary...I had this wonderful apple French toast with dollops of garam masala spiced cream & a champagne cocktail with pomegranate & lime. 

The snowflakes came down nearly all day...making nests in our hair...

After brunch, we conveniently walked just next door to The Bartell Theatre to see Strollers production of Almost, Maine. What a charming play...made up of short plays about love. This was a marvelous surprise as we figured it could go either way & we'd end up leaving at intermission. It was wonderful. 

After the play...I suggested we could get Basque Cake at Estrellón...which turned into a whole meal as we were both hungry. 

With the weather outside...we had the place to ourselves nearly the entire time.

We started out the meal with a dish I've been dreaming about since we had it last year...Gambas al Ajillo...gulf shrimp in a garlic chili oil & vinegar with perhaps a very concentrated seafood stock...the shrimp are cooked to perfection, of course...but soaking slices of toasted baguette in the oil is one of the great pleasures of life. They only serve it with two pieces, & it needs six...so we ask for more bread...but what about the poor people who don't?! I was so overjoyed to be served this dish, that I forgot to take a photo. 

For our main meal...Valenciana Paella, which is always a treat. 

 And the reason for living...Basque Cake...Oh, My! 

I also wore this dress a few days later to go to work, have these photos taken, & pay a visit to the lovely Erika Koivunen at her studio to discuss the making of a gate for our house. Violet is a destroyer of pillows...our living room furniture is going to be full of pillows with tassels & other enticing trim...so...we thought a decorative piece of art to guard the doorway would be a fun way to go...I'm excited to see what she comes up with. 

Wines You're In Love With

 Dress: Keyhole Fit & Flare Dress by Eloquii (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Dansko, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, Scott Lothes, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

A simple black dress was just what I wanted on this day. My right leg is swollen & infected (I'm on antibiotics & prednisone)...several inches larger than my left. I've been working in socks because real shoes haven't been fitting. Luckily, I had these size 11 Dansko's I picked up in a Savers sale...I typically wear a 9-9 1/2. So, I've been feeling the opposite of pretty lately & it was nice to dress up, but keep it dark. 

This Eloquii dress was elegant madam of the bordello...I would buy this dress in a size smaller if it comes to the shop as it was quite large on top for me & looked a bit sloppy. I especially liked the cutout in back & the billowy banded sleeves. 

I was excited to be able to wear this necklace I just got right away...it perfectly frames the keyhole in the dress.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions eyeshadow palette, In Retrograde Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolor by MAC, & Lustgarten nail polish from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. 

New jewelry from Etsy...including a citrusy necklace that is a near match for a bracelet & earrings David bought me at Elkhorn. And this month's Boxy Charm.

I wore this dress to go to wine tasting just down the street at David & Lauren's new house in the 'hood. The theme...Wines You're in Love With. All of the nice professional photos were taken by Scott Lothes. 

Look! I'm out of the house doing something fun! I really needed this. This evening was like a warm safe hug. 

I made cheese straws from The Silver Palate Cookbook...which are so easy & always a hit. 

My adorable girlie & Jason coordinating his hair with the wine...

Holy buckets...can you believe how fabulous this painting is?!! It was Lauren's grandmothers...I'm in love. Also, fondue pot color explosion. 

There were also several globes...I like globes...& this Atlas one was magnificent. The food was delicious, it was especially nice to have two salads...& birthday cake from Carl's Cakes. 

 What I look like when I'm being me...