Dogs & Cats

Dress: Mix Print Wrap Maxi Dress with Fluted Sleeves by ASOS Curve (size 26 US)

Tights: We Love Colors

Boots: Doc Martens

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I bought this dress a few years ago & finally broke it out...built in pattern mixing. I've gotta say...I'd rather do it myself, but this was a fun combo. There was no stretch to this true wrap dress...the fit was fine...but I prefer wraps to be a stretch fabric for a better fit...this was a bit boxy. The flared sleeves & back cut-out added a bit of drama. 

This was my first time wearing these orange Docs I got last year...it had snowed, so I wanted to be sure I could tromp through it if need be. 

This pattern placement made me feel like I was wearing an apron...or an artist's smock. 

This was my first time wearing this bright happy necklace. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Torch, UD eyeshadow in Dirty Talk & Ounce, NYX lipliner in Orange County, Dozen Carnations lipstick by MAC, Pumpkin lipstick by Kat von D, & OPI nail polish in It's a Piazza Cake & Midnight in Moscow. 

After photos...we dropped off a 6 pack of wine to the girlie from her cellar in our basement. While we were out...we also picked up some furry leopard shoes I found on Marketplace. Years & years ago...I bought a bunch of nail stamping plates...& immediately did nothing with them. I thought it would be fun to try them out with a leopard print design on my nails...it was cute...but can you believe that I've got hundreds of bottles of polish & no black?! 

Mr. Charlie Parr playing another fabulous live set from First Avenue. Matt DJ-ing Retrodustrial from the 90s. Ms. Bette Smith playing live for Paste Magazine...she is marvelous...what a voice. Amanda Palmer chatting from New Zealand. Michael Waite playing live from the U.P. Steve Earle playing for Paste Magazine...songs from his new album of covers of his son's tunes...& he played the song he wrote for his son...heartbreaking. DJ ellafine playing darkwave/synthpop.David & I have been unpacking more boxes in the basement & we came across these doggy Christmas sweaters Angie helped me make for Oscar & Olive for doggy daycare ugly sweater day...we tried them on Rye & Violet, then threw them away...because they don't really fit right & dogs hated them...but, adorable. David went out for our weekly co-op pickup last week...& the car was driving rough...so off to our mechanic it went...luckily, it was an easy fix. We planned on getting a new car last year, but then...last year happened & we didn't go anywhere, so it seemed pointless. BUT...this year will be different, right?! The Infamous Stringdusters playing online. A few bands live from Caffe Lena...Stretching the Truth & Mark Emanatian Duo. And another fantastic trio on Green Note...I was especially enamored of Bandini, an Italian artist out of London who plays Gypsy Pop/Jazz-ish music. And...then there's this gem that popped up on my TimeHop this week...not sure how old I was when I made this, but my drawing has not improved...or my opinion on cats. 

 

Purple Velvet Fluted Dress

Dress: Purple Velvet Fluted Dress by Torrid (size 5x)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Old Navy, thrifted

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

2 Purple Necklaces: Green Goddess Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

All dressed up & nowhere to go...velvet version. I'm really only getting dressed to get my pictures taken...it keeps me sane with this bit of normality. So, why not pull out some fancy dresses as if I had plans...remember those?! Place to go...sigh. Also, how elegant does purple velvet fluted dress sound??

This dress was a bit big on top, so it didn't lay as nicely as it should have...I adored the trapeze flare on the bottom though...as well as the cutout in back. Torrid is calling this dress purple...it definitely skewed a pinky purple to me. This was my first time wearing these rose gold glitter flats I picked up at Savers. 

This was also my first time wearing this set of merlot necklaces...with one hanging down the back...had I been actually wearing this outfit out...I would have secured that one so it stayed in place better. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug, Pat McGrath eyeshadow in Gold Standard & Electron, Locket & Keepsake liquid lip color by Sugarpill Cosmetics, & OPI nail polish in Queen of West Web-erly. 

My final sewing step...hand sewing the rings on the back of the blinds. Farmers' market beef roast with a mushroom & shallot sauce & roasted sweet potatoes...& a lovely pairing of wine from Kate's cellar. 

New to me, DJ/VJ Ant, on Twitch...& a rather sad version of my usually beloved Planet Earth. Glenn Crytzer & his boys playing the songs of 1931. 

 

Olive & Orange

Dress: Contrast Stitching Olive Dress by Hutch (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: Isaac Mizrahi Live! (size 3x) via eBay

Tights: We Love Colors 

Shoes: Yoki via eBay 

Earring & Bracelet: Vintage

Necklace: Vintage Heidi Daus via eBay

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I love olive...a lot...it's my favorite shade of green & the only reason I took a chance on this plain dress from GB. I was also unsure about all those pleats...I know they have a name? Inverted box pleats?? Because if the dress had been too tight on me, they would not have laid correctly...but it was perfect. Fantastic amount of twirl, pockets, & a great fit.

This was the windiest & coldest day I've experienced in a long time...it was brutal. But this orange & green color combo made me smile...these are my two favorite colors...why don't I wear them together more often?!

This was my first time wearing this cardigan, earring, & necklace...perhaps even the bracelet? 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew, Nars eyeshadow palette in Mediteranee, Pumpkin lipliner by NYX, Apricot lipstick from Bite Beauty, MAC Retro Matte liquid lipcolour in Coral Plated, & Red Hot Holiday nail polish by OPI. 

I love working in this room with all the windows...watching it snow. Roman blinds...I think I've figured them out. We are going to change the bottoms to the one pictured because the tassels we bought look better spaced out more...they are too crowded on our current design.

Dan Rodriguez playing from a beach house in Florida loaned to him by a friend. An online order picked up at Joann's...they have that down...so easy. I wanted a red tomato pin cushion though...there are no blue tomatoes! I've been getting us 5 pounds of spinach a week from farmers' market because overwintered spinach is delicious...but we (me) are getting tired of it the same few ways...so I suggested to David that he make us a spinach, shiitake, shallot, cheddar omelet...& it was delightful! He cooked the ingredients down to get all the water out & infused so much flavor...perfectly seasoned with Sunny Paris Seasoning from Penzeys...simple, but tasty. 

Wednesday was the highlight of last week for me...I started crying when Lady Gaga began singing The National Anthem...continuing for the next hour & on & off the rest of the day. So much emotion. I would have preferred a Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren presidency...but I'm putting a lot of hope into Joe & Kamala. I'm not sure I've ever watched an inauguration before...certainly not as much of it as I did this year...but I wanted to see our first female VP sworn in. 

The star of the day, Amanda Gorman & her poem, The Hill We Climb. 

The Resonant Rouges playing live on Facebook...banjo & accordion...while I enjoy a glass of wine. 

David traded in the jewelry he got me for our anniversary that I already had...for this lovely set in peach, pink, & green. Our pickup from the Co-op this week included...salmon & kale...I can't get enough crispy kale chips lately. And Seasaw playing in a blinged out basement...those girls are always so sparkly. 

 

COVID Vaccinated

Dress: Estate Blue Midnight Dot Perfect Faux Wrap Dress by Leota (size 4L) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: Dancing Days by Banned (size 4x) via ModCloth

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

David was taking these photos of me & he walked around to get a different angle, above...I guess I don't do well with change because I freaked out a bit & said...that's the wrong angle! Anyway, I actually liked the angle & decided to use it. I guess I could stand to do different poses & perspectives...I'm not sure why change is so scary to me. I remember driving back from Chicago...nearly 20 years ago, when you still needed change for the toll booths...Kate was in charge of handing it to me & she said, change...are you afraid of it??? Well, I guess it's funny because it's true. 

Typical well-fitting Leota dress in a dark navy. These are the perfect sexy office girl dresses, but as usual...I had to pin the neckline so it was decent & my bra didn't show. I liked the irregular shapes of the polka dots...they reminded me of snowballs. 

This is my first time wearing this cardigan I picked up several years ago during an after holiday sale at ModCloth...since the dots reminded me of snowballs AND it was actually lightly snowing out...snowflake cardigan. I am pleased the design continues on the back. 

This is my first time wearing both this necklace & bracelet. I had so many jewelry choices I could have gone with...all blue, yellow, or orange...but this won out, mostly because I'm trying not to pick the same jewelry over & over. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Goddess, Ciaté The Velvet Palette, UD lipliner in 714, Ciaté Glitterflip Holographic lipstick in Scandal, & Blue My Mind nail polish by OPI. 

David & I are in Tier 1a to get the COVID vaccine because we are therapists (falling under healthcare workers). Since we don't work for an organization & because the vaccine rollout has been incredibly disorganized...it took a while to get their attention. However, last Wednesday night we finally got an invitation to make an appointment & we both got a slot for the very next day! It was a drive-thru experience & that part was handled quite well...it took less than 15 minutes for both of us to get through the line & get our first shot. We had a fun nurse...he told me to keep my arm in the car, so I did...& he told me a lot of people argue about that with him despite him telling them it will be a less painful experience for them...I was like...why would anyone pick that fight...& he said, because people are special. Also, I didn't feel the poke at all & since it was on my farmers' market tattoo...he couldn't see the area he went in, so he said, we'll just give this squash a bandaid. Totally wonderful EASY experience. We'll go back in 3 weeks to get the second shot. I know things are not going to immediately change for us...but it's such a relief to know we have it...it's a step forward after a very long year. 

One of the lovely Etsy buyers I purchase beautiful jewelry from sent me these pretty green earrings as a thank you gift for being her customer...so sweet! Oh, look...we opened a bottle of wine that wasn't out of Kate's cellar...& it was delicious. It's so nice to sip a glass of red in the evening...it usually takes me a few hours to get through, but I really enjoy it. A new to me band...Yarn...playing live from the family living room. 

Look at the cute doggie helping his people pick up their farmers' market order! Market dinner...pork chops, roasted sweet potatoes, & baked apples...with the wine left from the night before. Scary Lady Sarah DJ-ing goth tunes...& Glenn Crytzer & his band playing songs from 1930. 

I ordered these spectacular purple Fluevog boots from Poland the day after Thanksgiving...& they finally arrived. Michael Waite playing songs to honor MLK day. Matt DJ-ing Britpop...lots of early 90s stuff I'd forgotten about. 

Charlie Parr & friends at First Avenue...they had a small audience...it was wonderful to hear people clapping. More Fluevogs I can't wear until my knee is fixed...Queen Transcendent Elizabeth in green, found through the Flummunity & one of my unicorns. Finally, I figured out how I wanted to finish the bottom of the Roman blinds so it looks neat from the back...not that anyone is going to look at the back. But I'll know. I've been following directions for these blinds from several different books, as well as ideas in my head. This practice shade is nearly done...& it's perfect. Which worries me...if my sample shade gave me no problems...how will the real ones go?? 

 

2020 Certificate of Achievement

Dress: Rose Scarf Maxi by City Chic (size XXL/26)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Worthington, thrifted

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I always think of maxis as summer clothing...but this one had longer sleeves...so I thought, winter dress it is...although it's certainly light enough to be worn year round...ideally, in spring or autumn. The fit & length were good, but it was a bit big all over. There was a tie at the waistband with tassels on the ends, but it didn't draw it in as much as I'd like. The fabric had no stretch & there were pretty brass faux vintage buttons all up the front which paired well with the boho look of the scarf patterned dress. 

I picked these shoes up at Savers years ago for a few dollars & I believe this is my first time wearing them...they appear to be vintage 80s shoes, but I'm not an expert. 

I've had one haircut in the last year...& now I'm regretting it. I am obsessing lately about growing my hair out...but on one side or both? Lately, I am leaning towards both which is why I regret getting several inches chopped off. Perhaps when it is safe to go places again, I'll get extensions to see how I feel about me & long hair. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in 1999, Dreamer & Rose Gold eyeshadow by Anastasia, Bite Beauty lipstick in Spiced Plum, & Queen of West Web-erly nail polish from OPI. 

After we took pictures...I came home & video chatted with Kate...it was *almost* like I got dressed up & had somewhere to go. Charlie Parr, continuing his January residency at First Avenue. 

On Tuesdays...we eat salmon. With fried garlic, dill, & Meyer lemons...& a side of cauliflower. Look at what my sweet girlie made me...a certificate of achievement for completing 2020. We all deserve that. Something similar was supposed to come with our Them Coulee Boys vinyl, but they forgot. Getting this from Kate made me ridiculously happy. And...I leave you with my Fluevog unicorns...Half Truth Tanyas in both green & purple rub off in a size 10, as they run a bit narrow. I didn't get them when they were available because I thought I'd fall in those tiny heels, but now I'm just sad they are not living in my closet for me to admire.