The Importance of Being Earnest // Heritage Tavern

Dress: Ruffle-Sleeve Printed-Wrap Maxi Dress by Anthropologie (size 1x) via Nuuly

Sandals: Dansko

Blue Earring: Kerala Rose

Creme Earring: etXarte

Bracelet & Pin: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

Super sexy true wrap dress...mostly I'm just a sucker for brown...& unusual color combinations...brown, cream, & periwinkle. I really liked the pattern of dots on this dress, the silkiness, & all the ruffles. The negatives: I had to pin the neckline closed, that slit really went up high, & there was no way to not have my bra showing in the back because of how cutout it was...none of that kept me from loving wearing this maxi however. 

That's a lot of droopy skin on that knee *shrug*...it's what I'm left with. Fluttery back, with bonus bra...

This was my first time wearing this little vintage pin we picked up at Elkhorn Antique Flea Market a few years back. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Roach; Ounce, Lumbre, & Scorched eyeshadow by UD; MAC lipliner in Chicory; Gothica lipstick from Kat von D; & OPI nail polish in Talk of the Town Brown. 

I wore this dress to go out to see a play with David...The Importance of Being Earnest. Selfie for my boyfriend. We love that the Bartell is *right* next door to Heritage Tavern...we popped in for pre-show cocktails...I went with an old standby, Bellini Sfumato (Tito's vodka, Sfumato amaro, creme de peche, sage syrup, Jamaican #1 bitters, lemon juice, cava)...& David tried a brand new drink, & our favorite of the night, Bananas Foster the People (Angostura 1919, El Dorado 5 year, creme de banane, Canna-maple Demerara, lime & orange juices, Angostura, & Hellfire bitters). 

The Importance of Being Earnest...we've seen really good productions of this at APT...this was not good. The actors mostly said the words, but didn't seem to understand...comedy requires you say words & sentences a certain way for it to be funny. The audience laughed, but it felt like a waste of time...so we left at intermission & went back to Heritage. 

Our beloved deviled eggs. David tried a second new addition to the cocktail menu, Fool's Spring (Ford's gin, Stateline aquavit, galangal syrup, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, celery bitters). I had to have my own Bananas Foster the People...soooo good. We also shared Gnocchetti & Clams (little neck clams, gruyere broth, fried Brussels sprouts leaves, bacon, grilled bread, pickled leek, pine nut gremolata). I've been resisting buying the UD Wild West palette...but they were selling it for 1/2 off, so...

 

Farmers' Market with The Girlie // Swimsuit Shopping

Dress: Royal Floral Wrap Dress by Jessica Howard (size 14W) via Gwynnie Bee 

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Ann Taylor Loft, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

This royal blue was so vibrant & springy...conservative, but still cute. I had to pin the neckline closed, but otherwise everything was great...especially the handkerchief hem & the flounce. 

I almost look like I have boobs in this dress...I miss my boobs. 

I nearly forgot there were pockets...

I was so happy to wear this flower earring...it's been a while...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Roxy, Grass eyeshadow from Lime Crime, Kat von D eyeshadow in Swoon, Big Bang lipliner & lipstick by UD, & OPI nail polish in Holy Pink Pagoda!

I first wore this dress to shop at the westside farmers' market with Kate...but I must have gotten up awfully early because I apparently had time to stop at the salon where I buy my skincare AND dash into the co-op to get coffee (we were still trying to adjust our subscription to Spyhouse...it turns out we need an every 2 week delivery because we were running out at 4).

Carsie & Joe...live on Facebook. My current favorite moisturizer from Éminence. Leftover salmon salad for lunch on our front porch on a gorgeous day.

The girlie came home with me to talk to David about financial stuff & Jason picked up lunch from Banzo on his way to fetch her & we all visited. Our Magnolia tree always looks pretty in the spring. 

Later that day...I made us dinner, 2 Christopher Kimball/Milk Street recipes...Fennel, Tomatoes, & Harissa Chicken en Cocotte, served atop roasted cauliflower/garlic...alongside Roasted Fennel with Rosemary. I also wore this dress to work a few times. After work, David & I popped into Lands' End to exchange the swimsuit he bought me for my birthday. Women's sizing is so confusing...how was he supposed to know there is a difference between a size 14 & 14W?! I ended up with the regular size 16. 

The funny thing about this swimsuit...I had my eye on it...my favorite pattern, paisley, mixed with the different colors on the top & bottom...& I need a bit of a skirt because I've got a lot of loose skin that spills out. David didn't even know...& this is the one he picked for me out of all the swimsuits online. He knows me. Ulta was having a sale & I wanted to try this foundation by Nars...but it was just terrible & settled into every one of my pores like no other has ever done...oddly enough, I picked the exact right shade...online. And my May Boxy Charm. 

 

Symphony Rehearsal // Cento

Dress: Thea Maxi Dress by Lusana (size 1x) via Nuuly 

Sandals: Sanita

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: Colleen Toland

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

The colors in this dress were a stunning combination on me, if I do say so myself...the peachy color looked so good with my skin & the red really pops...& there were stamped gold squares throughout. This dress was the ideal maxi length & I loved the tiers & flowy-ness. It's all downhill from there however...the top was shirred both front & back, but it didn't come down far enough in front & was constantly riding up my chest & giving it an even more unflattering muumuu silhouette than it had when sitting properly. I am barely a C cup & I would need to be much smaller to make this work. I got SO many compliments, but I just didn't feel pretty wearing this. It's too bad this company only fits on flat chested women. The only other dress I've had from them had the same issue on top. Lusana is out of Australia & focuses on beach ready pieces...but for $330...I'd expect a better fit. 

This was my first time wearing these shoes David bought me at a shoe sale this woman has twice a year in her yard. She says her daughter works at Shopbop & that's where she gets them from...but I think the shoes are too conservative for that, so *shrug*.

I need a bigger red flower earring...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Double Life, Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions eyeshadow palette, Year of the Dragon eyeshadow by Mon Ennui Cosmetics, Cherry lipliner from MAC, UD lipstick in F-Bomb, & OPI nail polish in Red Heads Ahead. 

I wore this dress to attended The Madison Symphony Orchestra's open rehearsal of Beethoven, 'His Greatest Hits', with David. First, I made us a dinner of Shrimp with Kerkenaise Sauce, served with Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche & Fried Capers. 

This was David's first time at a rehearsal & we both enjoyed it...I find this free event much more interesting than a regular performance. I like hearing the feedback & how they incorporate it into how they play. Afterwards...in a moment of weakness, we decided to go into Cento...it was just across the street from Overture Center & we had parked right there. We are never impressed with Food Fight restaurants & this is why. We had 4 terrible cocktails & some mediocre food...other than the octopus. The octopus was outstanding. So, David & I have renewed our no Food Fight pledge. David wanted to go to one of our reliably delightful favorites, Sal's or Lucille, but I wanted to go somewhere different. 

The first plate they brought out was the Grilled Octopus (chickpea, chorizo, cherry tomato, fennel, chili oil)...it was lovely...delicious & balanced...octopus perfectly cooked. Too many garbanzo beans, but that is a minor complaint. We also had Fried Roman Artichokes (pickled shallot, lemon aioli).

Bacon-Wrapped Dates (sausage, piquillo pepper sauce). Fried Calamari (chili aioli, giardiniera).

And the final, & worst dish of the evening...Tuna Tartare (lemon, caperberry, cracker). It was still a nice night out, despite our poor choices. 

 

Birthday Girlie

Dress: Ginko Floral Zoe Midi Dress by Leota (size 1x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Fairway: Trivialis 

Earring: The Embellishing Room

Necklace & Bracelet: Wendy Baker 

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

These Zoe dresses are one of my favorite styles from Leota. They are great for work, like all their dresses...but when they come in pretty or fun patterns...they also work for casual wear. I adored the soft colors in this dress...the peach & yellow really work for me. The fit is great...this was too big on me, but that is my fault for not getting the correct size. My favorite parts of this style are the flowy short sleeves & fitted band at the waist...the only thing I dislike is the seam down the middle of the top. 

I say I don't like pastels, but look at me having all the right accessories for this outfit.

This was my first time wearing these Trivialis that I bought used, in perfect shape...

I think this was my very first flower necklace from Wendy, so its been around a long time & gets a lot of wear...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Sabbath, Natasha Denona Sunrise Palette, Bite Beauty lipliner in 72, Pumpkin lipliner from NYX, Sugarpill Cosmetics lipstick in Clockwork, & Mural Mural on the Wall nail polish by OPI.

I first wore this dress on my birthday, May 1st. I was desperately in the mood for a good brunch buffet...& all my favorite places have stopped doing them or gone out of business. I discovered that Vintage Brewing Co in Sauk had one...so we drove out there. I had a mimosa while we waited for a table, then checked on the buffet...it was so sad...out of nearly everything, & the offerings they did have were not exciting. But we were already there, so we decided to stay. David had a Prickly Pear Lemonade (Western Son prickly pear vodka, lemonade, & lime juice). For starters, we ordered...cheese curds (passable) & nachos (YUM, would order again [pulled pork, black beans, cheddar jack cheese, roasted corn, jalapeños, salsa, VBC queso, sour cream, & chipotle peach BBQ]). I had a Moscow Mule made with rhubarb ginger gin...which I wasn't aware was a thing. For lunch, David had The 803 (Knoche's 7 oz beef patty topped with housemade pepper jam, peanut butter, crumbled bacon, & American cheese served on a brioche bun). I had the Bluegill Basket with tater tots. After lunch, we checked out some local antique stores & found some lovely treasures (non of which I took photos of)...a gold trifold mirror that we hung in the hallway outside David's office & some other small things. I took a picture of this wardrobe that I thought Kate might like & tried on a mink wrap...it wasn't quite right, but I decided I need one to wear with my fancier dresses in cold months. My favorite thing was looking through an old Life magazine from 1951 & this quote from the cover photographer..."Only once in my whole career did it happen that a blonde asked me, 'Please make me look intelligent.' Unfortunately, it was impossible." I came home with 2 records...the belly dance one, because it looked fun & the Joan Baez because it contains my favorite song of hers, Diamonds & Rust...about Bob Dylan. Selfie for my boyfriend & a new to me pair of Fluevogs. Some Snag tights that Angie stuck on her order for me finally came in...& some birthday gifts from David...a couple of sunhats, Colleen Toland jewelry, & a Lands End swimsuit. I also wore this dress to see the Nick Cave documentary, This Much I Know To Be True, with the girlie...

It was good, but not what I was expecting...it was mostly about the recording of his last two albums with a lot of footage from that...I was hoping for more conversations about his relationship with Warren Ellis...which there was a little of. 

 

Mint Mark // Al Franken // Birthday Dinner Party

Dress: Keyhole Halter Maxi Dress by Maeve (size 1x) via Nuuly

Shoes: Fluevog, Bellevues: Mary Fields 

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

Gorgeous Goddess Gown in flowy chiffon fabric with a groovy Pucci inspired print. I loved nearly everything about this dress...the halter neckline, the cutout back, the perfect maxi length...but it fit large on top & I had to pin the sides together under the arms, otherwise it winged out...would a smaller size fix that issue? Unsure, as it is mentioned more than once in the reviews. 

I would probably wear different shoes if I got this dress again...but they were the best heel option I had. 

I love an open back...if only I didn't need to wear a bra. My favorite Fluevog family for comfortable & pretty heels, Bellevues...

I wish this hadn't had a seam down the middle of the halter...weird choice. I could have gone with a long necklace, but opted not to wear any. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Loaded; Jasper, Azalea, & Awakening eyeshadow from Natasha Denona; NYX lipliner in Pumpkin; Clockwork & Teacher's Pet lipstick from Sugarpill Cosmetics; OPI nail polish in A Woman's Prague-ative; & Sexy Plunge nail polish by Essie. 

I first wore this outfit to have dinner with David at Mint Mark (his first time). We began the evening with cocktails, of course. David had an El Diablo (Milagro Resposado tequila, Crème de Cassis, ginger, lime, seltzer). I chose to have The Tim Curry (Milagro Reposado, lemongrass curry cordial, lime, orange coconut)...this is cocktail perfection. 

The first offerings of delicious food...Olive Fig Spread (Gordal olive, walnut, balsamic, rosemary, fig, focaccia) & Pierogis (smoked potato, white cheddar, onion confit, crème fraiche), my favorite dish of the night...although every one but the last was a close contender for that.

Round 2, Golden Hour (sesame oil-washed Elijah Craig bourbon, Giffard banana du Bresil, Meyer lemon, honey, lime, saline) for me & for David, Sangrita (Corralejo Blanco tequila, ginger, lime, orange, chili, seasonal fruit juice [on tap]). More tasty food...Terrine (pork, pistachio, raisin, sherry, foie gras, port-onion mustarda), David's winner for plate of the evening. And, it was Friday after all, Fish Fry...the best I've ever eaten. 

David's last drink was a repeat of his first, but he is pictured here with mine, a special nitro infused cocktail that was on tap that we never got the name of that included: housemade walnut nocino, rye whiskey, some kind of rum, & other things I don't recall...it was delightful. Our final course was the only mildly disappointing one of the night, pimento cheese, it was merely good...it should have been brought out first. Overall, an outstanding meal. I hadn't been there for years, since the only other time I had eaten there was with Kate & it was just alright. After dinner...pictures taken in the rain, then down the street to see Al Franken at The Barrymore. 

Cuties in line...Al required vaccines & masks at his show. 

While I don't regret going, I wouldn't see Al Franken again, this was David's second time & I think he's said everything he has to say. The next day was my birthday dinner party. I requested all the pasta...& definitely seafood. David found squid at a local Asian market. Kate wearing a stunning velvet jumpsuit...Jason, who is copying my coping a feel. 

Girlies...& a reach around...I said, once you've touched a boob, you always can, right? And Kate replied, that's not how consent works. I know. Someday I will learn to make a decent face for photos. 

I think elly took this? The only picture of David from the night...he worked so hard in the kitchen...all day long. 

All girlie hug extravaganza...the first time the 4 of us have been together in years...2019, probably. Josh, e's husband, makes the best cocktails. The first was spectacular...I can't remember the name, but it had layers & bubbles with rum in them that popped (like bubble tea)!

The carb feast begins! Garlic bread, focaccia, & baguette from Batch...Mac & cheese & bubbles from Kate's cellar.  

Linguine with clams & roasted tomatoes/garlic, Angel hair pasta prima Boo, & fettuccine with squid, fennel, herbs, & lemon. 

But wait, there's more! Carb overload. Fettuccine Alfredo, with optional lobster tails to put in it (vegetarians). Kate pours the second bottle of bubbles (& my favorite). And the final pasta, cheese stuffed ravioli with pesto. 

Josh brought a selection of Amaro. And because he used them...I rediscovered we have these adorable etched grape glasses I picked up at a garage sale years ago. I never get good pictures of anyone but Kate, because no-one else likes to pose for me...so candids it is. 

Cute couple being cute...

Angie made Amanda Hesser's Almond Cake that I requested...& she didn't overcook hers like I did with my last two. It was fantastic...with berries & vanilla whipped cream. Kate & Jason brought chocolates from Gail Ambrosius.

David made a tasty port & apple sorbet, & Josh concocted another cocktail creation...a Pain Killer. 

Kate ending the evening dancing in her gorgeous velvet jumpsuit. I made a special birthday playlist. It was a delightful birthday dinner.