Them Coulee Boys on Lake Superior

Dress: Julianna Maxi Dress by Free People (size M) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earrings: Colleen Toland

Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Bangle Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, Jason, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 40-37-53

I had this dress back in April...& thought it would be the ideal vacation dress with sandals...so here we are. The reviews stated it ran big, so I ordered a large...Kate got one in medium at the same time & that is what I'm wearing here. So, it runs 2 sizes too big...& it's supposed to be a relaxed fitting dress. The colors are marvelous & I don't care that it's not flattering. 

We tried to hide my bra, but it just wasn't happening. I mean, I could have hidden it for these photos, but in real life...nope.

This is my first time wearing this necklace David got me for my birthday...it feels a bit dainty for me, but thought it was great with this dress.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Electric Empire; Lime Crime, Rose Burst, Frosting, & RSVP eyeshadow from Lime Crime; Sugarpill Cosmetics lipstick in Clockwork; & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to the Game?

I don't remember what I'm doing here, but Kate thought we needed a picture. Me in my jammies making potato salad & curried deviled eggs for our potluck dinner. The yolks were so orange on the eggs I used, that I kept thinking...but I didn't put carrots in the potato salad. 

Brian & Kate dance party...

And the reason for our trip...Them Coulee Boys! Beau immediately took off his clothes & jumped in frigid Lake Superior while Soren filmed the whole thing. Kate got me my favorite Wisconsin band for my birthday back when they were doing a kickstarter for their most recent album. My dream was to have them play on Lake Superior & then my dream came true thanks to my girlie. We had SO much delicious food...& I never got a proper photo of it. Brian was so wonderful & took on grill duty since I wasn't comfortable with it...he grilled all the hamburgers & asparagus & they were perfect. 

I made a big batch of sangria that I enjoyed all weekend. I may have gone overboard on chip buying...but don't worry, we (mostly me) finished them over the next few days. These boys are expert rock skippers...I've never seen anyone bounce a stone over water so many times. Them Coulee Boys...I'll put a few videos at the end. It was a magical evening...fabulous live music on my favorite lake...soooo peaceful & relaxing. I didn't get a picture of one of the best moments of the night...Soren wandered off while someone else was playing a solo to grab another peanut butter bar & when Beau asked him to get him one...he decided to share the one he already had by having him take a bite of it while it was in his mouth. It was adorable. 

Soren jumped in the lake after they played while Beau filmed it. 

Look how nice these boys are...I would have never asked for a photo, but they suggested it. I've got too much social anxiety for that. And to make it even more awkward, I told Soren I'm sorry I wasn't friendlier, I've got anxiety. 

And one with Kate...

Wading in the water...I was like, it's not that cold...then I realized I couldn't feel my feet. Adorable couple during sunset. 

Sitting by the fire...Brian & I stayed up talking & were gifted with seeing the moon rise around 1am...it was such a brilliant ball of orange in the sky, I thought there must be a fire...it was a supermoon & it was spectacular...obviously photos don't do it justice. 

But we tried anyway. It was the perfect ending to a lovely day. 

 I Won't Be Defined...

You Can't Always Get What You Want...

Driving to the U.P.

Dress: Tropic Print Fit & Flare Dress by Unique Vintage x GB (size 0x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted 

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Jason, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

A perfectly fine dress, nothing special. The slippery fabric felt like a cheap nightgown, but the print was cute enough. Good fit & length. I got quite a few compliments on it, so perhaps it was just me?

I do like how I styled it...

This *might* be my first time wearing this Wendy necklace? I can't recall. So at least this dress got me wearing things I don't get to that often. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Electric Empire; Blaze, Wildheart, Still Shot, & Wanderlust eyeshadow by UD; Bite Beauty lipliner in 30; Rhubarb lipstick from Bite Beauty; UD lipstick in Big Bang; & Essie nail polish in Forever Family. 

My Poshmark sandal buying spree continues...I don't regret a thing. Pretty peonies in our yard...& a vaseful of some David picked for me. 

I wore this dress to shop a rainy Wednesday farmer's market, go to work, & poke around some thrift store with David...& to buy a charcoal grill. We've been waiting until we design our outdoor kitchen to buy the perfect grill, but...tired of waiting...so we just bought a temporary one so we can grill...I miss that flavor. This woman insisted on selling these sandals as a set with this purse...but it was cheap enough I finally just said yes to the shoes. 

I picked this dress up at Vinney's...it's cute & I need a few things that I own to actually fit me just in case I have no rentals at home. This vintage black bracelet has snakes on it, not sure if they are visible here. 

Rye helping David set up the grill...he's helpful that way. I also wore this dress to drive to the U.P. Kate, Jason, & I were all going to pile into his car...but we underestimated how much stuff I was going to bring...so I ended up driving Veronika. Iggy Pop for President 2024! Sure, why not?

I love being surrounded by trees. Hello Lake...you make me happy. Brian & I sat outside the cabin & had a glass of our favorite wine. My anxiety was at a 0. Unheard of. 

Kate & Jason with Lake Superior & a bit of fog. 

Brian! We all used to come up to this cabin in AuTrain every year for quite a while...but it had been 10 years since our last visit. It felt so wonderful to be back. I know it looks like a picture of my car, but it's actually of all the pollen floating through the air...it was ridiculous. 

I made us our first dinner on the lake...Salmon with Whole Lemon Dressing Salad with lots of farmers' market goodness. Kate brought 2 lovely Rieslings...one from Michigan. And then the girlie wanted to punch me because I asked her to move so I could get the lake in the background. Before she ate. 

Back at the cabin...the 4 of us played Ticket to Ride...Kate won...it was fun. I love playing games & don't get to do it nearly often enough. 

 

Happy 23rd Girlieversary!

Dress: Printed Halter Maxi Dress from Plenty by Tracy Reese (size 1x) via Nuuly

Sandals: Fluevog, F-Trip: Bridget 

Earring: Kerala Rose

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

I loved the riot of colors in this dress...so vibrant...doesn't it just make you smile? This abstract modern pattern is not something I'm typically drawn toward, but it was a great rental for a night. This long maxi required me to wear heels. The cotton fabric was substantial & there was wire in the hem to help keep its shape & there were pockets. I did have to iron this dress thoroughly...because cotton. The dress ran large & had to be pinned in on the sides & there was just no way to disguise the bra peeking out of the boob window...ideally, you just wouldn't have to wear one. 

How perfect are these Fluevog sandals David bought me?! I mean...the dress completely hid them, but I knew I was wearing them. 

These are currently on sale...they are super comfy, but I'm not sure I like any of the other colorways...I have been eyeing them in purple & green though...

You would think with so many colors to choose from that I'd have endless jewelry options, but one solid color seemed too boring...& this multihued Kerala Rose earring wasn't exactly right, but it made me happy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mars; Ten, RSVP, Candles, & Lime Crime eyeshadow by Lime Crime; Bang lipliner & lipstick from UD; & Essie nail polish in Sexy Plunge. 

I wore this maxi to have dinner with my bezzer for our 23rd girlieversary. Look how cute Kate looks!!! Now that print is SO much more me. But we matched in vibrancy & didn't even plan it. 

Girlies forever...

David kindly offered to meet us at the capitol after dinner & take our picture...he's so sweet. 

My favorite shot...

It was a lovely evening Friday June 3rd (our actual anniversary is on the 4th, but there was rain forecasted & Kate is only eating outside)...I got there just as Red opened so we'd have our pick of tables & waited for the girlie. They have surrounded their patio with pretty flowers & it was nice to see heaters (we didn't need them, but will remember this for the future). 

I ordered a Tiki cocktail while I waited for Kate...this glass was ridiculous. Long Live Olmec (Angostura 7 year rum, apricot liqueur, coconut, lime, Bitterness Burlesque bitters). Kate sipped on a sparkling rosé.  

The girlie & her sushi...Black & Yellowtail (spicy albacore, mango, avocado, grilled scallions...topped with yellowtail, Serrano & black garlic aioli, tobiko, micro greens)...& Shiitake Mushroom Tempura (organic shiitake, sweet aioli, unagi sauce). 

The other girlie & her sushi...A seasonal roll, Year of the Tiger (tiger shrimp, avocado, smoked pineapple...topped with seared tuna, aji Amarillo tiger's milk aioli, white fish ceviche, micro greens)...& a Red signature roll, Mermaid Roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, pickled jalapeño, mango...topped with spicy tuna, strawberries, kiwi sauce). 

After our al fresco meal...we wandered to the capitol & saw an inflatable moon & chit chatted while we waited for David. It was a lovely night & I am lucky to have my girlie in my life. 

 

Cow Petting

Dress: Garden Printed Midi Dress by London Times (size 16) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress, RIP

Sandals: Alegria, gift from David

All Jewelry: Colleen Toland

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

I had this dress back in March & I just thought it was so pretty, I wanted to style it again for summer. I went down one size from a 14W last time, to a regular 16 here. Why do women's sizes have to be so weird?! A 14 should just be a 14. Perfect fit, great dress...my only complaint about it last time is that there was a seam up the front...but non-plus sizes don't appear to have that issue. 

I tried to pull different colors out of the dress this time, but...

Ultimately, I preferred my styling of this back in the winter.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Sabbath; Analogue, Legend, & Destroyer eyeshadow from Kat von D; Bite Beauty lipliner in 72; Clockwork lipstick by Sugarpill Cosmetics; Ofra lipstick in Santorini; & Morgan Taylor nail polish in Sunrise And The City.  

Rye likes to be by me at all times. David made us a salad, yum! And our landlord, Michael, sold the building our business is in & he had these barber chairs from the 30s in his salon. David spent a good portion of the day dragging these home. We are going to reupholster them & David had the brilliant idea of attaching some antique ceiling tin around the back. Another project we will get to...some day. David picked these pretty purple flowers for me that our neighbor planted in our yard. 

Selfie at the office. I wore this dress to work a few times. Dinner, Butter Kimchi Shrimp, with roasted artichokes & riced cauliflower. At the carwash...I find it soooo relaxing. I tried to guess the number of cows in this bag, but I'm rubbish at guessing, so I bought a bag. 

The errands continue...frames at Hobby Lobby...I know they are terrible, but they have great frames. I kind of need this everything bagel purse from Betsey Johnson...don't I? I've been eyeing it for 2 months now. I went on a shoe buying spree on Poshmark...mostly sandals. I thrifted those blue & orange shoes in a size 11 years ago & love wearing them, but they are huge on me, so I replaced them with an 8.5. Red flower wedges. 

I got to pet a cow at farmers' market! So cute! Kate took about 100 pictures of me. The girlie & I with the pride flag flying on the capitol for the month of June. 

Buying tasty carrots. A bit of fish shopping after market. And a snack when I got home...goat cheddar crackers with Wisconsin Tomme cheese, both from farmers' market & SO delicious. You know Wisconsin has the best cheese ever. 

Another pair of shoes...Boden yellow suede heels (all my shoes are too big on me, so I'm trying to replenish my collection). And I made dinner...Little Gem Salad with Garlicky Almond Dressing & Curried Duck Legs with Ginger & Rhubarb...the salad was nothing special, but I'd make those duck legs again, probably with chicken as you couldn't tell it was duck. New knives...I've long coveted these colorful Laguiole knives with the bee & we needed new steak knives...all the colors make me happy.