Girlie Vacation: Driving to Frankfort

Dress: Chiffon Smocked Waist Mustard Fit & Flare Tiered Dress by Maison Tara (size 14W) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Born

Purse:

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 40-37-53

My favorite shade of yellow...mustard. I wasn't sure how I felt about this chiffon midi...it was a bit big on me, but the smocking helped it fit better. I was most perplexed by the top cape-like tier...so I experimented wearing it a few different ways other than just hanging straight. In the end, since I didn't pin it in place...just the act of moving around caused it to fall back down. 

Draped over both shoulders, one shoulder, & hanging down.

A rare bare legged sighting. I may have mentioned this before, but one of the biggest reasons I've been getting my legs covered in tattoos is because of all the discoloration & scarring I have from vasculitis & other leg issues. So, I am feeling more confident going tegging-less these days.

I was quite pleased with my make-up & accessory choices with this dress...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon; Carnelian, Azalea, & Agate eyeshadow by Natasha Denona; Dragun Beauty Lib Job lip liner 2.0cc (medium brown); Bronze Shimmer lipstick from MAC; & OPI nail polish in Oy-Another Polish Joke! 

I wore this dress to work a few times, then I wore it for the final time to drive to Michigan with Kate. Lots of construction traffic along the way. I often take photos of what is playing on Sirius if I like it, so I can add it to my Spotify list. First stop on our trip...Frankfort, Michigan.

Kate had a place picked out for dinner, but the menu at the restaurant at our hotel looked good & we could sit on the porch all by ourselves. It "looked good," but it ended up being the worst meal on our trip. Our hotel was charming though. 

Gorgeous beach with the most benches I've ever seen in one place.

Lake Michigan was warm...I wanted to jump in!

A spectacular sunset...

Just look at that...

It wasn't Lake Superior, but it *was* a large body of water & that was more than enough to make me feel completely at peace.

Beach Rules: Have Fun!

We walked the short distance back to our hotel through the neighborhood behind it. A picture of the lighthouse on the stairway of our quaint hotel. 

 

The Ultimate Second Hand Scores

Dress: Orange Chili Fit & Flare Dress by London Times (size 16) via Gwynnie Bee

Leggings: LulaRoe (size TC2)

Sandals: Dansko

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 40-37-53

The colors in this, spectacular...the fit & cut, not so great. All the 14Ws I'd been getting were too big, so I went down to a 16...which has worked well...except for this clingy dress...which was huge up top & tight below. This is most certainly *not* a fit & flare dress as advertised. It's supposed to be blousy on top, but I'm not sure who these bat wings are going to look good on. 

Bodies are weird...my stomach is much larger, thus hangs down lower...on one side, seen here. I liked this dress with these leggings...there is not as much opportunity in the warm months to pattern mix. The LulaRoe leggings are so stretchy...they fit me at a size 4x & they still fit me now...without being too baggy. 

I wore this dress to do errands & around the house. This was my first time wearing these platform/wedge sandals I found on Poshmark...soooo comfortable...& cute. Those are all the things, right?

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Alkaline, Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions eyeshadow palette, NYX lipliner in Nectar, Bang lipliner from UD, Slowburn lipstick by UD, & OPI nail polish in Santa Monica Beach Peach. 

A favorite go-to lunch/dinner in the summer...pan fried salmon with crispy garlic & roasted zucchini with a horseradish dipping sauce. I love roasted veggies SO much. David designed & built this pergola in our backyard. He was hoping for some help to finish it this summer, but all the good people are over employed...so he's been putting up 2-3 beams at a time all by himself...which is a LOT of work. 

I haven't been able to get a good picture of my current eyelashes...but trust me when I say they are spectacular. I bought a tube of Grandelash at the beauty supply because the suite mate of my hairdresser showed me her lashes after using it & they looked fake. My eyelashes are amazingly longer & thicker than they've ever been...ever. I buy endless eyebrow pencil now...I think I mentioned I go through it really quickly now that I have eyebrow hair...I think the roughness of them uses up much more product than when it was smooth skin. David walks a few doors down to Vinny's every week after acupuncture. He has found loads of clothing for himself...& he often takes a chance on things he thinks I might like. These sparkly boots are from Anthropologie...they aren't quite me, but I think I will find just the right outfit for them someday. 

But these 2! Best finds EVER. A fur wrap...just what I'd been looking for & an outstanding vintage coat with a fur collar. I couldn't stop gasping over them...I am SO happy...now I have 2 things to keep me warm during cold months when I'm dressed up. More roasted veggies...broccoli, cauliflower, & zoodles...with peanut sauce. 

 

The Brothers Size // Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band // Steve Earle & The Dukes

Dress: Mixed Feelings Buttondown Dress by Raga (size M) via Nuuly

Sandals: Sanita

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Purse: Mohop

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 40-37-53

I was in love with this casual, comfortable, easy, adorable maxi...I would have bought it if it hadn't had 2 buttons missing & an extra loop where there was no space for a button. The smocked bodice hugged my curves & conformed to my shape. Great length & everything fit well. I would have never ordered a medium in this, but it was the size Kate had at home & that fit me, so...

I liked how the red shoes (and lips), brought out the red in the dress.

It just occurred to me why I might have liked this dress so much...it reminds me of Sally's dress in Nightmare Before Christmas. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in High Vibes, Violet Voss Oh Snap palette (the red), Lime Crime eyeshadow in Lime Crime & Candles, UD lipliner in 714, No-Tell Motel lipstick from UD, & China Glaze nail polish in Zombie Zest. 

I first wore this dress to APT with David...where we, of course, picnicked before the play. I made us a delectable market salad with shrimp & chimichurri...it is definitely going into my picnic rotation...served with a sparkling Vouvray & blueberries.

Since it was Thursday, there was live music again...yay!

Happy coordinating couple...

David finished up the last of the Hemingway cocktail Josh had brought to the dinner party. This was our least favorite play so far this season, but we still had a lovely evening.

The second time I wore this dress was to The Shitty Barn with Kate...coincidently, it was on the anniversary of the first show she ever went to...Spirit Family Reunion. 

Aren't these Zombie Zest nails the best?! Pretty cauliflower at market...it tastes the same, but I adore color. It was so much fun seeing Kate in the same dresses from Nuuly...she has since cancelled & I am sad about it. I like dressing up with my girlie. We can nearly share clothes...I mean, we can, but technically...she is a size smaller than me. The best dressed girlies at the barn...Cute, cute, cute...

For our picnic at the barn, I made us roasted cauliflower & zoodles with a Thai peanut sauce that I have perfected (I think). This was my first time having it cold & it tasted just as delicious as it does warm. 

Kate brought us cherries for dessert...

We were at the barn to see Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band...OMG...SO good! If you get a chance, go see them. They do not live up to their name however, as it's just a husband & wife, with their drummer. But...so much energy!

I was right in front, just like I like to be...

Gorgeous night at the barn...& Josh was there with a friend...we both go to a LOT of concerts, but we rarely overlap. 

Rev. Peyton is talented AND sexy...just my type. 

Kate stayed outside for the concert & got this picture of me in the window, but none of me dancing...which I was happy to be able to do a bit. A perfect night, complete with drama (which I could have done without)...the woman in the lower right of the photo below...had her phone out filming the entire time & it started getting on the guy's nerves behind her, so he asked her to stop & of course, she didn't...so he eventually grabbed her phone & then there were words with the woman, her husband, & son. When the band came back for the encore...they asked that everyone be in the moment & to put the phones away...again, the woman couldn't do that...so then Breezy, the washboard player...went over & grabbed her phone. The woman spent the end of the show pouting, not even watching. But...other than that, a wonderful night. 

I bought all the vinyl. Flowers from market. And Steve Earle & The Dukes at The Barrymore was the 3rd time I wore this dress. 

I decided just a few hours before the show that I was going to go. They were sold out of VIP tickets online, but when I got there...they sold me one (with another artist's name on it because they had already sold the ones they printed up). I am so glad I spent the extra $20 because in the description, it stated the gold tickets were for the first 10 rows, but once I got in there...it was more like the first 25...so anyone with a regular ticket couldn't sit close. I was there 2 hours early, so I got my desired front row seat. The opening band was The Whitmore Sisters...the violin player is part of Steve's band. They were wonderful. 

This was my first time seeing Steve Earle & The Dukes...I've seen Steve solo before at The Stoughton Opera House. He was excellent both ways & I would never miss him when he comes through town. 

This concert also came with drama...some old drunk guys came up to the stage & were dancing, drinking, clapping off beat, & pushing each other...extremely annoying as they were blocking my view. Several of us in the front asked them to move, but they wouldn't. Finally, the guy next to me went & talked to security & they half-heartedly asked the guys to move to the side...& they did...for one song. However, after a bit, Steve looked at them & said, I bet she's (meaning me) sick of looking at your butts. Thanks, Steve, I was. Amazing show.