Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Gym // Thrifting // Girlie Mocktail Birthday

Cardigan: Pink Button Front Tweed Cardigan from Andree by Unit (size S) via Gwynnie Bee
Leggings: LuLaRoe (tall & curvy), thrifted
Shoes: Fluevog, Fellowships: Esser 
All Jewelry: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I adored the idea of this cardigan...red & pink houndstooth with pearl buttons, yes please. In reality, the shape was overly boxy & large. I thought it looked better buttoned up. If I could knit...I'd make myself a nice version of this...or perhaps I'll look for a similar knit fabric so it's not so bulky. 
I know my thighs are huge...there is so much extra skin there...but I'm not going to hide my body. My first thigh surgery is in April...they will do the inner leg, then the outer leg ~6 months later. 
I hadn't planned on wearing this outfit anywhere other than the gym...but then I remembered these red & pink Fluevogs & I came up with a cute look.
I had to go with pearl jewelry to match the buttons...
My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug, Giving & Heart eyeshadow from Natasha Denona, UD lipliner in 714, Russian Red lipstick by MAC, & Essie nail polish in In A Gingersnap. 
I first wore this outfit to the gym to lift weights with David...

Followed by Pilates...then washing Viktor before work. I only had a few clients that day...but since David & I drove together...I had some extra time...oh, look...here I am at Goodwill. Surprise. 
I found a few cardigans, but mostly I got clothes to work out in. Dinner: Salmon with Herb Curry, served with Eggplant with White Miso, Kaffir Lime, Lemongrass, & Ginger. Trying out our new rowing machine...I LOVE it! Here I am rowing in Italy. 
I wore this outfit as pictured to celebrate Kate's birthday at their place. I experimented with making 2 new deviled eggs...they were delish...along with my standard curried variety. 
Bezzers in pants...
Kate has been collecting mocktail fixings...they've been having a difficult time with alcohol lately, so they are trying this. David enjoyed playing & making concoctions. 
Kate, Jason, & Super Boo...
Kate played records that belonged to their grandpa...including my favorite singer of all time, Billie Holiday. It had just the right amount of warm crackle & made me so happy I took a video...
Cuties on the couch...& Kate with a fuzzy something that had a name from a show I don't remember. 
Look at that amazing vinyl! Leftover vegan carrot cake. 
On the way out the door...we didn't know Jason was recording, we thought he was just snapping pics. I love how we both put our feet up at the same time...adorable. 

Monday, February 27, 2023

The Harvey House // MSO with Alexander Sitkovetsky // Hadestown

Dress: Burnout Velvet Dress by Anthropologie (size 10) via Nuuly
Stockings: Sock Dreams
Shoes: Fluevog, Poser: Shiloh 
Earrings: Heidi Daus via Ebay 
Bracelet & Purse: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I was IN LOVE with this dress...I have it at home right now in a size 8 & I plan on making my first purchase ever from Nuuly...I'm waiting out the month, hoping they send me a discount...but of course that won't happen until the day after I buy it. Obviously, I think this maxi is perfection...I wouldn't change a thing. 

And how could I not own this dress...I have the ideal shoes to wear with it. I received endless compliments while wearing this outfit. 
These Fluevogs are gorgeous, comfortable, & go with so much. Also, this bag we found at Elkhorn last year is fabulous. 
I've had this bracelet since high school...I've always had excellent taste. 
My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Torch & Lucky; Cosmo, Turkish Delight, Nefertiti, & Oud eyeshadow by Huda Beauty; MAC lipliner in Chicory; Hypnotic Rust lipstick from Make Up For Ever; & OPI nail polish in A Woman's Prague-ative. 
I first wore this dress for pictures outside & inside the capitol on a snowy day...before heading over to The Harvey House for dinner with David. NYT called them one of their 50 favorite restaurants last year.
Harvey House is a "celebration of Wisconsin's iconic supper clubs." 
But with better cocktails...to begin, David had a Penny Whistle (gin, Cappelletti, St. Germain, lemon) & I sipped a Bar Germain (St. Germain, lemon, Prosecco).
Our starters...Smoked Kielbasa In A Blanket (whole grain mustard jus), Chicken Liver Mousse (pickled shallots, port wine jelly), 
New England Clam Chowder (little neck clams, Nueske's bacon, oyster crackers), & Sizzling Shrimp de Jonghe (garlic butter, crispy shallots, toasted sourdough). The chicken liver mousse was everything we remembered it being...delicious. There was oozy cheddar inside with the sausage. The shrimp was good, but we probably wouldn't order it again. That clam chowder was the best either of us had ever had. Second cocktails: Hotel Washington Punch (rum, grapefruit, lime, Door County cherry) & Pago Pago (run, pineapple, green chartreuse). Our mains: I had to get the same thing as last time because it was spectacular...Superior Walleye (pumpernickel, savoy cabbage, spatzle, horseradish sabayon), while David chose All Day Braised Lamb Shoulder (puff pastry, root vegetables, rosemary).I also added a side of creamed spinach...which was delicious, but WAY too much food. But wait...there's more! A la mode Brandy Alexander (brandy, crème de cacao, cream, nutmeg) & Butterscotch Pudding (gingersnap crumble, whipped créme fraîche). And I also opted for an ice cream drink, (I wish they'd just get a blender & make actual ice cream drinks) Pink Squirrel (creme de noyaux, cacao, cream, amaretto)...SO good...& a marvelous way to end a delightfully delicious dinner. After our feast...David & I headed over to The Overture Center...

We were attending our first ever indoor Madison Chamber Orchestra concert. I've been going to their Concerts on the Square for decades, so I'm not sure why I've never bought tickets before. This violinist was riveting (but I wish he'd update his website so I knew where he was playing), Alexander Sitkovesky...total rockstar...he became the music & was so playful...just a joy to watch & listen to. This was the best classical performance I've ever seen...it was my dream orchestra...all strings...including a harpsichord *swoon*. Also, I'm used to getting a lot of compliments on my outfit...but I lost count...the shoes put it over the top.The elegant Capitol theatre, the original. Back when I first moved to Madison in 1989...this was called The Civic Center & it was where I saw my first concert in my new city with my boyfriend, Chad...Love & Rockets with The Pixies opening. I like how they had the stage blocked in to look like a room with wallpaper. It's been a month & I'm still thinking about this performance & music. What a spectacular evening with my love.  The next day at the co-op...yummmm...cheese samples. I came home & prepped dinner for later...before heading out in the snow to pick up the girlie. Look! It's Kate! They left the house & went out with me! This happens so rarely now it requires lots of exclamation! Back at The Overture the very next (very snowy) day...wearing the same dress. The girlie gazing at art...Kids in The Rotunda concert going on below...& a craft project was taking place...Constructing tissue paper carnations before Hadestown...Flowers in our hair...Kate changed their flower up a bit...this called for more selfies. I bought us matching flower pins. The stage & a terrible photo of both of us...it's only fair. We saw this for the first time last year in Minneapolis...I thought it was good...Kate was disappointed in some of the acting, but wanted to try again with a different cast. We were blown away by how much better this production was. Hadestown is my favorite musical ever...I could see it over & over & over again. I started crying when Hades & Persephone began dancing, & pretty much didn't stop for the rest of the show. Don't turn around Orpheus! Kate gave the ultimate compliment when she stated, the only way Hermes could have been better was if he was André De Shields. Walking back to the truck...I don't know why Kate likes taking pictures of me walking. I love going places & doing things with my girlie. Back at home...I made dinner...


 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

90s Vibe // HIR

Dress: Smocked Waist Ditsy Floral Fit & Flare Dress (size 10) by Taylor Dresses via Gwynnie Bee
Tights: Snag
Shoes: Fluevog, Minis: QTee
Earrings: Wendy Baker
Necklace: Colleen Toland
Bracelet: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I liked this dress WAY more than I anticipated...as usual, got the wrong size...but when things don't stretch, I'm afraid to get an 8...even though I've tried enough thrift store dresses on to know that is fairly reliable...I mean, as far as women's sizes ever are. The fit was still alright on this as it had a smocked waist...I loved everything about this dress with the exception of the useless ties at the neck...which I loosely draped over each other & let hang. 
This whole outfit was giving me a 90s vibe...so I was reliving my youth a bit. 
I just adore these Fluevog QTees that I found on Poshmark...that little bit of piping is orange...
In real life, I hate my hair...but in photos I don't mind it. After losing weight (& maybe having knee surgery?)...my hair started falling out from the trauma. And then it grew back much more wavy/curly...but it still hasn't gotten back to its usual volume...not sure it ever will. One thing I am grateful for is that I didn't lose a significant amount of hair after my last surgery...I was really worried about that. 
My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Carnelian & Agate eyeshadow by Natasha Denona, UD eyeshadow in Hell Ride, MAC lipliner in Burgundy, Golshan lipstick from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in ? (their labels come off way too easily). 
Every Monday & Wednesday morning...pilates! I've been recording these & now have quite a collection of videos to do at home (usually Fridays). Car wash photo...Veronika gets a bath most days we drive her. Trying on dresses at Goodwill...before heading to my first bellydance class at Dance Life. What a great energy this place has...but they were in week 3 of learning a routine to a song & I was completely lost. I spoke with the teacher/owner afterward & she told me to return in 2 weeks when they were going to start new choreography. 
This is what I wore to class...I found this hip scarf Kate had gotten me ages ago when we took a bellydance class together...now I need to get some cute bellydance tops so I don't have to wear sports bras. I ended up with 3 dresses & a black slip from my Goodwill trip...I never do as well there as Vinny's. I was driving to work...it was like -30° out & this car in front of me had the back windows rolled down for their adorable Rottweiler...& it made me smile...also, I love that his people didn't mind freezing for their beloved dog. 
Selfies at work because I think I'm adorable. After work...a bit of co-op shopping & to the library to pick up non-alcoholic cocktail books for Kate. Making a simple dinner... 
Dry-aged local ribeye with miso butter shallots & roasted sweet potatoes...YUM. Afterwards, off to see the play that was cancelled a few days prior, HIR. 
What a devastatingly dark dysfunctional family drama...so well acted too. I'm really glad we didn't miss this one.