Fluevogs // Surgery // Elkhorn

Dress: Cutwork Floral Alena Fit & Flare Dress by Leota (size M) via Gwynnie Bee

Footless Tights: Snag

Sandals: Fluevog, Operetta: Renée

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

While this dress is pretty & I would probably admire it on someone else...it is so not me. The fit is awkward (it runs a size small)...I obviously had to wear a camisole under this for work. It's a true wrap dress, cotton (with no noticeable stretch despite the 5% lycra), & the sleeves & skirt both have an abundance of fabric...which I probably wouldn't have minded if this were midi or maxi length...it was too short on me. I felt like I should be wearing clogs & a lace headwrap while picking tulips. 

I wish Snag offered these footless tights in all their color options...they are a fantastic replacement for teggings, but I only have them in 2 colors. I actually like them better than teggings. 

And the real reason I wore this dress...I've had these Fluevog sandals for over a year & they needed to be worn. I think they lean too casual for how I usually dress...so I never reach for them. I posted an outfit photo in the Flummunity on Facebook & that group is just so nice...they all flooded me with compliments...I think because I said I didn't like the dress...which is sweet, but I wasn't fishing, just stating. 

Plunging neckline on an otherwise not sexy dress...I'm sure a size up would have fixed that problem. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD, Wrapped & Ten eyeshadow by Lime Crime, Mediteranee eyeshadow palette from Nars, Urban Decay lipliner & lipstick in Bang, & Essie nail polish in Sexy Plunge. 

These are now the sexiest shoes I own, Celestial Communication: Aquila. It's been a few years since they've been on the Fluevog site...but when I was looking for some shoes on the Canadian website that the U.S. was out of in my size...these beauties showed up...one pair left AND they were my size...it was meant to be. I resisted getting them years ago because they're a 4 inch heel & I could barely walk at the time...so it didn't seem likely I'd ever wear them. But now I can walk & do anything I want...

So, I intended on only getting 4 pairs of shoes during the latest Fluevog sale...but I ended up with 6. It's difficult to resist such beauty at a bargain...I've had my eye on these for a while, waiting to pounce. There was one pair I missed in my size by waiting.

One pair of flats in a fabulous print. David called ahead to have them cut a piece of salmon for us...those fish guys at the co-op crack me up. My last meal before surgery...my go-to salmon with roasted veggies. 6 am at the hospital...there were trains on the ceiling. 

Back in April 2022, I had a neck lift with a local plastic surgeon. I had a LOT of loose skin from losing weight & I wanted it gone. He did a horrible job. I had been in pain behind my right ear the entire 16 months & the lines on my neck looked terrible, as did all my scars. He offered to fix it for free...but I just couldn't imagine having him cut into my face again. I declined. I told UW I was going to contest it with my credit card & they got me an appointment with a different doctor. I really liked him & once we had our consult, it went quickly...he had a cancellation a month later, so I took it. See...I have this meal a lot...but this time David made most of it since I was in pain. Hank's (Mint Marks more casual sister restaurant) sometimes makes their chicken sandwiches on SEX biscuits...I'm hoping to try it sometime. I can't even imagine how ridiculously delicious this is. I saw this ad...& now Kate & I are signed up for a Pour Your Own Epoxy class. Fun! 

I also donned this dress to go to the August Elkhorn Antique Flea Market. Our first purchase was that metal tub...I'll paint it & plant flowers in it. And the twirling holder will be great in my craft room to hold markers & paint brushes. I loved this music stand with the candle holders...I hope someone gave it a good home.

These bumper stickers! David said they used to have Nikon Now. on the bumper of their car back in the 70s. That lamp is fabulous...we are going to put a different shade on it & it will look lovely in the living room. This is the 3rd time I've taken a photo of the cocktail jars...it keeps going down in price too. Perhaps next time if it's still there...

Trying on a vintage apron...pretty dresses...an elephant...& I don't know what that thing is, but I hope someone puts flowers in it.

After market lunch at Los Tres Hermanos. David & I shared a mango margarita. 

David tried something new...fajitas with steak, chicken, shrimp, & chorizo...I had my usual Chicken Suiza. Unpacking back at home...

Check out that enormous tie David got...I love it. An olive purse for me.

Not much jewelry this time, just a few trinkets. Pansy crate for storing underthings. 

A great apron for the kitchen. There was a new woman there selling vintage clothing...she was adorable & her stuff was thrift store prices...I got 2 dresses from her...one still with the tags on it. It was a fun market even though we didn't find much. One more left in the season. 

APT: The Royale // Sundara & Ishnala

Dress: Rose Garden Maxi Dress by Free People (size 10) via Nuuly

Sandals: Fluevog, Mega Munster: Deee

Purse: Mohop

Earring & Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage Remixed via Nashville Flea Market

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

The colors in this maxi are splendid...pretty ombre at the bottom. Great cut, however, what is up with the boob area?! Those lines hit me right across the nipple...who is that flattering for?! Also, the armholes are huge. Even with all that...I felt elegant in this gorgeous dress. I wore 4 1/2" heels & at 5'7", I had to wear at least a 3" heel for this drapey dress to stay off the ground. The dress is lined & has a side zipper that I felt was unnecessary...& a tie atop the opening in back. 

I didn't wear a bra with this dress because of the opening in back as well as the low-cut arm area. 

I like my big booty...

This is my first time wearing these Fluevog Deee sandals (a collaboration with Anna Sui)...& any shoe from the iconic Munster line (the original was made famous by Lady Miss Kier in the 1990 video for Groove Is in the Heart...also worn by Madonna in Truth or Dare in a different version)...which I've always thought wasn't really me. They are so cute & comfortable...I'm obsessed & want them in the closed toe gold glitter edition. 

I adore this Wendy grape themed necklace I've had forever...I'm sure the proportions are off now for my body...but I still enjoy bold...so I say it works. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Voodoo; Cyber Punk, Purple Dust, & Freak eyeshadow from UD; Violet Voss eyeshadow in Champagne; Grape lipliner by MAC; Dirty Little Secret lipliner in Pale Pink; Spiced Plum lipstick from Bite Beauty; & POP nail polish in This Is A Slick Up. 

Driving out to Spring Green...we passed this car in the parking lot of Gordon's Drive-In Restaurant in Mazomanie...David had to ask me 3 times if I wanted to pull over to take a look at it...it's a joke (is it a joke if it's true?) between us...he has to ask me every question 3 times...because it usually goes like this: no, no, yes. By the time I said yes, we had to turn around & go back. Totally worth it though...how cool is this car?! 

At APT on another pleasant evening...we have had great weather this summer. Notice David is also wearing purple & green...I love how he tries to coordinate with me. 

During the week...there are musicians playing on the theatre grounds...I'm not sure why they don't also have music on weekends...it's really charming. I made us a version of Kate's Taste the Rainbow Salad...with roasted veggies & chicken. It was delightfully delicious. I adore picnicking. 

Inside...The Royale...my hopes were not high for this play & it ended up being my favorite so far this summer...a wonderful surprise...so well acted & staged. We buy tickets to all the shows APT puts on...it's always worth the risk to find gems like this that we wouldn't have picked otherwise. 

I wore this dress a second time to spend the day at Sundara, a spa in the Wisconsin Dells. Well, I took it off as soon as we arrived & spent the day in my bathing suit and/or robe...but it covered me both before & after. I had booked 5 services for David, & 3 for me...I should have done more...next time. Like true only children...we prefer to spend the day by ourselves & not getting joint services done. I began with the Purifying Bath Ritual. 

Followed by my first service, an 80 minute Signature Body Polish & Massage...luxurious. My only complaint is that they ignore the area from just above my knees to my neck in front...& knees to waist in back. I'd love to have my stomach massaged & my butt exfoliated & massaged...my entire body really. After that...I meandered upstairs to the restaurant & had lunch...just missing David...he had a more jam packed day than I did with not much downtime between appointments. I ordered Ahi Tuna (Napa slaw, avocado, sriracha aioli, sesame crackers) & a Chicken Caesar Wrap (grilled chicken breast, romaine, shaved parmesan, creamy caesar dressing, spinach tortilla). After a relaxing meal...I scurried back downstairs...just in time for my Hops & Citrus Pedicure...though I declined the local ale that came with it...I'm just not a beer person. 

My toes freshly painted...I lounged in various areas inside & read in every pool...

I had been in the outside pools earlier...just admiring the forest view from the infinity pool & briefly walking around...but my hat could only protect me so much from the bright rays of the sun...but by mid-afternoon...I found a satisfyingly serene shady spot. Back inside lounging & eating an orange waiting for my final appointment of the day, Fountain of Youth Vitamin C Facial. This was by far my favorite, most relaxing, service. I fell asleep several times.  

Back in the locker room...this is what my hair looked like after having everyone rub my scalp all day long. My esthetician asked if I wanted deep extractions on the bumps on my forehead...so of course I said yes...I can't remember what those are...calcium deposits? She poked them with a needle & they stayed red for a few days. Shower time & a quick application of a little eye make-up...I couldn't quite bring myself to cover up my happy glowing clean face. A short drive down the road for dinner. 

Ishnala...I've wanted to come here for decades...& here we finally are. They were closed for the season when we spent the day at Sundara in February...it's the ideal dinner destination after a day at the spa...mostly because it's probably the only non-chain restaurant in The Dells. This place is stuck in the 50s, which is both a good & a bad thing. The good, it was charming & reminded me of the places we used to go to with my paternal grandparents...they would have loved it here...so it was nostalgic for me. The bad, cultural appropriation. 

The supper club is located back in the woods on Mirror Lake...it's a beautiful area. There was a 2 hour wait (even on a Thursday, totally normal), but they have 5 bars throughout the property & it goes quickly. We started off in the Pow Wow Bar as it seemed the least busy & overlooked the pretty lake. David ordered a Chocolatini & I had to try their Brandy Old-Fashioned (the classic supper club drink), typically I get it sweet, but the bartender gave me an option I hadn't heard of before, so of course I had to try it...press. Sweet is made with 7-up, sour is with Squirt, & press is half 7-up/half soda water. 

We also got some appetizers... Wisconsin Cheese Curds with Ranch dressing (can't get more midwest than that) & Escargot Bourguignonne...it's all about the delectable garlic butter, for which they gave us a warm crusty sourdough to soak it all up. David with his Tipsy Canoe (Rumhaven coconut rum, New Amsterdam pineapple vodka with fresh squeezed lime juice & sour mix).

After eating some food, we took a walk through the grounds...

And played this impossible game where you are supposed to be able to throw the ring over the hook on the board...& the first person to 21 wins. We both tried several dozen times with no luck at all. 

That's a lot of Old Fashioneds in under 4 months. If you look closely...you can see the singer playing his guitar outside through the door between the dead animals. I enjoyed listening to him while we were wandering outside...but Frank Sinatra took over whenever we got close to the parking lot. 

Back in the main building, we tried a different bar so we'd be close to the hostess station when our buzzer went off. David got another snack...Totem Pole Bloody Mary piled high with a little of everything. I enjoyed his Tipsy Canoe so much, I ordered one of my own. 

Buzzzzzz...it was finally our turn for a table. We were seated with a view of the lake & the setting sun. There was a cheese ball & packaged bread sticks at our table! What a throwback...I used to love those as a kid, especially the ones with sesame seeds. We also got a bread basket with our salad...I asked for a Caesar with anchovies, yum...& there were cinnamon rolls hidden under the dinner rolls. 

Main courses...David got a Filet Mignon, rare, with a side of sweet potatoes & mushrooms...while I enjoyed Roast Wisconsin Duck (oven roasted with a sage dressing & served with an orange cognac sauce & Wollersheim brandy cherry sauce) with a side of au gratin potatoes. And a Moscow Mule to end the evening. This is such an unusual experience...like traveling back in time...it's a destination worth taking in at least once...The Mack Daddy of Supper Clubs. 

 

Restaurant Week // The Heavy Heavy with The Thing

Dress: Midsummer Midi Dress by ASTR The Label (size L) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earrings: Wendy Baker

Necklace & Bracelet : Colleen Toland

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I adored the explosion of vivid warm colored florals on this midi...great fitting light summer dress...reviews state it runs small, so I went up a size & that was correct. There was a fitted area with an underwire for your breasts & it seems like a Goldilocks situation...had my boobs been any bigger or smaller, the fit would have been off...they barely fit. The straps are adjustable, elastic in back, & there is a zipper on the side. Innocent with all the layers & ruffles, yet sultry with the thigh high slit. 

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE not having to wear a bra?! It's amazing. I still wear one if it's not going to show because it does give a nicer look...but there are so many cute summer dresses, like this one, that I am free to wear with nothing underneath. 

Flowers on my feet...

It may have been a mistake to introduce so many other colors with my jewelry when I could have went with mostly orange & pink...but this is what I chose to wear...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew, Neon eyeshadow palette from Huda Beauty, Bang lipliner & lipstick by UD, Sugarpill Cosmetics lipstick in Clockwork, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going To The Game?

I wore this frock to partake in Restaurant Week with David...1st up, reservations at Heritage Tavern. A new cocktail had appeared since last we were here...Insert Beatles Song (gin, Boomsma Cloosterbitter, thyme infused dry vermouth, pineapple & strawberry cordial, rhubarb bitters, lemon & lime)...delightful. It was a 3 course meal & we shared everything. First course: Summer Sweet Corn Chowder (pickled summer peppers potato, grilled scallion) & Duck Confit Toast & Petite Salad (duck confit, smoked ricotta, salted candied pecans, radish, market greens, cardamom-chili vinaigrette). 

After placing our order for duck confit, we had immediately changed our mind, but our server forgot to take note...so we got to try it anyway...plus, what we ordered, Head Cheese & Escargot (creamed grits, tomato concasse, lemon zest, fine herbs, jus tranché). All 3 of these starters were delicious. Main course: Mustard Seed & Juniper Crusted Berkshire Pork Loin (heirloom bean, pork broth, mustard greens, bacon lardon, broccolini, escarole) &... 

Coup du Jour (market beef, braised beef short rib, foraged mushrooms, potato bone, turnip, wilted spinach, bordelaise, blue cheese espuma). Second round of drinks: Rios Mios (Pitu cachaca, Smith & Cross rum, Finocchietto, strawberry purée, honey syrup, lime) & Doc's Orders (Death's Door gin, Saler's gentian, carrot tarragon syrup, lemon tonic water, celery bitters, dukkah carrot rim). Dessert: Caramel Pecan Profiterole (Amish maple ice cream, salted caramel) & Dark Chocolate Cake (vanilla bean anglaise, summer berries, cocoa nib crumble). My favorites were: Duck Confit Toast, Pork Loin, & Caramel Profiterole. Overall, a decent meal...we like to go to Heritage for restaurant week because they rarely make changes to their daily menu & it's wonderful to try something new. 

After dinner, we meandered over to Merchant to see if they could fit us in so we could continue our tradition of eating at these two places back to back for restaurant week. A 40 minute wait...perfect...we took outfit photos at the capitol & walked around the square. It was a splendid summer evening, so we opted to sit outside. Merchant has the best craft cocktails in town...David ordered a Blindman (Bardstown Fusion 8 bourbon, Six Grapes port wine, Smith & Cross rum, raspberry syrup, lime juice, angostura bitters), while I chose Ladybug (strawberry-infused Gray Whale gin, strawberry syrup, lime juice). Another 3 course meal that we shared. Starters: Roasted Beet Salad (crème fraîche, pickled shallot, citrus gel, hazelnuts, tarragon) &...

Roasted Broccoli (chimichurri marinated broccoli, harissa-tomato sauce, whipped tahini, feta, smoked almonds). Entree: Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich (cabbage slaw, jalapeno crema, pickled vegetables, black pepper aioli, fresh herbs, brioche bun) & Crispy Duck Leg (frisée, bacon lardon, herb aiolo brioche croutons). Second cocktails: Red Banana Daiquiri (Ron Colón red banana oleo rum, Combier de Banane liqueur, Plantation Barbados 5 year rum, Demerara syrup, pineapple, Peychaud's, angostura) &...

Peach Merchant Old Fashioned (Blade & Bow bourbon, Old Grand Dad bourbon, peach syrup, peach bitters). Dessert: Passion Fruit Tart (passionfruit curd, strawberry, coconut creme & toasted coconut) & Carrot Cake (pecans, dried currants, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom & orange blossom cream cheese frosting). This was a better meal than Heritage...I would be thrilled to eat it all over again & not change a thing. Actually, most of this stuff is probably still on their standard menu & I should try to make it there before the seasons change. My favorites were: beet salad, hard tie between the two entrees, & while carrot cake is my most cherished dessert (& theirs was a good one), that passionfruit tart was spectacular. 

A stroll back to Veronika...I love that they plant a vegetable garden on the square...little bitty squashes. It was a thoroughly enchanted evening with my love.

The second time I wore this dress was to The Shitty Barn to see Heavy Heavy with The Thing with Kate & Jason. I made us a coconutty red curry salmon salad & they brought farmers' market fruit. YUM. 

False advertising...Jason can no longer be hangry...it should be reversible. 

A little walk around the barn...

Oh! Vinyl! Yay! Front row, just like I like. 

The Thing (Brooklyn, NY) were steeped in an early 80s vibe...they looked like all the college kids that used to work for my parents back then. Fun band!

Break...The Heavy Heavy (Brighton, UK) were also fabulous...& we got to dance! It was a marvelous night & the singer signed the record I bought.