Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Gibson Brothers // Eric Ripert // Mexico Surgery Round 3

Dress: The Sigrid Dress in Citron by Effie's Heart
Sandals: Dansko
Earring: etXarte
Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I love oranges & Effie's Heart, so of course I had to have this dress when I saw it at Lela in Milwaukee. Great fit with pockets. 
I love having my legs covered in tattoos so I no longer feel I need to wear teggings to cover up my scars...they're still there, but not as noticeable. 
I could have never predicted how often I'd wear this necklace.
My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Flamepoint eyeshadow from Sugarpill Cosmetics, Natasha Denona eyeshadow in Monroe, NYX lipliner in Pumpkin, So Chaud lipstick by MAC, & ILNP nail polish in Atomic Sherbet. 
I first wore this dress to have a lymphatic massage from Courtney, make dinner, then head off to Stoughton...first stop, Vinny's... 
Then over to the Opera House to see The Gibson Brothers, my second time. 
2 of the members of Soggy Prairie were playing in the lounge before the show...I need to go see them sometime with the whole band. The Gibson Brothers were marvelous. 
What came home with me from Stoughton Vinny's.
The second time I wore this dress was to work & to go to the main library to see Eric Ripert speak...& we all got a free copy of his new cookbook. 
Eric Ripert was exactly the warm genuine person I thought he would be...charming & funny. I nearly didn't go because I was flying out early the next morning, but I'm glad I did. I came home to these Fluevogs I bought on Poshmark...& the incredibly kind woman sent along a black lace vintage dress that fit me perfectly...how nice is that?! What a lovely surprise. My last few days in Mexico recovering at the hotel were uneventful. 
I had my post-op meeting with Dr. Galvez (I briefly saw Dr. Sanchez too & he thanked me for the gifts, but I never manage to get a photo with him)...he's so sweet...he always posts something on his Instagram saying thank you. Round 3 finished...unfortunately, I'm going to need to come back again. I have lipoedema in my thighs & it's difficult to treat. 

 

Thursday, November 16, 2023

The Lil Smokies & Town Mountain // Buffalo Nichols // Mexico Surgery Round 3

Dress: Chloe Dress in Evening Butterflies by Cherry Velvet
Sandals: Fluevog, Mega Munster: Deee
Earrings & Necklace: Green Goddess Vintage
Earring: Kerala Rose
Bracelet: Vintage
Purse: Mohop
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
Another lovely Cherry Velvet dress that I have in my size thanks to my bezzer. The last time I wore this dress in my previous size was to go to The Shitty Barn with Kate back in 2014. Great fit & length. I adore CV dresses.
How cute is this dress & sandal combination?!
I love these shoes, but hate the way my toes hang over the edge.
I'm not sure purple is a good color for me, but I like it.
My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Viper; Purple Dust, Digital, Warning, Cyber Punk, & Euphoric eyeshadow from UD; UD lipstick in Flashback; Spiced Plum lipstick by Bite Beauty; & OPI nail polish in Leonardo's Model Color. 
I first wore this dress to spend the day with David...we checked out the trunk sale at the Vinny's in Waunakee. Since this sale has nicer brands, the prices are usually higher, but there were several dresses over $100 which is unreasonable for clothing that is donated. That salmon burnout velvet slip dress was gorgeous. 
David kept adding ridiculously high heels to our cart...while I adored those glittery leopard shoes, I just can't walk in stilettos very well. Cute boots though! Those black & gold Jeffrey Campbell's were pretty, but overpriced or I would have gotten them. 
A few of these items were not part of the trunk sale. 
On my way to Stoughton...I stopped at the Thursday Troy Gardens market...walking on a farm in these heels was not the best choice. 
Vinny's in Stoughton. My favorite dress was the wrap with coral flowers & polka dots...
But there was some weird white stuff on the bust that didn't look like it would come out...I wish I had taken it to the bathroom & tried.
There were definitely some cute skirts that day...leopard tiered maxi, gold shiny silk, peacock colors...
First concert of the season at the Opera House...
Two Runner opening...I liked them a lot...
Next up, The Lil Smokies...which looked SO familiar that I must have seen them open for another band. 
Town Mountain were also good, but my least favorite of the night...it's probably because they had to ruin the all string theme by adding drums. What I brought home from my Stoughton thrifting. 
Our Vinny's Waunakee haul...
The second time I wore this dress, Kate & I ate outside for the last time this year at Turn Key. David & I had been there, but this was the girlie's first time. They began the evening with an Astronaut Spritz (Ish N/A Sparkling Aperitivo, grapefruit), while I chose an Into The Cider Verse (gin, pear liqueur, orange wine, spiced cider, rosemary, lemon, lime, orange bitters)...it was the best cocktail I'd ever had there. 
We shared a plate of Charred Carrots (chili macadamia butter, pickled cranberry, agave-lime glaze, sunflower seed Dukka). I ordered Tagliatelle (house pasta, sugar snap peas, basil, Coppa ham, spinach, Mobay cheese, egg yolk, parmesan) & Kate had Gnocchi (house gnocchi, massaman curry, carrot, oyster mushroom, macadamia, radish, scallion). While my dish was good, the girlie's was better. 
We got done with dinner early enough that we went back to my house for raspberries, a cardigan, & doggie petting. Then, on to High Noon for Buffalo Nichols...he had brand new vinyl for sale!
Christoper Gold opened...we've seen him both solo & with his band. He always has his son come out & do a song with him on the harmonica...it's cute. Kate took a photo of me taking a picture of Christopher Gold. 
We were surprised that Buffalo Nichols got himself a band...he's usually just on his own. 
We stood right up front & we got to dance...it was delightful. Back at home...a new Book Book came for my new iPhone. And the final time I wore this dress...flying to San Diego...look how dead Madison airport is...it's fantastic. 
The fact that I can fit in the plane seat comfortably & buckle the seatbelt will never get old. AND...put the tray table down...working on my blog. What is this supposed to be...at the Denver airport?! It looks like 2 Sumo wrestlers. 
Flying over the mountains...& landing in San Diego. Some art in the airport...waiting for my driver to take me across the border. 
After doing blood work, I settled into my hospital room with some food. I worked on my blog a bit more & started planning our trip to Asheville. 
Dr. Galvez came by to chat & mark me up for my surgery the next day...he's so nice. I thought I'd be getting an outer thigh lift, but he wanted to do a second inner lift first. Photos before my 1st lift & second lift & after on the operating table. I only wish my thighs looked like that. I'm going to need a 3rd surgery on them. I have lipadema, so I've got an abnormal amount of diseased fat up there. I'll never have normal sized thighs, but I hope they can at least be better...it was already a huge improvement after the first round. 
Out of the hospital & settled into the hotel. I unpacked everything into the drawers & closet...the last 2 times I'd had 2 king size beds & just kept my suitcases open on one...but only one bed in this room. Just like last October...I was in Mexico during Flummunity Fest. I watched some of the live stream, including this interview with John & George Clinton. 
I had asked for a room with a view & sun...I ended up on the 2nd floor...not as good as the 6th, but having that warmth stream in all day makes such a huge difference. I sat in the window & did my nails & painted my toes. 
I started watching Project Runway, then decided David might like it too...I loved this skirt. I ended up watching The Great British Sewing Bee instead. David is building a platform for our washer & dryer & he sent me progress pics. 
They have the best fresh pineapple at the hotel's breakfast buffet. I looked forward to it every day...& always got enough to last until the next morning. 

 

Monday, November 13, 2023

The Garbologists // Violent Femmes // Brian Setzer

Dress: Veggie Garden Dress by Eva Rose 
Sandals: Fluevog, Picnic: Kerry
All Jewelry & Purse: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I love a veggie dress (fruit too)! I rented this a few times from Gwynnie Bee in various sizes & eventually bought it. Great fit & flare frock in a cotton quilting fabric that is ideal for warmer months. I adore this style of Eva Rose dress, similar to Cherry Velvet, but slightly less expensive. 
I used this 50s silhouette as the perfect excuse to get out a vintage handbag. 
My last wearing of these sandals for the season.
This vintage parure reminds me of fruit...
My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Tangerine eyeshadow by Make Up For Ever, Natasha Denona eyeshadow in Monroe, Urban Decay lipliner & lipstick in Bang, Clockwork lipstick from Sugarpill Cosmetics, & Essie nail polish in Sexy Plunge.
I first wore this dress to have these photos taken before seeing The Garbologists with David & Kate back in September. Mango Margarita in a can...not bad. They had an art exhibit on theme outside the theatre. 
I especially enjoyed this artist's found objects from a fire at her house. And cloth reimagined...pants made out of vintage sheets & a bedspread. 
The girlie!
Wall of garbage. A mediocre play with exceptional company. 
I wore this frock a second time back in October to see The Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary tour of their first album. I changed up my footwear to orange Docs worn with black shark bite tights. I managed to work my way up to about the third row on the main floor. Also, I bought a *white* t-shirt & a pack of buttons. I would have preferred black, obviously, but I wanted the album cover on the front & the dates of the tour on the back, so it was my only option. 
Elizabeth Moen & her band opened...which I thought was an odd choice, but the audience loved her. I saw her at The Shitty Barn this summer. Violent Femmes!!! I've been a fan since 8th grade. I've only been a member of 2 fan clubs...Culture Club/Boy George & The Femmes...their newsletter was called The Permanent Record...I wish I had kept them. 
This was my first time seeing them...what an amazing show! They did their entire debut album before launching into other songs. Gordon played electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, & banjo. 
They ended the evening with American Music...so much dancing & singing...the energy of the crowd was joyful...we were all reliving our youth...including the band...who were just having fun. 
I had a white Femmes shirt in high school, back when I had all that collagen in my skin & any color looked good on me. I am going to challenge myself to wear this t-shirt next summer at the barn. I wonder what I'll pair it with. In high school, I had a grass green mini skirt & the same color pants...that is what I used to wear my Violent Femmes shirt with...& various colors of lace tights. If only a camera in your pocket had been a thing back then...I have so few pictures of that time. 
The final time I wore this dress was shortly before I left for Mexico...at Target buying Halloween candy for the nurses there. A brief dash into the Eastside Goodwill...I don't go there often as the pickings are slim. And again, I changed up my footwear...this time it was shiny red Docs with black tights. 
Later that night...Brian Setzer at The Orpheum. I first started liking The Stray Cats in 6th grade & I think it's largely because of them & Cyndi Lauper that I got into vintage clothing. I would have bought his latest vinyl, but I thought $40 seemed a bit outrageous (it's $28 on his website). 
I was enthralled by this amazing standup bass with green flames. Again, my first time seeing this artist I've been a fan of for decades. I grew up in the U.P., so I wasn't able to see concerts since no-one toured up there. Although I did see Rick Springfield the summer between 8th & 9th grade. I wonder how that happened?! It was years after I was a fan & he was past his prime, but it was still exciting. 
There were 4 Japanese guys in the front row that have been following Brian around...they were fun to watch. Another show with tremendous energy...he even did 2 Stray Cats songs.