Sal's // The Nutcracker

Dress: Amelia Midi Dress by Lisa Says Gah (size XL) via Nuuly

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Chie Mihara: Ulmer in Black Suede & Gold via Poshmark

Earring: etXarte

Necklaces & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-45

This dress was a dream...cream polka dots on three different background colors...just lovely...& that blush color on top was oh, so flattering to my complexion. I felt both pretty & sexy. Plunging neckline, chiffon fabric, lined...this would be ideal for every season but winter. I could have worn a cardigan but I didn't want to break up the already perfect lines. Great vintage vibe. This dress runs a size big...I'm more of a medium now (in dresses that flare below the waist), so if I'd gotten this in a large, I would have been tempted to buy it. 

This was my first time wearing these black suede & gold polka dotted Chie Mihara shoes I found for a steal on Poshmark ($60 vs $350 original price). I mean, not as good a deal as the ones I found at Vinny's for $8 (~$500 new)...but that doesn't happen every day. It's a good thing I had these shoes as I didn't really have a second choice option other than plain boring black. 

This dress felt soft & ultra feminine to me...so I broke out the pearls. It was blowing & snowing when we took these photos...so there are snowflakes in my hair. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon; Golden Nugget, Jackpot, & Millennial eyeshadow from Too Faced; NYX lipliner in Nectar; Nars lipstick in Rikugien & Bad Girl, & OPI nail polish in What Wizardry Is This?

I first wore this dress on a snowy day...it was the kind of heavy wet snow that coated all the trees & made everything a winter wonderland. Feeling cute...took truck selfies while David ran back into the house to grab something. 

Better photo of my shoes. Dinner at Sal's in Sun Prairie. We had intended on going to our usual favorite Livingston location, but this menu looked better to us. David had a Smoke & Mirrors (Plantation original dark rum, rosemary honey syrup, Suze, served with a smoked rosemary sprig). My drink of choice...Winter Spiced Marg (ginger infused Lunazul Reposed, St. Elizabeth allspice dram, simply syrup, bitter, lime). 

For starters...we ordered Calamari with Fried Brussels Sprouts...these were amazing. How did I not know they serve these with in season vegetables all year round?! I think the last time we had them was back when they moved into this location & there was no veg. So, it's been a while. Chicken Wings with Alabama White BBQ dipping sauce. This was a rare Sal's miss for us. The first plate our server brought us was so salty they were inedible...& the second try was only a bit better. We had a phenomenal waitress...she was warm & friendly...even when we were complaining. David ordered a Terrance's Favorite Pie (WI mozzarella, house red sauce, Italian sausage, roasted red pepper, goat cheese, caramelized onions). I had to have comfort food...Canestri & Cheese (house made canestri pasta, Hook's 2 year cheddar, cheese sauce, bacon, Calabrese chili, breadcrumbs, SarVecchio, grilled chicken, scallion). 

After dinner...we popped into the Sun Prairie Vinny's...Oh, my goodness...cardigan jackpot! The checker stuffed it all into a big black garbage bag. That pile on the kitchen floor, which is bigger than it looks, is what over $300 in thrifted cardigans looks like. 

The second time I wore this dress...I made David & I a yummy meal from Andy Baraghani's book, The Cook You Want To Be...both recipes were outstanding. Spicy Chicken & Tomato Confit, served with Parmesan-Kale Chip Salad with Tangy Mustard Dressing. After dinner...we went to the Overture Center early to look at the current local artist displays. 

Hi, we're cute...

I was especially interested in the fiber arts...so much amazing talent...how do you make pictures with fabric?!

This veggie one was my favorite...Roots & Shoots by Susan Jackan. 

After soaking in the art...we headed back upstairs to find our seats for The Nutcracker, which Madison Ballet has been doing every Christmas season for 45 years. We'd both seen The Nutcracker before, but not this production & never together. 

We were in the 3rd row & had a great view of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. It was truly lovely & it may just become a holiday tradition...or perhaps we'll alternate between this & A Christmas Carol. 

 

Hot Club of Cowtown // Ahan // Wisconsin Film Fest

Dress: Velvet Empire Waist Midi Dress by Anthropologie (size 16) via Nuuly

Shoes: Old Navy, thrifted

Earrings: Kerala Rose

Necklaces & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

I felt oh, so, Bridgerton in this empire waist blush rose velvet dress...such a flattering color on me. I'm not sure it needed pockets, but the puffed sleeves & layered bottom was just so pretty...feminine & flowy. It runs at least a size too small & has no stretch. 

I had this dress in chartreuse that I wore for David's birthday back in February...& while that is one of my favorite colors, I rather liked this softer version equally as well. 

And I just happened to have some lovely rose gold glittery shoes & perfectly matching holographic nail polish. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug, HBIC & Sting eyeshadow from UD, Sugarpill Cosmetics eyeshadow in Fever Dream, Nectar lipliner from NYX, Bodyography lipliner in Heatherberry, Trinket lipstick by Sugarpill Cosmetics, & OPI nail polish in DS Classic. 

I first wore this dress to make dinner...2 favorite recipes from NYT...Sesame-Crusted Salmon with Butter & Ginger Sauce, served with Brussels Sprouts with Kimchi. I LOVE these 2 simple dishes SO much. Then I rushed out the door to get to my appointment with Sigrid to get my hair cut, then off to Stoughton to see Hot Club of Cowtown. Kate & I were supposed to see them with Davina back in 2020, but...

They brought their doggie! It was an excellent show & I bought the only vinyl they had. 

Above is me documenting the progress of my electrocuted bumps (spoiler alert: even the largest of them have since disappeared without a second treatment). The stage at Bur Oak. 

The second time I wore this outfit was our first day of Wisconsin Film Fest. David & I decided to start the day with lunch at Ahan (our first time). We began with Lao Egg Rolls (Enos Farm ground pork, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, vermicelli noodles, scallion, ginger, garlic, nuoc cham) & Chèvre Wontons (chèvre, cream cheese, scallion, sweet & sour)...both spectacular & so fresh tasting despite being fried. 

For our mains...David chose Laap Nuea (thin sliced medium-rare beef eye of round [Vindicator Beef], shallot, onion, cilantro, scallion, lime leaf, lemongrass, Thai chili, fish sauce, lime, toasted rice powder...served with cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, radish, pea shoots [Vitruvian Farm], & sticky rice). And I devoured Praram Long Song (fried chicken, delicata squash, broccoli, cauliflower, scarlet turnips, carrots, crimini & shiitake mushrooms, scallion, cilantro, peanuts, fried garlic...with a side of peanut sauce & jasmine rice). It was delightful...we'd go back to this place again & again & I'm so happy that they share space with Bur Oak (music venue). 

Waiting in line for our first movie, which Ben introduced. 

It was SO good to be back to our annual fest in person (3 years!) & the intro this year was my second favorite ever, so I never got tired of hearing it. Me & the girlie...Jason, Kate, David, & Me.