Happy Holidays

 Dress: Green Velvet Wrap Dress by Igigi (size 26/28)

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Andiamo, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit Christmas Day in California. I've had this Igigi wrap dress for...a decade?? The last time I wore it was in December 2013. The emerald color is incredibly lovely, but does not photograph well. In fact, I recreated this outfit just yesterday to have these pictures taken with this adorable mural because the ones we took on Christmas turned out terribly...for which I am secretly pleased because...how cute is this wall?! 

The last time I organized my sock drawer, I rediscovered these fabulous sparkly glittery gold over-the-knee socks...they stay up great on their own, but had this dress been any shorter, I could have held them up over my knees with garters. It was cold, so it didn't occur to me to get a close up...so I cropped in so you could perhaps better see how marvelous they are...

Christmas tree with presents all around at David's grandma's house.   Fuzzy bunny sockies!!! I love wearing these to bed, so David gets me new ones every year. David's mom gathered photos from her siblings & their families to make an album for her mom...she was really touched. Kissy Christmas selfie.

New dresses! Super Boo got me 6 dresses for Christmas...that is one of the things I love about him...he knows I love Igigi & Kiyonna dresses...so instead of deciding I have more than enough dresses already (I do)...he gets me more because he knows it will make me happy. 

 Red hair with green is such a striking combination...

My Christmas make-up included...Girl Cosmetics brown with gold glitter eyeliner (this company no longer exists, it was a present from Kate back in 1999!), Mon Ennui Cosmetics eyeshadow in Druid, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Halfbaked, UD lipstick in F-Bomb, & China Glaze glittery polish in Ruby Pumps. 

Another Sunny Day in California

 Dress: Knot Front Dress in Mixed Yellow Dots by Lucie Lu (size 5x), bought through GB Try Then Buy

Cardigan: Avenue

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Andiamo, thrifted

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earring & Bracelet: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to spend the day with David's family & again on the plane home. Obviously, I adore this dotty Lucie Lu dress since I bought it...back when GB prices were reasonable AND they often had 50% off sales...so I was able to purchase this dress brand new for only $15. It's a fabulous year round dress...the last time I wore it was in the summer of 2014. I'm not sure why the white dots appear so grey here...there are white dots & two different shades of yellow. 

Hey, look...it's an orange!

I came back in the RV after taking a shower & Rye was in daddy's chair...even though other things were already occupying that space & we had cleared a place for him on the couch. Silly adorable doggie! 

Mandarins! My favorite...although you can see why I don't use these trees as a backdrop...much smaller, but oh. so. delicious!

David set up a dog run at his grandma's since her yard isn't fenced in...that gorgeous old tree is a walnut that we eat nuts from all year long. On this day, Rye figured out how to back out of his harness...& what did he do with his freedom?? He came to the back door & whined. What a good boy! 

Snow over Utah...it was exciting since there wasn't any snow on the ground in Wisconsin. I managed to read 2 magazines & an entire book during our flights out & back. The best thing about flying. Kate picked us up from the airport & we immediately went home & took a nap (our alarm had gone off at 5:30 that morning)...then woke up hungry for warm food...Sal's Pizza sounded perfect. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Love+ & Buttercupcake, a mixture of Nars lipstick in Cruella & NYX lipstick in Russian Roulette, & OPI nail polish in Little Red Wagon. 

Orange & Oranges

 Dress: Taylor Wrap Dress by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Clarks, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress yesterday...a gorgeous day in Northern California...60s & sunny is perfect December weather for this midwestern girl. We spent the day at David's grandma's house helping her get ready for Christmas, running errands, & dinner at his parent's home. I wanted to love this dress...it's got my favorite color, orange, in it...& Halloween colors...yes, please! However, these dresses with a solid color on top & patterned skirt never quite work for me...perhaps it needed a belt to break it up, but I'm not really the belt wearing kind & it was too warm for a cardigan. I ADORED the skirt print, colors, & fabric...that photo negative flower pattern was superb. The top was impossibly large & even fashion tape could not prevent it from gaping open when I sat...a very sloppy look. The slit over the left knee was a sexy little touch.

I have eaten approximately 70 mandarins since we got here & about a dozen Meyer lemons (in my Pellegrino, David eats them like apples). They are ridiculously delicious. Despite loving this orange tree for a photo background...I have yet to eat any oranges.

We brought our dog, Rye, with us because we've had him such a short amount of time that we didn't want him to think we abandoned him. David has an RV parked in his parent's side yard so he has a private place to stay when he visits...I got up yesterday morning & closed the door to the bedroom after me...& Rye kept his nose stuck under the door the whole time...adorable!! It's been wonderful having him out here with us.

 David's mom makes the best duck...dinner was delightful. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Flamepoint, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Half Baked & Smog, & a mixture of Bite Beauty lipsticks in Blood Orange & Toast.

Rainy California

 Dress: Blouson Knit Dress in Garden Floral by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Nine West, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to help decorate David's grandma's Christmas tree & run errands. The colors in this dress were spectacular, however, I didn't care for the pixelated print...leaves or peacock feathers would have been divine. The fabric was a soft knit...like a baby's blanket...& I enjoyed the long blouson sleeves that were just the right length & were the perfect match for the blouson top. This was supposed to come with a belt, but it was missing...& not necessary as the elastic held it in place. Just below knee length on me, which I prefer. Lovely winter dress, but this brand does run a size or two large as the 24 was a great fit on me. 

I ran all over Madison looking for this gold sequin skirt by Ava & Viv from Target...no luck & it wasn't available for shipping online...only pick-up. Luckily, I had the brilliant idea of searching availability in Chico, CA, since we were going to be out there for Christmas...so it was there waiting for me & was 30% off since I purchased it...so this beauty is now mine for the low price of $24. I took a picture of the sequin pants because I was going to text it to Kate because they'd look ADORABLE on her...they also had short full sequin skirts in gold & black. Any interest, girlie?

Decorating the tree at David's grandma's house! 

We've been lucky the past few years...it's been sunny & in the 60s for our California Christmas...this year it's been rainy.

 

But! The oranges, mandarins, & Meyer lemons in David's grandma's yard all look & taste delicious. Picking citrus right off a tree & eating it will always be magical to me. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew; UD eyeshadow in Mildew, Half Baked, & Darkhorse; Bite Beauty lipstick in Toast; & OPI nail polish in Take the Stage.

Petal to the Metal

 Dress: Petal to the Metal Dress by Poppy & Bloom (size 22/24) via  Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Lane Bryant

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Andiamo (thrifted from Savers)

Necklace: A Luscious Thing

Bracelet & Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this ensemble on our last full day in California, as well as to fly back to Madison the next day. I love Poppy & Bloom! I know I've said it before, but they constantly impress me with the quality of their dresses. I'm glad I got this for my trip, because it is much more California in December than Wisconsin. I would wear this dress all summer...the colors are so joyful & vibrant...& with so many shades to choose from, I could wear a different tegging/sandal combination every time. 

Goodbye oranges...see you next year. You mandarins are coming home with me...

 Back in Wisconsin...

 Multi green eyeshadows...

 Flowers!

Short Dress/Nude Lips

 Dress: Fit & Flare Sweater Dress with Lace Sleeves by Eliza J (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Dansko

Bracelet & Black/Chain Necklace: Vintage

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Earring: etXarte
Lipstick: Bronze Shimmer by MAC

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this short black dress on a lovely sunny day in California. There is much less dress here than I feel comfortable wearing (I'm 5'7"), but it's good to step outside your comfort zone once in a while, right? I liked the fit of this dress, with the exception of the incredibly tight lace sleeves & the length. I was the first person to get this acrylic garment, & it was pilling after a few hours of wear. The weirdest part of this dress though is the cuffs...they are like a sweatshirt cuff & clash with the dainty lace sleeves. Odd. 

Super Boo, his mom, & I spent some time at his grandma's house this day. Across the street & down a business driveway, there was this huge tree heavy with citrus that we'd been lusting after all week...it looked like a lemon tree...sadly, when we finally walked over to it...it was just an orange tree...but sooooooo extravagantly overflowing.

I stepped outside my comfort zone in another way on this day...nude lips. What do you think?

Black celebration...

Christmas Day

 Dress: Sleeveless Rose Printed Dress by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Avenue

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Simply Vera by Vera Wang (found at Savers)

Necklace/Earring/Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this shimmery dress on Christmas Day. If I had been at home, I would have worn this with a purple cardigan, but black is what I had to work with. Ideally...I'd own a gold cardigan...I'll be on the look out. Luckily for me, Taylor Dresses runs big, so their 24 (largest size) is always a good fit, so size down one. The colors & fabric were lovely...sparkly on Christmas...yay! The box pleats in front poufed out awkwardly...but I felt like such a princess in this dress, I didn't mind. 

Christmas morning at Super Boo's grandma's house. 

I nearly didn't grab these Simply Vera gold shoes for $3 at Savers because they aren't really me, but I'm so glad I did...every once in a while...a girl needs gold blingy shoes. 

Wearing Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in Burgundy, which is a purple berry color & not actually what I think of as burgundy. I LOVE Bite Beauty products. 

I found these 3 vintage pieces one at a time...the necklace & bracelet are exact matches, while the earrings have the same stones, but are from a different maker. I love how pretty the back of this set is...