Sunday with Super Boo: Nitro Coffee & Lucille // William Elliot Whitmore with The Local Honeys

Dress: Collage Midi Dress by Geisha Designs (size XL) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Jael Designs

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 39-37-48

Of course this dress with its plentiful patterns petitioned me to give it a try. And leopard! It was a nice dress, but it ran at least a size too large. The light silky fabric was ideal for a warm autumn day. I enjoyed wearing it, but once was sufficient...& I'm not really sure why...it certainly was colorful enough...& I liked that the sleeves were different patterns. It had functional fabric covered buttons all up the front...& I'm never a fan of that. 

I got to wear one of my new Born sandals I found on Poshmark...after I Rub n' Buffed the buckles an antique gold. 

I have 5 M is for Meshel/Muffin earrings...I love them. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Double Life; Carnelian, Phlox, & Laurel eyeshadow by Natasha Denona; Becca lipliner in Blissful; New York Apple lipstick from MAC; & OPI nail polish in Paint the Tinseltown Red. 

I wore this dress on a Sunday in mid-September to spend some time wandering with David...we walked around the capital square...& I spied this new restaurant. We had planned on getting nitro coffee at both Wonder State & Collectivo...to compare. Sadly, despite the posted hours stating they were open (& someone was inside), the door was locked. So Collectivo it was. This was David's first nitro coffee. 

Strolling one more loop around the capital...I love these bits at the corner fountains...it has both my home cities, as well as my lake represented. 

We contemplated walking to Sal's on Livingston...but thought we'd start at Lucille first...then make our way there. We tried something new...Roasted Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps (Pritzlaff Farms pork belly with hazelnut mole, salsa, roja, fried plantain, pickled vegetables, tajin, Bibb lettuce)...YUM. Cocktails outside on a beautiful afternoon...I had a Le Freak (Servero tequila, pistachio orgeat, lychee, blueberry, lemon, rose water) & David tried a Brick House (Probitas white blended rum, Aelred melon liqueur, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, lemon bitters). Shortly after this was served...Staying Alive came on (& I just realized the disco theme with Le Freak & Brick House) & I got up & David immediately followed me & we danced the entire song...at first practicing The Hustle we had just learned, then improvising & free form feeling the music. 

The best pizza we've ever had at Lucille...Pizza el Pastor (Aji basil cream, mozzarella, roasted mojo pork, adobo sauce, blistered tomatillo pineapple salsa, fresh cilantro). Round 2 drink, my favorite, El Diablo (Milagro Reposada, raspberry syrup, lime, ginger beer). 

I could not take enough photos of this Detroit steel pan pizza...I loved it so much. Unfortunately, the first pizza they brought us had a bit of raw dough...so they remade it entirely & brought us some complimentary cheese curds while we waited. At this point, we were like...we are not making it to Sal's, this is enough food. Taking sneaky pics of this woman's dress that I liked. David's second drink was Once Upon A Time in Mexico (Melagro silver, Banhez mezcal, Laird's apple brandy, pineapple, Serrano, Angostura bitters, simple syrup). Another delightful day with David. 

That night...I went to Bur Oak to see William Elliott Whitmore again (I'd seen him earlier this year at the barn). The Local Honeys opened & they were fabulous. 

Will put on another amazing show (& I have tickets to see him a third time at Stoughton Opera House). I liked his show at the barn slightly better...only because he had 1/2 the barn up & dancing. It was a lovely night of music, I only wish the guys around me wouldn't have sung nearly every word. 

I bought the 2 vinyl The Local Honeys had. The next day...I went to my first ever Pilates class...I adored it. It was my first time taking an "exercise" class that I wasn't looking at the clock every 5 minutes wondering when it would be over. Great instructor, & totally free at my gym...Mondays & Wednesdays at 10. After class...I went to Woodman's to stock up on the Polar Ice seasonal flavors I liked. 

 

Brian visits Madison // VO5 at The Terrace // Cocktails at Merchant & Lucille

Dress: Beaded Cutout Maxi Dress by Geisha Designs (size L) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earring: Colleen Toland 

Necklace: Wendy Baker Design

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Brian, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 39-37-48

I grew to be quite fond of this cotton muted maxi dress. I wasn't sure about it at first...it went to the U.P. with me, but never got worn. I liked the subtle beading on it, as well as the cutout in front...& the colors were pretty. The smocking meant a great fit & it was the ideal length on me for a maxi...& of course, pockets. 

Cotton dresses are such easy breezy summer wear...& I never did have to iron this one. 

I did not expect it would be difficult to choose jewelry for this dress as there were so many colors I like represented...& I never did quite get it right...perhaps the earring? But the necklace had too bold of colors in it even if it did match some of them. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Psychedelic Sister, UD eyeshadows, Sugarpill Cosmetics lipstick in Clockwork, & Aly's Dream Polish in Sweet Orange. 

The day David left for California...I went on a walk with Angie...where I did not wear this dress. She took me to a new-to-me place right in our neighborhood...Governor's Island. It was lovely...a short walk just over 1 mile. 

The capitol from the Lake Mendota side, mushrooms in the wild (they were really hard), & a party pontoon. 

Check out this fabulous staircase nearby...I'd love to do a photoshoot there, but not sure if it would actually be feasible. AND...a garage sale...not just any garage sale, but my favorite every year! I've only been to a handful of sales since the pandemic & my last time at this one was 2019. I only got one thing, but it was this marvelous antique victrola record cabinet. Not only is it gorgeous, but necessary as I have a LOT of victrola records with no home. $10! I didn't even bother bargaining...& one of the husbands carried it to my car & stuck it in the trunk. 

Flowers in front...AND...Brian & Kyra arrive in Madison! VO5 was playing at the UW Memorial Union Terrace & it was a lovely night.

I can't recall ever seeing this place so packed...there were no tables left, so we finally had to inquire about empty chairs at people's tables so we had a place to park our butts. These Terrace chairs always make me smile...don't they look happy?! Me & Brian in the setting sun.

We dragged our chairs over to a short wall so we could set up our picnic...cumin roasted salmon with cilantro pistachio sauce, served atop a salad. YUM. It was a wonderful evening to enjoy some live music...mostly covers from the 70s-80s. 

Everyone but us had a pitcher of beer...& they were grilling brats & hamburgers...all the Wisconsin basics...I have to say, they smelled *really* good. After we had our fill of disco...we wandered back to the car & headed downtown. Our first stop, Maduro, to check if our friend Gregory was working. Nope. We walked over to Merchant to sit outside...it was my first time there since they remodeled...it looks fabulous. 

I miss the wallpaper...but those olive green couches are pretty...the relocation of the bar was a good call, & I adore the open windows to the outside world. 

Brian got, In The Night Kitchen (Whistlepig Piggyback rye, Lazzaroni amaro, chai-almond orgeat, lemon, espresso tincture, orange bitters), while I had a Velveteen Rabbit (Bowling & Burch gin, cherry & mint shrub, lemon, cava). 

We meandered down the block to Merchant's sister restaurant, Lucille, where we also sat outside & had cocktails...we would have ordered something to nibble on, but their late night menu was all fried food & didn't sound good to either of us. Brian had a Le Freak (Severo tequila, pistachio orgeat, lychee, blueberry, lemon, rose water) & I chose a Love Train (Hayman's Old Tom gin, elderflower liqueur, pear, matcha, agave, mint). It was an enchanting evening. 

 

Wisconsin Film Festival

Dress: Carolina Cut-Out Maxi Dress by Geisha Designs (size 16) via Nuuly 

Shoes: Fluevog, Power: Coal 

All Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

I loved this fun flirty fiesta frock. The on or off the shoulder poofy sleeves & the sexy cut-outs were fabulous. The gorgeous floral embroidery stood out dramatically against the solid black. If I got this dress again, I would size down. 

There was no way to prevent my bra band from showing with the deep v in back. 

I've had these Fluevog's for years, but this was my first time wearing them...they were a lovely match with the earthy flowers. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew; Celestial, Turkish Delight, & Blazing eyeshadow by Huda Beauty; MAC lipliner in Chicory; Kab Cosmetics lipliner in Charming; New York Apple lipstick from MAC; & ILNP nail polish in Misery. 

I never had an occasion to wear this seductive outfit...so film fest it was...I like to be overdressed. My favorite movies from this year's festival: Charm Circle (if you like Grey Gardens, this documentary is for you), Commitment Hasan, Hit The Road, 107 Mothers, A Tale of Love & Desire, & Robust.