Concerts on the Square

Dress: Lime Floral Fit & Flare Dress by Maison Tara (size 6) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Born

Earring & Bubble Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Other Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Fun bright summer colors in this pretty maxi. I got a size down because the reviews state it runs big, & I agree...great fit with the exception of the waist starting on my boobs. Again. 

Years ago, I found these shoes at Savers in a size 11, which was just 1 size big on me at the time...but looked ridiculous now...so I found them again on Poshmark in a 9. I don't have very many blue sandals. 

I didn't have any jewelry in this particular shade of blue or green...but I think these worked...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Roxy & LSD, Nars eyeshadow duo in Mediteranee, KVD eyeshadow in Electric Warrior, Bang lipliner & lipstick by UD, Clockwork lipstick from Sugarpill Cosmetics, & CND Vinylux in Limeade. 

I wore this dress to work & then to attend Concerts on the Square with my girlie. We got there later than I normally would have since I picked Kate up when she got off work...however, check out that rockstar parking! We chose to go to A Millennial Mixtape...strange choice of songs...

Gorgeous day to sit outside with the girlie. She brought an assortment of sparkling NA drinks for us to share (not all shown). Where the Wild Things Are purse...I'm so happy I have this...it makes me smile. 

I made us a roasted zoodle salad with spicy Thai peanut sauce. Yum.

We ate most of these Door County sweet cherries before it occurred to me to take a photo. I think I may have heard only one or two of these songs before...& one had been out less than 2 years...it was truly a strange selection. We enjoyed people watching & each others company though...so it was a lovely evening. 

With a few songs left...we put our stuff in the car & walked around the square a bit..then Kate danced her way back to Veronika.

 

Work & Thrifting

Dress: Orchid Fit & Flare Dress by Maison Tara (size 8) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Gap, thrifted

All Jewelry: Colleen Toland

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I liked the shoulder cut-outs & tulip hem on this orchid dress...the fit was good & even though it isn't a great color for me, I like wearing things out of my comfort zone. It's a fine work dress, but I wouldn't wear this out...I would have enjoyed it more in a pattern rather than solid. 

It was a terrible time of day for light, so we used this new area of our favorite building...& David moved this bit of metal fence behind me for more interest. 

The best part of my outfit...these colorful Gap leopard sandals I found on Poshmark for $9.

I used the shoes & jewelry to add more color...

My make-up with this outfit included...Asphyxia & Double Life eyeliner by Urban Decay; Aster, Agate, & Azalea eyeshadow by Natasha Denona; Big Bang lipliner from UD; Bite Beauty lipstick in Spiced Plum; & OPI nail polish in All Your Dreams in Vending Machines. 

Trying on clothes at Vinny's on Willy St.

Salmon & zucchini for dinner. 

I'm excited to wear that brown plaid silk skirt this fall. Goodwill 50% off dress=$4!

Goodwill by my house...

More pretties for my closet...

 

Cooking & Thrifting

Dress: Scarlet Floral Printed Zoey Dress by Maison Tara (size 10) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Enneagram: Peacemaker

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: Colleen Toland

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

This dress seemed dowdy & conservative to me at first...but as I wore it...it felt vintage & ultra feminine. It was way too big, but that wide smocked waist gave it a shape. I adored the puffed sleeves & midi length. I did have to pin the neckline closed.

It was David's idea to take pictures at Olbrich Garden...I protested that there was no point without flowers...but it turns out dormant/dead things are pretty too.

I think these Fluevogs furthered the vintage vibe.

I need a bigger dangly red flower earring...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Alkaline, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions eyeshadow palette, UD lipliner in 714, Santa Sangre lipstick from Kat von D, & Misery nail polish by ILNP. 

I first wore this dress to work...& also to get a lymphatic massage from Courtney. She is doing wonders for the surgery swelling in my body...but she's also so much fun to talk to. And I have to drive past a Goodwill on my way home...so I usually stop. Check out those purple boots! I always get excited when I see shoes are made in Italy or Spain...so even though I hadn't heard of FX Fluxa...they were purple & cute. I looked them up at home & they were ~$300 new. I made Peanut-Crusted Salmon with Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Lemon Vinaigrette for dinner. A few cardigans from Poshmark. 

The final straggler showed up...my favorite of the Lesley Evers tights I ordered. January Boxy Charm. A date with our personal trainer, Annie...she taught us how to do the Turkish Get-Up...great full-body workout you can easily do at home (we've got kettlebells)...it was HARD...& we worked on proper form for our deadlifts. Dinner that night was Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken & Mustard-Glazed Cabbage. 

And the next day...I made Parsi-Style Sweet, Sour, & Spicy Shrimp (we are LOVING Vishwesh Bhatt's book, I Am From Here), served with Fennel-Apple Salad with Candied Pecans. I did a new thing here & I roasted the riced cauliflower with some of the spices in the dish...YUM. 

Pilates! I get SO excited to go to this class...I never would have suspected I'd turn into a person who likes exercise...Pilates just makes me feel so capable since I can see improvement each time I go. Vinny's westside exploration turned up these floral heels. I posted them on Facebook wondering if they were too boring...& Kate respond with...of course you would be worried that something that elaborate might be boring *laugh*...but I really was worried (I bought them even though they were a smidge big).

I also found some cardigans, above...& gym clothes, below. I got this belt off of eBay...the seller called it blue (it's green) & it was already peeling terribly. I needed it for an upcoming outfit, so I tried dyeing it navy, but it didn't take. I got a refund for it. It's too bad because the style is fantastic. I now need a belt collection. And a jaunt through the Goodwill by the co-op turned up a boxy shoulder padded plaid Limited jacket, a blue velvet ModCloth dress, & some cardigans. 

 

Girlie Vacation: Driving to Frankfort

Dress: Chiffon Smocked Waist Mustard Fit & Flare Tiered Dress by Maison Tara (size 14W) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Born

Purse:

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 40-37-53

My favorite shade of yellow...mustard. I wasn't sure how I felt about this chiffon midi...it was a bit big on me, but the smocking helped it fit better. I was most perplexed by the top cape-like tier...so I experimented wearing it a few different ways other than just hanging straight. In the end, since I didn't pin it in place...just the act of moving around caused it to fall back down. 

Draped over both shoulders, one shoulder, & hanging down.

A rare bare legged sighting. I may have mentioned this before, but one of the biggest reasons I've been getting my legs covered in tattoos is because of all the discoloration & scarring I have from vasculitis & other leg issues. So, I am feeling more confident going tegging-less these days.

I was quite pleased with my make-up & accessory choices with this dress...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon; Carnelian, Azalea, & Agate eyeshadow by Natasha Denona; Dragun Beauty Lib Job lip liner 2.0cc (medium brown); Bronze Shimmer lipstick from MAC; & OPI nail polish in Oy-Another Polish Joke! 

I wore this dress to work a few times, then I wore it for the final time to drive to Michigan with Kate. Lots of construction traffic along the way. I often take photos of what is playing on Sirius if I like it, so I can add it to my Spotify list. First stop on our trip...Frankfort, Michigan.

Kate had a place picked out for dinner, but the menu at the restaurant at our hotel looked good & we could sit on the porch all by ourselves. It "looked good," but it ended up being the worst meal on our trip. Our hotel was charming though. 

Gorgeous beach with the most benches I've ever seen in one place.

Lake Michigan was warm...I wanted to jump in!

A spectacular sunset...

Just look at that...

It wasn't Lake Superior, but it *was* a large body of water & that was more than enough to make me feel completely at peace.

Beach Rules: Have Fun!

We walked the short distance back to our hotel through the neighborhood behind it. A picture of the lighthouse on the stairway of our quaint hotel.