Friendsgiving

 Dress: Flutter Sleeve Wine Jersey Dress by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Gap, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Wine monochrome outfit for our Friendsgiving celebration. Again, too tight because it didn't come in my size...I guess I should stop closeting dresses that don't fit me. The color was outstanding & I liked the flutter sleeves that showed off my tattoo. 

The burgundy in these Gap shoes were a good match for the dress...so I picked a necklace that also had some pink in it to carry that color through.

Crunchy fall leaves underfoot is much nicer than snow. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Alkaline, Velvet & Flash eyeshadow by Kat Von D, MAC lipstick in Dubonnet Amplified, & OPI nail polish in Rich & Brazilian. 

I totally missed David carving the turkey wearing his turkey hat...so he posed for me...

This is my favorite part of Thanksgiving...Angie's cranberry jalapeño relish with cream cheese on crackers...it is extremely tasty. Kate & Jason were in Thailand, so they did not join in the festivities.  

Dinner was outstanding! I only need it once a year, but traditional Thanksgiving dinner is so yummy. Fred was not having the turkey hat. After dinner...Val sits at the table like people. Do not suspect I was also trying to covertly snap a photo of the elusive elly. The next day...more Sobral jewelry from eBay came in the mail...early Black Friday sale.

Whole Hog Dinner at Heritage Tavern

 Dress: Bell Sleeve V-Neck Dress in Purple by Kaktus (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit) 

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Fluevog Rubens

Earring: etsy

Necklace: A Luscious Thing

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I loved this luxe velvet burnout dress! Gorgeous burgundy, bell sleeves, great length...GB stated that this was a shift dress (in purple), but I thought it was verging into the swing category (in burgundy). Had it truly been a swing dress, I would have bought it. The body of the dress was lined & stayed in place. The soft stretch velvet was dreamy to wear & I felt alluring all night long.  

These shoes were a perfect match for the dress...& David thought of pairing them together. 

I nearly wore black tights with this outfit...which would have been a tragedy...I adore a monochromatic look...especially in shades of wine. 

My gorgeous necklace was a gift from Kate & the amazing shoes were given to me by David...what a lucky girlie I am.

My makeup with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Revolver, Alchemy, & Sonic; NYX Ultimate eyeshadow palette in Warm Neutrals; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in ?; & Kiss Me or Elf nail polish from OPI. 

I wore this flirty femme ensemble to have dinner at Heritage Tavern with David for Madison Area Chef's Network Chef Week. Local chefs collaborate to make one time only meals that are magically delicious. This evening's theme was whole hog. 

We started out with appetizers, drinks, & a selfie. 

Every bite was incredible...except for dessert (its one redeeming element was milk chocolate chicharrones). The third course, pork shoulder, was my favorite...despite it being the least pretty to look at. If that were on a menu...I'd order it all the time. 

Too many chefs in the kitchen = an exceptional meal & a delightful evening. 

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

 Dress: Beguiling Border Wrap Dress by Kiyonna (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Tapemeasure/Woman (size 3x), thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Life Stride, thrifted

Earring: eBay

Necklace: A Luscious Thing

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I was excited to get this pretty blue mixed print dress from Kiyonna...sadly, it seemed to have a flaw in the way the hem was sewn (on the middle left of where the wrap is split) & the dress did not lay as nice as the other wraps I've gotten from Kiyonna. If you zoom in on the model on the GB site...her dress does the same thing. Otherwise, it was a nice dress...stunning print, great length...I see this being most useful as a work dress. 

Since the dress was various shades of blue...I decided to go with that & create a blue monochrome outfit...

 I couldn't quite get the top of this dress to lay down nicely...

My makeup with this outfit included...LSD eyeliner by Urban Decay; UD eyeshadow in Freeze, Bobby Dazzle, Truth, & Last Sin; Bite Beauty lipstick in Burgundy, & I Sea You Wear OPI nail polish from OPI. 

Some vintage lucite & bakelite bracelets from eBay. 

Dinner at Freddy Valentine's in Spring Green before APT...it is housed in an old bank building that was built in 1915 (where my outfit photos were taken). My Moscow Mule was good...& my fish fry was delicious. 

Then David, Angie, & I went on to see Pericles, Prince of Tyre...which APT did a fantastic job with...making it funnier than it was meant to be. 

2016 Wisconsin Film Festival Begins

 Dress: Nina Dress in Winter Plaid Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Dream of the Crop (size 4x) via Modcloth

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Moda Spana, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Me

Photography: Super Boo & Me

 Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit the first two days of the film fest. Effie's Heart clothing is made out of a thick t-shirt material & always so comfy...so it was perfect for movie watching. Unfortunately, this dress from GB came to me faded & a bit pilled...but...one of the lovely ladies from Girls of GB offered me hers...as she bought it, but never wore it...so you'll see this dress on me again, styled for summer. So, obviously, I liked it...I adored the asymmetrically placed fabric pieces, length, & modest neckline (my boobs can't be hanging out *all* the time)...& this is a year round dress as it's made out of breathable cotton/spandex.

Our first two days of the Wisconsin Film Fest, we saw 8 of our 25 movies. We typically buy tickets for that many movies...then end up skipping some & walking out of others. This year we watched all 25 movies all the way through. Unheard of! The fest asks you to vote on a scale of 1-5...normally we give out 1 or 2 5's & 2 or 3 4's...this year nearly all of our movies were in that range. Best film fest EVER! The two I'd most recommend from our first days...Love & Peace, Japan, a would-be rock star & his love for his pet turtle...Men & Chickens, Denmark, dysfunctional family comedy. 

I wore the cardigan a bit, but we had gorgeous spring weather, so mostly...without. These Dream of the Crop cardigans from ModCloth (I think the brand is MAK) are my favs...they are the same ones they sell on Pinup Girl Clothing...& I NEED it in Fiesta Orange!

Lunch at home...Olive really wanted some of my curried tofu. David & I had dinner at Ha Long Bay before our last film of the night...

The Barrymore Theatre in our neighborhood was a new addition this year to the festival...not the most comfortable seats, but adult beverages & close to home. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue, Heroine eyeshadow by Urban Decay, Mediteranee eyeshadow duo by Nars, MAC lipstick in Korean Candy, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to the Game? I have been LOVING this NYX eyebrow pencil...it is the equal of the Anastasia I've been using for years...at less than 1/2 the cost! 

40th Birthday Girlie

 Dress: Skater Dress in Red with Keyhole by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee, Try Then Buy (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Liz & Me, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Boden, garage sale

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work on one day, then several days later to work again & to Kate's birthday wine group. I couldn't quite bring myself to send this dress back despite not loving the boob window...which is not a very good thing to wear to work. However, when the dress passed Kate approval & it was on sale for only $30...I had to keep it. Also, it is nearly the same dress as this (without the cutout, but an odd waist placement)...& I have been sad I let it go ever since. This dress hit me just at the knee, had a fabulous flare to the skirt, & had no defined waist...which I love...I prefer an empire waist or none (notice how the similar dress I linked to had a waist that hit me in a random area). This red was more persimmon than a true red...warm & bright, nearly verging on orange. Yes! Also, wonderful 60s vibe texture. My only complaint about this dress is the enormous exposed gold zipper in back trend that I despise. Now I'm glad I sent the first dress back & bought this one instead. As always, this brand runs a size large on me, so the 24 is a great fit. My tongue...it is always trying to escape my mouth...

It was cold & windy out on this day...so we opted for indoor photos at the downtown library...the lighting inside is never as good...but this background is the best...here is a full length photo of the bookend art display that you've seen here many times...

Snow! It didn't stick around long, but we've gotten so little snow this winter that it is still exciting. Doggies!

Kate turned 40! this week! When I met her she was a mere 23 & I had just turned 29. Instead of having a birthday party, she decided to just make her weekly wine group her celebration...luckily, I was invited. 

So much amazing wine...including a bottle of 1976 Chinon that is the same age as the girlie. 

Flourless chocolate torte with raspberries on top, delicious. I usually make the girlie cake, but another of her friends offered...so I cried, then made olive tapenade which is something we used to make a lot & I had forgotten how tasty it was. Smeared on baguette, it is delightful.

 Beware the girlie with a big knife & cleavage. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Kat von D Dark Wave eyeshadow as liner (it perfectly matched the blue in the shoes I wore the first time I donned this dress, for Kate's party I wore black liner), a mixture of Love + & Flamepoint eyeshadows from Sugarpill, NYX Russian Roulette lipstick combined with Blood Orange from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in The Spy Who Loved me. 

Fish Fry at Glarner Stube

 Dress: Foxfire Faux Wrap Dress in Merlot by Kiyonna (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Boots: Dr. Martens

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Kate & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this hot little number to have dinner with Kate. I admit I hated this dress at first...it was tighter than I felt comfortable wearing...& that back! However, both Kate & Super Boo really liked it on me...so I felt sorta sexy wearing it. I mean...you have to trust the two people you care about most in the world, right? The asymmetrical hemline, peek-a-boo shoulders, & ruching in front gave this dress va-voom...but I wish the sleeves had been tighter & the back less plunging. I decided to go with a monochrome burgundy palette & combat boots to tough up the titillating vibe. 

Kate & I drove to New Glarus so she could hammock camp for the night...after she set up her site...pictures before dinner. The sun was setting, so we tried various places trying to catch the light. 

I'm scandalous from behind...badunkadunk & revealing low v-back. 

A nice lady offered to take our photo...camping girlie & glam girlie. 

Glarner Stube is known for its Swiss food, particularly their fish fry...& they claim...the world's largest urinal...but I only saw the photo on the postcard they sold. So much fried food! The cheese curds had entirely too much breading on them & their roesti potatoes were brimming with swiss cheese (this would have been heaven for someone who loves swiss cheese, which is not me...cheddar, & I would have to drive the hour each week to devour this perfectly crisp potato delight). My old-fashioned was divine & the fried perch was delectable. 

My make-up this day included...Deep Burgundy eyeliner by Stila; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Alchemy, Bondage, & Sonic; Tannin lipstick from Bite Beauty; & OPI's Lost on Lombard on my nails.