Coq au Vin // Film Fest

Dress: Boho Paisley Banded Perfect Wrap Dress by Leota (size 1x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Born

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 41-39-53

I adored this dress...pretty much the same dress from my last post, but the pattern & colors were SO much more me. I especially liked the contrasting colors (same pattern) on the neckline & belt. Leota always fits me great, with the exception of having to pin the neckline closed...however, they have solved that problem (finally) by including a snap. 

Despite so many colors to choose from, this dress was surprisingly difficult to match jewelry to. 

This nail polish from ILNP, Misery, has become one of my new favorite polishes...they declare it is a fiery burnt orange with glowing metallic flakes...but it also skews a bit red & it really is a great neutral on me. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Roxy; Laurel, Jasper, & Morning eyeshadow from Natasha Denona; MAC lipliner in Chicory; Heat lipstick by UD; & ILNP nail polish in Misery.

I first wore this dress to have our friend elly's husband, Josh, over for dinner...I mean, he's our friend too...I've just known elly a lot longer. I made Coq au Vin, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Sausage & Pickled Red Onion, Esme's Rough Squash Mash, & Almond Cake. Josh brought along a selection of Amaro, including one he made. 

Josh also made us some cocktails, starting with a Paper Plane.

There was also a Jungle Bird after dessert. It was a delicious meal with fabulous company. 

I also wore this dress to work, to attend film fest, & thrift store shopping with David. Kate, David, & me outside of our theater. I really liked these yellow Boden flats, but at a size 38, they were too tight on me. I did get this cardigan though, plus a black one, both size medium...it is nice to have a few cardigans that fit & I've especially appreciated having the black one. 

Restaurant Week

Dress: Burnout Velvet Maxi Dress by Anthropologie (size 16) via Nuuly

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Fluevog, Effortless: Felicity 

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklaces: Green Goddess Vintage

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 43-41-57

I don't often declare my love for a dress...but this one *swoon*...such a gorgeously dark velvet fantasy...the fabric & colors were just stunning. The fit & length were perfect...there were even pockets...on a fancy dress. 

And another reason to break out the Fluevogs.

The colors were difficult to capture.

All the purple jewelry...

I adored the see-through arms & wish part of the bottom had this effect as well. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Delinquent; Drift, Stranded, & Blaze eyeshadow from UD; MAC lipliner in Grape; Double Crossed lipstick by UD; & OPI nail polish in Cosmo with a Twist. 

I wore this dress to go out to dinner & a play with David. We started out at Heritage Tavern (this is a complete reenactment of the previous Friday), & it happened to be restaurant week...so we got to try some different things then what we typically order. I began the night with a cocktail special, First Kiss (gin, cava, lemon juice, Chambord, cranberry-rosemary syrup)...& David chose Taverna Nacionale (Plantation 3 Star rum, Smith & Cross rum, Korbel brandy, Curacao, Demerara syrup, lime, pineapple, Angostura bitters). This is what we had to pick from, we chose 2 things from each course & shared.

That corner booth is where we usually sit, & for the first time...they told me we couldn't sit there because a party of 3 was coming in. So, I found out it is table 30 so I can request it when making reservations in the future. 

Round 2 of drinks, David with an Austin & Leftie (Black pepper-infused Mezcal, Milagro Silver, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar)...which they changed the name of to pay tribute to Austin, whom we greatly miss. I'm drinking a Bellini Sfumato (Tito's vodka, Sfumato amaro, creme de peche, sage syrup, Jamaican #1 bitters, lemon juice, cava).

Dessert & final cocktails...I had a Pistachio Mai Tai (Plantation Dark & 3 Star rums, Trois Rivieres Rum Ambré, pistachio orgeat, Pierre Ferrand curacao, demerara, lime) & I somehow missed including a photo of David & his last beverage at Heritage, 131 Bourbon Street (Rittenhouse rye, Calvados, Benedictine, Punt De Mel, Angostura & Peychaud's bitters). 

Now, we picked Heritage because it is right next door to the venue our play was at, however, at the end of our restaurant week meal...David was still hungry & we had plenty of time until our play began...so off we went to Lucille. David told me to order nachos while he parked the car. There was a 3 1/2 hour wait for a table, but the hostess found us 2 open seats at the bar. I sipped on an El Diablo (Milagro Reposado, raspberry syrup, lime juice, ginger beer). David drinking a Mexican Firing Squad (Lunazul Blanco Tequila, El Buho mezcal, agave, lime juice, Angostura bitters) while we waited for our nachos...we finally asked as we were running out of time. Apparently since the hostess put in our order, it was waiting in a to-go box for us to pick up. 

I ordered pork shoulder nachos in a regular size (1 pound), & when I texted David to let him know...he replied...you ordered 3 pounds, right? Um, who is going to eat all of that?! I changed the order. I had ~6 bites & David demolished the rest. We made it to the show with 1 minute to spare & the play was even better the second time. 

 

The Mountain Top

Dress: Paisley Maxi Dress by Anthropologie (size 24) via Nuuly (use my link & we both get $10 off)

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop, gift from Kate 

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 50-47-68

I was in LOVE with this dress...black background with paisley print maxi dress?! Oh, yes. The fit & length were great. I have nothing negative to say about this beauty.

I end up wearing a lot of dresses that aren't really "me"...either because I'm renting them & want to try something new...or I bought it thinking I liked it more than I actually end up doing. I'm not sure what to do about that. I mean...once upon a time I wore mostly black. I like to explore & experiment with fashion...but sometimes that means I don't LOVE an outfit. Is that alright? I guess it is, because the alternative is getting stuck in a rut. 

The beads at the end of this earring kept getting caught in the metal flowers. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Huda Beauty Desert Dusk palette, Sephora eyeshadow in Chrome No 4, Pumpkin lipliner by NYX, Gothica lipstick from Kat von D, & OPI nail polish in Deutsch You Want Me Baby? 

Our little Final Fire Japanese Maple...so cute! I got all glammed up Memorial weekend & the following week to spray paint outdoor furniture. I got sunburned through my shirt! Listening to UnderCovered bands covering New Order while I painted. 

Spread out on tarps...various metal chairs & tables getting some color. I took 2 trips out to restock some spray paint I needed...apparently there is a shortage & both places were out of the colors I wanted. I was able to order most of them online. However, Rustoleum has discontinued Army Green...I adore that color. 

We picked up this adorable butterfly bench at Deconstruction, Inc a few years ago & it's been sitting on our front patio painted the original light yellow (boring)...but, not anymore...just in time for Pride month...

David & I went to see our first indoor show of the season at APT, The Mountain Top. It was a lovely day...we brought a snack of charcuterie, cheese, & nuts...& shared this tasty bottle of Michigan sparkling wine

We sat on a bench outside the theatre as all the picnic tables below were taken (that were possible for me to get to with my terrible knee)...gorgeous view & we were the only people there. The best meal EVER at Angie's! I know...it's just burgers, right?! But David made them on their new charcoal grill & he got the cook *just* right (slightly more than rare for me, but not taken quite as far as medium rare). Also, Angie bought some good meat from a random guy on FB Marketplace that raises cows. We wrapped those patties in CSA lettuce, served with a side of dux celles (shiitake, shallots, butter, wine) that David made, grilled asparagus, & a glass of wine...perfection. I say this every time...but it is so fun to watch David & Freddie together. 

 

Wasted: Wow That Tastes Old

 Dress: Paisley Mock Neck Midi Dress by Modcloth (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: We Love Colors in Gold

Shoes: Clarks Artisan

Earring: etXarte

Magnifying Necklace: former Etsy shop

Amber Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Paisley is my original favorite pattern from back when I was a kid in the 70s. It's just so marvelous. The colors in this dress were fabulous! The fit & length was spot on, the material was soft & stretchy, but a bit thin. I'm not a huge fan of turtlenecks or mock necks...otherwise, I would have purchased this beauty. 

It's difficult to tell from this distance, but these shoes *exactly* matched one of the colors in the dress.

Such rich lovely autumnal shades...

I was particularly fond of my eyeshadow here...it was my first time using Melt Cosmetics & it is an outstanding product. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; Melt Cosmetics eyeshadow in 2012, Dream Big, Boss Lady, No Regrets, Morning After, & Poppin Bottles; UD liquid lipstick in Trap Queen; & Black Metal Dahlia nail polish by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. 

I'm pretty sure I didn't wear this dress on either of these occasions we visited with Freddie & Angie...however, cuteness...& food.

I wore this dress to visit Batch on a Sunday morning to pick up a few kalamata olive fougasse...not sure if that should be plural or if I can call these loaves? All the cases were packed with deliciousness. 

Look! They've turned one of their broken ovens into a Free Little Library...also, a pretty fence surrounded by fallen fall leaves. 

Later that day...wine tasting at Kate's...all older bottles from her cellar. 

Cute girlies with wine...

Awww...I love this blurry photo of David & me...also, if you enlarge it...you can see how this Urban Decay lipstick glitters...

The Wasted group drinks & discusses wine...while Lindsay takes notes...& we eat this yummy squash stew Kate made. 

 Dancing Kate...

David had a pimp situation going on with his shoes & socks...we found these amazing shoes at Savers...Kate pouring wine.

I also wore this dress to work & to craft. Angie came over to help me felt the drawers of my antique typesetters cabinet that I'm going to use for jewelry. David made us soup. I bought all the gold trim that I liked at Joann's & it probably still isn't enough. I told David...I bought everything I wanted & it isn't enough...which for some reason he thought was hilarious...but I guess it does sort of sum part of me up.