Grown-Up Book Fair // Lymphatic Massage // Thrifting

Dress: Peppi-Winter Plaid Dress by Louche (size L) via Nuuly

Belt: Vintage via eBay 

Tights: Snag

Boots: Fluevog, East End: Woodland

Purse: gift from David

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Little House on the Prairie chic...loved it. Stunning saturated navy & green plaid pattern in a nice heavy winter appropriate fabric...lots of material, so wearing a cardigan over it wasn't possible or necessary. However, even with the smocked top, this dress was huge on me. Part of it is my fault (I'm a fairly reliable medium these days), but this dress also runs at least one size too big (all the reviews state that, but it was brand new when I closeted it). Deep pockets & a back button closure. I got endless compliments while wearing this. 

I wanted to make this work as an outfit, so I immediately purchased a belt on eBay to bring it together. I searched for '80s vintage blue buckle belt'...this is pretty much exactly what I had in mind...it adds to the Vivienne Westwood vibes. Unfortunately, this belt skews more blue than green...it looked navy in the photos...but close enough. I desperately need a belt collection now. So much catching up to do! 

Even though my skills for building this look were fairly good given what I had to work with...what really put it over the top were these Fluevog boots I had just gotten during their after holiday sale. 

Aren't they gorgeous?! They were the oldest pair on my wishlist & there were only 2 left in my size. 

And to carry the yellow through elsewhere...a small pop of yellow in my bracelets. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Sabbath; Dragon, Heroine, & Lucky eyeshadow by UD; NYX lipliner in Pumpkin; Toast lipstick from Bite Beauty; Heat lipstick by UD; & OPI nail polish in A Woman's Prague-ative. 

I first wore this ensemble to attend the sold out Grown-Up Book Fair at The Sylvee. I waited too long to buy tickets to the first one last year...so I immediately grabbed one when they went on sale. This bag policy gets me EVERY time. 

They did a great job of recreating the feeling of the Scholastic Book Fairs of our youth. 

I colored & made a button out of 'I Like Big Books'...which I displayed on the tote of swag they handed out at the door. 

My favorite Wisconsin coffee...Wonderstate...I had to get the I Read Banned Books bag.

Nightmare Before Christmas tarot deck...Hot Lunch serving hot lunch...And look! It's Lindsay's book, Madison Chefs. Used books & specialty cocktails. I'm glad I went, but probably wouldn't go again unless someone really wanted to go with me. I also wore this dress to work & a final time to get a lymphatic massage from Courtney. She thought my outfit was spectacular & immediately commented on the Vivienne Westwood vibe I was putting out there. Courtney is doing wonders for me...my body has let go of so much fluid...especially my thighs. It is normal to have swelling up to a year after surgery...but everything was just so tight. At first it was painful when she pushed on those areas...but fast forward to the 2 weeks around the time of these photos (2-ish weeks ago)...I lost 17 pounds of what I'm guessing was water weight...& it shows. My thighs are back to normal...saggy skin instead of full of water. After massage...I stopped into Goodwill on my drive home. I discovered several cardigans, 4 dresses...including a never worn Effie's Heart...brown boots, & a button-up shirt covered in oranges that I'll probably never wear...but, oranges. 

 

The Milk Carton Kids // Friday Night Fish Fry

Dress: Green Plaid Collar Dress by Smak Parlour (size 0x) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: MAK, gifted

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Dr. Martens, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 43-41-57

Putting out the cute schoolgirl vibe in this plaid dress with a Peter Pan collar. I adored this green & black plaid print...the fit & length were great, but I would have liked the dress more without the collar. I nearly wore black knee highs, but felt that was overkill. 

The cropped green cardigan wasn't really the right shade of green, but I didn't want to wear another sweater I had to tie to make fit.

Freshly dyed hair...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black; Damaged, Toxic, & Dope eyeshadow by Urban Decay; NYX lipliner in Pumpkin; UD lipliner in Bang; NYX lipstick in 507; Toast lipstick from Bite Beauty; & OPI nail polish in Rising Star. 

I made Golabki while listening to Polish tunes...this has always been a favorite & reminds me of both of my grandmas..."I don't want her, you can have her, she's too fat for me." My hairdresser, Sigrid, told me about a lash growth product her co-worker loves, so I took a photo at the beauty supply so I'd remember to ask her if this is the right one...& I still haven't done it. We've been looking for years for the right address numbers to put on the house...& David found this guy in the Ukraine...talk about terrible timing. He sent us this photo of the sign he made us, perhaps we'll get it someday. It looks fabulous. 

I first wore this outfit to see Milk Carton Kids at Stoughton Opera House...front row. Kaia Kater opened.

Kaia was great...but Milk Carton Kids blew me away...they were amazing. Not only were they musically talented, but they had such a wonderful rapport & obviously have been friends for a long time...also, funny chitchat & stories between songs. The next night, The Small Glories were playing at the opera house, but I decided not to go because my boyfriend was flying in to visit me & even though shows let out there by 10, it was cutting it close & too much excitement in one evening for me to handle. 

I didn't take any photos the night André arrived, so I'll post that outfit photo at a later date...since I wore it for other things as well. He brought treats...bagels from New York & something I'd never heard of before, rainbow cookies...which were quite tasty & made a lovely breakfast with our coffee. After our morning meal, we perused a thrift shop & an antique store...I kind of fell in love with this painting. 

After a bit of browsing vintage bits & bobs...we went to Culver's so André could try a ButterBurger. I had a few bites of his, but I was saving my hunger for fish fry. We went to The Esquire Club for Friday night fish fry...because it's the most Wisconsin thing there is. And of course, I had a brandy old-fashioned. But why? Why didn't I take any photos of him or selfies of us?! Too twitterpated I guess. 

 

Taming of The Shrew

Dress: Polka Dot Faux Wrap Dress by eShakti (size 18) via Gwynnie Bee

Leggings: LuLaRoe via eBay 

Cardigan: Sigrid Olsen, thrifted

Shoes: Merona, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 45-42-59

I didn't think this dress was anything special, but I loved the outfit I made around it. Also, plaid AND polka dots...yes! The dress was too short to wear without leggings & while I appreciated the snap at the neckline...it often came undone. 

Such a lovely light orange in my Jack Skellingon leggings, cardigan, bracelet, & necklace...with navy in the dress & dots on the leggings, then, of course...dots on the dress, leggings, & bracelet...& plaid in the shoes to match the background in the dress. 

I don't think blue is my best color...but when paired with orange...it works. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Goddess, Nars Mediteranee eyeshadow duo, NYX lipliner in Orange County, Bite Beauty lipliner in 72, Nectar lipstick by Sugarpill Cosmetics, Dozen Carnations lipstick from MAC, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to The Game?

My October Boxy Charm...pretty eyeshadow palette & I'm already using the brushes. Some hair products I bought from Brian & forgot to share...I'm especially enjoying the Chi Shine Infusion. Snug Haven (our frost sweetened spinach guy) sells eggs now...the yolks were nice & orange. 

I used the hard boiled eggs to make a salad for David & I for our picnic before we saw the last play of the season. There is a holiday play in December, but it's doubtful we'll be having a picnic that day. I made us a Cobb Salad from a recipe in NYT Cooking that I added things to & it was amazing...definitely going into our summer rotation. 

I love how David always tries to match/co-ordinate with me...

First apples of the season. And...the best version of Taming of The Shrew either of us had ever seen. It was an ideal ending to a mostly great season.

 

Suffragette Purple

Dress:Purple Plaid Faux Wrap Dress by Torrid (size 5x)

Tights: Snag in Suffragette Purple 

Shoes: Franco Sarto, thrifted

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage via Flora Lynn Antiques

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

Another lonely dress from my closet...this spectacular purple & black plaid print dress was lovely to wear. The fit was great all over with the exception of the top, which was large & had to be pinned closed. 

I adore plaid & have another purple plaid dress that was similar in my mind, but not in reality. 

I went purple monochrome with the outfit & decided on a bold lip...I'm sticking with the no blush for now. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Viper, Celestial & Dreamer eyeshadow by Anastasia, Ciaté Glitter Flip lipstick in Fortune, & You Sexy Thing nail polish from Colors by Llarowe. 

New vinyl from John Davey & some found things from Angie, including lots of needles. A small order from Ulta because I was out of the micellar water that I use to remove my eye makeup. And on the 5th day of advent, Atelier Cologne gave to me...a tree sticker. 

I ordered some blank notecards from my friend H. who takes lovely photos, online DJ songs from Late Bar Chicago, & socks from Sock Dreams...I haven't ordered from them all year...but also, when is the last time you've seen me wear socks???

Davina & The Vagabonds holiday show...they only had time to edit one (of 6) camera angle, so that's what we saw. They had recorded it earlier because they are making a CD of all the songs they played. The band was so tired, but they stayed on the stream & chatted with us...it was fun & festive. 

My favorite weekly DJ night...Planet Earth. 

I watched the play, 42nd Street...I don't think I'd ever seen it before. And Glenn Crytzer & his band playing tunes from 1924.

Michael Waite playing songs people had requested to help them through grief. It was quite moving. And on day 6, Iris Rebelle.