Happy New Year

Dress: Fishtail Velvet Maxi Dress in Midnight by Scarlett & Jo (size 30 UK) 

Tights: Snag

Shoes: But another innocent tale...(B.A.I.T.) via ModCloth

Earring: The Embellishing Room

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

My goal was to pick a dress to highlight this vintage Miriam Haskell necklace David bought me one Christmas. I last wore this fishtail dress 3 years ago, also for NYE. I stated back then that I felt sexy & luxurious in this dress...& that was true this year as well. Va-voom! 

I bought these blue velvet shoes on sale at ModCloth a few years ago. They were my first purchase of But another innocent tale...shoes (B.A.I.T.). How adorable is that name?! They make vegan vintage inspired shoes & have so many lovely styles. 

This amazing Miriam Haskell necklace has a water feature with stones & gold glitter floating in it...!!! It is spectacular & David picked it out himself. The seller was in Australia & also had a matching bracelet that someone had already bought...why would you split this set up?!? I wonder what fancy occasions this necklace has seen?

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Goldilux, Lumiere eyeshadow by Mon Ennui Cosmetics, UD lipliner in 714, Kat von D lipstick in Santa Sangre, Red glitter from Pat McGrath, & Ruby Pumps nail polish by China Glaze. 

I sent David to Costco to buy 2 lobster tails for me to eat on New Year's Day (our anniversary)...& he came back with 19. They usually have a guy giving you what you want, however, because of Covid, everything was by the box. I'm not exactly unhappy about this turn of events. Perhaps by my birthday we can gather together again? I'm being overly hopeful. If not, I guess I will be forced to eat them all myself. David & I went downtown on NYE day to pick up our holiday meal & take my photo at the capitol. When we got home I had a video visit with my girlie...who remains adorable. David & Jason joined us for a bit. 

A toast to the end of this year & the beginning of a better one. Kate picked out a champagne for us from her cellar in our basement...the bottle of hers was prettier though. 

David again did a marvelous job of reheating & cooking our meal from L'Etoile...there were a few bites that were not mentioned on the menu & honestly, if I had to cook these meals we've been getting to-go...I would have been in tears as the directions always leave important information out. But, amazingly delicious. 

This yellowtail tartar was exquisite. 

Every bite was heavenly, but to my surprise, my favorite dish of the evening was the Beef Wellington. I would never order basic meat & potatoes at a fancy restaurant...or really, ever...but of course, Chef Tory made the best version possible. It had a high standard to live up to for David, who had fond memories of taking his high school girlfriend to a place in San Francisco that was known for this dish. He said it exceeded his memory. 

This 20 year cheddar was the perfect bite of cheese to end the savory portion of our meal. Dessert had so many competing flavors, but it all managed to work together...such a fun ending. We saved our mignardise for the next day as we were too full to eat even a few more bites. 

Between courses, while David was cooking, & after our feast...I watched Carsie Blanton playing live for NYE...she played for 4 hours...until midnight EST. New Year's Day is our anniversary...Kate very generously let us drink this special champagne...champagne two days in a row. I did not imagine this bottle could be better than the one we drank the night before...but it was. I am spoiled. 

David bought me some pretty jewelry for our anniversary...he knows my taste SO well, that I already owned the purple set (he's trading it in for something else). I got him...nothing. I felt terrible about it, but we hadn't discussed presents. I told him...being married to me is a gift...he laughed so hard he couldn't breathe. I told my friend Michael about it the next day & he replied, not all gifts are good...which David thought was the perfect retort...so now we say those lines back & forth to each other. My favorite part of my relationship with David is how much we laugh. 

Anniversary dinner...David made lobster tail for me & lamb for himself...delectable & decadent. We finished with our mignardise from L'Etoile & almond cake that Angie made. 

David shared his lamb bones with the delighted doggies. Rainbow Girls played a show with some friends on New Year's Day...& a bit of 90s alternative music that night...Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Jane's Addiction, Ani DiFranco, & Nirvana is the music that makes me relive the 90s...although I know there was other music I listened to as well...hard to believe the 90s were over 20 years ago...& other things old people say. Happy 2021! 

 

Film Fest, Fin

 Dress: Purple Paisley Printed 40s Dress by Scarlett & Jo (size 28)

Cardigan: MAK (size 4x)

Tights: We Love Colors in Royal

Shoes: Clarks, thrifted

Earring: eBay

Necklace: Babil & Bijou (former etsy shop)

Button Bracelet: Allie's Adornments

Bakelite Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This is the final dress of the 5 I ordered from Scarlett & Jo last year...all of which I am in love with...with the exception of the very first dress I tried...which I HATED. The colors & pattern of this 40s inspired dress were my favorite...especially the dots of yellow that I tried to bring out more with my cardigan. The fit, flow, & length of this dress were just right, but I could have done without the back tie...& I cut out the shoulder pads. 

This frock has pretty fluttery angel sleeves under the sweater (that I forgot to take off).

These shoes were a fabulous Milwaukee thrift store find...one of my rare non-Savers scores. 

My makeup with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Alchemy, Bondage, Last Sin, & Bobby Dazzle; Dubonnet Amplified lipstick from MAC; & Shearling Darling nail polish by Essie. 

I wore this outfit on days 6 & 8 of the film fest, ate dinner between films, & saw one last new trailer. I saw 9/12 of the trailers...so I really only missed 2 since the opening night one was live...& I think one was shown only at kids movies...how did I miss one?! All the trailers are online...this is mostly for me so I remember to watch them later to see what I missed. 

We got our refrigerator & freezer doors back...they turned out beautifully! 

I got a bunch of leggings from Torrid...which I never took pictures of...but the ones I was most excited by are LEMONS...similar to this photo I found online of a lemon jumpsuit. Also, this pattern mixed dress & orange plaid leggings from ASOS. Orange plaid. OMG.

20th Annual Wisconsin Film Festival

 Dress: Cross Front 40's Dress in Blue Medallion by Scarlett & Jo (size 28)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors in Royal 

Shoes: ?, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This is dress #4 of the 5 dresses I bought last year from Scarlett & Jo...super comfortable & cute...everything you want in a casual dress. Great fit & length...this dress was perfectly lovely in every way...but it had shoulder pads that I forgot to cut out...ooops. Why shoulder pads?! 

I was rather proud of my matching color pattern mixing with this cardigan.

This dress is light enough to wear all year round...I can see it with teggings & sandals in the summer. 

I never got around to taking photos of my make-up with this outfit...although I wish I knew what lipstick I was wearing here because I love it.

I wore this dress to days 2 & 3 of the Wisconsin Film Fest (there is only 1 movie on the first day & it wasn't something I was interested in). The Guilty was my favorite film on Friday...Saturday's was Lots of Kids, A Monkey, & A Castle. Festival Coordinator, Ben, shows us how to use the film fest blanket to text during the movies. Aren't those women's dresses adorable?

Savers was having a 50% off sale on Saturday...so David & I rushed there before the movies began. This was my last time shopping at Savers before finding out they are closing in Madison on May 19th. I nearly cried when Angie texted me this news. Where will I find cashmere cardigans for $4.50?! 

I had enough time to stop by Underground Butcher & grab a breakfast sandwich...they'd only been open an hour...but they were sold out of bagels already...English muffins just aren't as tasty. 

Each year the film fest has a trailer they show before every movie...this year they did something different...they had 12 local bands perform a song Ben wrote several years back for the trailer, putting their own spin on it, so there was the excitement every time of what trailer you would see...instead of dreading having to watch the same one 20+ times. I took photos of them so I could keep track of which ones I'd seen. 

Kate & I having lunch at the Great Dane between movies. 

The Harmaleighs at Crescendo

 Dress: Lollidot 40's Keyhole Dress in Jewel Teal by Scarlett & Jo (size 28)

Cardigan: Lane Bryant (size 22/24), thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors in Yellow

Shoes: Clarks Artisan 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker 

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I like not having any dresses from GB at home...because then I get to wear my own neglected frocks. I've had this Scarlet & Jo dress for over a year. I bought 5 dresses on deep discount & this is number 3. Unfortunately, the first dress of theirs I chose to wear was a disaster...the cheapest quality dress I've ever worn. But luckily, the others have all been fabulous (I've now worn them all, coming soon to the blog), especially this luxurious blue velvet. 

This dotty dress was part of the 40s inspired collection from S&J...it's a stretch rayon jersey with keyholes both in front & back & short flutter sleeves. For some reason...S&J puts shoulder pads in the majority of their dresses...I always cut them out. This dress fit like a dream & I wore it to work & to see a show with Kate. 

This cardigan is one of my favorite thrift store finds...paisley & sequins...this is my first time wearing it, as well as these teal Clarks.

My makeup with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Junkie; UD eyeshadow in Fringe, Sinful, & Alter; Buttercupcake eyeshadow from Sugarpill; Winterberry lipstick by Bite Beauty; & CIA=Color is Awesome nail polish from OPI. 

I'm not sure why or how...but this was our first time seeing a band at Crescendo. It's like an indoor Shitty Barn...which is funny because a band I discovered at The Barn last summer is what brought the girlie & I here. Lost Lakes, a Madison band, opened...but we were here for The Harmaleighs from Nashville. 

These girls have lovely voices & are fierce song writers...you should check them out. 

NYE

 Dress: Fishtail Velvet Maxi Dress in Midnight by Scarlett & Jo (size 30 UK)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mudd, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Earring, Necklace, & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Me, & Angie

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I bought several dresses last year from Scarlett & Jo (my first time trying them) & this is the second one I've worn. I was disappointed with the first...but this one...wow! This was available in black, midnight, & magenta...& I chose blue because it was different than anything else I own. I wasn't sure a bodycon fishtail dress would look good on me...but it was so cheap, it was worth a shot...& I like to stretch my comfort zone. I felt sexy & luxurious in this dress.

What's up with those shoes though? I thought silver sparkly flats would be a good choice with this dress...but I never look in the mirror. 

Hubba Hubba...va va voooooooom.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; UD eyeshadow in Stargazer, Vega, Galaxy, & Lightyear; Pat McGrath Venom 2 lipstick; Pat McGrath Metallic Gold Pigment; NYX glitter in gold; & Emerald Sparkle nail polish by China Glaze. 

NYE at Tony & Kate's (different Kate from the girlie) with Angie & Toby. Angie made some addictively delicious mushroom caps & Kate made this amazing cocktail with Meyer lemons. Dinner was fabulous...Kate cooked the prime rib perfectly...with horseradish sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roasted root vegetables, cauliflower cheese, & kale salad. 

After dinner we played games...which I don't get to do nearly enough...I love games. We played two new to us games...Blokus, then Bears vs Babies. There was much doggie cuddling (hmmm...I wonder how my dress got covered in a layer of hair?) & then...happy new year! Champagne toast & decadent Nigella Lawson Chocolate Cloud Cake made by Angie. House parties are the best NYE plans & I appreciate Kate inviting us...it was a lovely night. Also, happy first anniversary to David & me. 

Wolf Cooking Demo

 Dress: Animal Print Hanky Hem Dress by Scarlett & Jo (size 28)

Cardigan: Croft & Barrow, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Kelly & Katie, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I placed my first order from Scarlett & Jo back in March...6 dresses, all on sale...like really on sale...I think I paid around $100 total. I finally got around to wearing one...I had no GB at home. This was one of the most cheaply made dresses I've ever worn...it started pilling an hour in...how does that even happen?! And the fabric was so thin that I could see right through it. I liked the pattern & shape of the dress...but it's going directly to the nightgown drawer. I hope all of the dresses I bought aren't this awful...I'll let you know. 

We took these photos on our way to a cooking class...& it was raining...so there are droplets in my hair & neither David or I noticed that my cardigan was bunched up there on my shoulder...oops...sorry. 

I added red to warm up the dress a bit. I need to paint the buckles on these shoes gold before I wear them next. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX Faux Blacks eyeliner in Oxblood, Rewind eyeshadow from Kat von D, NYX eyeshadow palette in Warm Neutrals, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Red Dragon, & An Affair in Red Square nail polish by OPI. 

I first wore this dress to attend a Wolf cooking class with David...we were greeted by these amazing Chihuly glass sculptures...how do they transport them?!

When David & I were first looking at Wolf appliances for our kitchen...our salesperson suggested we go to a Wolf cooking demo to check out our different options in action...which we promptly never did. But after we purchased a Wolf cooktop & oven...we decided to go...

I've never felt so pampered in all my life...you should all consider Wolf appliances & attend this completely free demo...no pressure to buy...they are confident that after this enchanted evening...why wouldn't you want Wolf in your kitchen? The chef was fabulous & his food, delicious. Wolf/Subzero have an organic garden that all these vegetables were picked from. My wine glass & fizzy water were always full...most of the time I never even saw how it happened...magical. 

I wore this dress again on a Saturday to shop at a nearly empty rainy farmers' market with Kate...where I stocked up on these Ashmead's Kernal apples that David & I fell in love with this year. Then David & I went to the evil entrancing Hobby Lobby where we bought a bunch of 50% off metal things & shopped for tile for our entryway, unsuccessfully. 

Next stop...Savers sale...I had to include this super unflattering picture of me trying on a cardigan so you don't all think I go around with a full face of make-up every time I leave the house. I was creeping on this woman with purple hair...she was just so perfectly coordinated. The best bargain of the day...David found a Brooks Brothers 100% camel hair full length winter coat for $11...the cheapest one I could find by them online was $1200! Finally, we ended our shopping excursion with Indian buffet & more fruitless tile hunting.