My Life As A Zucchini

 Dress: Lace Up Dress in Navy Paisley by Alice & You (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee Shop

Cardigan: Talbots, thrifted

Leggings: Torrid

Shoes: Boden, thrifted

Earring: Vintage 80s

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I had this dress from GB last year & liked it well enough to buy it when it showed up in the GB Shop for $11...my only complaint about it is a bit too much gray for my liking...but, paisley. Great fit & length. 

I've had these gray & black striped leggings from Torrid for over a decade & this is my first time wearing them. The cardigan I thrifted a few years ago & this was also its first outing with me...I decided to throw it on to wear once before I donated it...but it turns out I adore it. Both Kate & our waitress agreed I should keep it. 

These photos were taken outside a pretty old church in Milwaukee.

I wore this ensemble for the last day of film fest. My favorite movies this year were: Lost in Paris, Bugs (documentary), My Life As A Zucchini, & Frantz. Pizza before our final film...including Nutella pizza for dessert, which three of us shared...my curiosity is now satisfied & I won't have to have it again. 

On another day...burgers at Alchemy with David & sweet potato fries. Some pretty art in the bathroom at the co-op. And the final indoor farmers' market of the season with the girlie. 

 Savers 50% off sale...

Super Boo & I traveled to Milwaukee for the day because Wednesday is 20% off everything at ReStore...look at this fabulous olive velvety love-seat we scored! We also came home with a coffee table for our rec room, several light fixtures, & a few doors. Then on to I.M. Salvage to pick up some doors we bought the last time we were in town...that place is a trip...it would be the perfect location for a movie shoot-out...vast, dark, & so many places to hide. They have row upon row of old toilets & tank covers...& I finally discovered the source of the creepy hellos that echo through the place...way up high...there is a parrot. A guard parrot. Also, they are holding our doors hostage in a room that only the owner has the key to & despite us leaving for a few hours & coming back...the doors remained there. 

WasteCap is a new to us salvage shop...expensive, but so many treasures. All those bits of wrought iron *swoon*...& that cherub fountain. We loaded up on doors there...8, I think...those were totally reasonable. 

The friendly adorable woman working there suggested we try Oscar's for lunch...she recommended the Aloha burger...how did she know?! Pineapple & avocado is my new favorite accompaniment on my burger. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Abyss eyeliner by Urban Decay, NYX eyeshadow palette in The Brights, Modern Renaissance eyeshadow palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills, Blood Orange lipstick by Bite Beauty, MAC lipstick in Dozen Carnations, & OPI nail polish in Do You Sea What I Sea?

Arcadia

 Dress: Lemon & Lime Printed Dress by Sandra Darren (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Talbots, thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The citrus colors in this dress were divine...& if it had been actual lemons & limes instead of blobs of color...I would have had to buy it for only $22. Great fit & flare with multi panels for a wonderful shape. My only complaint was the armholes were a tad big. 

I still can't believe I found this lemon cardigan at Savers...what a find! I have a lime cardigan from Lands End...now I just need a cardigan covered in oranges & my citrus cardigan collection will be complete. 

A lovely fall day for a picnic with The Pines on the portable record player David got for me...isn't it fabulous?! I've been looking for a vintage one for years (since seeing Moonrise Kingdom)...but this is fantastic...it also converts records to MP3s. 

Candid photos of David, Kate, & Angie eating our delicious picnic...Thai peanut veggies, tuna salad, olive fougasse (my favorite!), wine, & a fig cake.

Tom Stoppard's Arcadia outside at American Players Theatre...our last outdoor show for the year & on this stage...they've already demolished it in preparation for the new stage next year.

 My make-up with this outfit included...Brown eyeliner by Sephora, several eyeshadows from NYX The Brights palette, MAC Korean Candy lipstick, Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange, & Go with the Lava Flow nail polish by OPI. 

Herby Girlie Drinks

 Dress: Fit & Flare in Fiery Red by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Talbots (thrifted)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Andiamo (thrifted)

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earring: etXarte

Photography: Kate & Me (iPhone)

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I loved this red dress so much, I had to wear it again before sending it back to GB. I paired it with yellow the first time, but doesn't it look striking with purple as well? I know my purples don't really go together, but this is the only purple cardigan I have. Why are purple & yellow cardigans so difficult to find? As I said before, this dress was perfect with the exception of pulling across the chest despite not being tight. 

The adorable girlie wonders why I won't stop taking pictures of her so we can eat...

Heritage Tavern wins for spring herby cocktails (Graze is in second place & Merchant in third)! We started out with Pear Ginger (Death's Door gin, Yellow Chartreuse, allspice dram, pear-cinnamon syrup, & rosemary) & Sao Paulo Smash (Cachaca, sage liquor, agave, lime, blackberries, & rose water). I could live on Heritage Tavern's deviled eggs. 

We shared 3 more drinks, but I don't recall which were which or what they were...I think we sipped...Old Money (Ansac Cognac, Yellow Chartreuse, Hum, absinthe, & lime), Templeton's Orchard (Templeton Rye, apricot liqueur, honey, lemon, rosemary, egg white, & angostura), & Heritage Punch (Death's Door gin, Dolin Blanc, grilled pineapple, Serrano chili spice tincture, strawberry grilled pineapple & basil foam). Kate?

For dinner we shared, Peanut Oil Ruby Red Trout with lobster coconut red curry, market vegetables, sticky rice, & scallions & Market Mushroom Risotto with parmesan froth, herbs, shiitake & oyster mushrooms with shaved truffles on top. They were both delightful. Everything Heritage Tavern does is perfection (except for brunch)...weeks later I can still close my eyes & taste this meal...it makes my mouth & entire being full of happiness. Also, I love spending time with my best girlie. 

A lot of restaurants have tampons in the woman's room...but Heritage will never run out. Why are pig's so smart, cute...& delicious?

This purple liquid eyeliner by Sephora is the most amazing color, however, after wearing it for the first time this day...I discovered it is not waterproof & had to return it the next day. 

Lemons & Limes

 Dress: Chevron Fit & Flare Dress by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free/$10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Lime Cardigan: Lands' End

Lemon Cardigan: Talbots via Savers

Tights: Catherines

Socks: Sock Dreams

Black Shoes: Dansko via garage sale

Yellow Shoes: Enzo Angiolini via Savers

Green Bubble Necklace & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Green Earring: etXarte

Lemon Necklace: Vintage

Earring: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

This is the third time I've gotten this dress from GB. I wore it the first time with purple accents & the second time with orange. Obviously, I like it...but not quite enough to buy. Too much white & the heavy fabric would only be wearable in cooler months. In my mind I have some orange & pink chevron knee high socks from Sock Dreams, which is why I decided to get this dress one last time. However, I think I must have imagined these socks as I can't find them anywhere...& my sock draw is one of the few organized spots in our house. So, citrus cardigans instead!

I found this cute lemon cardigan for $5 at Savers...I couldn't believe my luck! I don't think its ever been worn. I adore citrus...now I need to find a cardigan full of oranges...that would make me SO happy! I also found the yellow shoes at Savers...they aren't my favorite, but until I find some yellow shoes that spark joy, I'll keep them around. 

 The day of the lime cardigan was an incredibly windy day! 

I went to a 50% off winter clothing sale at Savers in one of these outfits...I don't recall which one now. I only found 2 cardigans for myself...but I spotted the most adorable red cashmere cherry cardigan for Kate! 

 Limes! I also have a dress in this pattern. Love. 

Please note: My vintage Miriam Haskell necklace has lemons on it, click on the picture to enlarge. 

Take Me To Church

 Dress: Sketch Scarf V-Neck Dress by Spruce & Sage (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Talbots

Tights: Catherines

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Doc Marten

Pin & Bracelet: Vintage

Earring: Me

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this outfit to church. I adore the fun 70s retro feel of this purple scarf-like print faux wrap dress...you know, since purple has become one of my favorite colors. I wish it were a few inches longer & that pin was necessary as this neckline needed more help than just a safety pin could provide. Super Boo liked it on me so much that I bought it, so I am going to add a snap so it stays closed.  The material is rather thin, so it will be wearable in summer as well paired with teggings. I especially like how these multi-striped socks bring all the shades of purple together. 

The story of what brought me to church is not about clothes, so the clothing talk ends here. 

I grew up Catholic, but haven't gone to church in years & certainly not on my own...without family obligations. My attendance in church on this day was for a purpose. It will be 3 years in March that my best friend from high school took his life. Shane had a strong psychic connection to the people he loved...he would see images of everyday things they were doing & he would sense when something wasn't right. He shared these thoughts with me often enough that I had no choice but to believe he had this gift. So when his cousin told me their family had been getting signs from him, which included the song, Take Me To Church...I believed them. I had had some signs lately too which has never happened to me before. 

I'm not sure I believe in heaven, but it's a nice idea. Shane didn't have strong beliefs either when he was alive, but perhaps he knows something more now. In any case, Gregory & I took him to church. The regular service was extremely moving & their Saturday night service is a candlelit one at the end. When it was over Pastor Jeff (a former Catholic priest) took us up on the alter & had us place Shane there & asked us who Shane was & is. He took the time to listen to us & try to understand, total strangers to him. Pastor Jeff blessed Shane's ashes in a lovely touching ceremony that involved both Gregory & I. It felt peaceful. It felt...right. 

I wore this fleur-de-lis earring that I made because Shane adored this emblem & it has come to symbolize him; the pin is one he gave me as a gift long ago; & the bracelet was my paternal grandmother's, but I wouldn't have it any longer if not for Shane...he rescued it from beneath the sand in Lake Superior hours after the waves had buried it. That was another one of his special gifts, going out of his way to make those he loved happy.


I miss you, Shane. I hope all of us taking you to church has helped. I hope you're happy & that I get to hear your amazing laughter again...someday. 

Black, White, & Purple

 Dress: Chevron Printed Fit & Flare Dress by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Talbots (found at Savers)

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Dansko 

Necklace & Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Earring: etXarte

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this outfit to work. This dress is the perfect winter weight & I adore the fit & flare style. And what a fun pattern! I also enjoyed the texture. While it's a lot of white for me, the 60s vibe made it totally work. Taylor Dresses runs big, so I size down one in this brand. My only complaint about this dress is a GB issue...they seem to get dresses, then keep them around on hangers for a while before releasing them...so if you are the first person to get a heavier dress, it has weird shoulder bumps...which I am sure go away after a laundering. I have already closeted this dress again to wear with other colors...perhaps orange.

I love these purple textured socks. 

I clearly need more purple jewelry. 

When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple (but not with a red hat)

 Dress: Eggplant Print dress by Jessica Howard (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month for $10 & help me earn an extra garment for a month)

Cardigan: Talbots (3x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Dansko 

Necklace: Jody McGill

Earrings: The Gilded Gypsies

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this purple outfit to work & run errands with Super Boo. I don't wear a lot of purple...why?! I loved this Jessica Howard dress & am wondering, yet again...why didn't I buy it?! Like all dresses from this brand, it bunched up in the middle of the collar which is always annoying & there was a pointless zipper up the back. Also, it ran a tad smaller than any of the other Jessica Howard dresses I've had & I wished it weren't so clingy. Hmmm, I guess I know why I didn't buy it. However...the color, print, and fit & flare cut were amazing & if it ever shows up in the GB Shop for $20, it will be mine! 

How amazing is this cardigan?? I found it at Savers for $5 ($99 retail)! I've been looking for a purple cardigan just this shade, & there it was. It's from Talbots & the Merino wool is soooo soft & warm. And speaking of bargains...I found the Dansko shoes I'm wearing at a garage sale last summer for either $2 or $4. 

Look how nicely the socks & cardigan go together. The stone in the necklace is also dark purple.