Merchant // Handel's Messiah // JD McPherson: A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Tour

Dress: Long-Sleeve V-Neck Textured Midi Dress by Printer Johnson via Nuuly 

Tights: ?

Shoes: Fluevog, Super Fine: Cardinal 

Earrings: Kerala Rose

Necklace: Green Goddess Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

In our dark warmly lit house, I thought this dress was black at first. It's amazing most of my outfits match as I'm picking pieces blindly. This dress was a great fit, deep-v neckline front & back, pockets, form fitting ruched waist with gold metallic textured bits sprinkled all over. Slightly big, could have sized down from a medium to a small. 

I don't love the way I styled this dress the second time...I liked it better when I went with black jewelry.

I should have went with navy or gold tights...or black if I'd stuck with black accessories. 

Immediately following a haircut...

The first time I wore this dress...I had my second & final appointment with Mar to finish up the filler leaves on my left calf. As you can see, I wore a black & leopard dress at the studio as I didn't want tattoo ink or blood to get on the white parts of this dress. 

Aren't these leave luscious?! Mar does the best leaves.

More acorns too...my left lower leg is complete. 

Back at home...I changed to go out with David...isn't he fancy? Wearing one of his new gold shirts he picked up at The Sophisticated Man. And me thinking we were both wearing black & gold outfits. 

Dinner & drinks at Merchant. To begin, Gingerbread Manhattan (Limousin rye whiskey, gingerbread Coca Cola syrup, cynar, Bittercube orange bitters) & Christmas Mai Tai (Alander spiced rum, Plantation white rum, pistachio orgeat, orange cranberry syrup, Peychaud's bitters). The Christmas decorations are tame compared to their sister restaurant next door, Lucille. David showing off his cufflinks. 

A little happy hour bar snack, French fries with black pepper aioli, followed by a Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich for David (Napa cabbage slaw, jalapeño crema, pickled vegetables, black pepper aioli, fresh herbs, brioche bun) & I had to have Friday Fish Fry (wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish, cornichon tartar sauce, marble rye bread, braised red cabbage, potato salad with giardiniera aioli & scallions). Merchant used to have a terrific fish fry before they remodeled (& got a new chef)...this was one of the worst I've ever had. We told our waiter & he removed it from our bill. Why, Merchant? Second round of cocktails...

Winter Paloma (Lunazul tequila, pomegranate, ginger honey syrup, lime juice, ginger beer) & Something in the Orange (barrel aged gin, orange cranberry syrup, citrus). Finally, we shared a Winter Squash Risotto (roasted squash, roasted brussels sprouts, Sartori parmesan, shaved brussels & fried sage salad, sherry vinaigrette, crispy pepitas). The risotto was yummy & welcome after the fish flop. After dinner...we went over to Bethel Lutheran Church for Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's (good thing I looked at my ticket so we didn't show up at Overture) Handel's Messiah. Packed house...& there was a harpsichord on stage! 
A few dinners...the usual & this chicken sheet pan recipe we've been loving with brussels & lemon. This is my drain situation...I carried these 3 drains around for a month, then 2, & I've *still* got 1 in for over 2! months now. I never imagined. My thighs retained a lot of fluid from surgery. I just want my body back & to belong to me...I'm at the hospital once a week & carrying this bag of drains around & trying to dress without it showing...it really gets me feeling terrible about my body & I hate that. Soon. The one thing that has helped me get through this is my lymphatic massage person/friend, Courtney. I took this photo at her office. I see her once a week & she helps with the fluid draining & works to loosen my scars up. She's also been incredibly supportive emotionally & I appreciate her honesty in telling me her opinion even when it's not what I want to hear. Later that day...David & I had a meeting at Capital Ketamine for an introduction & tour, then I walked next door to get a haircut from Sigrid...& David & I went to Olbrich Gardens for these outfit photos.

That night...Stoughton Opera House with my girlie to see JD McPherson presents A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Tour.

Christmas stage & the opening act, Joel Paterson...

I'd seen JD McPherson at The Shitty Barn in the summer & he put on an amazing show...this one was even better. He seemed to be having more fun with his band & wasn't as awkward interacting with the audience...perhaps the intimacy of the barn was intimidating to him & the stage removes him a bit? He has a Christmas album of original songs & he played those interspersed with regular tunes. I'd go see him anytime he comes around...great energy & fun music. 

 

The Merry Wives of Windsor // Midwest Vintage Flea

Dress: Mustard, Red, & Black Vintage Dress

Tights: Snag

Boots: Fluevog, Angels: Lucky

Earring: etXarte

All other jewelry: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I love this stretchy vintage dress I found at Elkhorn over the summer...just the right mix of cute & casual, great fit. I rarely try vintage on & just go by measurements...you really can't go by size on vintage as today's vanity sizing makes us all seem smaller than we really are...so all those Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 mean nothing...she would be a modern size 6. 

My shiny red Docs were the wrong shade for this dress (it's a warmer red), but these higher Fluevog boots were perfect. 

And those mustard Snag tights make me happy...

All the gold chains...why not? We found that longer Miriam Haskell necklace at Elkhorn this past summer & this is my first time wearing it.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Clinique liquid liner in black, Carnelian & Agate eyeshadow from Natasha Denona, Urban Decay lipliner in 714, Bang & No-Tell Motel lipstick by UD, & OPI nail polish in Art Walk in Suzi's Shoes.

I first wore this dress to our last outdoor APT play of the season...it was too chilly to picnic, so I made us food at home first.

The Merry Wives of Windsor, closing night. 

Kate & Jason. Not only was it closing night for this play, but the final up the hill performance of the year. They had a little party on stage at the end. This was a fantastic play...hilarious, wonderful acting, fabulous energy, & amazing costumes. 

The second time I wore this dress was to the fall Midwest Vintage Flea...so many colors & patterns. This seller was wearing my favorite dress I saw all day...& I told her so. 

That gorgeous orange coat was $800, so it stayed there for someone else...but, orange! This show is always so much fun...one of the dealers asked me if I was a dealer...they said I was giving off that vibe...I hope that's a good thing? I was recently told that a lot of vintage vendors are former (& current) alcoholics & drug addicts. 

Sal's in Sun Prairie for a late lunch/early dinner...I ordered Amelia (vodka, elderflower, blackberry, lime) & David got a Pillar of Autumn (Tattersall sour cherry, rum, Aperol lemon, bitters)...when they came, I remarked that mine looked more autumnal. We both loved the Pillar of Autumn so much, that we each ordered it...& that's when we discovered the waitress had the drinks mixed up in the first place & we had gotten each other's...so much for only having 2 cocktails...she gave us those for free & brought us the correct ones. And then there was food...calamari to start, followed by Rigatoni Bolognese for me (Well's Farm beef ragu, house-made rigatoni pasta, whipped ricotta, parsley)...& for David...

Fat Uncle Tony (Wisconsin mozzarella, red sauce, Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni, fresh basil) with the addition of uncured pepperoni. It was all delicious, as usual. 

Our finds from the flea...

We bought from a variety of vendors, but we found the most at Everyday Ejiji, & her stuff was incredibly reasonably priced.

As you can see, I have a rule when I buy vintage...PATTERNS!

I normally stay away from red, white, & blue...but this stretchy polyester suit was too good to pass up.

That last shirt with the grapes was a woman's shirt, but fit David...so he was able to get one thing. It seems the popular men's vintage is flannel, jeans, & t-shirt...we wish there were more fun patterned disco shirts. 

 

Everyday Is Halloween

Dress: Midnight Dreamscape Bat Dress by Modcloth

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Classy: Nora

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I bought this dress nearly 2 years ago during an end of year sale at Modcloth. I had no idea what size I'd end up being, so I got a medium & it was a good guess. I wish it didn't have the white Peter Pan collar, but otherwise it's a fun frock with pockets. 

My first wearing of these Fluevogs...which had the proper witchy vibe.

I'm posting this dress out of order since I wore it 3 times in October, including on Halloween...& even though Everyday is Halloween...I wanted it to be seasonally appropriate here. 

I think my bat necklace would have been overkill...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Clinique liquid liner in Black, Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions eyeshadow palette, Bang lipliner & lipstick by Urban Decay, Clockwork lipstick from Sugarpill Cosmetics, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Fantastic!

I first wore this dress the beginning of October to work & thrifting...

I love looking through these thrifting photos because I've forgotten which items I bought. 

I was especially happy that I got the rose gold sweater dress since it's so different from anything else I have. It was a Monday...so my orange tagged items were 1/2 price. 

I picked up my cutting board from the epoxy class Kate & I took. It's pretty, but I was disappointed that the purple I added of Kate's disappeared. I wore this dress a second time Halloween weekend...first, dinner...slow cooked pork ribs, roasted squash & garlic, & cooked apples with apple pie spices...all farmers' market meal. 10pm comedy show...Christina P...both she & her female opener were funny...we hadn't heard of her before, but we try to listen to all the comedians that come to Comedy on State. 

I tried a Mother Inferior off the featured cocktail menu, while David had a Mango Tango. 2 drink minimum...round 2, David got a Painkiller & I had a Mudslide. 

My camera phone wasn't working, so she was already off the stage before I managed to snap a photo. Earlier that day, I picked up some moisturizers I was out of at Aniu. I also wore this dress on Halloween, but I only went to work that day. 

 

Our Town // Joshua Hedley

Dress: Desired Dress in Picnic Print by Effie's Heart

Shoes: Born, thrifted

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earrings & Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Kitschy fun. I go on a lot of picnics in the warmer months...so when I saw this dress on Effie's Heart...I had to have it. This is a size small, I'm typically a medium, but EH is so stretchy that anywhere in the S-L range is just fine. This is the only dress I've ever had in this style...I like it...wide spaced straps could stay on or off the shoulder, folded over at the sweetheart bust line, great flared skirt, pockets.  

It was a rainy day in Spring Green, so the light was difficult...we headed to The Shitty Barn even though there was a show...it was early enough that it wasn't crowded. 

I feel like I needed a pie to hold with this dress.

This was my first time wearing these sandals I thrifted.

I adore how these big round earrings go with this Wendy bubble necklace...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions eyeshadow palette, 714 lipliner from Urban Decay, Head in the Clouds lipstick by MAC, & Colors by Llarowe nail polish in The Mighty Red Baron. 

I first wore this dress to go to American Players Theatre with David...where I made us a picnic. We tried to go to Wander Provisions, but we were having some terrible luck finding them open. 

We set up our dinner under the shelter so we didn't get rained on...

I made us my version of Alison Roman's Cobb Salad (just lots of extra veggies). It was delicious. Oh, no...2 intermissions means double our chances of leaving. We didn't though...they did an excellent version of Our Town at APT...& the last 3rd is the best part. Corset detailing on the back of my Betsey Johnson leopard raincoat. 

We only got lightly sprinkled on during the show...

The next morning...farmers' market...where a vendor was selling Chinese Lantern bunches...I had just thrown mine away from ~decade ago. And David buying me real flowers. 

Cardoon (they have an artichoke-like flavor). Back at home...

The second time I wore this dress was to go to The Shitty Barn...but first, dinner. I roasted a pan of the veggies we had in the fridge & served them with Kimchi Shrimp. 

At the barn for my final show of the season...these Wander Provision chocolate chip cookies are my favorite...I could have eaten the entire tray. 

I was excited to see Joshua Hedley...from the front row, naturally. 

He played old fashioned country music & was a good storyteller. He lives in Nashville & has been working at Robert's for 20 years. All day long their stage has musicians on it & they play classic country favorites. My mom & I went there the first time I went to Nashville. This was an excellent closing show for me. See you next year, barn!