2 Girlies, 1 Rachel Pally Dress

 Dress: Lorna Dress in Rosette Print by Rachel Pally (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, offer ending in October)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Clarks

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Earring: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Kate, Jason, & Me (iPhone)

I wore this outfit to work & to have photos taken with the girlie. The colors in this dress were amazing & the fabric was such a lovely soft jersey knit. I liked the color placement of the dress I had more so than that of Kate's...no surprise I'd prefer more oranges near my face. I'd say this dress fit true to size as I could have used a 4x (had it been available)...although it still would have been too short to wear without teggings. 

 It looks so different on Kate...she also tied her sash around back. 

 I don't recall what we were laughing about...

 Kate is wearing Kale around her neck. 

I'm wearing a necklace with a man riding a penny farthing. It is an antique French celluloid silhouette brooch...or it was once upon a time...now it safely resides inside this locket. 

2 Work Outfits (July 24th & 25th)

Dresses: Side Ruched Sheath Dress (left) by London Times (size 24); Tiana Maxi Dress by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month (this offer ends in October)

Sandals: Born (green) & Clarks (red)
Jewelry (left): Earring from ebay; Necklace, gift from S. Boo; (right): Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this London Times dress to work. The pops of color were delightful...but there was too much white for me...I am so predictable. This dress had shoulder pads. Just think about that for a minute. I haven't worn an item of clothing with shoulder pads since 1987. This dress could not have gone out in public on me without the leggings...the wrap part of the skirt exposed a lot of thigh when sitting down. 

However, my blue nails from the day before were a match, as well as the door to our office building (which also contains too much white).

I wore this maxi to work, SWAP, & to a garage sale. The fabric on this dress was not up to Igigi's usual standards & it felt boxy on me. It had pockets & also came with a solid blue sash that I wish I had remembered to wear. It was incredibly comfortable & I felt like I was wearing a nightgown all day...if only it hadn't looked the part. Also, not a fan of the pattern. Picky picky! 

I wonder why SWAP hasn't been able to sell these fascinating books? SWAP (Surplus with a Purpose) sells items UW & other state offices no longer want. We like to check it out & have found many interesting items over the years. 

Church Rummage Sale finds. 20 Nancy Drew books...I used to love these as a young girl! And 2 Mary statues for the garden. 

David bought me this acorn necklace after a psychic declared it my symbol of letting good things into my life & heart. I have seen a psychic one & only time shortly after my best friend from high school committed suicide. I went with a group of his family & friends & it was a really incredible experience. 

I bought this jewelry myself because I liked it...it has no story. 

Concerts on the Square

Dress: Tropical Leaf Print Jersey Maxi Dress by Yours Clothing via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment, this offer ends in October)

Sandals: Dansko

Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Kate & Me (iPhone)

I wore this tropical maxi to work & to picnic with my girlies. Luckily, this dress arrived at my door brand new. Kate had it the same time I did & she said the second time she wore it, the pilling had already begun. The fabric was cheap, thin, & there was a seam right down the middle...also, the larger than necessary armholes showed off a bit of my bra. Kate seems to think this problem could be solved if I just got a nude bra, but I have never owned a nude bra...why start now?? So, that's a lot of negatives for something I had such fun wearing...but, as is the beauty of GB, it was just one time. I loved the bright print in colors & pattern I would never purchase, the maxi was a perfect length for me, & the neckline & cut were both flattering. 

Furthermore...this maxi matched this newly painted wall!

Plan B, a gay nightclub, asked Baltimore artist, Michael Owen, to paint one of his LOVE murals on the side of their building. He is the artist & creator of The Baltimore Love Project. 

Kate modeling a London Times dress...this is how a tropical maxi should be done! Oh, it felt so luxurious...I was full of envy & sad it was never sent to me. 

Olive LOVES Concerts on the Square! She takes after me & is quite the people watcher. 

Concerts on the Square take place on our capitol lawn...for 6 Wednesday evenings in the summer, The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra plays beautiful music for the 20,000 people that gather there. Many of them start spreading their blankets on the lawn as soon as it is allowed at 3pm. We sit just across the street with the less serious people who like to talk...if you dare talk on the lawn, you are shushed. 

Picnic! I made us artichoke hummus wraps with veggie slaw & Kate brought the most essential thing...sparkling summer wine!

Witness our selfie endeavor. I'm impressed I kept my tongue mostly in my mouth. 

Olive the attack pit bull. She made a friend. A Southern gentleman came & sat with her for a while & got lots of kisses & photos...when he left us, he said, "thank you for letting me have company with your dog." Charming. 

Kate noticed, through a photo on Facebook, that our friend Anne was also at concert...we commented & she came to visit & also snapped this shot of all 3 of us. 

This dress also allowed me the opportunity to finally wear this seashell filled vintage watchcase necklace.

The Art of Framing

I'm posting 2 outfits here, neither which I felt really worked for me. Trying to catch up on blog posts!

 Top: Abida Wrap Tank in Poppy Red by Mynt 1792 via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, free month offer is ending in October)

Skirt: Enwrapture Vintage (enter my 1 year blogaversary giveaway to win a new sari skirt)

Sandals: Dansko

Necklace: Antique Locket

Earring: Me

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this outfit to run some errands. I hated this top. Hated. The color was lovely. Otherwise, I was not a fan of this, why is it sooooo heavy? top. Its thick, heavy, scratchy, polyester fabric was not meant to be worn in the summertime. Also, $118?! Go look for yourself, I linked to it above. But, I got to wear one of my fabulous sari skirts, so that made me happy. 

We took the art that we purchased at The Art Fair on the Square to Michael's to be framed. The above two prints are for my office. We had the most knowledgable woman helping us...she got our esthetic right away & pulled out the fillets (that decorative molding next to the print) & just the right shade & texture mats. I squeed with delight! 

Above is why I love Super Boo so...we have fun together no matter what we are doing. I'll whip him up a toga, & he's ready for the bacchanalia. 

Dress: Floral Print Dress by Yours Clothing via GB

Leggings: Roamans

Sandals: Fluevogs

Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this to work & to drop by my favorite store, Sephora. This dress was entirely too short to leave the house without leggings & the cut was not flattering for me. And those pastel colors...blah, not my thing. 

But, new blush! Luster by Nars. My favorite chick, Be, was working at Sephora & she suggested this hue...she also color matched me for lipsticks & applied a few gorgeous shades on me. I took selfies of my face...but I don't have that art down. I am trying out a new moisturizer by Caudalie in hopes of finding my holy grail cream. 

1 Year Blogaversary Giveaway!

On September 5th, The Muffin Queen's Closet will turn 1! To celebrate this milestone, I will be giving away a vintage silk sari skirt from Enwrapture Vintage.  I have over 60 of these in my own closet & have many more still in bags with their tags attached. You've seen me wear these skirts here many times:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Igigi: Urban Jungle 2014

When the lovely Vivi posted this photo on my Girls of GB Facebook page, I was in love. This Dominique Dress in Emerald Escape from Igigi is perfect in every way...from my favorite color, green, to the 40s inspired print. Vintage glamour. And Vivi styled this dress so elegantly. Wander over to her marvelous blog, Style or Else, to see more photos & a review. I need this dress in my life. 

My other 2 favorites from Igigi's fall line are also vintage inspired. These 3 dresses will be mine...I need more Deco prints in my closet. I am excited for my favorite season, autumn! 

The wonderful thing about Igigi garments is they last FOREVER. I have dresses that are over a decade old hanging in my closet that still look brand new when I wear them. Also, I feel sexy & confident in Igigi. When I had to choose a dress to wear to my grad school interview, it was Igigi. 

I'm sorry I was missing so much of August. I was busy studying all month for the national exam of marriage & family therapists. It was a grueling 4 hour test of 200 questions. I should find out by Halloween if I passed. 

This little blog of mine turns 1 on Friday...stay tuned for a giveaway!

Girlie Bra Shopping

 Dress: Knot Front Dress in Mixed Yellow Dots by Lucie Lu via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month. Note: free month offer will be ending soon.)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Dansko

Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Kate & Me (iPhone)

I wore this dotty dress to spend the day with my girlie...going to farmers' market & shopping. I think you already know I have a thing for these flattering a-line sweetheart boob-a-licious dresses from Lucie Lu. This is another one I picked up brand new from GB during a 50% off sale...$15! I always have to size up 1 in Lucie Lu, so this is the 5x. It's lined & hangs just right on me. I am excited to transition these comfortable adorable dresses into autumn/winter with cardigans & fun socks. 

Do you notice...one thing is not like the other? My right upper arm is 3 inches larger than the left. My arms look like a before & after photo. 

Forward! Marching Band & The Raging Grannies...as seen at The Dane County Farmers' Market. 

Kate wearing this autumnal colored floral dress that has been in my GB closet since the day I joined. It's my unicorn. So pretty on her!

 Mediterranean lunch at Nile was full of delicious. 

Kate & I got fitted for bras at Contours Lingerie. I was shocked to find out I am a 46 DD!!  I've worn exclusively Lane Bryant bras for the last 2 decades & I wear a 46C there. They had a larger selection than I was expecting in my size. I ended up getting the red one pictured above. It was the first one I tried on & it fit the best. 

Kate got a couple of bras because hers were all getting too big on her. She purchased neither of those pictured, I just liked the colors on those 2. Orange! Purple! Pretty! 

Next stop...Target. Kate got several new belts & I admired myself in this precious sunhat. 

Kate tried on everything at Lands' End...& looked stunning in all of it. What a fun girlie shopping day we had!