Falling in Love with Beauty

Dress: Keyhole Green Fit & Flare Dress by eShakti (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee

Leggings: LuLaRoe (TC2)

Sandals: Croft & Barrow, thrifted

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was such a gorgeous shade of green, perfect for my newly dyed summer red head...but it needed the oomph of a pattern & I thought these leggings were perfect...my second choice was black leggings with avocados on them...but not enough color. Great fit & length on the dress, especially the armholes...& nice deep pockets. The neck was too high for me for a summer dress...this could transition well into the cooler months with a cardigan. 

We first tried taking these photos in front of our garage...but the light was too dappled at the end of the day...so we sought out some color at graffiti alley. 

My first wearing of this necklace from bel monili, discovered through Wendy Baker...the flower jewelry designers have to stick together. 

My make-up with this outfit included...ColourPop eyeliner in Workout, NYX Avant Pop palette, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fireball, Violet Voss Sparkling Cherry Limeade palette, Mimosa lipstick by Bite Beauty, Dozen Carnations lipstick from MAC, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going To The Game? 

I watched a bit of Caroline Spence (who I'd never heard of) via The Americana Music Association Facebook page...she has that sweet little girlie voice that I adore...although I'm sure that doesn't sound like a compliment, but I can't think of a better way to describe it. Dan Rodriguez playing online...I hope I get to see him at The Shitty Barn some day. And of course...we spent 4th of July weekend watching Hamilton. I'd seen a pirated copy of the original cast version, but I've never seen the play live. Yet. 

Sean Hayes & Bret Helm from Audra playing live on Facebook...& several times a week I tune into Bad Seed Teevee & I've seen so many amazing live performances & videos from Nick Cave...he's a living legend & I'm sad the girlie & I won't be seeing him in Milwaukee this fall. But I'm so very lucky that I've been able to see him live more times than any other artist. 

Some new summer earrings from Shawna at Kerala Rose...I'm not sure why...but her earrings scream summer to me. 

Look what I'm getting!!! I found Tracey Bellion last year when I was looking up ideas on how to chalk paint my make-up vanity...I was instantly in love with her quirky whimsical style. But I never dreamed I would own anything painted by her. She posted this marvelous mirror last week & I couldn't stop thinking about it...so I inquired & for her to paint & ship it to me was much more affordable than I would have guessed. So she's going to gaudy it up for me & I'm going to hang it in my office above my jewelry chest. I'm in love. I need to fall in love with beauty every day or I feel empty. 

Arms & the Man

Dress: Clock Print Rose Dress by Unique Vintage (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Naturalizer, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was on its way to me & it was only $4...so I thought...it would at least make a cute nightgown...so I bought it before it got here. It's all kinds of awkward...with the neck tie thing just ending at the seam, the pouffy sleeves with a cuff...but totally cute for a wear out...then to bed. The length & fit were good, with the exception of the sleeves being too tight. The dress was unlined & the fabric comfortable. 

Of course...you know my boobs are not going to fit into the sewn in chest area without a bra on...they'll be down in the waist area. 

I have two mauve bracelets that matched this dress quite nicely...& I mixed a lipstick to coordinate. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion; UD eyeshadow in Hell Ride, Wildheart, Breakaway, & Stranded; Bite Beauty lipstick in Spiced Plum & Spritzer; & Sonora Sunset nail polish by OPI. 

More online entertainment...The Lowest Pair, Stephanie Blythe & Anthony Roth Costanzo from the Metropolitan Opera singing a fabulous ukulele version of The Rainbow Connection for Pride month, Milton playing guitar & singing...& finally an American Players Theatre at home performance of Shaw's Arms & the Man. They've been doing some fun things from home that I've really enjoyed. Perhaps I need to pack a picnic & watch their next offering outside. 

Carsie Blanton was part of an online festival...so I had to watch...Vance Gilbert was also on at the same time...so I discovered a new artist I like. Friday nights with Sean Hayes, farmers' market pick-up, & a bit of Jake 'O, who was playing to a live audience.

Carsie's monthly rent party for her band & Charlie Parr with a band & bare feet. 

Davina testing out some new software for going live, Tracey painting up a pretty layering of stripes...she is one of my favorite chalk paint artists to watch...Matt DJ-ing an entire set of Depeche Mode...it was fantastic & a few songs made me cry. Later that night...a tree fell on Davina & her husband's car & she went live as she checked it out. 

Make Music Madison...The 1st Day of Summer

Dress: Lady Bug Print Navy Fit & Flare Dress by Unique Vintage (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Earring: former Etsy shop

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I'm a sucker for cutesy dresses, even though it wasn't easy to tell these were ladybugs unless you were up close. The fit was good, but the length was a bit short. Nice vibrant colors...super easy & comfortable summer dress. 

I guess this is my early 4th of July ensemble...red, white, & blue represent. 

This is my first time wearing this red bubble necklace since Wendy fixed it for me earlier this year. I've missed it, but it was good to push myself to choose other necklaces.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Deep Blue, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Half Baked & Urb, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions palette, Santa Sangre lipstick from Kat von D, & A Kiss on the Chic nail polish by OPI. 

The Lowest Pair...I just love them. And a Juneteenth message from Stacey Abrams...& some music on that day from Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn...& Sean Hayes dedicated his radio hour to doing covers of black musicians who've inspired him. 

My hair is looking so raggedy...I chopped at it a bit again...but it's not really helping. Pick up from farmers' on Saturdays look like this...first stop, Young Earth at the park & ride...then on to Dane County market. I really miss walking around...looking at all the beautiful produce...but this is what my knee is up to this year anyway. At the 2 week mark for my knee shot...it feels *slightly* better...as in I don't have to cry out in pain quite as much...so that's a good sign? Amanda Palmer picked the best place in the world to get stuck during quarantine...she's living life in Covid-free New Zealand...playing & singing at a local farmers' market. Seeing all the people in a group watching her, without the need for masks...gave me hope. And made me hate our country. 

Apparently, Old Crow Medicine Show has been doing a weekly Hartland Hootenanny during the entire quarantine...I happened to catch it on the week they had JD Wilkes as their guest, yay! BLT wraps with green onions for lunch...delicious. Every year on the first day of summer...Make Music Madison happens...all over the city, musicians play...outside, at venues, in your backyard...I watched several of them.

I was also fortunate to be online at the exact time that Mary Lou Lord decided to go live...she will often pop on & do just one song...so it's easy to miss. And she doesn't keep the video up for later viewing. Pokey! His music is amazing & I try to always catch him when he plays. 

I was at home doing teletherapy when David went over to Kate's old apartment to help relocate her 1,000+ bottles of wine to our bomb shelter...which David is now calling the bomb cellar. This is part of her collection...

They loaded up the big truck 3 times...& there is still more to go. Socially distanced wine moving...I never even got to see Kate. 

But! We did open a bottle of her wine that night to drink before dinner...it was lovely. Soren from Them Coulee Boys was playing on an online show...& I had a listen. Also, Davina & the Vagabonds played a show together in Minneapolis...I missed it live, but caught it later when they replayed it. Fantastic! I know I've said it before...but music is the only thing keeping me sane right now. I've been feeling pretty depressed lately & I've been trying to pull myself out of it...but I just miss life. But there's still music. 

Ice Cream Wonderland

Dress: Ice Cream Wonderland Teal Dress by Eva Rose (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Totally cutesy spring dress with ice cream cones & castles. Unfortunately, this came to me fairly worn & pilled...but where am I going? It was fine to wear around the house & was super soft like a nightgown, but the fabric was too heavy for that. The fit on the dress was good, but even if it had been brand new...the color & designs on this dress were not things I loved...another dress I'd go thrifting in. 

This dress needed some fun...so colorful jewelry to the rescue. 

There was an eyeshadow in this fun size palette that exactly matched this dress...not sure if you can see it here as it is just on my lids...but it made me extremely happy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug; Sugarpill Cosmetics eyeshadow in Cheat Code, 8-Bit, High Score, & Rage Quit; Mon Ennui Cosmetics eyeshadow in Lumiere; Big Bang lipstick & lip liner by UD; & J'adore My Mani nail polish from Morgan Taylor. 

Every Sunday I've been enjoying listening to Bret Helm (from Audra) play his epic sessions on Facebook. He gives away a few prizes each week to people who buy merchandise or tip. When this came in the mail...it was a total surprise (he already had my address from buttons I had purchased). I might have teared up I was so touched by it. 

I've been mooning over these earring stands for several years...& I finally decided to buy myself some. I had wanted to make my own...but you know how that goes. Holly from Holly Deer Designs was so lovely & she sent along a ring holder that reminds me of a unicorn horn as a gift. Two stunning new necklaces (with matching gifted earrings) from Gayle at Green Goddess. 

Bret Helm playing tunes, my Boxy Charm box, & Erika brought her husband Aaron along to take measurements for our gate. 

Picking up our produce from farmers' market, some knit fabric to make leggings with, & a memory from 2 years ago...Fredi & Shane...I was lucky to have them in my life. 

Michael, our landlord at work, sent me this Facebook Marketplace golden vase listing...so of course David & I drove 3 hours roundtrip to pick it up...it's nearly 4 feet tall. And then we were visited by Angie & Freddie.

Look! Bricks!

Blue Ox at Home

Dress: Embroidery Detail Navy Floral Midi Dress by eShakti (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Born

Earring & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Necklace: The Embellishing Room

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

What a comfy cute spring dress. The fit & length were great, the armholes didn't show off my bra, & the pockets were big enough to hold my phone. The waist is empire, which is my preferred style...I'm fat enough & old enough that no one thinks I'm pregnant. The embroidered flowers suggested autumn to me & I liked how they continued on the back...I am so sad when the back gets no love. This is a heavy t-shirt like cotton fabric which would be too warm for summer, also, it wrinkles easily. This is a dress I'd go garage sale-ing in or run errands...I'd also wear this to roast hot dogs over a fire at night. In other words...it's a jeans & t-shirt dress for a woman who wears only dresses. 

I would have normally worn teggings or leggings with this dress, but on this day, David & I drove up to Appleton (where my doctor moved) so I could finally get a PRP shot for my knee. It seemed like easier access to have an uncovered leg...they didn't even make me take my clothes off. 

I thought the autumnal colors in this dress matched our garage well enough that we could just take pictures in front of it...I was too impatient to wait for the light to be right. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; UD eyeshadow in Ignite, Wanderlust, & Blaze; UD lipstick in Heat; NYX lipliner in Pumpkin, & OPI nail polish in Deutsch You Want Me Baby? 

Bret Helm of Audra, playing his regular Sunday gig on Facebook. Since New West records sent me a black vinyl version of this Pokey record & were sold out of pink...I found a carnation copy online in nearby Milwaukee from The Exclusive Co...which we used to have two of in Madison, & now have none. Erika visited the house to measure the gate she is designing for us & we laid out some of the pieces that will be welded on it. 

BenDeLaCreme performing a song about Uranus. Getting my PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shot...I have to wait 6-12 weeks to see if it works since it needs time to heal the area. I really hope it works & I am able to do simple things like walk & make dinner. I will never take those things for granted again. 

Some years back...Kate & Jason went to Blue Ox in Eau Claire & camped in the rain...while there were many awesome bands playing...I'm not a camping, outdoor, hippy kind of girl. So I was thrilled when they announced they were taking the festival online. I might have missed this first group if Kate had not let me know she was watching & they were good...Lillie Mae out of Nashville, TN. Cute girls in sequins. And then I caught up on David Huckfelt (of The Pines) that I had missed earlier. 

I ordered some samples of fabrics that we liked for dining & living room curtains...& they all came at once...these are some we like so far. I have since ordered *more* samples.

More from Blue Ox...Pit Wagon, Pert Near Sandstone, & Molly Tuttle (who was the best of the 3). 

Saturday I picked up produce from Young Earth in a parking lot...then headed over to Dane County Farmers' Market for more deliciousness. On to day 2 of Blue Ox...Them Coulee Boys are always amazing...

Sam Bush, Charlie Parr, Warren Haynes, & finally...Nickel & Rose, from Milwaukee...who were joined by their friends, SistaStrings. I want these 4 to tour together because they were my favorite set of the weekend.