Merry Christmas

Dress: Saratoga Dress in Giverny Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Circus by Sam Edelman via eBay 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace, Pin, & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I was thrilled to have this red Effie's Heart dress at home to wear for Christmas. And also happy that there appear to be more & more EH cold weather dresses available. I mean, I know I can add a cardigan to sleeveless dresses, but it seems silly to do so when the print & colors are so obviously meant for warmer temperatures. This dress was a fabulous fit & length...with pockets & a twirly skirt. This was my first time wearing a Saratoga Dress & it had a feature I haven't seen on an EH dress, the sleeves had ~6" cuffs that were tighter than the rest of the sleeve, but not that noticeable in photos. 

The neckline on this dress was extremely shallow...I prefer a bit more plunge...but this would be a great work dress for that reason. 

I decided to add this vintage Christmas Tree pin to my cameo necklace chain. My grandma gave this to me when I was very young & I don't often wear it because I forget about it during the appropriate time of year. Perhaps next year, assuming we are leaving the house again, I'll put it on my coat for the month of December. Can I be that organized? 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion; Kat von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper; Alchemy, Sonic, & Last Sin eyeshadow by UD; Auburn lip pencil from MAC; NYX lipstick in Alabama; & Lost on Lombard nail polish by OPI.

A sweet note on our salmon from Anna, the meat lady at the co-op. Michael Waite singing holiday songs with his family. Advent Calendar day #22...I remember loving this one. 

The final 2 days of the calendar...a larger perfume with a matching case. Of course...I never made smelling notes on any of the fragrances I sprayed on me all month long...I'll have to do it all over again. It was lovely wearing fragrance every day at home & trying new things. David & I thoroughly enjoyed Jinkx & Dela's Holiday Special...enough that it will join our collection of shows we watch in December. This year we also viewed A Christmas Carol (1938), Jack Frost (1st & only time), & Remember the Night (1940, 1st time, it will go into rotation). A surprise Christmas Eve performance by Glenn Crytzer of wonderful Christmas songs...including many originals. It was great because they were drinking boozy eggnog & were much funnier than usual. 

Kate sent me these 3 photos from her TimeHop on Christmas...15 years ago...David is so young. 8 years ago...the wine she picked out for our Christmas celebration. 

From my TimeHop...8 years ago, Sadie was a new dog! And our Polish Feast...I made golabki (stuffed cabbage rolls) & Angie & I made pierogis...potato cheddar & potato with homemade sauerkraut. So delicious. And 6 years ago...the girlie & I in matching dresses. 

I video chatted with Kate shortly after poking myself in the eye with eyeliner...it seems to be a special talent I have on holidays. It took that eye over a week until it stopped hurting & I could see out of it again. Brian called me while the girlie & I were talking & so I hung up to video chat with him, but he had a horrible connection, so it was cut short. Then...time for our Christmas dinner from Heritage Tavern. Sparkling wine from Michigan & deviled eggs to begin. 

These nuts were amazing! There is something so moreish about spiced nuts...& these had candied bacon as well...there were pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, & dried cranberries. Eating & drinking only required one eye, lucky for me. Roasted beet & pickled pear salad. David & I came across these dried orange slices while we were unpacking...we'd picked them together at David's grandma's house one Christmas. I dried them intending to make jewelry out of them, but David wants us to use them during the holidays as decoration...I was thinking perhaps a small garland for the fireplace mantle? 

David did a magnificent job reheating & cooking all the elements Heritage provided. The horseradish potato gratin was my favorite part of the entire meal...I mean, potatoes are delicious. The ginger molasses cake was also phenomenal. 

David & I exchanged John Fluevog shoes for Christmas presents this year...his Iggy's are my favorite...that spectacular color combination...blue, red, & burgundy. 

Planet Earth playing all my New Wave favorites. 

Glenn Crytzer Quartet playing songs from 1927...& Michael Waite, live from the U.P. 

 

The Muffin Queen's Actual Closet

Dress: Opposing Stripes Fit & Flare Dress by Eloquii (size 28)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Express

All Jewelry: Vintage Sobral via eBay 

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I adore the opposing stripes in this colorful Eloquii dress...I just wish all of their dresses didn't have a tie at the neck...I prefer to wear a necklace. Great fit & length...& just enough twirl in the skirt. I took the colors I liked best & added them into other elements...green eyeliner, orange eyeshadow & tights, red shoes...& the stripe-y jewelry has all the hues. 

I bought these shoes for a few dollars at Gordmans years ago as I was walking through there on my way to Torrid. So cute! 

In addition to quitting blush...I also got bored with wearing a bunch of eyeshadow colors at once & have been paring it down to something a bit more subtle. I think it makes my heavy lidded eyes stand out more. What do you think? 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mainline, Nars eyeshadow in Mediteranee, Pumpkin Pie Velour Liquid Lipstick by Jeffree Star, Korean Candy lipstick from MAC, & CND Vinylux nail polish in Vermillion. 

Advent Calendar, Day 18. SO much spinach...this time of year the overwintered spinach from market is incredibly hearty & sweet...we alternate between having salads & sautéing it...here it is served with farmers bologna on our new Fiesta plate in Poppy. 

Another special delivery from Flora...her Czech jewelry is so lovely. She very sweetly sent along this matching ring & earrings to the bracelet I bought. I've had my eye on this for a while since I have a pendant/pin that exactly matches the center piece. If you make this photo larger, you can see that the chain on the back is held by 2 lion heads...such attention to detail makes me swoon. The other multi colored bracelet is too gorgeous for words...pictures do not do it justice & I must have stared at it for an hour after I unwrapped it. 

Online entertainment...the only thing we have in 2020. DJ, then a documentary about Joy Division, followed by some tribute songs by Dead Souls, with special guest...Unwoman. And 2 DJ sets.

Girlie DJs are the best. The Lowest Pair performing from Washington State. 

The Muffin Queen's actual closet. I had posted my Fluevog boots from the 90s on the Flummunity & I was asked to share more of my closet...so I took photos. It's not exactly clean, but this is as good as it gets. 

It's very exciting to have a place for everything. David very cleverly came up with this idea of using slide out tie racks for my tights & teggings. 

Antique wooden crates that have been poly-ed hold my rolled up sweaters. The top row of dresses are all the dresses I've never worn & have been working my way through lately. 

All the shoes & nail polishes have a home. The mirror still needs to be hung on the wall now that I've covered it in colorful foil & glitter. 

The week of Christmas, David & I decided to start unpacking boxes...we got through about 40. Lots of stuff went through the dishwasher & into the china cabinets in our dining room. It was like Christmas every day!

Advent calendar & live music online. 

My favorite Saturday night DJ event, Planet Earth.

Glenn Crytzer Quartet. Save The Senate Festival...so many good musicians...

Amanda Palmer's performance was by far the most adorable...she started out playing inside...then stopped to wonder if we could hear the birds...then decided to walk outside through the window to share the beauty of New Zealand with us. Sista Strings playing live for Cafe Carpe. 

Mmmmm...citrus & vetiver on day 20. Some of our emptying of boxes on the kitchen counter...I ended up washing a lot of things by hand that were too delicate for the machine. 

We got this Fluevog shoe polish for some black marks on a pair of 'Vogs, but that didn't work out...however, it performed magic on these Born shoes of mine (before & after shot) & some of David's orange shoes as well. Jake'O playing on his birthday & on the 21st day of advent...warm & spicy cologne. 

 

Silk Pillowcases

Dress: Black Floral Maxi Shirtdress by Torrid (size 4x)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Born

Earring: former Etsy shop

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

Another tag removed from an unworn dress in my closet...I really didn't realize how many dresses I have from Torrid. I think what happens is...I go into Torrid to pick up leggings I ordered online, then they are having a buy 2, get 2 free clearance sale...& off I go. I'm not normally a fan of shirtdresses, but this one is so pretty...orange!...& flowy. Pretty black lace panels on the shoulders, & 2 slits on either side of the button up front dress this sexy shirtdress up. 

I nearly wore black tights with this & I'm so glad I didn't as they would have just disappeared into the dress...instead...there are peeks of orange leg, which makes me smile. 

Pumpkin orange liquid eyeliner...David got me a bunch of fun colored liners from Kat von D ages ago...& I will be sad when they dry up, even though I don't use them often. I think this is my first time wearing this bracelet...it's old & all metal...the orange disks are actually painted right on the metal as opposed to being stones. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Kat von D Lightning Liner in Ludwig, Pumpkin lipliner by NYX, MAC lipstick in Habanero & Dozen Carnations, & Race Red nail polish from OPI. 

Way back in time...Christmas 1999...Kate bought me 4 place settings of 3 (dinner plate, salad plate, & bowl) of this fabulous green grape pattern from Williams Sonoma. I suggested to David that we seek out more of this pattern on eBay & he agreed...so this is now our dining room dish ware...for more than 4 people. The amazing gate Erika made...in the doorway it will live. Advent perfume.

Boxy Charm, & Goth-y DJs on Twitch. 

Our Fiesta that I ordered started trickling in, DJ Miz Margo, & Vetiver Fatal cologne. 

Jason cut his finger...so we ran over some Vet Bond glue to keep it shut...& got to see Kate in person, yay! Right before we left the house, we got a pork delivery & a bacon got dropped on the floor in our rush to leave...& there it still sat when we got home. We have the weirdest dogs...we are going to be in trouble when we get normal dogs again. 

Day #16 of the Advent calendar. Silk pillowcases...I read an article about how much better they are for your hair & face...& I must say, they are luxurious to sleep on...I was expecting them to be slippery like satin, but not at all. We may need a set of silk sheets...but, dogs. 3 of our Fiesta colors in the cabinet...butterscotch was the last to arrive. 

Rearranging shoes & boots in the closet...I found these Fluevogs from 1991, Hook & Eye Balmora...according to the experts in the Fluevog community. An orange sticker for day 17 of the calendar...& an actual vinyl playing DJ. 

 

Fiesta

Dress: The Casablanca Dress in Lucky Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: The Embellishing Room

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me 

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

Such a colorful cold weather Effie's Heart dress = LOVE. This lucky dress is covered in wishbones. The fit was fabulous, as well as the length. EH is my favorite brand with their comfortable quirky dresses with pockets & twirly skirts. They always make me feel pretty. 

I wanted to use this rainbow wall as it reminded me of the dress & also because I knew as soon as it snowed, it wouldn't be easy to get to. 

So many pretty colors...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Smokey Amethyst & Gold Standard eyeshadow by Pat McGrath, Santa Sangre lipstick by Kat von D, MAC lipstick in New York Apple, & Gimme A Lido Kiss nail polish by OPI. 

Erika Koivunen has been making a gate for us & she dropped it off so we could measure it in place & make sure everything looks good. She'd normally come do it herself, but we aren't letting anyone in the house with the virus raging on. It's sooooo beautiful. 

DJ set & live bands...I really liked Laith Al-Saadi's set on The Ark...what an amazing blues musician. 

We picked out some Fiesta colors & now have enough for 16 people.

A Friday night DJ set of David Bowie & friends...

Our first real snowfall of the year left everything looking lovely. I had to pick up our farmers' market order, so David cleared the car for me. Day 11 of the Advent calendar was empty (it was supposed to be a star sticker)...it probably fell out of its pocket & I will find it later. On the 12th day...back to perfume...Cedre Atlas. 

Charlie Parr performing a live set right before the replay of Davina's Lovenest Holiday Special...now with 6 camera angles. Her husband Zack did a fantastic job editing & David & I enjoyed watching it together...it made us smile the whole time. Davina & the band were live chatting for an hour before the show began & that was so much fun. 

My favorite Saturday DJ event...Planet Earth on Late Bar Chicago's Twitch channel. 

SO MUCH FANTASTIC MUSIC. I don't think I've ever seen the video for Lou Reed's Walk on The Wild Side. 

Glenn Crytzer & his band performing songs from 1924. And the return of Bret Helm...playing songs from his band, Audra, as well as fantastic covers...he has such an amazing voice. 

I watched/listened to a short bit of Matt's DJ set. And on the 13th day of Advent...Musc Impérial, the signature scent of the Majestic Hotel in Barcelona...which really makes me want to stay there.