Concerts on the Square: Reel Sound

 Dress: Scarf Print Dress in Coral & Red by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This is definitely a case of...why did I send this dress back (I know...I talked myself out of it because of all the white)?! I hope I am able to buy it when they retire it or through fabfats. I have this dress in green that I bought through The Girls of GB...so there is hope. Perfect maxi...great length on me, empire waist, & a neckline that didn't gape open. And those colors! After paisley...scarf prints are my favorites. 

I wanted to pull out the green in this print...via my necklace, eyeshadow, & sandals. I have so many green necklaces that I never wear...this one is by my favorite vintage designer, Miriam Haskell. 

Rear view...I used one of those things to link my bra straps together so they wouldn't peek out. Genius. I just spelled genius wrong & it autocorrected. 

Porrón time at Concerts on the Square. Kate got this fun wine vessel last year which we also used at concerts...the wrong way...with the cork in it...turns out it works better with the cork out...although I still managed to dribble down my face a bit. We had a most delicious picnic made up of edibles I bought at market that day & leftover bean & potato salad Kate had made for dinner...it had some kind of delicious mustard in it...what was it girlie? (this is not a test to see if you are reading this, maybe)

Kate cut herself an adorable haircut...spoiler alert...this is the most hair you'll see on the girlie for a while. Wine slushy! We had to. The music on this day was The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra playing selections of songs from movies...themes from 007, Star Wars medley, Raiders of the Lost Ark, & Lord of the Rings. 

David surprised me with an order of bras & panties he bought during Lane Bryant's lingerie sale...we had to go to the store to pick them up because he wanted to make sure I could exchange anything I didn't like. Also, he got me the above outfit...which I swear will look better once I style it...plus...not wear them together. 

All the bras & panties! It was a 94° degree + 90% humidity day...so we hid out at our office (with fab window air conditioners...we have a boiler in our old home with only an a/c unit in the bedroom). I thought modeling all the bras & panties on me would be more fun...I hope I didn't miss the opportunity to spend my Real Woman $$! I forgot about those. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Sephora eyeliner in Brown, NYX eyeshadow palette in Brights, Make Up For Ever eyeshadow in Lime & Tangerine, a mixture of 3 lipsticks...Blood Orange by Bite Beauty, Crush by UD, & MAC's Korean Candy, & Man of La Mancha nail Polish by OPI

Kinky Boots

Dress: Scuba Dress in Dark Floral by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Array, thrifted

Earring & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Necklace: A Luscious Thing, gift from Kate

Photography: Super Boo, random stranger, & me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was gorgeous...but the sun was setting & we just couldn't get photos to show it off the way it deserved. It's the same style as this dress that I loved so much last summer. Fabulous fit & flare in a pretty pattern with a cutout in back...the scuba is light enough to be worn comfortably in summer...& the armholes & peek-a-boo back were cut well as to not show off my bra. 

 Back detail...

These cherries Kate & I got from Saturday market were delicious! After market lunch at Shük...& wine tasting at Square. 

Kinky Boots! I got tickets to this for the girlie's birthday...5th row. The second half was spectacular...it was amazing to be so close to Lola & her wonderful ensembles. There was a man in the first row with a rainbow beard...I tried to snap a picture, but it was too dark. We nabbed a stranger to take a photo of us after the show with the poster. 

My second time wearing this dress...playing Pokemon Go at work...I had to see what all the fuss was about...it's not really my thing. 

Look at that glorious fabric *swoon* I think I need to go back to Joann's to get that autumn stained glass material...it would make a divine fit & flare dress. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Voodoo eyeliner by Urban Decay; MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque; Kat von D eyeshadow in Swoon, Rewind, & Harpsichord; Nars lipstick in Majella; & Man of La Mancha nail polish by OPI. 

Summer Markets

 Dress: Sleeveless V-Neck Fit & Flare Dress by London Times (size  24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Alegria, gift from David

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Christine Wallace, gift from Kate

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work & to 2 farmers' markets. Fabulous fit & flare, but I wasn't wild about the beige bits. I would have most certainly bought this if I had liked the colors more. The capped sleeves offer a bit more coverage so I wasn't as worried about my bra straps peeking out, the empire waist with the surplice neckline...divine, perfect amount of flare & length. David got me these cute sandals back in the beginning of summer...but this is my first time wearing them...so comfortable.

I loved this moss & succulent covered dog...& there is always good music at the Sunday Monona market. All the colors of cauliflower at Tuesday Eastside market. 

Avenue sent me this gorgeous colorful maxi (that I picked out) to wear in an upcoming feature on size 26+ bloggers. It's been pushed back to September...but you'll see the photos here first. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeshadow in Alchemy, Bondage, Junkshow, & Burnout; Kat von D eyeshadow in Rewind; UD lipstick in Gash; & Romantically Involved nail polish by OPI. 

Barolo

 Dress: Sleeveless Dress in Abstract Floral Print by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Leggings: Torrid (size 5)

Sandals: Born, ebay

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou (no longer online)

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I've had this style of dress previously in red houndstooth & multi colored circles. I've loved them...except for the black saddlebags on the hips. Why?! Otherwise...fabulous dress with gorgeous colors, great fit, nice length. 

I bought these floral leggings earlier this year, but this is my first time wearing them. I LOVE Torrid leggings. I normally buy them in size 5, but I can also wear the 4. David had the excellent vision to pull these up to a capri length which really made me like them more with this dress. Why is my big toe trying to escape my left sandal?

The weather was too darn hot for Concerts on the Square...so the girlie & I checked out Barolo...a newish wine bar we'd been meaning to go to. We each had 2 glasses of wine & some nibbles. The olives were delicious, plentiful, & a bit citrusy...served with some delightfully thin homemade crackers. The caponata was packed with eggplant & other yummy veggies...but my favorite thing were the arancini...how can you go wrong with cheesy fried risotto balls?? We had this room to ourselves...it was marvelous...everyone was sitting in the bar room or out on the patio. The patio is fantastic...we plan on going back when the weather is milder. 

The above sad girlie face brought to you by a terrible Muffin. This was a recreation...the original was SO much worse. Kate is planning on leaving me to hike the Appalachian Trail next year for 6! months! Yes, 6! months! Otherwise known as 1/2 a year. She was talking about it & I said something about her not going...& she made the saddest face & said...don't you want me to realize my dreams?? Of course I do...I'm just going to miss her A LOT. Like A LOT A LOT...what will I do without my girlie???

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeshadow in Urban & Jilted, NYX eyeshadow palette in Brights, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Asylum, Mon Ennui eyeshadow in Year of the Dragon, Bite Beauty lipstick in Aubergine, & I'm in the Moon for Love nail polish by OPI. 

Eurydice at American Players Theatre

 Dress: Penelope Dress in Green Floral Print by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: gift from Suz via Girls of GB swap

Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Holy buckets, this dress was bright...it doesn't show up in photos though. It gave me a total 70s vibe. Orange & green are my favorite colors...so it worked for me. Great length & fit...lovely summer dress. I was most excited to be able to wear this necklace I got from Suz in The Girls of GB jewelry swap from last year. 

 Into the woods...

David, Kate, Jason, & I went out to Spring Green to see Eurydice at APT. I spiralized some zucchini & made us a thai peanut salad...Kate brought bubbles & fruit from the market...picnic...

Ever since David discovered hemp hearts at CostCo...we put them on everything. 

 Kate & Jason walking up to the theatre among native flowers. 

Kate & Jason being cute...which is the only thing they know how to be when they are together. 

The Madison Rep world premiered Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl back in 2003...I think I saw it 6 or 7 times. I was in love with it. When it was announced it was being performed at APT, Kate & I bought tickets to 3 shows...wondering if that was going to be enough...but figuring we could always add more later. So disappointing. It was not the play we remembered at all. The play we remembered was like one long poem that put you in a dreamlike trance. It made me cry each time I saw it & moved me so deeply that it has stayed with me 13 years. I have the poster framed right above my desk & I look at it every day. The 2 photos of the play above were taken from The Cap Times online. 

I went to a fun garage sale of 2 funky grandmas...this vintage yellow purse was an exciting find...I don't have nearly enough yellow in my wardrobe. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Sephora eyeliner in Brown, NYX shadow palette in Brights, Make Up For Ever eyeshadow in Lime & Tangerine, Kat von D eyeshadow in Legend, Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange, MAC lipstick in Korean Candy, OPI polish in My Gecko Does Tricks, & Colors by Llarowe in Woodstock on top. 

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Summer Cocktails at Merchant

 Dress: Flutter Sleeve Dress in Blossom Print by London Times (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Leggings: Torrid (size 5), still available

Sandals: Clarks

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

 Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This was such an easy dress to wear...that I wore it on 3 different days before returning it. Good thing too, because I'm seriously behind on blogging & I have a secret project coming up in a few weeks that I'd like to be caught up for. Empire waist dresses are my favorite...& the a-line skirt on this is an excellent length. I loved everything about this dress...except that it came with an ink stain on the chest, which meant I couldn't buy it. Really for the best. I like colors that don't traditionally go together...like the red & pink here...with my newly dyed red hair...fabulous. 

This City Chic frock with no stretch did not fit me...I just threw it on for David to take photos of...which he seriously objected to since he thought it looked just hideous on me with my bra straps poking out. City Chic used to consistently fit me in size XXL, even in garments without stretch...but this is now 2 dresses in a row I had to send back unworn. I'm not sure what I was thinking anyway...grey looks awful on me. This dress would look stunning on the right person...also, it would be PERFECT if you wanted to dress up as a person from a B&W film for Halloween...I'd love to see this used as a dress for that.

Did you notice I got a hair cut? Gen cuts my hair about every 3 months...partly because I like my hair as it grows out...but also because it's difficult to part with $70. As a former hairstylist, I think a good haircut is worth the money though. I started with Gen when she was just an apprentice & charged ~$10...she had given Kate an amazing short haircut & my best friend Shane had been getting harder to get ahold of (he used to do my cut & color)...I'm not even sure what year that was...2008? Earlier? I went to the downtown market afterwards...in the summer I usually go to 3 or 4 farmers' markets a week...I love having access to fresh veggies & fruit. 

I escaped the heat by going to an Overture season preview party...last year I went because they were letting you buy tickets that day (before they went on sale to the general public) & I scored front row seats to David Sedaris. This year, sadly, we were just given a code to use the day before tickets went on sale...AND...the plays I want to see aren't on sale until later in the year. The guy running it said the code would still work...I'm dubious. The girlie & I want to see Phantom of the Opera (its been a long time) & Cabaret. 

Surprise girlie cocktails! Also Szechuan green beans & frites...& Kate! Yay! We thought we'd try some of Merchant's summer cocktails...6 delicious drinks later... We started out with Killer Tofu Tour (Capel pisco, Cynar, St. Germaine Elderflower liqueur, red beet syrup, & lemon juice) & Yacht Club (St. George Terrior Gin, blueberry-rosé claret, Dolin dry vermouth, & Bittercube Bolivar bitters). So good! 

Then we moved on to...Viola Curtis (Don Q Crystal rum, honeydew syrup, lime juice, Bittercube Jamaican #1 bitters, cayenne tincture, & sparkling cava) & RaspByrrhay Rush (Wild Turkey rye, Amaro Montenegro, Byrrh, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, & Bittercube Jamaican #2 bitters). And decided to share a fish fry. 

Lastly, we finished off the evening with...To Hare is Human (El-Dorado 8 year rum, carrot-coconut syrup, & Bittercube Cherry Bark bitters) & Come Hell or High Watermelon (Cardamom infused Reyka vodka, watermelon-rhubarb syrup, lime juice, & pilsner beer). Every one of these 6 drinks were marvelous & I hope I get the chance to sip them again soon. 

The girlie & the capitol...walk off into the sunset...

Saturday market the next morning...hiding behind my enormous fennel. Then Kate & I went to lunch while she was waiting for her beau to finish work. It was the most perfect summer day (anywhere in the 70s is my ideal) with the loveliest of companions. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Love+, Kat von D eyeshadow in Löve & Swoon, NYX lip cream palette in The Reds, & CND Vinylux nail polish in Wildfire.