Pretty Purple

 Dress: Black & Purple Print Dress by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit) 

Cardigan: Croft & Barrow (size 2x), thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Born, thrifted 

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Black Necklace & Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

These scuba knit fit & flares from Julian Taylor are always a hit...the fit & length are spot on for me. The various shades of purple in this dress are gorgeous & the baroque wallpaper print = love. I believe all the other dresses I've had like this one are sleeveless, but this had short sleeves...so no gapping armholes. I'll buy this one when it comes to the shop. 

I thought the flowers in this cardigan went so well with the dress...despite having a navy background. In fact, a friend asked me if the two came together as a set. 

When I picked out this lipstick online...I thought it was burgundy...I  was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a lovely shade of purple. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Tetra eyeliner by Stila; Instinct, Glance, Spontaneous, & Improvise eyeshadow from Stila; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Luxe; & OPI nail polish in Peel Me a Gobi Grape. 

I wore this dress to work on two different days & to run errands...also, to open these Fluevogs I got on sale...preeeeetttty....

Faux NYE Mermaid Fantasy

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

Jacket: Kat Duster by Courtney Noelle (size 4x)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Adrienne Vittadini, thrifted

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I've been lusting over this fabulous sequin duster for a few years now...so when it went on sale for 40% off...I finally nabbed it. Then...I failed to do it justice. It was terribly cold & windy on the day Kate & I celebrated our NYE...we got our pictures taken quickly & there was no time for adjusting...& this coat paired with velvet needed a lot of help...the lining of the coat clung to the velvet & refused to lay right...but it was still stunning. I will have to take this coat out again soon. 

I wore this dress I had at home from GB because I thought it went well with the jacket...it was supposed to be a swing dress, but it fit more like a bodycon on me. Gorgeous & unexpected color in a velvet dress. I didn't love the high neckline & it was a smidge too short for my taste...but I adore crushed velvet.

My lips have turned blue from the cold...

I open my mouth a LOT in photos...

My make-up with this outfit included...Kat von D Tattoo liner in Trooper; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Vega, Galaxy, Lightyear, Stargazer, & Ether; UD Afterglow; Electromagnetic Cosmetic Metals lip cream by NYX; & Viridian nail polish from Illamasqua. 

Kate & I went out for our NYE on January 7th...a week after actual NYE because she had just been getting over a stomach bug. We always go out on NYE...but it's just a date...& why go out to eat if you aren't going to fully enjoy raw oysters? So, I got two nights to dress up fancy...score! Mermaids on the shell...

Sunday night dining on a non-holiday is so relaxing...well, it *was* David Bowie Eve, but that is not widely celebrated. Oysters are the most perfect food...someday I would like to go oyster diving & eat fresh oysters while swimming in the ocean. And pet a baby piggy...but not on the same day. 

NYE

 Dress: Fishtail Velvet Maxi Dress in Midnight by Scarlett & Jo (size 30 UK)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mudd, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Earring, Necklace, & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Me, & Angie

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I bought several dresses last year from Scarlett & Jo (my first time trying them) & this is the second one I've worn. I was disappointed with the first...but this one...wow! This was available in black, midnight, & magenta...& I chose blue because it was different than anything else I own. I wasn't sure a bodycon fishtail dress would look good on me...but it was so cheap, it was worth a shot...& I like to stretch my comfort zone. I felt sexy & luxurious in this dress.

What's up with those shoes though? I thought silver sparkly flats would be a good choice with this dress...but I never look in the mirror. 

Hubba Hubba...va va voooooooom.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; UD eyeshadow in Stargazer, Vega, Galaxy, & Lightyear; Pat McGrath Venom 2 lipstick; Pat McGrath Metallic Gold Pigment; NYX glitter in gold; & Emerald Sparkle nail polish by China Glaze. 

NYE at Tony & Kate's (different Kate from the girlie) with Angie & Toby. Angie made some addictively delicious mushroom caps & Kate made this amazing cocktail with Meyer lemons. Dinner was fabulous...Kate cooked the prime rib perfectly...with horseradish sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roasted root vegetables, cauliflower cheese, & kale salad. 

After dinner we played games...which I don't get to do nearly enough...I love games. We played two new to us games...Blokus, then Bears vs Babies. There was much doggie cuddling (hmmm...I wonder how my dress got covered in a layer of hair?) & then...happy new year! Champagne toast & decadent Nigella Lawson Chocolate Cloud Cake made by Angie. House parties are the best NYE plans & I appreciate Kate inviting us...it was a lovely night. Also, happy first anniversary to David & me. 

Christmas

 Dress: Fit & Flare Dress in Steel Velvet by Amanda Uprichard (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Jacket: Midnight Velvet, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Christmas velvet fit & flare...lovely dress if you like grey. This was a good weight...warm & cozy & petable...with the right amount of flare & length. I like to use GB to step outside my comfort zone because you never know what you might discover. I discovered grey is still not my color, but it was fun to wear once. 

David & I quickly snapped these photos between lunch & going over to Angie & Toby's house. It was 7°, but felt like -9° & the wind was 14mph. 

We happened upon these fun Christmas trees outside a shop.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX Faux Blacks eyeliner in Oxblood; Golden Nugget, Sin City, & #selfie eyeshadow by Too Faced; Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Santa Sangre; & Ruby Pumps nail polish from China Glaze. 

Lunch at Indian buffet...

Movie (The Red Shoes) & doggie cuddling at Angie & Toby's...

Things that arrived by post...a lovely vintage acorn necklace from The Girls of GB Secret Santa, some We Love Colors new products to test, a lovely earring from etXarte, & a gorgeous sequin duster from Courtney Noelle that I treated myself to for NYE. 

Christmas Eve 2017

 Dress: Keyhole Fit & Flare in Evening Keys by Isabel + Alice (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Leggings: Torrid (size 4x)

Boots: John Fluevog

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I have a strong aversion to grey...not quite as big as white...but GB sent me two grey dresses in one box...so it was a very grey holiday. I have a thing for skeleton keys...so I obviously needed to wear this dress. It was a good fit & length...& I added some color with this cardigan & necklace. This is a GB house brand & they are a better quality than they used to be. I would have bought this if it hadn't been grey. 

It was below 0 on Christmas Eve day, so why did I keep touching cold metal?!

 But! We got snow just in time for a white Christmas.

My make-up with this outfit included...Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow in Dimension, Lucid, Pyramid, & Obsidian; Trinket liquid lipstick by Sugarpill; & OPI nail polish in ?

Right after taking these outfit photos...David & I went to our new house to open Christmas presents. We were hoping to be moved in & have a tree up...but things don't always work out as planned. We still brought our little Christmas to our living room full of tools...had a fire in our half put together fireplace & David held up his stocking that I filled roughly where the mantel will be. Next year there will be a tree.

After presents...we went back to our other house & the girlie came over for dinner...& of course, brought fabulous wine. This 2005 bottle smelled like it might have turned...but it ended up tasting marvelous. Kate explaining cork properties to us...or something wine-y. 

I made salmon with toasted garlic & dill, asparagus, & Meyer lemon from David's grandma's trees squeezed over it all...yum. After dinner we watched Rudolph...which David had never seen. Every holiday season we try to watch a few classic Christmas shows...this year we also saw Meet Me in St. Louis & Holiday Inn. 

You Are Beautiful

 Dress: Cynthia Dress in Blue Tweed Jacquard by Leota (size 5L) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Avenue (size 26/28)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Franco Sarto, thrifted

Earring: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet & Pin: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This is a new style of Leota dress for me...& it didn't work. The top & armholes were gigantic, while the bottom fit true to size. I sized up to a 5L, like I do with all Leota dresses. I liked the length & the idea of the lace cut-outs...however, I felt the fabric was too casual & heavy for the lace to make sense. 

The cardigan mostly hid what I found most objectionable about this dress...the extra fabric on top & gapping armholes...so I was happy to wear this to work & to have dinner at Angie & Toby's house. 

It seems they started repainting this building blue...but ran out of paint for the chartreuse door? I adore that color combination...I hope they keep it that way. 

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX Faux Blacks eyeliner in Midnight; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Dive, Ground, Glory, & Maiden; Santa Sangre lipstick by Kat von D; & Ruby Pumps nail polish from China Glaze. 

And this is the face I make when I see a cute dog...immediately followed by me exclaiming, dogiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee!!! There was a cute pibble walking by...I'm so glad David captured this.

A Hempz gift set I bought for a Secret Santa, along with some nail stamping plates for me...& check out those cool vintage metal curtain tacks Angie gave me...those green ones will look great in our rec room.

And some Ulta shopping with my 20% off coupon...

Dinner with David at Angie & Toby's...Indian food followed by doggy playtime & petting.