Art Fair on the Square

Dress: Stargazing Dress in Solvang by Effie's Heart (size L) via Gwynnie Bee

Sandals: Born

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Another cute as a button Effie's Heart dress covered in tulips. Great fit...my EH size is a medium, but the smallest GB got was a large. Usually I can wear a small or large in this brand without noticing much difference because of the stretch...but in this case large was the best choice as I think a medium in this style wouldn't have worked as well. 

I had to look up what Solvang meant & I only needed to read the first sentence to get it...it's a California city with Danish-style architecture. 

In my mind...all flowers go together...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner & eyeshadow in Mildew, Natasha Denona eyeshadow palette, Blissful lipliner from Becca, Head in the Clouds lipstick by MAC, & Colors by Llarowe nail polish in The Mighty Red Baron. 

I first wore this dress to visit our trainer, Annie Forest. She probably wonders why I can't just wear workout clothes like everyone else...I wear shorts under my dress. On this day we worked on my balance (it's terrible), stepping up onto a big platform, various exercises I can do with the sled at the gym, & the first steps to doing a chin-up (a goal I have). Afterwards...David & I went to Ahan for lunch. We began with Pork Dumplings (Enos Farm pork, ginger, cabbage, garlic, scallion, ponzu), Chèvre Wontons (cream cheese, chèvre, scallion, sweet & sour), & Summer Rolls (Vitruvian Farm micro greens, spring mix, radish, cucumber, carrot, bean sprouts, cilantro, mint, scallion in a rice paper wrap. Nuoc Cham with crushed peanuts for dipping). All 3 were delicious...but I am a huge fan of those summer rolls...which tasted just like summer, stuffed with everything that's currently growing here in Wisconsin...so fresh. 

David ordered Kung Pao (sautéed shrimp, zucchini, bok choy, mushrooms, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, onion, scallion, sweet soy sauce, ginger, jalapeños, peanuts, chili oil, pea shoots, lime, fried garlic, & jasmine rice)...& I had the thing I always order because it is the yummiest, Praram Long Song (fried chicken, broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, carrots, local mushroom blend, onions, scallion, cilantro, peanuts, fried garlic, with a side of peanut sauce & jasmine rice). The food here is so good...& they share their space with Bur Oak, the music venue, so I can have tasty food whenever I see a show there. 

At Decon...we came home with that window security gate for outdoor decoration & a not pictured big rusty chain (David loves those). It's always fun to poke around there & see what treasures they've salvaged. Back at home...Chie Mihara shoes I found for cheap on eBay...these shoes are more expensive than Fluevogs new, but I can often get them for $20-50 used (barely or never worn). Picking up our very dirty, very inconvenient CSA (our fault, we picked them). 

Flowers from market alongside basil from our CSA. The final time I put on this dress was for an extremely enjoyable Saturday. First, I dashed into the market that was moved to Breese Stevens Field to buy ALL the fruit...strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, & Door County cherries. Then we drove to where the market usually is for Art Fair on the Square...our goal was to arrive at 9am when they opened & we got there 15 minutes early. Adorable bike...make this photo bigger so you can see it better...I squeed. 

It was a gorgeous day with only a small crowd for the first half. Some things that caught my eye...including these mini canvas paintings with gold leaf on the edges...I'm going to try that some time instead of getting a frame.

This art made out of the performers vinyl from Deadwax Art catches my eye every year...some day I'm going to get one, but so far I haven't found the piece that speaks to me. It would have to be just the right Billie Holiday or David Bowie I think.

Our first purchase of the day was this vintage milk jug with sunflower cutouts (there are lights inside). And right next door, Helen's Daughters...where this bag hanging in front of the gold frame called to me...isn't it fabulous?! And the artist was wearing a hat by the same local artist as I was, Hats o Fancy...I intended on getting another sunhat from her...but she didn't have any of the largest brimmed ones that I like...so she's going to specially craft me one before she retires. 

I love looking at beautiful things...going into each of the booths is like entering another world...like getting lost in a good book. My veggie tattoo got a lot of attention, as usual. It always makes me happy that other people appreciate it...my favorite on this day was a woman who excitedly told her daughter...that dress she's wearing is like the woman I was telling you about from market this morning with the fabulous tattoo...then she looked up & spotted my tattoo...& she was overjoyed & told her daughter to take a photo. 

We keep buying quirky cutting boards. Heather Renaux was there...I have her circus art covering the walls of my make-up/jewelry room. 

Mohop! I was after a crossbody purse in ruby (top left) to add to my collection...but I think I made the wrong decision...they had a special edition textured copper purse, but I had it in my mind that ruby was the one I was getting...I have a difficult time with change...they will *always* have the ruby & now I will most likely never have a copper purse...which I would use a TON. 

Rusty things always lure me in...

And doors & staircases...

More handmade purses...& this woman's clothing was stunning.

Best outfit I saw all day. After strolling around the square for several hours...we ended up at Lucille...

We sat outside & enjoyed our usual...cocktails, 3 lb. pork shoulder nachos, & steel pan pizza. 

I discovered a large screw in our nachos & our waitress was appalled...she said our entire bill was on the house & told us the manager would come talk to us. I replied that we didn't eat it & were not traumatized...so it was all fine & she looked like she wanted to cry. Are people that horrible?! We are guessing it fell out of their wood fire oven? On our walk back to the truck...we saw that Bartell was having an open house & I'd been meaning to get tickets to Pirates of Penzance...so we wandered in & got a tour & talked to someone from each of the 4 theatre groups that perform there. We love that place. It was a lovely way to spend a gorgeous Saturday.

I got 3 new purses...

And that same day...we got 2 Fluevog boxes in the post. I was confused as I hadn't ordered anything. David got me this glorious green purse (it had been on my wishlist a while, which he didn't know...he just knows what I like) & some purple suede shoes for himself. Perfect day. 

 

Burger Week at Sal's // Driving to Charleston

Dress: See It Through Dress by Free People (size S) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earring: Vintage Czech via eBay 

Necklace: Jael Designs

Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I had this dress in blue back in April. I went down a size this time to a small & it was a better fit...still super relaxed, as it's supposed to be. Very similar to The Marias dress from Anthropologie. I don't care if they aren't "flattering"...these dresses are pretty, flowy, & easy to wear...& these earthy colors are my jam. 

I was still wearing compression leggings for surgery when these photos were taken...by the time I wore it in Charleston, I was no longer wearing compression (I'm only mentioning it because they peek out once in a while). 

Warm colors are becoming on me...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Torch & Lucky, Huda Beauty eyeshadow in Nefertiti & Blood Moon, Chicory lipliner from UD, NYX lipliner in Pumpkin, Heat lipstick by UD, Gothica lipstick from KVD, & OPI nail polish in Man of La Mancha. 

Pilates! I wore this dress for the first time later that day...to go to work & try on clothes at Goodwill in Verona. 

I really wanted that Yumi Kim number to work out...they sell that brand at Anthropologie & that would have been a few hundred dollars new...& SO cute & colorful...but...it was an XS with no stretch...& I realized after I tried to try it on as a dress...it was actually a romper. Plaid pants! Every once in a while a print will catch my eye...so I'm slowly building up a pants collection. I figured these would be a good fit once my swelling from surgery went away. 

I try to hit up a Goodwill on Sunday or Monday because they have a 50% off tag sale...on this day it was pink...so all these pink tagged items were 1/2 off! Including some adorable *leopard* pants for $4!

I am currently wearing those brown Born sandals on my feet as I type this...I nearly didn't get them because is brown even a color? But I'm glad I did. Years ago, David had the best burger of his life at Sal's during Burger Week...so I sent him this Instagram post. 

Through diet alone (low carb eating at home)...I've been controlling my diabetes for the last few years. A1C of 5...which is excellent...it puts me in the non-diabetic range. I was fairly hardcore keto for about the first year, but since then I've relaxed...& you see how I eat when we go out. 

Burgers at Sal's! I nearly got the fish fry...but this burger was for 1 week only. B Barr's Burgerama Burger created by Head Chef Brian Barr...two 1/4-pound Wells Farms patties topped with Hook's 2 year cheddar, herb garlic butter, jalapeño escabeche, Delta Beer Lab Sal's Pale Ale-battered onion rings & ramp aioli on a Stalzy's Deli butter bun. 

After lunch...Vinny's in Sun Prairie...where I only found ONE dress...that place is usually a gold mine. 

David got 2 pairs of pants & a tie. I would say ~half the things I buy at thrift stores still have the tags on them. I also wore this outfit in Tennessee...view from my parent's porch. All packed up for our road trip...through Tennessee, North Carolina, & South Carolina...Everything was SO pretty...I didn't take photos of it all because I was too busy enjoying it. We stopped for lunch in North Carolina...Firehouse Subs...which I'd never been to before. I'm kind of fascinated by chain restaurants because I rarely go to them...so everything is new...like this machine that will basically pour you any drink you'd like...do they make bar versions of these?After over 7 hours of driving...we arrived at our hotel in Charleston...where it was raining. However, there was this man playing piano, along with free cookies & fruit water in the lobby. I ate at least a dozen of those cookies...they weren't even that good. Settling into the room...my mom came prepared with beverages...we rested a bit, then changed for dinner. 

 

Birthday Bakelite Bracelet

Dress: Ruffle Detail Ria Midi Dress by Hutch (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, thrifted

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 50-47-68

Since the pandemic started, Gwynnie Bee has stopped having first fit models. The problem with that is you don't learn anything about a dress before closeting it...this is a sweater dress...there was NO mention of that in their description (they have since added that the dress is heavier than it looks). The navy & beige leopard print was cute, but the fabric was so heavy that the ruffles in the skirt droop & made the entire outfit look sloppy. The fit was great, but the length was awkward. 

I wore this dress to work to see one client (in person!) & get photos...then immediately sent it back. I did not feel cute in this disaster of a dress. 

I believe this is my first time wearing this matching necklace & bracelet. They came to me in a silver tone, but I applied an antique gold rub n buff to the metal. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; Natasha Denona eyeshadow in Harlow, Lash Line, & Satin Skin; 714 lipliner from UD; Santa Sangre lipstick by Kat von D; & OPI nail polish in A Kiss on the Chic. 

I bought myself this stunning Brad Elfrink bracelet for my birthday. He carves them himself out of vintage Bakelite & if you don't see his post in the first few minutes...it's SOLD. I love it SO much. 

 

Living My Life Online

Dress: Sunburst Pleated Printed Dress by Eloquii (size 28) via Eloquii Unlimited 

Tights: We Love Colors in Red

Shoes: Söfft, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-70

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I picked this dress...beige & creme...who am I?! And yet another neck tie? I tried the best I could to jazz this up with bits of red...not sure it was exactly successful. I liked the pleated full skirt...but the entire dress was too big on me. There was an elastic waist, but the chiffon fabric was not stretchy at all & this is the same size I wore in other woven fabrics from Eloquii...women's sizing is messed up enough, I at least expect consistency within a brand. This is the last of my 8 dresses from my free trial month with Eloquii. My verdict? I wouldn't pay $80 a month for this service unless they added a LOT more dresses...without neck ties...that I liked. I dislike being forced to have 4 items out at a time that all have to be returned together. I prefer the variety that Gwynnie Bee offers. 

Why do I even own fleshy beige shoes? Savers. 

I love this vintage Czech necklace so much.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Alkaline; Young Love, Ambitious, & Bang Bang eyeshadow by UD; In Retrograde Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour from MAC; & OPI nail polish in An Affair in Red Square. 

I was already dressed up for pictures...so I was able to look pretty to watch Davina & the Vagabonds play their live show at The Dakota, online...I miss live music in person SO much. 

Glenn Crytzer Quartet playing their Sunday afternoon live. They are doing a thing, starting next Sunday, where, beginning with 1920...every week they'll play songs just from that year. I am excited for it! The Black Feathers & Milton (with Joe from Carsie's band playing bass). 

The entire Wisconsin Book Festival went online this year...I had a few I was meaning to tune into, but this is the only one I ended up watching...an interview with Jacob Tobia, about their book, Sissy. It was SO good. And still available to view. Kate & I had tickets to see Neil Gaiman, perhaps next year? A duo I can't remember the name of...& a dress from GB that I didn't wear. It was an ugly worn out t-shirt in person...I'm giving up wearing things that don't make me feel pretty.