Merchant // Handel's Messiah // JD McPherson: A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Tour

Dress: Long-Sleeve V-Neck Textured Midi Dress by Printer Johnson via Nuuly 

Tights: ?

Shoes: Fluevog, Super Fine: Cardinal 

Earrings: Kerala Rose

Necklace: Green Goddess Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

In our dark warmly lit house, I thought this dress was black at first. It's amazing most of my outfits match as I'm picking pieces blindly. This dress was a great fit, deep-v neckline front & back, pockets, form fitting ruched waist with gold metallic textured bits sprinkled all over. Slightly big, could have sized down from a medium to a small. 

I don't love the way I styled this dress the second time...I liked it better when I went with black jewelry.

I should have went with navy or gold tights...or black if I'd stuck with black accessories. 

Immediately following a haircut...

The first time I wore this dress...I had my second & final appointment with Mar to finish up the filler leaves on my left calf. As you can see, I wore a black & leopard dress at the studio as I didn't want tattoo ink or blood to get on the white parts of this dress. 

Aren't these leave luscious?! Mar does the best leaves.

More acorns too...my left lower leg is complete. 

Back at home...I changed to go out with David...isn't he fancy? Wearing one of his new gold shirts he picked up at The Sophisticated Man. And me thinking we were both wearing black & gold outfits. 

Dinner & drinks at Merchant. To begin, Gingerbread Manhattan (Limousin rye whiskey, gingerbread Coca Cola syrup, cynar, Bittercube orange bitters) & Christmas Mai Tai (Alander spiced rum, Plantation white rum, pistachio orgeat, orange cranberry syrup, Peychaud's bitters). The Christmas decorations are tame compared to their sister restaurant next door, Lucille. David showing off his cufflinks. 

A little happy hour bar snack, French fries with black pepper aioli, followed by a Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich for David (Napa cabbage slaw, jalapeño crema, pickled vegetables, black pepper aioli, fresh herbs, brioche bun) & I had to have Friday Fish Fry (wild-caught Lake Superior whitefish, cornichon tartar sauce, marble rye bread, braised red cabbage, potato salad with giardiniera aioli & scallions). Merchant used to have a terrific fish fry before they remodeled (& got a new chef)...this was one of the worst I've ever had. We told our waiter & he removed it from our bill. Why, Merchant? Second round of cocktails...

Winter Paloma (Lunazul tequila, pomegranate, ginger honey syrup, lime juice, ginger beer) & Something in the Orange (barrel aged gin, orange cranberry syrup, citrus). Finally, we shared a Winter Squash Risotto (roasted squash, roasted brussels sprouts, Sartori parmesan, shaved brussels & fried sage salad, sherry vinaigrette, crispy pepitas). The risotto was yummy & welcome after the fish flop. After dinner...we went over to Bethel Lutheran Church for Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's (good thing I looked at my ticket so we didn't show up at Overture) Handel's Messiah. Packed house...& there was a harpsichord on stage! 
A few dinners...the usual & this chicken sheet pan recipe we've been loving with brussels & lemon. This is my drain situation...I carried these 3 drains around for a month, then 2, & I've *still* got 1 in for over 2! months now. I never imagined. My thighs retained a lot of fluid from surgery. I just want my body back & to belong to me...I'm at the hospital once a week & carrying this bag of drains around & trying to dress without it showing...it really gets me feeling terrible about my body & I hate that. Soon. The one thing that has helped me get through this is my lymphatic massage person/friend, Courtney. I took this photo at her office. I see her once a week & she helps with the fluid draining & works to loosen my scars up. She's also been incredibly supportive emotionally & I appreciate her honesty in telling me her opinion even when it's not what I want to hear. Later that day...David & I had a meeting at Capital Ketamine for an introduction & tour, then I walked next door to get a haircut from Sigrid...& David & I went to Olbrich Gardens for these outfit photos.

That night...Stoughton Opera House with my girlie to see JD McPherson presents A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Tour.

Christmas stage & the opening act, Joel Paterson...

I'd seen JD McPherson at The Shitty Barn in the summer & he put on an amazing show...this one was even better. He seemed to be having more fun with his band & wasn't as awkward interacting with the audience...perhaps the intimacy of the barn was intimidating to him & the stage removes him a bit? He has a Christmas album of original songs & he played those interspersed with regular tunes. I'd go see him anytime he comes around...great energy & fun music. 

 

Work // Thrifting // Girlie Time

Dress: Aqua Geometric Faux Wrap Dress by Liz Claiborne, thrifted 

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Boden, thrifted

All Jewelry: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I picked up this fun bright dress while thrifting...aqua isn't my color, but those pops of orange are spectacular. Great fit & length on this work dress. I did have to pin the neckline closed. 

Quick snaps outside our building at work...so handy.

I thrifted these shoes at Savers years ago & always enjoyed wearing them, however, the size 10.5s got too big for me (they were always a size larger than I needed), but I found these on Poshmark in 2 sizes smaller. 

Despite orange being my favorite color, I don't have many orange earrings. I like the layers in this neckline. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Synth eyeshadow from KVD, Slowburn eyeshadow by UD, UD lipstick & lipliner in Bang, & OPI nail polish in My Chihuahua Doesn't Bite Anymore.  

Indoor farmers' market...we stocked up on bread, including from this new to us place, Sweet Grass Bread, we chose cinnamon swirl & it was fantastic. Sadly, I haven't seen her since. Origins is always wonderful, & we also picked up several loaves from Cress Springs. Collectivo for coffee...I like the Pistachio Pandan Latte. Then home for breakfast & the beginning of tree decorating. 

We sipped on egg nog while I untangled lights & David draped them on the tree. 

This topper is extremely special...it was David's maternal grandparents first tree topper & we are lucky to have it. Dinner that night was roasted sweet potatoes, cooked apples, & grilled pork chops. Sparkling water & record time at Kate's place. 

This is the dress I wore...I wore this thrifted lace number to work a few times, but never got around to pictures...maybe next time. After visiting with my girlie...I stopped at the Goodwill on my way home. 

I got everything I tried on except for the plaid skirt...which I decided was not the 90s vibe I wanted to revisit. I also came home to the Karina dresses I ordered when they were having a Black Friday sale. Lovely work dresses with a similar vibe to Leota. 

And more Black Friday buys...flower necklaces from bel monili & a new bottle of my cold weather scent, Ginger Essence from Origins. Another day, another thrift store. I wonder why I passed on that mustard cardigan?! It must have had some pilling. 

Weird mixed pattern sweater from Anthropologie...will I ever wear it? Interesting color combination...I liked the puffed shoulders & of course, orange. Fluevog sandals & Effie's Heart strawberry dress found on Poshmark (replacing some of the dresses I had in my previous size). 

I forgot to post these gold Coach duck boots David found for me at Retique...they were tagged the 1/2 off color of the week & for $15, I couldn't say no...& I have been wearing them to work every day since there's been snow on the ground...& then changing shoes. Courtney was on vacation in Japan, so I saw her colleague a few times. I wore this red & black leopard maxi, again...no pictures. Dinner with Kate! Jason was out of town, so we had them over for salmon with salt & vinegar roasted cabbage...yum. 

More thrifting...sadly, that red velvet dress was too big, such a gorgeous color...everything else came home with me, including a brand new Anthropologie mixed print dress. I find some good stuff at our local Goodwill on the north side...there is a ritzy neighborhood near there, Maple Bluff. Not surprisingly, areas with money have better offerings. 

I now own all 3 fun colors of these Fluevog Mille Miglia shoes (lime & purple are the other ones)...I couldn't resist these I got for a steal on Fluevog B/S/T. Speaking of Fluevog, for the past several years I've participated in their gift exchange & for the first time...I actually received a gift! It was a nice thought & I appreciate it...but I feel my person just gave me lots of random stuff they wanted to get rid of as none of it had anything to do with the interests I listed. I only kept the Burt's Bees lip balm. 

Ulta was having a buy 2, get 1 free sale on UD eyeliners...I got replacements/back-ups for some colors & 3 new to me colors. There was also a NYX sale & I need to be well stocked on my eyebrow pencils...AND the best thing was not only were these excellent deals, but I had a $20 off coupon as well. David ordered me 3 sparkly pairs of tights...gold, black, & copper...I immediately stuck my fingernail through the gold pair while trying them on...& one size fits all doesn't really do it for my big butt & thighs. The final time I threw this dress on was to have my very first ketamine therapy session...& there was this cute dog, Bentley/Benny. Home to cook dinner. I'll talk about my ketamine experience more down the line. I'm going to do a series of 6 sessions in a row (1 a week) & I will say...it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. I highly recommend it to everyone, but you have to be willing to really let go & enter into it with intension of what you'd like to work on...for me, it's anxiety. 

 

Milwaukee: Retique // The Sophisticated Man // Odd Duck // Dial M for Murder

Dress: Dreamy Date Woven Midi Dress by Flying Tomato

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Operetta: Marcello 

Earrings & Necklace: Colleen Toland

Bracelet: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

This is my first dress from this brand...their website has lots of pretty colorful dresses (& then I paused here for 1/2 an hour while I browsed their sale & bought 2 more). We picked this up at Minx in Asheville. 

Despite all those colors, I had a difficult time finding the right tights & shoes combo...because I'm not a muted colors person, I picked out the bright blue bits.

See? Close up, this all makes sense...

The neckline on this dress isn't my favorite & I'm not sure why. 

I wore this outfit to spend the day in Milwaukee with David. Guess where we went first? This Retique by Goodwill is just so good. Actually, what usually happens is David parks here & I go in to start looking around & he walks to Likewise to get us coffee.

The find of the day was this black 50s number...I was going to wear it for NYE, but a few weeks later I thrifted something sparkly. 

Then we walked down the street to Lela...where I tried on a red sparkly dress & green sparkly pants that match a dress I got in Asheville that David & I both love. Next, we accidentally went to someplace new...The Sophisticated Man Boutique. I had made a list of men's clothing stores to check out in Milwaukee & this was at the top of my list. We parked directly across the street from them to go to a bookstore & I recognized the name, so we went in...it was meant to be. 

There was this amazing older couple at the store...Jack & Diane...they were adorable. Diane has owned the store for 50 years & she & Jack went to school together, but reconnected later in life & they are a fabulously stylish & charming couple. David found several shirts to try on & I picked out a bunch of socks for him. And we finally made it to the bookstore. Dinner at Odd Duck.They number their cocktails rather than name them...David's first drink was #61 (Denizen dark rum, Cihuatán Jade rum, Stateline coffee liqueur, Giffard Banane du Bresil, Yemeni spiced orgeat, lemon) & I had #51 (Wheatley vodka, Lillet Blanc, Salers aperitif, cassis, lemon, sparkling wine). Then the food started rolling out. I'm always nervous at these small plate places because we have had servers bring us too many things at once & it's overwhelming...our guy here was fantastic. First up, Lamb & Potato Pierogi (roasted root vegetables, parsnip purée, mustard greens)...my goodness this was tasty...those pierogi were the best I've ever had...& I don't even think I like lamb. Berbere Braised Short Rib (ash roasted sweet potato, Da'ata, Malawah, pine nuts).Our next cocktails were #32 (Alto del Carmen Pisco Reservado, Fruitful clementine liqueur, quince nectar, lemon) & #75 (Arette reposado tequila, basil eau de vie, Rothman & Winter Orchard pear liqueur, fennel seed cordial, lime, fennel salt). More food...Filipino Style Pork Belly Lechon Kwali (peanut kare-kare, mustard greens, Sinamak chili vinegar, sesame rice crisps) & Cornmeal Crusted Crispy Oyster Mushrooms (cane vinegar mayonnaise, creole hot mustard, pickled green tomato, scallion) Cocktails, round 2:#14 (Buffalo Trace bourbon, St. George bruno americano, Cocchi di Torino vermouth, Bittercube cherry bark vanilla bitters, Luxardo cherry) &...#83 (Tanqueuray Sevilla orange gin, blood orange, rosemary, juniper berries, Rishi scarlet tea ice, Fever Tree Indian tonic water) Our final 2 savory plates: Wood-Fired Brussels Sprouts (sunflower butter, pear kimchi, everything seasoning, miso mustard) & Odd Duck Cassoulet (smoked duck ham, pork lardons, duck confit, Toulouse sausage, white bean, duck cracklin' bread crumbs). David sipped an Espresso Martini with dessert, which was...Baba al Rum Cake (spiced rum syrup, spiced pastry cream, oat & pumpkin seed granola). Dessert was just ok, but the rest of the meal was spectacular, as always. And finally...the reason we came to Milwaukee, Dial M for Murder. We got here just in time, so I didn't have time to look at the program...so we were delighted by the surprise of Marcus Truschinski (one of our favorite APT actors) as one of the leads in the play. This was an excellent version of Dial M for Murder...they made the affair between 2 women instead of the traditional man/woman. Enormous Christmas tree in the center of the building...so pictures had to happen. Our spoils from Retique...Pants & dress from Lela, & I also got this leopard coat at Retique...& immediately wore it the rest of the day. Gorgeous things from Sophisticated Man...not one, but *two* gold shirts. Another marvelous Milwaukee day.