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. 

 

Anton's Shorts // Asheville // Tennessee

Dress: Cha Cha Dress in Magical Mushrooms by Nooworks

Tights: Snag

Sandals: Fluevog, F-Trip: Bridget

Shoes: Fluevog, Go Groovy: Aubrey 

Earring: Wendy Baker

Rest of Jewelry: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I got this dress a few years ago from Nooworks...I guessed on what size I'd end up & I did well. It's a medium, but it's a tight medium...which surprised me as they are a small woman owned company that makes clothes up to size 5x...so if anything, I thought their medium would be generous. It's not that it feels tight, but the print stretches more than I would like. But, mushrooms! This is a fabulously fun print & I'm pleased I have it in my mushroom dress collection. 

*Much* shorter dress than I'm comfortable with with bare legs & my lipedema. 

These 60s inspired sandals were a great match for the vibe of this outfit.

This might be the first time I'm wearing this necklace & bracelet set we found at Midwest Vintage Flea...or was it Elkhorn?

The second time I wore this in Asheville, I added tights, a cardigan, & closed toe shoes. 

These shoes remind me of mushrooms...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Clinique liquid liner in black, NYX lipliner in Pumpkin, Flamepoint eyeshadow by Sugarpill Cosmetics, Urban Decay lipstick in Heat, Clockwork lipstick from Sugarpill, & ILNP nail polish in Atomic Sherbet. 

I first wore this dress on the last day of September. We got an early start & went kayaking...I was hoping David would enjoy it as much as I do...but water related activities just aren't his thing. 

Farmers' market! Then home to shower, change, & drive to Spring Green. 

Dessert before dinner...why not?! We love this homemade ice cream at Wander Provisions. I had a scoop each of pumpkin spice & caramel apple chèvre...David chose chocolate & rum raisin. For our picnic, I made us Cumin Roasted Salmon with Cilantro Sauce Salad with lots of veg. 

We enjoyed the pretty sunset as we finished our meal...ending with watermelon with balsamic vinegar & basil...YUM...I'm excited for next year's watermelon season. A walk up the hill in the dark to see Anton's Shorts. 

I adored these little velvet pumpkins...aren't they sweet?!

Cocktails in cans. We had a lovely evening, but I think we left this play at intermission. 

The second time I wore this dress was the day we left Asheville to drive to my parents' house. We hadn't gone to any strictly antique shops despite there being so many...so I picked one & we headed for it...where I promptly fell in love with this brown lounger...it would have been right at home in our wreck room, but it was quite pricey...but comfortable! 

We didn't find anything we needed...except for a few items of vintage clothing that were too cheap to pass up. One last stop, Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar...there were just so many places we didn't make it to in Asheville...we didn't want to ever leave. 

They have our vote for best bookstore in Asheville...what a charming place...you could spend hours here...& they have food too...so you really could just idle away the day...so many comfy spots to relax in. I overheard the best/most terrible short exchange by the dog pillows between a father & son...mom walked away for a moment & dad says...your mother, she does that...she likes to stomp on your dreams. 

Art & antiques decorated this inviting space...we came home with a stack of books. 

The bookstore was part of the historic Grove Arcade, built in 1928...it was America's first indoor shopping mall...we stepped inside briefly...& were immediately drawn into this hat shop...

Where we both found some hats...David got the blue one he's wearing behind me above & I decided on the last one below...green & orange with autumn leaves. The woman who made them checked us out...

We really have to go...oh, ice cream! Gelato. I got a dish of salted caramel, butter pecan, & rum raisin. It was luxuriously delicious. The man who served us was the owner & he's the third generation of gelato makers. Yay! Ice cream for breakfast. I blame the dress...I don't eat ice cream very often, but I did both times while wearing this dress. 

Finally on the road to Tennessee...we had to take the back way because of the wildfire we'd seen coming into Asheville. Such a gorgeous drive surrounded by mountains...but extremely foggy at times as we got closer to my parents' house. We arrived just in time for cocktails...Moscow Mule for me & an Old-Fashioned for David, with homemade cherries.

 My mom made a fantastic Caesar salad (with anchovies!) & seafood lasagna, & we opened a couple of bottles of Hunt that we picked up at Biltmore...& ended the meal with some French Broad chocolate. 

 

Tattoo // The Del McCoury Band // Freight House

Dress: The Somerset Maxi Dress: Velvet Edition by Anthropologie via Nuuly

Shoes: Fluevog, Super Fine: Cardinal

Purse, Necklaces, & Bracelet: Vintage

Earring: etXarte

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

The Somerset dress is always easy to wear whatever fabric it comes in...fitted at the waist with tiers & pockets...I adore getting these dresses from Nuuly...I only own 3 because the neckline is not my favorite...if it was a standard v-neck...I'd probably buy them all. The gold velvet is stunning...it reminds me of my wedding dress. This is definitely in the top 3 of the number of compliments I received...people loved this dress on me.

This autumnal background couldn't have been more perfect for this look.

Perhaps I should have worn gold glittery stockings with this...but we took these pictures immediately after my tattoo appointment, & I didn't bring any. I need more gold shoes.

We found 3 different amber necklaces from the same vendor at the very first Midwest Vintage Flea that we went to...here are 2 of them...I think they look lovely together. I believe this is my first time wearing the longer one. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Matte Black, Golden Nugget & Showgirl eyeshadow by Too Faced, MAC lipliner in Chicory, Bronze Shimmer lipstick from MAC, & A England nail polish in Holy Grail. 

What?! A chance to see *inside* the building we use most often for pictures?!! Yes! I started out this day getting a lymphatic massage with Courtney & dashing into Stalzy's to get a loaf of their rye bread for dinner later. Then...a freehand tattoo appointment with Mar to fill in the gaps on my left lower leg with falling leaves. They got all the leaves placed & some of them colored. 

Less blank areas...

A car wash on my way home to make dinner, Cabbage & Kielbasa with Rye Croutons...before heading to Stoughton...

To see The Del McCoury Band with Kate & Jason. In the lounge before the show, members of Soggy Prairie played a set. 

I think I've seen The McCoury Brothers play, but this was my first time seeing Del...they were fantastic & full of strings.

The next morning, we accidentally? planned? met up at the last outdoor market of the year. Bill, our spinach guy, gave me his hand warmers after I declined them 5 or 6 times...isn't that sooo nice?!

Kate bought me this alligator scarf years ago...he helped keep me warm. David & I bought about 50 pounds of apples from various farmers. Back at home...we finally separated our alliums from our squash & potatoes. I knew they shouldn't be stored together, but I didn't realize what a huge difference it would make. My potatoes used to last maybe 3 days before sprouting, turning green, & going soft...some of these potatoes are still in the drawer & looking great over a month in. Breakfast! And the cheapest most fabulous thing I planned for our trip to Asheville...a reading of an amazing play.

Later that day...we ventured inside the warehouse that we used for these outfit photos. The guy that rents this part sells antiques...mostly midcentury modern. I LOVED this liquor cabinet...note that that top bit recesses back as you open the door. If our wreck room was done...I would have lobbied hard for this piece...but we are already storing too many things. 

A reproduction Penny-Farthing...lime & pink swivel couch...It was fun to look around & finally see inside this fabulous warehouse. 

He had real candles burning on the steps...I was a bit afraid I might start my dress on fire. The window I'm standing by is the same window I'm standing in front of in these outfit photos. 

Back at home...we made a meal of roasted potatoes & ribeye. I changed shoes to go to the organ concert with David. Ken Cowen played the Overture's concert organ...it was great. They do an organ series every year & I've only gone to one other & this is David's first time. 

The final time I wore this dress was to travel to Paducah, Kentucky...it was roughly half way to Asheville, so I booked us an Airbnb & made reservations at Sara Bradley's (Top Chef season 16 & 20) restaurant, freight house. We started out with cocktails, for me, a French Kiss (Mirabeau rose gin, genepy des ales, Peychauds bitters, absinthe spritz, lemon) & David chose a Lord Baelish (Jim Beam bourbon, balsamic, basil, ginger beer). 

Sara's menu had everything I adore in a restaurant...an ever changing creative menu based on what's in season.

Spot Sara (she's talking to another table behind David & then with the bartender)...she delivered some food to us & chatted for a minute...I didn't want to bother her with taking her picture...so I just took candids. Our waiter, John, was outstanding...he paced things just right & was a delight to talk with. Our first food...Pumpkin Bisque (coconut, ginger, sesame, curried yogurt) & Deviled Eggs (caramelized onion). 

Pork Rinds (with honey thyme aioli), Baby Back Ribs (pecan pork, brown butter streusel, chocolate buttermilk), & Pork Belly Tostada (cabbage & apple slaw, horseradish aioli, stout bbq sauce). 

Round 2 of drinks: David had an Owen's Island (Rittenhouse rye, Carpano Antica, Luxardo cherry, orange oil) & I picked a Snake in the Grass (Teremana Reposado, Lucid absinthe, naranja, Carpano Antica, fresh sour). But wait! There's more...Bacon Fat Cornbread (we were so sure we'd love it, we ordered 2...it was the only disappointing thing all evening), Roasted Cauliflower...as seen on Instagram (radicchio, dates, curry spices, pomegranate molasses, smoked cashews)...we'd added grilled shrimp & they forgot to bring it, so Sara delivered it herself. And finally...dessert...we shared a Chocolate Fudge Cake (flourless chocolate cake, orange butter cream, cranberry mulled wine glaze) & a Sweet Pea Cake...as seen on Top Chef (buttermilk pudding, lemon curd, pistachios). This dinner was full of wonder & joy...Sara is a master of combining sweet & savory in every dish & we couldn't get enough. We so thoroughly enjoyed it, we immediately made another reservation for the night we were driving back home.