APT: The Royale // Sundara & Ishnala

Dress: Rose Garden Maxi Dress by Free People (size 10) via Nuuly

Sandals: Fluevog, Mega Munster: Deee

Purse: Mohop

Earring & Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage Remixed via Nashville Flea Market

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

The colors in this maxi are splendid...pretty ombre at the bottom. Great cut, however, what is up with the boob area?! Those lines hit me right across the nipple...who is that flattering for?! Also, the armholes are huge. Even with all that...I felt elegant in this gorgeous dress. I wore 4 1/2" heels & at 5'7", I had to wear at least a 3" heel for this drapey dress to stay off the ground. The dress is lined & has a side zipper that I felt was unnecessary...& a tie atop the opening in back. 

I didn't wear a bra with this dress because of the opening in back as well as the low-cut arm area. 

I like my big booty...

This is my first time wearing these Fluevog Deee sandals (a collaboration with Anna Sui)...& any shoe from the iconic Munster line (the original was made famous by Lady Miss Kier in the 1990 video for Groove Is in the Heart...also worn by Madonna in Truth or Dare in a different version)...which I've always thought wasn't really me. They are so cute & comfortable...I'm obsessed & want them in the closed toe gold glitter edition. 

I adore this Wendy grape themed necklace I've had forever...I'm sure the proportions are off now for my body...but I still enjoy bold...so I say it works. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Voodoo; Cyber Punk, Purple Dust, & Freak eyeshadow from UD; Violet Voss eyeshadow in Champagne; Grape lipliner by MAC; Dirty Little Secret lipliner in Pale Pink; Spiced Plum lipstick from Bite Beauty; & POP nail polish in This Is A Slick Up. 

Driving out to Spring Green...we passed this car in the parking lot of Gordon's Drive-In Restaurant in Mazomanie...David had to ask me 3 times if I wanted to pull over to take a look at it...it's a joke (is it a joke if it's true?) between us...he has to ask me every question 3 times...because it usually goes like this: no, no, yes. By the time I said yes, we had to turn around & go back. Totally worth it though...how cool is this car?! 

At APT on another pleasant evening...we have had great weather this summer. Notice David is also wearing purple & green...I love how he tries to coordinate with me. 

During the week...there are musicians playing on the theatre grounds...I'm not sure why they don't also have music on weekends...it's really charming. I made us a version of Kate's Taste the Rainbow Salad...with roasted veggies & chicken. It was delightfully delicious. I adore picnicking. 

Inside...The Royale...my hopes were not high for this play & it ended up being my favorite so far this summer...a wonderful surprise...so well acted & staged. We buy tickets to all the shows APT puts on...it's always worth the risk to find gems like this that we wouldn't have picked otherwise. 

I wore this dress a second time to spend the day at Sundara, a spa in the Wisconsin Dells. Well, I took it off as soon as we arrived & spent the day in my bathing suit and/or robe...but it covered me both before & after. I had booked 5 services for David, & 3 for me...I should have done more...next time. Like true only children...we prefer to spend the day by ourselves & not getting joint services done. I began with the Purifying Bath Ritual. 

Followed by my first service, an 80 minute Signature Body Polish & Massage...luxurious. My only complaint is that they ignore the area from just above my knees to my neck in front...& knees to waist in back. I'd love to have my stomach massaged & my butt exfoliated & massaged...my entire body really. After that...I meandered upstairs to the restaurant & had lunch...just missing David...he had a more jam packed day than I did with not much downtime between appointments. I ordered Ahi Tuna (Napa slaw, avocado, sriracha aioli, sesame crackers) & a Chicken Caesar Wrap (grilled chicken breast, romaine, shaved parmesan, creamy caesar dressing, spinach tortilla). After a relaxing meal...I scurried back downstairs...just in time for my Hops & Citrus Pedicure...though I declined the local ale that came with it...I'm just not a beer person. 

My toes freshly painted...I lounged in various areas inside & read in every pool...

I had been in the outside pools earlier...just admiring the forest view from the infinity pool & briefly walking around...but my hat could only protect me so much from the bright rays of the sun...but by mid-afternoon...I found a satisfyingly serene shady spot. Back inside lounging & eating an orange waiting for my final appointment of the day, Fountain of Youth Vitamin C Facial. This was by far my favorite, most relaxing, service. I fell asleep several times.  

Back in the locker room...this is what my hair looked like after having everyone rub my scalp all day long. My esthetician asked if I wanted deep extractions on the bumps on my forehead...so of course I said yes...I can't remember what those are...calcium deposits? She poked them with a needle & they stayed red for a few days. Shower time & a quick application of a little eye make-up...I couldn't quite bring myself to cover up my happy glowing clean face. A short drive down the road for dinner. 

Ishnala...I've wanted to come here for decades...& here we finally are. They were closed for the season when we spent the day at Sundara in February...it's the ideal dinner destination after a day at the spa...mostly because it's probably the only non-chain restaurant in The Dells. This place is stuck in the 50s, which is both a good & a bad thing. The good, it was charming & reminded me of the places we used to go to with my paternal grandparents...they would have loved it here...so it was nostalgic for me. The bad, cultural appropriation. 

The supper club is located back in the woods on Mirror Lake...it's a beautiful area. There was a 2 hour wait (even on a Thursday, totally normal), but they have 5 bars throughout the property & it goes quickly. We started off in the Pow Wow Bar as it seemed the least busy & overlooked the pretty lake. David ordered a Chocolatini & I had to try their Brandy Old-Fashioned (the classic supper club drink), typically I get it sweet, but the bartender gave me an option I hadn't heard of before, so of course I had to try it...press. Sweet is made with 7-up, sour is with Squirt, & press is half 7-up/half soda water. 

We also got some appetizers... Wisconsin Cheese Curds with Ranch dressing (can't get more midwest than that) & Escargot Bourguignonne...it's all about the delectable garlic butter, for which they gave us a warm crusty sourdough to soak it all up. David with his Tipsy Canoe (Rumhaven coconut rum, New Amsterdam pineapple vodka with fresh squeezed lime juice & sour mix).

After eating some food, we took a walk through the grounds...

And played this impossible game where you are supposed to be able to throw the ring over the hook on the board...& the first person to 21 wins. We both tried several dozen times with no luck at all. 

That's a lot of Old Fashioneds in under 4 months. If you look closely...you can see the singer playing his guitar outside through the door between the dead animals. I enjoyed listening to him while we were wandering outside...but Frank Sinatra took over whenever we got close to the parking lot. 

Back in the main building, we tried a different bar so we'd be close to the hostess station when our buzzer went off. David got another snack...Totem Pole Bloody Mary piled high with a little of everything. I enjoyed his Tipsy Canoe so much, I ordered one of my own. 

Buzzzzzz...it was finally our turn for a table. We were seated with a view of the lake & the setting sun. There was a cheese ball & packaged bread sticks at our table! What a throwback...I used to love those as a kid, especially the ones with sesame seeds. We also got a bread basket with our salad...I asked for a Caesar with anchovies, yum...& there were cinnamon rolls hidden under the dinner rolls. 

Main courses...David got a Filet Mignon, rare, with a side of sweet potatoes & mushrooms...while I enjoyed Roast Wisconsin Duck (oven roasted with a sage dressing & served with an orange cognac sauce & Wollersheim brandy cherry sauce) with a side of au gratin potatoes. And a Moscow Mule to end the evening. This is such an unusual experience...like traveling back in time...it's a destination worth taking in at least once...The Mack Daddy of Supper Clubs. 

 

The Lowest Pair // Lucille with Brian // Tattoo

Dress: Lysette Maxi Dress by Free People (size M) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: former Etsy shop

Bracelet: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Sexy Boho maxi in warm brown...couldn't be more me. I could live in this all summer long. The neckline was plunging, but I could still wear a bra without it showing. There were ties at both the top & bottom of the waist that could be tightened, with bells at the ends...I enjoy making noise, so I liked that. There was a short lining on this cotton/rayon dress, pockets, & a side slit that showed a bit of leg when the wind blew. Lightweight & flowy...the ideal hot weather dress, although it did wrinkle easily. A good maxi length for me as I could wear heels or flats. I wore this so much I contemplated keeping it. 

I paired this with brown heels once, but all the other times I wore the sandals pictured for a casual look. 

My circle crossbody bag in sunflower that was gifted to me by Portland Leather was a great match in both color & style.

I never took photos of the make-up I wore with this outfit, but I used the Huda Beauty eyeshadow palette I wear a lot & I tried a color I hadn't used before, Saffron...it's a flattering warm reddish shade. Note to self: use it more often. 

I wore this dress on the last day Brian was in Madison visiting. We relaxed on the front porch...drinking coffee & chatting...before heading over to the Sunday north side farmers' market. I bought flowers & rye bread for breakfast. 

Brunch outside at our newly painted table. I made us smoked salmon cream cheese omelets with roasted veggies (asparagus, scapes, & spring onions), rye toast with blueberry jam my mom made, & market strawberries. YUM. I love breakfast, but I don't eat it often. After dining...Brian & I went back to Sessions//Pursuit of Happiness music fest. We got excellent parking & witnessed the painting of a new mural on the side of Mother Fools. 

An advantage of arriving early...you get a bonus show while the band does their sound check. Kate & Jason. Jason likes to take photos of us getting ready to have our picture taken...I'm not sure why...outtakes? Candids? Me & Kate. 

Standing up front for The Lowest Pair. We've seen them a bunch of times & they're always fantastic. Afterwards, I bought a t-shirt...did I also get their newest vinyl? I can't recall...I wasn't sure if I had it or not...I wonder what I decided? This is what happens when you get old. 

They made quite a bit of progress on the mural. Brian & I decided to have dinner at Lucille al fresco. The cocktails were fabulous, as always...

This was Brian's first time eating there (we'd gotten drinks the last time he was in town, but they were always too busy for us to get a meal). We ordered our usual, with a bonus guac & chips (it was too much food), steel pan pork shoulder nachos & Al Pastor steel pan pizza. It was all yummy.

We brought some pizza home for David. The 3 of us hanging out in the backyard with dogs again...& wine. 

The next time I wore this dress was to try clothes on at Goodwill after a lymphatic massage from Courtney. Apparently, my future self is really into separates. 

I wore this dress another time to get a new tattoo from Bear. As usual, they took my idea & made it better than I imagined...seahorse woman...merhorse? Not sure what to call her. It's the last big area on my lower legs...any other tattoos there will just be small fillers. 

This one is pretty, while the mermaid is more sinister...I wanted her to be someone you wouldn't mess with...not sexually available...there are already enough attractive mermaids. After the appointment...I walked down to Vinny's...where I did not find much. I got the sleep shorts covered in oranges. 

Checking out the Rooted farmers' market at Troy Farm in our neighborhood...& coming home to make dinner. We had a Napa cabbage from our CSA, so I made miso roasted riced cauliflower & salmon & served it on top of that for crunch & freshness. The final time I wore this dress was for my first appointment with Karen Hanson. I think I may have had my last period in January or February, which makes me oddly sad. Karen is an NP that specializes in women's hormones, so I wanted her to run tests on me to see where I was at to figure out what the next step should be.

And of course...since her office is near Vinny's on the west side...

I got everything I tried on except for the black lace dress, which I LOVED, but didn't fit. Back at home...I made us a tasty salad & roasted zucchini. I got a few packages...from eBay, these gorgeous shimmery gold & black Chie Mihara heels...& a Traffic People gold glittery dress from Poshmark that will be lovely in autumn. 

 

Dinners with David // Mike Birbiglia

Dress: Saffron Maxi Dress by Free People (size M) via Nuuly

Sandals: Fluevog, Picnic: Kerry

Earrings & Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets & Purse: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

What a stunner of a dress! As usual with Nuuly, this came to me with the tags still on (5/6 of my items typically do). The colors were incredibly joyous & vibrant...it made me smile just looking at it. The cotton/linen blend & back baring halter makes it an excellent sexy summer maxi. It was a great fit & length on me...except for the chest area...it was big up top & bowed out on the sides...I used fashion tape to prevent too much side boob from showing, but it didn't stick for long. That did not prevent me from wearing this twice & feeling like a temptress. Also, with one pull...I could flash you my boobs...no one is putting on a bra with this maxi. 

Showing off my back scar...I think scars are hot. 

And one of the most exciting things about this dress...I got to wear my new colorful Fluevogs David got me when we were in Chicago. Oh, how I wish John made more sandals. 

And of course, I had the perfect Wendy creations to compliment this ensemble...although I yearn for more bracelets from her. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Psychedelic Sister; RSVP, Lime Crime, & Twonicorn eyeshadow by Lime Crime; UD lipliner in Bang & 714; Bang & No-Tell Motel lipstick from UD; & OPI nail polish in ¡Viva OPI!

I first donned this dress to go out to dinner & a play with David. 

Fluefie! We had reservations at one place, but they wouldn't let us sit outside (short-staffed), so we called Lucille & they had an opening. It was just too gorgeous to eat inside. In keeping with the weather, I ordered a Tropical Spritz (Chinola passion fruit liqueur, Agave de Cortes, lime juice, seltzer, cava, orange & Peychaud's bitters), while David chose Rosé Tinted Glasses (Ilegal Reposado, Lustau Rosé, Vermut, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, grapefruit).

We had our usual meal from here...Pork Shoulder Steel Pan Nachos (smoked mozzarella, Queso, sour cream, pickled onion & jalapeño, Pico de Gallo, cilantro) & Al Pastor Steel Pan Pizza (Aji basil cream, mozzarella, roasted mojo pork, adobo sauce, blistered tomatillo pineapple salsa, cilantro). YUM. We sometimes add things, but I can't imagine not getting these two. Our second round of cocktails were a Banana Daiquiri (Ron Colón red banana oleo, lime juice, sugar) for David & a Saturn (Death's Door gin, Chinola passionfruit liqueur, Lucky Falernum, lime juice, orgeat) for me. 

After our meal, we walked over to the Bartell to see Laced. We would have left at intermission, but there wasn't one...& this production was set up so you'd have to parade through the stage to exit, so...we were stuck. It was just not a well written play & was poorly acted. This bronze statue came to us from the UK...we love her. 

The second time I wore this dress was to dine with David again...this time at Fairchild. Our first time here a year ago was just average, but we wanted to give them another shot. This is our friend Lindsay's favorite restaurant in Madison & the two chefs were nominated for James Beard Best Chef Midwest. We began with cocktails, for David, a Root Beer Sazerac (Willett Family Estate rye, muscatel pasas, root beer, Chateau saü Rancio, herbsaint, Peychaud's) & I tried a Pineapple Express (mezcal, grilled pineapple, coconut, Okar Island bitters, lime). I loved my drink...& liked David's...which was good because he didn't, so I finished it. He replaced it with a Money Runner (bourbon, quince, Amara Rossa Siciliana, lemon, Campari)...which was much more to his liking.We started our meal with some snacks...first up, Cured Hamachi (cucumber, dill, trout roe).
Followed by...Maitake Tempura with lemon aioli & Seven Seeds Beef Tartare (potato pave, oscietra caviar)...those mushrooms were outstanding. On to the appetizers...Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio (tonnato, Don's Produce cucumber, tomato, olive) & Veal Sweetbreads (mustard greens, black garlic, ramp sausage jus). I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the sweetbreads as that's not always my thing.  

We remembered liking this drink last time we were here...Rhunette (rhubarb, Tito's vodka, Vietti moscato, mint). We told our waitress we were trying them again after a mediocre first visit & she & the chef showered us with free stuff...like wine to complement our Entrees & Moua Family Farm Bok Choy with Thai vinaigrette (this was delectable...I've never liked bok choy more). For my main course I had Cappellini (smoked shrimp, ramp pesto, lemon verbena nage). I picked this based on the toppings, but I prefer more substantial pasta (like David's). 

David's dinner...Pappardelle Bolognese (Cate's beef, Seven Seeds pork, veal, foie gras, nutmeg, cream)...this was delicious. Another free plate from the kitchen, Blue Valley Gardens Asparagus (preserved lemon, sarvecchio)...yum...they do veggies right. My final cocktail, Verbena (bourbon, Pear Williams eau de vie, coriander, chartreuse, curaçao, suze, honey).

David's last drink, Monkey Business (Ron Colón red banana oleo rum, velvet falernum, lime). The only disappointment of the evening came in the dessert...which we both got one of, Flourless Chocolate Cake with Pistachio Ice Cream. It was dry & lacked depth of flavor. The ice cream was good. We let our waitress know & she told us they've had a difficult time finding anyone to make desserts & took them off our bill. Overall, it was a delightful dinner...sometimes second chances work out. Also, it was good timing on our part as the two chefs, Itaru Nagano & Andrew Kroeger, won the James Beard award for Best Chef Midwest shortly after our visit...so it is much harder to get a reservation now. 

On to Mike Birbiglia...I only found out he was coming to Madison a few weeks before while we were walking by Comedy on State on our way to see Billy Porter. I immediately went online to buy tickets only to discover they were sold out. I wrote to the venue to ask if there was a waitlist & the nice lady I had an exchange with got me in a few days before. Two drink minimum at the club...David had a Chocolate Espresso Martini & OMG...real ice cream drinks! I got a classic, Brandy Alexander (brandy & creme de cacao)...later, David tried a Skrewed Up (Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, creme de cacao, banana).

We got there early enough to get seated up front...so I had time for my second drink before the show began...Mudslide (Irish creme, coffee liqueur, vodka). Honestly, these 2 ice cream drinks were a better dessert than what we'd gotten at Fairchild. Mike Birbiglia was great, as always...but this one was a bit rough as it wasn't a fully formed show yet...he's still working it out (as the title states).