On Your Feet!

 Dress: Bluebell Print Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy

Footless Tights: We Love Colors in Olive

Sandals: Jambu

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

It's another gorgeous print of this Melissa Masse Magic Dress...such a fantastic style & cut...this dress looks good on everyone. I immediately bought it...it looks like a vintage botanical print from a book...exquisite. It is basically the perfect dress, I just wish the waistband were up higher for me. 

I own several of these dresses...some of which I haven't worn yet...I last wore this style in thistle bohemian border (my favorite pattern), also in...claret mandala floret, pink & black (the original), orange kaleidoscope, tangerine prism, midnight plaid jacquard (I wish I would have bought this one)...I know there are more, but those are all I could find. 

David bought me these sandals over a year ago at a shoe garage sale a woman has twice a year...I'm not sure where she gets them all, but I usually find at least one pair I have to have. If you enlarge the photo above...you will see the cute flowers on the side.

I packed this dress to move before I could take pictures of the make-up & jewelry. 

I wore this dress to attend Kate's summer work party...look, the capitol! We went to the Overture Center to see the play, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan. Not something either of us would have thought to go to...but, free. 

Cute Kate tries on my necklace...

You all know how I like to sit nearly on the stage...so this was a completely different experience for me...up in the balcony. My May Play! box...& my favorite mascara & Ulta birthday gift of Nars Orgasm blush...so pretty. And! I bought my first (& only?) pair of LuLaRoe leggings for $10 on eBay. 

No make-up & resting bitch face Torrid dressing room photos. I went in to pick up a legging order...& they had buy 1, get 2 free on all clearance items. That white skirt was too lovely to pass up...I'm going to dye it...orange? yellow? purple?

Spring Sweater Dress Weather

 Dress: Sweater Dress in Ultra Violet Print by Taylor Dresses via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy

Teggings: Re/Dress

Boots: Steve Madden

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Longer Necklace: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Apparently, I bought this dress back in December 2015...& never wore it. I searched through my blog...certain I'd worn it before...& it's just not there. I grabbed it out of my closet because I didn't have any GB at home & we've had a cold spring...so it's still sweater dress weather here. The color & pattern on this dress are fantastic, good length & fit...the only downside for me was the set-in waist not being an empire. 

This was the second photo shoot in a row where it started raining just as we got out there. 

Still searching for countertops for our bathroom. I remembered this recycled glass countertop being pretty...so we went to look again...there is maintenance involved...that is not going to work for us. Indian buffet is always the best.

Sadie! I met Angie & Toby at the food carts to get dinner...which we took back to their place to eat (cold & rainy). Dogs were so cute, I forgot to take pictures of my food...what did I get? A grilled cheese sandwich with hot dogs & fixings on it. It was good. But, Val! And look at adorable Molly peeking out from under the table...

Angie & I went to the Verona Library to see dog behaviorist, Patricia McConnell speak. I had missed her when she was in Madison recently & Angie had enjoyed going enough to go again. Her latest book is a memoir of her traumas & how her dog helped her face them & heal (I haven't read the book yet). She mostly spoke about her past rape, traumas, & PTSD. I think these are important issues to talk about, however, I was curious if the audience was expecting that...or for her to talk about dogs. I was expecting her to talk about dogs...but I enjoyed the reading.

More tin from Deconstruction, Inc for our living room & dining room ceiling. These Eastern Bluebells must have appealed to me since I took a photo...I think she said they like shade & spread like wildfire...sounds like something I can't kill. 

Shoes! Spotted at market. I had forgotten about them until I was looking through pictures for this post...I searched for them online & found them on sale. Now I have a pair of my very own! Oh, Google...is there anything you can't do? David & I shopping at Menards for fencing options. 

April's Sephora Play! I'm wearing that black liner in these photos...I LOVE it...it's my new favorite waterproof liner. David & I checked out this woman's shoe sale...they have it twice a year & I usually find something...

I came home with these cute red Jambu sandals...& a few doilies. Then...more looking at countertop options...Rye does not approve. 

Another farmers' market with the girlie...this dress saw a lot of action. Spectacular pointy avocado green chairs & table spotted at ReStore....& more looking at countertops...so depressing...

Picking out paint is much more fun, but so many decisions. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Waterproof eyeliner in M-10 (matte black), Black Metal & Anthem eyeshadow by Kat von D, Anastasia eyeshadow in Vermeer & Primavera, Stila Liquid Lipstick in Aria, & Get Cherried Away nail polish from OPI. 

Spring Girlie Happy Hour

 Dress: Brigitte Dress in Point of Sail by Cherry Velvet (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Boden, thrifted

Earring & Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to girlie happy hour with...the girlie (of course). Oh, Cherry Velvet...how I've missed you! I adore these cotton retro inspired frocks...such a lovely change from all the poly that most fat chick clothing is made of. Cherry Velvet produces adorable dresses in fantastic prints in sizes XS-4X...I know that range does not include everyone...but it makes me giddy when brands do a wide range of sizes rather than exclusively plus. These dresses get extra soft as you wash them. Also, pockets...if you care about those kinds of things (apparently I'm the only one who doesn't...so I don't get it...what would I put in there?). I didn't buy this one, but I have ~6 in my closet that you will see here this summer...because I'd live in these if I could. This is my first Cherry Velvet in size 4x, I've always worn 3x in the past & they've been slightly snug. I've had this style in red & white in a 3x...& you can see the cute back that I forgot to get a photo of this time around. Check out this Magic Carpet dress I am lusting over. ***tldr...I LOVE Cherry Velvet.***

Girlie Happy Hour...now with 2 girlies with glasses! Merchant's spring drink menu called for much sampling. However, I am still thinking about the drink I couldn't have...because they were out of their housemade blackberry-thyme syrup (this clearly demands another trip soon). Our waitress was super sweet about my near-tears disappointment & suggested I start out with a Chamomile-y Cyrus...which sounded good, but it was difficult to get past the name...especially when Kate's first drink, Raspberry Beer-et, was named after a *much* cooler performer.

More cocktails...& food...frites, cheese curds, beet salad, peach/ginger/carrot soup, & Szechuan green beans. 

Somewhere between our second & third drinks, Kate informed me that her mom wants to go to all 40 states. The girlie says cute things & I take note of them in my phone...but always forget to add them to blog entries...the last time we were at Merchant I told her she looked cute as I took her picture on the way out...& she responded...is drunk the same thing as cute?

My last cocktail was interactive, Another Tequila Sunrise...I got to pour the drink over the hibiscus-agave ice cube & watch it change colors...then we melted the ice cube over the candle. Girlie cocktails are the *best*. 

Play! by Sephora....April box. This is so much fun to get in the mail! So far the only thing I've tried is the Sunshine Oil...it has a delightful citrusy smell & worked wonders on a dry patch on my cheek. 

I ordered foundation & eyeliner during Sephora's last sale & used some of my points to get this First Aid Beauty Flawlessly Fab Skin box...which (of course) I haven't tried yet. I'm usually about 2 weeks behind on blog posts...so that gives me *plenty* of time to try out this stuff before sharing it here. Last Labor Day weekend...I went swimming a lot in Neil's pool while Brian was visiting...that bathing suit was hanging to dry in our bathroom until we had friends over for Easter brunch. I get to things...eventually. 

I had a $25 off a $50 purchase code from the last time I ordered from Torrid...& couldn't resist these DONUT leggings!!! The lace floral ones are pretty sweet too. And...my second dress from Lady Voluptuous...this fantastically adorable fruit dress went on sale for $40...so it had to be mine. My first dress from them was an orange poppy print in my usual size, but it was a bit big...so I got this one a size down & it's perfect (UK size 26/28 = US size 22/24). 

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Blue eyeliner by NYX; Flamepoint eyeshadow by Sugarpill; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Freeze, Heroine, & Undone; Blood Orange lipstick by Bite Beauty, MAC lipstick in Korean Candy, & OPI nail polish in Mod-ern Girl. 

40th Birthday Girlie

 Dress: Skater Dress in Red with Keyhole by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee, Try Then Buy (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Liz & Me, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Boden, garage sale

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Age Before Beauty

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work on one day, then several days later to work again & to Kate's birthday wine group. I couldn't quite bring myself to send this dress back despite not loving the boob window...which is not a very good thing to wear to work. However, when the dress passed Kate approval & it was on sale for only $30...I had to keep it. Also, it is nearly the same dress as this (without the cutout, but an odd waist placement)...& I have been sad I let it go ever since. This dress hit me just at the knee, had a fabulous flare to the skirt, & had no defined waist...which I love...I prefer an empire waist or none (notice how the similar dress I linked to had a waist that hit me in a random area). This red was more persimmon than a true red...warm & bright, nearly verging on orange. Yes! Also, wonderful 60s vibe texture. My only complaint about this dress is the enormous exposed gold zipper in back trend that I despise. Now I'm glad I sent the first dress back & bought this one instead. As always, this brand runs a size large on me, so the 24 is a great fit. My tongue...it is always trying to escape my mouth...

It was cold & windy out on this day...so we opted for indoor photos at the downtown library...the lighting inside is never as good...but this background is the best...here is a full length photo of the bookend art display that you've seen here many times...

Snow! It didn't stick around long, but we've gotten so little snow this winter that it is still exciting. Doggies!

Kate turned 40! this week! When I met her she was a mere 23 & I had just turned 29. Instead of having a birthday party, she decided to just make her weekly wine group her celebration...luckily, I was invited. 

So much amazing wine...including a bottle of 1976 Chinon that is the same age as the girlie. 

Flourless chocolate torte with raspberries on top, delicious. I usually make the girlie cake, but another of her friends offered...so I cried, then made olive tapenade which is something we used to make a lot & I had forgotten how tasty it was. Smeared on baguette, it is delightful.

 Beware the girlie with a big knife & cleavage. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Kat von D Dark Wave eyeshadow as liner (it perfectly matched the blue in the shoes I wore the first time I donned this dress, for Kate's party I wore black liner), a mixture of Love + & Flamepoint eyeshadows from Sugarpill, NYX Russian Roulette lipstick combined with Blood Orange from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in The Spy Who Loved me. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

 Dress: Geneva Wrap Dress in Ocean Wave by Igigi (size 26/28)

Cardigan: Avenue

Scarf: garage sale

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Dansko

Pin: Vintage

Earring: The Gilded Gypsies

Photography: Super Boo & Me (Canon Rebel & iPhone)

I wore this outfit to work, out to dinner with Super Boo, & to see one of my favorite movies. I bought this dress from Igigi during their Labor Day sale...I just can't resist stripes & I adore how these change directions. I also bought this style of dress in green palma print because I love wrap dresses & these feminine fluttery sleeves. I'm not so sure about the scarf, what do you think? I have a rather large collection of scarves that I never wear, so when I spied this stripy number while searching for socks...I threw it on. 

Outside of Italy, this pizza from Cafe Porta Alba is the best I've ever had. I got my usual Quattro Formaggi, but we also shared what is now my new favorite...Rustica- pancetta, balsamic caramelized onions, & fresh mozzarella (no tomato sauce). It was delightful. After dinner we popped into DB Chocolates for a sweet fix. 

This was the third time I've seen Nightmare Before Christmas in the theatre. The first time was when it was originally released, the second time was with Kate for its 10th anniversary, & then with Super Boo (who hadn't seen it since it was first in theatres). I love this charmingly dark love story & have a collection of movie memorabilia, of which I am especially fond of the snow globes. 

So many colors & stripes...