Concert on the Square featuring Accordion

 Dress: Multi Hexagon Print Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: Thrifted

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I adore these fit & flare dresses from Melissa Masse...I just wish they had an empire waist...I say, every single time I wear one. This dress, with its unexpected color combo, was fabulous...I lost track of the compliments I received. Fantastic fit.

The right arm of this dress was tight on me...that arm is 3 inches larger than my left arm. Asymmetrical hair...asymmetrical arms.

This multicolored Wendy necklace goes with everything!

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Roxy; Violet Voss eyeshadow in Donut, Pineapple, Lemonade, & Seashell; Nylon lipstick from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics; & Teal the Cows Come Home nail polish by OPI. 

I first wore this outfit to attend Concerts on the Square with Kate. I got there early & it was just so lovely in the shade of the trees. however...there was one loud lady...which I had managed to mostly block out until a homeless woman came around asking for money...loud lady said to her, what did I tell you yesterday?! Homeless woman answers faintly...you told me to get a job. As if that wasn't dreadful enough...she & her friends talked & laughed about it for 15 minutes. I felt angry, sad, & empty. Then the girlie showed up & everything was better. She brought wine. And hunted down food. We chose this particular concert because it featured an accordion player...yet, we wanted *more* accordion. 

My Boxy Charm box was waiting for me when I got home. The next day David & I hit up Decon to see what was new...we came home with several antique clock carcasses that we'll use to disguise speakers & hang earrings from. That white wrought iron fence would have come home with us if it hadn't already been sold...the flowers were so beautiful...I'd never seen anything like it. Other things I did on Wednesday & Thursday in this dress...bought flowers at farmers' market, saw a neat old car in the co-op parking lot, & got new glasses. 

Then I changed into some painting clothes, painted...then had Sal's pizza with David, Angie, & Freddie! On Friday, I wore this outfit for the last time...to work & check out the Big Gay Garage Sale...because how could you not want to go to something named that?! I came home with a few lovely things from some warm lovely people. It made me smile. 

20th Girlieversary

 Dress: Heirloom Rose Garden Dress by MM2 (size 4x) via eBay

Leggings: LuLaRoe (size TC2) via eBay

All Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Shoes: Born

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I'm a fabulously flowery fatty! When I had this dress from GB, I was disappointed in the textured fabric, but now I'm not sure why. I remember LOVING the colors, so when I saw it on eBay, I bought it. I last wore this dress in spring of 2015. It's splendid, the only thing I would change is where the waist seam is located...I prefer an empire waist. This is the perfect spring dress, but it would be too hot for summer. 

How amazing do these leggings look with this dress?!? Too much?? Never!

And to keep the extra extra going...this gloriously grandiose necklace from the wonderful Wendy, which I've only worn one other time. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Overdrive; Buttercupcake & Flamepoint eyeshadow by Sugarpill Cosmetics; Kat von D eyeshadow in Legend, Swoon, & Löve; MAC lipstick in So Chaud & Habanero; & Essie nail polish in Aim to Misbehave. 

I wore this magnificent outfit to go out to dinner with Kate for our 20th girlieversary. Happy Hour Oysters...

 Pretty girlies outside on the patio at Tempest...

 20!

I love oysters so much...plain, without any of the stuff they bring with it...

 YUM! 

I don't know what my life would have been like without Kate in it...much lonelier & boring. No matter how stormy our relationship has been throughout the years, she's always been there for me...to call me out on being a bitch, to telling me she believes in me. We've become much saner, happier girlies in the last 20 years & I look forward to another 20 years of adventures with her. I love you, Kate...thank you for being my bezzer. 

Kate posted this on Facebook on our anniversary:

20 years ago today, a gorgeous girlie (who I had a huge online crush on) picked me up from work in downtown Chicago and we met in person for the first time! This picture was taken later that month in Meshel's backyard in Madison, where I had moved by the end of the year. She was not the first woman I had a crush on, but she was the first woman I fell in love with. Our tumultuous relationship eventually grew into an amazing, enduring friendship. 

Happy girlieversary the best bestest girlie anyone could ever hope for!! I love you, girlie, and I'm incredibly grateful to have you in my life! I have had so many incredible experiences with you and learned so much from our relationship in these past 20 years!!!! 

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you...

I have been changed for good."

A Reuben A Day

 Dress: Pleated Navy Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Shirt: Notations, thrifted

Leggings: LuLaRoe (size TC2) via eBay 

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Elephant Necklace & Bracelets: Vintage

Other Necklaces: Babil & Bijou, former Etsy shop

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The crinkled pleated skirt on this dress was lovely...I wish the whole dress had been made of that fabric...the top was just a plain jersey knit. The fit & length were spot on for me. This dress was comfortable & could be dressed up or down with endless color combinations. I tried to dress it up like a circus tent here. 

These LuLaRoe leggings have quickly become my favorite...while it is true, they are buttery soft...what I truly adore is how tightly they fit to the leg...the Torrid leggings are too baggy at the ankles for me.

When in doubt...throw all of your circus-y necklaces on at once...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; Violet Voss eyeshadow in Buttercup, Seaform, Royal, & Indigo; UD eyeshadow in Intergalactic; NYX lip palette in The Plums; & I Sea You Wear OPI nail polish by OPI. 

I wore this dress to work with David on 2 different days & both of those days...I had a reuben for lunch. We also stopped in to Deconstruction Inc to look at driveway material possibilities. For several minutes...we contemplated using this old mausoleum granite for our driveway & walkway. I think it might have been neat if we liked black & white...but we want more color. I am smitten with this sunflower table & chair. 

The reuben at The Old Fashioned was delightful...& their cheese curds are one of the top 3 in Madison.

Jim Jefferies

 Dress: Scoop Neck Plaid Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Rafaella, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors in Yellow

Boots: Doc Martens

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I adored this well-made Melissa Masse dress...the plaid pattern with shots of yellow sunshine through it, the fit, length, & twirl...it was perfection. The fabric is substantial with 3/4 sleeves & would be a great dress to wear when the temperature is 60s & below. I'm hoping this dress comes back to live with me someday because there are so many styling possibilities.

Shiny red boots...how happy I am that I found you!

This is my first time wearing all of this jewelry...trying not to get stuck in a rut with just my go-to favorites...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion, Too Faced eyeshadow in Crème Brûlée & Marzipan, Yellow Huda Beauty eyeshadow from the Electric Obsession palette, NYX lipstick in Perfect Red, & Little Red Wagon nail polish by OPI. 

I wore this outfit to travel to Milwaukee with David to see our current favorite comedian, Jim Jefferies. Our previous favorite comedian, Louis CK, did not work out so well. We believe in you, Jim! The beautiful Riverside Theatre...

The best part of the night was when a crazy lady from the audience gave him a hat she knit for him...spontaneous funniness is the best...& she gave him a lot to work with. I got a few compliments on my outfit & one for my laugh. Ha!

Gratuitous cute baby photo...taken while I was not wearing this outfit, but the day before. 

Futurebirds // Them Coulee Boys

 Dress: Sleeveless Jade Red & Blue Print Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lands End (size 3x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou, former etsy shop

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Kate, Jason, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was a mess...it was extremely heavy & the lining showed around the neckline. I nearly just sent it back without wearing it. The colors & pattern were pretty enough that I thought it deserved a wear, but just iPhone photos. 

Kate didn't understand my choice of cardigan...but I think it's perfect. What say you?

I can't remember the last time I dyed my hair...May? This is practically my own hair color. I want to do something different for autumn...but not sure what. Darker red straight asymmetrical bob?

My make-up with this outfit included...Deep Blue eyeliner by NYX, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Heroine & Last Sin, Love + eyeshadow from Sugarpill, NYX lip palette in The Reds, & Little Red Wagon nail polish by OPI. 

Hi, cute girlies!

Silly girlies...

Fooding before the show...

Them Coulee Boys starting out the night. We've seen them before, so I was looking forward to them...but holy buckets were they on fire! It turns out they tried to play the barn four years ago & were turned down, so they had something to prove. Amazing! I hope they come back for a full night next year. 

Futurebirds from Athens, Georgia...& not one mention of REM. They were alright.

My Wednesday farmers' market flowers from earlier in the day...dahlias darling. I wore this dress again the next day without makeup to run errands, make cauliflower & salmon with crispy garlic for lunch for David & I...then go over to Angie's to be mobbed by dogs & put together IKEA furniture. All the doggies!