Preppy Stripes

Dress: Green Stanton Dress by Hutch (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Chinese Laundry

Earring: etXarte

Necklaces & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The pretty green & pink stripes drew me to this dress...even though it was a shapeless shift...but where am I going? And my GB closet is tiny...so, why not? I sized up so I would have hip/belly/butt room...which, of course...made it too large on top. It was fine for a week of doing teletherapy. Also, check out the excellent color match on these teggings.

These shoes were part of the $10 shoes I bought off eBay...they are a creme & tan snake print & the best match in my closet for this outfit. A bit of subtle pattern mixing.  

A green smokey eye & piles of pink jewelry to bring out the pink stripes. I feel almost preppy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew, UD eyeshadow in Mildew, Dominique Cosmetics eyeshadow in Eternal Light, Big Bang lipstick from UD, MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam VI, & Dragon nail polish by A England. 

Several months ago, I brought these leopard LaFont frames with me to my eye appointment to get the prescription updated. David bought them for me nearly 20 years ago. I finally decided to pick them up & drop some other frames off (these are my computer glasses & the other ones will be for distance). I passed though downtown which is covered in BLM art. This red/green/black bracelet is from a French designer, Marion Godart, that I found on eBay. Sean Hayes with a new accompanist on piano. 

The Dr. Martens site had some 50% off boots...& I couldn't resist these plaid ones. Also, 2 different veggie patterned cotton fabrics for making summer dresses. Someday. And! A video chat with my girlie! I was going to go over to her place & sit on the lawn in the shade, but, I was feeling slow & it was hot...so we decided on next weekend instead. 

Yesterday, we got take-out pizza from Sal's...yum...& ate it while watching tv. A bit of live entertainment on Facebook...CeCe painting a stencil she created...& a surprise Mary Lou Lord...which caused me to listen to her on Spotify for the rest of the night. 

 

The Devil on The Girlie's Shoulder

Dress: Picnic Delight Fit & Flare Dress by Eva Rose (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

All Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

Picnic Delight is the perfect name for this festive frock. The fit & length were spot on for me & I adore the matching v-necks in front & back...just a cute summer touch. The fabric on this dress is extra soft & the arm holes fit well. I wouldn't change a thing about it. 

I wish I could have worn this for picnicking outside at APT. It was a wonderful hot weather dress for me all week...I wore it to do teletherapy, pickup at farmers' market, & for a porch visit with Kate & Jason. 

This is my first time wearing this stunner from Wendy...wow, I just love her massive floral creations...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Moss, Lime Crime eyeshadow in Candles & Ten, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions palette, NYX lipstick in 507, Dozen Carnations lipstick by MAC, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going To The Game?

A bottle of wine before dinner...this bottle did not survive the years & needed a bit of Super Boo help...he added blueberries, ginger, lemon peel, & cardamom to make this delightful to sip. I also picked up fresh veggies at market, & this amazing cabinet my friend Michael alerted me to on FB Marketplace. It is stunning.

Fresh peaches from Georgia...we got a 25 pound box. SistaStrings that I nearly missed live...I was sitting online & forgot until Kate reminded me...they are fantastic & really are sisters. I watched Jennifer Petra Grimm for a while on the recommendation of Davina. Then I switched over to APT's premiere of their latest play reading...Marcus was the first one on screen (my favorite!). 

Carlyle Brown's "Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been..." Which I need to finish watching. Harmonious Wail underneath the oak tree, a song from Jake'O & a bumper sticker I saw on my way to pick up at farmers' market. 

Last Saturday I perused Art Fair on The Square online...although had it been in person, we would have gone on the much nicer weather day...Sunday. 

All the art in our office is Bruce Holwerda...so I feel like we can't have any at home. 

The artist who stood out to me the most this year was Dewey James & this woman walking a toy dog. Matt, DJ Eurotic, playing a 4 hour 80s/90s goth club set on Saturday...I was only able to listen for the first 1/2 hour...& elly was on...so, it was like I was at the club with e, right? Then on Sunday...Jason & Kate came to porch visit! And David whipped us up some peach & basil compote that was incredibly tasty. 

Our new distanced girlie visit picture...still the devil on Kate's shoulder. 

Falling in Love with Beauty

Dress: Keyhole Green Fit & Flare Dress by eShakti (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee

Leggings: LuLaRoe (TC2)

Sandals: Croft & Barrow, thrifted

Earring: Wendy Baker

Necklace: bel monili

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress was such a gorgeous shade of green, perfect for my newly dyed summer red head...but it needed the oomph of a pattern & I thought these leggings were perfect...my second choice was black leggings with avocados on them...but not enough color. Great fit & length on the dress, especially the armholes...& nice deep pockets. The neck was too high for me for a summer dress...this could transition well into the cooler months with a cardigan. 

We first tried taking these photos in front of our garage...but the light was too dappled at the end of the day...so we sought out some color at graffiti alley. 

My first wearing of this necklace from bel monili, discovered through Wendy Baker...the flower jewelry designers have to stick together. 

My make-up with this outfit included...ColourPop eyeliner in Workout, NYX Avant Pop palette, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fireball, Violet Voss Sparkling Cherry Limeade palette, Mimosa lipstick by Bite Beauty, Dozen Carnations lipstick from MAC, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going To The Game? 

I watched a bit of Caroline Spence (who I'd never heard of) via The Americana Music Association Facebook page...she has that sweet little girlie voice that I adore...although I'm sure that doesn't sound like a compliment, but I can't think of a better way to describe it. Dan Rodriguez playing online...I hope I get to see him at The Shitty Barn some day. And of course...we spent 4th of July weekend watching Hamilton. I'd seen a pirated copy of the original cast version, but I've never seen the play live. Yet. 

Sean Hayes & Bret Helm from Audra playing live on Facebook...& several times a week I tune into Bad Seed Teevee & I've seen so many amazing live performances & videos from Nick Cave...he's a living legend & I'm sad the girlie & I won't be seeing him in Milwaukee this fall. But I'm so very lucky that I've been able to see him live more times than any other artist. 

Some new summer earrings from Shawna at Kerala Rose...I'm not sure why...but her earrings scream summer to me. 

Look what I'm getting!!! I found Tracey Bellion last year when I was looking up ideas on how to chalk paint my make-up vanity...I was instantly in love with her quirky whimsical style. But I never dreamed I would own anything painted by her. She posted this marvelous mirror last week & I couldn't stop thinking about it...so I inquired & for her to paint & ship it to me was much more affordable than I would have guessed. So she's going to gaudy it up for me & I'm going to hang it in my office above my jewelry chest. I'm in love. I need to fall in love with beauty every day or I feel empty. 

Nashville: Food, Pipeline, & Thrifting

 Dress: Sunflower Print Mixed Media Dress by eShakti (size 30) via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy

Cardigan: MAK (size 4x) via Modcloth

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

All Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This sunflower dress just makes me SO happy...I love sunflowers & yellow is the color of happiness! I bought this last summer after it was sent to me & I couldn't quite send it back. I nearly didn't wear it this year, but then Nashville happened & it turns out the end of October is still sandal season there. 

I picked the same teggings & sandals as the first time I wore this dress, but all the jewelry is different. 

How fabulous is this street art?! Nashville has so many murals that I would never have to use the same one as a backdrop twice! I could probably do something like this, right??? Our backyard wall needs some splashes of color & pattern. 

On our second day in Nashville we had breakfast/lunch at Puckett's. My mom & I had dinner here when we were in Nashville & I thought it was pretty tasty. We shared some fried green tomatoes that came with a cheese dipping sauce & I had the fried chicken with a side of mac & cheese. Yum. 

After lunch...we headed to the Nashville Rep to see Pipeline. It may seem like a weird thing to check out local theatre on vacation, but it's my thing now. This play was SO GOOD. And the set design was amazingly creative. 

After the play, something more traditionally touristy...we waited in line to take my picture with the What Lifts You Wings...

Then went across the street to take outfit photos in front of a much less famous wall. And, back to the less popular tourist destination of thrift stores. David scored big time at Music City Thrift (I nabbed this photo online because I forgot to take any)...he must have gotten ~60 button up shirts. I got two tops & some yoga pants for sleeping in...& nothing at all at ThriftSmart. But I must say...both stores had the biggest plus size section I'd ever seen.

After thrifting...dinner at Uncle Bud's Catfish Chicken & Such. We barely made it before they closed & they were so kind to us. It's an all you can eat place...I got catfish & David tried their chicken...the multiple sides were also bottomless, but the only one we took advantage of was the hush puppies...look at the size of those babies. I'm not sure why this is mostly just a southern thing...they are addictive. Relaxing back at our cute airbnb.  

World Famous Skull's Rainbow Room

 Dress: Lily Patch Maxi Dress by City Chic (size XXL/24)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earring: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Sobral via eBay 

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I adore this kimono style dress from City Chic...I have it in 5 different patterns. This dress calls for a bodysuit underneath...why don't I own any bodysuits?! I wore the under slip that came with it & matching black teggings so it wouldn't be obvious when the slip bunched up around my waist. I last wore this dress in fall of 2017. 

I wore this dress on our first day in Nashville, then on our last day in Nashville, & to drive home...I was the fanciest road tripper on the road. We didn't have time in the daylight to get photos the first day...so that is why I wore it again. I had to take advantage of as much street art as I could. 

I didn't wear any of the same accessories as I did the last time. Isn't this dramatic diva necklace divine?!

We stopped for lunch on our way to Nashville...at a place in the middle of nowhere...in a strip mall next to an auto repair shop...that I discovered via Google reviews, Courtney's Diner. It was delicious. We started out with fried green tomatoes, served with jalapeño ranch...amazingly delicious. Then I had a loaded hot dog...chili, cheese, cole slaw, & onions...I'd never heard of putting slaw on dogs...but I liked it. 

After we checked into our cute Airbnb & got Rye settled in...we perused The Nashville Flea Market...which is held every 4th weekend of the month...we lucked out. It was not nearly as nice as the all antique Elkhorn Flea...there were all kinds of vendors at this one (food, crafts, knockoff designer sunglasses)...but there were gems to be found. I snapped a photo of this lamp that caught my eye...but I thought...it's not really us...now I'm obsessed with it & can't stop thinking of how fabulous it would have looked in our dining room. We came home with the grape sconces David is holding, a bit of antique silverware (including the pictured cake server for Angie because that is her pattern), & some vintage jewelry for me. 

The jewelry I got all came from one nice ladies booth... Ellen was sweet & when David showed me the bracelet below...she let us know she made it, so we should be kind. She was delighted when we both loved it. I'm going to gold it up a bit on the white & silver spots...but I think it's fabulous! 

The rest of the jewelry...I'm trying to stick to colors I don't already have a lot of...

World Famous Skull's Rainbow Room...they only take reservations two weeks out & even though I had it on my calendar...I forgot until about 5pm...so the best I could do was 8:30. I was worried they wouldn't let us linger until the burlesque show started at 11...& a long night for us. None of it was a problem.

None of the entrees looked exciting...but many of the starters did...so we ordered appetizers two at a time, along with craft cocktails to accompany them...it took us over two hours to finish our delightful meal. 

We began with carpaccio with arugula & tuna tartare...followed by crawfish risotto & veal sweet breads. If you blow up the photo below, you will see my drink, The Skull No. 3, had a skull in it...

We finished the evening with duck empanada & foie gras. Every single dish was delicious & the cocktails were expertly crafted with unexpected touches such as mustard, porcini mushroom, bell pepper, & herbs. 

After dessert...the burlesque began. After much digging online, I discovered the group that performs at Skull's is Alley Cat Cabaret. I sent a message to them asking the performer's names on this night so I could credit them, but I got no response. They do burlesque shows each week... Thursday, Friday, & Saturday...& according to the hostess, each show is completely different. 

Skull's has a fantastic stage that has a catwalk past the dining area...many famous people have performed on this stage...including Johnny Cash, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, & Etta James. 

The live band was a wonderful touch to this fantastic show.

All the outfits are created & sewn by, I believe, the performer below. In Tennessee you are not allowed to show under boob or the triangle just above your butt crack...so they have to get creative.

This woman has the most shapely legs...

My favorite performance of the evening...

Performed to the band's rendition of Devotchka's Such a Lovely Thing...

A short video I took...I wish I would have filmed the entire piece...

Good night Skull's & Printer's Alley. Two days later, on Monday...we ate breakfast at Biscuit Love before taking outfit photos & leaving town. 

Despite making all the best of Nashville breakfast lists, the food was most certainly not worth the long wait in line to get in...the coffee was the most acidic I'd ever had...undrinkable. However, those bonuts *swoon*...yep, worth the wait. Bonuts are fried biscuit dough, tossed in sugar, topped with lemon mascarpone, served over blueberry compote. Wow. 

After breakfast...we headed to The Parthenon to take photos, which turned out to be more difficult than we'd imagined. Taken next to the pillars, you can't tell they are pillars...taken far away...people, construction, & not much beauty. I've looked online to see how other people do it & there are some great shots, but none as up close as I want for outfit photos. So, just across the street...there was some lovely street art that we used instead. About an hour-ish outside of Nashville, I found this fantastic family owned coffee house where we had some of the best coffee we'd ever had. 

Me & The Parthenon...