Our Town // Joshua Hedley

Dress: Desired Dress in Picnic Print by Effie's Heart

Shoes: Born, thrifted

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Earrings & Bracelets: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Kitschy fun. I go on a lot of picnics in the warmer months...so when I saw this dress on Effie's Heart...I had to have it. This is a size small, I'm typically a medium, but EH is so stretchy that anywhere in the S-L range is just fine. This is the only dress I've ever had in this style...I like it...wide spaced straps could stay on or off the shoulder, folded over at the sweetheart bust line, great flared skirt, pockets.  

It was a rainy day in Spring Green, so the light was difficult...we headed to The Shitty Barn even though there was a show...it was early enough that it wasn't crowded. 

I feel like I needed a pie to hold with this dress.

This was my first time wearing these sandals I thrifted.

I adore how these big round earrings go with this Wendy bubble necklace...

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Huda Beauty Ruby Obsessions eyeshadow palette, 714 lipliner from Urban Decay, Head in the Clouds lipstick by MAC, & Colors by Llarowe nail polish in The Mighty Red Baron. 

I first wore this dress to go to American Players Theatre with David...where I made us a picnic. We tried to go to Wander Provisions, but we were having some terrible luck finding them open. 

We set up our dinner under the shelter so we didn't get rained on...

I made us my version of Alison Roman's Cobb Salad (just lots of extra veggies). It was delicious. Oh, no...2 intermissions means double our chances of leaving. We didn't though...they did an excellent version of Our Town at APT...& the last 3rd is the best part. Corset detailing on the back of my Betsey Johnson leopard raincoat. 

We only got lightly sprinkled on during the show...

The next morning...farmers' market...where a vendor was selling Chinese Lantern bunches...I had just thrown mine away from ~decade ago. And David buying me real flowers. 

Cardoon (they have an artichoke-like flavor). Back at home...

The second time I wore this dress was to go to The Shitty Barn...but first, dinner. I roasted a pan of the veggies we had in the fridge & served them with Kimchi Shrimp. 

At the barn for my final show of the season...these Wander Provision chocolate chip cookies are my favorite...I could have eaten the entire tray. 

I was excited to see Joshua Hedley...from the front row, naturally. 

He played old fashioned country music & was a good storyteller. He lives in Nashville & has been working at Robert's for 20 years. All day long their stage has musicians on it & they play classic country favorites. My mom & I went there the first time I went to Nashville. This was an excellent closing show for me. See you next year, barn!

 

Elizabeth Moen // Thrifting

Dress: Keyhole Dress in Lime by Lands End (size M)

Sandals: Dansko

All Jewelry: Vintage

5'7" 38-32-42

I first wore this dress (below) back in 2014 when I got it from Gwynnie Bee. I was lucky to find this & the matching cardigan on Poshmark in my size. It's such a cute summer dress. Great fit & length...easy to throw on.

I will always appreciate companies that make their clothing in a wide variety of sizes...because everyone deserves to have choices.

I think I liked the way I styled it here better...although that Wendy bubble jewelry was also a good choice. 

This was my first time wearing this necklace/earring set we picked up at Elkhorn. I like the turquoise element they & my accessories bring to the outfit.

I first wore this dress back in August to work & to pick up these hats my haberdasher made for me. Aren't they lovely? Then, of course, after work thrifting.

I didn't find much that day. Back at home...admiring my sun hats.

Our subscription box from Burlap & Barrel...I'm so glad David discovered them...their spices are better than Penzey's. And, oh my! New to me shoes! A reason to look forward to the colder months when my toes get covered up.

Another day wearing this dress...testing my testosterone levels. And then on to a fun appointment...a consultation with Mar. I want them to free hand falling leaves on the free areas of my left calf & cute paisley patterns on my right. 

Red Clover is right across from where they make Level 5 doughnuts & on this day, there was a table filled with doughnuts with a sign that said free...this was butter cookie. It was fine...but I don't get what people are raving about. Dinner before doughnut...the usual. Then it was on to a lymphatic massage on my way to...

The Shitty Barn! Elizabeth Moen was not someone I'd heard of until the barn booked her. It was a slightly chilly day in September, so here I am wearing the matching cardigan over the dress.

Even though I'd eaten dinner...I couldn't resist trying one of their hand pies...this was pork & cabbage...& of course, one of their delightful butter chocolate chip cookies...all eaten by the fire.

Elizabeth Moen & her band were fabulous...I sit so close I had to take a weird zoomed out photo to fit them all in. I came home with signed vinyl...it was a good night. 

Back at home...my Ulta order with 9 eyebrow pencils arrived...they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale...I'll probably use these up by the end of the year. Another day in this dress...I fetched Kate & we drove down to Chicago for the weekend.

I also wore this a final time on our drive home on Monday...where after dropping Kate off...I immediately went to work for my first appointment at noon. Then...I hit up at Goodwill on my way home.

 This was the east side one, it had been several months since I'd been there...so there were a lot of things to try on. A jean jacket?! Who am I ???I have a fantasy life where I wear suit coats to work...perhaps that's what I'll do during these autumn/winter months...I'm always cold. Why didn't I get that earth toned paisley sweater?! It must have been pilled or had a hole. Back at home...this multi colored leopard print dress arrived from Poshmark...someone either in the Flumunity or COTD posted an outfit wearing this dress...& I needed it.And shoes...Fluevogs were also waiting for me, found on the Fluemarket. I am always grateful when someone lets their beauties go to new homes. So, I got that jean jacket I tried on above...it was a made in the USA brand I'd never heard of, AG...I looked it up & they still have this same jacket available on their website...for $215.  I paid $6...also, 4 of the things I got were 1/2 off during their tag sale.What I got...& 2 shirts for David.After popping the tags off & getting a load of laundry going...I headed out for a sunset walk. We had walked 5 miles every day we were in Chicago...& it felt good...it's just so time consuming.

Restaurant Week // The Heavy Heavy with The Thing

Dress: Midsummer Midi Dress by ASTR The Label (size L) via Nuuly

Sandals: Born

Earrings: Wendy Baker

Necklace & Bracelet : Colleen Toland

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I adored the explosion of vivid warm colored florals on this midi...great fitting light summer dress...reviews state it runs small, so I went up a size & that was correct. There was a fitted area with an underwire for your breasts & it seems like a Goldilocks situation...had my boobs been any bigger or smaller, the fit would have been off...they barely fit. The straps are adjustable, elastic in back, & there is a zipper on the side. Innocent with all the layers & ruffles, yet sultry with the thigh high slit. 

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE not having to wear a bra?! It's amazing. I still wear one if it's not going to show because it does give a nicer look...but there are so many cute summer dresses, like this one, that I am free to wear with nothing underneath. 

Flowers on my feet...

It may have been a mistake to introduce so many other colors with my jewelry when I could have went with mostly orange & pink...but this is what I chose to wear...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew, Neon eyeshadow palette from Huda Beauty, Bang lipliner & lipstick by UD, Sugarpill Cosmetics lipstick in Clockwork, & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going To The Game?

I wore this frock to partake in Restaurant Week with David...1st up, reservations at Heritage Tavern. A new cocktail had appeared since last we were here...Insert Beatles Song (gin, Boomsma Cloosterbitter, thyme infused dry vermouth, pineapple & strawberry cordial, rhubarb bitters, lemon & lime)...delightful. It was a 3 course meal & we shared everything. First course: Summer Sweet Corn Chowder (pickled summer peppers potato, grilled scallion) & Duck Confit Toast & Petite Salad (duck confit, smoked ricotta, salted candied pecans, radish, market greens, cardamom-chili vinaigrette). 

After placing our order for duck confit, we had immediately changed our mind, but our server forgot to take note...so we got to try it anyway...plus, what we ordered, Head Cheese & Escargot (creamed grits, tomato concasse, lemon zest, fine herbs, jus tranché). All 3 of these starters were delicious. Main course: Mustard Seed & Juniper Crusted Berkshire Pork Loin (heirloom bean, pork broth, mustard greens, bacon lardon, broccolini, escarole) &... 

Coup du Jour (market beef, braised beef short rib, foraged mushrooms, potato bone, turnip, wilted spinach, bordelaise, blue cheese espuma). Second round of drinks: Rios Mios (Pitu cachaca, Smith & Cross rum, Finocchietto, strawberry purée, honey syrup, lime) & Doc's Orders (Death's Door gin, Saler's gentian, carrot tarragon syrup, lemon tonic water, celery bitters, dukkah carrot rim). Dessert: Caramel Pecan Profiterole (Amish maple ice cream, salted caramel) & Dark Chocolate Cake (vanilla bean anglaise, summer berries, cocoa nib crumble). My favorites were: Duck Confit Toast, Pork Loin, & Caramel Profiterole. Overall, a decent meal...we like to go to Heritage for restaurant week because they rarely make changes to their daily menu & it's wonderful to try something new. 

After dinner, we meandered over to Merchant to see if they could fit us in so we could continue our tradition of eating at these two places back to back for restaurant week. A 40 minute wait...perfect...we took outfit photos at the capitol & walked around the square. It was a splendid summer evening, so we opted to sit outside. Merchant has the best craft cocktails in town...David ordered a Blindman (Bardstown Fusion 8 bourbon, Six Grapes port wine, Smith & Cross rum, raspberry syrup, lime juice, angostura bitters), while I chose Ladybug (strawberry-infused Gray Whale gin, strawberry syrup, lime juice). Another 3 course meal that we shared. Starters: Roasted Beet Salad (crème fraîche, pickled shallot, citrus gel, hazelnuts, tarragon) &...

Roasted Broccoli (chimichurri marinated broccoli, harissa-tomato sauce, whipped tahini, feta, smoked almonds). Entree: Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich (cabbage slaw, jalapeno crema, pickled vegetables, black pepper aioli, fresh herbs, brioche bun) & Crispy Duck Leg (frisée, bacon lardon, herb aiolo brioche croutons). Second cocktails: Red Banana Daiquiri (Ron Colón red banana oleo rum, Combier de Banane liqueur, Plantation Barbados 5 year rum, Demerara syrup, pineapple, Peychaud's, angostura) &...

Peach Merchant Old Fashioned (Blade & Bow bourbon, Old Grand Dad bourbon, peach syrup, peach bitters). Dessert: Passion Fruit Tart (passionfruit curd, strawberry, coconut creme & toasted coconut) & Carrot Cake (pecans, dried currants, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom & orange blossom cream cheese frosting). This was a better meal than Heritage...I would be thrilled to eat it all over again & not change a thing. Actually, most of this stuff is probably still on their standard menu & I should try to make it there before the seasons change. My favorites were: beet salad, hard tie between the two entrees, & while carrot cake is my most cherished dessert (& theirs was a good one), that passionfruit tart was spectacular. 

A stroll back to Veronika...I love that they plant a vegetable garden on the square...little bitty squashes. It was a thoroughly enchanted evening with my love.

The second time I wore this dress was to The Shitty Barn to see Heavy Heavy with The Thing with Kate & Jason. I made us a coconutty red curry salmon salad & they brought farmers' market fruit. YUM. 

False advertising...Jason can no longer be hangry...it should be reversible. 

A little walk around the barn...

Oh! Vinyl! Yay! Front row, just like I like. 

The Thing (Brooklyn, NY) were steeped in an early 80s vibe...they looked like all the college kids that used to work for my parents back then. Fun band!

Break...The Heavy Heavy (Brighton, UK) were also fabulous...& we got to dance! It was a marvelous night & the singer signed the record I bought.