Gorgeous Greek Goddess

 Dress: Cold Shoulder Red Maxi Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Sandals: Naturalizer, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelets: Vintage 

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I felt like the most gorgeous Greek goddess in this Melissa Masse caftan maxi. Not technically flattering, but I only care about how I feel in a garment & this one made me feel sexy. I adore cold shoulder sleeves & the drape on this dress was so lovely. I also loved the empire waist, batwing sleeves, & plunging neckline. The only thing not perfect about this dress was that when I was sitting, I had to keep adjusting the neckline so my bra wasn't hanging out...I'd prefer a dress I didn't have to think about at all. Otherwise, yes to this dress. 

An embarrassing tidbit...I wore this dress to work & to a doctor appointment before seeing Kate. Upon seeing me, Kate says...what's going on here with your sleeves? I think you've got this on wrong...she fixes me & walaaa...I am improved. I had been wearing this as a sleeveless dress instead of cold shouldered...the issue with that was you could see both my bra & grannie panties from the sides...but, it honestly hadn't occurred to me that something might be up with my dressing & was not a failure of the dress. 

I have two necklaces in this style, the other one is darker...& I thought this called for brighter...it is framed just so in this neckline. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Alkaline; Alchemy, Bondage, Last Sin, & Lucky eyeshadow from UD; Love+ eyeshadow by Sugarpill; NYX lip palette in The Reds; NYX lipstick in Kitten Heels; & Little Red Wagon nail polish by OPI. 

I had my eye on this vintage Miriam Haskell necklace on Etsy & finally took the plunge. I don't have much orange jewelry as that is a recent favorite color of mine & most of my collection was gathered in my 20s. The other necklace is gold grapes & chains & is not marked, but it is quite similar to necklaces Miriam Haskell designed. 

I wore this dress to have smelt (pronounce schmelt) with the girlie at Gates & Brovi...tasty tasty little fishies. And we witnessed this young woman surprising her blindfolded guy with a party inside...so sweet. 

I also wore this caftan to make shrimp guacamole (it didn't need the shrimp) to bring to wine tasting group at Table Wine, where the theme was, Blind. I think there were 9 wines & I guessed 7 of them correctly. Not to brag or anything...I think I was more casual about guessing because I was alright with being wrong. There's probably a lesson in there somewhere. 

NYE

 Dress: Fishtail Velvet Maxi Dress in Midnight by Scarlett & Jo (size 30 UK)

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Mudd, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Earring, Necklace, & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Me, & Angie

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I bought several dresses last year from Scarlett & Jo (my first time trying them) & this is the second one I've worn. I was disappointed with the first...but this one...wow! This was available in black, midnight, & magenta...& I chose blue because it was different than anything else I own. I wasn't sure a bodycon fishtail dress would look good on me...but it was so cheap, it was worth a shot...& I like to stretch my comfort zone. I felt sexy & luxurious in this dress.

What's up with those shoes though? I thought silver sparkly flats would be a good choice with this dress...but I never look in the mirror. 

Hubba Hubba...va va voooooooom.

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD; UD eyeshadow in Stargazer, Vega, Galaxy, & Lightyear; Pat McGrath Venom 2 lipstick; Pat McGrath Metallic Gold Pigment; NYX glitter in gold; & Emerald Sparkle nail polish by China Glaze. 

NYE at Tony & Kate's (different Kate from the girlie) with Angie & Toby. Angie made some addictively delicious mushroom caps & Kate made this amazing cocktail with Meyer lemons. Dinner was fabulous...Kate cooked the prime rib perfectly...with horseradish sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roasted root vegetables, cauliflower cheese, & kale salad. 

After dinner we played games...which I don't get to do nearly enough...I love games. We played two new to us games...Blokus, then Bears vs Babies. There was much doggie cuddling (hmmm...I wonder how my dress got covered in a layer of hair?) & then...happy new year! Champagne toast & decadent Nigella Lawson Chocolate Cloud Cake made by Angie. House parties are the best NYE plans & I appreciate Kate inviting us...it was a lovely night. Also, happy first anniversary to David & me. 

Endgame

 Dress: Perfect Wrap Dress in Gingham Raspberry by Leota (size 5L) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)
Cardigan: ?, thrifted 
Tights: We Love Colors
Shoes: Andiamo, thrifted
Earring: etXarte
Necklace: Babil & Bijou
Bracelet: Vintage, thrifted
Photography: Super Boo & Me
Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

If I put up a blog post on a Saturday...it's because I don't want many people to see it. I constructed this outfit in my head & while I will most certainly be wearing this cardigan & tights together again in the future...I don't care for them with the dress, but since I never give myself enough time to get ready...it was what I wore out of the house on this day. Pattern mixing gone wrong. 

This orange/pink/white gingham dress reminded me of a summer picnic table...which I loved...but it was a tad tight on me. Leota has just started offering a 5x (which they call 5L) through GB, but it didn't fit me any better than any of the 4Ls I've worn. 

We Love Colors sent these tights to me to test before releasing them. They asked me to give them my feedback & send them a photo. Now, I thought since they were testing fit that they wanted a photo of me in them with nothing covering them...so that is what they got. Then they released the tights & posted pictures of other girls wearing them...as part of an outfit. It didn't occur to me until then that that is what they wanted. Embarrassing. At least they didn't post my photo on Instagram. 

At American Players Theatre with David & Kate to see Samuel Beckett's Endgame. Whenever there is a Kate...there is wine...because she is a wine collector, not a wino. I think I would have liked this play better had I not napped on & off due to the wonderful wine that made me sleepy. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown; Kat von D eyeshadow in Dark Wave, Swoon, Analogue, Lyric, & Moulder; Korean Candy lipstick by MAC; Urban Decay lipstick in Menace; & OPI nail polish in You're A Pisa Work & Mod-ern Girl. 

Savage Love Live

 Dress: V-Neck Dress in Peacock Roses by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress out on a Friday night. Holy buckets, was this dress tight...waaaay out of my comfort zone. It was an A-line dress that was too small on me...which turned it into a bodycon hubba hubba dress that David & Kate assured me I could wear in public...so I did. The fabric was a lovely jacquard knit with a slight stretch in a beautiful shade of ocean blue. Melissa Masse usually fits me well in a 4x...but I can't wear fit & flares all the time. At first I felt blumpy in this dress & it made me crabby...David suggested I change outfits so we could have a fun night...but as time went on I actually felt sexy...the closeness of the dress on my body felt like a hug. I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone & GB is a great assistance with that. 

Wine & Chocolate Pairing with Kate & David. These were delicious & delightful...especially the first wine with white chocolate lime squares...heavenly...they made the wine taste citrusy. It was perfect. David & Kate fell in love with the Occhipinti's Nero d'Avola Passito & bought a bottle to split in the future. 

David & I are avid readers of Savage Love, which started here in Madison when Dan was working as a manager at my favorite video store. I've seen him speak a few times, but he was here for the weekend & was recording a podcast the first night. David submitted two questions & he answered one!

That hula hoop on stage with Dan (wearing his Bernie for President shirt) is the state of Washington...which he brings with him when he travels because pot is legal there. Dan was hilarious & I can't remember when I laughed so much at a show. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Gypsy Blue eyeliner by NYX, Urban Decay liquid liner in Siren, UD eyeshadow in Fringe & Stargazer, & NYX Simply Vamp lipstick in Bewitching. My nail polish was by OPI & a perfect match for this outfit...but I forgot to take a photo...I think it's This Color's Making Waves.

I'm linking up to Visible Monday over on Not Dead Yet Style.

Super Boo = Love

 Dress: Peek-A-Boo Perfection Dress by Kiyonna (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Simply Vera by Vera Wang, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Brooch: Vintage

Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble on 3 different days...for Super Boo's birthday, to work & errand, & to vote. This vibrant blue frock from Kiyonna was a delight to wear. It has a subtle textured print & I am growing to love this trend...I like the feel of it. Also, I was smitten with the peek-a-boo lace inset...that & the revealing neckline turn this otherwise conservative dress into elegant event wear...add a camisole & button up the sweater & it's perfect for work. My only issue with this dress was that I *had* to pin it...it wanted me to have 5x the boobs, so without a pin...it sloppily gaped. This is an outfit that would have NEVER happened pre-GB. I hated pink & blue...now look at me. 

This would have been the perfect dress to try out some shapewear with for before & after photos as it is clinging to my rolls. I bought some high-waisted Spanx-like panties back in December, but the tags are still on them. Someday. Maybe. I like comfort. 

 L is for Love.

For David's birthday...we ate out...a lot. In the morning we went to SWAP (where UW gets rid of things & we got multiple book ends, paper sorters, & the BEST find...a big metal divided shelving thing that I'm going to use for organizing crafty supplies) & then had lunch at Jordandal Cookhouse (we buy most of our meat from them at farmers' market)...we shared sweet potato salad, red potato salad, & corn muffins...then pork tacos, a Cubano, & a Banh Mi. I also had a Wisco Pop ginger soda...it was all delicious!! Yum from Chocolatarian, & Sal's pizza for dinner. We tried a new to us pizza...C3PO...chicken, prosciutto, pesto, garlic, feta, mozzarella, red peppers, & caramelized onions. It is our new fav...so much tastiness. 

We voted!

A surprise came in the mail...David got me 2 pairs of the new teggings color, peacock! And a few others...just because. He's the sweetest. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Kat von D eyeshadow in Synth, Dark Wave, & Echo...layered as eyeliner; Urban Decay eyeshadow in Junkshow, Provocateur, & Last Sin; a mixture of Bite Beauty's Quince & Aubergine on my lips; & OPI nail polish in You're A Pisa Work. 

2 Girlies, 1 Dress: Friendship

 Dress: Knot Front Dress in Navy & Red by Lucie Lu (size 5x & 0x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Liz & Me, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Mossimo, thrifted

Earring: The Gilded Gypsies

Necklace: Vintage

Bracelet: Cindy Forrester (works mostly in ceramics now)

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this dress to work & to 2 farmers' markets...I really didn't want to send this one back. Ever. Why did I? Well besides really not needing any more clothing...GB wanted $59 for this dress. I have several of this style from this brand that I bought for $15-25 brand new from GB. GB prices have become outrageous. These Lucie Lu dresses are worth no more than $40...used, $25 at most. I will wait until they are trying to get rid of this dress in the shop for $20...it is getting terrible reviews. I must admit my enthusiasm for this dress is mostly due to the red being so deliciously orangey. And look how adorable it is with that cardigan & shiny blue shoes! I don't care that it is a bit clingy & shows off my bifurcated belly. I love the sweetheart neckline & checkered pattern. 

I don't own any navy tights...how is that possible? There is also black in the dress. 

It is difficult to get a photo of Kate & I where we both look good. At this photo shoot...impossible. So here is a bunch of pictures of us looking silly...it starts out cute enough, but then...

I feel lucky to have 2 people in my life that I laugh so much with, Kate & David. Kate has been my best friend for nearly 17 years. She has taught me so much about myself & friendship. And never giving up. She is always there for me when I need her with kind words & the truth. I remember back in our first year of knowing each other...she called me a bitch. I was shocked. I told her, no one has ever called me that before...she responded...well, they've wanted to. I love you, girlie.

After photos...we went to Shük again for lunch...we both had sweet potato falafel, the girlie had hers in a salad, & I ate mine in a pita. It is unbelievably tasty. 

Then we went to wine tasting...the winemaker Barnaby Tuttle from Teutonic Wine Company in Portland was visiting...he was adorable, especially when telling us how some of the wines are named after Spinal Tap. Also, there was a woman there wearing elephant leggings! I need elephant leggings. 

The next day, Sunday, we went to Olbrich Gardens Conservatory so Kate could wear this summery GB dress. It was delightfully warm & humid...a perfect little getaway in the middle of winter. I wore sandals. 

It was even warm enough to wander in the outside gardens a bit. The hydrangeas were still covered in dried flowers & the girlie pointed out this lovely peeling bark...there is still beauty to be found in a winter garden. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Aja eyeshadow from Sephora's Jem palette as eyeliner, Sugarpill eyeshadow in Asylum, a mixture of NYX Russian Roulette & Bite Beauty's Toast on my lips, & OPI nail polish in Give Me Space (sparkly blue holo...sooooo pretty in person).