Fireside Collective // Girlie Time // Thrifting

Dress: Floral Faux Wrap Ruffle Dress by Calvin Klein (size M) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Circus by Sam Edelman 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

This dress was alright...nothing special...I did like the colors & the gold glittery stripes running through it. Both the fit & length were great. This was a good work & running errands dress.

I'm always happy when I get to wear these fun shoes.

A mixture of orange, red, & pink in this dress...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, Honey eyeshadow from UD, Heart eyeshadow by Natasha Denona, UD lipliner in Bang & 714, UD lipstick in No-Tell Motel, Mimosa lipstick from Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in Gimme a Lido Kiss. 

Selfies before yoga. Getting rid of shoes...I'd like to replace those 2 pairs of flats with a smaller size...they go with a lot & I enjoy them...so far, no luck. The leopard ones are from 9 West & I found them in my size on Poshmark for $60, which is too much for used fabric shoes...another seller has them listed at $30, but they haven't been active for a long time, so don't respond to my offers. Green leopard cardigan from Poshmark. 

Getting rid of 7 bags of clothing/shoes from my closet. Weight lifting before yoga...makes me feel like a badass. 

After we took these outfit photos...I was going to change into something more exciting...but I decided to wear this dress instead since I was already all made up. Fireside Collective at Stoughton Opera House. Ced Ba'etch playing in the lounge before the show...he's great...Django style jazz. 

Fireside Collective...wow, these guys were amazing...look at all those strings! The banjo player was from Madison originally & he was talking to some friends next to me at intermission. 

It doesn't look appetizing, however, this liver/shiitake/onions dish with rosemary & red wine vinegar was delicious...I was eating it a lot that week in preparation for blood work...it is good for your iron levels, which need to be high for surgery. And then Kate came over while David was in California. We made our own fizzy water & added various bitters to concoct creations. Kate helped me in my closet...I'm much better at getting rid of things than I was when I first began. I made us lunch! This Sheet Pan Salmon Tikka with Spinach is so good...& easy too! 

Served atop roasted riced cauliflower.

So many Fluevog boxes...I used to keep them all...but I'm never going to use them...I didn't wear them nearly as often when I stored them that way...out of sight, out of mind. 6 more bags carted off to the thrift store.

Kate took this adorable photo of Rye keeping us company in the closet. The girlie had some of my Cherry Velvet dresses in a smaller size, & they kindly gifted them to me...along with a green tiger striped dress from Kiyonna. After dropping Kate at home...I went to the nearby Goodwill where I immediately noticed these shoes...they stood out among all the cheap boring shoes...made in Italy...but too small, sadly. 

It's prom dress season. I found a cute dress that was 50% off! 

I love these 50% off days (Sunday & Monday)...though it's hit & miss...some days I score big time...other times, nothing. 

 

Gym // Thrifting // Girlie Mocktail Birthday

Cardigan: Pink Button Front Tweed Cardigan from Andree by Unit (size S) via Gwynnie Bee

Leggings: LuLaRoe (tall & curvy), thrifted

Shoes: Fluevog, Fellowships: Esser 

All Jewelry: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I adored the idea of this cardigan...red & pink houndstooth with pearl buttons, yes please. In reality, the shape was overly boxy & large. I thought it looked better buttoned up. If I could knit...I'd make myself a nice version of this...or perhaps I'll look for a similar knit fabric so it's not so bulky. 

I know my thighs are huge...there is so much extra skin there...but I'm not going to hide my body. My first thigh surgery is in April...they will do the inner leg, then the outer leg ~6 months later. 

I hadn't planned on wearing this outfit anywhere other than the gym...but then I remembered these red & pink Fluevogs & I came up with a cute look.

I had to go with pearl jewelry to match the buttons...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Love Drug, Giving & Heart eyeshadow from Natasha Denona, UD lipliner in 714, Russian Red lipstick by MAC, & Essie nail polish in In A Gingersnap. 

I first wore this outfit to the gym to lift weights with David...

Followed by Pilates...then washing Viktor before work. I only had a few clients that day...but since David & I drove together...I had some extra time...oh, look...here I am at Goodwill. Surprise. 

I found a few cardigans, but mostly I got clothes to work out in. Dinner: Salmon with Herb Curry, served with Eggplant with White Miso, Kaffir Lime, Lemongrass, & Ginger. Trying out our new rowing machine...I LOVE it! Here I am rowing in Italy. 

I wore this outfit as pictured to celebrate Kate's birthday at their place. I experimented with making 2 new deviled eggs...they were delish...along with my standard curried variety. 

Bezzers in pants...

Kate has been collecting mocktail fixings...they've been having a difficult time with alcohol lately, so they are trying this. David enjoyed playing & making concoctions. 

Kate, Jason, & Super Boo...

Kate played records that belonged to their grandpa...including my favorite singer of all time, Billie Holiday. It had just the right amount of warm crackle & made me so happy I took a video...

Cuties on the couch...& Kate with a fuzzy something that had a name from a show I don't remember. 

Look at that amazing vinyl! Leftover vegan carrot cake. 

On the way out the door...we didn't know Jason was recording, we thought he was just snapping pics. I love how we both put our feet up at the same time...adorable. 

Back at the Gym: Weight Lifting // Pilates // Rowing

Dress: Hedgehog Geo Dress by Eva Rose (size L) via Gwynnie Bee

Cardigan: ?, thrifted 

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Me Too, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Cute kitschy dress covered in hedgehogs. Fit is tts, I'll go with a medium in the future, but GB only went down to a large in this. Cotton (with a bit of stretch) fit & flare with pockets. Great dress, I'm just not particularly into hedgehogs. 

Bringing out the orange in the triangles with my accessories. 

Leopard is a neutral...why not?

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon & Torch; Baja, Accelerate, Blaze, & Double Life eyeshadow by UD; NYX lipliner in Pumpkin; Heat lipstick from UD; & OPI nail polish in A Woman's Prague-ative. 

I wore this dress to work a few times...but first, we begin our day at the gym. Our routine has been Mon/Wed/Fri...lift weights, then Pilates class. We do kettlebell deadlifts, Pilates videos, & Turkish Get-Ups at home on the other days. I've been keeping a few books from the library in my office...1 book of fiction & a cookbook...for when I have breaks in my day...or on the rare occasion a client no-shows me. Boxy Charm was having a sale...I sure don't need any more make-up, but...

I've been having David shoot a few little videos of me at the gym so I can see what I look like...I post them to my heath instagram, becomingmeshel. Also, for the first time ever...I tried a rowing machine (my belly used to get in the way)...I liked it so much, we bought one for home. We went to Peloton & tested theirs, but ended up with an Ergatta...because it looks like a gorgeous vintage wooden rower...& it's fun to use as there is a gaming aspect. 

 

 

Raspberry Season

Dress: Short Sleeve Floral Surplice Dress by Gilli (size 2x) via Gwynnie Bee 

Leggings: LuLaRoe via eBay (size TC2)

Sandals: Born

Earring: The Embellishing Room

Necklace: Etsy shop, gift

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 47-45-65

I didn't really like this dress much...blue/green main color with coral & white flowers. However, I warmed up to it when I found these leggings in my closet that had all the colors of the dress in them. Sometimes...you can transform a dress by making it an outfit. This dress fit alright, a bit short (more like a tunic), v-neck WAY too low (I had to pin for work, but it's not pinned here), & lots of gap under the arms. I did like the deep v in back. 

I need a back tattoo...but first, my legs & feet need to be covered. 

First time using this wall...speaking of tattoos...it is the wall next to Giige, the tattoo studio my favorite tattooist, Mar, works at. In fact, they saw me during this shoot..but I can barely see without my glasses. David assures me I was still friendly. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Overdrive, Nars Mediteranee eyeshadow duo, Bite Beauty lipliner in 72, NYX lipsticks in Peach Bellini & 507, & Can't Afjōrd Not To nail polish by OPI. 

Raspberries at Tuesday market...Fern is the sweetest woman & has the BEST berries...that she picks all herself. Shrimp salad with cilantro, avocado, & lime/evoo dressing...such a simple meal we have ~once a week. Shok interviewing Weirdwolves. Me lifting a standard 45 pound olympic barbell. When I started, David had to go into another room to find me a 20 pound bar...next up, weights on the ends. 

Another simple lunch...pan fried shrimp & scallops with lemon & cauliflower. I discovered a lot of new music during the pandemic, including Rainbow Girls...I bought an autographed copy of their vinyl. I hope I get to see them live someday. My July Boxy Charm. 

Angie making Freddie new play dough. My parent's had a friend when I was growing up that ran a daycare out of her house & she also made her own homemade play dough...& scented it with cinnamon. Whenever I see play dough, I can smell that cinnamon. Dinner with Angie & Freddie...An entirely local meal...David made pork chops & shiitake on the grill, & Angie made curried cauliflower, cabbage slaw, & Swiss chard. We drank a wonderful bottle of white from Kate's wine cellar in our basement. And finished with the best raspberries in the world...note the tiny hands stealing one of the boxes. 

Freddie LOVES his raspberries.

Smoked salmon, cream cheese, & green onion omelet. How adorable is this beaded orange purse?! One of the chicks I met on the Flummunity FB page posted photos of herself with this purse & linked to 2 eBay auctions. One was significantly cheaper than the other, so I bid the starting price & walked away & completely forgot about it until I received a notice that I had won. This bag was over $300 new & I got it for under $100. A long time online friend (met on the same group I met Kate on over 20 years ago) is an artist & painted these amazing David Bowie, Nick Cave, & Siouxsie portraits that she was selling prints of.

DJs DJ-ing on Twitch. Crispy skin salmon with garlic, dill, lemon, & broccoli.