Christmas Eve // Christmas Day

Dress: Ruched Tiered Dress by Anthropologie (L) via Nuuly

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Superfine: Cardinal 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-45

My favorite color in my favorite shade...oh, how I adored this pumpkin dress covered in dots. It fit tts, but I'm never sure what size I am. I should have gotten this in a medium or even a small. I loved that the back was cut out, but still bra friendly. Ideal maxi length for me, lined, this could be worn on or off the shoulders. I wouldn't change a thing about this beauty. 

I would have bought it had it been a size or two smaller. But should I? I mean, do I need 1,000 dresses hanging in my closet again? I guess my criteria should be...do I love it? And this one is a yes! 

David found this mink wrap for me at Vinny's...this was my first time wearing it...& oh, was it warm. But it was no match for this below 0 (-30-something with windchill) windy day. My eyes were watering. 

We escaped inside the capitol to take poorly lit photos of me...where you can see my shoes...& I can feel my face. 

I love these sparkly orange Snag tights so much...I wish I had them in all the colors...& that the sparkle was gold. 

Also, I need more gold shoes in my life...

David & I found this vintage DeLillo necklace at Elkhorn last year & this was my first time wearing it. 

Fancy in fur...I do so enjoy being glamorous. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon & Lucky, Sugarpill Cosmetics eyeshadow in Pumpkin Spice, Too Faced Glamour Dust in Nude Beam, Pumpkin lipliner from NYX, Nectar lipstick by Sugarpill, MAC lipstick in Heat, & ILNP nail polish in Pumpkin Patch. 

We enjoyed gazing at the tree & the spectacular capitol. 

David & me with the tree...

A few more snaps inside...then on to Lucille. We'd wanted to go there for dinner a few weeks back, but they were booked & this was the first opening...Christmas Eve at 3:30...that is the latest reservation they had. They go all out decorating for Christmas, so I'm guessing a lot of people have their holiday parties here?

Miracle on King Street...

That bored looking guy in green ended up being our waiter...he was great. 

Christmas is all around us...

A very merry holiday cocktail menu...

David had a Christmapolitan (vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary, absinthe mist) & I began with a Christmas Cricket (blanco tequila, vanilla liqueur, minty amaro, coco pandan, cream, mole bitters, dark chocolate). This drink was delightful, like a boozy Andes chocolate mint. 

Look at these adorable glasses they had made...each drink came in a unique cup. These reindeer are getting very friendly. Their Pork Shoulder Nachos are always amazing...perfection. 

Round 2: Holiday Spiked Chai for David (brandy, Jamaican overproof rum, coffee liqueur, amaretto, chai, almond milk, egg white, tiki bitters, nutmeg) & a Snowball Old-Fashioned for me (rye, gingerbread, aromatic bitters, wormwood bitters, orange essence). Al Pastor Steel Pan Pizza (Aji basil cream, mozzarella, roasted mojo pork, adobo sauce, blistered tomatillo pineapple salsa, cilantro). This pizza is outstanding...but they can't seem to cook it properly & the last two times it has come to the table raw inside. But, our waiter had them remake it & we got 2 free cocktails out of it. So...win? Last time they brought us cheese curds we didn't particularly want. 

Final (free) drinks (honestly, we were going to stop at 2)...I had to try an Elfing Around (Prosecco, gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit shrub, aromatic bitters, orange bitters) & David chose what turned out to be his favorite cocktail of the evening, Yippee Ki Yay Mother F****r! (Barbados rum, rhum agricole, Trinidad overproof rum, ube & coconut orgeat, acid-adjusted pineapple juice)...it was purple! 

Lucille did an awesome job at maximalism Christmas decorating...& the cocktails were superb. I think this might be a new Christmas Eve tradition. 

Glittery lights...glittery tights. 

Back at home we watched 2 new-to-us Christmas movies, a 1940s film, The Bishop's Wife & Love Actually (which I still think of as a new movie I'll get around to watching someday...it's 20 years old). David made me this table...I LOVE it! He used maple & cedar from other wood projects & created a decorative edge with his router...because I'm extra like that. We picked up the metal base from Deconstruction Inc...it has a switch that makes the wheels go down or up. It is now my fancy TV tray for when we eat in the wreck room. I was going to make us smoked salmon eggs Benedict for Christmas breakfast, with asparagus, & fried mashed fingerling potatoes...but after the decadence of the evening before, I went simple. David made us homemade eggnog based on an Alton Brown recipe. It was delicious.

We had a most lovely & relaxing Christmas. I spent the day doing something I love to do...cook...while listening to Christmas tunes. I spent several hours preparing Chicken Pastilla from Yotam Ottolenghi's Nopi cookbook. I first made this back in April & it seemed like a perfect special occasion dish. 

Later that evening, we enjoyed our tree for the last time & spent a few hours sharing what made this year special for each of us. It was a perfect Christmas. 

In person, these lights we found (that include orange!) glow with such warmth...it was so cozy & relaxing to sit on the couch cuddling while enjoying our tree by the fireplace. 

Close-ups of some of my favorite ornaments...gramophone, devil, mushroom, Wisconsin capitol building, Moscow Mule, & a happy pickle. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday spent with people you love. 

 

Lots of Cooking

Dress: Geo Print Pleated Amiya Fit & Flare Dress by Leota (size L) via Gwynnie Bee

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fidji 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-45

I grew to be quite fond of this dress...at first I thought...oh, no...there's  grey in it...but the green & black dominated & the print was unusual. I don't think there are nearly enough dresses that include olive. I especially like the pleating at the waist of this Amiya dress dress...I prefer it to having a tie at the waist to create definition. Great fit & length...as usual with Leota, I had to pin the neckline closed. 

Ever since surgery...I think my boobs look so big. I guess it's just that there's less skin below them? Less of a butt though. 

I love these shoes so much (olive & black patent!) & am thrilled when I have an outfit they work with. Kate got me these...at the same time she bought herself an adorable pair of shoes from Fly London...which I had never heard of before...now I have several pairs. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner & eyeshadow in Mildew, Monroe & Oxide eyeshadow by Natasha Denona, MAC lipliner in Chicory, Bronze Shimmer lipstick from MAC, & China Glaze nail polish in Argo. 

I first threw this dress on to go to the last farmers' market before Christmas with David. We loaded up...spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, onions, cabbage...& other veggie delights. After market, grocery shopping at the co-op...that's Shaun, he's my favorite guy in the fish department. 

I was really on a roll with Andy Baraghani's The Cook You Want To Be...here is his Fall Apart Caramelized Cabbage Smothered in Anchovies & Dill, served with Venison Medallions with Blueberry Sage Sauce that David made. December Boxy Charm. 

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band played a small Christmas show online from their home. Kate was watching it too...we were both surprised how short it was...1/2 an hour? But they are so much fun & I can't wait to see them live again. 

NYT Cooking recipes...Sheet Pan Fish (Salmon) Tikka with Spinach, served with one of our favorites...Brussels with Bacon & Kimchi. My first time back at Pilates after surgery!!! Oh, my goodness...I have lost so much of my core strength, but it felt so good to be back. Later that day...I got my hair cut while wearing this outfit...& Sigrid had the most delicious Enstrom Almond Toffee tempting me on her counter. I had 2...but honestly, I could have eaten the whole bowl...toffee is totally my thing. Popped into Meat People Butcher to pick up a beef tenderloin...Anna is so nice. 

More yummy recipes from The Cook You Want To Be...

And more cooking...Garlicky Beef Tenderloin with Orange Horseradish Sauce, served with Fennel Buried in Cream (my final recipe from Andy's book...for now). The co-op had been out of fennel for weeks, so I stopped by a different store & all they had were these 2 sad looking bulbs...but I was desperate, so I bought them. Why is there a fennel shortage? 

 

A Merry Evening with Dan & Megan Rodriguez // Tattoo Color

Dress: Harvest Midi Dress by Bl-nk (size L) via Nuuly

Cardigan: Langenls, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: 

All Jewelry: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-45

I adored this dress...with all its orange & patterns...including my favorite, paisley. It may have been better suited for an autumn day rather than this snowy weather...but it made me happy & there is hardly a dress that can't be made winter appropriate with a cardigan. All cotton, pockets, runs a size big.

This cardigan was one of the many I'd picked up at the Sun Prairie Vinny's...no buttons though, so I held it together with a pin we picked up at the Elkhorn Flea. 

Covered in snow...

Close up of my make-up...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner & eyeshadow in Mildew, Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions eyeshadow palette, Pumpkin lipliner from NYX, Heat lipstick by UD, & China Glaze nail polish in Argo. 

I first wore this dress to go to UW Hospital & finally have my drains taken out...I got in the truck & shouted FREEEEEDOM. A bit of grocery shopping at Metcalfe's...where organic cauliflower is only $10...1/2 the price of the co-op. Walkee Paws for the doggies. Kate sent me a video, I showed it to David...& then this happened. 

Poor tortured doggies...they just don't like it. More recipes from Andy Baraghani. 

At The Bur Oak to see Dan Rodriguez, with his wife, Megan. No vinyl...sadness. While I was waiting, I watched Davina & the Vagabonds online show where they announced their Indiegogo campaign for their next album. For $10,000 (not including travel, accommodations, or lighting/sound) they will play a private show for you. Oh, how I wish I could afford that. It's just a lot. Kate got a steal with Them Coulee Boys. I'd happily pay ~$5,000 every other year for a band to come play for us on Lake Superior. That show was the best. 

Megan & Dan...the majority of this show was them singing holiday songs, Dan's as well as classics. He also played some of his non-Christmas tunes. It was lovely. I guess they've been doing small Christmas tours for several years & Dan's brother usually comes along & plays piano...but he got a better offer (Dan asked, how much are they paying you? Yeah, you should go.). 

Video visit with Kate!

Sunflower coloring time with Bear...we also chatted about the next tattoo they will be inking on me...a mermaid/siren on the back of my right calf...after that, that leg (below the knee) will be done! I want a scattering of tiny tattoos in places with scars, but those should be quick freehand pieces (things like leopard spots & fleur-de-lys). 

Oh, my goodness! Soooo pretty...they were going to do all the flowers traditional yellow, but I wanted it mixed up. Bear does amazing work & they are such a marvelous person...warm & easy to talk to.