Blue Dresses & Blueberries

 Dress: Navy Stripe Maxi Dress by Lands' End (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, offer ends in October)

Sandals: Born

Earring: Vintage 80s

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this nautical number to farmers' market, garage sale-ing, & erranding. This dress was SO not me...I felt like I should be attending a PTA meeting. However, it was insanely comfortable & I ended up wearing it 2 days before sending it back in the blue bag. As with all Lands' End, I sized down one size & it fit fabulously. The armholes on this maxi were perfect & I adored the vents on each side at the bottom...that used to be a feature on all dresses that faded out over a decade ago...but seems to be reappearing. 

 Scenes from the downtown market...

 A cute girlie & her blueberries...

 Garage sale treasures...I can't help it, I was raised Catholic. 

 Fabulous Find at Restore...a $550 Kohler sink for $20! It's so deep!

I used to wear these pirate earrings quite a bit in high school, but it's been a while since they've been out of the jewelry cabinet...see how it pays to never throw anything away?

Batik Paper Workshop

 Dress: Braelyn Dress by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, offer ends in October)

Sandals: Born

Necklace & Earrings: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this matte jersey faux-wrap dress to go garage sale-ing & to a batik workshop. The fabric on this dress felt marvelous & the color was such an intense blue...it was a delight to wear. Fully lined & much more modest than most wraps. I did feel like I could be singing in church in this dress...if only I could sing. 

I've been collecting kaleidoscopic patterned scarves at garage sales with a purpose...I want to sew them all together & make fluttery curtains that will dance in the breeze. Also, autumn toned Earth sandals. 

Batik paper by Laura from Anthology. 

Our library offers wonderful crafty classes for free, & I try to take advantage of them when I can...especially when they are taught by Laura. I've been fascinated by batik paper since Laura & her sister had garlands of them hanging at our downtown library in the windows...soooooo pretty. I had a delightful time learning this art & it is something I would enjoy practicing & perfecting. Next time I would bring cookie cutters & other metal objects to make patterns with (notice the bobbin images above). 

I am in love with this necklace...but I am wondering if it is time to reimagine it without the silk thread covered beads?

You can witness them fraying below...

Back to School

 Dress: Hi-Lo Tank Dress by tbagslosangeles (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, offer ends in October)

Sandals: Born

Necklace: Kathy Barrick

Earring: Vintage Czech from ebay

Bracelet: Vintage Silver, handmade in Mexico

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this dress to help teach a class & then out to dinner. I love tbags dresses, hate the name. They have marvelous fabric & fun prints. This tank dress was cute, comfortable, & I loved the pattern & the way it flowed. And the edges were all finished! Despite being a high end brand, they leave many of their hems & sleeves un-sewn. I wish this dress had come with a belt to give it a more defined shape at the waist. It was a fun one-time wear, but not my favorite tbags dress as I didn't feel it was particularly flattering to my pear shape. 

Super Boo & I have been doing a guest stint in the couples class at our alma mater for the last several summers. We role play 3 to 4 different couples while the class takes turns doing co-therapy on us.  It's great fun to become other people for a while, but emotionally draining as I really get into my characters. I think it would be fun to teach some day. 

Lovely window display on our walk to Pizza Brutta. I want to mosaic pretty designs on some of the bowling balls I've been collecting for yard decoration. 

Our last pizza with Don, the couples professor. He is moving to sunny California...why would anyone want to escape Wisconsin winters?!

Hidden orange, hardly visible until you are up close....

2 Girlies, 1 Rachel Pally Dress

 Dress: Lorna Dress in Rosette Print by Rachel Pally (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month, offer ending in October)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Clarks

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Earring: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Kate, Jason, & Me (iPhone)

I wore this outfit to work & to have photos taken with the girlie. The colors in this dress were amazing & the fabric was such a lovely soft jersey knit. I liked the color placement of the dress I had more so than that of Kate's...no surprise I'd prefer more oranges near my face. I'd say this dress fit true to size as I could have used a 4x (had it been available)...although it still would have been too short to wear without teggings. 

 It looks so different on Kate...she also tied her sash around back. 

 I don't recall what we were laughing about...

 Kate is wearing Kale around her neck. 

I'm wearing a necklace with a man riding a penny farthing. It is an antique French celluloid silhouette brooch...or it was once upon a time...now it safely resides inside this locket. 

2 Work Outfits (July 24th & 25th)

Dresses: Side Ruched Sheath Dress (left) by London Times (size 24); Tiana Maxi Dress by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment for a month (this offer ends in October)

Sandals: Born (green) & Clarks (red)
Jewelry (left): Earring from ebay; Necklace, gift from S. Boo; (right): Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Super Boo & Me (iPhone)

I wore this London Times dress to work. The pops of color were delightful...but there was too much white for me...I am so predictable. This dress had shoulder pads. Just think about that for a minute. I haven't worn an item of clothing with shoulder pads since 1987. This dress could not have gone out in public on me without the leggings...the wrap part of the skirt exposed a lot of thigh when sitting down. 

However, my blue nails from the day before were a match, as well as the door to our office building (which also contains too much white).

I wore this maxi to work, SWAP, & to a garage sale. The fabric on this dress was not up to Igigi's usual standards & it felt boxy on me. It had pockets & also came with a solid blue sash that I wish I had remembered to wear. It was incredibly comfortable & I felt like I was wearing a nightgown all day...if only it hadn't looked the part. Also, not a fan of the pattern. Picky picky! 

I wonder why SWAP hasn't been able to sell these fascinating books? SWAP (Surplus with a Purpose) sells items UW & other state offices no longer want. We like to check it out & have found many interesting items over the years. 

Church Rummage Sale finds. 20 Nancy Drew books...I used to love these as a young girl! And 2 Mary statues for the garden. 

David bought me this acorn necklace after a psychic declared it my symbol of letting good things into my life & heart. I have seen a psychic one & only time shortly after my best friend from high school committed suicide. I went with a group of his family & friends & it was a really incredible experience. 

I bought this jewelry myself because I liked it...it has no story. 

Concerts on the Square

Dress: Tropical Leaf Print Jersey Maxi Dress by Yours Clothing via Gwynnie Bee (click link to get a free month & help me earn a free garment, this offer ends in October)

Sandals: Dansko

Necklace & Earring: Babil & Bijou

Photography: Kate & Me (iPhone)

I wore this tropical maxi to work & to picnic with my girlies. Luckily, this dress arrived at my door brand new. Kate had it the same time I did & she said the second time she wore it, the pilling had already begun. The fabric was cheap, thin, & there was a seam right down the middle...also, the larger than necessary armholes showed off a bit of my bra. Kate seems to think this problem could be solved if I just got a nude bra, but I have never owned a nude bra...why start now?? So, that's a lot of negatives for something I had such fun wearing...but, as is the beauty of GB, it was just one time. I loved the bright print in colors & pattern I would never purchase, the maxi was a perfect length for me, & the neckline & cut were both flattering. 

Furthermore...this maxi matched this newly painted wall!

Plan B, a gay nightclub, asked Baltimore artist, Michael Owen, to paint one of his LOVE murals on the side of their building. He is the artist & creator of The Baltimore Love Project. 

Kate modeling a London Times dress...this is how a tropical maxi should be done! Oh, it felt so luxurious...I was full of envy & sad it was never sent to me. 

Olive LOVES Concerts on the Square! She takes after me & is quite the people watcher. 

Concerts on the Square take place on our capitol lawn...for 6 Wednesday evenings in the summer, The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra plays beautiful music for the 20,000 people that gather there. Many of them start spreading their blankets on the lawn as soon as it is allowed at 3pm. We sit just across the street with the less serious people who like to talk...if you dare talk on the lawn, you are shushed. 

Picnic! I made us artichoke hummus wraps with veggie slaw & Kate brought the most essential thing...sparkling summer wine!

Witness our selfie endeavor. I'm impressed I kept my tongue mostly in my mouth. 

Olive the attack pit bull. She made a friend. A Southern gentleman came & sat with her for a while & got lots of kisses & photos...when he left us, he said, "thank you for letting me have company with your dog." Charming. 

Kate noticed, through a photo on Facebook, that our friend Anne was also at concert...we commented & she came to visit & also snapped this shot of all 3 of us. 

This dress also allowed me the opportunity to finally wear this seashell filled vintage watchcase necklace.