Bigass Stay-cation Wrap-Up: Wednesday Walk, A Brief Outing, Birthday Guy, Lettuce Dress, Party Goddess and Sunday Shop

My friends, I have eked out every ounce and milligram of fun out of this 5-day stay-cation! It's been a long, relaxing, fun time. And you know it's a good vacation when you end it stiff and sore and covered in bruises!

It all seems so long ago, but this is Wednesday's outfit. L and I decided to spend the day walking up and down Oak Bay Avenue (a very snooty part of town, "behind the Tweed Curtain", the locals joke about it).

• Top - Noul, thrifted; first worn here in May with mint dots
• Clam diggers - Contrast, thrifted; last worn here (4th outfit) for a Zentangle date with Mom in June 2015
• Shoes - Anne Klein, thrifted; last seen here in August with more whites 

I deliberately went a little preppy to venture into Oak Bay - I got a lot of side-eye over my purple hair.

We wandered up and down the Avenue, stopped for lunch, and then meandered home.

The stuff:

I hemmed and hawed over these shoes last year. This will be the last year for them. I'm over the loafer thing.

Simple bling:

A little big of bling says, "I'm making an effort."

• Bangle - local
• Ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
• Earrings - local

I stopped in at Pocket on the way home, which used to be Leche's, a thrift/trade for credit store I used to shop in more about 8-9 years ago. Look what I found!  

Yes, it's the same skirt I cut a hole in here. I found it again for $15.00. I promise I will be more careful this time when I cut the lining out.

I also fell for this awesome minty blouse.

It's by Alfani and was $18.00.

Check out the fabulous sleeves!

So very 70s! I am in!

L and I also found a 90s tennis racket and a can of balls in a second-hand store on our adventure, so we went to the local courts and played tennis in the afternoon while our cleaner was making our house nice again. It poured rain, but drove away the group that usually has the outdoor courts booked, so it was all good. Although L slipped around and I whacked myself and got a blister on my thumb. First round of stiffness and injury! I haven't played tennis in 30 years!

We chilled on Thursday, and then I went to my WW meeting - it's hard to get someone to fill in, and it's only a couple of hours, so I don't mind it during my time off.

An easy dress for the warm late afternoon, and easy shoes for walking there and back.

• Dress - Club Monaco, thrifted; last seen here in September 2015 for my Ulti before-and-after game outfit
• Shoes - Half Truth Veda, Fluevog; last worn here (3rd outfit) in May with copper and floral
• Jacket (below) - Club Monaco, thrifted; last worn here (3rd outfit) in April for a Sunday shop 

"This means you're leaving the house, right?"

Forced cuddling! Vizzini has really loved having us both around the house more during the day, even though he's sleeping most of the time.

I still really like the pattern and cut of this dress.

"It reminds me that you should stay home and nap with me."

It reminds me of the 20s/30s, that sort of dropped waist, slightly flapper look.

"Or maybe just that you need to feed me."

L and I met up for pizza after my meeting, then walked home together.

"The food is in here, woman, and be snappy about it."

A bird pooped on the shoulder of my jacket on the walk down! Dratted creatures!

The stuff:

Awesome shoes.

Birthday bling:

Since this was L's birthday week, I wore the necklace and earrings he bought me in Venice.

• Necklace/earrings - Venice, gift from L

We played Arkham Horror on Thursday night. Vizzini kept us company.

"I'm keeping a close eye on your popcorn."

He never sits still for long.

"Paparazzi! Cease your pictures immediately!"

The look of outrage is gold.

On Friday - Happy Birthday, L! We slept in, went for brunch at Shine, then wandered around town, buying L things (he opened presents in the morning).

I wore a dress. Also, L's favourite shoes (*ironic snicker*).

• Dress - Coldwater Creek, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) in September 2015 - ha, the same weekend as the above dress!
• Shoes - Prepare Guides, Fluevog; last worn here last week in May with yellow
• Cardigan (below) - Reitman's, thrifted; last seen here (4th outfit) in May with black and fuchsia

It was a hot and sunny day - this dress was so perfect.

 There is something about these pretty colours in a plaid that I love.

I have to wear something to cover up my skin on hot days, so a cardigan was needed.

Life is so hard when you're on vacation

And a pretty outfit for my guy!

The stuff:

It didn't occur to me until L and I were going through my shoes for the upcoming "Shoes My Husband Hates" week, that I'd worn 2 of his most hated shoes this week - these and the pink loafers above.

Turquoise bling:

I do like to be matchy!

• Earrings/ring - local

One of our stops was Roberta's Hats, where I replaced my lost white flower with this fabric and lace one.

This was $15.95.

We also went to one of the malls (very NOT us), because I'd found a $75.00 gift card that I'd forgotten about, and L had birthday money he wanted to spend.

I went to the MAC store! I got a new purple lipstick, called "Violetta".

And that mint-green pencil? That is an EYEBROW pencil in "Frisky Fresh".

I owe this to Melanie of A Bag and a Beret for showing me that only the coolest people colour their eyebrows. I won't be doing this as an everyday look, but for a special occasion?

Oh, hell's yeah!

I'm trying out the new lippy here as well. I know you glanced at it, but the eyebrows pulled you back...hypno brows...

On Friday night, L and I chilled and had some wine and had a quiet night playing more board games. My favourite way to spend an evening with my favourite person!

We woke up to HEAT on Saturday.

"Make this stop! This cat is too hot."

We did our usual brunch thing after a hard game of Ultimate.

This weekend thing...I could get used to it! 

• Dress - Simply Taylor, consignment; last seen here (4th outfit) - wow! a whole year ago for L's birthday weekend again
• Shoes - Noa Noa, consignment; purchased here last weekend for $30.00

I had a couple of collisions at Ulti, one with Karen (ouch!) and one when I tried to hug Geoff and he bonked me with his bony elbows, hee hee. More bruises and stiffness from this.

I am shocked that I haven't worn my beloved "lettuce" dress for a year! How did that happen? I must wear it more this year. It's a lovely lightweight cotton eyelet - great for this hot weather.

The stuff:

First wearing of these loafers - hey, I thought I was over these? - and they were...adequate. I took the X-acto blade to the back of the heels where they rub a bit. I'll see how that works. I'm rarely afraid to cut up my clothes!

Silver bling:

Easy pieces to take off and put back on. I change into workout gear at the field.

• Necklace - thrifted
• Earrings - Joyce's, vintage 80s

 After brunch, we gave the house a bit of a tidy-up then had a nap.

"Uh-oh, I know what this means..."

Birthday Party Time!

I had planned a couple of outfit changes, but it was easily 30/90 degrees in our place by the evening, so nope nope nope, gonna wear the lightest dress and not die of heat.

• Dress - Zara, consignment; purchased here for $29.00 
• Shoes - Nine West, consignment; first worn here in May with mint

Did I do my eyebrows? 

Did you have to ask? It took our friends a few double-takes to realize what was different about my face (to be fair, it was dim and we were all drinking!).

I preferred my wide gold metal belt to create more waist definition/peplum action, but too hot! Less things!

The sun spots are from the evil sun beaming its heat into our house.

Much flowiness, though! I swanned about and posed louchely on the benches in the chill area (aka the dining room).

The stuff:

I lasted about 4 hours in these shoes, until I gave up and went barefoot. I also used a fan for the entire evening, and made paper fans for all the ladies. We were glowing!

Vintage bling:

Two of these items are 50 years old.

• Flower clip - Roberta's Hats
• Bangle - thrifted
• Earrings - Stella and Dot, consignment
• Gold belt - vintage 60s, Mom's
• Necklace - vintage 60s, Mom's

L looked magnificent in his new shirt (purchased by moi) and his purple skinny jeans.

No shoes, but his purple socks matched!

Today, I slept in - more groans, stiffness and uncovering Saturday's bruises - and walked very slowly to town to get groceries.

It was HOT. It is currently 36 degrees on our deck, which is in the 90s on that other scale.

• Dress - Taylor, Jane's from the Blogger Meet-Up swap; last worn here (2nd outfit) back in August 2015 for Ulti Saturday
• Shoes - Born, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in August 2015 for another grocery trek
• Cardigan (below) - Jacob, thrifted; first worn here in September 2015 with mod stuff

I hated having to leave the air-conditioned grocery store - no one has air conditioning here!

I'm fully sunblocked up, but I still veered into the shade when I could.

Gawd, it's so hot!

I'm a delicate flower!

I love loose dresses like this on the weekends! This one has pockets, which should be a law. All dresses! Pockets! Designer people, get on this.

The stuff:

It always takes one or two wears to get my feet used to thongs. Gah. Not a fan, but for these wonderful shoes, I will make an exception.

• Earrings - 5th anniversary gift from L

I popped into the Patch after groceries. It's been a few weeks - any new things? Maybe...

I am totally grooving on graphic black and white prints lately, so I was thrilled to find this awesome Talbots dress.

I had a discussion at the checkout with another woman about the vagaries of sizing. This is a very generous size 2!

You can see the nice dimension of the interlocked lace pattern of the dress. Isn't it stunning? And for $24.00? Get outta town. That's easily a $200 dress.

I'm drawn to bold prints, especially when they have all my favourite colours.

It has cranes on the bottom!

This pretty bias-cut slip dress is by Mica and is a size 10! So, go figure.

It was $22.95 and fits me like a dream.

A little digging down the seam reveals that it's made in the USA!

Gotta like that.

I loved this wonderful iris purple leather belt.

 It's vintage 80s, I'm sure, and does up with two little metal hooks that go into the holes below.

Note how the wee sparkly buckle can be spun around to to plain dot. How versatile! And for $2.95? Can't be beat!

Well, it's going to be a shock to the system to go back to work tomorrow! However, I'm excited to be revisiting "Shoes My Husband Hates" and I hope you'll drop by and see what fresh invective L will unleash on my hapless shoes!

Linking up to:

• "Visible Monday" at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style
• "52 pick-me-up" at Anne's SpyGirl - black and white for the dress above, but also later on this week!
• "Hat Attack" at Judith's Style Crone - happy to be back after missing the last few! I hope my flower is acceptable!