Photo Journal: Portland Highland Games

As you know, I am a huge fan of the television show (and book series) Outlander.  Sean has known he has Scottish ancestry for quite some time, but I found out about mine when we did an ancestry DNA test this year.  I have always loved cultural festivals and celebrations, so we really wanted to make sure to attend the Portland Highland Games.  We managed to fit it into what has become a way too busy summer, bringing my mother-in-law with us also.  It was a fun day!

In today's post, I am walking you through the festivities of the day and talking about my experience at my first ever Highland Games!  On Friday, I will be giving all the details on my outfit.

What I Wore: Armed For Summer

 

If you read yesterday's post, you know it is too friggin' hot for me this week.  It managed to get up to 104-ish today, which it will also be tomorrow when Sean and I head to doggy training class with the boys.  PEH.  I am super cranky about it.

I've mentioned this before but, in an effort to get over my fear of showing my arms, I decided to make this summer about working on exposing my upper arms more.  I vowed to myself to wear more sleeveless or shorter sleeve tops.  I'll talk a bit more about that later in the post, but today's outfit includes a sleeveless top that has helped me embrace this new positive goal.  I'm reviewing this bright off-the-shoulder piece from Lane Bryant below.

What I Wore: Simple Tees

I like the idea of summer, but not the execution.  I hate the heat.  Anything over 75 starts making me super cranky.  This week we have two days of 107 degree weather followed by two weeks of temps in the 90s.  (It is 97 so far today.)  It is all I can do to keep from just crying with how insanely hot that is.  AND we have dog training class on one of those 107 degree days.  It is just NOT supposed to be that hot here.  I want to strangle folks already.

So this week, in abhor-ation of this shittastic weather, I am bringing you two posts with three different looks that I have worn in the heat this summer.  Today's post is about a basic cold-shoulder, flutter-sleeved top I picked up recently.  It has been a great piece to dress up or down and makes me feel cute despite the sweat.

What I Wore: Fireworks

I've always viewed the Fourth of July as a very romantic holiday filled with excitement and anticipation.  As a single person for a majority of my life, I often fantasized about strawberry-flavored kisses under the fireworks in balmy summer breezes.  He would wrap his arms around me as we gazed at the bright showers of light overhead.   Happily, I finally found what I was looking for.

I still think the holiday has a romance about it, but these days we stay home with the furkids to keep them from stressing too much because of the noise.  In today's post, I'm showing you a casual ensemble I wore for running around town pre-Fourth of July.  This starry Lane Bryant tank and distressed denim short combo are perfect for a lightweight, no fuss look.

What I Wore: Summer Romance

Happy Wednesday!
I hope you are all having a lovely week.  Over the weekend, Sean and I were joined by my mother-in-law and headed to our first Highland Games!  I'm looking forward to telling you about that adventure, even if it was way too hot for me to be outside.  This week, we start dog training classes with the boys.  I'm really excited to get them some better manners so they understand commands, but it does make my weeks more hectic.  I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

In today's post, I'm reviewing this Ashley Nell Tipton Boutique+ Cold Shoulder Maxi Dress I picked up from JCPenney.  I couldn't pass up the romantic ruffle and lace and vibrant coral color!

Reviewing Kiyonna's Celine Chiffon Maxi Skirt

We're certainly in the midst of summer now!  I hope you are all staying cool and are busy with fun summer activities.  Sean and I finally had a chance to clean up and work on the office recently.  I installed a sit-to-stand desk attachment that I am excited about using.  I have been so busy and so tired as of late, so I spent last week trying to catch up on photographing outfits and items for upcoming blog posts and getting photos ready for blogging.  I'm hoping I can get back to posting two or three times a week again.  I never really did much of a house tour when we moved, so if you guys are interested in a house tour post, let me know.

In today's post, I'm reviewing the lovely Celine Chiffon Maxi Skirt from Kiyonna.  I donned my July review choice for an afternoon out to lunch with my stepdad and Sean over the holiday weekend.  We were able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather where this skirt really shined. Enjoy!

What I Wore: Jammin' with the New Kids

 

I've been a New Kids On The Block fan for 29 years.  I was always out and proud about it, so I was picked on relentlessly for it - both at home and at school.  I credit the New Kids' inspiration and my experience as a Blockhead in helping me become a person of integrity.  I stand up for what I believe in and what I love, and I have the New Kids to thank for teaching me that at a very early age.

Despite my level of endless adoration, I was never allowed to go to a concert, much less a New Kids concert, when I was a kid.  So when the New Kids got back together in 2008, I vowed to go to every concert I could possibly get to in an effort to make up for lost time.  Sean and I even pushed our honeymoon back a week so I could attend the reunion shows in my area.  I've spent the last nine years livin' it up at twelve NKOTB concerts.  I've met and greeted the guys.  I've been sang to and winked at from the stage.  I've had amazing seats.  I've even watched their Coming Home DVD in a movie theater with the New Kids!  I've traveled to new cities, made new friends, and gotten closer to old ones.

All this to say, I continue to be extremely grateful to be able to have these experiences.  I'm grateful the guys got back together.  I am grateful that I can afford to go to the shows and travel.  I am grateful that my husband isn't an asshole (like a LOT of these other women's husbands are) and supports/admires/cares about my love for the New Kids.  It is such an important part of who I am.  And every concert things happen that make the 12-year-old in me feel so validated and excited and loved.  It's a good time.

I wasn't going to write an intro this long, but I got all emotional.  I recently attended my thirteenth and fourteenth New Kids concerts in Portland and Seattle.  I'm still editing concert pictures, but I thought we'd talk about what I wore first.  Today I'll be showing you my concert outfits and reviewing new-to-the-blog pieces from Melissa McCarthy Seven7 (shorts comparison!) and Torrid.