What I Wore: Lattes and Lipstick

"Finally, another fashion post!" some of you may be thinking.  Sorry it has been so long, y'all.  Life has been happily busy and, after our trip to the beach, I was basically in my pajamas for a week and a half.  House chores, resting, editing photos, and catching up on various things were what was in order.

As I gear up for my next round of thyroid cancer-related check-ups, my anxiety has gone through the roof!  It tends to do that before any doctor's appointment these days, but it becomes pretty all-consuming and everything seems to trigger it.  I'm trying different techniques to handle the anxiety better.  Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.  I attempted a "Give No F*cks" attitude last weekend to keep from having a panic attack over something I knew would trigger me; and it helped.  It is just an ongoing process of constant awareness, repeating positive phrases, and reassuring myself that I am okay.  I am assuming this feeling of total dread is quite common under the circumstances, so reminding myself I am normal and not the only one who is feeling this way can sometimes keep the anxiety monster from growing. 

Read on for outfit details and all the fun stuff...

Sephora Play Beauty Box - June, July, & August 2016

Hello, my friends!  Today I'm bringing you a review and look at my summer Sephora Play! boxes.  Sephora Play! is another monthly subscription box with five samples of makeup, skincare, and/or haircare, and a fragrance sample.  The box is $10 a month.  The products are all items that Sephora carries, so they are easy to shop for if you decide you want a full-size product.  You can check out my first box from May here.

They currently have an on-going off again, on again Wait List.  You join the Wait List with your email address and will be notified via email when the list is open and you can sign up.  I have been really happy with this subscription so far.  Although I love each subscription I get for various reasons, right now I think Sephora is my favorite out of the three I am subscribed to (Birchbox, Ipsy, Sephora).

Let's get to reviewing!

Mini Road Trip: Columbia River Scenic Highway & Hood River, Oregon

 

I've been feeling really stifled and claustrophobic lately.  It makes me feel uninspired in creating blog posts, as well as frustrated, moody, and depressed.  The thing about blogging is, there is never any real break or vacation unless you make one.  And even then, I am constantly taking photos and writing down information for when I do blog about it.  I love sharing things with all of you via the blog, so I don't want to stop anytime soon.  But I've let a lot of the behind-the-scenes frustrations of it get in my head.  I was in desperate need of a breather.

On a Saturday a few weeks ago, when we were free of gatherings and responsibilities, Sean and I set out on a little day adventure to clear our heads.  We are fortunate enough to live in a gloriously beautiful part of the country.  I love being able to get out and view the mountains, trees, and river.  We've driven down the Columbia River Scenic Highway many times, but it never gets old.  The location of our wedding, McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, is near the start of the scenic byway.  Waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and hiking trails can be found along this stretch of road.

We decided to drive along the Columbia River to Hood River, Oregon for the day, taking in the beautiful views and relaxing along the way.  The weather was a bit warm at the start, but we enjoyed every minute of it.  For your viewing pleasure (and in case you want to take a little trip yourselves), I present a photo diary of our trip.  Enjoy!

Ipsy Bag - July and August 2016

I'm attempting to keep up with my beauty box reviews.  I've had some really great samples, so I look forward to sharing my findings.  Today's post is an Ipsy review for July and August's bags. 

If you are unfamiliar with Ipsy, it is a monthly subscription service.  For $10 a month, you get a cute reusable bag and five samples of various products that have been chosen to fit the monthly theme and your beauty profile.  Ipsy tends to carry more drugstore brands and makeup, with high-end brands mixed in here and there.  In comparison, Birchbox tends to focus on higher-end brands, with more skin and haircare items.  Both of these boxes have a mix of skincare, haircare, makeup, fragrance, and nail polish.  I also started getting the Sephora Play box, which also has a mix of products (mostly makeup) and focuses on the higher end brands that Sephora carries.  I love them all and enjoy trying out the products that each supply to my junkie needs.  If you want to subscribe to one and are unsure of which to choose, let me know what you want most and I can help you choose the best one for you.

What I Wore: ASOS Curve Skater Dress Remix

Back in February, I showed you this ASOS Curve dress styled for the middle of winter with boots, leggings, and a jacket.  I've been wanting to wear it through the seasons, but just haven't had a chance to lately.  Over the weekend, I pulled the dress out for running around town, finally having a chance to style it for warmer weather.

I received a lot of compliments from total strangers while I was out running errands. This look is very simple, but people really gravitated to it.

In The Fitting Room: JCPenney (Ashley Nell Tipton Boutique+ Collection) + Bonus Stops: Maurices, Lane Bryant, Dressbarn

 

Last weekend after my hair appointment, I had a few free hours, so I ventured over to JCPenney to try on some clothing.  Project Runway winner Ashley Nell Tipton just launched a collection for JCPenney's Boutique+ line.  Seeing the designs online and in the behind-the-scenes videos shared on JCP's Youtube channel, I knew I needed to go in and check out the pieces in person.

Of course, my local store didn't have every piece in stock, but I grabbed what I could.  These pieces are very affordable, with JCP running promotions and sales quite often.  They feel well-made and fit true-to-size, bordering on being more generously cut, on me. Sizes range from 16 to 30. Prices range from $20 to $125 and are even cheaper during sales and with added promotions.

On Tuesday, I went out with my mother-in-law to just spend the day together.  We ended up stopping into a variety of stores.  As a little bonus for you, I have included a few items from Maurices, Dressbarn, and Lane Bryant that I tried on throughout the day. Enjoy!

Ask Me Anything: Questions Answered!

At the end of July, I asked all of you for questions you wanted me to answer in a future blog post.  I've been gathering the submissions this month and, boy, you guys had some great ones!  In today's post, I am answering some of the questions I received.

You all can continue sending in queries to your heart's content.  Shoot me an email, leave a question on social media, or look over in the sidebar.  There is a link that says "Ask Me Anything" (right below my photo and stats) that allows you to leave anonymous questions if you so desire.  As I collect more questions, I can answer them in future posts.