Sorry for my prolonged absence this month!  Behind the scenes, I am constantly editing photos so I can catch up on my never-ending list of trips, topics, and outfits I want to share with you.  Sean and I have also been recording weekly podcast episodes for Hailey Hates Everything, which I have to edit each week.  AND I've been working on some art and will be opening an Etsy shop next month!  I've been busy.

And add onto that:

- some brands reached out to me recently, which you will be seeing in the next few weeks or so in the form of a DIY tutorial and a few reviews,

- we are gearing up for a week at the beach to relax and do some hiking and exploring, with a few photoshoots thrown in for good measure,

- I've been going to weekly chiropractor appointments that tend to take a bit of energy away from me, 

- and just general anxiety and depression overwhelm that suffocates me from time to time.

In a previous post, I showed you a great burgundy maxi dress I found at Target.  I bought three more colors and fully planned to live in them this summer, in the event we went anywhere.  We didn't go too many places, but I definitely brought out my dresses to layer for easy summer days.

So today I am showing you a few more versions of that exact look because I just loved wearing it so much.  Enjoy!

I dressed for an easy, breezy, warm summer day when my friends and I headed to a winery in Hood River, Oregon to pick up our wine club shipment.  I wanted to keep things bright because I was having a series of really rough mental health days and thought dressing happier would help my overall mood.  While it wasn't a magical elixir, it did help a bit and I had fun getting out of the house.  We drank tasty wine, we ate yummy food, and we sat outside to enjoy the breeze and shade - away from people.

This dress style is on sale for $18 and is only available in olive in size 4X. (I have a photo in the olive below if you want a color reference.)  I'm wearing a 3X and find it fits true to size, bordering on a bit more generously cut.  This dress is soft and knit and so comfortable.  I'm glad I snatched them up when I did.

Also being totally obsessed with off-the-shoulder style tops, I have a growing collection at the ready.  Pairing these tops with the wider strapped maxi has been really fun and effortless in the summer heat.  I broke out this Care Bear top, which got its fair share of compliments from folks at the winery.  I added rainbow heart earrings, my amethyst necklace Sean got me for Valentine's Day, and some Nike sneakers I found at Sierra Trading Post last year.