DARE TO BARE ARMS? YES I DARE! (Part 1) #DoveBeauty #Spon

Happy July everyone!

From what I read on the blogosphere, it is at least as hot everywhere else in the US as it is here in San Diego. It's always pretty warm here all year long, in fact, I remember kids wearing shorts and sandals during Christmas festivities at school. July is usually the hottest month, it also happens to be my birthday month! I have plenty of photos of my childhood birthday parties, with everyone wearing cute 70s tank tops and sunddresses (even the occasional TUBE TOP) but once I hit adolescence, there don't seem to be quite so many photos like that.  Yeah, after I finished middle school there was a definite shift in my wardrobe. With my birthday coming up, I've been spending a lot of time reflecting on my summer fashions during those high school years. Ah, the 80s! I wish I could say I regret the fashions or the hair, but I don't. I regret NOTHING! Okay, maybe the home perm, but that's it! Many of my recent reveries have been triggered by friends posting old photos of me on Facebook like this:

Could I find a bigger jacket?

And this...

I have no idea why I'm doing that with my pinkie!

What both of these photos have in common is that they were each taken on the last day of school. The first one is from my freshman year (I think?) and the second one is the last day of my junior year. Which means that it was hotter than BLAZES when I posed for those photos, yet I'm dressed like I'm just about to retire to the chalet for a hot toddy and fondue.

What's up with THAT???

I can't believe I forgot this, but I did not wear ONE sleeveless top during my entire high school career. Not one! If I remember correctly, just before freshman year, I saw a photo of myself in  a sleeveless top and was so horrified by what I saw (pale upper arms and what appeared to be dark marks on my underarms) that I never left home without sleeves for the next four years. Looking back now, I think my appearance in the photo was due largely to a bad angle and lighting but yep, one dumb photo had that big of an effect on me. It became a horrible, self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts, because keeping my upper arms under wraps for so long meant that when I finally got over myself and decided to wear a tank top in public-my arms were pastier than a pan dulce concha with a farmer's tan that, well...it was not cute.

Cut to THIS SUMMER!

I love this dress and am going to wear it A LOT!

THIS SUMMER I am going to go sleeveless as often as I possibly can! In fact, I think I may even go sleeveless on my birthday, when folks are likely to be snapping candid photos of me-gasp! Photos where I'll have no time to prepare a pose and lighting like I did in the photo of me above. Will I do it?

DO I DARE???

You'll have to wait and see! Stay tuned for a preview of my birthday outfit-I'll be celebrating with a night out to the theatah (which, as some of you know, I love) with my husband (also love) and yes, I am seriously considering going sleeveless. In the meantime, I will be treating my upper arms to plenty of exfoliation, exposure (with sunscreen, of course!) and some light toning exercises-you know, just in case.

Here's hoping you all stay cool and never let anything like a dumb photo keep you from exercising your RIGHT TO BARE ARMS!
Wishing you love with extra cheese-
Nacho Mama

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All the opinions expressed here are my own.