Texas Renaissance Festival 2014

A couple weekends ago (on a whim, as you do) we hit up the Texas Renaissance Festival! This was our second time going, we went a few years ago, and again we had a blast. I love how into it everyone gets. The costumes were amazing and endlessly entertaining. Prime people watching. So much middle aged tomfoolery.

We went on a Saturday, after getting up at 6am to run seven miles. Because we're crazy. By the end we were exhausted. It's about a two and a half hour drive and we just went for the day. I was ready for bed when we got home to say the least.

We went on "All Hallow's Eve" weekend, which was obviously, Halloween themed. We went as a Renaissance witch and wizard, and I whipped our costumes up just a few days before. It was an intense few days of a sewing. My costume was really easy, Brendon's on the other hand took some work. SO much trim. But it came out great and is probably the most well made thing I've sewn!

I got henna as a souvenir (which was soooo well done, it's still faintly showing on my hand!) and boy wonder got his very own wand. He's the cutest thing ever.

Grainiest photo ever of us attempting to stay awake while waiting for the fireworks show. We ending up bailing and heading home early. Sleepy heads were we!

We had a blast. Ready to go again next year! I think I'm going to make me a princess costume next time. Complete with tiara. Because when else in your life do you get to be a princess??

Ye Olde Renaissance Festival

This weekend was a blast! Saturday me, Brendon, my mom, my sister, and her boyfriend Alex went to the Texas Renaissance Festival. Although it was a long drive (it was in Plantersville which is almost to Houston!) it was so fun! And crazy! I was nervous at first about dressing up, but it turns out people go ALL out for these things. Like some of the outfits had to have cost hundreds of dollars. And some of the get ups were extremely revealing. Like one chick was sporting nothing but a thong under a very see through chain mail skirt (????). There was so much to see (aside from scantily clad middle aged people), tons of music, and very entertaining shows! The music was fantastic, there was a bagpipe band that rocked it big time. They were my favorite. We also saw this guy who cracked whips that were on fire! It was nuts! He's apparently the international whip cracking champion. Kudos to him!

This picture of my sister cracks me up! She should have sported those shades all day, they were so period appropriate. We definitely got dressed in that parking lot/forest. People might have stared, whatever.

Check out my mom lookin' like a boss, scheming out our plan of attack. You see that garland hat I'm sporting? Pretty much the best purchase of my life. I got it as soon as I got there and didn't take it off all day. Flowers in the hair for life.

The place was huuuuuge! There were a gazillion shops and eateries, plus man powered rides, shows, music stages, and a "magic garden" (where people were smoking some magic herbs... real inconspicuously. (not.)).

THIS DUDE. I mean come on. TOO legit to quit. He was actually selling some pretty sweet silver jewelery that I regret not purchasing. They had everything there in the shop to size rings for you! They were ready to roll!

Mr.  H and I!

Brendon got to play Robin Hood and shoot a longbow. It was pretty neat! He likes weapons (scaaaary).

My momma and I taking a break. We did A LOT of walking, our feet were worn out! I wish I had taken a picture of the back of my mom's dress, her shawl made a cool loop/cape-ish thing in the back, it was so pretty!

All of us! Sporting my Fall 2011 Scottish Collection. I am very proud of all my handy work! Nothing fell apart and I think we all looked pretty fab. Poor Brendon was the only one not wearing red plaid. I bought his fabric first and I didn't realize everyone else would pick the same color. He was looking extra sweet in that blue though. He prefers standing out anyways. :)

The ladies! My sisters waist is so tiny it's not even fair. And I am so pale I am pretty much glowing in the flash.

Alex and Julie. Little cuties and their matching plaid!

Scottish Hogans! I think we make a pretty cute Scottish couple.

It was a seriously fun day with the family and I can't wait to go again. If you ever get the chance, GO! It's tons of fun. You could just people watch (I'm a huge fan of people watching) for hours. And people there like to par-tay! The beer, wine, and mead was definitely flowing. Dressing up is the bomb and I wish I could do it everyday. There needs to be more excuses to do stuff like this!

Scottish Garb Round 3

Finished up my momma's Scottish gear tonight! This picture does not do it justice, but this weekend my mom and I will be getting together and I will take pictures of the dress on it's respective human. This outfit is far more complex than mine, it was a challenge and a lot of fun to make. I learned how to put on a zipper! I really like how it turned out. My mom is going to look so fabulous! We all are! I can't wait to go tromping around the renaissance festival in our plaidness. Watch out turkey leg eaters!

Unfortunately these last few days I've been a victim of allergies. It's wearing me out, I usually don't get allergies so I'm not used to all this nonsense. I constantly feel like I need to sneeze, not cool. Plus I'm really sure I've been extra cute breathing through my mouth heavily while squinting through red itchy eyes. It's a good look, I know. Get out of here allergens, I don't have time for you!

Scottish dress #1

Here is my little Scottish number... even though I finished this up almost a week ago... bad blogger!

(nerd alert!)

Ta-da! Do I look ready to play some bag pipes or throw a tree trunk? 

This dress was pretty easy to make. I spread it out over three days (tryin' to make these projects last), the blouse one day, the skirt the next, and then the vest. The vest was the most fun. I learned how to put on grommets! You get to use a hammer! So fun. Unfortunately, I set myself up for a couple challenges because apparently I cannot read. I bought too little of the white and plaid fabric. I had to go get more of the white (and I have officially banned myself from Joann's for a while, that place is my kryptonite these days), but I ended up just shortening the skirt to make the plaid I had work. Finding out that I hadn't gotten enough fabric was extremely frustrating and I felt like a fool. But in all fairness, have you ever tried to read the material lists on the back of patterns? Whoever designed those is obviously a fan of chaos and confusion.

 A blurry shot of Greg interrupting our photo shoot. He's always trying to steal the limelight.

I changed the skirt up a bit. Originally it was just hanging straight down, normal skirt style, but it was an awkward length because I had to shorten it, so I decided to add some pick ups in the front to add a little spiciness (yes, spiciness. Scottish spiciness.). I'm also thinking of taking the lace off of the neckline. It's really cute and all, but itchy as all get out.

I'm ready to hit up the highland games y'all! Any ideas on shoes? I know the barefoot look is just SO working for me, but I figure shoes are appropriate to wear outdoors. No one wants parasites, right Brendon?

Name that intersection!

Also, it rained! For a couple days! And not fake misty rain, but real rain. I spent this weekend with my momma down in NB and on Sunday we drove to Houston to see my g-pa, aunt, and cousins for some birthday festivities. It rained the ENTIRE way there! I'm not sure if Austin got as much while I was gone, Brendon said it rained quite a bit, but it sure was nice to see some dark clouds instead of the never ending burning sun of death. We even got some thunder and lightening! I love a good storm!

It was awesome to get out of Austin, if only for a couple days. I had a great time with my mom, as always! Saturday we got her fabric for her dress and ran around in the rain all day. Then we had some yummy hot dogs and watched a movie, Red Riding Hood. The movie was okay, a little silly but entertaining. I was scared that it might be spooky! But it wasn't thank goodness, I don't do scary movies. This weekend was just what I needed. As much as I dislike being away from Brendon, it was refreshing to get some girl time with mi madre. A tiny little escape from reality. And I'm sure he enjoyed the quality study time without interruptions from me asking him to take pictures of my latest endeavor.