Celebrating 250 Years of Our Nation’s Independence & Spread The Kindness Link Up On the Edge #814

July 3, 2026 / 23 Comments

Tomorrow marks the 250th anniversary of Independence Day in the United States of America. If you are as old as me then you were around for the 200th anniversary. I was 2 years old for our bicentennial celebration and now I’m 52 as we celebrate our semiquincentennial anniversary.

Back in 1976, my mother made bicentennial costumes for me and my older sisters and then she had professional portraits taken of us wearing them. This photo is a family favorite and makes an appearance every Fourth of July. I’m the littlest one…on the left with the blonde hair. I think I might have enjoyed life as a blonde but it wasn’t too long after this photo that my hair started to darken, finally settling on a boring medium brown color by the time I started kindergarten.

I thought it might be fun for today’s post to share some patriotic outfits that I have styled in the past. Some were meant to be patriotic and others just randomly came together in a red, white, and blue color palette. I have worn outfits in this classic color combination many times before and during all seasons. For today, I’m going to omit any red, white, and blue outfits that were styled for winter or fall weather and focus on my summer and spring styles with a patriotic vibe.

2026
2025
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

I’m not sure what I’ll actually be wearing for tomorrow’s celebrations, but it will certainly have the colors of our country’s flag. What will you be wearing this weekend?

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Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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23 Comments

  • Amy Johnson

    July 3, 2026 at 7:10 am Reply

    It is good to see so much patriotism here! Love all the fun outfits. I remember the bicentennial celebrations of the 70’s . It was incredible. Such a cute photo!

  • Laura Bambrick

    July 3, 2026 at 9:22 am Reply

    What a fun walk down memory lane! I forgot you used to have short hair! I loved seeing your patriotic outfits through the years—it really shows that red, white, and blue never go out of style. Your bicentennial photo is absolutely priceless, and what a special family keepsake to bring out every Fourth of July. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday weekend!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 4, 2026 at 6:05 am Reply

      Laura, thanks so much! I always enjoy taking these walks down memory lane and then sharing them with you all! I agree that red, white, and blue is such a classic combination that really never goes out of style. I hope you have a lovely Fourth of July weekend celebrating with your beautiful family!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 4, 2026 at 6:02 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Mireille! I feel like I share this 1976 photo every 4th of July but it is so good for this particular 250th celebration that I really wanted to spotlight it! I’m not sure what I’ll wear today but something in red, white, and blue is certain. We are heading to a friend’s for lunch today and then keeping the rest of the day quiet and easy. I hope you all have a fantastic day today! Happy Fourth of July!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Di

    July 3, 2026 at 11:12 am Reply

    The photo of you and your sisters as children is just adorable! The costumes are quite elaborate, your mother must be quite an accomplished seamstress. I so enjoyed your trip back to 2015 in your summer patriotic, red white and blue outfit My favorites are all of the ones with those gorgeous red embroibered cowboy boots! Thanks so much for the feature favorite. Hope you have a fantastic 4th!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 4, 2026 at 5:59 am Reply

      Di, thanks so much, my friend! I always get a good chuckle (and sometimes a good cringe) when I go back and see my outfits from 11 years ago! But my outfits from 50 years ago…those are just fun to see! My mother was a very skilled seamstress. I really wish she was still here to help with all the sewing projects running through my head!

      Happy Independence Day to you!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 4, 2026 at 5:57 am Reply

      Oh I agree with you completely! I miss those days of pure patriotism as I am always up for a joyful celebration. While I don’t really remember 1976 since I was only 2 years old, the photographs I see from that era speak volumes. So many Independence Day celebrations have been cancelled this year due to the intense weather. And that’s it. Just canceled. With no celebrations anywhere. It is a little bit sad. Happy Independence Day to you!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Marsha Banks

    July 3, 2026 at 11:45 pm Reply

    Love, love, love the photo of the three of you! Can you remember it being taken? Do all of you have a copy of it? It was fun to see all the different iterations of Shelbee over the years! I really like you in short hair…not that I’m saying you should cut your hair! But, you look fabulous in short hair, too! Have a wonderful weekend, Shelbee! And, thanks for the link up!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 4, 2026 at 5:51 am Reply

      Marsha, thanks so much, my friend! I do not remember having our bicentennial photo taken but I’m pretty certain my oldest sister remembers. She was 8. I don’t think I even have a physical copy of this photo anymore so I’m not sure if my sisters have copies. My digital copy might be from my oldest sister. I had short hair for so many years of my life and I always dreamed of having long hair. But I could never tolerate it as it grew out until I got older and finally tolerated it! LOL Now I don’t think I’ll ever go back to short hair! Have a wonderful weekend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Barbara Chapman

    July 15, 2026 at 6:55 pm Reply

    Shelbee, you always have the best outfits!!! And I think RWB is definitely your colors…Okay, are you the young girl in the middle of your sisters, or did Mom line you up by age and you are on the left?? Seems to me you are in the middle. 🙂 And look at you back a number of years ago with short hair!! 🙂 Okay, had to share your cute outfits at today’s Share Your Style #505. And where did you get those cute bluejean capris?? I’d love to find a pair.

    Glad you were able to combine your parties to make life a bit easier,
    Hugs,
    Barb 🙂

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 16, 2026 at 5:46 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Barbara! I am honored to be featured on your post! I am the youngest of my three sisters and we are lined up by age, so I am the little blondie on the left. I was 2 years old in this photo and by the time I was in kindergarten my hair had turned to darker brown. And now, well, it’s all grey now! I also have a younger brother but he wasn’t born until I was almost 9. I did share a quite a few pairs of denim capris in this post but I honestly can’t remember where I got them. I don’t wear jeans much anymore so it’s kind of off my radar!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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