The Story of a Dress

[[Side Note: The Story of a Dress

I bought two dresses for a very special occasion this weekend.  I am tight lipped until Sunday, so make sure you come back then to see about "the event".

Anyhow, if you know me, you know I am not your typical "girly girl" at all.  If I could run around in cotton shirts and a simple pair of shorts with flip flops for the rest of my life I would.  Besides, I hate wearing shoes too.  I think it has to do with my job...ya think?

So, I had to go dress shopping two weekends ago; not one of my favorite things.  As a matter of fact, I hate shopping period, unless it's for running shoes...or food.  None the less, shopping is something that brings me a lot of anxiety in so many different realms.  It comes in different stages of before, during and afterwards.  Let me explain.

Before:


"What?! You want me to buy something that makes me look like a girl?  Please say you're joking!"

I knew I had to buy a dress.  Two actually.  They're something I know I won't wear very often, if at all again.  To me it's a waste of money and a nuisance.  Can you tell how much of a happy camper I am about this kind of thing?

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going.  So I went out.  Anxiety ridden over if I would find anything, at a reasonable price and not be disappointed...I was sick to my stomach.  Dead weight being dragged behind me in anticipation for disappointment.

My mind is riddled by numbers so the sheer fact that I have to try something "labeled" is also something I don't enjoy.  I mean really, why do they have to have numbers...?

During:

Holy mackeral there are a lot of dresses out there.  Short ones.  Flowy ones. Long ones. Simple ones. Colorful ones. So many of them.  Where do I even begin?

I hit up a few stores, the ones I know which are reasonably priced and had a large variety, but the later can be very overwhelming...so, thank goodness for brining friends, because normally I would choose things that are...simple.  Nothing showy or revealing, neither one that would inevitably draw attention.  One colored.  BORING.

Alas, this time was different.  This time I wanted to feel good in the dress.  I wanted to feel like, a girl.  Wait, a WOMAN.  So therein lies the problem...or the solution?  I tried on short dresses.  I tried on different colors.  I tried on long dresses.  I tried on...things I never would have tried on.  Things that terrified the crap out of me.

And the last two I tried on, hit the mark.

Dress #1:

I did not pick this dress, my friend did.  I never would have thought to pick this dress.  Why?  Because, it has white.  I'm not a fan of white, unless it's a t-shirt.  And it's a spaghetti strap.  And kinda short.  And fancy.  I don't do fancy

So why did I buy it?  Because the second I put it on, it just looked, RIGHT.  It fit every part of me that it needed to and was just the right length.  Normally I would have cared about what the number on the tag said, or the prices, but for this blossom I simply didn't care.  I knew I would rock it when I wore. The shoes on the other hand, well, we won't get into that part!

Dress #2:

This one I picked out.  The second I saw the turquoise color for the top I was sold.  This is one of my favorite colors and one I wish I would wear more often, let alone find!  Alas, the size on this dress worried me a bit as it was one smaller than what I would normally wear, but every manufacturer is different, so I gave it a shot anyhow.

Thank goodness for three-sided mirrors, because when I walked out to show my friends and check it out, I looked HOT.  (It reminded me of Lisa's post about her dress) Now don't go wanting to punch me, I'm not self absorbed.  It's just not often that I feel like I ever look hot. Or sexy.  Or gorgeous.  It's very rare really.  But this one, I put that reality to shame.  Although I am not a fan of things that are snug around the hip/butt area, I did not give a flipping shit about that in this dress!  It brought out the joy in my eyes and simply made me smile.  And sway the hips I have so readily hated for years.  I didn't even look at the price tag on this one, because I was going to buy it no matter the price.

After:

I came home proud.  I was happy with my choices, and hey, at a bargain!  The two of them together came out at just under $50!  Oh yeah!  But, when I talked to my counselor about this beforehand she suggested I take a friend and not go by myself; I would be too critical.  Thank goodness for that, or I never would have found that first dress.

Now, I can't wait to wear them in a few days!!!

Do you like dress shopping? What kind of dresses do you like to wear, if any? ]]


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Who wants a recipe I've never seen before? French toast and vegetables?  Got that right! What the what?!?!?!

Savory Cheese and Vegetable Filled French Toast

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of fresh bakery bread
• 1 egg
• 1/3C low sodium vegetable broth
• sprinkle of garlic powder
• sprinkle of onion powder
• sprinkle of Italian spices
• sprinkle of black pepper
• 1 slice of sharp cheddar cheese
• few broccoli florets (or whatever vegetables you want on the inside)

Directions:

1. Whisk together egg, vegetable broth and spices in a bowl.
2. Cover the two bread pieces in the egg mixture and cook on a skillet, both sides until crisp.
3. After the egg is cooked through, place the slice of cheese and vegetables on one side of the bread, topped with the other slice of bread.
4. Cook on low until the cheese is melted.
5. Cut and serve.

Kinda reminds me of a savory crepe...except it's with toast.