In Which I Find a Dress and Feel Like a Bride - and Like It.

Okay, kids. I've been grossly neglectful of my lovely blog. You may have noticed that this happens about once a month and then you get a flurry of posts over the next week or so ... then I disappear again. Sorry guys. In my defense I have had one day off in the two weeks since Madre was here and we bought "The Dress". But now, I am back!

As far as the dress shopping experience goes, it was so painless I can't really adequately describe how much I didn't hate it. I would even go so far as to say ... I enjoyed it. Crazy, I know. Let me set the stage for you:

Madre was to arrive at Dulles Airport early in the morning on Monday, so after work on Sunday I drove up to Arlington to stay with my MOH. (Quick Wedding Party Biography: MOH is my oldest friend - we've been friends for over twenty years now and I am so excited to finally share my home state with her after over a decade). ANYWAY, staying with MOH made it so easy to pick up Madre in the morning and I got to spend some quality time with MOH - and check out bridesmaids dresses on Sunday.

I made the appointment with Ann's Boutique in Burke, VA as soon as I found out Madre would, in fact, be visiting. Ann's Boutique is the "Premier" Seller for Watters and Watters gowns in VA and they also carried the WToo line. But I couldn't sleep the night before the appointment and started looking up online reviews.

This was a mistake.

Such a big mistake, in fact, that I almost canceled the appointment! Working in the service industry, I should have realized that people go online mostly to complain and say things that they wouldn't say in real life (shut it. that's not what my blog is like ... i say this stuff in real life) but I got seriously scared at the number of negative reviews of Ann's. Also, the appointment was at 1 PM and I picked up Madre at like 9:45 and couldn't figure out a way to kill three hours in the NOVA area ... Thank God Madre talked me into keeping the appointment while sitting in a Dunkin Donuts somewhere between Arlington and Burke. We moved the appointment up a couple hours and when we got there, had the whole shop to ourselves!

Some of the online bitches reviewers had said that Ann (the owner and seamstress) was pushy and rude, but I adored her. She had me in and out of dresses so fast and was totally honest about how dresses looked on me. She was definitely not trying to make a sale that wouldn't be flattering on me. The dress we ultimately bought was the second one I tried on - I tried on maybe seven after it and came right back. It was obviously Madre's favorite and even Ann said it suited me perfectly.

I was, like, so-exceptionally-super-vain y'all. I think I really did look at myself in the mirror for upwards of five straight minutes. That's a long ass time. I wasn't doing anything. Just standing. And staring at myself. Like Narcissus. Had I been looking into a body of water I may actually have drowned (... that's sort of how that myth goes, right? or turned into a flower? whatever, that's basically it? Dad - comments?) ... Anyway the point is that the dress fit me PERFECTLY. Like a freakin' glove. And I looked skinny. Also tall. Two things that I am NOT. Oh, and then there was the veil. Veil met head and I cried. I CRIED! I was a goddamn "Say Yes To The Dress" Cliche. Embarrassing. But also really nice. It was the first time I've felt like: "HOLY SHIT I AM ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED! I AM A DAMN BRIDE! (AND I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT)"

Excuse the profanity, parentals, but that is actually how it felt. I loved every second of it. I'm a "Bride" bitches. Hear me roar ... or something.

In the next few days:

I have an invitation dilemma. Also bridesmaids dresses. I swear I won't disappear for weeks on end this time. Probably.

OH! Also, Daddy got me and Fiance a camera (something to check off our registry, yay!) so there will be more pictures - specifically ones that are not backwards!

I SAID YES ...

To the dress, that is. Here it is: The Watters & Watters Devenport

More on the details and the dress shopping experience later! What do you think?

PS. I have a picture of me in the dress ... but Madre and I can't figure out how to connect the camera to the computer

UPDATE:

From the Watter's website description:
"Ivory re-embroidered lace and washed silk organza gown with full A-line skirt and veiled lace motifs on skirt. Dress has a 71" train"

Pretty Pretty Pictures!

Now, on to FUN STUFF! It's in caps because in typing, caps means fun. Did you know that? Some people say it means yelling - but sometimes yelling can be fun. It's fun yelling. My madre is coming! I pick her up from the airport in like ... 48ish hours. We are going to buy a wedding dress! Knock on wood. I have to buy this damn dress because in wedding-time apparently my wedding is tomorrow and I have been negligent on the dress front. I have been lead to believe that if I do not buy this dress in the next week (March 15 marks 7 months to the wedding) then I will obviously be naked or wearing hobo clothes down the aisle.

That's not cool - no one wants to be a hobo on their wedding day. Why do you have to make me feel that way, WIC? Why? Anyway, I've decided to steal some photos from designers websites to show you what I've already tried on and what I intend to try on again for mi madre. Here we go!

All of the following dresses are from Watters & Watters and I tried them on with Lawyer Bridesmaid:

  Style 1079B 

Escalante (Affectionately referred to as the Grace Kelly Dress)

Austin - this one made my top 5 - it was swishy and twirly and light as air.

Tyler - my absolute fave. Tried it on with an ivory sash. Loved it. 

So, what do you think loyal readers? I've focused my search on this designer because his dresses were lovely and fit my proportions (ie. boobs. and hips) very well. Madre and I have an appointment at a salon in BFE Northern VA on Monday! Next up, maybe I'll post some pics of dresses I'm looking to try on from Watters & Watters less expensive line. Also I have some fun pictures of my pets that I feel like I should post. Because my pets are weird. Like me.

Back From the Brink!

Hey, hey, boys and girls. I am back from the brink, as they say. I know I promised that I would be funny and post stuff after I posted about my sister. But if I'm being honest with you, for about a full week after that post I was having a really hard time with my sister being gone. I've realized that her choices are her own, however bad they are, and that my worrying (which is, essentially second nature to me) was doing her absolutely no good and it was hurting me. A lot.

As an update, we have heard from the prodigal daughter and she is not willing to follow the guidelines that have been set for her in order to come home. For now at least, she is "homeless' - although she knows full well she has a home to come to if she is willing to (sorry, daddy - bad language ahead) grow the fuck up. So, for the time being, good riddance, psycho child. I hope you get your act together.