Attention: Marines will be closed for Superbowl

My son called a few days ago and said he would be coming home this weekend. He doesn't usually come home for the weekend as it is an eight hour drive from his base to our house. But this is a special weekend because Sunday is Superbowl and apparently some of those Marines like to party a little bit. Oh my gosh! Tell me it is not true! Ah, seriously, my son says the Marines know that the boys and girls won't be worth anything so they are giving them Monday off. Why can't my employer think like that?

Now, next weekend happens to be when I will be playing the 50 year old bridesmaid so I decided that I needed take Monday off too! And not because I will have a hangover either. Just want to be able to see LCpl Honda for more than a few hours.

So all you terrorists, dictators or any crazy world leaders out there please don't start any crap this weekend because the Marines will have left the building.

Wedding Bells and The Perfect Dress

I will be the Maid of Honor in my friend N's wedding on January 31st. This is her second marriage. She was married as a very young woman, divorced and then was in a long term relationship that went completely sour so I am glad that she has found the happiness that she deserves. The wedding is semi-formal but low-key with mainly family and close friends.

I have to admit at first I felt a little strange, I mean, afterall I have not been in a wedding since I was in my twenties. What they heck would a 50 year old bridesmaid look like? There is no way I am dressing up in puffy sleeves, big bows or worse yet something too revealing. I am an original California girl turned Arizonian so years of sun exposure have taken it's toll on my skin. Since I found out last summer I knew I at least had time to fine the Perfect Dress.

I started out online at David's Bridal and quickly added all kinds of internet bridal shops in my favorites. I knew right away that the traditional bridesmaid dresses were not going to work for me. I like to see a well-dressed woman but not one my age wearing a twenty-something outfit. One the other hand I am not quite ready for the polyester pants either. I looked at the mother of the bride dresses and they screamed mother of the bride!!! Just could not go there either.

So after months of searching I received a catalog from Coldwater Creek and after flipping through it I found it! The Perfect Dress. One problem though, it was more than I wanted to spend. I knew I probably would not wear it again but I really wanted it. So I still had some time and decided to think about and maybe talk myself into it. Well I am on Coldwater Creek's mailing list and I started receiving emails. First one 20% off. hmm. Good. Think some more. Second one 30% off. Oooh better. Still thinking though. Third one. 40% off. Ok do I hear 50%!!! Alas, the Stars are aligned! The birds are singing and flowers blooming. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Fourth email, 50% off baby. Ok, no more thinking or talking to myself. I'm on it. The card is out and the dress was ordered. The picture is below. I love the front because it covers and the back gives just a hint of sexy. I could wear it somewhere else and not look like a bridemaid. Now I need to find a wrap and maybe blue shoes. I am not sure about the shoes, I might just wear black since I already have them. We'll see.

Oh by the way, guess what I got a few days later. 60% off email. Damn. Oh well, the dress had been shipped so I thanked the stars, birds, flowers & Santa and hit delete.