~*Sensing a Theme*~

I have to correct myself: he's no longer a toddler. He's a *gulp*....pre-schooler.

And he has certainly developed his own taste in books, toys, and apparently, costume preferences. Though he traded his sister for her bear (she got the bunny which makes a cuter Build-a-Bear/Bunny volleyball player), the Spiderman costume remained in his possession. The bear was dressed in the blink of an eye.

And then we ran to Walmart to pick up some adhesive pin backs (for the kindergarten election buttons...see tomorrow's post!) and some laminating pouches. Mr. Pre-schooler gasped as we walked down the costume aisle, not because of the sheer number of dress up options, but because he saw a Spiderman costume that was his size:



(In case you need some help telling the two apart, the pre-schooler is the one dressed as Spiderman, not SpiderBEAR:)


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EIGHT more posts until I reach my 400th blogiversary! Remember to check back and comment on my 400th post for a chance to win a Christmas paper banner!

It's Tuesday...Time to DANCE!

**Just because.**



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Go ahead,*try* telling me your toe wasn't tapping!
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By the way, Shannon has split her treasures between Green Gemini's Designs and Angel Kisses Alaska.

Think I can talk her into making some stylin' lanyards from which my school i.d. card can dangle? Plain ol' cotton just isn't pretty enough for my teacher fashion:

BLECH.

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Show and Share Thursday: Blast from the Past

There is ONE advantage to packers dumping, shuffling, and resorting your belongings when you move: you stumble across wishes and inspiration from your past!

This was my "dream wedding gown," torn from a bridal magazine when I was either a senior in high school, or a freshman in college, twenty years ago:



What you can't see is the powder pink embroidery along the bodice hem and train. The foofy hair? I *still* try for that look to this day! I love the feminine seed pearls and tulle rosettes along the neckline, and I even love the ribbons hanging from the-not-quite-Star-Wars-fantasy hair barrettes. It's strangely funny and interesting to me that when Dear Husband and I got married so many years later, I wore a white gown, with "rum pink" embroidery, and had ribbons hanging from a bouquet made of tulle and satin rosettes with seed pearls.

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*One of my favorite bloggers, Saucy at Bloggedy Blog Blog, just flipped a house with her husband Veto. Here are some before and after photos (amazing!), and while I'm not brave enough, nor have the time or inclination to flip a house myself, she's posted some pretty incredible renovation tips here. Ladies, she even included suggestions for how to store your lip gloss and how to protect your hands, nails, and manicures while you're on site!

*Lisa at Crazy Adventures in Parenting... is making her own military move, family style. HER story had me laughing and crying after our own trip necessitated by Uncle Sam. Military spouses, unite!

*Vicki at This Art That Makes Me Happy has inspired me to try my hand at paper covered letters...once I finish unpacking of course!

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Let's get back to the foo-foo-froo-froo, shall we?



It's everything the name implies:

For the Love of Cupcakes and Everything Pink

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Ruby Red...Sneakers?

My feet are *so* ready to return to Oz!



The rest of me is too, but for now, these spangly ruby red sneakers will just have to do their part in keeping my mood upbeat as my family and I endure this latest round of power packing, marathon driving, and bidding one state goodbye (er, "adios") and another hello.



As for the sparkly shoes, head to Walmart~ they're nine dollars!

Unfortunately, their heels don't click...



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My truck is at a collision repair shop here in the Bordertown. They've *promised* it can be repaired, good as new, by next Thursday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed since we're supposed to drive out two days later! Until then, I'm getting used to driving my husband's truck (it's the one I'll be piloting back to Oz, pulling a small trailer) while he drives a rental car. May I just say THANK YOU GEICO? I think you're pretty terrific, even though your spokesgecko reminds me of a SleeStak:



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~Back to kid-friendly snacking, The Pioneer Woman Cooks Marguerites (Ritz crackers, peanut butter and marshmallows!). I'm a kid, right?

~Strawberry Shortcake from Tracy Porter

~Andrea doesn't know it but she crafted the perfect crown for ME...Fairy Tale Dress Up Day just won't be the same this year!

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It's time for me to start collecting all things Tasha Tudor~ she has always been my favorite featured artist in magazines such as Victoria, and one of my favorite childrens' book authors/ illustrators. She died two days ago at the age of 92:

Who Needs a Fairy Godmother...

... when you have Dillard's, Monet, Sam and Libby, a set of Swarovski Crossed Pistols, and a handsome Sergeant Major to escort you to the Graduation Ball?

The dress, not a meringue in sight:



The bracelet and earrings (sparkly marcasite):



Did you think I was kidding when I mentioned pistols?



A black lace shawl, though none was needed since the temperature was in the TRIPLE DIGITS yesterday:



My new, most comfortable shoes by Sam and Libby:



Me and my dear husband, who graduates Thursday from the Sergeants' Major Academy!

Addicted to Teacher Fashion, pt. 2

Oh. My. Goodness! From MadeWithLovebyHannah

* Fairytale Forest Skirt (Snow White?)


* Fairytale Forest Skirt (Red Riding Hood?)


* Fairytale Forest Skirt (Hansel and Gretel?)

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Fluffington's Shop:

* Red Riding Hood Brooch


* Apple Earrings


.... and even a sweater for an apple by HandMaidenBC:


Here paycheck-paycheck-paycheck... here paycheck-paycheck-paycheck!

Go Ahead and Giggle...LAUGH Even!

...and then *admit* you too, have some prom photos that have come back to haunt you!

In honor of my eldest son, who will be attending his first prom this weekend, here are some blasts from the past (and yet more proof that I have always loved playing "dress-up") along with a challenge:

I *dare* my readers to dig through your photo boxes, albums and shoeboxes to find evidence of your own formal fashion "foo-paws" from yesteryear- and POST THEM, linking back here so that I can see!

In fact, I *double-dog-dare you!*


My first prom (I was thirteen) was in an Eskimo village!


Another blue gown that I also wore the year before (nope, not sharing THOSE photos!), this time shortened, for Prom #3.


Prom #4, still in Alaska, only this time outside of Squarebanks, with my dear friend Jodi. She wore lilac, I wore white...


Only to follow it up with a black lace dress for my Senior Prom. The photo doesn't show it, but boy did I have 1987 BIG HAIR!

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Have fun Boy- I can't wait to see your photos!

Show and Share Thursday: Playing Dress Up

Happy Thursday!

As a little girl, I loved to play dress-up. My mother, being a teacher, allowed me to take lick-and-stick foil stars out of her desk whenever I wanted to be Wonder Woman- after all, bracelets and headband/tiaras weren't *really* like Wonder Woman's unless they had stars on them! I loved looking through her high school yearbooks, because they had full-page photos of Homecoming and Prom royalty, decked out in crowns, robes, formal dresses, gloves, and dyed-to-match shoes. Each Christmas I had a new holiday dress, each Easter too. They usually twirled.

My first prom was in an Eskimo village at the top of the world, and surprisingly, I was invited to attend even though I was only in the eighth grade. I attended many more proms throughout high school, and dabbled in pageantry as well, so I had a steady fix of satin, rustley tulle, high heels, and sparkly jewelry to wear.

When I became a kindergarten teacher, it was natural to continue to play dress up! Fairy Tale Dress Up Day was enjoyed annually in my classroom, and I always made sure to wear a twirly dress and sparkly crown. When my husband and I met, I had no idea that my love of taffeta, Gunne Sax, and evening handbags would serve me well as a military "significant other," a future (and present) military spouse.

No, I'll never have a reason to archive my favorite gowns, but for now, I just can't bear to part with these:



My "Zorro" gown was what I wore to my first Military Police Ball in Alaska...it swishes, it rustles, it sparkles, it's gorgeous...

This is my Gunne Sax treasure- all lace, pearl buttons, ribbons...I wore it to a Christmas/Holiday Ball:



Details, details, details...





of these...



I could have danced...all night...

**As for the gowns that I CAN part with, they'll be on Ebay this week**

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Even fully decked out in a fancy gown, pretty jewelry, and possibly a tiara, I know I'm only pretending to be a fairy godmother. After listening to last night's Democratic debate, I agree with Tara: just because a person wears a little flag pin on his or her lapel doesn't make that person truly patriotic. Patriotism isn't what you wear, it's what you do. And yes, could we please stop dumbing down the debate questions?

"I was going to write that patriotism does not require wearing a silly cheap plastic flag pin bought from Wal-Mart and made in China. I don't care if you drape your front lawn in flags and wear a flag pin every waking moment, if you aren't doing something to establish a dialogue and change the downwards spiral in America, you're part of the problem.
Patriotism is questioning what's happening in your country. Patriotism is being a soldier trying to stay alive amidst terrible conditions in a war fought under false pretenses. Patriotism involves the families who struggle to pay bills while their husband or wife is in Iraq or returning soldiers who have serious injuries, yet must fight to get the proper medical care they need. Patriotism is those who fight for the underdog and try to protect the Constitution and our civil liberties. Patriotism is shining attention on critical issues affecting us all, such as global warming and human rights. Patriotism involves helping insure a better future for our children and their children, by keeping informed about issues that impact our lives. Patriotism is thinking for ourselves. It is not accepting blindly what someone else tells you to do - that's fascism."
Tara Bradford, Paris Parfait

Childish Clothing/Hostess With the Mostess

Remember when I told you that I had won a 500$ giveaway from Childish Clothing via Hostess With the Mostess?

Guess what arrived today:



I'll post a slideshow at the end of this blog so you can see my toddler sorting through all of his cool, new, funky fashions, but here are some close-ups for you:



It was like Christmas (or a fashion-filled birthday!) in April when we unwrapped all of the goodies, and the timing couldn't have been better, considering the toddler just went through a huge growth spurt:



"Big boy" underwear...



Some of the coolest tee's out there (they say "My Dad is My Hero" and "My Dad is Cooler than Your Dad"...



The softest shorts and pants (t-shirt soft!), swim trunks too:



And big boy flip flops (we're still working on keeping these on our feet):



Go, go, go check out Childish Clothing (we ordered for our son, but yes, they have girl and mommy-to-be items...great gift items too!)-



...and see if you can tell which shirt ended up being our toddler's favorite:

THANK YOU Childish Clothing and Hostess With the Mostess!