"Clothes make the (wo)man..."

Well... we found "The One..." Ummm, let me back up and preface that big finale. At the school DD just left, a Catholic school she's been at since she was 4 years old, when they 'graduate' from 8th grade, (since it's only k-8) there is this HUGE 8th grade graduation party for the junior high. And over the years, as the parents tried to 'one-up' each other and beat the party from the year before, it has kind of taken on a life of it's own. You know, those very competitive moms that "are in it to win it?" The tradition is that the 7th grade parents put the whole thing on, and let me tell you since I was a 7th grade parent last year, that it's bigger than high school prom in our small one high school town. As a matter of fact, last year I had just done Alex's wedding, (so I was exhausted) and then we went into 'planning committees.' You know, where 30 moms argue and no one's in charge? Ugh. Anyway... all that to say it's a BIG DEAL.

When school was going so terribly last semester for DD, the dance was the hardest thing to walk away from. The parents of 8th graders don't have to lift a finger this year - - all they have to do is show up. But in the end DD decided that the bully would just ruin it all for her anyway, and she would have to endure the entire semester for that 3 hours at the end of May.

So, we switch to the public middle school ( I still have a hard time not saying junior high) and it really has been worth it. They, too, have an 8th grade graduation dance but the decor does not cost THOUSANDS like the private school's party. But the worst part? The EIGHTH grade parents decorate. AAAAaaaaaaaahhhh!! (sigh) So, okay, take my vitamins and get ready for that.

But the other really big deal is finding "the dress." It has to be the end-all dress. One that is darling and sparkly and makes an entrance. One that all of her friends are jealous of. One that makes all the boys want to dance with her. And one that doesn't make me have to sell a kidney to pay for it. So we bought this dress today but the only caveat is, all sales final. It looks darling on her and seems to fit all of the criteria.

And the best thing? Her old school has a new vice principal that is trying to take the school back to the old days when the nuns were there, so he's taking all the fun out of everything.

We made the right decision...