Day #101 (Julia's Homecoming Dance is FINALLY Here)

What happens when a woman decides to spend a year following Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook?

http://theyearoflivingmarthaly.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-101-julias-homecoming-dance-is.html

Monday, October 19, 2009 Day #101 (Julia's Homecoming Dance is FINALLY Here) Saturday was Julia's first formal high school dance... Homecoming 2009! Needless to say, there was NO TIME for anything Martha-related. Instead, the day was spent getting her hair done, giving her a manicure and pedicure, perfecting her makeup, etc. Oh, and her cousin was going to the dance, too, so she was getting ready at my house. Unfortunately, she didn't have the money for having her hair professionally done, so I did my best to give her an updo (by the way, it came out AWESOME!)

While she was getting her hair done, I quickly "did the math" on the number of formal dances. If Julia were to go to every Homecoming dance, Winter Formal dance (these are in February), Junior Prom (her Junior year), and Senior Prom (her Senior year), she's looking at attending 10 separate formal events. She, naturally, seems to expect that she would go to all these AND have new dresses for each one. When I realized that, if all 4 girls felt like this, I would be shelling out for 40 - count 'em FORTY - formal dresses over the years. YIKES!!! Please pray along with me that the girls will be similar sizes and will be able to share dresses with each other.

Oh, then, after taking her to the dance, I really "did the math":

$13 for the ticket
$60 for the dress
$53 for alterations on the dress (they only had to shorten it but, because the crinoline is attached to the dress, they had to shorten that, too, and that part cost some money)
$53 for hair styling (including tip)
$25 for shoes
$24 for corsage
$16 for portraits at the dance

GRAND TOTAL: $244

And it would have been MORE if I didn't do her mani/pedi, facial, and makeup myself, and if I went with a larger portrait package instead of taking a ton of pictures myself. Otherwise, we would have topped out well over $300 for a freakin' dance! Insane!!! Mental note to self: We are NOT going all out for winter formal and she can "recycle" the purple and black cocktail dress we had to buy her for last year's 8th grade dinner cruise.

Another plus was that Stalker Boy didn't go to the dance, so Julia could really have fun. And did she ever! She danced all night, hung out with friends, and made time to dance and hang out with a boy who has some developmental disabilities, even though she barely knows him. She just didn't want him to be alone all night (gotta love that girl of mine!)

While it was a crazy day (and night) it was; however, I wouldn't trade the look of sheer happiness on Julia's face for anything. And at least she didn't ask for a limo or anything like that.

Mary