what to wear, what to wear?

WARNING: Be aware that Blogger was being exceptionally irritating during the authorship of this post as it keeps cutting off words and I can't quite figure out why. Sorry for the annoyance!

So Dan was awarded top 40 under 40 (applause) :) and I couldn't be more excited for him... but... whatever will I wear to the award ceremony? I'm not quite sure what the dress code is, but Dan thinks it will be black tie. I have nada that fits that category & I've already exhausted all of my cute sister in-laws formal dresses (at least the ones that fit me, which aren't many... she is teeny), so I'm thinking it would be fun to buy one this time... well at least I can wish. So here are a few options I've been looking at for fun...

First off, I want to show you a dress - no THE dress - that I would kill for. Well maybe not kill, but I could definitely throw a hard punch for. I have no idea who it's made by, but I am confident that it would be out of my price range as it was worn by the lovely Claire Danes when she was a guest on Martha Stewart on Dec.4th. I couldn't find any photos online or info on where she got it, so I went to Martha's site, watched the episode & took a pic off my computer (hence the suckiness), but I wanted you to see the perfection that is this dress!

So since the only way I could have this dress is if I sold my body (which wouldn't go for much these days) or made the thing myself (which I have considered...), I am allowing for alternates.

The In-A-Moment dress from Anthropologie (fave store ever)

But is it too casual? Could this be black-tie worthy with a heel & jewelry?

These 2 are from Shabby Apple:

The Jitterbug dress is so glamorous and retro, I love it. Especially with this hat... but of course I couldn't wear a hat to the banquet.. and my skin & hair wouldn't have nearly that dramatic contrast which makes it so... romantic looking.

The Ingrid seems a little safer to me. White near my face = flattering in my opinion, black on the bottom = flattering to my touschie. Plus it would be so cute with some t-straps or mary-janes... and maybe a splash of color with a headband or clutch?

Here's one that I think is just so pretty, feminine & dreamy. It's from ModCloth and it's named "A Formal Affair Dress." Fitting.

Okay so that's all I got so far. Have suggestions or thoughts? I started searching Etsy but that is just so overwhelming - know any good sellers? I'd love your input!

Love, Jamie

Hi.

The stuff. He demands to sleep with Barney, George & Max as well as 4, count em', 4 blankets. With how gimongous he's getting, there's not much room to spare in that crib these days. He calls the collective group his "stuff".

Enjoying one of the last nice fall days...

Max's first sledding adventure!

Isn't he a cute snow bunny?

Where the Wild Things Are

The night before Max wore his wolf suit for his big birthday party, he was sent to bed.

That very night, while he slept, in Max's house a party grew...

and grew...

and grew until the ceiling hung with vines and the walls became a party all around.

And a platter stacked up with cupcakes just for Max.

And his mom worked on a haunted gingerbread mansion

through night and day,

and in and out of weeks,
and almost over a year,

to have it ready for Max's Where the Wild Things Are party!

And his friends came to the place where the wild things are.

And they roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth, and rolled their terrible eyes, and showed their terrible claws, til Max's mom said "Be still!"

But his friends wanted to go home where people love them best of all, but Max cried, "Oh please don't go. I'll eat you up, I love you so," and his friends said "No!"

So Max waved good-bye and then, with his cousin Griffin, went into the basement of his very own house, where they found markers & a white couch waiting for them.

And they made mischief of one kind...

And another...

His mother called him "WILD THING!"

and he was sent to time out without any warnings. :)

And after time out, he found his mother waiting for him...

and she still loved him so!

The End!

The Best Two Years

My little baby is two years old today! Despite the truck load of other issues, Max has made these last 2 years the best of my life. Being a mom is more wonderful than I would have ever dreamed, and of course more difficult than I imagined, but I wouldn't trade it for all the world. He is like a little ray of sunshine that just lights up my whole life. Every morning when I go in to get him out of his crib his little head shoots up and he gives me the cutest little dimply grin. It makes even my darkest days light. His little hugs and slobbery kisses melt my heart. I couldn't imagine a more amazing little boy. He's so perfect & he's mine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXIE!

Catching Up...

I haven't blogged for a while so for those of you who don't facebook, here is a very abbreviated look at what I've been up to lately:

Finally finished the wainscotting in the front room.

Went to Lake Powell for the first time!

Started making a haunted gingerbread mansion! Here is the model!

And began working on Max's Christmas stocking.

Planted a few trees in the backyard.

Made cupcakes for Isaac's birthday.

Went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point.

Visited family in Minnesota cuz my brother Ben got home from his mission!

Went to baby Coleman's baby blessing & spent lots of time with family.