PROM!

All that PROM! build-up totally paid off!

FRIENS! That was totally my fault.

The highlights:

Over 40 people came!

No one broke anything or barfed anywhere!

Everyone danced! And sang!

My friends are terribly handsome and clean up well!

Lots of new friendships!

Pretty and weird. The best kind of people.

We were able to throw this prom for VERY little money. We can thank that to craftiness and friendliness. Being nice to people is cool to do and occasionally has its financial pay-offs. After being loyal patrons to our karaoke master, Mike at Crowne Karaoke, he volunteered to run the music at our prom for FREE! His newest karaoke venue, Gatherings, offered up their beautiful restaurant/rental space for payment merely in smiles. We returned the favor by cleaning up their space afterward and putting out tip jars for everyone.

Mike, our karaoke guy of over three years, second from the right

Tom, the owner of Gatherings (top, second from right) and Tina, our long-time friend and all-time favorite bartender (front, center).

Pair that with decorations that cost less than $40, and the event cost us organizers less than $10 each to put together. BAM!

Instead of buying $2 weights for the $1 balloons, Carissa tied them to cassettes she had around the house. It reduced the balloon bundle price by 2/3 and was much, much more inline with our prom's concept. Bonus: the NKOTB and Ted Nugent tapes made excellent conversation starters.

All of the photo booth pictures are courtesy of Liz, who graciously volunteered her equipment and expertise for the evening. Check out the whole set here.

This is Liz. She's nice and nice to look at. I'm so glad to know her.

After the cut follows more of my favorite photos

Wishful Dressing

Pictures with your needy cat, a photo essay:

About this time of year, I begin my "wishful dressing" campaign. Sundresses and obnoxious colors help me pretend it's picnic weather. Today was my inaugural wishful dressing outfit of the season.

Top: Thrifted, $.50

Skirt: Thrifted and reconstructed from calf-length grandma style skirt, $1.50

Belt: Gold chain, thrifted, $.25

Tights and Socks: Target? $3-ish

Shoes: Thrifted, white leather Ked high tops. Delicious. $4.38

Approximate total: $10.00

Prom Preview Pt. 2

Another prom preview. Giant bow and bustle.

Friendship, Formally: Prom 2011 Preview

My buddies and I have organized this:

Flier made lovingly by Ramona.

It's free, open to all ages until 10pm, and will have food & drinks (off the menu, the only not free but totally optional part), dancing, karaoke, and a professional photo booth station. Gatherings is graciously hosting us, allowing us to feel fancy while still being a little silly.

A donation jar will be out to support the NewBo City Market, which is totally optional but a cause pretty dear to our hearts. Wouldn't you love to have a year-round, indoor farmers market right in the heart of your town!?

You are all invited, as are your fun-loving (but respectful, of course) friends...and their friends too. Bring your mom, your same-sex partner, your boy in the side, your sister, your son, or your boss. Invite the girl you actually went to prom with years ago, or invite the girl you regret not asking.

Handmade bunting made especially for the occasion, just a peak at the fun decorations to come.

Wear something pretty, or something silly. Cross-dress!  Your actual prom dress from 1984, or something you thrifted yesterday. Maybe you bought a pretty dress or handsome tux but have never had a reason to wear it. Create a wacky corsage for your date, or buy one from Peck's. Wear all black in remembrance of how much you hated high school. Please, just come as you are and as you wish!

A preview of my dress. It's formally ridiculous.

There will be no kings or queens. No popularity contests or breathalyzers at the door. Tickets to the event are not being sold. Parents will not force you to stand in your backyard and smile for photos until your jaw aches. Make this prom whatever your original prom wasn't.

Cleverly designed by Carissa.

Friendship, Formally: The Facebook Page

A Cold Fool

Wearing skirts and tights (single layered) in this -23 degree windchill weather makes me pretty dumb, but the feeling of being "dressed" cheers me up more than being warm does.

The sewing machine stayed busy today (see messy sewing table for evidence) and made my first-ever bunting for our coming prom.

Sweater: Thrifted on Saturday, up close it is a beautiful loose crochet pattern in green and white, $2.00

Skirt: Bright blue and rolled up nice and short, thrifted, $2.00

Tights: Cheapie L'egg style, $.75

Socks: Warm and wool, Christmas gift from the beau

Shoes: Not pictured, thrifted grey jazz-style shoes, $3.00

Approximate Outfit Cost: $7.75

Tuesday has been a breeze so far! I started my day earlier than usual, eating a blood orange while farting around on the internet. My shift at work was short (which means less messy), so I chose to wear something a little nicer than usual and even broke out the flat iron and liquid eyeliner. After just three hours behind the counter, I came home with a rosemary bread baguette in one paw and an amazing americano in the other.

Tuesday, you can be real cute sometimes.

Look! It's the bunting I made! And I'm kinda fancy! And confusing! The flat iron met the bangs, but I prefer to let the rest run free.

Dress: Thrifted Ann Taylor shift dress. Best winter colors in a super flattering pattern, $3.00

Cardigan: Ages old Old Navy, $7.00ish

Tights: Betsy Johnson, $3.00

Socks: Target. I wish these were thigh-highs like Mona's! $2.00

Shoes: The ol' Justins, $4.38 (these would cost upwards of $200 new and $80 on etsy)

Necklace: Luxe Debris, a very generous gift

Approximate Cost: $20.00 (pretty impressive considering this dress probably cost four times that new!)

Sushi Saturday

Vaclav made us the most spectacular sushi feast on his home-owning anniversary. Vaclav is the real deal--talented maker of all things delicious, creative, attractive, and home-y. I suggest you check out his blog to see how impressive his paintings are.

The food was excellent. The company was amazing. Carissa looked stunning against the green kitchen wall. She made the dress for Project Restyle and made her earrings as well. I spent most of the last couple hours taking her picture--I couldn't stop! Ramona wore the best thigh-high purple socks from White Rabbit.

Follow the break for a little photo tour of the evening...

Reusing & Reducing Pt. 1: The Electric Razor

 This is the Remington electric razor for ladies. It's rechargable (no batteries to waste!), shower safe, easy to clean, and pretty reliable. I've been using electric razors since I began to shave, and have only had to invest twice in those 10+ years. For about $30--including eliminating the need for shaving gel-- it pays for itself in just a couple months. No more tossing out disposable blades and handles!

The shave may not be as silky-smooth as those triple-bladed lady razors, but the embarrassing look of stubble is definitely gone. The razor comes with different attachments for various uses--bikini line, just a trim, eyebrows, and close-shaves. The close-shave attachment certainly gets down far enough that you'll still feel like a "real lady." It's safer (no more cuts) and much faster, too!

Feminist bonus: the white and purple colors are mildly lady-like, but not obnoxious pink or floral like most "for her" products. One of my pet peeves--like this.

Disclaimer: This post is about my electric razor for my legs and underarms. Let's be frank here. I am indeed one of "those girls" that doesn't really shave either of those things but once a month. Yes, I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose whether or not she wants to shave (and whatever choice you make, I am totally happy for you, your arms and your legs). My furry legs are not in protest to any sort of forced femininity or an issue of principle. It's laziness. And clumsiness. And a sensitivity so great that you could tell my skin an off-color joke and it'd get irritated.