Wednesday Valuables: In Appreciation for the Little Things

Today was one of those days when it pays off to have the kinds of friends that support you for "the little things." I persuaded my mother to come out with me today to shop in Richmond to find appropriate attire for a dear friend's white tie wedding (need to be a good guest and I'm singing a few tunes during the reception). It's good to have dear friends for whom you'd do something you can't stand to be a part of their festivities...

...In my case, that something I can't stand is shopping.

I get it honestly. My mother hates to shop, too. I have awkward everything, so I have trouble finding things that fit. I have small parts hidden behind larger parts. My feet are odd, too... I've heard I'm not alone in this department, but it doesn't detract from my frustration. Depending on the design or the brand, I wear either a 7 or a 7.5... and in one surprising instance, I picked up a pair of 6.5s. It's confusing, it's boring, and tiring. I also don't like trying on things... it's like being five years old and changing twelve times a day to feel like you have costumes for every occasion...

So, to try and make things easier on myself, I have people on stand-by waiting for pictures and ideas or questions via text messaging to steer me away from unattractive things and towards eye-popping brilliance. Because I tire of the activity quickly, I'm known to make a bad choice just to get the hell out of the store.

So, in attempt to illustrate how my phone looked at today's shopping excursion, here's sort of what happened:

ME to ANYA:
(These pictures are borrowed, approximate to my choices, and not of me... Mine aren't perfectly suitable for the internet)
Here's dress one. What do you think?

ANYA to ME:
that one is pretty :)

ME to ANYA:
Dress Two...

ANYA to ME:
um it's interesting. I think I'm more partial to the first one

ME to ANYA:
Dress Three

ANYA to ME:
looks more like me than you. ;)
is it dressy enough? what's it made of anyway?

ME to ANYA:
I could use it for the rehearsal dinner... not the wedding itself I guess. I don't think there's a natural thread in this dress.

ANYA to ME:
okay i can see that

ME to ANYA:
I think I'm getting the first one and I'll use the third one for another event. What do you think?

ANYA to ME:
Sounds like a plan. Are you happy with your choices?

ME to ANYA:
I think so. Considering the time issue and my thing with finding a blue dress, this will do. Thank you for helping me out.

ME to JERUSHA:
Is this dressy enough for your Mom's wedding?

JERUSHA to ME:
Totally! Its so pretty!!

ME to NORAH:
Is it appropriate to wear a dress above the knee to shul?

NORAH to ME:
Yah absolutely!

ME to ANYA:
Can I get away with this for temple?

ANYA to ME:
With the right necklace yes

NORAH to ME:
How r you? Getting excited for the weekend? It's gonna be great for us all to be together!

ME to NORAH:
I'm certainly looking forward to seeing my step-sisters! ;)

NORAH to ME:
When do you get in?

ME to NORAH:
Afternoon-ish I think... I'll tell you for sure when I get home.

ME to JO:
Do you have a bag to match this?

JO to ME:
Yes

ME to JO:
Eureka! I'll bring the dress over tomorrow night before dinner so we can play with the options. Thanks.

ME to MIKE and CARO:
Do you think you could take us to the airport Friday morning?

MIKE and CARO to ME:
What time to do you need to be there?

ME to MIKE and CARO:
8:30... I know that's early.

MIKE and CARO to ME:
Sure. We'll be there to get you at 8.

ME to MIKE and CARO:
Thanks so much... that helps a lot.

My poor little phone is tired... but my friendships have kept me sane through one of my least favorite activities. I feel tuckered out but fortunate. Thanks, guys.

(images from www.dillards.com, prom.net, and kaboodle.com)