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A couple of months ago, Paul found out that the team he works on had been chosen to receive an “Aero Star” award – this is the highest award available at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Division, and it puts the team in the running for Lockheed Martin’s most prestigious corporate honor, the NOVA award.

Each year, several teams and individuals are given this division-level award.  It is quite an honor to be chosen to receive this, and I am justifiably proud of him.

A few weeks ago, we received an invitation to the awards ceremony in the mail, and two words sent me into a mild panic:

“Cocktail Attire”

You see, the last time I wore anything remotely “fancy” was probably about 15 years ago; my “stay-at-home Mom” wardrobe for the last twenty-five years has consisted of T-Shirts, sweatshirts, blue jeans, and shorts, with the occasional “Sunday/Funeral” outfit tossed in – I don’t know from “Cocktail Attire”.

And the wardrobe selection for someone shaped like me is, well…..limited (think “Fiona” from Shrek, only shorter and not quite as green):

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Thank goodness for the Internet!

After searching high and low for days and days to find just the right dress, I had narrowed it down to a couple of options – none of which I was particularly thrilled with, but all of which I could live with.

And then, I saw it.

The.Dress.

Floral-Skirted Dress from Lord and Taylor (I got – literally – the last one available)

Paul has been pretty lucky up until now – he didn’t marry a clothes horse, so he’s been spared what many husbands routinely encounter on a regular basis.  I have assured him that his wallet isn’t going to be hit by anything like this again for quite a while, so he’s breathing a sigh of relief!

But let’s face it – if a girl gets a pretty new frock, she’s gotta have new shoes:

Clark’s USA “Lia Grace” – the leather is oh, so soft!

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And a sparkly new bag:
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Chicastic’s “Antique-Style Cocktail/Evening Bag” (from Amazon.com)

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A petticoat (to give some body to the skirt of the dress):
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A frothy little confection from Swanky Underpinnings (an Etsy store)

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Some nice hosiery (thank you, whoever invented elastic-banded thigh high hose!):
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Extra-Wide Lace Band Stay-Up Thigh Highs from Hips and Curves (2 pairs, just in case)

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And a little lycra-infused somethin’-somethin’ to suck everything in and hide all the flaws:
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Spoil-Me-Cotton shapewear from SPANX

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(Can I just say that the lady who founded SPANX is now my favorite person in the world? I didn’t understand what “the big deal” was; now I get it….. 😛 )

Anyhoo, tonight Paul and I will be enjoying an all-expenses-paid night out: a three-course meal, dancing the night away (which means sitting at our table, watching everyone else dancing – Paul HATES to dance), then riding the elevator up to our complimentary hotel room for a fun-filled evening of….
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Sleep.
Blessed, “not-getting-woken-up-by-Rebecca-or-the-dogs” sleep…..
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(Author’s note: Paul’s dad was knocked over by one of his calves earlier this week, which caused his hip to break. We have been in San Angelo the past few days, lending moral support. There were complications with his surgery, so we may not get back in town in time to attend this function. Alas, my coach may have turned into a pumpkin before the ball ever began….)
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