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My 6-Year-Old Teenager’s First School Dance

February 14, 2013 by momindcity 7 Comments

The evidence has been building, and it’s all pointing toward one thing: Lira is turning into a girl. Yes, I’ve known her gender since well before birth– but this goes beyond pink onsies. Here were the first clues:

1. “I want to go to my hair lady!” During a recent mall visit, I suggested a quick haircut at Cartoon Cuts. They show you cartoons while they do your hair. What’s not to like about that?!  But little missy wasn’t having it, and I wasn’t in the mood to argue. We went to her hair lady later that week.

2. “Everybody’s going to laugh at me!” When I didn’t fix her hair the way she wanted it yesterday, she sobbed that she’d be the laughingstock of Kindergarten. So I did what any reasonable mom would do: yanked the rubber bands and barrettes out of her head and told her to it herself.

3. “I can’t wear this!” This one happened tonight when we showed up at her school just in time to walk her into the cafeteria for the Valentine’s Day dance. She was wearing her DC public school uniform, and was mortified at the thought of going to the dance without going home to change first. I pointed out that a lot of other kids were in their uniforms. After sobbing, then apologizing, then asking me again (politely this time) if I’d take her home to change… I told her Daddy could if he wanted to. He’s a sucker for those tears.

When Lira arrived back at school, she twirled right onto the dance floor like she owned the place. That Easter Dress from 2 years ago apparently hasn’t gone out of fashion.

She paired the dress with hot pink leggings-- a bold choice
Now she’s ready for her close up

The school dance was one to remember. It was a lot like a night out at a club minus the liquor.

The kids were jamming to unedited Nikki Minaj songs (I swear heard the F bomb, but nobody else seemed to notice), teaching each other how to Dougie, and crawling on the floor in an effort to prove that they do, in fact, have the Moves Like Jagger.

Baby You're a Firework!
Baby You’re a Firework!
Zana has the moves like Jagger
Zana has the moves like Jagger
Wouldn't leave her sister's side for a second
Will you puh-leese teach me how to Dougie?

By the end of the night, they were sweating, taking off articles of clothing, and had spent way too much money on pizza, juice boxes, pictures, and Mardi Gras beads. They didn’t even have money for a cab ride home, but it’s cool ’cause they found some suckers to drop them off.

It's a Party in the USA!
It’s a Party in the USA!

Here they are just before the dance ended:

Closing time...
Closing time…

Then it was straight home to binge on Valentines candy before bed. They fell asleep talking and giggling while I listened from the other room.

“We went to the disco ball… you were dancing like this… remember when you did this?”

I remember hundreds of nights in college that ended the same way.

If Lira has to be a “girl,” at least she’s one who knows how to party. Maybe I’ll be one of those moms who tags along with her daughters at the club. Wouldn’t that be awesome?!

 

Filed Under: Local Adventures, Motherhood Musings Tagged With: DC elementary schools, DCPS community, DCPS events, elementary school dance, school dance

Reporting Live on Hurricane Sandy

October 29, 2012 by momindcity 9 Comments

Many moons ago, in a previous lifetime I was a journalist– the kind of journalist that stands out on the beach in the middle of a hurricane and tells people to stay inside. I don’t know how many times I said things like: “we’re the only idiots out here” or “I wish I could be at home snuggled up under a blanket instead of out here.” Well, today was my big chance! Washington, DC shut down, and guess what I did…

1. Ignored all warnings about leaving the house. After going stir crazy at 9 am (yes, that’s how long it took), I packed the husband and kids into the car and didn’t come home for hours.

2. Took pictures of anything and everything:

Check out the guy covering himself with a plastic tablecloth!

3. Judged all the news coverage. If all you have to say is “Caribou is still open,” do you really need to be out there getting blown around in the rain?

4. Criticized the city. Why didn’t they clean up these leaves before the storm? Are they actually hoping for a flood caused by clogged drains? Huh, Mayor Gray? Is that what you want?

5. Put on makeup in case a real reporter needed someone to interview. But only if they need to talk to someone who really knows what they’re talking about (flips hair over shoulder).

6. Drank too much coffee. I forgot I didn’t need to be up for days on end, and now I’m all jittery.

Starbucks was closed but Caribou wasn’t!

7. Updated Facebook on area business closures. Well you were all wondering, weren’t you?!

8. Went to the airport to see if all the flights really are cancelled. They were for the most part. And while we there there, the girls ran a few laps around the terminals and then ate some lunch at the only place open: Dunkin Donuts.

“Reporting live from the airport, I’m Zana.”

9. Looked out the window every 5 minutes to see if things have gotten worse.

Still raining out there…

10. And of course… blogged about it.

I tell ya… you can take the girl out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the– wait that’s not the one. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t– no, that’s not it either. Oh what-the-hell-ever.

I’m sure it sucks if your power went out or if you’re roof flew off today. But since that hasn’t happened here (yet), I will continue to make light of Frankinstorm.

Keep it here for the latest. Now back to you…

Filed Under: Local Adventures, Motherhood Musings, The Hill Tagged With: dc, hurricane coverage, hurricane in dc, hurricane sandy, sandy coverage, washington

Renaissance Festival: Freaks, Food and Frenzy

October 22, 2012 by momindcity 3 Comments

Our favorite festival of the year has been in town for months and we almost missed it! Every weekend we seem to have one too many birthday parties, school festivals, soccer games and family commitments. But this Sunday it was do or die. Last day of The Renaissance Festival and we couldn’t let it pass without making our annual pilgrimage to 16th Century England.

Their wild ways are acceptable here.

Allow me to count down my favorite three Fs of the Renaissance Festival:

Freaks
Remember all those kids in high school who used to wear trench coats, smoke in the bathroom, and pierce something new each week? Well this is their reunion– and we’re all invited! From the moment you walk through the castle gates, you see everything from kings and queens to goths and goblins. And for some reason, you’ll also run into Shrek, Big Bird, and a creepy old man dressed like a baby.

But where are the binders full of women?
That was as close as they’d get (can’t blame ’em)

Oh and the boosoms. They are everywhere. Heaving. The only thing is missing is the embrace of Fabio on the cover of a romance novel. Point is: the people watching is the key reason to make the trek out to Crownsville, Maryland (about half an hour from DC).

Food
Imagine all of your favorite fair fare, only better! You will eat like King Henry VIII celebrating his seventh divorce… and Henry VIII might even join you. I’ll save you the cash and calories and help you cut to the chase: get the turkey leg.

Omnomnom

Actually, get two of them so you don’t have to share. My girls have shed tears when the turkey leg is done. Once that runs out, get the fried pickles, and finish with the cinnamon roasted pecans. You won’t be sorry. Plus, you burn so many calories walking around all day that it’s almost like you’re eating celery.

Frenzy
 
There is so much to do at the Renaissance Festival that you could practically live there. I think some people actually do live there during the festival, but only the special ones. There’s a maze, a museum of unnatural history, jousting, juggling, pony rides, and actors performing everywhere you turn. It’s hard to tell who’s getting paid and who’s just there for fun. Everyone is 100% in character and loving every minute of it. The girls got their own head gear (which I proudly borrowed for part of the day), and we all got our faces painted.

Their ANTM poses

I’ve been getting my face painted at the Ren Fest since I was 1 year old, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it. I’m glad the girls love it as much as I do. We ended the day dancing with ribbons at the May Pole, then hopped back into our magic time machine (silver Prius) and headed back to the 21st century.

That’s $40 worth of face paint right there.

We all learned some important life lessons at the Ren Fest this year. Zana learned that port-o-poties are gross. Lira learned the word “creeper.” Dave learned that Budweiser and Marlboro Reds were abundant in Renaissance villages. And I learned that half shirts always have been and forever will be in fashion.

Until next year, loyal readers…

 

Filed Under: Local Adventures Tagged With: kid activities near dc, ren fest, renaissance festival, renaissance festival with kids

Update: Me in the $7 Miracle Dress

October 16, 2012 by momindcity 11 Comments

Morning All!

As promised, here’s a pic of me in my $7 thrift store find:

Ann Taylor “Miracle Dress”

It actually had tags on it! Side note: shapewear is the true “miracle” here. Jersey material isn’t always a curvy girl’s friend.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

Filed Under: Local Adventures, The Hill

Thrift Stores: Don’t Discount Them!

October 15, 2012 by momindcity 9 Comments

I have a thing for bargains. The best places to shop are TJMaxx (remember Zana’s tantrum?), Marshall’s, and eBay. My love affair with discount shopping began in high school, when I starved my way through lunch  so I could save $10 a week to spend on clothes. My weekly shopping budget has increased (slightly) over time, and so has my love of great deals.

Lately, thrift stores are my favorite. It all started one day after the girls’ dance class on H Street… which just happens to be on the same block as a Salvation Army. Wasting a little time before Zana’s nap, I decided to stop in for a quick look. Within 5 minutes I found a pair of like-new Tory Burch wedges and some Citizens of Humanity jeans. Total price tag? $13!

Aren’t they beautiful?!

I was so excited  by the rows of disorganized racks of clothing that I barely noticed the disapproving stares while the girls played hide-and-seek around the store. I took them home, had my own personal fashion show,  and realized neither the jeans nor the shoes fit well. Not to worry: I sold them on eBay and came out $120 richer!

That was only the beginning. Now, I stop by that Salvation Army store every Saturday and rarely walk out empty handed.  I did some cleaning over the weekend and had a few boxes of things to give away. My favorite spot doesn’t take donations, which made it the perfect excuse for me to discover a new thrift store. I ended up at the Goodwill on South Dakota Ave in NE, and it was so much fun! Plenty of space, and the dressing rooms were spacious and clean. In fact, it was a much better experience than my nightmarish trip to Burlington Coat Factory earlier in the day (picture a mom giving her kid nebulizer treatments while waiting in line to buy a Baby Phat romper. Son pukes Hawaiian Punch everywhere and she’s annoyed at him. Don’t worry, she still bought the romper.) But back to Goodwill… I spent $17 and left with 3 treasures: a green, dolman-sleeve sweater, a double-wrap belt, and a hot pink, Ann Taylor “Miracle Dress” (with tags still attached). Can you believe people just give this stuff away?! (says the lady who just dropped off a bag of like-new shoes that didn’t fit quite right).

Anyway, here’s what the dress looks like on the Ann Taylor website:

Why would someone part with this beauty?

I’ll post an updated pic of me wearing it when I get around to it (probably tomorrow).

Until then, I leave you with a few tips for thrift store shopping:

1. Know your labels. Why were those Tory Burch shoes just sitting there untouched? Because people don’t know these things!
2. Try things on. Don’t count on the sizing label; often times clothing is altered. Of course, if you plan to resell your finds then it doesn’t matter.
3. Keep an open mind. You will have to rummage through dozens of blouses that someone’s grandma wore in 1937 before you find that gem.
4. Have fun! If you don’t enjoy the journey, don’t even bother. You may find nothing! If that bothers you, stick to the department stores. Or bring a friend and enjoy a latte while you shop– you may accidentally find something.

Discount divas, did I miss anything? And where are your favorite places to shop for bargains?

Filed Under: Local Adventures, The Hill Tagged With: Goodwill, Salvation Army, thrift store shopping, thrift stores in DC

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