My Beautiful Dress

The Marine Corps' 234th Birthday is coming up quickly and that means that it's Marine Corp Ball time. They do the Ball every year to celebrate the birthday of the "beloved" Corps. I went to my first ball as a newlywed in 2006. The second year of the ball Jared had just gotten home from Iraq and missed it. The 3rd the guys were training to deploy to Japan, so they put on a "dining out" dinner in it's place (didn't even compare), Then now, my 4th and final year to go to a ball and be apart of the active silent ranks. We technically wouldn't have been able to go because Jared would have been out of the Marines before the birthday came around, but with us being held here until sometime next year, we are able to make it. But then comes the stress, you have to get the uniforms ready, find a dress that compliments his uniform (this ball isn't like prom..it's not about the girl...it's all about the Marine), and if you plan to drink then you better find a hotel room. :) When I went looking for a dress, it is clearly the wrong time to do so. All of the dresses right now are short cut, almost cocktail/homcoming looking, and not at all the long formal that I am in need of. After a grueling and slightly depressing shopping day with my friend Kate, I found one! Here are some pictures of my elegant dress (plus I'm a little stoked that it's a designer dress and I bought it for a fraction of what it should have been)