The new outfit

So now the cheerleader needs a new dress for an upcoming wedding.  A "family wedding" - I am sure you know what that means.  It means our vacation on a fabulous beach property will be shortchanged because we'll be spending big bucks attending this wedding.  She will need a new dress, since of course, nothing in the closet or hand-me-downs will be just right.  The spouse will need  a new outfit.  My son, of course, will be able to wear last years shirt/tie/pants combo for first communion (because, really, there is no style change here in a year, or two, or twenty).

Its like the mastercard ad.  New pedicure - $29.  new peep-toe shoes to go WITH the pedicure - $120.  new dress to go with the shoes to go with the manicure - $300.  new jewelry at tiffany's to go with...you get the picture.

So in addition to the "new wardrobe" we need to drive there.  Now, a few months ago, no biggie.  Gas prices were pretty low.  now - different story - figure in a couple hundred there.  Just in gas! 

Then there is the hotel.   motel, really - but, yes kids - there is a pool - which we will have no time to use.  Another $150 for the night.  Bet it won't be ready in time for us to arrive, and we'll end up changing at the pool bathroom - wanna bet?  Certainty.....

and a gift - yes, well, what to get the couple who already has everything (including the kid).  Hmmmm....I'll let my spouse figure that out.

 So all this is going to cost, and it takes away from the luxury vacation pool we have set aside.  maybe we'll just go to an amusement park this year instead.  Although - if I start adding up the costs - maybe camping instead......

My daughter wants to be a cheerleader

My daughter wants to be a cheerleader.  And a vet for small animals.  But mostly a cheerleader.  So for her birthday I found that American Girl actually does have a cute cheerleader outfit, although ironically it has only been on "Alyssa" once, since the summer outfit with the crochet shoes is apparently favored. 

I am sure my daughter would be fine at cheerleading.  She enjoys gymnastics now (although seems to be injury prone) - maybe I should consider getting her into the cheer program for the younger girls and see if that is something she is interested in.  She wants to cheer for the buckeyes and go to OSU.  Maybe meet up with Brutus, hang out.  Her dad said if she did that, we'd go to games to see her and take her to lunch - she thought that was cool.  Well - we have time - she is only 7 after all....

But I did start looking into fun dress up outfits for her.  No standard target play clothes would do - so I needed to find some sources for cheerleading stuff and I did find the following link that might be useful for others:  cheerleading accessories.  They had all kinds cool info - shoes, pom poms and more.  I don't want to spend alot, but I would like to find an inexpensive source for some of the items to outfit her in style (just not the trashy stuff that breaks/rips right away.).  I really think this all started with a hand-me-down barbie cheerleading outfit from a friend when she was three.  That, and the obsessive buckeye watching since she was born.  Hmmm.