Tuesday, February 21

Twenty Months!


I bought this dress for Gwen many months before her referral. I'd been eyeing it for several months at my favorite store: TJ Max. It was wicked expensive originally. I think it was around $75. But TJ Max always has good deals on quality name-brand stuff. Even so, it was $20 and that's still more than I'm usually willing to pay for something that'll get Juicy-Juice spilled on it or get worn just once before it's outgrown. The dress, as you can see, is beautiful. The only reason why it was still available for me to oogle week after week was because it had a stain on the collar. And that's another reason why the $20 price tag was too steep.

Eventually, I talked myself into it. I got a 10% discount because of the stain and took the dress home not knowing if it would ever wash out. I used bleach and a tooth brush and got most of it out. Then I washed the whole dress and spent at least 45 minutes ironing it. Today, it fits her perfectly! This is one dress that I'll keep and let her pass down to her children. It's made so well and it's so elegant! Don't you agree?

20 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Donna,

Gwen is just so way cute! I love her little smile.

The dress is cute too, you should try to get some "barefoot on the beach" portraits in it! I know what you mean about $20 is alot to have them custom tie-dye it with punch. My personal weakness is April Cornel(www.aprilcornell.com) but I try to see what's on sale or check e-bay...the only full price AC Tenley gets is from Aunty Meg!

But I'm building Ten's summer wardobe, and I do have a few AC rompers, but the rest of it is Target!

Kisses to your cutie!

~Michelle
www.yoichoichoi.blogspot.com

February 21, 2006 11:19 PM  
Blogger Tonia said...

The dress is gorgeous and looks absoultely perfect on beautiful Ms. Gwen!! I love the little detail on the front. Definitely a dress to pass down.

Hugs -
Tonia

February 22, 2006 4:57 AM  
Blogger Kim M. said...

I would have to break down and buy such a sweet dress. Gwen looks like a doll. So beautiful.

Kim M.

February 22, 2006 7:02 AM  
Blogger ~ Alison said...

That really is a beautiful dress - Gotta love TJ Max!

February 22, 2006 9:58 AM  
Blogger M3 said...

Beautiful! (the dress and the sweetie in it) ;-)

Also love your cool photos. You are just too talented!

February 22, 2006 9:59 AM  
Blogger Lynne said...

It's your girl that makes the dress so beautiful!

February 22, 2006 10:34 AM  
Blogger Kristin said...

Gwen is too sweet & the dress is cute too!

February 22, 2006 11:24 AM  
Blogger Family Bits said...

Donna, she looks more and more like Andrew to me...in the eyes and the way she smiles. The left top picture looks like him, and the one of her riding her bike REALLY looks like him alot.
Oh my goodness...I just noticed she has dimples when she smiles too.

February 22, 2006 11:41 AM  
Blogger asiangard said...

I think it's so funny that you said "wicked expensive" I thought that was something only us new englanders said! ROFL
She looks adorable! I also love TJ max! It was worth the $20, isn;t it crazy how fast they grow up?

February 22, 2006 1:11 PM  
Blogger Krista said...

Beautiful dress. Gorgeous girl! I can't resist the cute dresses either. :)

February 22, 2006 2:24 PM  
Blogger Tammy said...

Gwen looks like a little angel in that dress. She is precious. Love the simple cut of the dress - not much of a frilly fan here.

Great photos too!

February 22, 2006 3:12 PM  
Blogger Joannah said...

Oh, I love it!

February 22, 2006 5:01 PM  
Blogger OziMum said...

It is beautiful~ why is it that all the beautiful dresses need to be ironed?!!!

Lee-Anne

February 23, 2006 2:57 AM  
Blogger Kristin said...

BTW: I love the new Blog name!

February 23, 2006 10:48 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

Absolutely precious!!!

February 24, 2006 5:27 PM  
Blogger Yoli said...

The dress is absolutely lovely.

Yoli

February 24, 2006 6:43 PM  
Blogger SARA said...

There is a design on cafepress.com that says Double Happiness in chinese characters. Go to their web site and search for "Double Happiness". You will find it!!! They have a lot of China Adoption stuff.

February 24, 2006 8:37 PM  
Blogger MarylandMommy said...

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!

February 25, 2006 10:09 AM  
Blogger TK said...

It is beautiful! I love white cotton dresses.
Have you tried the Clorox pens? I keep at one and a new back up in case I run out at home always. It takes any stain out of white material. I use it on white parts of bibs, white clothes, etc. It really works well and you only have to dab it on, let it sit a few minutes, then wash. But it will bleach out any colored part so be careful how you apply it.

February 25, 2006 8:29 PM  
Blogger Kristin said...

Donna-

I hope you don't mind, but I linked to your post titled, "hiding in plain site" on my blog...

It is so well written and it sort of says everything I want to say, only, you have already said it and I am, by nature, lazy.

I can easily take the link off if you prefer.

Thanks!

Kristin

March 02, 2006 1:03 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

-->