<p>I ended up buying an Easter outfit from Cato Fashions. It’s very inexpensive and they have lots of dressy-casual things.</p>
<p>I found a great dress at a local boutique & its made in California!
Double score, the clerk was so helpful, that I asked her to help me choose earrings too.
<a href=“http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Parrots_p_175.html”>http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Parrots_p_175.html</a>
That dress, different print.
Its amazingly flattering and comfortable.
I dont think I should wear anything but wrap dresses.
I am having difficulty with shoes though, I dont think anything I have will work.
The print is offwhite, black and limeish olive.</p>
<p>Is the print featured in your avatar? It looks very nice. I love that dress shape! V-neck, wrap, summery - perfect. Espadrille wedges will still work, IMO, as far as the shoes go. </p>
<p>Very nice choice! Is it one of these prints?</p>
<p><a href=“http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Rootin-Tootin-Cowgirl-_p_115.html”>http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Rootin-Tootin-Cowgirl-_p_115.html</a>
<a href=“http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Harvest-Moon-_p_130.html”>http://loco-lindo.3dcartstores.com/Biasa-Wrap--Tea-Length--Harvest-Moon-_p_130.html</a></p>
<p>Black espadrille wedge sandals would look great with it, and many other outfits.</p>
<p>Its the one in my avatar.
I also just bought a black crocheted jackety thing from Costco that is probably made in china to offset the made in usa, but it will come in handy in case my black fitted linen jacket is too hot.
I forgot about espadrilles.
That would work.
I had to go to Costco today to get tires installed and made quite a haul.
I found a pillow with a cooling surface, boxer shorts for H who wears a small( which is hard to find), a speedo bathing suit for $20 ( although the clerk told me to size up cause they ran small, & I dont think they do), and if you have small grandkids, you should check out the outdoor climber, it is adorbs.
Also walking sticks that have interchangable baskets for downhill & xcountry skiing- but thats not all!
Also have tips for hiking and pavement.</p>
<p>@emeraldkity4 – were you just killing time b/c you had to wait to have your tires changed? I am in Costco once a week and I studiously avoid the entire mid-section, fearing I would come out of there with an assortment like you did today! As it is, I spend far too much money in that store.</p>
<p>I completely agree with @consolation: black espadrilles would look great, either fully closed-toe or partially open, however you can find them. I feel like espadrilles were everywhere for the past two summers but I have not seen them yet this year. (Haven’t been out enough.)</p>
<p>This shoe is much more comfortable that its high height would suggest. I bought it last year in a pale denim and now wish I had gotten it in navy. Navy is completely sold out, but black is available.
<a href=“https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/espadrilles/PRDOVR~64498/64498.jsp”>https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/espadrilles/PRDOVR~64498/64498.jsp</a></p>
<p>LOVE the dress, EK!!!</p>
<p>I had actually planned to go shopping, it was all stuff we needed.
And it had been so long that I had been to Costco, that I had to renew my membership.
( I also put back about half)
It was worth renewing though, not only to get the tires, but D and her bf will be living in a tiny rural community for at least six months, & the grocery store prices are geared for tourists, and she wants to stock up.</p>
<p>I am very pleased with the dress too. And since it is a wrap, if I gain or lose a few lbs, its adjustable!</p>
<p>These are the perfect shoes:</p>
<p><a href=“Lauren by ralph lauren cecilia black shantung + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>http://www.zappos.com/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-cecilia-black-shantung</a></p>
<p>Or a pair of Sperrys:</p>
<p><a href=“Sperry top sider mabel black canvas + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>http://m.zappos.com/sperry-top-sider-mabel-black-canvas</a></p>
<p>Ugh. Still no shoe luck. My foot is on the widish side and one has a bunion.
High arch, narrow heel and my old shoes don’t feel stable enough to do much walking. Went to neighborhood shoe store but they didn’t carry wide. Local comfort shoe store that does, only had Miss Marple looking shoes in my size and the sales girl just looked at me when I said I was looking for something a little more flattering.
However, going to try Zappos and a store in Ds college town where we are going for the weekend.
Missing Syttende Mai & Flight to Mars/Mike McCready but it will be our last parents weekend as she’s graduating next month!</p>
<p>Most of the way through youngest daughters college graduation last weekend, the “rehearsal dinner” last night and today will be the reception for oldest and her H.</p>
<p>( rehearsal in quotes because they actually eloped almost 6 mo ago- but we had a nice dinner with her husbands parents, and his siblings & their spouses and their kids. Was quite amused that the 4yr old, who previously had been smitten by my oldest, expanded his loyalties to my youngest and insisted on walking with her & giving her flowers and rocks & sticks on our walk. It was adorable.- His family is also very friendly, although it was awkward when the dad preemptively took care of the dinner tab before we even sat down, Im not used to that. I did manage to take care of dessert though 
) Oldest sat next to me at dinner! ( she also asked me over yesterday to help with the yard- I went, although technically, she could have done it herself- but I wasnt going to pass up the opportunity to see her, she also seemed to be very happy- plus- although her husband just graduated a week ago, he already has gotten a great job offer that he has accepted that wont require them to move! )</p>
<p>Wearing my teva sandals because we’ve been walking and taking public transit quite a bit, but today I will probably wear heels. I decided some Born gladiator wedges that I already owned fit me better than anything I could find in the stores.
Now I just have to decide what to do with my hair.
I also left my pantyhose at home, but I think it is going to be warm anyway.</p>
<p>Good luck ek! Sounds like it’s been a great weekend! Must be so happy!</p>
<p>Just don’t wear shoes w pointy heels, unless you feel you really must help the host aerate the lawn </p>
<p>I never did change into my heels ( although they were platform wedges) because i would have been the only person wearing heels and because the slope was a little uneven.</p>
<p>It went well. It was difficult for me, but I had only had one beer, ( even though most people, were drinking alot) and took a short walk when I needed a break.(portland has such quirky houses) They had a beautiful ceremony where they each spoke about their earlier wedding and their wanting to share their happiness with family and friends and D spoke about how important her friends were and her H spoke about what a difference she has made in his life,then they invited others to speak. It actually really surprised me how demonstrative he was, he is fairly quiet and H has never spoke about me like that in public in his life!
Both her FIL and one of her SIL spoke about how much they love her and how happy she makes her H and what an asset she is to their family. Nobody from our family spoke, as I was the only one who would do something like that and I didn’t feel D would want me to.
So that was a little awkward segue-way. I later mentioned to D, that the ceremony was lovely & that I would have spoken, but I was trying to respect her space & she said " oh no, that would have been fine".
But that definitely wasnt the impression I had.</p>
<p>Her Hs family was absolutely amazing. They were so open and friendly and also quite taken with our youngest as well as older D.
Ds MIL even told me that if there was an occasion to celebrate with youngest, to let them know, because they would love to have an excuse to come back out to this area.
However it was also humiliating, because her inlaws have no idea that I have a tenuous relationship with her, and we don’t know their son as well as they know D, even though they live only 180 miles away. I dont believe in lying to people, but I felt pressured to make excuses about how I was so clueless. Im also not good at lying, but they werent suspicious folks.</p>
<p>It was also difficult to hear several people speak to my H about what a great dad he must be to have raised such wonderful women. It was even more difficult to see him just smile and nod, and completely ignore that fact that during the critical years, I was holding things together and he wasnt even a weekend dad, many months.
I recognize that it is perfectly within his rights to accept compliments, and that is my issue.</p>
<p>I actually did ok, when I felt I couldn’t make small talk anymore, I just cleaned up beer bottles. Which there were a lot of. Everywhere. At least they didnt have cigarette butts in them. 
</p>
<p>You are very graceful, Emeraldkity. I’m so glad that all went well. There are a lot of people who would have made their hurt feelings an opportunity for attention but you let your D have her wonderful day.
I must say that I would want to have a “word” with H about his neglectful approach to the parenting compliments.</p>
<p>You did really well, EK. I think all parents like to accept compliments about their children, though when something goes awry, it is all the spouses’ fault. I’m glad you didn’t change into heels; they seem like down to earth people. I think your oldest was giving you a BIG compliment when she asked for your input on her yard, as that is your specialty. In terms of speech giving, perhaps if your D2 had been advance notice, she could have prepared something.</p>
<p>Anyway, glad you got see D1 and the lovely family that she married into.</p>
<p>It sounds like you handled it all wonderfully even though I am sure you had a huge lump in your throat. Your d’s wedding or in this case celebration is not what you imagined it would be all these years and it’s very sad that your D is ok with the situation. Your H probably didn’t know how to accept the compliments he got and that is why he didn’t say anything rather than acknowledge that you were the one more responsible for the way they turned out. Nothing can change this memory but hopefully D2’s wedding will give you all the joy you missed in this one.</p>