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The Hunt for Red November

For the past several months, I've been telling myself that I'm going to find a dress for Karen's wedding. I'm one of her bridesmaids and, in a move that is magnanimous on her part, she informed us that we only need show up in a red dress. Perhaps, I suggested, we go with a David's Bridal-type situation where we do the mix and match so we're all in the same type of outfit, a la Stacey's wedding? No, too much restriction. So with less than 60 days to go, women are scrambling and freaking out at being told that getting a dress can take up to 12 weeks if you're going to David's Bridal.

Not that I'm any different, and I've been a bridesmaid before. I just didn't feel like trying on dresses at this point, but finally I broke down and the good and kind Stacey and I embarked on Roosevelt Field this past weekend. Wow, we saw some humdingers. But finally, in Ann Taylor of all places, I found a dress! On sale! While the size I was hoping for was not zipping past the boobage, I upgraded and will likely take it to the cleaners to have a minor nip and tuck here and there. Why my boobs are a size bigger than the rest of my body is a fact left best to modern science to figure out. Ah, the wonders of womanhood and childbirthing.

So the dress is deep wine/burgundy, tank top with a bit of a scoop neck, and has a little bow at the waist with a center pleat that I am assured is flattering. I am doing 30 minutes of cardio a day just to make sure it STAYS flattering. We then went on to the holy land, aka DSW, where we were disappointed in the lack of ridiculous shoes - that is, until we happened upon this work of art:

Yes, that is pasta on the shoe. And a tomato. And, as Stacey noted, basil. We have a complete Italian dinner for two on one shoe! For only a mere $299! Mangia!

I did hit the jackpot for myself, finding a cute pair of strappy heels that match the color of the dress perfectly, so I am a complete bridesmaid now! I also found a cute pair of red Kenneth Cole loafers marked down to a price that challenged me NOT to buy them. And then, the big coup - a pair of black Charles David mock-croc pumps with deep purple piping on them. Marked down from $148 to a ridiculously low price. After conferring with Stacey and my mom via cell phone, it was decided that I should treat myself to all three pairs. My DSW Reward Your Style card hasn't seen this much action in ages.

Last night, headed over to Karen's to stuff wedding invites. Karen, Shauna and I sat around a small table, ate Chinese food, and assembled invites. I am a fully-dressed bridesmaid. Cue the huge sigh of relief.