Today is Day One of Dressember, and we had a big day planned, so I had to think carefully about all eventualities while considering my outfit.

A long time ago, I committed to taking the kids (my own plus the two that I take care of twice a week – Mairead and Finn ) to an Alberta Dance Theatre production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I had assumed that it would be at the Centre for the Performing Arts, downtown, a half hour bus ride away. Well, as it turns out, it was at the University, an hour and a half bus ride away. Fine, doable (thank god for buses as there is not enough room for three carseats in my car!), but a long day that could be very cold. I needed a dress that wasn’t too short and would be relatively warm, plus double tights or tights and legwarmers, and boots, and coordinating accessories.

This is what I decided on:

Dress: BB Dakota (thrifted or clothing swap, probably the latter) // Tights: Codori Crochet Tights from sockdreams.com // Legwarmers: Dream Stockings short Super Warmers from sockdreams.com // Boots: el cheapos from a random shop in Paris (can’t remember – it was 7 years ago) // Necklace: Baltic amber, ordered online somewhere (ambershopping.com or similar) // Added a thick coat with hood, a scarf, knit mittens and a wool bag (plus of course diaper bag, cloth tote of snacks and small backpack of toys) and I looked like a stylish sherpa.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The play was pretty great. The dancers looked to range in age from about seven to their   late teens, and did a fabulous job. And this was the dress rehearsal! The kids all did really well – the older girls sat pretty quietly, and Finn was fidgety but quiet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Even the bus ride home went all right. We ate our lunch, then played “Bus Bingo” where they had to find certain objects and cross them off, and this actually kept them amused for 45 minutes! Amazing! (I printed the Bingo cards from this ironically named website.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    All in all, a successful day in fashion and in homeschooling. Now, more coffee.

Arriving home from our bus adventure.