Dress...for a Ball

Are there parts of you that don't get highlighted much in the Blogshpere?! Maybe sides of you that play out in everyday life but haven't quite found their route into your blog?

Here's that side of me I haven't shared {much} with you....skim through or read word for word (which I hope you do). This is the rock of me and my family. Our everyday life revolves around the Army.
And once a year, hubby and I get to do it up...at the annual Army Ball.

But first, let's get one thing straight this ball is not a "ball" here in USAREC world. We do still honor the fallen, toast accomplishments, and gain motivation from the General. My first year as an Army wife came after a 15 month deployment to my then fiance. This first year was spent on the island of Oahu, HI...you could call it an incredibly long honeymoon. That year was filled with more fun than my entire 20's. Seriously.
Anyways, 25th ID held it's annual Army ball (my first ever) at the Hawaiin Hilton. Room paid for, meal paid for, and first two drinks...paid for. We stayed on the 83rd floor overlooking Waikiki beach. A view I would die to have again.

Needless to say, we stayed in this gorg' hotel again and again that year. How could you not?!

Being my first ball, my first time ever living Hawaii, my first time dressing up for my husband, as we did not have the typical wedding...I was uber nervous about which dress to pick. So, I did the obvious and shopped Cache at the Ala Maona Mall. I lucked out big time and scored this number...last one on the rack.

I loved that dress. I loved the entire night. I loved our friends in Hawaii.
Hubby's battalion and many others, infantry or not, use the ball as a time for an annual drink fest called The Grog....basically a tradition to salute previous wars and vets. <many liquors><many cups><many toasts>. Somewhere in the midst of honorable HOOAH's everyone gets a little tipsy, eats and dances too.

Fast forward  a year later and we've got ourselves a USAREC style Army Ball. USAREC stands for
US Army Recruiting. It's no joke. This country, without doubt, needs a strong defense and protection in numbers of the millions. USAREC is an important part in securing this. My hubby, while an infantry man, is finishing his 3 year orders on recruiting duty. He's not nearly as satisfied and in many ways, I am not either but it does have it's perks. Besides giving good men and women lifetime careers in defending our country, he is undeployable. I repeat, undeployable. As an Army wife, it doesn't get better. But here in Recruiting world and at this broke time for the Army....annual balls have fallen short. Two years ago, when we first arrived here, we learned the annual ball was combined with a weekend long annual training conference. Oh, how fun. And our rooms were not paid for, neither our meals, and free drinks...yea right. None of that really matters for us two love bird //parents...we were happy to get away for the weekend, even if it meant suicide my slideshows and purchased meals and drinks. We did save money on the drinks...I was 4 months prego.

As my own salute to the Army...rather 25th ID and all we had left behind of that incredible island life...I wore a flower in my hair. Notice the Army did upgrade their Class A's from barf green to a sharp Navy Blue.
My husband had also gone up in rank. We had alot to celebrate together at this ball between our new news of pregnancy and his step up in career. My dress....bought on one of my wild shopping sprees in Hawaii, a grande total of $9.99. Almost puts that Cache dress to shame.

Pressing fast forward again...we have yet another annual Army Ball //Annual Training Conference.
Funny how the Army finds it a great opportunity to train their soldiers. These men deserve a night to unwind, loosen up and throw back drinks with their comrades and wives, without the stress of training. But whateves, it's the Army way...as much as I love the Army and trust our life under their control, I know they always have a trick up their sleeve. Hubby and I find ourselves a bit stressed for a sitter, I missed the first night of the weekend but made it down for the second day and that nights ball.

Big steps for me. First, I finally wore my hair half up, not all up. People, I stress this kind of stuff! I do my own hair and makeup for these balls (believe me, many girls pay for that crap, maybe I should, but I don't)
The reasoning behind the decision for half up ??? THAT fire-hot red dress! Holy Mother! I was a nervous wreck to strut around in red all night. But it all worked. Calvin Klein knows how to make a woman feel good. And men too, haha. Speaking of, so does Sky Vodka.

So now we have the present. You can see through these pics and my story that the overall tone of the event has decreased. I can get away with wearing a dress that's fitting of a fancy cocktail party not necessarily a "ball". It's no longer a venue overlooking a sunset on the Pacific, off the coast of Oahu. It's now a Marriott near the beach here in Virginia. Regardless, I'm excited to see the USAREC battalion come together for another training conference, ahem, ball and celebrate my husbands new rank. We'll learn, we'll laugh together, we'll eat and drink and dance a bit. And this year, I'll wear navy blue. A floor length gown found at a killer price of $19.99. This girl knows how to shop!

Hope you're as excited as I am to see it all come together this weekend!
Wish me luck, my hubby lots of cheers and the babysitter (grandma) restful nights.

If you want a small scoop of our "how we met" & "where we've been" check this page!

Fittingly, I'll share with you...we mailed off Christmas joy to a soldier on tour in Afghanistan...
as part of Annie's Operation Christmas.

I've linked up with Wednesday Walkabout hosted by some wonderful ladies! Go check them out!!!
And partied with Shanna for another fun Random Wednesday link up! Be sure to hop over, her randomness today is stylish, funny, and includes a few unique stocking stuffer ideas!
And how am I so late to this party?!? What I Wore Wednesday hosted by The Pleated Poppy!