Finding A Homecoming Dress

It's homecoming time!  I still remember what a big deal all the homecoming festivities were when I was in school and they still are.  There are different activities scheduled all week leading up to the big game on Friday night.  Then, of course, the traditional homecoming dance ends the week of fun.

After finding a date, the most important thing for a girl is finding "the dress".  I was lucky that my mom worked at local dress shops through my high school years.  I got first pick of the new dresses or I could special order one from the catalog.  Even better for my mom was that she could use her employee discount, which without my choices probably would have been much more limited.

Finding the perfect dress can be quite a process.  There are so many styles, fabrics and colors to choose from.  The styles have really changed over the years.  I must admit, I do like today's homecoming dress styles much better than those of the 80's.  I look back on some of my dance pictures and wonder what the heck I was thinking.  What was with those huge skirts and itchy fabrics anyway?

One way to look for that perfect dress is to start with your favorite color.  My favorite color is red, which is why I really like the dress pictured below I saw on Dress First.  I have always been a fan of the short in front and long in back look also.

I also thought this blue dress with the white sash is pretty.  I think it would look great walking through those big gym doors into the dance.

Dress First is a great website to find these dress styles and so many more.  You can search dresses by occasion, style, length, color, price and more to narrow down your choices.  They are also now offering 60% Off homecomming dresses with free shipping.

I'm sure any girl would have no problem finding the right dress for that big night with hundreds to choose from.  Not to mention saving mom from being dragged around every dress store in the state just to end up back at the first one anyway.

Then don't forget prom season in a few months when the whole process begins again.  Whether you prefer a traditional style, ruffles, or a modern look, Dress First has the one you are looking for.

All photos courtesy of Dress First website

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Dress Pinning Party - Win $250

 

 
School’s back in session and football season is here! You know what that means – Homecoming’s next!

To celebrate this time-honored scholastic holiday, ModCloth is hosting a Party Dress Pinning Party on Pinterest! Enter by 9/12 to win one of two $250 ModCloth gift certificates. 

How do you enter? Find out more on the ModCloth blog: blog.modcloth.com/2013/09/05/party-dress-pinning-party/

Most importantly, spend some quality time perusing the ModCloth homecoming dress section to find the dress of your dreams! Check them all out here: ModCloth Homecoming Dresses

 

What Are The Benefits Of Music Education?

Were any of you in your school band or chorus?  I had participated in both when I was in grade school and junior high.  I love music as I believe it soothes the soul.  I played the clarinet for six years and was in chorus for a year or two. 

I actually became a pretty good clarinet player and worked my way up to a first chair position in our band.  My mom started taking me to private lessons every Saturday, which really helped to improve my playing.  It also helped me to learn some discipline, which is something I think a lot of kids need more of these days.

I was also a pretty shy child and learning an instrument and performing in front of people was probably my first boost of self esteem.  Though I was terrified the first time I played in front of a crowd and tried to hide behind my music stand, it did get easier each time.  

There are numerous benefits for students who have music education, whether it be band, chorus or the performing arts.

• Studies have shown connections between musical training and higher scores in both reading and math.
• Playing music, especially duets and in small groups, teaches children how to work as part of a team, an important skill they will need in school and later at work. 
• Keeping up a steady practice schedule instills great discipline and work ethic in kids, teaching them to work hard and be patient.
• Musical training improves memory, language skills and listening skills. Studies have shown that this combination leads to improved ability to learn a second language. 
• Playing an instrument improves hand-eye coordination and nuanced muscle control, as musicians must make very precise gestures in order to play their instruments correctly. 
• Children who grow up around music show more advanced language development, even at 2 years old, than children who don’t.
• Studying music improves a child’s ability to understand spatial-temporal relationships, a skill which can help in fields ranging from math and engineering to architecture and gaming. 
• Learning music improves a child’s ability to focus, which can lead to better studying and higher test scores.
• Children who study and perform music gain confidence and learn to conquer stage fright.
• Education in music and the arts helps children learn to think about problems creatively, finding multiple solutions to problems.
• Recent studies have shown that students who studied music go on to achieve higher scores on average than students who did not study music.   
• Kids who study music and the arts are more likely to graduate from high school and are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.
• Learning a musical instrument and performing improves a child’s self-esteem.  

Since 2006 TakeLessons.com has helped thousands of students find their music passion by matching them with the best local teachers across the nation. You're sure to find what you're looking for with over 35 lesson types including singing, guitar, math, reading, spanish and more. It doesn't matter if you live in New York City or San Diego, Take Lessons has teachers across the nation.

TakeLessons connects students and families with private music teachers, arts instructors and academic tutors throughout the US. Find your teacher and sign up for lessons at TakeLessons.com or give us a call at 855-684-5482. Get 20% off your music or tutoring lessons with coupon code MUSIC1!

Disclosure:  This post was sponsored by Take Lessons.  All opinions are completely my own based on my experience.