My Dream Gown

My one day dress shopping trip turned into a 3 day adventure! I was suppose to go up to Catan's in Strongsville with Melissa on Monday the 15th early in the morning and come back home later that night. But the weather report was saying that there would be a very bad snow storm on Monday (the day we needed to come up there on). We had no choice because time was running out to pick out my gown. Melissa then called me up to ask if it would be alright to leave on Sunday night and spend the night up close to Catan's. (I got to spend Valentine's Day night with my Director :) I agreed and once I got done with work, I went back home packed and was ready for our little trip.

On our way up there, Melissa and I were talking about literally everything! But mostly about the pageant. She and I both had so many questions for each other! When we finally arrived up at Strongsville we found the hotel and crashed for the night. I woke up early in the morning to work out and then met Melissa at the hotel's restaurant for a quick breakfast. It was now time to go dress exploring! (But not before Melissa got her Starbucks!)

We arrived at this huge dress store , I mean HUGE!! We immediately met Patrice, who was phenomenal! Everyone pulled lots of dresses to try on but there was this one that kept catching my eye. I would go through looking at the dresses and keep coming back to this one, there was just something about it. For me I loved all the dresses but Melissa knew what she liked and what she thought I should wear. One of the last dresses was this Tony Bowls and Melissa loved it! It was very sparkly and had chiffon. It was the perfect pageant dress! But for me I knew it just wasn't the one... There was just a voice inside my head that said "NO. NO. NO." That same voice that told me once before when I was looking for my gown for Miss Ohio that told me not to wear the gold dress.

I still had one dress left to try on, the one that I kept going back to. When I put it on and looked in the mirror I just knew it was the one! (I didn't even care what Melissa would say at the moment) I came out though and she was blown away! She looked at me up and down and said "That's your dress!" I was in LOVE with it! It was totally me and fit my style and personality. I literally felt this dress was made for me. After only 2 hours of looking through dresses, I was all set. Patrice then would order it in my size and length (I'm a tall girl so I would need it a bit longer). She then would add her own personal touches and alterations. I'm so excited and can't wait to see the finished product!

Bridget later came and met up with us after her classes. We wanted her to try on a few dresses and get ideas for Miss Teen USA. Of course she looked beautiful in anything she tried on but her last dress was drop dead gorgeous! She loved it to, which is all that really matters. We then all had a quick lunch and soon it was time for Melissa and I to head back home. But first we had to stop at Starbucks one last time.

As we drove back south, the snow was getting heavier and heavier. After only an hour and half of driving we came to a complete stop on 71 south. There had been a 4o car pile up just North of Columbus and the roads were absolutely terrible! We were stuck in that same spot for 6 hours (I'm not lying either!). We weren't moving and there were no exits for miles. It was funny though because all the Starbucks Melissa drank went right through her and she was dying for a bathroom! I couldn't help but laugh! We were starving also! We had nothing to eat for dinner and all we had was water on us. But at the same time it was fun and that moment really bonded Melissa and I.

It was now midnight when we finally arrived at Polaris just North of Columbus and we decided to get Arby's and stay at a hotel. We both were just dying to get home! Melissa had a presentation the next day and I had work. The roads were just way to bad for anybody to be driving on. We woke up the next day to the roads completely cleared and salted. We made a quick stop to Tim Horton's for breakfast and were back on the road. We soon arrived back home in Cincinnati. It was a fun trip and a memory I will never forget!