Tuesday, October 20, 2015

My Birthday Gift

My birthday is often overlooked because it comes right after the hullabaloo of Halloween. People are too hung over from wild costume-parties to remember me on November 3rd. So I've learned to take care of my own needs. Plus, friends rarely give me what I really want so I buy myself a special present. I've decided what to give myself this year. It needs some explanation.

You may have heard my motto -- It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood. Mine was full of male-centered activities like Little League. Scared ten-year old boys praying the ball won't be hit to them so the grown male coaches don't yell at them for missing it. I endured that life but I didn't enjoy it. What I really wanted to be doing was dance.

Yes, dance! I love the grace of movement. Even more, I love the costumes which are femininity on steroids. Dance outfits are hyper-cute in all the right ways.

Confession: I look at dancewear catalogs with aching desire. Of course I'm not ten any more and can't fit into girl's costumes but they do make ones for adult women. And they're super adorable.

Nobody has or probably ever will buy me a dance costume so I guess it's up to me to fill that void. I'm going to buy myself one for my birthday. I don't know if you want to see it so I may or may not take pictures, but I'll certainly put it on and dance around the house. Crank up the tunes and look out!

Do you buy yourself a gift for your birthday?


 
 
 

26 comments:

  1. I like that motto! Your description of growing up, and the mean boy protocol of sports made me so sad and angry. I am glad you a re getting this gift! well deserved. I also buy my own gifts, my husband is thoughtful, but I am hard to buy for..
    I hope you dance, everyday. Happy almost!
    xx, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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  2. Oh man...these bring back memories. How I wish I could locate that photo of me in baton wearing a neon green body suit with neon pink fringe down the arms and a cowboy hat! I think you would have been impressed : )

    I always hated wearing the body suits though. They rode up and never seemed to fit properly.

    About 10 years ago I took some adult ballet lessons. It was fun, until they said we would be putting on a recital. I was quite happy to be moving so that I wasn't able to participate in the actual recital. Putting on my new body suit (which finally fit!) with my little ballet wrap skirt and ballet shoes I loved. Probably more than the actual dancing! Ha!

    I'm always looking out for my birthday present. Even when it is in 8 months from now ; )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. I love the idea of you in that baton-twirling costume. And I like the intrinsic joy of movement, not necessarily performing for an audience. It's like how I play sports -- I enjoy the activity but don't keep score.

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  3. On occasion I have bought myself something. I never considered the concept until someone else told me that's what she did, as she had no one to buy for her. I'm glad you will be getting your outfit after all those years of wishing. That's the great thing about being a grown up with some disposable income!

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  4. I'm glad you'll get to experience something that you always wanted. Which means you'll want adult ballet tights too (super itchy!) and ballet shoes?
    I was do happy to find adult-sized tap shoes in the charity shop recently.
    I did ballet, tap and jazz dance for 10years as a child and it is not without its miseries and difficulties. I was tall and awkward and so was always put in the back row in dance shows and made to feel I was rubbish. I had to work extra hard and still didn't get results although my effort was acknowledged by winning the effort prize cups.

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    1. I already have the tights and shoes! I'm sorry you had bad experiences; many girls do. Nothing is ideal.

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  5. My birthday is between Christmas and New Year's Eve, so I always get myself a present - it cheers me up while the kids are on break and driving me crazy.
    I didn't take any dance classes until belly dance several years ago. I'd love to take some salsa or tango just to wear the fabulous swirly dresses!

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  6. I totally know what you mean about birthdays! Mine is Nov. 4th so I hear you. As for dance costumes, well I love them and the most fun I had was starting dance again after so many years. Discount Dance offers lots of great items at really good price points. Of course I'm going to throw it out there and suggest you venture into a dance class....
    xo
    styleontheside.com

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    1. Fellow Scorpio! You're right about DD: these pics are taken from there. I've ALWAYS wanted to take a dance class.

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  7. cute! i say go for it. i bought myself a hair do for my bday. i needed it--myroots were awful!

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    1. Good choice. What makes us happy is the right thing to do.

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  8. Oh I always buy myself a gift for my birthday. It's like saying to yourself, "Hey, you're special and you deserve something from me to you... I love you." I truly believe you have to love yourself so why not... give yourself everything you can afford. ;).

    Kia / KTS
    www.houseofkts.com

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  9. I certainly buy myself a gift ... and then show my husband and son what they got me!!! LOL!!!!

    Can't wait to see your dance costume! It's NEVER too late to have a great childhood!

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  10. I started dancing at age 14 and I felt so uncoordinated with all of these graceful ballerinas, but I loved it all the same.

    I love that you buy yourself a gift each year for your birthday--as you should! And I bet you'd look stunning in a cute dancer's outfit. Hope you post pictures!!

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  11. Right on, Ally!!! I live by that same quote (my own childhood was usually a million miles away from a bed of roses) and commend you so much on treating yourself to such a well deserved, exciting gift.

    Happy early birthday wishes, my friend!
    ♥ Jessica

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  12. Happy early November birthday from another November baby! I'm also a buy-myself-a-birthday-present person (though in my case, it's almost always shoes!) I think you'll be glorious in a dance costume. Are you thinking of a floaty skirt? I was always seduced by the floaty skirts.

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  13. Self care is always good.

    I'm not sure if the holidays or my birthday will ever be the same again. My mom died one week to the day after my birthday, but I know I'll have to struggle through finding self care options too.

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  14. I also like treating myself with something I would otherwise not have purchased or done. I'd love to see what costume you chose!

    -Kati

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  15. Buying treats to myself is one of my best activities, LOL ! So yes, I do buy myself presents ! Awww, you are a scorpio, love this sign =) I married a Scorpio after all, plus it's my ascendent. I think your idea to get that costume is totally great and cool ! Kisses

    Fashion and Cookies - fashion blog

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  16. Yes, I sometimes by myself a birthday treat - heck, why not, if it's something you want? Isn't it sad that kids' activities are so gender orientated.
    May you twirl, pirouette and leap for joy wearing your dance outfit. I shall imagine you as Margot Fonteyn in Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House!

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  17. I love your motto. I took years of dance when I was a child but although I did not have any anxiety related to gender, being involved in dance was not pure bliss. There were competitions and exams and for an anxious and eager to please child like me, there was much stress. Oddly, I have no problems at all performing on a stage. But I collapsed with anxiety when placed alone in a room with an examiner and asked to do all of things I could actually easily do. There was not a lot of costumed showiness in my dance career. It wasn't really a big thing in this small town in the seventies, but showiness is also something my mother loathes so tap dancing, baton twirling and the like were not options. I did ballet and highland dancing. It was all about precision, strength and grace and other than the kilted outfit for highland dance, ballet was just a bodysuit, tights and slippers. Secretly, or not so secretly, I wanted to do tap dance. Not for the showy aspect of it but for the energy and speed. It was like running and dancing at the same time. It made some noise. I remember trying to make my own tap shoes. It seemed to involve bottle caps and I don't remember it working out well.
    Enjoy your dance costume, and don't forget you will need some lovely sparkly eye shadow to go with it. xoxoxo

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    1. I understand. Many girls tell me dance wasn't fun for them. They wanted to do tap or play baseball. I don't believe dance, per se, is the answer; I'm advocating for following our own dreams, whatever they might be. For you, it could be tap.

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  18. Dance-wear is my secret obsession. I get catalogs in the mail :D I looove every thing dance.

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  19. OMG I can't wait to see what you got! I honestly think that dance wear can be used to make a going-out outfit more special, or for halloween! :D I can't wait to see what you come up with!

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