For the last five years, my dear friend Debra and I, have combined our annual devotion to watching the entire Oscars’ broadcast from beginning to end, with our love of chocolate and other good food, into a Mother/Daughter day and evening of dress up, fashion viewing and commentary, chocolate covered strawberries and sleepover that extends into a next day follow-up discussion (the last part usually applying only to Debra and me as the “Daughters” usually have schoolwork and classes the following Monday, while the “mothers” have an option to take a “vacation day” to gab and eat leftovers.) Our event includes copies of Oscar ballots printed on yellow paper, rolled and tied with a gold ribbon. The ballot bundle also includes pages with blank lists of ten for best and worst dressed male and female, which we fill out while viewing the red carpets shows. We set up a buffet table and dress in formals. The latter grew out of my desire to have a reason to wear my wedding dress (re-altered to my body for a 15th wedding anniversary party.) It works out as a good opportunity for the girls to don old prom dresses once again. As for the mothers, we shop sales racks at bridal salons or women’s formalwear in your better department stores or used clothing venues. I make a point, on those occasions when I invite other “full-grown” women to join us, to stipulate that although a formal dress is required, it does not necessarily have to zip all the way up the back and bare feet, as well as, “ill-suited to the garment” brassieres are perfectly acceptable. In addition, it is permitted to slip into comfortable “jammies” anytime after nine in the evening.
So this page is devoted to providing a photo gallery for our annual Oscar Gala.
- 2008 (which was the 2007 Oscars)
This year we did not take our customary picture of the buffet table, although on our coffee table is a favorite vintage coffee pot, along with a stack of rolled ballots. Pictured from left to right are: my friend and store partner: Debra Bower-Watling, her daughter: Megan, my daughter: Katie, me, myself and I, my daughter: Shannon. Our dear friend Peggy Bull and her daughter, Carrie, (pictured in the prior year below) were unable to join us due to the fact that Carrie was ill with a nasty virus. We were however, joined later in the evening by friend and neighbor, Debbie Peake. Unfortunately, we neglected to get a picture. Hopefully she will return in 2009 and we can remedy the oversite.
2007 (which was the 2006 Oscars)
Pictured below is the buffet table and in the picture at right (from left to right): Megan Watling, Me Myself and I, Debra Bower-Watling, Shannon Mahoney, Carrie Bull, Peggy Bull.
The Maidens and The Mothers
My official 2007 Oscar Portrait
