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Jamie’s Brigade Ball

After five years in the “real” Army (Army life post West Point), we finally got to attend a military ball! Usually military members and their dates attend these types of things every year or every other, but because of Jamie’s frequently rotating assignments we’ve somehow missed out on being able to attend one. When he told me a few months ago that we finally had one on the calendar I was pumped!

I know several people who could really give or take the whole traditional military ball thing, but I view it as one of the perks of Jamie’s military career. I love a good excuse to get fancy with my husband and have a fun night out with friends, and fun was definitely had by all!

For the event I painted my own nails and toes, did my own makeup, and wore jewelry I already had in my jewelry box (I actually wore the earrings I wore in my wedding!).
I really lucked out with my dress! I ended up borrowing it from my friend Jessica (I talk about her a lot on this site!) who wore it to a ball a couple years ago. She offered it to me when I was visiting her in Tennessee back in March during a conversation about the upcoming ball, and I was just thrilled! I couldn’t believe it fit both of us so well, length and all! Thanks again so much, Jess. Note: Jessica is interested in selling the dress, so if you’re interested in purchasing it, please email me at WhimsicalSeptember@yahoo.com for details. A similar dress can be found here.
I was torn about what to do with my hair because I needed a cut and color but also needed some help with a more formal look that would stay for hours. I really didn’t want to pay for both a normal cut and color and an up-do, so I decided to just get a cut and color and ask my stylist to style it just a bit more than she usually does. She’s also a military wife, so she totally got it. These pictures were taken about three hours after I got my hair done, and the curls and body were still holding up really well.
I swear by Urban Decay’s potion primer and Naked 3 palette for eye makeup!
Once we got to the ball we had a little over an hour to enjoy a cocktail hour with friends. We’ve definitely had our fair share of military events were I’ve felt kind of awkward because I didn’t know anyone, so it was really nice to have so many good friends to share the night with!

 

Kelsey and I have a mutual Army wife friend who connected us on Facebook shortly before Kelsey moved here back in January. After a bunch of texting and Facebook messaging we had our first “girlfriend date” a couple months ago and totally hit it off! I love how finding friends in the military is so much like real life dating. 😉 We quickly learned that our husbands work together, too! Thanks for connecting us, Angela!

 

 

After the cocktail hour we found our seats and enjoyed a three-course dinner. The highlight of the night was having the privilege to listen to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey speak. His son is one of Jamie’s bosses, so it was really neat to have him speak at our event. He and his son both gave speeches that were engaging, funny, and meaningful. After he spoke he did a little bit of singing for us as well. The man has a great voice!
After their speeches were over, the DJ came on up and we got ready to hit the dance floor!
We danced for a little while before socializing a bit more and calling it a night. My in-laws were back at the house with Hadley, and we appreciated them driving over from Kansas City to watch her!
I’d say waiting five years to attend a military ball was totally worth it! 😉
On a serious/cheesy note, I had a moment of perspective at the ball that I really needed. As we were sitting there listening to Gen. Dempsey I looked around the room at 500+ exceptional men and women who are all in the exact same boat as Jamie and me. They understand the realities of deployment. They’re all living away from their families and best friends. They’re all trying to make their careers and family lives work around the military. And I felt immensely comforted and humbled by this thought. Sometimes the struggles of this lifestyle can feel very isolating, foreign, and “unfair”, but then we have nights like the other night were I fall in love with our military lives all over again and really appreciate all it’s given us. As with everything, it’s all about perspective. I’m sure as long as Jamie’s in the Army (however long that will be!), I’ll be on an ever-changing emotional rollercoaster with how I feel about the military. 😉
Anyway! We were kind of all over the place the rest of the weekend. Jamie and his parents got up early Saturday morning to drive back to Kansas City because Jamie had a day date planned for his mom for Mother’s Day. He purchased tickets for an afternoon food tour, and the two of them had so much fun!
Hadley and I stayed back in Manhattan because we had plans to see one of my good friends from Tennessee who was in town for her brother’s graduation from Kansas State. It was so great to see Amanda, her husband, and her gorgeous kiddos! It’s always kind of a tease seeing Amanda though because it reminds us how sweet it would have been to have our girls grow up together. We love the Gulsbys!
Hadley and I also hit up the local splash park for its opening day. Army friends, if you have young children you should definitely consider getting stationed here at Fort Riley. Manhattan has so many fun things to do with kids, and this free splash park is only one of them. I know we’re going to spend a lot of time here this summer!

 

 

A big storm rolled in last night, so Hadley and I decided to rock outside on the covered porch after bath time and watch the rain while waiting for Jamie to get home.

 

Today we went to church, played at the park a little bit afterwards, and then came home to do some yard work. I’m taking a break to type up this post, and then we’re going to head back out and clean up a bit before dinner.
Overall, great weekend! Hope you’ve had a good one too and have a wonderful week! xoxo

 

Erica

Hi! I’m a proud Army wife and mom to two little girls (ages 1 and 4), and I love sharing our lives with you. I blog all about motherhood, our time in the military, our travels, our meals, my fitness journey, my fashion favorites, and so much more. I truly enjoy sharing it all! I can’t get enough of birthday cake ice cream, weekend sunrise runs, or making my girls belly-laugh. I write almost daily about my family’s lives, and though I like to keep things light, I also share the messy parts too. Welcome! So glad to have you around. I’m active on Facebook and Instagram and would love to communicate with you there!

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