by Kristen Daukus || Four Hens

If you have a teenage daughter then you know firsthand that prom season is here. Whether she’s going with the love of her (now) life or in a group of Looking for beautiful prom dresses that won’t cost as much as a wedding gown? I have 7 great places to look!friends, no doubt she’s already been looking around for THE perfect dress. All of the girls that are in and out of our house have very different ideas on what they want to wear to prom. Some like a classic look, others want to be a little bit more daring.

One thing is for sure – this isn’t our Gunne Sax days, y’all.

If you’ve been allowed to go prom dress shopping with your daughter, no doubt you’ve seen they carry a pretty steep price tag. I’ve seen some prices that I wouldn’t have spent on my wedding dress much less a dress that is primarily a prop in a long string of photo ops and Snapchats. When we went to prom, we WENT to prom. There was dinner, the dance, and a few lucky ones got away with the after-party. Now? It’s pictures, dinner, and a quick stop into the prom before heading to the real event of the night.. the party at someone’s house. One mom told me her daughter was at her prom last year for a grand total of 10 minutes and immediately changed out of the expensive dress and $400 shoes.

Uhm. No.

I don’t care if it is the prom… if I’m springing $400 for shoes, it better be to walk you down the aisle.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR AFFORDABLE PROM DRESSES

PromGirl – You can find every type of dress imaginable in any price range on this site. They have super budget friendly options under $100 and then all the way up to over $2000. They offer free shipping and state their returns are easy (offering full refund for a store credit or money back minus a 10% shipping fee). Another nice feature is that they offer a huge assortment of accessories, bags, shoes, and more.

Charlotte’s Closet – I think everyone is pretty comfortable with the “borrow not buy” concept now. Formal wear is really where it all began with the launch of sites like Rent the Runway. Charlotte’s Closet is like RTR but for teens and tweens. We’ve used Charlotte’s Closet in the past for Sydney’s 8th grade dance and it was a GREAT experience. The styles are current and trendy and they send you 2 sizes just to be sure you have the best fit! Return packaging and shipping is included. So instead of spending $500 to buy the dress, you spend $100 or so to borrow it! Something new they’ve added is an “at-home try on” option. For $29.95 they will ship you 3 dresses to try on for 24 hours and then ship back. They’ll credit the $29.95 to your account for 6 months.

Bridal Salons – Bridesmaid dresses aren’t what they used to be so shopping in a bridal salon could be a great way to go. Most bridal salons carry more than “just” wedding attire.. many carry formal wear, too. We found a high-end label in our local bridal salon and walked out with a prom dress for under $100! Added bonus? Many of them offer alterations!

The BFF’s Closet – Does your daughter have a friend whose parents spare no expense for their baby girl? Hit them up for one of their formal wear ‘hand me downs’! Bonus points if they go to a different school district because then you know no one’s seen it!

Consignment Shops – This one’s an easy one because again.. rarely do these dresses get worn more than once! I’m always keeping an eye open for special-occasion dresses when we are in consignment stores. Make sure you go to the ones that aren’t targeting teens as well. We’ve found that while we love Plato’s Closet, heading over to my friend Shannon’s store, Style Encore, is better for the oldest because she can find the labels she likes to wear easier! Consignment shops are also great for the creative designer who likes to make something their own (Pretty in Pink!!).

Department Stores – Don’t discard the good ol’ fashioned department store like JCPenny’s, Macy’s, and Belk. They usually have a huge variety of dresses and the best part of that is that you can try them on and then walk out with it. No waiting for shipping. These stores usually have coupons too, but you can’t always use them for things like formal wear.

Forever21 – I don’t know about you but I cannot stand to shop here. However, for once, the ultimate teen shopping destination is going to work in your favor. While they may not have as big of a selection as online shops and department stores, at least you know you’re going to get it for a great price and you won’t stress if she steps on the hem at the end of the night.

Here’s hoping you make it thru prom season, moms!! Would love to hear other places where you’ve found great deals on these kind of higher dollar events!

by Carissa Joines

Halloween is on a weeknight this year, but that doesn’t have to squash the fun! With a little planning ahead, you can stretch the spooky amusements over several days, get a lot of mileage out of those costumes, and collect even more candy.

Here are 8 tips to help you plan ahead and make the most Halloween this year:

Be clear on your expectations.

Kids handle changes better if they have clear information up front, and since most of them will only remember the last couple of Halloweens (which fell on the weekend) they may be expecting a late night and belly full of candy. Sit them down ahead of time and explain how this year is going to go, get agreement on how much candy they can eat that night, when you will sort out their haul (like after school the next day) and what time they are going to stop trick-or-treating.

Choose costumes wisely.

Complicated costumes, or those which require makeup or effects, will increase the time it takes to get into, and out of, them. If your child really wants a time-intensive costume, consider wearing that to a party or event over the weekend, and a simpler version of the costume for Halloween night.

Party over the weekend.

The Friday and Saturday before Halloween make for great party opportunities. Plan your own party, or attend one of the many events and activities held around town. Many local churches have themed events, as does Old Salem, and the Foothills Tasting Room. Have older kids who can handle a real scare? Head over to Greensboro to Woods of Terror – it’s well worth the drive and will get you in the Halloween mood for sure.

Talk to your neighbors.

Some neighborhoods will do trick-or-treating on the Saturday before Halloween, or add that as an option for families who want it. If your neighborhood utilizes Nextdoor, you can use their Treat Map feature to both mark your house as a spot for trick-or-treaters and find out which areas in the neighborhood have the most candy spots close together. You could also consider collaborative efforts, like setting up booths or tables in a cul-de-sac or along one street, making a final destination for trick-or-treaters. Families with smaller kids, or those who just don’t like repeatedly answering the door, could contribute candy to the cause, creating a final bag-stuffing spot sure to leave the kids happy.

Consider Homework

While some teachers will forgo homework on Halloween night, others might not (especially since we are coming to the end of a quarter.) Check with your child’s teacher ahead of time via email, and if they are planning on giving out homework, consider using a homework pass that night. If you can’t avoid homework, have your child do it as soon as you get home or while they are in childcare.

Plan ahead for a quick dinner.

You can throw something in the crockpot or go all out and make a spooky themed supper, but whatever you do, make sure it is quick to eat. Check out some of these ideas on Pinterest HERE for themed finger foods that will work great for a party or family supper on the way out the door.

Start the evening earlier.

Even if your kids aren’t little, a weeknight Halloween will mean that some neighbors will be putting their kids to bed and turning off their porch lights earlier. Plan for this by starting your trick-or-treating at dusk, so you can fit in as many houses as possible.

Make memories with with friends.

Trick-or-treating always feels like more fun if you are doing it with a friend. Consider meeting up to go out in groups, or swapping kids with a friend or neighbor so that your child has a group of friends to head out with. Add in a final stop at one home with a special treat (think Halloween pinata, small scavenger hunt, or some full-sized candy bars) and your kids won’t feel cheated by a shorter evening of knocking on doors.

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By Kristen Daukas

To my high school senior,

So here we are. The moment you’ve been waiting for and the moment I, as well as many other parents, have been dreading since your first day of Kindergarten. Today is the first day of your Senior year of high school. Or as I see it – your last first day. We’ve had 13 of these in a row and I remember every single one of them… if I stretched my memory enough, I could probably remember what you wore each of those first days of school.

We’ve been through a lot these past 13 years. There have been projects galore, tears over homework – from both of us, teachers we loved and others not as much. School plays, recitals, concerts, games and fall festivals. We’ve argued over clothing choices (though not too much… we parents have to pick our battles and that wasn’t one I wanted to fight), curfew times and when I thought you were getting the short end of the stick when it came to your friends. We’ve battled bullies, technology (yes, I’m still smarter than you when it comes to that, and had endless “discussions” as to what clean means to me and what it means to you.

I know that you don’t always listen to me, but I also know that a lot of my messages get thru – even if you don’t want to admit it. So now that summer break is ending and we set our alarms back to the one that should just read “butt crack of dawn” and not “school day”, I want to offer some last words of wisdom that I hope you’ll to take to heart.

It’s Going to Fly By – If you think the past 12 years have moved fast, the next 9 months are going to be over in a blink. Right now you’re picking out your OOTD (outfit of the day for the ‘rents out there) but seemingly by tomorrow, we’ll be choosing which dress you’ll wear under your gown for graduation. Enjoy it. Don’t rush thru it. Do the things and join the clubs that you thought you’d always have time to do. And keep that attitude the rest of your life because it’s not just your senior year that will fly by – it’s life in general.

Make Wise Choices – You’re going to be faced with a lot of temptations your senior year. You are the kings and queens of the castle and you definitely rule. But these kind of attitudes come with a lot of ego and if there’s one thing about ego’s that you need to remember is that egos can get you into a lot of trouble. Think twice about going to the kegger at someone’s house whose parents are out-of-town. All it takes is one call from a neighbor and you could all be going downtown and all those hopes, dreams and goals right along with you.

You’ll Never See These People Again – This may sound pretty harsh, but it’s the sad truth. Whether you love them or hate them because they annoy you, something just changes when you cross that stage with your diploma in hand… everyone has their own agenda and try as you will, you just lose touch. It won’t happen suddenly – it’s more of a gradual thing that happens over the years. The first couple of years you’ll try to get together when you’re home from college for breaks but eventually you’ll stop coming home for every break and then you’ll get a summer job wherever you are at school and then you graduate college and move to take your first ‘real’ job. And it won’t be everyone – there WILL be some that you’ll stay friends with forever and those are the best relationships you’ll ever have. Because those are the people who, even when you get married, have kids, and go thru major life events, will always remember you as the real you. The one who existed before you became someone’s wife/partner/mother/caregiver.

Don’t Lose Your Momentum – Senioritis is a real thing but you can’t slow down just because you’re near the end. Even if you’ve gotten into the college you wanted to, they’ll still keep an eye on you and your grades and believe me – there have been situations where offers have been rescinded. I know it’s hard but keep plugging along and maybe, just maybe, when April gets here, then (and only then!!) you can ease off the gas pedal.

Watch What You’re Posting – Oh dear child… you’ve heard me preach this for years. Ever since I handed you your first smart device I’ve said to watch what you post. You even have that cute mimic face whenever I break into my speech and mantra of “once on Google, always on Google”. But now it really counts – especially if there are scholarships and collegiate sports involved. Not to mention, you’re going to start applying for internships soon as well. And as a professional who works with interns, we check. So if you’re tempted to throw out disparaging remarks about your boss or teachers or coach, don’t do it. Same with some of that colorful language you love to use. Hey I like it, too (I know where you get it from) but I save it for my offline conversations – not where I’ve built my brand and my profession.

Learn to Manage Your Money – You have a job and I’m proud of you but if you didn’t, I would encourage you to get a job and most importantly – how to manage your money. Money isn’t everything but when you’re the only one who can’t go out because you blew it all of one pair of shoes that you just HAD to have, it sucks. I know talking about and making budgets isn’t the most thrilling thing in the world, but it’s better to get a handle on it while I’m still paying most of your bills and before you’re out on your own or at college.

This is Going to Be One of the Best Years of Your Life – No, seriously – it really is. You’ll look back on your senior year years from now and remember so many things about it. When you get together with everyone at your 10th, 20th, 30th-year reunions you’ll be amazed how much you’ll laugh over it. Or cry depending on which memory you’re thinking of. You’ll remember your Senior Skip Day, Senior Picnic, Senior pictures, the day you get your first acceptance letter, the day you get your first rejection letter, who you dated and who broke your heart. Do whatever you possibly can to make great memories and don’t sweat the small stuff. Because at the end of the day, it won’t be the small stuff that matters but rather, the memories that you made.

I hope you have the best year ever and one more piece of advice – don’t laugh at me or be embarrassed when I shed a tear on both your last first day of school and your last last day of school. It’s been a long road for both of us and since you’re my “baby”, I’m allowed my moment, too. Oh and yes… I WILL take your pictures on the front porch just like I always have so don’t even try and get out of it.

All my love,

Mom
You can find more of Kristen’s work HERE at Four Hens & a Rooster.