Dress decisions and some good food

Arghhh! Sorry for the terrible iPhone pics - does anybody know how to make your computer suck in pictures with the new Microsoft update? Had to email them to myself - bleh. Anyway, we had a Mardi Gras family function with friends last weekend in New Orleans, and I opted for an oldie but goodie, the Simplicity 5093, which has been the easiest dress so far to make. I was never crazy about the back, but saw some other dresses at the party with straight straps like mine.

I have always loved the front, though, and there are no worries about a necklace. Drew's girlfriend, who is 19 and sews, even came up and complimented me on the dress and choice of fabric - it's a hit with the millennials!

We had time before the party for some lunch at Kingfish in the Quarter - you have to go eat there! Look at all this food - we just ordered a few appetizers, and the nachos come with fried pork skins instead of tortilla chips. When they pour the hot cheese over it, it crackles - neat!

And here's a closeup of the charcuterie plate with their housemade sausage - yum!

This is an attempt at the prettiest dress in the joint, but you'll have to use your imagination. It appeared to be a dark blue floral chiffon or something, and had a bare midriff, although the front may have been all one piece.

Here we are all together - Drew was studying at school - good boy!

And the next day we had brunch at Arnaud's - this is my dessert called Strawberries Arnaud, with a spoon made of dough.

So I was inspired by the good food all weekend, and went to Publix for some help with dinner. The very nice Apron's lady set me up with Sauteed Ravioli with Chicken Sausage - excellent! It has mushrooms, asparagus, Gorgonzola cheese, wine, dill butter, etc., and is all cooked in one pan.

Sooooo, I'm tired of recycling my 4 Mardi Gras dresses, which I've done for the past several years, and I can't wear the Simplicity to Endymion in February since the same people will be there, so I'm thinking of something new. Initially I was just going to make another Simplicity in a different color stretch velour, but now I'm thinking of using the Alabama Chanin pattern with a stretch velvet, but cutting the front short and tapering to a long back....whatcha think? These were the only choices at Joann's:

so I've ordered a couple of swatches from Mood and Fabric.com. I may still do that neck treatment from the Simplicity, since the AC dress is plain other than the beading, but I guess the neck will be covered with Mardi Gras beads anyway, so maybe plain is just fine. And it looks like the December 17 weekend may work for the 4th annual Gulf Coast Girls' Sewing and Knitting Weekend, I just have one more schedule to check. Everybody still free? I'll probably send out an email tomorrow if schedules work.

Now off to run - I've got that Spartan race next weekend, you know!