Shopping in Montana

You know that 20 year reunion I've been talking about. The one that worked as great motivation to get this baby weight off. Well, the big event is this weekend and like all girls the next question is-

What am I going to wear????


I used to love to shop- when I was a teenager, with no children in tow and a mother who would hand me things to try on and then pay for everything. Once in a while I will still turn to my mom and say- will you take me back to school shopping?


For the last ten years, I think that the majority of my clothes come from places where you can also buy food. I'll spot a top or jacket at Target or Costco and voila- a new piece for my wardrobe. Christmas presents also help. My sister did get me some very cool Guess jeans this last Christmas and they have helped my style factor immensely.

But, for my reunion, I got it in my head that I wanted a new dress. So, yesterday Hottie Husband took care of Little Bear and let me explore all the non-food selling stores of Montana that might have a dress I could wear.

You would think that shopping alone would gain me instant success. After all, I am used to finding things and making choices in nanoseconds so as to avoid all the joys that go along with shopping with multiple boys.


I wasn't sure where to go, but there is one department store in this part of Montana called Herberger's. It's resides at a mall which bears some distant resemblance to the mall's in California so I thought it would be a good place to start.

I nearly cringed as I went through the racks. They contained many dresses with prints like these.

Now, don't get me wrong, she looks real cute in those dresses, but picture them on a hanger amongst many other vibrantly printed dresses in fabrics that don't feel so good on the fingers. 

There were also some shiny satin ones like these. 

Again, this particular model looks cute in it, but the folds remind me of the inside of a casket and the sheen brought back memories of my junior high school graduation dress. 

This was not what I was looking for. I left with a new eye shadow.

I called HH- Can you pick up the boys? I am having no luck in this Montana shopping.

I headed to T.J.Maxx and Ross, hoping to find a designer dress on sale. No luck. But, I did find two very cute summer dresses and at least now felt my time of trying on 20 or so dresses at least bore some fruit. 

Earlier in the day, HH had suggested I go to some of the boutiques in Whitefish. My response had been that they were expensive and I thought I might find something on sale at a department store. But, arriving back to Whitefish without a dress, I spotted HH getting out of the car, taking our four boys to the local ice cream parlor. I waved at them and determined I had at least twenty minutes to look a little more. I took his suggestion and headed into a store called "The Village Shop." 

This place has really cute stuff. Knowing they are pricey, I headed to the sale rack and found three dresses to try on. They were all cute, but I knew the one as soon as I tried it on. 

Success!!!! You can be a successful shopper- even in Montana. 

Now, I just need to find some accessories and maybe some shoes...