Rhinestones

As the school year ends many other activities prepare to go on summer hiatus; Girls Scouts, Pioneer Girls, Boys Brigade, band, karate, they all have year end happenings. A dance recital is another big year-end event involving moms and their kids, both boys and girls, mostly girls, getting ready to primp and kick. I was a product of many a dance lesson, as was my oldest daughter. Weekly classes brought about good exercise, good technique and female drama. I could easily do without the drama, but it really was a confidence booster and political game to get in to the covenant touring dance troop. This was a big deal as all the girls wanted to be asked to join, auditioned to get accepted, or has mothers who knew the woman who owned the dance school.

The whole process is a major life lesson if you ask me, as is paying for dance class. You are charged per how many classes you take a week, with make-ups only available if they are taken within the month of the missed class. Supplies include tights, shoes and leotards, which are standard yet expensive. You get a payment schedule for the recital costume. This costs over $100 regardless of how much or little material said costume has. There are professional photos offered and bouquets of flowers available for recital day. Then to top it off you need to purchase tickets to see your kid in the dance recital. This part blows my mind as I've been paying all year long for lessons. Aren't I entitled to see the results? Okay, at least give me two tickets complimentary and I'll pay for whatever else I need. Maybe a Groupon? No go on a deal for this. So maybe you want to pop a few pictures of her kid in this pricy get up on your Facebook page. Surely there's value in that.

She buzz words

• Flattery
• Glory
• Homage
• Hurrah

She could be a

• Baker
• Bank Teller
• Banker
• Bartender

She could be working at a

• Game Stop
• Home Depot
• Pizza Parlor
• Tea House

Right now she could be

• Sewing a dance costume
• Spray painting ballet shoes
• Weeding her flowerbed
• Washing her car

She Vent

"This dance costume is made with less than one yard of material and it coasts how much?"

She Phone Starter

How much does she spend on her kids extra activities?

She Eat

Getting a healthy dinner on the table for herself and her family is always a challenge. This challenge can be made easier with a little planning, a few extra groceries, and some friends. Cooking with friends once or twice a month, can result in a freezer full of new, easy meals. This co- operative cooking venture develops friendships, new recipes, and happier dinnertimes. A Yahoo group, "cookingwithfriends", has been created to help others find cooking mates.

She Sport

Once she hears a story about a young athlete who has been seriously injured or lost their life due to a blow in the chest from a ball or hockey stick, she never forgets. From then on, she vows to protect her own athlete. Many injuries have occurred while wearing a chest protector. A study by The American Journal of Cardiology studied 182 deadly blows to athletes' chests, between the ages of 5 to 23 years, and found that commercially available chest protectors are insufficient.

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com