llamanade

I thought it was a great idea. That's why I suggested it! Anyway, I don't think we need to fret too much about what so-in-so does or doesn't do. The only ones we need to be concerned with our ourselves. We can offer advice to loved ones, of course, but it's not our job to make decisions for them. Me, I'm mostly just glad I can still drink their yummy hot chocolate. Someone needs to make a place that serves all kinds of delicious non-coffee drinks!...nevermind. No they don't. Because if they did my wallet would become thinner and I would become fatter!

I can't honestly say that I have thought about buying food cooked in wine the same way that Pam and Beefche have, but that's because I've always thought of cooking wine as being separate from normal wine, for some odd reason. (I assume they don't cook with the same wine they sell people to drink). But I also never realized that cooking with alcohol was a problem because I wasn't brought up that way. Now my thoughts on the matter may change because I have more information. Anyway... though I never thought about it before, I can see Pam and Beefche's points about not supporting the industry. Going into a restaurant that simply serves alcohol is different than directly ordering something that uses it. It's supporting the industry in a different way by putting money directly into their pocket. So I think their points are valid. will227457, I don't think any of the comments on the WoW were meant as personal attacks to you. People have their own opinion on things. Some people do take things to the "extreme" as you judge it, and some are very loose. It's not your, mine, or anyone else's place but God's to judge what people do. I don't think anyone was condemning you for not being worried about your hot chocolate or your spaghetti, but simply stating their own views, as they are entitled to, just as you are. :)

Thanks, Pam. Looks like I will have to be careful what I order, then. I was not aware of that. I wonder if they will stop serving it to those under 21, then?

Oooh. I will have to look into that and be more careful, then. I don't eat stuff cooked in wine often, but I never even thought of it as being a problem. My parents never said anything about it and they are gung-ho Mormons. Thanks for the info. Do you have any of those articles?

So while we are talking about pasta with wine, I have yet another question...is that bad? I have always understood that cooking with wine is ok because the alcohol is burned out during cooking. And I always figured that must be correct because then they wouldn't let little kids order stuff off the menu that was cooked with alcohol. Is that incorrect? Have church authorities stated somewhere that we shouldn't consume things cooked with alcohol, or is that simply personal decision?

Why do all my questions cause arguments? *laughs* I think maybe it's just hard for will227457 to envision the dress with the nude suit underneath. My husband gave me a funny look when I said I might do that, too. But I have seen it done before for costume and it really isn't too bad. I think if I were going to an actual formal event, it would be very tacky. (But in that case I probably wouldn't be buying a strapless dress at a thrift store anyway!) But for a costume it's fine! It's a Halloween costume. I think even if it doesn't look perfect, somehow I will survive. Thanks again for all the ideas! The butterfly sleeves could be really pretty.

will227457- I wasn't trying to give the impression that I scan the ingredients of everything I eat for things that might potentially break the word of wisdom. I definitely don't. I happened to be looking at the nutrition info for the hot chocolate because I have been trying to be more aware of what I eat and decided to check the calorie info before ordering a cup of the stuff. That's when I saw the mocha syrup on the ingredients list and, as I said, I have only heard the word mocha used with coffee. So I was just curious and thought I would check. No need for anyone to get angry. I wasn't offended by any of the comments. :) Though I do appreciate the concern and those who were defending me. Let's all be happy and go get some hot chocolate. And as for finding out later something you ate was bad or whatnot, I don't think Heavenly Father is going to condemn anyone for accidentally eating or drinking something against the WoW. It's if you knowingly do it that it's a problem. I drank milk tea that a friend gave me once, thinking it was similar to herbal tea. It's actually black tea with milk! I didn't beat myself up for it or feel a need to confess. I just simply declined next time it was offered to me.

I think it just depends on the person. I've seen questionable things even at LDS Halloween parties. I remember one year at an institute party there was a girl dressed as a french maid (with lots of leg and cleavage) who went around waving her feather duster in all the guy's faces and shaking her booty. I think we can guess what Halloween meant to her. For me personally it's just a fun chance to get dolled up for a night. I don't have many occasions where I can do that. Probably the last time, aside from Halloween, would have been my wedding a few years ago!

Haha...wow.. This is the last topic in the world I would have expected to cause any sort of heat. (despite it being hot chocolate... ) It was just a simple question. I didn't know what mocha syrup was, and while I was pretty sure they weren't dumping coffee in their hot chocolate, I just wanted to be sure. I know next to nothing about coffee lingo so I didn't know what mocha was, exactly. Thanks for cleaing it up. :) Glad to know I don't have to worry about it. And yes, I do try to follow to WoW as best I can, though I wouldn't say I'm a fanatic. I do drink a little Coke now and then, and that's a whole new can of worms... so I'm not perfect by any means.

So on occastion I enjoy going to Starbucks and getting their hot chocolate. But today I was looking at the nutrition info and it says that it's made with mocha syrup. I don't know exactly what mocha syrup is, but I have never heard the word "mocha" used for anything but coffee. What exactly is it? Should I stop drinking their hot chocolate?

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Some good ideas here. Wearing a shirt underneath would look a bit silly since it's a formal gown. That works fine for sundresses or things made of a more casual material, but in this case I would say not. I did think about the nude ballet suit, but when I looked into those, they are pretty expensive and I am concerned about cost. We don't have tons of money to blow, especially on a costume I will probably only wear once or twice. (Hence why I bought the dress at a thrift store!) If I can find one that isn't too expensive I might do that. I remember doing that when I was younger and dressed as princess Jasmine! Haha! I'm thinking I'll try the ribbon and see how that works. Though it would have to be pretty wide ribbon to cover garments. I'll figure something out. And as SeekYourWish said, I'm more concerned with modesty than having it look EXACTLY like the original costume (which I knew it wouldn't because the original is off-the-shoulder anyway). Thanks again for the suggestions!

Hi all! My husband and I were invited to a Halloween costume party and I would like to go as Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I found a dress at a thrift store that looks almost exactly like the golden one she wears in the movie. However, the dress is spaghetti strap. obviously that doesn't fit in with church dress standards, especially with garments! So I figure there should be people on this board with lots of experience in making clothing more modest, especially with how hard it is for ladies to find modest clothing these days. Does anyone know how to add sleeves to a spaghetti strap dress? I know some of you are probably thinking "just get a jacket!" but I would prefer not to do that because it tends to get warm at these parties and if I just wore a jacket, I wouldn't be able to remove it when it got hot. Plus jackets tend to look a little bulky on me. I'm not sure where I would find one to match that color, either. I can fall back on the jacket if I have to, but I would really prefer to add sleeves instead if that's possible. Thanks!

Since she asked you to be in her wedding, she must like you a lot. I'm sure if you just talk to her about it and explain how important the garments are for you, she will understand and you can work something out. Having you there is probably more important to her than the dress. Perhaps you could offer to alter the dress/pay for alterations yourself? I'm sure you can work something out. Just talk to her. :) Good luck!