Stylish Kaboodlers, I really need your help!  I have a first date tonight with someone who is significantly younger than me.  We're going to a chic hotel bar, and I don't want to look old and stuffy (which I'm not, so it's not really a legitimate concern), but I also don't want to look like I'm trying super hard to look younger than I am.

I have a white BGBG tunic-style top with black dots and cutout shoulders similar to the photo that I was thinking of wearing, but it's a bit fidgety (it slips off my shoulders sometimes).  If I wear it, what should I wear with it?  Do I do a cardigan and then strategically remove it at a certain point in the evening? ;-)

What do you wear on your first dates?  Pants?  Skirts?  Dresses?  Ack!  All advice is molto appreciated.
Cheers!

Wow, long time, no post!  Hi Kaboodle friends!  I've missed you.  It's been a weeeeird 6 months for me, and I hope to be around a lot more now that things have settled a bit.

See those shoes up there?  I'm obsessed with them.  I want to wear them with everything this spring and summer.  The only problem is that TopShop put them out in the winter, and they're sold out in NYC and online.  Chicago has a couple of pairs in my size, but they won't ship them.  What kind of customer service is that, I ask you?

They told me the NYC personal shopping consultant may be able to get them shipped, so I'm waiting to hear back.  But if there are any Kaboodlers in Chicago who are willing to pick these up for me, give me a shout and maybe we can work something out!  I'm happy to return the favor, too. :)

Cheers all!  Happy Kaboodling!  I've missed you.

**UPDATE**  TopShop called me back about 5 minutes later, and said of COURSE they can ship these to me.  They're on the way!  Happy Valentine's Day to meeeeee!

It was an average day at work until this box arrived on my desk.  Wow, it's loaded with goodies!  There's a perfect beach bag, a charging park (I believe this has been on one of my lists for AGES), a YSL glossy balm (which smells like apricots!), twisty-pins, a tea-sub (I will be using this in an hour or so...), rad sunglasses, a rubik's cube notepad (not seen here because my coworker loved it so much already...yoink!), a message mug, Sally Hansen nail decals (leopard, yes!), and Playtex girly things!  I am SO psyched!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my Beauty Queens blog!  I wish I could share all of these goodies with you.  You may virtually borrow anything you like.  Except the lippy.  That's all mine.  (Armor!)

Thanks Kaboodle Fairies! 

Have you guys read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray yet?  It’s the story of a group of the Miss Teen Dream pageant contestants who crash on a desert island where some really weird things go on…sort of like Lost meets Miss Teen USA.  Anyway, it’s equal parts satire, feminist manifesto, social commentary, and hilarious read.  I highly recommend it.  Kaboodle book club, anyone?

Anyway, I’m flipping through the book at the moment, and I’m sorry that I can’t find the exact line, but one of the characters, in a life or death battle situation, begins applying lipgloss.  Another character asks her what she’s doing, and she says something along the lines of “I’m putting on my armor.”  (Many apologies to Libba for my liberty-taking.)  When I read that line the first time, I instantly stopped feeling a lifelong guilt for preferring to face the world with mascara and a touch of foundation. 

In that moment, I realized something about myself.  When I feel like I look my best, I feel free.  When I don’t have to think about the redness around my nose, I can speak confidently.  When my eyebrows are groomed, I behave in a much more carefree way.  For me, it’s incredibly liberating to put my best face forward.  I no longer feel vain when I reapply lipstick in the middle of the day.  Au contraire, I feel together and ready to take on the world.  That’s not to say a chipped nail can break me down.  Everyone’s armor gets a bit dinged up in battle.

I learn a lot about myself by reading books for people half my age.  So what if my personal empowerment begins with a tube of lipstick and a manicure.  I can take on anything with a mere powderpuff.  Finding that out from an excellent young adult book makes me uniquely me.  Thanks to Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens for helping me realize that’s okay.

Have you guys seen Violent Lips?  They're temporary tattoos for your lips, meant to last 4-8 hours.  I heard one person say they would wear them to the Katy Perry concert.  Where would you wear yours?  Are you this fancy?

I promise, this is the very last post about this durned dress you'll see, but I thought if you've followed it's progress this far, you might as well see it on.  This photo was taken at my friend's wedding on Sunday, and it was awesome!  The skirt was so swingy and great for dancing!  I only wish the photo had been taken by someone just a bit closer to my own height instead of the glamazon photographer who was there!  My legs really aren't that short. :)
Dress:  David's Bridal, then heavily modified
Shoes:  Nine West
Necklace:  Borrowed from a friend who got it in Kenya
Bracelets:  Ditto
And yes, I'm growing out my bangs, which always means lots of tweaking in between haircuts.  It's getting pretty short!