Same here - drinking is a double-edged sword for me. On one hand it loosens me up enough to actually talk to people at parties, but then I worry about everything I did or said while my filters were down. And lord knows I’ve had a few doozies.

I’ve had to do this, too. A mom was taking pictures of her school-aged kids in the women’s locker room (one of which was a boy definitely too old to be in there, but that’s another thing) and I ran over there half dressed to give her the business. I mean there’s reflective surfaces everywhere. Even if you don’t mean…

I wear ball caps for similar reasons - I have hyperpgmentation on my cheeks that is barely noticeable until I start getting any sort of tan. I’ve tried all kinds of brightening creams but they are temporary at best. I have heard good things about laser treatments, but I don’t have piles of cash laying around for…

I am somewhat old, but I like it, too. I love vintage looks, particularly ‘40's. I even like the color, so there. And that plunging neckline definitely makes it not-grandma, unless your grandma is Blanche Devereaux.

I wish I could put this in some pithy way, but I’d really like it if not shaving would stop being equivalent to “man-hating”. It’s such a small nit to pick, but it really does feel like a tired trope.

Pretty much all my running away fantasies are based on that book. One of my all time favorites. I still sometimes dream of getting locked in the art museum, and getting to spend all night with all those glorious treasures.

About Paris Jackson, reading

Oh my gosh, you are so right. I was thinking of a different name, but yours is so much better. Clairol Shag Mullet it is.

I completely agree with you, especially in the not quite right but I can live with it - that’s half my wardrobe currently. I end doing a lot of online shopping just because it seems like having the time to go try clothes on at store is an incredible luxury in my current lifestyle as a working mother of a young child.…

Not lately. I have the same reaction at Target - I can wear cheap clothes but cheap shoes are a no-go for me. I did find cute trendy sandals there back in the 90's and early aughts, though. Sometimes I do buy shoes for my kid there (she’s little enough that as long as the shoe sparkles and/or lights up, she loves it).

I really feel this post. I have been trying to abolish the gift exchange for all adults in my family for years now. They are starting to come around finally, so I am looking forward to a gift-less X-mas this year. There are a lot of little ones right now, so I think that helped my cause.

Every time a celebrated beauty “admits” they do don’t do much for their appearance, my eyes get rollin’. It comes across as such a humblebrag. I am about the same age as Ms. Jolie, and while she definitely started off with better material than I did, with her jet setting-high stress lifestyle, I would bet that there…

All excellent choices. You must be my age. :)

It just sort of feels natural, doesn’t it?

Haha, true. It’s really good to have your own place (or roommates who are gone a lot) when you are processing those kinds of feelings. I’m not sure if I could have weep-sung “Marianne” with the same gusto if I knew someone was within earshot, trying to watch the X-Files, do their homework, or just live their life in…

I just re-read that story two nights ago. It is fantastic, but like you, I doubt it’s been read by anyone in that administration.

Oh, but Tori is so, so good for breakups. Something very cathartic about doing your very own private cabaret routine to “Leather”. I also was big on Kate Bush’s The Red Shoes.

Depends where you shop I think. In some stores I wear up to two sizes smaller than I do in others, which makes online shopping a real headache. Vanity sizing is out of control!

Me too! I also carry a small mirror just so I can check my teeth for any stray food particles.

My five-year-old and her class have been subverted by the Trolls movie. It makes me nostalgic for Frozen.