Staying classy

Thanks for all the input, everyone! I really appreciate it. And of course, the winner is definitely the black dress. I was hoping you all would choose that one! I'll try to sneak a prom pic of me and J to show you the final ensemble. I hope we can get one in front of an awesome balloon arch or something. 

I'm getting kind of excited for prom. But honestly, it's going to be really weird to be at a nice event and not be able to drink. For the last 5+ years, I've been able to have a glass of wine, beer, etc (though not always legally) to loosen up and kick up my heels and dance. I kind of associate dressing up with drinking. Not heavily, of course, but still. I like to feel classy with high heels and a glass of wine. I guess they just go together in my head—which became apparent to me when I asked J if there would be an open bar. Whoops. 

Ok, this is going to be a short post. I had my fiction writing class tonight and then had to race home through the crazy thunderstorms to watch the finale of America's Next Top Model. Tomorrow night is going to be nuts. I'm going to see Legally Blonde the Musical (SO EXCITED!) and then I have to come home and watch the season finales of The Office and Grey's Anatomy. Normally I wouldn't stay up so late to watch TV, but I  just know someone will totally spoil the endings for me on Friday if I don't watch them. And that would be heartbreaking.

I better make sure I have a fresh box of Kleenex handy for Grey's. If it's anything like last week, I'll probably be crying myself to sleep. 

Help me pick my "prom dress"!

As many of you already know, this coming weekend I'm chaperoning prom. Well technically, I'm not the chaperon, I'm just the date. My boyfriend's the one in charge—I just get to watch the high school kids dance (in a non-creepy way) and wonder if I was ever that awkward/skanky/funny/trendy/dorky/young. 

Now I know the kids really won't care what the heck I'm wearing, but J keeps telling me how all the kids judge him and his clothes on a daily basis. And I know when I was in high school, my friends and I used to rate our hot chemistry teacher's clothes (he was so dreamy). So I don't want to look like some could-pass-for-middle-age, frumpily-dressed chaperon—I want to look cute. 

I didn't know what the heck to wear. J asked fellow teachers and was told I could wear anything from black pants and a sweater to wedding attire. My choice? A dress...because I love them.

Now normally I would try on a bunch of dresses and ask my roommate for an opinion, but my current roommate—a teeny tiny zinia plant—doesn't have a lot to say on the matter. So being the approval-oriented girl that I am, I thought I'd ask you all for fashion advice. Do you mind? I hope not!

Here are my two dress options:

Dress #1

You can't tell, but it has a satin ribbon around the waist and it covered in large black polka dots. This is what I originally planned on, but I didn't know if the strapless was a bit too "scandalous". Also, when I tried this on in the store, a girl asked me if I was going to the turnabout dance at the local high school....how embarrassing. But I loved the dress anyway and had to have it.

Dress #2

This one is a little summery and a bit more casual. It's a lightweight cotton (definitely a sun dress) and could probably be dressed up with the right accessories. I'm worried it might be a bit too short with heels, but I love the print. 

So what do you think? Any suggestions would be a huge help!

Once I tally up the votes, I'll move on to accessories. Now those will be a challenge. Shoes? Jewery? Cardigan? (I'm always cold). YIKES. I freeze up when it comes to the extra things. It's hard enough to pick out the dress.

Thanks for your help!

I'm going to sparkle like the Cullens in the sun

Tomorrow night I'm going to Snowball, an annual charity event for Children's Memorial Hospital. It's thrown by the Hospital's Junior Council, so it's basically a big party/dance for young professionals. I went last year and it was pretty fun. I just like getting dressed up...

So naturally, I want to look my best. I'm finally getting my hair cut tomorrow,  I borrowed this amazing dress from my coworker and I'm even getting my makeup done with a friend (I need to stock up on stuff anyway...). The only minor hiccup is my almost-transparent skin. It hasn't seen the sun in months. 

I'm not one to go tanning, especially in the winter, because it looks ridiculous to be tan in February in Chicago. But since my dress shows lots of skin, I thought I'd try out a self-tanner. So I headed to Sephora during my lunch today and quickly remembered why I hate that place. The salespeople are so rude!

I had to wait quite awhile until someone helped me. And even then, when I finally asked someone, she acted like I was disturbing her. Here is how our conversation went:

Me:  Excuse me, do you have a minute?

Sephora Woman: (sigh) I'll have to make one.

Me: I'm looking for a good self-tanner. I'm pretty pale...

SW: (laughs) Honey, you're not just pale, you're porcelain.

Me: Yeah I guess, so I'd like one that could look natural.

(SW went on to explain how best to use it, etc.)

Me: Well, I'm planning to use this tomorr...

SW: Oh honey, don't do it! Don't.

Me: But I have an event...

SW: I'll tell you what will happen. You'll put in on all wrong, you'll totally mess it up, you'll get it on your clothes, you'll streak it all over the place and then you'll end up crying your eyes out and having your entire night ruined. It will be a disaster.

Me: (silently staring at her, completely taken aback, mouth hanging open)

SW: Don't do it. Your pale skin is fine.

Me: Ok...well...

(SW clearly sees that I'm a bit offended.)

SW: Well, wait I have something else that might work. (She starts to lead me across the store)

SW: Might I add that you have big green eyes?

Me: Eh...yeah, I do.

(SW glances down at my dry, chapped hands)

SW: Oh my! What happened to your hands? They look terrible. Don't you moisturize?

So long story short (ok, not really), the woman really frustrated me. First my skin (I know, porcelain skin isn't bad), then my ability to put lotion on myself, then my hands.  I appreciate her advice about not getting a self-tanner, but she went about it the wrong way. Instead of being helpful, she insulted me.

But in the end, she ended up selling me this "tan enhancing lotion", AKA oil spray with tiny bronze glittery sparkles that gives my skin a nice glow. 

So now my porcelain skin will sparkle in the light...just like the Cullens.  I'm going for the vampire-sexy look tomorrow night. So fierce.