Makeover

I get a makeover tomorrow!

My friend Jessica, who has worked in the fashion industry for several years, is going to survey my wardrobe and then take me shopping to infuse some style into my life.

I've always struggled in finding the knowledge and patience to dress well, so I'm excited to receive help from a professional.

Now that I'm a mom, I need outfits that are machine-washable and easy to throw together. I find myself wearing jeans and Predators t-shirts more often than not, with the occasional workout pants thrown in. I have a couple of cute outfits, but they generally have baby drool on them after a couple of hours; then I'm back to jeans and t-shirts until laundry day.

I do have several nice pairs of pants and jackets that are dry clean only -- right, like those will see the light of day in the next five years.

I am a little nervous about the makeover. I don't weigh what I would like to weigh right now, and buying clothes in my current size means admitting to myself that I'm not as healthy as I would like to be. I think that vulnerability and honesty is only going to help me be more confident in my clothing choices. If I'm feeling brave, I may post "before" and "after" photos for my fashion adventure. Wish me luck!

Dear Inventors,

I would like an alarm clock that taps into my sleep patterns and wakes me after a perfect interval of sleep.

Say I want to nap for about 30 minutes. Perhaps I am open to sleeping for as little as 20 minutes or as much as 45 minutes, depending on what would help me feel most rested. I want an alarm clock that can read my mind and wake me up at that optimal point of rest.

An added bonus feature would be a soothing yet firm voice that speaks whenever I hit the snooze button, reminding me that the extra 20 minutes of sleep in 5-minute increments really doesn't count as extra rest.

I would like all this for under $50, please.

Geniuses, get to work!

To Be Known

I was very, very excited to discover The Introvert's Corner, a new column by Sophia Dembling on Psychology Today's website.

I doubt I would have bothered to read anything from Psychology Today if I hadn't noticed a link posted by a Twitter friend. "The inside scoop on your introvert friends" was such an accurate portrayal of my life that I knew had found a kindred spirit in Dembling.

Of course the terms introvert and extrovert are widely known, and much has been written and debated about them. But this particular column has helped me feel not quite so crazy here in my little introvert cave. Yes, there are others like me, so much so that we get our own column!

So if you are an introvert and you want to be reminded you aren't (necessarily) a crazy hermit, or if you are an extrovert and you want to know why your introvert friends never answer the phone, check out The Introvert's Corner.