I have an interview tomorrow that I'm supposed to dress in "business casual attire" for. What does that mean? That phrase has never applied to my life before.

Nice slacks/skirt, nice top, and a jacket or sweater that goes with but is not the same fabric as the slacks/skirt. It's how I dress most of the time for work: my office is really very casual.

Today is our holiday party. I'm not enthusiastic about it, since I have no idea whether I'll still be here in two months, but I'm making the effort. I made chocolate-chip cookies for the White Elephant game, and just bought a Starbucks card to sweeten the pot.

Jessica, how about this?

Tempting, if it weren't for the 7 blocks crosstown!

I can put something pretty good along those lines together, thanks, Consuela!

For a "business casual" interview, I'd probably wear a non-matching jacket and skirt (or actually, I'd wear this one jacket over that one dress, if the weather were good enough, but that's my closet), but you people should know by now I love to dress up for an interview!

I just emailed my cousin to let her know she's the secondary beneficiary on a life insurance policy I just bought. It was the weirdest thing, trying to figure out who to put after my mother! Hashtag single/no kids problems.

Now that my nephew is over 18 I've started making him the beneficiary of my life insurance. Not that it's a lot of money, but I figure he could use it. My funeral expenses are all pre-paid, so no one needs it for that.

The job is with an inventory taking service, so I'm thinking a skirt may go too far from looking like I'm okay with crawling around store rooms counting things (which I am, I kind of enjoy that sort of thing). For future reference, a jacket over a dress is more casual than a suit, I guess?

For future reference, a jacket over a dress is more casual than a suit, I guess?

Yeah, depending on the material/cut. A cardigan over a dress is certainly more casual than a suit. But there are suit sets which are dresses that come with a matching jacket, as well.

What Suela said.

The job is with an inventory taking service, so I'm thinking a skirt may go too far from looking like I'm okay with crawling around store rooms counting things

Oh yeah, if it's not a suit-y type job, I'd ratchet down how I'm thinking of "business casual."

business casual in my office is khakis and a polo shirt, but I would never wear that to an interview. Slacks with a cotton blouse and a cardigan.

I had two musical thoughts coming in to work today.

1) Touch of Grey should be re-arranged with strings as an Adele-style power anthem.

2) I feel strongly that Leon Redbone or someone who sounds like that needs to do a cover of Criminal.