My littlest sister, Brynna, just turned 21 this week. Happy Birthday, Bryn! She's in town this weekend to celebrate with her Seattle friends and family. She's staying with me and wants the two of us to go out for drinks. I just don't think I'm ready to hit the bars with my baby sister. Gulp. I guess it could be okay if we keep it relatively low key, but if I end up somewhere like Club Medusa, I will not be happy.

I adore spending time with B, as she is smart, generous, fun, and kind, but we have very different styles when it comes to appearance. She is petite, thin, glamorous and very Christina Aguilera, while I am...not. When she shows up at my apartment, she usually gives me a once over with a critical eye, then starts digging around determinedly in her bag full of hoochie mama clothes. She insists I try something on and typically emerges with a garment that is:

A. See through/looks like lingerie (from Frederick's of Hollywood, not VS)
B. Incredibly form-fitting or too short
C. Cut with cleavage down to the belly button, or
D. A size three

I think we all know that I haven't seen a size three since around age 8.

These fashion exchanges often lead to sisterly conflict and scufuffling (Me: Errr. This won't ever work. B: Just try it. Come on!), as do the instances I let her apply my make-up and end up with eyelids coated in liner and glitter. In fact, we don't do that anymore. Once I had to wear sunglasses an entire evening out, because I didn't have time to wash off her "artistic applications" before running out the door. Wearing sunglasses while you're sitting on the deck of a bar sipping cocktails in the sun is perfectly normal. Wearing sunglasses outside while enjoying cocktails after the sun has dipped below the horizon is freakish. That was the end of that.

Today, however, Brynna pulled out a very cute sweater and tank top combo (that actually fits!) from her suitcase, and I'm now feeling like a hot mama with new style. No staring at myself in the mirror with dismay or amusement, which shows she can get it right. Way to go, B!