What's on your Bucket List?

I don't know about you, but the holiday season always brings forth a boat-load of emotions not felt on a normal, non-November/December day. Not only are these feeling bubbling up and overflowing from my eyeballs, I'll often feel differing emotions at the same time. For example, I can be utterly content as I peer into the decorated windows at Lord and Taylor or Macy's, while feeling completely melancholy, yet excited at the exact. same. time. One minute I am happily decorating my tree, excited as I shop for the perfect Christmas Eve outfit (this year it's a black, wool tulip skirt, and short-sleeved green and black silk shirt with my classy, wedge motorcyclish type black boots), wistful as I remember all of the Christmas Eve dinners we spent with my Poppy who is now deceased, and sad just thinking that I am single during the holiday season for the second year in a row.

So feeling all of this, plus much more, has prompted me to revisit my Bucket List. I mean, I am examining my life via my emotions right now anyway, so why not check out the "Things to do Before I Die" list and see if I can cross off anything.

So here it is. Brie's Bucket List. The things I've done are in black - other ambitions are in white. I know some of these items are not exactly, ummm, I guess the word is moral (i.e. Have an affair), but I think they will all help build character and support my goal of having an interesting life.

So, I ask you, WHAT'S ON YOUR LIST?

Yet another reason I don't eat meat

This fish is fried, yet still alive! I have a pretty strong stomach when it comes to the grotesque, but this almost had me running down the hall to the ladies' room.

Josh Baskin would love this

Would you take the stairs?

How to dress like a guy, but look like a girl

Dude-inspired clothing and accessories for women is definitely hot right now. From boyfriend jeans and military jackets, to stealing a white tee from your main squeeze, all that smells like after shave is gold.

What they (magazine editors and the Rachel Bilson's of the world) do not tell you is that wearing clothing originally designed for men can, in fact, make you look, well, manly. Since we are not all cut from the same paper as Miranda Kerr and Jen Aniston and don't have personal stylists, we can look dowdy in our hip and trendy plaid shirts and converse sneaks.

Here a few tips to help you still look like a sexy woman when dressing like a man:
1. Don't go all man. Wear your boyfriend jeans with sexy pumps or throw on a boyfriend blazer with fitted, low v-neck t-shirt and funky necklace.
2. Yes, this style is lose-fitting. But it's not baggy. You shouldn't look like you are swimming in clothes. If you are, don’t wear the piece or find a great way to fit the clothes to your body. For example, if your man's plaid flannel tee is a large and you're more like a small, roll up the sleeves and throw on a skinny belt, some sexy legging, thigh high, flat, black boots, mascara and shimmery lip gloss. Oh, and don't forget to brush your hair. The look is "hipster chic", not "I need a shower".
3. Be confident about what you're wearing and don't let the look wear you.
4. If you're not sure about the "boyfriend" look, then ease into it. Buy one male-inspired piece at time and, for the love of Michael Kors, don't wear all your dude items at once (see number 1).
5. Follow your fashion instincts. If you think you're going a bit over the top, you probably are.
6. Don't forget to wear some make-up. Wearing your man's clothes isn't an excuse to not touch up your already lovely face. Go ahead and wear pink lip gloss when you're donning the military jacket. And please, (as I said in number 2) don't forget to brush your hair.
7. Accessories will save you from going full on dude. Invest in a great, long necklace, some geode earrings and a big, jade ring - and wear the hell out of them.

This look is all about the balance between masculine and feminine - balance is the operative word. Here are some suggested pieces that I think work deliciously well together: