We all know we shouldn’t go to work when we’re sick. But whether you’re a presidential candidate or have a more typical career, most of us do it anyway. (Note: Here I’m referring to the average Corporette reader with full-time benefits; the millions of Americans without paid sick leave don’t have much choice about whether to stay home and rest.) … Read More about 6 Things to Have on Hand When You’re Sick at Work
Making Time for Therapy
Reader C has a great question about work/life balance — and keeping a standing therapy appointment without being perceived as lazy. I can’t wait to hear the readers’ tips on making time for therapy! Here’s her question: Hi! I’m a newer BigLaw associate. The stress of the job has caused my mental health to take … Read More about Making Time for Therapy
Beauty Wednesday: Serums, Sunscreen, and Retinoids
Ladies, what is your skin routine? At what age did you get serious about skincare? What are your favorite products, both over-the-counter and prescription, whether for anti-aging, anti-wrinkles, exfoliating, or something else? I’ve seen a lot of readers talking recently about serums, sunscreens, retinoids and more, so let’s discuss. I’m curious to hear what everyone else is … Read More about Beauty Wednesday: Serums, Sunscreen, and Retinoids
7 Tips to Help You Hire a Personal Trainer
Have you ever tried to hire a personal trainer? Did you find it was a good experience, a mediocre one, or a bad one? Do you have any tips for others on how to hire a personal trainer and get the best experience possible?
Women, Drinking, and Overachieving
Ladies: how do you feel about drinking? Do you think overachieving women tend to drink more? We haven’t talked about this for a while, but it’s been on my mind with various news articles I’ve seen, and with the holidays coming up I thought we’d discuss. (I don’t want to totally rehash my thoughts from our … Read More about Women, Drinking, and Overachieving
Sniff Sniff: How to Prevent Stinky Shoes
What are the best practices to avoiding stinky shoes? How do you destink your shoes once they’re already funky? Reader K has a delicate question regarding smelly shoes:
I need advice on how to keep my shoes from developing a bad odor. I wear hose 90% of the time with my dress work shoes, and they develop a foul odor within just a few weeks of wear. I have tried odor eaters without success, old pantyhose filled with baking soda, rotating my shoes to never wear them two days in a row – nothing works. I haven’t normally had smelly shoes or feet, but now that I am in a professional environment and wear dress shoes instead of socks/sneakers, I can’t get a handle on this. I don’t notice the smell when my shoes are on, but when I take them off at home, look out. I am afraid that it will keep getting worse and my feet will smell all the time!
Interesting. We’ve talked about delicate issues such as body odor, sweaty feet in pumps, what to do when drycleaning doesn’t remove smells, and general shoe care for women, but I don’t believe we’ve talked about stinky shoes. Reader K herself mentioned some of the other oft-cited advice, but I might stress a few things:
- Give your shoes at least a day off — it lets the leather dry out.
- Products like Silver Linings have insoles “infused with antimicrobial silver ions for women who wear shoes without socks.” (They’re available at Amazon, but here’s the product page for more behind the technology.)
- Look into ventilated shoes, like Geox — they’re designed to let air circulate better. They’re sold at the usual spots (Zappos, 6pm, Amazon, Nordstrom), but here’s a link to their product page about the technology behind the shoes.
- Avoid plastic shoes that don’t breathe at all.
- Try the freezer — put your shoes in a ziplock bag, then stick them in the freezer for 24-48 hours. (This is also supposedly a great way to defunk your expensive denim.)
- Wear socks. Trouser socks, knee-high pantyhose, even shoe liners all exist for exactly this purpose. I tend to prefer toe liners when they don’t interrupt the line of the shoe. Here’s a link to our older discussion on what hose to wear with pumps (if any).
Here’s an extensive thread on Reddit with more tips for battling smelly feet; Mashable also has some advice.
Ladies, have you had to deal with stinky shoes? What are your best practices for avoiding funk, and then your best suggestions for destinking your shoes?
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The Best Towels
Which are the best towels? What factors should matter? Last month we talked about the best sheets for the home — and today we’re looking at the best towels. Reader K wonders… Hi Kat, again, love your blog. I am curious as to whether you and the readers have found THE BEST towels. I am ready to do this … Read More about The Best Towels
Tips for Whitening Teeth and Nails
What are the best products and practices for whitening nails and teeth? Reader L wonders…
Beauty Wednesday: Moisturizers for Dry Winter Skin
I thought my dry skin last year was pregnancy-related, but I’m finding that I really do need extra moisture on my face. I haven’t yet taken the plunge on something serious like La Mer in part because I really like my affordable Burt’s Bee’s option. It’s 99% natural, moisturizes with “Royal Jelly,” which Amazon describes … Read More about Beauty Wednesday: Moisturizers for Dry Winter Skin
The Next Step: Services
What are the best ways to upgrade personal services such as massages, food delivery, personal training, and more? More importantly, where is the middle ground between DIYing it and, for example, hiring a personal chef? How can you outsource and save time in some areas of your life so that you can focus on spending your time (and money) on the … Read More about The Next Step: Services
Beauty Wednesday: Laser Hair Removal
I’ve shared my experiences with laser hair removal — let’s hear from you guys! Those of you who had your hair removed more recently than I did, what was the experience like? How much did you pay? Has anyone tried the newer devices for removing hair at home? Reader C wonders: I would love to … Read More about Beauty Wednesday: Laser Hair Removal
How to Deal with Breast Reduction Questions from Coworkers
Reader D wonders: how do you deal with breast reduction questions from coworkers?