So yesterday, I went to the LensCrafters on 45th and 5th Avenue and had a lovely experience. First, I saw an optician, who took my latest prescription. She had a few fun new tricks up her sleeve, including a way of seeing my eyeball without dilating my eye.* She actually showed it to me on … Read More about Sponsored Post: My AccuFit LensCrafters Experience
Archives for July 2011
Open Thread: What’s Your Favorite Pen?
When I was a kid, I loooooved going back to school shopping. New pens! New folders! All that crisp, white, lined paper… It seemed like everything had possibility and promise. (Yes, I was a dork.) These days, I still love getting new supplies, but it seems like too many of them let me down — I’ve literally thrown about 5 different brands of pens across the room because they work inconsistently, or stop working. And a good pen is really important. To be clear, all I want is something that I can pick up from my pencil cup or my desk, and use it without for something simple like signing my name or writing a brief note, WITHOUT having to scribble somewhere else to make sure the ink is flowing. Is that really too much to ask? (Let’s not even get into something more arduous, like taking notes for an extended period or writing a letter… sigh.)
So I thought we’d have an open thread: what is your favorite pen? (Pictured: Ball point pens by Caran d’Ache, available at Plastica for $23 — they also seem to be available at Amazon for a bit cheaper, though. Hat tip to Daily Candy.)
My favorite used to be the Pilot Precise V7 Fine Point Blue Rolling Ball. I liked the bright blue color (more royal than navy, but still “plain blue ink”), I liked that you could buy them in bulk for a reasonable price, and I liked that you could see how much ink is left. Maybe it’s just my bad luck, but it seems like every pen in the last pack I got was a dud.
Next, I really really liked the DIVOGA retractable gel pens, which I received for review from the company — they wrote fantastically, beautifully smooth, AND they looked pretty? Sign me up. Perhaps my ink supply is getting low on all of my pens, but it seems like I spend half my time drawing circles on scratch paper, trying to get a steady flow of ink — but it seems a bit suspicious that all 3 died at once.
I’ve had inconsistent luck with the Pilot G2 (but it’s currently my go-to pen that I keep in my purse). I also was really excited to try the Sharpie Liquid Mechanical Pencils, which promised to write like a mechanical pencil but turn to a permanent ink after 24 hours — and found that it just works like every erasable pen I’ve tried (which is to say, poorly).
So readers: what are your favorite pens? Which brands do you swear by?
Wednesday’s TPS Report: Side-pleat dress
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Banana Republic seems to have a ton of cute dresses right now, including this simple cotton sheath dress (available in “moss,” pictured, a light “purple petal,” and a black). Love the gathered pleats to give it fit, love that it’s … Read More about Wednesday’s TPS Report: Side-pleat dress
Business Cards for Everybody!
Reader H wonders whether students should get business cards… A couple weeks ago, you did a post about stationery and handwritten notes. In the run-up to OCI, I’m wondering if I should order business cards. Many law schools offer student business cards but I personally think the branding is sort of tacky and would much … Read More about Business Cards for Everybody!
Tuesday’s TPS Report: Shoulder Ruffle Belted Dress
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. I really like this dress from BOSS Black — it has the brand’s classic, simple lines, high quality, and so forth. The only minor thing is the ruffle detail — there’s a “shoulder ruffle visible from the back.” Is it … Read More about Tuesday’s TPS Report: Shoulder Ruffle Belted Dress
Coffee Break – Pixel Scarf
Zappos has some great Marc by Marc Joseph scarves on sale today, including this fun grey/black/white number. I like that it’s abstract but kind of striped, and I think it would be a great accessory for a lot of outfits. It was $58, now marked to $46.40 at Zappos. Marc by Marc Jacobs – Pixel … Read More about Coffee Break – Pixel Scarf
The Hunt: Beige Pumps on Sale
2019 Update: We still love this roundup of beige pumps on sale, but you may want to check out our 2019 roundup of stylish skin-tone pumps for work — as well as our general guide to wardrobe essentials for work! Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, … Read More about The Hunt: Beige Pumps on Sale
Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Belted Stretch Crepe Jacket
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Looooove this sophisticated stretch crepe jacket from Donna Karan. It looks cozy but authoritative at the same time — not to mention flattering. I’d either wear it with all black, or else I’d have fun with colorblocking — perhaps wearing … Read More about Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Belted Stretch Crepe Jacket
Weekend Open Thread
Something on your mind? Chat about it here. Zappos seems to have a ton of Stuart Weitzman shoes on sale today, some for truly great discounts. Take these boots, for example — I was hesitant about the “over the knee” trend at first, but I’ve finally come around to the opinion that the look really … Read More about Weekend Open Thread
Weekly News Update
Liking these posts? Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale through our CorporetteDeals Twitter feed.) – The New Yorker has a nice profile of Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. Meanwhile, The WSJ reports … Read More about Weekly News Update
Sponsored Post: I’m a LensCrafters Ambassador (Just in Time for Their Best Sale of the Year!)
So even though I normally wear contacts for photos/videos I take for the blog, the truth of the matter is that I’m in glasses a lot of the time. This is, in part, due to some complications I had with my eyes a few years ago (which we really should talk about on the blog … Read More about Sponsored Post: I’m a LensCrafters Ambassador (Just in Time for Their Best Sale of the Year!)
Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Odette Knit Dress
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Happy Friday! I’m liking this knit dress from Target’s Merona Collection — a straight skirt, a flattering V-neck, and a “tumble dry low” care instruction? Sign me up. I’d wear it with a navy blazer for the office. The dress … Read More about Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Odette Knit Dress