Weekend Open Thread: Tuckernuck
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
These Tuckernuck heels made me smile — they have such a joyful vibe!
If you tend to wear a lot of neutrals in the summer (black, white, neutral), these won't be a stretch to wear at all — you could also obviously wear them with one of the colors in the rainbow-colored raffia (probably pink, but try them with orange, red, and blue also).
Not a fan of the colors? They also come in black.
The shoes are $265 at Tuckernuck, available in sizes 6-11.
Sales of note for 6/12:
- Another Tomorrow – Seasonal sale, 50% off select styles
- Ann Taylor – Last day 6/12: Extra 60% off sale! Readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Athleta – 40% off tees, dresses, tanks, linen, and swim
- AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
- Bare Necessities – Semi-annual sale, up to 60% off, plus get an additional 40% off clearance swim. Readers have sung the praises of these cooling pajamas and their bra-sized swimwear
- Boden – 15% off new women's wear styles with code
- Glossier – 20-25% off almost everything (including subscriptions!)
- J.Crew – 50% off tops, dresses, skirts and more
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 20% off 3+ styles
- Jenni Kayne – Semi-annual warehouse sale
- Loft – 50% off everything + free shipping
- M.M.LaFleur– This weekend only, 25% off jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom – 6900+ new markdowns added – nice selection from Boss, Vince, Veronica Beard, Theory, Beyond Yoga, and Zella
- Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new arrivals up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work basics from Calvin Klein and dresses from Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Talbots – Tons of markdowns, extra 60% off 2+, 50% off one
Thanks. For the posters who can never find good belts, Talbots has a bunch of belts on sale that drop down to under $30 when you toss them into your cart.
Good to know! I am badly in need.
ME! Thank you!
What would you do?
I’m mid-40s and single, no kids, and I own a 1 BR 1 BA condo in a nice residential urban neighborhood in a major city. Think like 45-50 min on the train from downtown. Mortgage and HOAs all in is just under $1500. I have a 2.5% mortgage with 10 years left on it from refinancing during the pandemic. I make just under $200K, so this feels very affordable to me, and it’s nice to have the cash flow. However, I have plenty saved so it’s not absolutely necessary.
The condo itself is fine for me, if not very fancy. Still has a 90s kitchen and bathroom that I never renovated because I didn’t really think I’d be here this long. Now I’m torn about what to do.
I find myself craving a slightly nicer place, but more importantly, being closer to the action. My neighborhood, while very nice, is kind of sleepy and family-focused. I genuinely feel like there is just no single energy here at all and it kind of gets me down. I travel often for work and stay in downtown urban areas, and I find I get a lot of energy from the sense of possibility in those neighborhoods.
The current housing market in my city is INSANE, with places going for well over asking price and all cash offers. This feels really stressful to me, especially since I don’t have to move. I’d also have to get rid of my amazing mortgage rate for a much higher one.
So I feel stuck. It would be a lot of effort and money up front to leave, and I keep worrying it wouldn’t be worth it. On the other hand, what am I going to do, just stay here forever? I don’t see rates or the market changing much any time soon.
But investing in upgrading my BR and BA in this condo also feels like not the best option. Is it really worth it to sink money into a place I won’t be in forever?
I don’t know what to do and would appreciate any advice!
I’m in a similar boat, and here’s what I’m doing:
– small cosmetic fixes to my current place that won’t break the bank, but will increase my enjoyment and the resale value (replaced the backsplash and had my cabinets painted, upgraded the vanity in my bathroom, wall paint).
– started looking more seriously at neighborhoods that I think I’d like and what places are on the market to help determine what may be in my budget
– I’ve also been visiting the neighborhoods that look good on paper – going to the restaurants, farmers market, taking walks to see what the commercial streets feel like
I’ve narrowed my list down to a couple of neighborhoods that seem to fit the bill, and I think I’m ready to gt pre-approved and start looking with an agent that hopefully knows both my current neighborhood and the ones I’m looking in.
I’m not sure if I’ll find something that feels “worth it” right away – but I wanted to explore the options more fully. If I find something that feels like a good fit (not perfect, because nothing ever is!), I’ll move.
If you have time couldn’t you just start looking at places? I think once you see the realities of what it looks like in June 2026 you may a) decide now isn’t the right time, or at least b) start to get clear on what your unicorn home is. I wouldn’t engage a broker to come with you though, just try to do it casually yourself.
Are you sure that places are still going that fast for well over asking? The housing market has really slowed down this year in a lot of places, though that’s certainly location specific and also varies for condos vs SFH and different price ranges. If you think you’d really be happier living in a more urban location, I think it’s at least worth taking a serious look at the market in your location and really running the numbers to see what the cost difference would be, which would allow you to make a better decision about whether the lifestyle upgrade is worth it.
If I were you, I would move. We’ll probably never see mortgage rates in the 2s or 3s again and you don’t want to be stuck somewhere that makes you somewhat unhappy just because it’s a lower rate, especially when your cashflow and savings are good. In my VHCOL area, 1-2 bedroom condos can still be had for decent prices because most people want larger spaces, so if you plan to keep a similar size, you might be able to find some deals.
I’d stay and renovate and redecorate. Watch a couple of old love it or list it episodes as proof of concept for renovating and decorating. I’m 50 so I’ll just say you couldn’t pay me to go to one of the younger, hipper neighborhoods at this stage of life either, ymmv but I bet you end up liking where you are more as time goes on.
I would too. I’d calculate the current sale price per square foot in the building and use that to decide how much I’m willing to spend on changes.
A neighborhood I envied in my city really took off with nightlife, including rooftop bars. The noise is insane for residents. Their patios and balconies are all but unusable, and the noise is troublesome inside. I’m not jealous any more because that neighborhood that used to be just pleasantly lively before the change is now a nightmare for residents. I’ll take quiet at my place and a little travel to the fun any day over even the possibility of that happening.
I’m generally quite frugal and also hate all of the logistics of real estate and moving, but my gut says moving would be right and worth it for you.
Can you calculate the cost of monthly payments in a new place and put that full amount aside each month to make sure you really are comfortable with it while you decide what you want to do?
Personally, we have almost paid off our mortgage on our starter home. We bought two decades ago, the local market had a brief dip during the GFC but has been wildly hot otherwise with no signs of slowing down. So instead of staying here for a few years and then relocating, we have made peace with this being our forever home. We refinanced at 3% about 10 years ago and our monthly payments are ~$800, including insurance and taxes. The financial freedom and lack of stress about retirement costs this affords us are amazing.
What do you want out of being where the action is? Is it just the ability to go out on weeknights without a long train ride home? Or something else about the lifestyle? I get that you want something different, but your housing costs are SO LOW that it’s worth dialing in a little more on exactly what you’re looking for, and throw some money at it in the short term. Would you consider renting a small studio in your desired neighborhood, or give yourself the freedom to get a hotel room/airbnb several nights a month when you want to do something downtown? You may ultimately decide to move, but it’s such an expensive decision that it’s worth a trial run to be sure.
I’d also put some energy into refreshing your current space, even just new art or paint colors on the walls and fresh linens and throw pillows.
You’re anon – can you talk about your actual city so you get better advice? Like, being in an “urban neighborhood” and yet nearly an hour from downtown is kind of confusing.
Urban neighborhood plus an hour from downtown in my mind is either Hamilton commuting into Toronto, or in the vicinity of San Francisco.
Chicago, far north side.
oh gotcha. but aren’t some of those neighborhoods really chichi? might be worth it to see how much you could get for your place as part of the assessment. part of the reason we sold a few years ago was because our place had appreciated way past our enjoyment of it — why pay to live in a dump when you can sell it and profit 6 figures?
i’m maybe just thinking evanston and wilmette though!
I’m in Chicago, and I’d move if I were you! The energy in the closer-in neighborhoods is so different from the far north side. As a single person, I’d be much happier in Andersonville than in Rogers Park or Ravenswood. Your income seems quite comfortable to afford almost double what you’re paying monthly. It seems like the Chicago housing market is still hotter than wage increases, so it’s not going to get more affordable in the near future. You could look into a short-term bridge loan if you need to increase your down payment.
If you have 10 years left on your mortgage and such low monthly expenses (at your salary), I might throw extra money at the mortgage to see if I could pay it off sooner. Being able to upgrade with all the cash from the sale will help offset whatever you lose out on with higher mortgage rates.
This is bad advice. Throwing extra cash at a 2.5% mortgage is nuts. Sure, use that extra cash to fund a move down the line. But in the meantime, invest it (even conservatively). Ultimately, you’ll come out far ahead of using it to payoff a 2.5% loan. It’s basic math.
+1 to 3:53. Round up if it’s easier but your money will make more in the market than it will paying off the mortgage.
+1, our mortgage is at 3% and even CDs are easy to find to beat that rate by a point or so.
I would start exploring the idea! Start saving cash, spend your weekends visiting neighborhoods and causally checking out listings, hire a realtor. There’s no pressure to move so you can look around and see if there’s anything you fall in love with. Or maybe you realize what you really love is travel and you want to keep your large travel budget or or or.
Why not rent your current place for a year and you rent a place in your desired neighborhood? At the end of the year, you’ll either be dying to go back to your place, or can put it on the market without a second thought.
What are everyone’s favorites self-tanning products? Is there anything I can use to make my pale legs look a little bit better without stinking up the house? merci!
I just bought a bottle of Tanologist (or Tanology?) at the supermarket and I was surprised to find that I really like it. It has no real smell, certainly not an unpleasant one, the color is subtle on my blindingly-pale-from-winter legs (but probably would build if I applied it more frquently), and it goes on smoothly without streaks. Highly recommend.
I am in my mid 40s and can’t believe I have not figured this out yet. I love time off work but mostly spend it on house projects, yardwork, hobbies, or errands.
What do you all do on vacation? Not where do you go, but what do you do once you get there? How do you fill your time?
It took me until my early 30s to figure out that I do not enjoy vacations where the plan is “veg the whole time” or “just relax.” I strongly, strongly prefer and feel much more rejuvenated after active vacations. When we travel to cities, we do tours and try whatever cool regional things are on offer (whether it’s museums or what have you) and when we do adventure trips, usually whitewater rafting, we’re rafting all day and hiking, swimming, or playing games in the evening. I particularly love being active all morning and afternoon and then relaxing back at the hotel in the evening.
I respect that other people love to go to a resort and chill by the pool or go to a cabin and just read a book but that’s not for me and that’s OK! Figure out what works best for you – do you like early starts? Do you like the ocean? Does the thought of a planned itinerary make you excited or stressed?
Oh, and one thing I will add is that I also strongly believe that vacations are worth taking with my kid. We’re limited by budget right now, which is fine, but we have to tune out all the negative “it’s just parenting in a different place” or “they won’t remember it anyway” messaging that people seem to feel oddly compelled to say all the time. As my husband says, “at least it’s a different place” and as I say, my own enjoyment and memories matter too.
Exploring museums and historic sites, rambling walks or hikes, long lunches, a nice dinner, a cooking class, a food tour, stopping in any store that looks interesting, reading a book over an afternoon beer at a local winery or brewery, ice cream and coffee breaks, going for a run, dropping into a local yoga studio, booking a ghost tour, seeing a show, watching a sporting event…
What are your hobbies? It can be fun to try those out in new locations.
I have found that I like to have a few anchor events planned, with some downtime built in. I like being just scheduled enough to have a rough plan for the day. I have learned that I do not enjoy having too much activity with no time to recover, though.
In my mind, there are two types of appealing things-you-do-on-vacation, and any particular trip can have a mix of both!
1 is “see something new” : this is just being in a place that is interesting because it’s different. If you go on vacation to see/experience something you can’t see/do at home, that’s a type 1 activity: example – there’s cool stuff at the British Museum I can’t see anywhere else (even though I can “go to a museum”) for fun.
Sometimes, especially in international trips, the “regular daily life” stuff is fun in this way too – like stopping at 7-11 for a snack in Japan is *fun* because it’s new and interesting, when picking out snacks at home is just an errand.
And type 2 is doing more hours per day of recreational stuff you already think you’d enjoy – like if you enjoy swimming in the ocean and hanging out at the beach, maybe that’s what you want to do on vacation (or skiing or playing golf or what have you). Depending on where you live and what you want to do, this could be a staycation or require travel.
If you’re planning vacations and then not sure what to do when you get there, maybe plan an activity (go to X museum, take a surf class, go on a city walking etc) for half the days & leave the other half open for adhoc and see if that’s the right balance?
Someone on this site, years ago, wrote that there are three types of trips: Travel, Leisure, and Family. You can combine two of them in a trip, but if you try to combine all three you’ll make yourself miserable. The framing has been extremely helpful as DH and I make plans.
Travel is seeing the sites, somewhere new, and active.
Leisure is having a relaxing schedule, maybe you’ve booked things like a spa day or a round of golf, but the point is to enjoy the time, not to see things.
Family is spending time with loved ones (friends included), and the destination is secondary.
We tend to do one Travel trip a year and one Leisure trip a year. Sometimes we combine Leisure with Family and sometimes we just go visit Family separately.
Have you gone through your mid-life marathon phase? Running friends and I like to book holidays around races, food tourism and going on (unexpectedly) educational tours.
depends on the trip! I get bored at giant resort vacations where you aren’t really leaving your insular property, but not the kind of trip where you pick a community/island, rent a car, and visit different areas throughout your stay. Otherwise also snorkeling, reading, maybe a boat excursion, trying local foods, etc.
for Europe we tend to have a way more relaxed pace than some. We often combine city time, where we have probably 2 maximum main ‘museum / church’ things each day and otherwise go on purposeful walks / bike rides / long meals, with coastal or countryside time. So we get a mix of city sightseeing and just enjoying new-to-us scenery and foooooood. Like, Rome & Amalfi Coast or Athens & an island or Paris & Loire chateau, etc.
For me it, it depends on the trip.
My family has been going to the same beach for 35+ years. What I like about that is, I don’t feel the pressure to See! All! The! Things!. If I want to lay by the beach all day and read, that’s great. Maybe I will go browse the cute downtown or a new restaurant, that’s fine too.
If we go to a new-to-us location, I do want to explore. It is all driven by WHERE we are going, but those are the on-the-go trips.
Do you miss the Southwest free seating or prefer the assigned seating? I strongly prefer the assigned seating and am enjoying watching a coworker work himself up over how he thinks I’m wrong, ha.
I miss the old days of Southwest. Flights every thirty minutes or so out of Love so I could easily change my flight based on meetings and never cared about my seat on an hour long flight.
Hi fellow Dallasite!
I like the assigned seating but only because I have a list preferred and get to sit up front and what not every time i fly.
I disliked the open seating given the amount of drama and gamesmanship involved.