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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. I’m not usually a fan of Kasper, but Macy’s has a ton of affordable, cute sheath dresses from Kasper right now, so do consider the brand if you’re looking to build your wardrobe. This polka dot sheath dress looks very cute — I like the neckline and the straps, and how it’s just a very simple sheath dress. In addition to the print, it comes in pink. There’s also a neon/honeydew sheath dress that caught my eye — it’s kind of crazy, but fun, too. The pictured dress is $52 on sale, but promo code FOURTH brings it down to $45. Dot-Print Sheath Dress Here’s an option in plus sizes, also at Macy’s and also on sale. This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.Workwear sales of note for 5.2.24
Our favorites are in bold!
- Nordstrom – 30% off selected shoes and beauty for a limited time!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann event, 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Spend your Stylecash with 40-60% off everything, or take an extra 20% off purchase. Ends 5/6
- Brooks Brothers – Up to 70% off clearance
- Boden – 10% off full-price styles
- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles, and up to 50% off everything else
- Everlane – Under $100 cult faves
- J.Crew – Extra 30% off sale
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, plus an extra 20% off orders $125+
- Lo & Sons – Mother’s Day Sale, up to 40% off
- M.M.LaFleur – 100s of styles on sale, including classic shoes!
- Talbots – 40% off one item — and 30% off everything else
- White House Black Market – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Brooklinen – Anniversary Sale, 25% off
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Stay tuned for a list of our latest threadjacks!
Hair
I need help braiding my own hair. I just want to do a simple, basic braid down the back (not off to the side) and I can technically do it, but it usually takes me multiple tries because it’s either not tight enough or the hair leading down to the braid gets all lumpy and messed up. I also have trouble finishing the braid without my arms getting tired. My hair is below shoulder-length and very thick, and I’ve been having a hard time finding good videos on how to do this because apparently basic braids are very easy for everyone else in the world. Tips?
Lilliet
You may hate me for this, but practice, practice, practice. That’s what will make you better at it and build your endurance for completing the braid. When I was learning to braid my hair, I would practice while in front of the TV. If you can do one, even if not executed the way you want, it doesn’t sound like you need video tutorial, just practice. My hair is about the same as yours, so this is what I do: *Slightly dampen my hair (wet my brush or spritz with a spray bottle), hold all three working pieces in one hand (without losing their order), brush/comb through working pieces AND the hair that is not in the braid yet, pull in the new pieces for the sides (sometimes comb them up to smooth them out), rotate the working pieces**, repeat from * to ** until finished.
Anonymous
+1 to practice. Assuming you mean a French braid, where you pick up pieces from the side of the head and work them in as you go. I spent the bus ride in middle school braiding my own.
mascot
In high school, I taught myself how to do all sorts of braids using the Klutz Braids and Bows book. This was pre-YouTube of course, but the diagrams made it easy to visualize what was going on. There may be a more updated book out there. And +1 to lots of practice.
MNF
+1 YES – me too! I’d totally forgotten, but I can picture it so clearly now!
Aunt Jamesina
Was that the one with the bow-making kit? My favorite babysitter ever got me that and I was OBSESSED with that book. Not sure my hairstyling skills have improved since 1995, however.
Cookbooks
I loved those Klutz books! I still have a copy of the Braids book floating around at my parent’s house. That’s how I learned to French braid.
January
I have that book too! Or my parents have it, technically. It has a pretty good step-by-step to French braiding your own hair. I decided to learn how to do this when I was studying for the bar exam because, you know, distractions.
Anon
Oh, I loved those books!!
Spirograph
I loved Braids and Bows so much as a kid. Fishtail braids! inside out french braids! I still remember doing an awesome french braid on a doll’s hair with help from the book and proudly showing it to my mom, and she said, “yeah, I can do one that intricate on DOLL HAIR too, you and [sister] move.”
Anon
Haha! You are having trouble finding a video because they are NOT easy– at least not the centered, sturdy braids that will last all day in thick hair. +1 to practice.
You don’t mention whether you are trying for a french braid or a plait that starts at your neck. If a low, simple braid, try cheating by putting a rubber band at the top for awhile. If a french braid, try taking smaller sections at a time and leaning back to let gravity help you.
Anon
Once you get the braid halfway done, bring it to the front of your body with your arms down. As long as you’ve done the top tight enough, it won’t pull it off center and your arms can rest.
Make sure your hands are close to your head as well – this is key to keeping things smooth and not all loose.
Scarlett
So I took a hair braiding workshop a few years ago and the tip I found most helpful was to braid inside out (sometimes called a Dutch braid) and to pull tightly while braiding and the smooth and fix and style after the braid is in place. Personally, I think they should be a little messy/ not totally perfect for an adult look, so you may be closer than you think.
Torin
+1 Dutch braids stay in place better. I also like the way they look better.
If you’re not trying to do a Dutch or French braid that gathers the hair from your head as you go, and are instead trying to braid starting at the base of your skull, I would put your hair in a tight, low ponytail first. That’ll keep the braid centered.
C
Brush the sections back and into place along your head as you go. I think this is the method Lilliet is referring to above with her instructions. Especially if you’re doing a french braid, you frequently have to use a brush to kind of combine the section you’re pulling in with the rest of the braid so it doesn’t create a lump. I find that a narrow bristle brush works well for this, although it takes practice to do it while holding the rest of the hair with your other hand.
C
Interesting note- I learned to french braid my own hair without a mirror from my college roommate. She french braided my hair frequently (best roommate ever, seriously!) and when I wanted to learn, she said the best way was to do it by feel, not by sight. To teach me, she guided my hands through the process of braiding my hair while narrating what she was doing. Like, she actually held onto my hands and handed me pieces of hair and said stuff like “now you’re crossing this over and holding it between these two fingers on the other side” while she did it. So if you happen to have an amazing, talented friend like this it’s definitely the best way to learn :)
Gail the Goldfish
+1 for not using a mirror. I find it easier to not look in a mirror and just do it by feel. With french braids, you can usually comb at the end to smooth things out without messing it up. Inside-outs are also easier.
Laura B
No advice, but with you on the braiding goals. One of my bucket list items is to learn to french braid my own hair, and also to learn how to fish tail braid. I know practice is the key, but my arms get tired too and then frustrated and then I forget to practice again. Maybe I’ll do a “one braid every day” challenge in July. I’m only half kidding. :)
Anonymous
Thank you for posting this; I thought it was just me.
Sage
Practice on not just-washed hair.
Katie
+1 – braids will hold better on hair that’s not squeaky clean. Second day hair is best.
Mpls
Eh – I don’t know if this is universally true. My dirty hair has a tendency to slip out of braids more. It’s smoother, so probably looks nicer, but because it’s smoother (from the oil my scalp produces), it also doesn’t hold as well.
If you really want it to stay put, braid while still damp. It’ll just take forever for you hair to dry.
Anonymous
Yeah, my hair is so straight that it just gets slippery when it’s not freshly washed / oily. Depends on your hair type.
Hair
Thanks all – this is helpful!
Anon
I found Dutch braids easier to learn. After I mastered that, I started learning how to French braid.
Cookbooks
I hear this a lot. I picked up French braiding fairly easily, but Dutch braids always trip me up. I can’t get a handle on the crossing under thing.
C
I think it depends on which way you learned to regular braid. I braid by crossing over, so Dutch braids were hard for me to learn because I had never braided anything under. Other people I know learned to braid by crossing under or they naturally switch back and forth, so Dutch braids are easier for them.
Anonymous
I can French braid on myself but on other people, my hand placement results in Dutch braids on them. And as a person with braiding skills, I regularly did hair in the morning outside of my locker in high school for a Diet Coke — word gets around and our high school sports rules wouldn’t let you have metal clips in your hair to hold it back, so just braids and pony tails. My daughters really do not value this skill (maybe later).
Aussie Academic
There are some great YouTube tutorials- check out Torrin Paige and Ladollyvita33 for help if you are a visual learner! Yes, a lot of it is practice, but I also found it helpful to see different handholds. And there are lots of different braids that may be worth a try. It’s much easier to do a French/Dutch lace braid with a portion of your hair, and this can be a good way to build up technique and arm strength for doing a full braid. And there are lots of fun styles!
Horseback riding costs
I’m the poster from the other day who asked about getting back into horseback riding as an adult. Thank you so much to everyone who responded! I have a follow-up question about expected costs; can any riders here give me an idea of what they spend (or would expect to spend) for once-weekly lessons plus start-up costs? I can use my old riding boots, at least to start, but I would need a new helmet, breeches, and probably other items I’m not remembering. If things go well, I’d like to explore opportunities for half-leases and such, but for now, I’d just like an idea of how much to expect to pay to get this hobby going again. I admit the thought of high start-up costs is a little daunting, even though I *think* I’ll get sucked back into it. I would also appreciate recommendations for where to find lightly used gear – do tack shops often do this? TIA!
Ellen
Rosa told me it is VERY expensive to maintain horses in Bedford. Ed bought her a 1/3 share in a horse up there, and he is ALWAYS compleaining about the boarding costs. Rosa DOES go there at least once a week, when the kids are in school for riding.
As for the OP, since Rosa owns 1/3 of the horse, she does NOT have to pay for riding lessons, but Dad told me that when we were kids on LI, he paid $100 per session for us to learn how to ride horses. The sessions lasted about 1 hour, and that was 20 years ago, so I am NOT sure where you live and how much it would cost you to learn how to ride.
Dad also bought us all matching riding outfits b/c he wanted us to look British! Can you imagine? He has pictures of us on the wall in the playroom. Rosa looked much cuter then I did. Even then, I had a tuchus, as Dad always points out when we are downstairs. FOOEY! He says I get that from Grandma Trudy! So what? Grandma Trudy is mom’s mom and she is very smart also! YAY!!!
IslandGal
Good for you for getting back into riding! I miss riding also. As for the costs, it depends on how fancy you want to get (just like with any shopping). You’ll need polo shirts, gloves, and socks also.
Check out dover saddlery, they usually have good sales. There’s another online store I used to shop, but it’s been so long and I can’t recall the name. I prefer to buy higher end brands bc they last longer and are more comfy, especially with the breeches.
CountC
Stateline Tack? SmarkPak also has pretty good prices these days.
Equestrian lawyer
So I’m in Canada, but I paid $45 dollars per lesson at a nice-ish large stable in my metro area. I think there was a discount for buying ten lessons at a time. I now pay 100$ per month for a half-lease (2x a week) plus 25$ for a private or semi-private lesson once a month at a small family-run stable.
I paid about 120$ for a new, decent but not fancy helmet, and got breeches on sale for about $50 each. I’ve owned my boots forever and can’t remember what they cost, and I wear regular t-shirts and sweatshirts but own a riding jacket for the winter (I think it was about $80?). You can find used gear on craiglist or facebook groups for equestrians in your area. My tack shop doesn’t sell used, but they have semi-annual sales with great deals – that’s when I stock up. I you plan on showing, you will need nicer stuff and have more expenses.
IslandGal
Those prices sound amazing for the lesson and half lease. In Miami, it’s $75 for a private lesson (30-45 mins depending on location). Those places don’t even have a covered arena (which is why I haven’t gone back to riding since I moved here. It’s too hot and without a lighted and/or covered arena they’re limited with the lesson times).
Equestrian Lawyer
I really lucked out with my half-lease – it’s a tiny stable and the horse is pretty green so they were having trouble finding someone. But yes, my area is definitely cheaper than most US cities, which is consolation for the fact I make half what my US colleagues do…
IslandGal
On the plus side, I hear Canada’s health coverage is amazing. I’m sure you see the mess we’re in over here.
CountC
Oh man, this is a loaded question (loaded with $$$$)!!
You can do this on a budget if you do not care about current trends. While the helmets that are considered okay to show in run around $300 on the low end (I just replaced mine), you can get an ASTM approved Troxel schooling helmet for $25 at Dover. You also do not need show breeches for this, which means you can get a pair of schooling breeches for under $50 no problem. Get a neutral color and you will not look out of place – tan is safe. You don’t necessarily need a polo shirt depending on your barn – I ride in tees, tanks, and some of the specialty “cool” shirts at my barn and it is an A show barn. As long as your top is neat and fitted so that your instructor can see your position, you should be fine. I get my tall “boot” socks off the clearance rack at Target for $3, so no fancy boot socks required either.
I would suggest you grab a cheap pair of gloves while you are at it (also available at Dover for around $15 I would imagine).
A helmet, breeches, and gloves will get you started since you have your own boots already. That you can do for around $100 if you go with the options above or similar ones.
I ride in half chaps and paddock boots, which could be the next step in apparel for you depending on how comfortable your boots are or how long you want them to last. I only wear my tall boots at horse shows, and pretty much everyone in my barn rides in half chaps year round. Personal preference though!
As for lessons, I think we are around $55/hr for group and $65/hr for private? I just pay the bills, I don’t actually pay attention to the hourly anymore (same barn/trainer for 8 years). This is in Central PA and I think it’s a steal for the quality of training. This is with my own horse though, so lessons on school horses could be more?
Very excited for you!!
Anonymous
OMG — someone actually uses chaps as chaps! I spent way too much time in the W Village in the 90s to think of them as being used for their intended purpose :)
CountC
BAHAHAHAH. Non-horse friends like to make the are they a$$less chaps joke, to which I retort, they are all a$$less!!
Never too many shoes...
I have always been perplexed by that phrase…
Anonymous
I was in the suburbs at a very casual stable and cheap AF but I wore jeans with half chaps and paddock boots for years. I wore proper jodhpurs when I was younger and at a fancier barn but didn’t feel they were worth it later. Gloves would definitely be worth it though, and depending on your barn you may want to purchase your own crop.
As far as other clothes, I would just wear casual athletic-type clothing – t-shirts, windbreakers, fleeces, sweatshirts, that kind of thing. But I’m sure there are places where this isn’t true… it’s very much know your stable.
Never too many shoes...
All I hear in my head is “is this bridle professional?”.
I may spend too much time here.
Horseback riding costs
Thanks for the responses so far! I used to have my own gloves, crop, and special riding gear bag, but my mom stole them when she picked up riding. She’s still with it 15 years later so maybe there’s hope for me restarting as an adult!
lsg
I’m in DC (house in Northern VA) and ride in Leesburg, VA. I think I have a pretty good deal–school horse, ride 1x/week for $60/lesson (so long as I pay for 8 lesson blocks). Lessons are private and generally an hour or a little more. My trainer has more horses than she knows what to do with, so if I lived closer, I could ride on my own for no extra cost (would help with grooming, cleaning up the barn, etc in trade). We have a local saddlery that I’m trying to help support when I can, but Dover generally has better deals when they have sales.
Anonymous
Oh man, I’m contemplating moving back to the DMV in the next year or so and this sounds like a dream.
CountC
I am so curious who you ride with!! The horse world is so small, for better or for worse.
lsg
Lantern Lane Farm–the owner is Debbie Craig (though in the next couple of weeks the barn is moving to Haymarket (Aldie, really).
Anonymous
If you are looking for lightly used gear, there’s a Facebook group called English Tack Trader that has lots of gear for sale and you’d probably get a good response rate to an in search of posting. If you’re looking to order gear online, SmartPak has free shipping for orders over $75 and does free exchanges for sized items. Several people from my barn like their Piper branded breeches, which are pretty affordable and frequently go on sale. Your best bet for half chaps is probably to find a local tack shop where they can help you find the right size. Many tack shops also offer a getting started package that will get you boots, half chaps, and a helmet for a decent price.
Costs for lessons and half leases will depend on your city and the barn you ultimately choose. In my mid-sized Midwest city, lessons are usually in the $40-$75 range. Half lease costs can vary widely. I had a great situation where I just paid half of board and then any lessons I wanted, but this was definitely a rare situation. Most half leases I’ve seen charge a rate that’s a bit more than half of board but includes a lesson each week and the half lease fee covers farrier and vet expenses.
Gail the Goldfish
Lesson prices are very location-dependent, but generally I see between $40-80. See if your area has an equestrian-focused facebook group. We have one in my town that people will post used items for sale, and there’s also a big used tack sale some group hosts every year at our fairgrounds, so you might find something similar.
Boston Biotech
Most trainers, especially if they have a lesson program, list their rates online or on facebook or will tell you in a quick phone call. Browse SmartPak for a sense of the gear startup cost, but agree w/ the above that helmet is the only major cost item.
Anon
I think you said you were in the East Bay – there’s a used tack store somewhere in Pleasanton I think. I got my helmet there when I first got back into riding. (Ok, probably not great to get a used helmet as you don’t know if it’s been crashed in, but I was a poor student.)
WeightGainWardrobe
I’ve recently come to accept the fact that the 10lbs I’ve gained cannot be contained by my current work wardrobe, so I’ve been searching for some cheaper clothing to tide me over for the next month as I work to get back to my “happy” weight. Thought I would share some of the items that have worked for me recently in case you’re looking for a cheap wardobe fix too.
J Crew FactoryLghtweight Wool Skirt and Jacket- This was just featured on this ste. Jacket was a perfect fit in my normal Ann Taylor size, and I picked it up for around $70. Material is a little scratchy, but for a cheap suit, it will do. However, the skirt in my current Ann Taylor size wouldn’t even zip over my hips- it is super straight. I’m going to return it and try two sizes up.
Worthington Elbow Sleeve Fit and Flare – Picked this up online with a couple of coupons, so the cost was about $20. Sweater material is a little thin (will wear with Spanx and a slip), but the cut is really flattering and the modest v and sleeves make it great for business casual work days. Runs a little large. The coral color is more orange-y than I might like, but a nice summer office dress. http://www.jcpenney.com/p/worthington-elbow-sleeve-fit-flare-dress/ppr5007160620?pTmplType=regular&catId=cat100210008&deptId=dept20000013&urlState=/g/worthington-womens-dresses-red/N-bwo3xD1nnujcZ7zZ135
Liz Claiborne Short Sleeve Sheeth Dress – Also purchased online for around $25 with stackable coupons. The color is a true, rich red, and while this ste seems to think that’s no longer an “in” color, will work in my office. Not lined (will probably need a slip), but the seaming detail is really nice. Runs TTS. http://www.jcpenney.com/p/liz-claiborne-short-sleeve-sheath-dress/ppr5007205489?pTmplType=regular&catId=cat100210008&deptId=dept20000013&urlState=/g/liz-claiborne-womens-dresses-red/N-bwo3xD1nnujcZ68Z135&productGridView=large
Casper Clone
Thanks for these! I’ve had good luck recently with the Liz Claiborne short sleeved blouses from Penneys – yes, polyester, but wear like iron, washable/dryable, and only ~ $15 with sales/coupons. (I wait for the $10/$25 which comes every few weeks.) Simple patterns and solids – great under blazers. For me they run about one size larger than Ann Taylor.
Katie
This is very location-specific, but if you’re in the DC metro area, the Talbots Clearance Store in Springfield, VA is a phenomenal place to get quality and work appropriate pieces at a great price. It’s even less expensive than their outlet stores, and can be a real gold mine if you hit it at the right time. It has been very helpful to me at times when my weight has fluctuated, and whenever my mother visits me, she always asks to go there as well!
Mac
I’ve lived here for a few years and had no idea the Talbots was there – thank you for the recommendation! If you’re in the area frequently, the butcher shop across the street is amazing.
Katie
Probably too late for you to see this, but I’m presuming you mean Springfield Butcher? If so, then yes, I’ve been, and yes, it’s fantastic! I should go more often than I do.
As is always the case with Talbots, some of the selection is quite matronly, but some of it is unexpectedly great. I was in last week and overheard a clerk saying that they were expecting a big batch of new inventory in 2 weeks or so. So… maybe give it another week to see the best selection? It’s my shopping secret weapon and a huge part of why I’m able to “dress above my pay grade”.
WeightGainWardrobe
Ahh the clearance store near me closed a few years ago – I miss it! It was the best place to pick up jackets/blazers. I would wait for their “everything in the store is $19.99” and go wild. It looks like they still have clearance stores in Illinois and Massachusets (in addition to Springfield): https://www.talbots.com/online/landing/landingPage.jsp?landingPage=outlet_listing
Anonymous
Fun question – what’s your dream job now that you’ve been in the working world for a while? Doesn’t matter if you’re qualified for it or not – what would you do if you could do anything? Besides the obvious things like traveling and not working at all.
AttiredAttorney
Become a baker/own a bakery…except I’m not a morning person so the baked goods wouldn’t be ready until noon :)
Or to be the CEO of a large nonprofit, where I could blend advocacy, grant making, and community partnership development.
ponte python's flying circus
I wouldn’t mind a bakery where the baked goods don’t sell out till 8pm, just saying!! :)
BigLaw
We have a bakery that is open late just for the starch/sugar needs of bar patrons. After a couple of growlers, one just needs a maple-bacon donut.
So Anon
That sounds like my ideal bakery. Fresh baked goods when I roll out of bed on the weekend rather than “Oh, you should have gotten here when we opened six hours ago?” Yes, please. Someone should do this.
anon associate
Florist!
I love love love love arraigning flowers, and actually think I’m pretty good at it. Alas, I have a black thumb and per my 401K can retire about 5 minutes before I die, so.
Fishie
Side hustle?
Clementine
I would love to be an exercise instructor. I used to coach and loved loved loved it. I’d really enjoy teaching spin classes or cardio blast or zumba with a touch of consulting on the side.
I’ll also admit that I am one who has never wanted to be a SAHM, but more and more I keep thinking about how fun my kid is and how I wish I saw him more.
Jen
I would actually be some kind of daycare overhauler. I’ve seen so many mediocre daycares, and picked up a ton of awesome things they do. I’d never want to own/run a big chain, but could go in and do consulting on how to make more $, keep parents happy, etc.
And/or I want to create some kind of Uber for the suburban kid activity problem. One exists, but I’d never use it. My vision is like a carpool but where you deserve your kid a spot in the car (of someone you know). Takes out the steps of calling/figuring out who has a similar schedule. If this exists let me know and I will give them all my money.
marketingchic
Some type of Volunteer Spot type site for carpooling would be awesome! The summer activities in the suburbs where I live start at 9:00 and end at 4:00 – if you’re lucky. It makes me rage-y. The only hurdle might be car seats and booster seats for the littler kids.
Thisperson1
The daycare overhauler job sounds amazing. Can I join you?
CPA Lady
I’ve always joked that my backup job would be to be a florist. I’m sure it’s physically difficult, and you’re always working on holidays and with people at the most emotional times in their lives, which sounds hard. But you get to spend all day every day surrounded by flowers!!
Anonymous
My mom was a part-time florist for years. You’re right, it’s physically demanding and incredibly stressful during holiday times. We’d ask her what she wanted for Mother’s Day, and her reply was, “A day in bed, uninterrupted!” But her floral arrangements were truly works of art.
Anonymous
Independently wealthy travel blogger. Food critic. Beauty product reviewer.
Shopaholic
I would love to be a beauty product reviewer.
Also, a stylist or a namer of lipsticks and nail polishes.
Cornellian
I’d like to write the back of wine bottles, just for sh*ts and giggles. “A voluptuous feel…”
those things are hilarious.
anon
I’ve always wanted to name nail polish! I heard once that OPI sends their people to the various places they use for their names.
Anonymous
I’ve always wanted to be a subdivision street-namer.
No more “Misty Morning Lane” or my favorite: “Lane Place Drive” (seriously — which is it — a lane, a place, or a drive???)
Lane Place Drive is in Williamsburg, VA, of all places
anon
Re subdivision street namer- a friend works in RE development and got to choose names for streets in a development- They were named after the friend’s kids.
Anonymous
The naming streets after kids thing is awful — I don’t want to live on Kristi Court. Double so with the cutesy spelling. Give me trees or plants or presidents or even a neighborhood of dead kennedys, but not “Ashli Dawn Place” or “Madison Lane”. They just all scream the date they were built (hi, lots of track houses with dented alumnimum siding and wiring to redo, move along) and seem very dated, very quickly.
I always liked Arlington County VA (even though it must lead the country in noncontiguous streets) b/c of its naming conventions (Arizona is the one four-syllable street name).
blueberries
I love Arlington, but the street naming is bananas! So many many roads with the same name that don’t connect and aren’t even that close!
Suburban
Can’t resist this tangent: my friends and I lust after addresses in older fancy neighborhoods where the street is named for an animal. Skunk hill road, anyone?
anon
I want to name craft beer and crayon colors.
My favorite street name is “Solid Hollow Road” in NC.
Anon
Arlington VA street names — Columbia (pike) is at least one more w 4 syllables.
Anonymous
But that’s a Pike. The street names go alphabetically starting with the single syllable ones, then two, then three, then Arizona.
But I used to live in a highrise of courthouse (like a million other people) and the stree disppeared sometimes, then reappeared again on the other side of Lee Highway, then back in between there and Clarendon, then vanished, then there was a “south” version of the street below Route 50. But yes, you can’t go up or down a named street in Arlington in a straight line (probably the same with numbered streets, but I was always on ones with names).
Anonymous
I would love to be a Park Naturalist/Educator at one of the National Parks out West. I live in a Great Plains state and dearly miss hiking in the mountains and desert. I also love teaching and creating interactive experiences for students. Not sure how I ended up in a student program coordinator job at a med school….
CountC
My sister and her husband are NPS Park Rangers out west! They love it, despite their current fear of losing funding/their jobs.
Anonymous
Don’t you at least have prairie dogs? They are so much more awesome than squirrels.
Anonymous
Yes, but they’re a good hour and a half away from our city. :(
Anonymous
If it weren’t for my husband and dog, I’d love to be a National Park ranger.
Not that Anne, the other Anne
I would also love to be an NPS employee/park ranger. I’ve even got some background that would help me. Unfortunately, those jobs were nearly impossible to get even before the administration changed.
Maybe someday when I retire I’ll become an NPS volunteer.
Senior Attorney
I just got back from a week-long vacation with somebody who used to be a park ranger. It was great! Like having our own built-in tour guide!
Anon
Are you me??? There’s a naturalist certification program in my state that I plan to do when I retire…if I ever retire.
Laura B
Owner of a wellness retreat in a warm location near a big fishing lake. Yoga, body training, life coaching, fishing, fishing guiding, clean eating cafe – all set amidst beautiful gardens and a pool and tiny private cottages with amazingly comfortable beds. Hosting yoga retreats, yoga teacher trainings, couple yoga/fishing retreats, wellness retreats, etc.
Basically, a place where my husband and I can both pursue and share our passions, and everyone is comfortable.
And the most exciting part of this dream is that my husband and I are quitting our jobs at the end of this year and moving to Florida to do it. I can.not.wait. Seriously I think about it about every other minute.
Swiss Miss
That’s awesome!
Anonymous
I remember some of your previous posts. Congrats! I’m happy for you.
Sage
Woah! That’s amazing! Please give us details once you’re up and running.
brokentoe
Please keep us posted – would love to vacation there!
Laura B
Thanks everyone! I can’t believe some of you remember my posts :). As an update, we’re still with the family business until the end of the year, but it’s a lot more bearable now that a) we have a solid plan/dream for the future and we’re actively implementing it and b) we’re getting to share that we’re leaving more broadly with more people. Everything is lining up. We put our house up for sale a couple weeks ago, and multiple showings within a couple days, two offers in five days, and an accepted offer within one week of it being listed. We’re talking rural small town here! Total sign that we’re doing exactly what we need to be doing.
Even though the wait/this preparation was agonizingly long (and truthfully, still is sometimes), it was truly for the best. While we’ve been “waiting”, we’ve had so many good things happen: I became a yoga teacher and have been teaching and developing my teaching skills, my husband got a new fishing boat (essential for big tournaments and guiding), we’ve had a ton of personal development (lots of podcasts and good books, reading a lot about law of attraction, manifestation, happiness, etc.), established a daily meditation practice, our eating habits are way better (starting the dolce diet next week – anyone ever do it? I’m ridiculously excited), my husband has lost 30+ pounds and is on his last 15, and we’re more active than ever. A lot of days we still have a hard time coming to work because of the environment/situation, but since I’ve owned the decision to stay this long (which was some tough love from this site on one of my posts from last year) we’ve been fully living in all other aspects and creating the life we want to have, right now right here. I feel so much more spiritually connected, present and grateful then ever.
So for those of you who hate your jobs, I feel you! Make a plan to get out, and then if you have to wait start owning the other parts of your life fully. At least you’ll have something interesting to think about at work when you’re avoiding x, y, z.
Scarlett
WOW! That’s so amazing. Please post any links to this once you get it up and running!
Two Cents
This is really amazing and I wish you the very best of luck!
anonanonanon
Sell stuff on a home shopping network “The great thing about this purse is, you can wear it either with the zipper closed, if you’re on the go!, OR you can leave it unzipped for a more casual look and easy access! such a versatile bag!”
ugh I love the silly things they say
Anonymous
Our city has a lot of local car dealerships buying half-hour slots on saturday mornings and having people drive all of their specials past a camera and doing the same thing
“this would be great for when junior wants to go fishing”
It is strangely hypnotic.
Anon
My dad watches these like they’re actual TV shows! Drives my mom nuts!!
Anonymous
Not just your dad
Delta Dawn
I had a roommate in college who used to turn on QVC every morning as if it were the news. I’m still annoyed about it.
October
Ha QVC is the best soothing background noise. So mesmerizing. HSN doesn’t come close.
Sus
Interior designer. I can spend hours looking for and evaluating different shades of tile, flooring, curtains, rugs. I love figuring out what style someone is and what their rooms should look like.
Anonymous
So far, you may have the one viable job. Is there a reason not to pursue? My neighbor is like this (and I would pay him to fix my house), but he has a career that is probably more $ and more predictable.
nutella
This is also what I would do. I still want to pursue it someday when we are more stable – right now we are newly weds, hoping to buy a home soon and start a family someday, and I’d like to do that with a steady paycheck.
nutella
And what I really tell people (even though it is near impossible, much like the Broadway star below) is Supreme Court Justice. I am a SCOTUS and con law junkie. I always wanted to be a judge, and I would like deciding big issues and thinking through complex problems into my old age. AND DUH, appointment for life, 4.5-month vacation, and four clerks!
Anonymous
And that vacay is often “teach a class at Oxbridge for a few hours a day”. Their working vacay is not my working vacay, sadly.
Torin
This comment might be a little cranky, but I don’t have a dream job. The dream is to have enough money to not work. At best my “dream job” would be just my current job + 2 more months of vacation (I currently get 3 weeks). To me a job pays the bills. I don’t see what would be dreamy about it.
anon
Isn’t there something you like doing? Something that, if it were your job, would be “dreamy?”
Torin
Sure, I have lots of hobbies, but if someone was paying me to do those things then they would be an obligation. Also the person paying me would have some say in how I did them. Those two things would suck the joy out of them for me.
CountC
I completely understand this and would say that I lean this way as well. That said, I was unemployed by choice for several months and was bored out of my MIND.
Assuming that money is not an issue, I would like to do something fitness related – perhaps a running coach, personal trainer, and be a race director on the side (stressful, but I love event planning and I would love to be able to offer runners a great race). I’d also like to run a small letterpress shop, making cards and stationery, although I would not want to get into the wedding game (see if money is not an issue).
Torin
True, if I retired completely because money wasn’t an issue I might get bored and want some form of employment just to occupy my time. Animal shelter volunteer? Yoga instructor? Get involved in various organizations that take care of the crags I climb at? Maybe all of those. But I wouldn’t care if I got paid to do those things, if money wasn’t an issue.
Delta Dawn
Novelist, painter, interior decorator/organizer… I sometimes semi-regret not attempting reality show fame when I was a little younger and using it as a springboard to become a travel blogger or maybe a beauty blogger.
Legal Cancuk
College instructor would be my dream job. I have taught some courses in the past and love being in the classroom (working towards that goal)
Anonymous
You wouldn’t even have to go to the trouble of being a bl0gger. Most reality stars develop a huge social media following and then get lots of comped travel, clothes, beauty products and pretty much anything else they want. As a (relatively small-time) bl0gger, I can assure you companies care way more about how many Insta followers you have than your actual webs1te (which is frustrating for real bl0ggers!).
Never too many shoes...
As lame as this sounds, my dream job is honestly to be a litigator. Which is my actual job. I guess if I were to wish big it would be for less things to settle and for more things to go to trial…
Anonymous
My dream job is about half of my current job (and I’d be willing to take a 50% pay cut). Or if I could job share and someone else take the 5-midnight shift.
Me too
Me too. I’m an appellate litigator and it’s my dream job, both in terms of the intellectual challenge and the hours/flexibility. Maybe the only thing better would to be paid more than the GS scale but I really can’t complain even about that.
Ms B
Broadway star. Totes not even ever realistically possible, but nice to dream about.
Actually, though, I have started thinking about this in real life and am considering therapist (with an LPT certification), librarian (especially a reference librarian), nonprofit management, and a couple other things. But how to decide? Or even to figure out whether any of these are viable and would be sufficiently gratifying (intellectually and emotionally) to go through the work to make a career change?
C
As someone with 6 years of library experience currently working towards an MLIS, I hate it when people say “Oh I’d love to be a librarian!” because they frequently mean “I like reading and libraries are such nice places!” They envision themselves helping a retired couple find the best cookbooks and reading to a group of quiet, adoring children at storytime. These people are always surprised when I tell them I have to go to grad school to get a job with the title of Librarian.
Rant aside, if you actually want to be a real librarian, I think it’s a great idea! Reference librarians have one of the hardest jobs, but it sounds like you might enjoy some of the customer service elements of the job, which is always a necessary skill. Remember that you’ll need a lot of tech skills and a Master’s degree to get a decent position, but despite my negative assumptions about people who want to be “librarians,” I’m always excited to hear someone is interested in the field!
trefoil
+1
Anon
So, so true! I am an academic librarian with more than 25 years of experience. The most fun I had as a “reference librarian” was being a specialist (music and art) at a large public library before I hit academia. Now, I wear many hats. I do reference (in many many different ways, mostly not in person), teach classes, buy materials, manage budgets, manage people, manage course reserves, try to save students money, and work extensively with technology and systems. Working with students is the most fun parts of it, but I love the variety. That said, these jobs are really hard to get!
Midwestern Consitituent
As someone with a library science degree, let me warn you that you are not likely to get a Reference Librarian gig. To get the title of librarian, most places are going to require that you have a Master of Library Science degree, which takes 2 years to get, going to school full-time. Then, you have to find a library job, and those aren’t easy to get, especially in high-population areas. Then, if you get the degree, and the job, you won’t be doing much in the way of digging up articles and books for eager researchers. I worked a reference desk as a student employee during my first year of grad school. The most common question was, “Where’s the bathroom?” followed by “How to I get to [location]?” Even when I worked as a librarian, it was dealing with lots of upset people: why do I have to pay the fine, why can’t I have food in the study room, make the teenagers be quiet. Plus, I had to do the budgeting, select books for the board of trustees to approve before I could order them, and play tech support to 15 computers and the photocopier. When I did reference work, it was amazing, but that was maybe 5% of what I did.
And now I’m a data analyst, I work regular office hours, and I have a weekend retail gig that keeps my social skills in shape. It’s not the dream job, but I’m not miserable anymore, so I’ll take it. I still look at library jobs, but I seldom apply, and have only gotten one interview.
Ms B
Thanks for the responses. I anticipate that there will at least some additional education required for whatever field I pick; I already have figured out that I can get an MLS from my state university through a combination of classes at the local campus in the system and on-line. The tuition costs would be about $16K, depending upon scholarships, etc.
In terms of the job itself, I spend a lot of time now solving people’s problems, so this would just be in a different way. I already deal with my law partners asking me to handle the copier when the staff is not around (pro tip: hooked tip forceps are your friend) and difficult people (see: lawyers), so that would not be new, and I would like to improve my tech skills.
What I would like from the job would be less delayed gratification (again, compare with law, which is all delayed gratification all the time), the ability to be around books (with the understanding that is just part of the gig) and the ability to go home at night without taking work home. I have considered trying to get onto the local library board to see more and that is a realistic possibility in the next year.
Mary the Librarian
I don’t know if you want to get away entirely from the legal field, but if you’ve already got an in, I’d look at getting your MLIS and going into legal librarianship. Specialization is often useful in the library field. My first gig out of library school was law library assistant (and then my boss had a baby and quit, so I got to be the librarian without the title or the payraise. Woo.) Legal research was one of the more interesting parts of the gig, and if I had legal experience already, I suspect I might have actually been able to get decent pay.
anon
Doctor. I really think I would have liked it now that I see the day to day.
As an aside, pretty sure I thought lawyer was a lot closer to doctor when I went into this profession!
Green Hat
I want to be an advice columnist.
Senior Attorney
Yes! I’ve been reading this thread thinking “these are all fine but none of them (except maybe “Broadway star”) really floats my boat. But yes… advice columnist for the win!!
Never too many shoes...
With respect, SA, you kind of already do that job for many of us here…
C
+1 and we <3 it!
Anonymous
+1 M
A-nonnynonny
I think I’d like to be an NP who works in a derm office, injecting botox 9-5. There’s some creativity/art involved, which I think I could be good at, a lot of detail-oriented work, and you’re interacting with people in a positive way. When I interact with people in my current job (in-house counsel), it’s because they’re doing something they shouldn’t be; they see legal as a roadblock, and that’s been tough for me.
Yesterday, a very senior member of the business unit said to me, “We’ve been breaking the law for more than a decade, why should I change now?” On my drive home I thought about how much it would cost to go back to school…
Wow
I find it so interesting that you would consider injecting botox as a dream job. I think it would be my version of a nightmare, to see all of these upper crust ladies who already have way too much work done to be getting botox on top of that. Certainly not all patients are like that but many are, and that impossible quest for perpetual youth would be incredibly depressing for me.
A-nonnynonny
A lot of women on this s*te get botox; I can’t imagine you’d say the same about them. I don’t live in LA, but even if I did, I think your comment is a pretty big overgeneralization.
But regardless of the clientele composition, I’d take huffy, upper crust, extra-botoxed ladies over my current clients! In my extremely limited country club experience, the former group is at least friendly.
Anonymous
Ha I may have researched this myself in the past, though I’d be partial to injectibles (juvederm, etc) more than botox. I think there’s more aesthetic nuance. I found that NPs need doctor supervision to do any of it, so it’s not very easy to get a job without an MD.
AZCPA
I would make historical clothing – for Ren Faires, movies, etc. I do make some now, but only as a small hobby.
DC Anon
Chief of Staff. Different president obviously.
CountC
I just thought of another one – writer for Garden & Gun.
Senior Attorney
I didn’t know about this magazine until yesterday and now I am obsessed.
CountC
Isn’t it great? It is the only magazine that I get in hard copy!
Two Cents
Makeup artist. I’ve always been obsessed with makeup and when I go to a bookstore I immediately head over to that section and read up on makeup.
Helping women in need with a “makeover”, complete with new hairstyle, clothes, makeup, etc. I actually used to do this when I worked at a non-profit and we helped low income women trying to get back into the workforce with a new look to land them interviews. I loved that job.
Cookbooks
Either (1) a marine biologist. That’s what I wanted to be as a kid. Or more specifically a cetologist. I loved whales. Still do. Or…
(2) The person who decides which animals show up in animal crackers. They’re mostly boring. I want to see crocodile, or a wolverine. Or you know, a whale!
ponte python's flying circus
To piggyback off your (2), a jewelry designer (if I had any artistic skills and money was not an issue). There really aren’t enough baubles inspired by ankylosaurs, ichthyosaurs or sea anemones…
anonjrassociate
This 100% outs me, but I have a long-held dream that my favorite band will realize they really could use an on-staff lawyer, I casually drop what I do into conversation, they hire me on the spot and I move out to the LCOL area they live in, pay off my student loans, and we all go to barbecues at each other’s houses. They run their own label and manage events, merchandising, distribution, etc. themselves, so I imagine there’s plenty of legal work, and just about all of it would be in my wheelhouse (commercial contracts, IP licensing).
….not that I’ve seriously thought about it at all.
Anonymous
Always wanted to do clinical research or epidemiology, and could not. But am now doing a Ph.D. that is somewhat along these lines.
When I finish (soon – I hope) I want to travel with some concrete goals in mind. Still thinking about how to support this financially.
In a dream world, become a historical (this is intended, not a misprint for hysterical. I don’t know what the correct term is) dancer, join a group that hires out as extras on movie sets! Medieval stories, Viennese waltzes…..
Blind as a bat
Best method you’ve found for keeping 5-7 daily contact lens organized? My new ones don’t fit in a pill box. Bonus points if I wouldn’t have to mark R and L on each day’s pack…
anon
Look at plastic snack containers. They come in all sizes and with dividers.
Jen
Not sure what you mean. Mine come in strips. I used to mark L and R but I’ve been using them so long I know my R is the stronger Rx. I just keep a box in a drawer in the bathroom. When I travel I bring a strip (5) of each.
Blind as a bat
The strips kind of annoy me, but as the week goes on I end up with 1 or 2 tiny bits, especially if the strips break apart.
And I’m too blind to read the Rx without my contacts ;).
Cornellian
I run a black marker down my right contact strips when I get them. I am also way too farsighted to read without my glasses/contacts.
OP
Brilliant!!! Why didn’t I think of that! So much easier than marking both with letters.
Never too many shoes...
What about breaking them all apart at the start and putting them in different coloured containers for left and right?
DC
For the D.C. ladies, how do you find out about fun things going on in the city? I know there are lots of interesting festivals, activites, exhibits, etc. in this area but I don’t know how to find out about them. Are there website or email lists that tell people what’s going on every weekend? I’m feeling left out… Thanks for any suggestions!
ollie
I read PoPville and DCist. DCist has lists every week of different events going on in town. PoPville is more of a neighborhood blog, but also includes upcoming local events.
Katie
+1 to both of these. I live in Arlington and ARLNow, while not most entertaining blog, also has some useful info.
KM
I follow freeindc on Twitter and also check the Events calendar on Facebook. WaPo also has its Going Out Guide I find helpful. I also feel like I miss fun things though!
Anonymous
I think someone else has asked this in the past, but here is my list:
– Washington Post’s Going Out Guide, Food Section, and Washington Post Express (IMO it’s worth paying an online subscription fee for their Food Section alone)
– Washingtonian Magazine (in print or online)
– Brightest Young Things newsletter/weekend agendas – veers towards the younger set (early 20s), but BYT also does host a lot of parties
– Smithsonian after 8
– Thrillist DC
– sometimes Groupon or LivingSocial for festivals
– Yelp’s DC Event pages
Anonymous
The Washingtonian also has an email list, they send out twice-per-week emails with things to do each week, and each weekend.
anon a mouse
Gregslistdc is a good source for events too, and I find it less overwhelming than some other sites.
Kim
City calendars of events. WaPo. DCist.
Anon
After several miserable years as an attorney, I’m finally starting a new job in compliance at a financial institution in Manhattan! I’m a bit nervous to make this transition both in terms of work clothes and how to handle such a corporate environment. The law firms I worked in were incredibly casual. I’m planning to wear skirt suits for the first 2-3 days and see what everyone else wears. Any tips or suggestions, things you would have done differently for the first few weeks of s new job?
Cornellian
I would get systems set up for notetaking and filing of emails/documents. It’s so hard to do that retroactively.
buffybot
This may seem a bit odd, but try hard to learn the organizational structure — starting with the business lines you support and your department and then expanding outward. I find financial institutions to be far, far more hierarchical and “siloed” than law firms, and that translates into serious office politics. At my law firm, there was a serious ethos of “do whatever is asked of you, even if you’ve never done it before” — and at least at the bank I work at, overstepping your mandate is a sure way to get yourself in trouble, either because you’ll set up expectations that you won’t be able to maintain in the long run due to limited resources or because the person who IS responsible for that task will not appreciate you taking away their work.
They’re also just so much bigger than half the battle to getting anything done is knowing who is responsible for what. That takes time to learn, but it really helps to pay attention to those things.
Torin
+1 to learning the organizational structure and a huge part of the learning curve just being learning who is responsible for what
This was hard for me to learn moving in-house because my company is both siloed and not especially well organized. Know that learning how your organization works will take time, way more time than you think. I’ve been here 3 years and when situations I haven’t encountered before crop up I still have to run around trying to figure out who is even supposed to be responsible for listening to my legal advice and making managerial decisions based on it.
Anonymous
A find – for me at least. I have always hankered after a jump suit – but all I saw seemed like an expensive experiment. Recently saw one at Uniglo (thank you – I was not aware of the company until I saw it was frequently mentioned here and on The Vivienne Files) for $29 and change and ordered it in navy. For me it is a find. The fabric, and the lining (!), drape nicely, the neckline is elegant, and the extra vertical “flap” at the back (see the picture) deals nicely with my uneven hips (some scoliosis). It is easy to get into; a little harder to get out of the first shoulder but then it is fine. Being relatively short, I usually look best when wearing the same color top and bottom, with accessories in another color. The navy is dark and looks black. I had hoped to wear it to a wedding in France this Fall but I think the color is a problem, so I will wear it for one of the associated dinner events.
Anonymous
Please share which one?!
Scarlett
Thanks so much for posting! Just ordered.
Anonymous
WOMEN JERSEY SHORT-SLEEVE JUMPSUIT
SKU# 191766
ts-jumpsuits#ptid=women-dresses-and-jumpsuits&start=2&cgid=women-dresses-and-jumpsuits-jumpsuits
cozi?
Cross-posting from the Mom’s s i t e:
Anyone use Cozi and especially the paid version? We use a google calendar right now, but I’m looking for something better. I like the idea of shopping lists, task lists, and meal planning being all integrated. The color coding by family member seems easier than manually color coding appointments in g-cal too, although there may be some settings or tricks that I’m not aware of for g-cal. If you don’t use Cozi, what online calendar system do you use?
Linda from HR
Oh, I’d never heard of this! I’m gonna show this to my mom, she’s a big fan of lists! And a fan of sharing lists!
Gonna be honest, I’ve never preferred a digital list where I have to type things in over a handwritten list, but I like that anyone can access the grocery list, because I remember being home and having mom or dad call and ask what’s on the list on their way home from work.
anon
I ended up not wanting integration, but I enjoyed Cozi when I used it years ago.
List fans should know about qlist.cc (so convenient for groceries–just share the URL and anyone with the URL can see the list).
Baconpancakes
I use the paid version of AnyList, and I love it. It’s not great for task lists, but the meal planning feature is clutch.
Anonymous
WOMEN JERSEY SHORT-SLEEVE JUMPSUIT
The length is not as short as the picture – my comes to my shoes.
Anonymous
I am sorry. A length post on this jumpsuit is lost in moderation.
And as an editor – GRRGH It should read (mine comes to my shows).
looking for a new shoulder bag
Ideally leather, size in between a cross-body and tote, zip or some closure top, a color other than brown, navy or black. Any ideas? Hoping to spend $200 or less, but could go a little higher for a dream bag. Anything you are loving these days?
Bonnie
I recently got the Foley + Corinna mid city tote and love it. It comes in a ton of colors and some of them are marked down on amazon. The cream one is marked down to under $100 https://www.amazon.com/Foley-Corinna-Mid-City-Convertible/dp/B011YFQ2ME/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1498752280&sr=8-8&keywords=foley+mid+city+tote
I frequently use bright colored bags during the summer and don’t worry about matching them.
Anonymous
My sole full suit right now is the Kasper shawl collar blazer and the colorblock sheath dress. I love both pieces – but fair warning, the armholes on the dress are weirdly tight.
Never too many shoes...
I have a Kasper sheath dress with that exact issue also despite fitting perfectly in the body. I guess it is better than side bra right?
Blush
Any recommendations for a liquid blush– that is available at Ulta? Or anything at Ulta I should try with my 20% off coupon? I would want the Nars liquid blush, but Ulta doesn’t sell it (I think). Thanks!
Anon
Ulta does sell the Nars one, just online only.
Other than that, I like Benefit’s liquid cheek tints – Benetint is the classic but it comes in other colors
Blush
I had no idea they carried so many other things online only– you have just changed my life. Thank you!!
Anonymous
I like Stila’s gel blush, but usually you can’t use the 20% off for their brand.
Anony-mouse
I was reading an article the other day about having a document with all of your passwords and information just in case you get hit by a bus/fall into a coma/etc. so your family will be able to deal with your affairs more easily. Does anyone here have something like this? I feel like I should make one but I’m concerned about safety- isn’t writing down all of your passwords and personal information in one place exactly what you’re NOT supposed to do?
Anonymous
Well, you’re not supposed to write the password on a post-it and keep it nearby.
But if you listed stuff on a piece of paper and filed it with other important documents, that a different story.
Anonymous
Easy – use Lastpass or another password aggregator!
Anonymous
I would probably use a password manager and put the information on how to access/recover that in your safe. You could write down all of your passwords on a piece of paper and put it in a safe since it’s unlikely that someone will break into that safe and steal that paper, but they’re going to change over time and you would need to constantly update it.
Torin
I’ve heard of using a spreadsheet, and instead of putting every password in it, you enter hints for yourself. I definitely thought “what a good idea!” when I heard this, and then have not done it.
Kim
I do this and keep it on our shared home laptop. Some have merely hints, some are explicit. I don’t put it on the cloud because someone could steal that.
Cybersecurity
I would never keep a list like this in electronic form if it explicitly has passwords on it. if you think your home computer is never going to be hacked, and you don’t know enough about cyber security to be very leery of having a file of passwords, you are probably wrong.
I say all that with love as a cybersecurity professional.
I have a paper list of password hints on the last page of my dayplanner that I update as I change my passwords. I have a paper list of all my important account numbers (financial and insurance) and the usernames for them that I keep in my fire safe. If something Very Bad happened to me, someone would be able to get into those accounts even without the passwords, they just need to know what accounts to ask to access.
Anonymous
I do this in excel but I use codes/hints that only have meaning for me to “hide” the password, which may not be helpful if I get hit by a bus…
nutella
We are newly married and in the process of doing this as I have seen this happen (mostly to older couples) where a spouse dies or is in the hospital and the other spouse (sadly, usually the wife) has no idea how the bills are paid.
Anonymous
I know that it’s possible someone would break in and steal my physical folder full of passwords and sort through them to find the one that would give access to my bank, but it seems far more likely to me that something will happen through a data breach at some company that has my info — I feel that is almost guaranteed to come my way sooner or later.
SW
This actually happened to me. Someone broke into my house and stole my zip-around Daytimer from my home office. It had my passport, Social Security card, checkbook, and a list of all my usernames and passwords. Please think about keeping this information in a safe. I never in a million years would have thought it would be stolen out of my house.
Anon
+1000000
Thisperson1
+1 to Lastpass. Husband and I have all our passwords, word hints, etc. on there, just in case.
Never too many shoes...
I have a notebook and have all those details in it – it is not somewhere obvious but my husband knows where it is in case of emergency.
Anon
I handle all of our finances, so I have the log ins for all our credit cards and accounts. I wrote down all the info and we keep it in our safe. BIL has the code for the safe in case my husband and I both die. We dealt with this when my mom was in a coma for a month and it was an unbelievable nightmare to try to find all of her credit cards, subscriptions, etc. and get them canceled (on top of the emotional toll of my mom being in a coma for a month).
anon
I had to deal with a friend’s financial affairs for six months while she was getting medical treatment for a serious illness. The whole thing was very sudden, and one of the most incredibly useful things to me was that she had a small spiral bound book with all of her logins and passwords written down in it. It saved me so much trouble.
fdba
It’s probably more secure than you think, if you keep the list at home. I mean, it would be a pretty rare and savvy burglar who would break into your home, go into your filing cabinet to find your list of passwords and then know how to monetize them. Your passwords are more likely to be stolen if you submit them over an insecure wireless network, which is something data-thieves know about.
Anonymous
I’m sure this is not recommend, but I email them to myself and have them saved in my gmail account. Note that I don’t do this for super sensitive things like bank accounts and credit cards, but the overwhelming majority of my passwords are not very sensitive (like my library account and all my various “frequent buyer club” memberships) and it works well for those things.
Anonymous
You are right, that is not secure.
Cybersecurity
I really hope your sensitive account passwords are not similar to any of the passwords you’ve emailed to yourself.
anon
It’s really easy to set up 2 factor authentication for logging into your gmail account. If you’re going to do this, please at least do that.
anon
Different vein but similar… my mom also has a list of people to call in the event she dies. It is with the passwords and other important stuff.
Anonymous
This reminds me of S-Town…
it is a good idea, though! There are probably important people in everyone’s life than an immediate family member wouldn’t think to call.
oPass
I use an app called oPass (though it is only available for iPhones). It keeps track of usernames, passwords, URL’s, and has a notes section for each account I create to keep track of more information. It can also generate passwords for you. It’s also encrypted on the phone and requires a 4-digit pin to access the information, so I feel like my information is safe.
Anonymous
I use 1Password, but haven’t gotten around to sharing the location of the “emergency kit” with anyone. This reminds me to do so!
Career coach?
I’m a midlevel in BigLaw thinking about my next move. I won’t move for at least a year, but I’d like to make a very intentional move and I’m thinking about starting to use a career coach to brainstorm. I would like to continue to use my law degree / be a lawyer and I don’t mind biglaw, but I’d like to really feel out my options.
Anyone have recommendations? Also open to books / blogs / podcasts etc.
Anonymous
I have this question as well.
January
This may not suit you, exactly, but I’ve found the book “Life After Law” to be an interesting read about leaving law firms. She writes more generally about the process of changing careers and profiles a number of people (including Kat!) who left the practice of law to pursue a pretty wide variety of careers. You say you want to continue practicing law, so that may be of less interest to you, but it’s still eye-opening to see what’s out there.
Try this
If you’re in the Boston area, I highly recommend Maryanne Peabody. I thought she was really fantastic.
Career coach?
I’m in NYC. Does she offer the kind of “coaching” that I am looking for? I would think it is not super location-specific?
Anonymous
If you are thinking of alternative career, What Can You Do With a Law Degree is a great book. It might backfire: about halfway through, I realized I didn’t want to use my law degree!
Anonymous
Highly recommend Nan of Rapid Evolution. She’s a former attorney, turned career coach, who helped me tremendously. I actually “met” with her remotely from my office at my last job. http://rapidevolutionllc.com/
Amy H.
Michael Melcher. Former attorney and gets it. Based in Southern Cal., I think, but does coaching everywhere by phone/online.
Ms B
Don’t dis on the Kasper. I have had unusual luck lately with their dress/jacket combos. The cuts are conservative enough for business formal/federal court and most of their stuff actually fits my petite hourglass cusp size self. Amazon carries a lot of the pieces and that means free shipping both way.
Yeah, it’s poly, but the stuff DOES.NOT.WRINKLE. and that is gold for business travel.
Anon
+1 from another petite hourglass who has had good luck with Kasper for fit.
Liv
Links to things you liked from Amazon, since we are size twins?
Anonymous
I’m going out on maternity leave (first baby) in a couple of months. The person taking over for me will be a coworker at the same level who reports to the same boss. We do very similar work for different teams and she’s made it very clear she’d rather work for my team, I.e., she wants my job. I’m worried about someone who is clearly gunning for my job getting to take it over temporarily. Any advice about what I can do to minimize the chance I don’t have a job to come back to? The only thing I can think of is taking less than 12 weeks of leave, but all my friends with kids have told me not to do that.
anon
What’s your relationship like with your boss? Can you talk to them about your concerns, while firmly stating that you love your job and are committed to coming back to it after leave? This isn’t a good idea with every boss, but will be helpful if you have a good relationship, know them to be generally fair, etc.
OP
We have a great working relationship but aren’t personally close. He knows I’m committed to the job and absolutely returning from leave. I also told him that except for when I’m in the hospital and immediately after, I’ll be available via email for any questions. But our work isn’t super urgent and I really doubt they’ll bother me (we never email people on vacation).
Anonymous
Nothing else you can do. Hope for the best. Do you have friends at work who are peers? I’d deputize one or two of them to keep an eye out to see how it’s going with this person — they can give you the heads up on whether or not she’s moving in; whether your boss is being responsive to that or is just viewing this as temporary or may create another spot for her so that you both will be in the group upon return. I know some will say they would want to unplug and knowing this stuff would stress them out, but frankly I’d rather know than be surprised 3 months from now.
AnonMom
You won’t know if you’ll want / he able to come back before 12 weeks. You’ll have a better idea around 8 weeks or so. Don’t stress this. You have lots of time to chase work. A baby is a baby for such a short time.
Anonymous
Help! Dry shampoo recommendations for blonde hair? Also, my eyebrows suffer from a lifetime of overplucking. Good brow makeup to fill them out?
Anon
Batiste makes a blonde-specific version.
And the best powder I’ve found is the NYX eyebrow powder applied with the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow brush
Torin
I like origins pencil and boy brow.
RR
Dior makes a pencil for eyebrows that has the pencil at one end and an eyebrow brush on the other. The pencil is super subtle and lasts forever. Seriously, I’ve had it for a year and haven’t sharpened it yet (I use it maybe 2-3 times per week).
I think it’s this one: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/dior-sourcils-poudre-powder-eyebrow-pencil/4119740?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort
Sinus problems
I’ve been having trouble with persistent clogging of one nostril, with some postnasal drip. Went to the Dr. this morning thinking I was going to get an antibiotic prescription for a sinus infection, and ended up with a scheduled head and neck MRI. Doctor looked and said there’s no infection, so it’s either a deviated septum or (very unlikely) a sinus tumor (!). Anyone been here on this kind of thing? I’m freaking out a little right now.
Marshmallow
I have a deviated septum from a sports injury and have symptoms similar to what you’re describing. They’d have had to rebreak my nose to fix it so we just left it as is and I’ve gotten used to it. Deviated septums are pretty easy to get and not a big deal. Don’t borrow worry until you get the results! You are probably fine.
I’ve also had a neck MRI for unrelated reasons and it was far less scary than I was expecting. Most of your body is outside the machine so you can still kind of flick your eyes down and see the outside. It wasn’t so bad. Good luck!
S in Chicago
Not quite the same but was going through physical therapy for TMJ and developed the same for a few months. Just mentioning to remind there’s a million things that are interrelated and not to get too upset until you actually know what you’re dealing with.
givemyregards
+1 to everyone else’s comments. I had the same issue and have a deviated septum and narrower than normal nasal passages (like marshmallow, I decided not to go forward with surgery) that were constantly swollen for no reason.
Anonymous
I have a cyst in my sinus on my right side. It causes me no problems other than when I get a sinus infection it bothers me more. They told me it would be a waste to remove it because it would just come back.
Sinus problems
Thanks everyone for the replies. I’m really afraid of surgery (had a bad tonsillectomy experience as a kid). I’m hoping there may be options besides surgery, regardless of what the issue turns out to be.. But if there’s not, there’s not. Thanks to all for the reassurance, love this community. :-)
Lilliet
Random question: Does anyone remember which artist had a live recording of a song circa 2007 where he broke off in the middle of a song (I think?) and apologized for using profanity, but said he’d use another word but no other word means quite the same thing? (I know, very random) I was thinking Howie Day or similar, but some google searches are revealing anything…
Jax
Charlie Daniels band? LOL
I think my husband told me that the lead singer became a Christian and won’t sing The Devil Went Down to Georgia with it’s original profanity anymore. I only remember because I thought it was funny and cool for an old man to be like, “Nah, I’m changed.”
Tanning lotion
Is there such a thing as a relatively cheap, non-smelly, idiot proof sunless tanning lotion? I use sunscreen religiously in the summer but would like a little bit of color. I used Jergens several years ago, but the smell was too much for me.
Anon
Jergens has changed the formula! It smells like manly cologne now – which is not great, but muuuuch better
Red face help
Does anyone have advice for make-up to cover facial redness? Specifically, in Court my face will turn flush as soon as the Judge looks at me. No matter how control I feel on the inside, how prepared, the deep breaths, etc — there goes the flush-face. I feel it makes me look more nervous/ unsure than I am in litigation. For reference, I am in my fourth year of practicing law. I had a opposing counsel (male) ask me if i was “okay” in the middle of trial due to my face redness. Not ideal. Unsure if going to the derm would be helpful? Or if i should try and wear better foundation, etc.
Equestrian lawyer
I have this problem and it’s part of the reason I’m not a litigator. That being said, on the rare occasions when I went to court early in my career, or when I have an important meeting where I am likely to flush, I wear buildable coverage liquid foundation (I use Shesheido or Nars and put a fair amount on my cheeks, blending carefully so it would show) + powder and it keeps the redness under control.
anony
Not make-up, but consider asking your doctor about prescribing a beta blocker. I had a similar problem– felt prepared, did not feel mentally nervous, but had a bodily reaction to public speaking (trembling voice/shakiness, flushed face). I now take a low dose of a beta blocker (propranolol) 30 min. before I present and it completely gets rid of those symptoms. The great thing is that it has no effect on mental clarity (unlike other kinds of anxiety meds). It has been a game changer for me. The only downside is that it does make me very slightly tired after the rush of presenting is over.
Beta blockers were originally made to treat high blood pressure, but now are widely used for performance anxiety. My doc said that many, many performers who otherwise don’t have anxiety take them before giving performances. I would definitely look into it if I were you.
Anon
I’ve done propranolol too and found it really helpful.
Senior Attorney
I used it for my divorce mediation and it was a godsend!
anon
That happens to me as well, but it’s my neck! Commiseration. Whenever I’m worked up or angry too. I would be a terrible poker player.
Anon
Ugh, this is hard. No make-up can truly hide this response.
There are medications though.m
trefoil
Experience is the only thing that’s truly worked for me–i used to turn blotchy, shake and sound tremulous. After 9 years of criminal practice including daily or near-daily court appearances, now I only flush when i’m in an unfamiliar court setting or situation, like appellate court or high-profile superior court trials.
I like a sheer powder to keep the shininess down, and reapply if there’s enough time on breaks–i prefer not to wear foundation because it gets on the collar and tabs of my court shirt and robes (Canadian, so i’m all red AND in a funny outfit.)
anon for this
YES! Clinique Redness Solutions foundation. I have mild to medium rosacea, and it covers the red like nothing else I’ve ever used.
Anon
+1000
I use this foundation for facial/neck rosacea and no longer look RED in pictures. I’ve never experienced that physical reaction during a presentation, but the makeup will keep me even toned if I drink a bit too much wine and start feeling flush.
Sunless tanner question
Jumping on to the sunless tanning question: does sunless tanner work for evening things out or at least sort of blurring tan lines? I’ve been biking a lot this summer and in spite of using sunscreen, am getting tan lines on my arms and legs. I have a couple of weddings to go to around Labor Day, both in hot locations, and I’d like to be able to wear sleeveless to strapless dresses without looking absurd. Can sunless tanner do this? If so, do I apply just to the parts of me that are, at the time I do it, more pale than I’d like? Any brand recommendations for a total novice?
Clementine
So I somehow ended up with a small container of St. Tropez ‘One Night Only’ tan. It is what I need in life. It magically makes me look like I just got back from vacation in some magical land but I can just slap it on before I go out at night.
Any mistakes are quickly erased with a little extra rubbing or a barely damp washcloth. It hasn’t transferred on me at all and I love love love it.
mascot
Oh, I’ll have to try this.
I swear by the original St Tropez mousse applied with one of the sponge mitts. Color is awesome and blurs over tan lines. OP, I do a full body exfoliation in the shower, let my skin dry/cool, apply self tanner to my entire body, wait 10 minutes for it to fully dry, then off to bed. A shower the next morning removes any left over bronzer. Color lasts for several days.
Marshmallow
I really like Kiehl’s. Works for my very sensitive skin, doesn’t smell, dries quickly, and is pretty easy to apply without streaking. I had weird tan lines from kayaking in capri leggings and a few days of using Kiehl’s covered it up. I applied to the whole leg, not just the pale area (was worried I’d create worse lines!).
If the tan lines are really bad and it’s just before you need to go to the wedding, you could also consider getting a professional spray tan, from a human, not a booth. It will be expensive but a professional is probably the best bet to really cover tan lines.
Sunless tanner question
Thanks for all replies and recommendations! I’ll probably test drive some of the at home products over the next couple of months to figure out which, if any, will be both effective and within my skillset. If the answer is “none,” I’ll go the pro route.
One more novice question: what’s the right thing to google (or yelp?) to figure out a good spot for tanning from a human professional? The quick check I just did revealed that I couldn’t tell, based on search results, whether a particular place was a human or a booth. Alternatively, I’ll take recommendations for San Francisco pro spray tans if anyone has them. Does Benefit use humans? They’re easy for me to get to.
Another cornellian
What are your favorite subscription services? (About to try Trunk Club)