Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Leather-Trim Wool Blazer

138 Comments

1. Holy moly, this is horrifying!

   1. But at least it’s expensive

2. Happy April Fools Day, Kat :)

   1. +1

   2. Ha! I had forgotten til I saw this but you’re right. Clearly, everything about this says “professional.”

      1. Haha, I kept trying to figure out what the jacket would look like if styled differently and then expected comments on the distracting styling choices. I even knew it was April Fool’s Day and just completely forgot as soon as I came online.

         1. Haha, same here. I guess the blazer itself could be nice, if styled appropriately. I think. I don’t know; I can’t look at it without seeing the model’s belly button.

      2. “nothing says “I’m a serious professional” like showing your belly button off in a leather biker vest beneath a leather blazer”

         Comedy gold!

      3. Yup….stared at that for like 30 seconds trying to make it make sense. You got me, Kat. Well done and happy April Fool’s!

   3. Love the sense of humor, Kat. Well done!

   4. Awe man I was expecting an April Fool’s post but this entire outfit just hurts my eyes…

3. Don’t forget the blue nail… and maybe some pink in the hair

   1. And be an intern with a Birkin and elastics on your wrist!

      1. and have some fondue

         1. Houda – do you….fondoooouuuueee?

            :-)

            1. +1

4. So my sister-in-law just sent me an email with random Ellen caps in it. That was weird.

   1. I’ve found myself using Ellencaps in everyday typing and often have to go back and delete random EMPHASIS in my emails and gchats.

      1. Me too! I use them anyways when I want to swap out a word when editing but find myself using them in real life as well.

      2. I just got an email all in caps from a friend apologizing for forgetting to calendar an upcoming dinner we scheduled long ago. All caps seemed appropriate.

   2. My mother-in-law CONSTANTLY uses ELLENcaps in her EMAILS (but, to her credit, at least is a decent speller). In fact, sometimes I think she is the embodiment of what Ellen will be 30 years from now. (Yes, this is a blatant plea for pity).

      1. My MIL does this as well. On words that do not need emphasis!

         1. There’s a running gag in British sitcom Miranda that her mum does it.

5. Lovely! Equally appropriate for professional events and the PTA meeting.

   1. You guise, I am so totally wearing this exact outfit today! I’ve never felt so put together.

      1. I was going to wear this today, but I hesitated because I couldn’t remember whether or not it is acceptable to have a bare midriff before Memorial Day. Can someone check their Emily Post for me, please?

6. You had me for a moment, Kat. I was thinking, “okay, maybe the blazer on its own I could see, not my thing but whatever.” But then I saw you were endorsing the whole outfit and that’s when I remembered. Happy April Fools!

7. I was the anon who posted on Friday about the 20% paycut and being down. I’m happy to say I feel a lot better about the whole situation today — still not good, since obviously, less money, but at least I still have a job, at least I was already planning on leaving, and I’ll just have to suck it up. It may mean taking out more loans for school but – to be honest, 100K vs 105K in loans are still absurdly big numbers, not the difference between 10K and 100K, sooooo…. oh well.

   I think I was mostly upset because I had a solid plan of how the next few months were supposed to play out and this threw a wrench into that. But I imagine I’ll have to face that throughout my career.

   I’m looking into doing some freelance work on the side. I am trying to figure out what I’d be good at – I edit *all* of my friends personal statements for college/graduate school/fellowships, and I have experience in undergraduate admissions, so I am debating putting up a flyer at the gym for that? I’m not sure if that’s a thing people really pay for though. I’m still exploring.

   1. Well, you missed this cycle of undergraduate admissions, since everyone should have admissions results by today. Maybe you could put together something for this summer for rising seniors?

   2. This is TERRIBLE, but you are takeing it like a trooper. HUG’S!

      Rosa had the baby Saturday! Yay! They had to induce her (Tina Leigh) so she does NOT share my b-day. Oh well, she will ALWAYS be a day younger then me! Fooey!

      Tina is so cute, but not so tiny–she wieghes 7 pounds 13 ounce’s! I wonder if she will turn out to be as svelte as Rosa! Probabeley, b/c Rosa is still so pretty, even now that she is OVER the baby!

      I am stayeing at the house with MOM and DAD. Dad is makeing me go out for a 3 mile walk this morning b/c he is concerned that the matza I have been eateing has gone to my tuchus. I think, as usueal he is right.

      So I am off for a walk, which he is also monitoring on his MacBook PRO. I have troubel figureing a way around him. It is dificult when your dad is a MENSA eligibel dad.

      If ONLEY I had a regular dad, or a dumb dad, I could put one by on him, but not Daddy Barshevsky! Even Grandma Leyeh is here, and she also said my tuchus is to big! FOOEY!

   3. This is definitely a thing people pay for – I have a friend who started a business doing this in LA and was making professional-level salary. I’m sure that business took awhile to build up, and the poster above is right that the timing is not great to be starting this now, but if you live in a major metro area there will be anxious parents willing to pay what seem to me like insane amounts of money for this kind of service.

   4. Thanks guys! I know it’s bad timing – but maybe there are people are getting started early? I’m hoping for a low price ($50 or $60?) in a major metro area, I’ll get some/any takers. I may just put up a flyer and see what comes of it.

      1. If you can do this freelance, that is the way to go. But if you find you’re not getting takers, you might confer with a company like Kaplan or Princeton Review about working for them. They sell these services and if you have a real background in it, you might be a good candidate. It seems like something you could continue doing part-time during grad school.

      2. I have a few friends who have kind of freelanced the independent admissions counseling. In a smaller city, they were charging around $30 an hour. There should absolutely be juniors (or more likely, juniors’ parents) wanting to get a head start on things this spring. So it’s not the best time ever to try to find clients, but it shouldn’t be an absolute wasteland out there, either.

         1. Yeah it’s not that I expect to make up my whole salary, but I’m hoping if I can make up enough to cover (for example) groceries, then that’s money that’s not coming out of my salary for those things.

            I was thinking of offering an essay review with detailed comments and a one hour meeting to go over them (along with an electronic copy) for $50-60. This seems fair with my market – but the only things I can find online are big companies (like Kaplan/Princeton review) who are charging $100+ per hour.

            1. I don’t know your area, but you should def charge more if you’re charging at all. When I was a teacher and thinking of tutoring, it killed me that certified, experienced teachers were charging so little for tutoring ($25-$30) which undermined the time spent preparing for and delivering a lesson during tutoring.

            2. Well that’s the thing – I’m not a certified teacher, and while I have some experience in working in undergraduate admissions, as well as my own admissions experience for Top LAC Undergrad and Ivy Grad School, and boat loads and boat loads of “free” experience providing detailed comments, essay reviews and admissions advice to friends and relatives, I’ve never done this for money before and don’t want to presume that I’m worth a ton in that space, you know?

   5. parents pay crazy money for this.
      You definitely missed this years rotation, but right before summer starts wealthy parents of high school juniors will start looking for college admissions help. This past summer/fall, I charged $180/hr for about five sessions and basically walked students through every aspect of their application.
      $60 for essay prep seems reasonable, but depending on your area you could definitely start higher.

8. One of my clients, just to be nice, send a gift for my baby. It’s the most adorable thing, a personalized book about a superhero, with my son’s name for the hero (his powers involve eating vegetables and making mommy & daddy very happy). It is the most adorable thing; I can’t wait to get home to read it to him. How incredibly sweet!

   (I know that people ask for gift ideas here all the time; this got big ooohs and ahhs and probably didn’t cost a bunch. It came from Paper Bag Press, which I’m sure you can find online.) I just love it!

   1. That is really sweet! Good gift idea for my BFF’s impending baby!

   2. This is an awesome idea but I can’t seem to find more info online. Is there anything more you can tell us? Or can someone with better google fu than I please posts info/a link? TIA!

   3. I’m sorry, I called the wrong thing. It is Paper Hat Press. Not bag, hat. Here’s the link:

      http://www.paperhatpress.com/

9. I’m in DC (Crystal City) all week. Can anyone recommend any yoga or other fitness classes that are metro accessible? I’m bored and want to find something to do with myself after work (~5PM).

   1. There’s a yoga studio that opened a few months in the Crystal City Underground. It’s by Subway and Rite-Aid.

      http://www.mindyourbodyoasis.com/index.html

   2. The Sport & Health in Crystal City (Crystal Park location) has great body pump classes after work during the week. Not sure if they do weekly or daily memberships but worth a look. It’s an awesome gym. They obviously have a lot of other classes, including yoga, but I’ve only done the body pump.

   3. The best in the city (IMHO) is Tranquil Space yoga by Dupont Circle.

   4. Thanks for the suggestions! Planning to check out one tonight.

   5. You can ride the Yellow line to U Street and go to Buddha B yoga. Their house specialty is jivamukti, which is a slightly more spiritual and very challenging vinyasa type class. All the instructors I’ve tried are really great.

10. OK, I’ve got a body shape/weight loss/fitness type threadjack. I’m 3.5 months past pregnancy now and about 2 months past b-feeding, and I’m hovering about 4 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight, with some very slow continued losses. Though, admittedly, I’m not putting a ton of effort into it. Most, though not all, of my old clothes fit, but some of them create a bit more bulges or discomforts, particularly of the “muffin top” variety.

    But, over the weekend, I took a hard look in the mirror, and I think that my br3asts have actually shrunk to smaller than pre-pregnancy. I’ve always been tiny up top (as in, not even an A in most places), and even in pregnancy and b-feeding, I didn’t gain a lot, but they now seem to be wasting away. I still have the extra padding in the middle region, though, which I certainly want to lose, but I’m really concerned about losing more up top.

    I know that they always say that you can’t spot reduce, and I’ve been trying to do crunches and pilates to tighten up things in the mid-section. Short of an appointment with a plastic surgeon (which suddenly seemed a lot more palatable), is there anything that I can do to fix things here? Should I stop trying to lose that last few pounds? At least when I was pregnant/pp, I could feel like any lack of s3xiness I was feeling was temporary, but I do not care for this one bit!

    1. I found that my body only “settled” into its postpartum shape (*which was different from its prepartum shape!) when I was about 9-12 months post. However, I do extended bf so YMMV, but most of my friends who don’t also had their bodies changing until up to a year post.

       Before considering surgery, I would wait until you are closer to 9 months out, and then reevaluate. Also, whether you want to have more kids would also play into it, bc your post-kid-2 body may be different from your post-kid-1 body (mine was). Until then, maybe some padded bras?

       1. Oh, just for the record, I didn’t actually mean I was considering surgery in anything like the near future. Just that the idea didn’t seem as objectionable as it would otherwise. Thanks for the response, though!

          1. No problem, just wanted to cover all the bases!!! :)

    2. Lyssa,
       I think we have a similar body shape and I have similar issues to you post-baby. I also lost the baby weight fast and had my already small boobs vanish once I stopped bfing. I’m a bit further removed from birth than you are (I have a toddler) and I am sorry to say that while your body may improve over time it doesn’t get the same. I talked to my OB about my issues with my body changes because I was on the brink of an eating disorder relapse as a partial result of how unhappy I was with my post-baby shape (coupled with untreated PPD). She said that my baby pooch was due to the separation of abdominal muscles during pregnancy and suggested some exercises which have helped significantly. On the boob front, she told me that it was the result of ligaments loosening during pregnancy and short of a boob lift or implants there was nothing I could do. Hope this helps!

       1. As an A cup who has always been deeply envious of anyone with bigger boobs and has self hatred issues regarding the teeny tiny size of my own, the idea that I’m going to lose what little I’ve got to a pregnancy, which will also give me a pooch and make my feet bigger, is deeply, deeply upsetting.

          1. I hear you. The only saving grace is that my feet didn’t get bigger.

          2. The b00b issue is really frustrating, but, if it makes you feel any better, my feet went back to normal really fast, like, within a week or two. Almost too bad, since I had bought a really cute pair of flats in a 1/2 size bigger than my normal, thinking that I could still wear them just a little bit loose afterwards, but now they’re absurdly big. Also, weirdly enough, I lost my “pooch” almost right away. If anything, my belly seems like it might be flatter than it was. (I think that the hip spread might have smoothed it out a little bit?) It’s the hip and saddlebag area that has the extra fat in it, that gets all smooshed up into love handles if I’m wearing snug pants.

             1. This makes me so happy to hear about your feet. I was in all my regular shoes until like 35 or 36 weeks, but here at the bitter end, I can only fit in a handful of them. I was beginning to get depressed thinking that it may be permanent. But it sounds as though there is a chance some of it will go away. (Crossing fingers!)

    3. Do what I do — easy on the lighting.

       Srsly though, you grew a person! Go easy on yourself! It is still very early and I swear things will shrink over the next 6 months. Skin is elastic, but not a rubber band. Buy something that you feel pretty in NOW, so you don’t postpone any possible joy over having come out of pregnancy with a healthy you and a healthy baby. Plus, with the warmer weather, you can get out with a stroller with some good baby time and exercise (and if you throw a dumbell in the basket under your stroller for extra resistance, I won’t tell anyone).

    4. I’m on the opposite end of the boob spectrum from you but I was in American Eagle Aerie recently and they have some really fun really pretty very padded bras. I’m going to ignore for a minute that those bras are marketed at teenagers and say that they range from cute to very sexy. A few of those might be just what you need. Because they have so much design and detail, when you look in the mirror in your underthings your eyes will be drawn up and away from the middle section you are unhappy with.

    5. I have 4 kids. My breasts stayed about the same after the first, shrunk after the next two, then miraculously back to my pre-first-pregnancy size after my last baby. I went 34C, 34B, 34A, then back to 34C. All of this while my actual weight when not pregnant or actively losing from a pregnancy has always been stable within about a 3-5 pound range. I have so many bras in various sizes it’s ridiculous. And I think you just never know where those last 4 pounds will come off – everyone is different and I think every pregnancy is different.

       Any my mother started adulthood as a 36C, but her breasts became giant after her last pregnancy (36F) and never went back down. So basically what I’m saying is that I think breasts can change with each pregnancy and you never know where they’re going to go! My friends are all over the map too. Just another fun bonus of motherhood.

       In other related news, my baby turned 1 in January, I finished breastfeeding, waited a few months for everything to stabilize, then went to Nordstrom for a bra fitting. For some reason I was somewhat disappointed to find that I have been wearing the correct bra size all along, and I did not have a life-changing bra fitting event. But I did pick up some very nice Natori bras which I’ve never tried before and a Betsey Johnson. So there was an upside.

    6. Lyssa, I can commisserate. After 2 pregnancies, my already large feet grew a size larger, I gained some love handles (even after losing all of the weight), and my As are now an A minus. BUT, I have beautiful children who keep me insanely happy most days. I know this is not what you want to hear, but please consider what a wonderful job your body did in nourishing a baby that you love. It was worth it!

    7. I feel you! I was barely an A cup prepregnancy now I am 1 year post- second child and they are smaller than ever! Not just flat but they have so much extra skin. So gross. I guess I am no help but I wanted to sympathize. My model SIL still breast feeds her one year old and i am so jealous of her boobs. The only thing keeping me going is knowing she will face the Same eventually….:). I am a horrible person!

11. This is what I’m going to wear when I want my outfit to say “TCFKAG Lady Lawyer Vampire-Slayer”.

    There should be more bad *ss jewelry associated with it. Maybe some skull jewelry. That would really add that certain something its missing.

    1. Glad to see you back! I’ve missed your posts.

       1. Ditto. :)

12. Can we play “what are you wearing today”?

    I have on minnie pants in navy stretch twill (most comfortable pant ever, though they’re big in the waist), the tippi sweater in petunia, a bright yellow scarf, and congnac brown loafers. I feel like spring in all these bright colours, which makes me happy. And these pants, I swear, I could do yoga in them, I want to buy them in 4 more colours, and make the minnie and a sweater with a scarf my work uniform.

    1. My outfit is unremarkable except that I am wearing hose. Not an April Fool joke. It is not quite warm here, but I cannot do black tights south of the Potomac in April.

       1. I’m regretting the black tights I put on today. But I did switch out my wardrobe over the weekend and my closet looks so much brighter with my summer jackets in and my dark tweed jackets out!

       2. I am wearing tights also. My legs are still peeling so badly after a week at the beach that I am not even considering sheer hose. I scrub like mad every time I shower, and moisturize 2/daily, but see no improvement. Starting to get worried that I won’t get to wear skirts and dresses this spring!

    2. I actually feel put together today, so I’ll play. I have on a gray tweedish pencil skirt from Anne Klein (I’m in skirts until I lose 5 lbs and my pants start fitting again) a top with lots of different purples and blues and grays in it from the JC Penney Worthington line with a matching necklace and a gray sweater because I’m always freezing. Oh, and black pumps.

       What are these minnie pants and where does one get them?

       1. They’re ponte skinny pants from J. Crew. I’ve tried them on and they weren’t flattering on my lower half, but a ton of people swear by them.

          I’m on day eleven of my Holy Week break, so I’m still wearing lounge-around-the-house clothes (and am ready to climb the walls!!) (but not go back to my job…). I’ve got on a loose, dusky purple sweater and black jeggings. When I went to the grocery store and walked the pup, I put on camel-ish leather ankle boots. But for now I’ve got on slippers :)

          1. Re: the Minnie – the J crew salesperson also said to get them a size down from your regular size, since they do stretch out during the day. So, take that how you will.

          2. I hate Minnie pants – they don’t fit me right at ALL.

             I have on a jcrew grey pinstripe suit, boden print shirt with leaf shapes, and boden cardigan in dark green, and AWESOME mocs in bright green.

             1. I love Boden – and green. Very jealous.

                I’m shivering at my desk in a fleece. PLEASE warm up, UK!

          3. I’ve tried the Minnies as well. I bought black, which work in a sort of 50s beatnik-ish kind of way (I only wear them with drapey sweaters and cardigans). But any color looks horrid on my lumpy bum. I’m a pear shaped size 10/12 for what it’s worth. The waist is indeed pretty large.

             1. The Minnies did not work for me either, so on that note–does anyone have any suggestions for Minnie like pants from other retailers? I’m 5′ 2″ and a curvy 4/6..

             2. J. Crew Sloan Fit ankle pants….love love love them.

             3. Errrgh. I meant Banana Republic, not J. Crew.

    3. I had a hearing inastuffy court today. I’m wearing a stuffy suit and stuffy mood to match.

    4. Black old navy leggings, white v neck tee and a long white cotton boyfriend sweater. Maternity leave ends three weeks from tomorrow and while I’m loathe to return to the office, I’m also somewhat looking forward to the return of my “real” wardrobe.

    5. It’s almost 6PM here, and I’m still in PJs.

       Last day of Easter break, and I’ve spent it all in bed, playing computer games, reading, watching TV, and surfing the net.

       Tomorrow will be back to work after a week of break – for the ultimate short 3-day work week.

       1. Are we the same person? Except I’m not (quite) still in PJs.

    6. I’m wearing a Yankees fleece (first day of baseball season!) and Danskin bike shorts. When I have my feet on the floor, I wear my new blingy YellowBox flipflops that I got at the new DSW. We are still on break. This is my 5th day off in a row and it’s still not enough. Finished our article at about 10:00 last night and still couldn’t track down one of the citations (can’t find the article my colleague quoted), which left us feeling like undergrads. But it’s done and sent off and it was wonderful writing with my colleagues.

    7. I’ll play – first day this year in a skirt without tights! I’m wearing a greyish-green corduroy straight skirt (North Face, of all things), cream asymmetrical ruffle top (J. Crew), long brown cardigan (Target), and new super-comfortable grey oxfords (link to follow).

       Oh, and a really pretty new necklace – I had a vintage glass bead necklace with lovely green & rose beads, but never wore it, so I had the necklace redesigned into a 58″ station necklace with gold chain added.

       1. Here are the shoes, though I got them at a local shop: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ART-Shoes-HARLEM-gaucho-brunito/dp/B00BI3P9PO.

          Apparently my feet really like expensive leather shoes from Spain & Portugal – Pikolinos, Fidgi, Chocolate Negro, & ART shoes. Hence the Target sweater & vintage necklace :)

    8. Alone in the office since it’s a bank holiday (=paid day off) in these parts so I was lazy. Black bootcut jeans from New Look, black ankle boots, long black t-shirt from Cyberdog with a red circle design and a black jersey blazer.

    9. it’s not QUITE 60 out, but this morning i could walk to work without a coat on and it made me want to dress like it’s actually spring…i’m jumping the season a bit but whatever.

       lighter/washed red trouser-cut chinos, white v-neck tshirt, navy blazer cuffed once to show the blue/white striped lining, chocolate brown beat-up leather belt, tan sperry angelfish. mk rose gold watch, yurman petite albion studs and pendant. forgot my ring today and my hands feel naked.

    10. Organic gorilla fur.

    11. Floral print (black and white) jersey skirt that swishes, black cami, white cardigan. And, my first day sans tights. I’m feeling a bit springy.

    12. I happily ditched tights today for the first time this year. I recently bought this dress and have received a ton of compliments http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product/product%3A299197/AT-Dresses-Prints/Color-Splash-Wrap-Dress/299197?colorExplode=false&skuId=13163815&catid=cata000012&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=1414
        It’s ultra comfortable but definitely needs a cami.

    13. black Michael Kors ponte pants from a couple weeks ago, 3/4 sleeve cognac silk secretary blouse (the kind with a big tie-front bow), moissanite studs, turquoise ring, minty/emerald green suede low wedges (Jeffrey Cambpell I think? had them for a long time).

    14. I was really looking forward to a springlike outfit today based on the weather over the weekend, but for some reason it got cold again (the high is around 35). This has been the most BS spring of all time.

        So I’m still in black tights and black boots, with a striped dress I actually got from Target maternity even though I’m not pregnant. The ruching around the middle disguises my midsection pretty well.

13. Anyone have suggestions for very easy and healthy (and yummy) recipes? I know we’ve done this before but I’m totally devoid of inspiration right now. Plus I’m trying to lose a few pounds but know if I obviously deprive myself, I will binge on chocolate or ice cream or carbs at some point in the very near future.

    1. This isn’t rocket science, but over the weekend I put chicken in the slow cooker with a can of fire roasted tomatoes. The resulting yumminess has been used in tacos, on a “Mexican” salad with black beans and lettuce shreds, and added to scrambled eggs for breakfast. I usually slow cook chicken for tacos with salsa, but the fire roasted tomatoes were a huge improvement! I also added a diced chipotle chili in adobo sauce.

       1. I do a big batch of slow cooker chicken to use how you do (every which way), but I usually use salsa or Rotel. I’ll have to try the fire roasted to tomatoes.

          OP, do you like curry? I’ve been making a chicken, lentil, potatoe curry in the slow cooker that is amazing.

          It’s not warm yet, but it should be getting there. I like creative salad — add meats, grains, nuts, fruits, etc for meal-like salads.

          Also, make your own chicken or turkey burgers — add spices, diced jalepenos, etc.

    2. I like the NYT Recipes for Health- there are a lot of great options on there, and I’m pretty sure she usually lists the calories/macros, and they’re often pretty simple (though I find the baked goods are…meh?).

       On a more personal note, I usually make lunch for the week on Sundays, (frequently some sort of salad) and this week I made a salad with corn, black beans, baked cumin tempeh, cilantro, bell peppers, pea shoots, red onion, lime juice and a minced chipotle pepper.

    3. Lately I’ve been on a roasted veggies kick–specifically brussel sprouts/cauliflower/zucchini mix. Tossed with just an itty bit of olive oil, rosemary, chop up some garlic, just put in your oven til your desired crispyness (if I use frozen, it’s usually about 45 min.)

    4. Do you like lentils? They’re pretty easy to cook (or if you want them to be even easier, get the Trader Joe’s ready-made ones) and very good with some sauteed veggies. I like to sprinkle a little parmersan cheese on top to make it feel a bit richer and throw in whatever herbs I have on hand.

       Vegetable frittatas are also fairly easy and very satisfying for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

       If you say what kinds of foods you like, or what you’re looking to cook (or if you want to not cook much at all), I’d be glad to give you more ideas.

       1. Cooked lentils are also really good mixed in with a salad. I just tried a Barley & Lentil salad from Real Simple that was a really delicious and filling lunch, while being fairly low calorie.

    5. What about frittatas or quiches? Very quick (especially frittatas), healthy, and very customizable– you can mix up different ingredients depending on your mood and what you have on hand.
       For example, I made this a few weeks ago as a quick dinner, and DH requests it all the time now. http://www.girlcooksworld.com/2012/04/lazy-sunday-broccoli-frittata.html

       Similarly, stir fries are tasty, healthy, and very flexible on ingredients; if you throw in cooked brown rice or whole grain noodles they are very satisfying. Try this one; I added broccoli. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/health/nutrition/18recipehealth.html?_r=0

    6. One of my recent go-to salads has been spring mix, sliced beets (lately I’ve been lazy and buying the pre-cooked ones), sweet corn, a can of tuna, and my current favorite vinaigrette (forkful of dijon mustard whisked with one part soy sauce, two parts balsamic, and olive oil), topped with some black pepper.

       Other than that, my easy-but-healthy rotation includes a lot of lentil curries; veggie frittatas (current fav is spinach and potato); whole wheat pasta with homemade sauce*; lentil and black bean soup*; mashed black bean, tomato, and goat cheese quesadillas; and a sausage and squash (but you can swap in whatever veggies you want) bake*. (*=link to follow)

       1. Annnd I got moderated for v i n a i g r e t t e.

          One of my recent go-to salads has been spring mix, sliced beets (lately I’ve been lazy and buying the pre-cooked ones), sweet corn, a can of tuna, and my current favorite v i n a i g r e t t e (forkful of dijon mustard whisked with one part soy sauce, two parts balsamic, and olive oil), topped with some black pepper.

          Other than that, my easy-but-healthy rotation includes a lot of lentil curries; veggie frittatas (current fav is spinach and potato); whole wheat pasta with homemade sauce*; lentil and black bean soup*; mashed black bean, tomato, and goat cheese quesadillas; and a sausage and squash (but you can swap in whatever veggies you want) bake*. (*=link to follow)

          1. Pasta sauce recipe; I usually add spinach, but it would also be good with peppers and mushrooms: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-with-pancetta-and-tomato-sauce-recipe/index.html

          2. Lentil and black bean soup: http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/bowled-over?page=single

          3. Sausage and squash bake: http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2012/07/can-eating-paleo-improve-your-waistline/#

          4. Can you post your lentil curry recipe?

    7. I recently discovered bulgur wheat with soy, which I’ve been using as a replacement for couscous since it has more protein and similar calories (120/serving, 10 g protein). I just cook it (takes about 20 mins) and then add roasted or fresh veggies and feta.

    8. Based on our shared city, I highly recommend the shrimp bar at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws. They come pre-marinated, but grilled on the stove (we have a grill attachment) + salad = great, light and quick after work dinner.

    9. My go to’s when I’m in a food rut:

       – Canned crab meat + mashed avocado; served on your choice of cracker/bread
       – Big salad with a new combination of foods (last week I did almonds, an orange, cucumbers and feta cheese w/ raspberry balsamic dressing…so good)
       – I’m partial to what I call a “fall bake” for lack of a better term. Sweet potatoes, unsweetened, applesauce, apple slices + pork in the crock pot. Spiced with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.
       – If you eat meat, make a type of meat you haven’t eaten in a while. I rarely eat red meat, so last week I made a beef stew type food and it was great
       – Jambalaya. I made this two weeks ago and it was amazing and kept great for leftovers. I used vegan sausage, chicken, onions, peppers, celery and a packet of jambalaya seasoning from the grocery store, and served over brown rice

    10. I make my own curries and risottos that are amazing – if you click through to my blog you can email them and I can send you my curry recipe.

        My risotto is about a third of a cup of standard rice, a cup and a bit of water, a stock cube, frozen peas, and quorn chunks, stirred over a medium-high heat until all the liquid is absorbed

    11. I’ve been buying pre-cut veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc.) and roasting them with oil, salt & pepper. In a 400 degree oven, they take between 20-35 minutes. Then I top them with a variety of protein.

        For lunch I pre-cook a whole grain (wheatberries, farro, brown rice), top it with roasted veggies, and then a protein, and usually have some sort of dressing/sauce on the side. One of the dinners I’m going to make this week are roasted veggies, topped with a spicy Morningstar black bean burger, and avocado. I’m absurdly excited about it.

        The only way I can do this, however, is by doing all of this over the weekend. I didn’t have any plans for Friday night, so I stuck wheatberries in the slow cooker and cooked them on high for 4 hours. I roasted all of the vegetables yesterday evening. On weekends where I don’t have time to cook, healthy eating is much more difficult for me. If you don’t have the time or patience to cook whole grains, try to find frozen brown rice from your grocery store, or stop in at a local Chinese food place and just buy brown rice.

    12. Wow thanks for all the suggestions ladies! I’m good with salads for lunch (and actually am currently eating an amazing chickpea and avocado salad) but I find if I don’t eat something warm for dinner, I tend to feel deprived.

        I might try stirfry or a lentil curry tonight – hopefully with leftovers for the rest of the week!

    13. I love sun dried tomato and veg soup – it is very easy, you take a bunch of vegetables like leek, carrot, parsnip, sweet potato, squash, etc and toss them in a pot with a little oil. cook for a few minutes, then add a few tablespoon of sun dried tomato paste. continue cooking for another few minutes, then add hot water or broth and bring to a boil: simmer until all the veg is to softness you like and finish with a touch of whole milk. if you’re not using any potatoes, it#s also easy to toss in a handful of pasta or rice . total time if I am doing it from scratch and chopping everything up, etc: 25 min tops.

        Also, I love tuna salad with grated cucmber and carrot, tuna, cottage cheese and dash of lemon pepper.

    14. My lazy dinner recipes are to saute some vegetables in a pan and then add frozen rice from Trader Joe’s (they have flavors and plain ole brown rice, quinoa, and pilaf ). Sometimes I’ll add an egg or some legumes depending on which vegetables I’ve used. Sometimes they’re fresh veggies that I cut, but I also resort to the already cut kind from the store and sometimes frozen. It takes about 10 minutes tops. My other secret recipe is to buy a frozen entree from Trader Joe’s and microwave it, for when I’m feeling extra fancy.

    15. I’ve been making a large batch of one of my favorite to-go lunches from Protein Bar – I do chicken in the crock pot so that it shreds, then add quinoa, spinach, pesto and parmesan. Yum! lunches all week.

14. PSA: If you have to have an HSG (or anything similar) DO NOT read what people say on the internet! I was so freaked out about it that I didn’t sleep well last night and definitely made the whole process worse during the test this morning. I’m usually pretty stoic but I was a mess this time (and I think I even made sad little scared animal noises while the doctor was doing the test — yeah, not my best moment). Mr. TBK was a total champ and got up at about 5:30 this morning to go in with me, and to give me a big hug when I got out. He’s on notice, though — no letting me read scary things on the internet from now on!

    1. Hugs. Don’t worry about sad little scared animal noises. The end result will likely result in much louder noises than that. Glad you are still letting Mr TBK support you. And stay off the internet. There is way too much information out there.

    2. Re the animal noises: Sweetie, it hurt(s). BT, DT. Hugs.

       Now stay away from Dr. Google!

15. UK ‘rettes – Banana Republic are having an AMAZING sale – online it’s okay, but in store it’s even better. I got this jacket: http://bananarepublic.gap.eu/browse/product.do?cid=61215&vid=1&pid=000905660SM04-11966
    for £13.99

16. Threadjack on two-different-size shoe shopping:

    My friend has a terrible time buying shoes because her feet are two different sizes (a full size or even 1.5 sizes difference). Does anyone know of any sites that will allow you to buy a pair in two different sizes? My friend works in a gourmet shop and in catering and usually wears clogs or something similar, so she isn’t looking for fancy/dressy things.

    Thanks for any ideas.

    1. Excited to see the answers. I’m a half size different and even that drives me insane in pumps.

       1. THIS! The pumps problem is real.

          I just broke down and bought two pairs of the Payless $20 pumps profiled on this site a few weeks back in a 6 and 6.5W just so I would have a pair of pumps that actually fit. I certainly can’t afford this trick for more expensive shoes though. Le sigh…

    2. Recently I was in a Nordstrom store trying to sort out a shoe sizing issue, and the sales associate mentioned in passing that she always checks the size of each shoe in a pair she sells to be certain they are the same, because Nordstrom will sell an unmatched size pair of shoes.

       1. Definitely check with Nordstroms – they’re kind of a go to place if you have any unusual shoe issues.

    3. I know nordstrom will sell different sized shoes, but only if it is at least a size (or maybe size and a half) difference. Good luck!

    4. My feet are 1.5 sizes apart, and I can confirm that Nordstrom will sell mismatched-size shoes. They have to be at least 1.5 sizes apart, but you may be able to get them a size apart, depending on the store and their stock.

    5. Thanks everyone, I’ll send her to Nordstrom (or go along with her!).

17. I don’t know, I think this outfit cries out for a navel piercing to break up all that black…
    On an unrelated note, all you Game of Thrones fans, here is CNN’s’ take on the management lessons therein (which is why you all watch it, right, career advice?)
    http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/03/29/game-of-thrones-a-business-leaders-guide/

    1. Love that!

18. Kat et al – have you seen any great April Fool’s Day sales online?

19. UK ladies – Banana Republic are having an AMAZING sale – online it’s okay, but in store it’s even better. I got this jacket: http://bananarepublic.gap.eu/browse/product.do?cid=61215&vid=1&pid=000905660SM04-11966
    for £13.99

20. Can anyone recommend any good blogs or online magazines in Spanish? I know about the main news sites and newspapers, but I’m looking for something more light and fun (think lifestyle topics) to keep up with the language.

    1. Hola [dot] com

    2. I’ve recently started downloading the Radio Ambulante podcast. It’s a lot like This American Life, but in Spanish!

    3. Thanks! These are exactly the kinds of sites I was looking for.

21. I’ve been encouraged to make more personal relationships with more partners at firm as I get closer to partner consideration. I know I should but am intimidated by the idea of asking and going to lunch with random older (mostly) guys. I don’t want to seem cheesy and fear having nothing to say. I know I need to get over it and bite the bullet. Has anyone gone through this or have any advice?

22. I am sorry, I absolutely love how this manages to be wrong on every conceivable level. Well except maybe being basic black.

    Kat, you could make this an occasional feature you know, designer FAIL posts…

    1. Yes!

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