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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Classic Shetland Blazer

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A woman wearing a pink blazer top with brown leather skirt

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

I’m pretty bored with all the blazers in my closet at the moment, so I wandered over to Talbots to take a look at some of their options. There are SO many good ones if you’re looking for something for the holiday season, but this cheery pink wool number is going to be perfect for the rest of the winter.

I’ve been wearing this color with a lot of chocolate and camel this season, but it would also look great with mustard or olive if you’re trying to make more of a statement. 

The blazer is $199-$219 at Talbots and comes in sizes 2-18, 0P-16P, 14-24, and 14P-22P. 

Sales of note for 1/10:

  • Nordstrom – 2,400+ new women's markdowns!
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  • J.Crew Factory– Up to 50% off select cashmere + extra 60% off sale
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  • Neiman Marcus – Up to 75% off when you take an extra 40% off sale
  • Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale! Extra 60% off sale sweaters, coats, scarves, and shoes + extra 50% all other markdowns + Red Door Deals from $24.50

205 Comments

  1. (Ugh, I accidentally posted this yesterday on the weekend post, which in no way helped my plight.) Good morning! I just came in to some family jewelry that is a bit nicer than I was expecting. There is no documentation, so I know I need to get an appraisal to get a jewelry rider on my insurance. Do you have any recommendations for appraisers in the Arlington/McLean/Tyson’s area? Or farther out in NoVA/DC if that’s not an option. Thank you!

    1. If you call Tiny Jewel Box on Connecticut Ave they may have a referral. That was where we all went for stuff like that.

        1. Agree. If you’re in/near Bethesda, Boone and Sons in Friendship Heights (just very close to Saks, tucked in behind the Courtyard Marriott) is great, too.

    2. Are you sure you want to insure? Would you replace it if it were stolen? I decided not to insure family heirloom jewelry for that reason – I wouldn’t replace it.

        1. Losing something that was a gift to begin with is a little different. It’s emotionally worse but financially not the same as losing salary that you earned. That said, if the insurance were very cheap, it could be worth it. It’s usually not though, so you end up paying a lot to inherit.

        2. Check your existing homeowners policy, they usually some coverage for this already.

          1. +1. If you’re talking a few thousand dollars, may not be needed. Tens of thousands, maybe.

    3. Also if it’s antique, you’ll probably find it harder to get full history of location/date created/etc. But you should be able to easily find someone who can appraise general value and document the weight/metals/stones.

    4. I recently had all my jewelry appraised by Aspen Jewelry Design in Herndon. It’s a little further from Tysons/McLean but they are wonderful.

  2. In 2025 for straight leg non-cropped suiting pants, how are you hemming them? Everything looks to long now but I’ve had expensive over-hemming errors before so a bit gun shy. I could just wear a higher heel but my 2025 feet dont like that. I have a separate pair of these same pants as ankle length ones to wear with flats.

    1. Straight leg is the hardest IMHO. I like my dress pants to be almost floor-skimming, but straight pants are too narrow to drape gracefully over the foot when hemmed to that length, and can look blocky when hemmed for flats.

      1. Agreed. I went for two pairs just to keep my options open and have something deliberately for flats and nice sneakers. But I like a serious suit for serious times and botching the hem just ruins it. Clothes are hard!

      2. I am hemming a bit shorter than I used to, even with flared pants. I find that I am ok with some of my shoe showing these days. For straight leg, I would go even shorter, maybe just a little longer than what you’d wear with flats? But I totally agree, straight leg is so hard. I just bought a couple of pairs of straight leg jeans in a dark wash for work, and they need to be hemmed a few inches so I look less stubby.

    2. I obsessed over this kind of thing in my 20s and also had expensive hemming mistakes. Are you old enough to just opt out of doing this? Cropped pants are ugly, skinny pants are selectively in/out depending on the commenter, but at least they eliminated this issue.

        1. There’s a thought. I love that my blazers seem to be longer than HoCo dresses at my kid’s school. Maybe the Robert Plant video woman look?

    3. I’m wearing mostly flats but I have a feeling heels are going to come back in any day now. Probably while straight/wide leg pants are still in. So I, too, am gunshy about hemming pants that may need to be longer in a year or two.

      For now I’m using hemming tape. I think I learned about it here, actually; I can’t remember if it was Kat’s post or a commenter’s. It’s basically an iron on glue that seems reasonably easy to remove if needed. No cutting necessary.

      1. It is, but it doesn’t always stay up, I have found, and also leave a sticky residue when you undo

  3. Doing a potluck dinner between Christmas and NYE for work colleagues and need an easy one-pot’ish meal idea as the host. I have already done chili, tacos and Indian food previous years, and the Indian food was more liked than the chili but way too much work for me. About 12-15 people. Soups are a no-go for this mostly vegetarian and foodie group. TIA!

    1. If you want to lean in to comfort food, I tried a very easy recipe for homemade hamburger helper (with lots of veggies) that’s one-pot with protein, fat, and carbs. It was a hit with my picky husband and baby. It may be a bit too casual but lmk.

    2. Eggplant lasagna, if either you (or a local Italian place) knows what they’re doing with eggplant.

      1. The Ina Garten Roasted Veggie lasagna is delicious and easy. Add a salad. Her Portobello Mushroom Lasagna is also always a hit.

    4. does it need to be a warm dish in a pot? like what about a salad or dips and bread or charcuterrie? otherwise mac and cheese, ziti….

        1. Yes i feel I need at least ONE hearty main meal option as the host. I am also doing a main drink and some nibbles, but others will guests are mostly bringing stuff like chips (not main dishes).

    5. If you want it to be hot, I’d probably do lasagna or another baked pasta dish or enchiladas. If you don’t mind warm or room temp, you could also do some sort of pasta salad or grain or bean salad (these are easy to make ahead and would be easier to make without cheese if there are any people who don’t eat dairy).

    6. A vegetarian group that size? Order a sheet pan of pasta, add garlic bread and salad, and call it good.

    7. If you don’t want to do pasta, which is the easy choice with the most appeal, another option could be to get some quiches and chicken pot pies (from a farmer’s market or somewhere nice) that you just have to heat up. Salad would also be a plus.

      1. If you have a pressure cooker, even Kenji Lopez-Alt approves of instant pot risotto. I like the damn delicious spinach mushroom risotto, and it’s easy to modify to be vegetarian or vegan — olive oil instead of butter, vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, let people add their own Parmesan. If you want to please the carnivores, sheet pan some assorted sausages to go with.
        https://damndelicious.net/2018/03/21/instant-pot-mushroom-risotto/

    10. I did almost weekly potlucks in 2025, and here were my greatest hits:
      – chicken provencale
      – Jennifer Aniston salad
      – roasted carrot salad
      – if you can do a dessert, it’s old school but jelly rolls were my fan favorite

    11. Eggplant and lentil stew with pomegranate molasses from NYT. When I make it there’s very little liquid so it’s not actually a stew but more of a dish. It’s delicious!

    12. I would do smitten kitchen’s spanakopita or hetty mckinnon’s cold tomato and dumpling salad with chili crisp (that one is on NYT cooking).

      1. One of my favorite tricks is to make a spanikopita filling – greens, dill, scallions, feta, eggs, and some rice or farro to soak up the juices, and then use frozen puff pastry as the crust.

      1. +1 this is a great idea. smitten kitchen has a great ‘brunch while still sleeping in’ plan- basically breakfast casseroles, quickbreads, fruit salads etc.

    15. Melissa Clark has an “Indian Butter Chickpea” recipe that’s one-pot and pretty easy. I make it on weeknights. You could do that and serve over rice.

      1. This is a nice recipe share. I am clipping it for the upcoming week of cooking for visiting relatives.

    16. Baked Macaroni and Cheese is a crowd pleaser, and vegetarian (although not vegan).

  4. I have a blazer this colour that I normally wear with the matching sheath dress. It’s super fun but admittedly can be a lot of look. I would have never thought to pair it with a leather skirt like this but I really love the styling here. Thanks for the inspiration!!

  5. My MIL really wants me to make Beef Wellington again for Christmas — I made it a few years ago, but that was before I had my second child, and now I don’t think I’ll have enough uninterrupted kitchen time to prepare the full feast. What sides would go well with Beef Wellington that are very easy/quick to put together?

      1. The Bob Evans premade mashed potatoes (in the refrigerator case at the supermarket) are really, really good, and microwave in 3 minutes. They don’t taste fake at all and are my go-to when I need a quick potato side for a more involved meat dish.

        1. Co-sign this. They also keep in the fridge for a while, so you can have the little ones handy for snacks :)

    3. How about a main dish of “That’s not going to work for me this year” to free you from overextending yourself? You are hosting the dinner so you can pick an entree that works for you at this point in your life. Little kid life is not forever.

      1. It sounds like she’s planning to make it. Maybe not try to introduce needless friction. MIL can help with the sides.

        1. Because some of us love our families and want to give them what they ask for during the holidays?

          I would absolutely support OP if she was asking for advice about how to say she could not manage something that labor intensive this year, but that is not what she asked.

          OP – the Costco mashed potatoes are also very good and they have some lovely multi-colored carrots that would look great roasted.

          Signed – Someone whose father died this year and who would love to have a chance to cater to his food requests this Christmas

          1. I am truly sorry for your loss, and I know that the holidays are extra hard when you’re grieving. And yet, the rest of us *do* love our families, too, even if we’re willing to draw a line we need.

          2. Oh I understand that you can love your family and still draw boundaries. But a number of people are advising OP to tell her MIL to bring the sides (without any information about her capabilities or how far she is traveling) or suggesting she should just refuse to make it. Nothing in her post indicates she does not want to make the Beef Wellington. She asked for advice about side dishes and half the responses just ignore that.

            But also thank you. I am having a rough time this holiday season and probably being overly sensitive as a result.

    6. Stuffed mushrooms (can be prepped ahead and cooked quickly) and sauteed spinach with butter and nutmeg (cooks in minutes). If that isn’t enough, roast some squash and cook it to soft (400 degrees) and make it mashed with butter and maple syrup.

      1. For lazy but delicious stuffed mushrooms fill them with garlic & herb boursin and put panko on top

      2. After thinking and reading others’ comments I might prefer roasted carrots to squash here. They are at least as easy.

    7. Frozen green beans. Simmer for a few minutes then toss with butter and lemon. Put whole or sliced mushrooms in a ceramic dish, add thyme, a little red wine or balsamic vinegar, and garlic (powder or whole cloves), and put it in the oven along with the wellington. Outsource the salad to your MIL or pick one up from a restaurant. If you want more starch make compound butter a couple days beforehand then toss a baguette in the oven while the wellington rests.

    8. I’d probably just roast some asparagus in the 10-15 min you’re resting the Wellington. Plate with some lemon rounds and it looks fancy enough. Spinach salad would also be easy to prep. I personally wouldn’t worry about rolls or mashed potatoes, but potatoes can be made in a crockpot.

    9. How about mashed potatoes, gravy from a packet, and steamed green beans (little lemon and butter)? And buy some rolls. I think you’re saying you have time to do the beef wellington if you can find some quickie sides? I think you could also prep the beef wellington the night before so it’s ready to pop in the oven.

    11. Ina Garten recently publicized and excellent green salad that is super simple to make, consisting basically of just lettuce, but dressed in a fabulous vinaigrette that has a secret ingredient of a tablespoon of mayonnaise mixed in. The recipe is available online.

      I also recently saw a stove-top recipe online for pumpkin soup, made with canned pumpkin puree, which might add a lovely elegant touch to the meal without too much effort.

      And if you have extra room in the oven, or a second oven, consider roasted butternut squash with garlic, sage, and pine nuts, and a sprinkling of goat cheese – make it with the pre-cut squash (cut into smaller pieces). The sautéed garlic, sage and pine nuts takes five minutes on the stove top, and the dish does not have to be “served immediately,” i.e. it will keep fine for a time before the family gets it together and sits down for the meal.

  6. I need to replace some falling-apart pajamas and lounge clothes. I’m looking for cozy waffled shirts with a v neck or Henley and 100% cotton. Ultra-boxy ok. Any recommendations for me for something that will last at least a few years? The one I’m getting rid of is at least 20 years old.

    1. Forgot to add I’d also like some comfy, not-tight sleep tank tops. For those, something with a little shape in the bust would be nice.

    4. On the outside chance you’re somewhere the North40 chain has a store, they have some great waffles shirts that are boxy, soft and cozy in the mens section. I’m wearing one now.

      1. You’ve never had “that shirt” that is comfy beyond all sense or logic? I’m sorry and I hope you get to enjoy that coziness some day. Truly, you’ll understand it then.

      2. It’s really not; it used to be normal. When I was a teen I wore clothing my grandma and mom had worn before me. The clothes were made to withstand a lot of wear and washing, and they did.

      3. OP here and I’ll probably keep it another 5 until it truly falls apart. We’re at 4 big holes now :) It belonged to my beloved late aunt before it came to me.

      4. I have a couple tank tops that are pushing the 10-year mark. Only one of them is decent to wear outside the house, tho.
        OP, I really like the Hanes 100% cotton things I’ve picked up.

      5. I still have some clothing that is 20 years old and in fine shape. Why throw something away just because you’ve had it for a while?

      6. Every now and then you have a garment that is completely indestructible. A zillion tees come and go, but three have been with me forever. One pair of Adidas basketball shorts is the same way.

  7. I got some diamond stud earrings for myself online that are 3 carat total weight, so 1.5 carats per ear. Now that they’ve arrived they’re larger than I expected, and they seem kind of fancy for everyday wear. Do you all think this is too large for everyday wear, or is it just that I’m not used to wearing something so sparkly and my eyes will adjust? They’re asscher cut and set in a four prong white gold setting. I live in the Midwest and have a normal office job, in case that’s relevant to your assessment.

    1. The standard/goal for many upper-middle-class couples when they get an engagement ring is 1 carat. The vast majority of married women have diamonds much, much smaller than that. I’m afraid wearing earrings larger than e-rings is out for regular office wear in my book.

      1. I disagree with this take. But in general, different diamond sizes look proportional on different heads and ears. 1.5 is a perfectly appropriate size per se, but if you have tiny earlobes they might look huge!

        1. Co-sign. I wear 1 ct round-cut studs in each ear. I have a wide head, per recent experience with a too-tight headband, but I’m short. My hair hangs around my hears, so they aren’t even hugely visible. The diamond size is about the same as the other metal studs I wear (flower, fleur de lis, shell, sphere, etc.).

          If if YOU don’t like them, you don’t have to wear them.

      2. “The standard/goal for many upper-middle-class couples when they get an engagement ring is 1 carat“

        This is just absolutely 100% not my experience. In what century in what state? Rock your earrings, op. Literally do not dim your sparkle over this. There is no rule that your earrings must be smaller than the imagined engagement ring of a fictional 22 year old school teacher from Iowa.

      4. With the popularity of lab diamonds 1ct is on the small side for upper middle class couples. 1.5ct is more typical for 20 or 30 something women. If OP is wearing simple studs every day I don’t think these earrings are too flashy for the office. Her coworkers might think they’re CZ anyway.

        1. +1, this is such a weirdly specific and completely off the wall opinion-presented-as-fact.

    2. My everyday diamond studs are 1/3 ct each and they look appropriate on my ears. 1.5 ct on ears would be bigger than my engagement ring and would look wild on my ears. Can you go to a jeweler and look at different sizes?

    3. Yeah my engagement ring was 1.5c and I think it’s a lot for everyday wear. I’d have gone for probably .5c in a super high quality for the sparkle.

      1. DH got me a .9c (since price jumps up at 1) with an imperfection you can see if you turn the ring upside down and look. But it is a round cut with many facets and so sparkly and beautiful. I’ve worn it 24/7 for 14 years now (except at the beach); it is the perfect size and still looks as nice as the day he gave it to me.

        1. Same but with a 1.9c. I love it. What is ‘standard’ really depends on your circle – it honestly seems small compared to what the 30yos in my office are receiving, which look more like 3-4c and perhaps lab-created to get more size for the $.

          1. I totally agree it’s about your circle.
            OP said she was in the midwest so probably more sensible sizing. Where I used to live in Texas 3-4 was very common, and even 1 seemed very small.

      2. Sorry I meant 1.5c is a lot for everyday for EARRINGS and I’d have gone .5c for those. For the ring it was perfect :)

    4. Hmm – looking at pics they don’t seem all that big to me. I say wear them and let your eyes adjust.

    5. My jeweler has a trade in policy for diamonds because they “shrink” over time. So yes I’d say your eye will get used to the size!

      1. +1. Tone down the rest of your look if you need to, but that size would not read as obnoxious to me.

        I’m in the Midwest in a small law firm.

    8. For me, these would be too big for my everyday wear. But I am not a big jewelry person in general. I would definitely get good use out of them for dinners out or other special occasions though.

    9. I have very big earlobes and those would look fine to small on me. I think that makes a difference. But if you like them, keep them.

    12. Thanks all! The comment about it depending on your circle is a good one, and that may be why I’m feeling this way. People in my circle generally do not have large engagement rings – several of my friends didn’t do engagement rings at all and just have a wedding band – and my personality is one that doesn’t love calling attention to myself or seeming flashy. I do love the earrings though. So I haven’t decided what to do, but I really appreciate hearing everyone’s thoughts.

      1. Wear them if you love them, and if you feel uncomfortable wearing them for whatever reason, take them off to avoid discomfort. Life is too short (and too long) to be uncomfortable wearing whatever you have control over. Enjoy!

    1. I think yes? I went back to school PT so I am #blessed to have little time for the news (resurfacing on Saturday and it was all so, so bad). I think in 3 more years I may have an associates’ degree to show for him.

    2. FWIW, even this non-MAGA Republican is appalled by a good chunk of what is going on right now. Based on the conservative pundits I follow, the comments on Rob Reiner seem to have been a tipping point. Definitely not the only objectionable action, but one that is completely indefensible by anyone but the most rabid MAGA fans.

      2. Yeah, we’ll see. If there’s one thing I’ve become convinced of, it’s that no matter how heinous his actions or words, there will be no consequences.

      3. …. they were okay with all the other stuff but Rob Reiner is a bridge too far???

          1. There is no end to the new lines.

            And it’s not like most of these people would vote for a Democrat.

          2. That is the point. Run to check out Dr. Stacey Patton’s take on the purpose of the outrageous social media comments. They are desensitizing people to inhumane language more and more every day.

    3. Yes, but I am choosing to look at it as just about a year, and a year until midterms. Honestly there were weeks in February when I couldn’t imagine making it to now (become time was moving so slowly and things were happening so fast and chaotically). Things are still chaotic but the pace has slowed down, and we don’t have DOGE rampaging all over the place.

    4. it’s so hard to believe. so, so much damage has been done that will take decades to reverse, if ever.

    6. My husband and I were just discussing this. He said something it being almost 2 years and I had to correct him that it hasn’t even been 1 full year. We’re in higher ed and our jobs were both heavily impacted by DOGE.

  9. I need to reduce stress for medical reasons. What are your best tried and true habits, routines, techniques, or items to relieve stress? I already:
    – get 8 hrs of sleep
    – have a regular yoga practice
    – drink lots of water
    – go to therapy and take anti anxiety medication

    1. Honestly, reducing hours at work (and/or or getting additional childcare if that applies to you) is one of the only ways to really move the needle here.

    4. I’ve noticed improved stress resilience with B vitamins and magnesium (I was deficient in both though so YMMV).

      1. Checking certain vitamin levels can be helpful, rarely. But taking “B vitamins” is generally not a good idea. B vitamins are usually mega doses of vitamins that are unnecessary for most of us. There are side effects of these super doses. B6 nerve injury is a common one.

        If you are deficient in a vitamin, you take that specific vitamin and/or adjust your diet and have your doctor follow your levels and symptoms. Taking super doses of every B vitamin is the wrong way to treat B12 deficiency, or to take just for “energy”.

        1. You’re not wrong, but I think megadosing is a separate issue. I also think the only way to get energy from any vitamin is if there’s a deficiency in it; they’re not caloric or anything.

          We’re supposed to take prenatals if we could potentially get pregnant, so medical advice is to supplement at recommended doses (not overdose) a lot of our adult life!

    5. Downgrade the stress level of your job in whatever way is the most logical under your circumstances, up to and including quitting it.

    7. Forget the yoga. Hard exercise outside (winter running, skiing, mountain biking) is where it’s at for stress reduction.

      1. I disagree. Not that hard exercise is not great for stress reduction– it is –but yoga was incredible for stress reduction for me. Specifically, challenging vinyasa classes. I didn’t believe it till I saw it, but wow. What a game changer.

        2. The challenge does make a difference, I agree. What can be risky is doing a “relaxing” class (or something like a gentle walk) that leaves you free to ruminate. YMMV but for me, something that requires focus or I’m going to hit the ground makes it IMPOSSIBLE to ruminate while also decreasing my stress.

        3. This is so personal.

          I can’t stand yoga. No shade to an ancient practice but vinyasa at the gym or studio? The worst.

          It’s bossy and weird and holier than thou. It hurts and there’s always a skinny lady showing off doing her own thing in the front, just ignoring everything and standing on her head-why does she even come? Because the rest of the gym is unimpressed by her antics and so this class needs to be about her. There’s always a hairy guy farting next to you. Why can’t he wear tights under his shorts? No one knows! You get the feeling he’s getting some sick satisfaction from grossing you out.

          They make you stretch painfully and tell you to be grateful. God forbid you wear the wrong workout set brand or fall out of the balance pose; you’ll be given the stink eye if you’re lucky. If you’re not, the instructor will come up to you and place her hands wherever she pleases on your body just to underscore to everyone how bad you are at some pose and how she doesn’t have to ask permission before touching you.

          Just overall a level of awfulness that no one needs when life is already stressful. Walk, run, lift weights, on your own time and get away from those people. You don’t have to do this to be healthy i promise.

          1. Nobody cares about you that much to give you the stink eye over your gym clothes. Truly, it is all in your head.

          3. I love yoga, but I also love this and hope you write humorous personal essays for your job, or at least a side gig.

          4. This made me laugh. There was once a lady who came to class with a male friend / partner / husband and made the most uncomfortable super loud moaning sounds the whole class. At one point everyone in the small group started laughing from discomfort. When the instructor asked the class to be quiet and still for shavasana (sp?) she let out one last prolonged moan. After class the instructor loudly thanked her for showing the group how to truly enjoy yoga. I never saw her since and have always wondered whether this was some sort of a bet she had with the guy.

          5. This is my comment; it was absolutely intended to make everyone laugh. Obviously yoga can be great but it’s silly to pretend yoga class is a stress reliever for everyone.

          6. I’m sorry that you’ve never had a good experience at a yoga studio. I’ve never experienced any of things that you’ve listed here, and in fact, doing yoga at welcoming, down-to-earth, body-positive studios where teachers get explicit consent for physical contact has been very valuable in helping me develop a better relationship with exercise, self-care, and self-acceptance. No one ever said that OP had to go to a yoga class or that yoga classes are a stress reliever for everyone, but I guess you just needed to come in crap all over a well-meaning response to OP’s request for input based on personal experience, for some reason.

          7. Yoga is not my thing and I think it’s boring, but I’ve also never experienced any of this. The instructors also always ask if they can touch you before doing so, in my experience.

    8. eat properly, this doesn’t mean dieting but regular meals of whole foods. Agree, make time for the things you enjoy and give yourself a break on the other. if you have small children and (yes i am confident you love them a lot) need some space or time tell your mother, your husband or your MIL to step it up. I cut my commute after cancer and honestly eventhough my new job is a little boring and junior it has been life changing and made all the other stress reducers more feasible because i don’t spend 3 hours a day in the car. good luck!

    9. In addition to what you named, I used my company’s health coaching program to do one specifically for stress reduction and it helped a lot. I want to say it was 8 weeks. This was in addition to my regular therapist. The health coaching was focused solely on reducing my stress levels while pregnant with the goal of not being on bedrest. It worked. But I do caution that it can be hit or miss with the health coaches. I had a great experience with one, and later for another program, I found the health coach not helpful at all.

    10. Long walks and time in nature are how I’ve made it through this extremely stressful year. That and really claiming my time when I can. Like just not even acknowledging when someone is trying to steal the time I have set aside for myself and addressing their issue later. (In my circumstance, there was a time when that wouldn’t have worked, but once past the worst, I made it happen )

    11. I’ve found that setting my phone on the charger every evening as soon as I get home and only checking when I get a text or call helps me really enjoy my evening. It also means I read more before bed than when I don’t, which feels much more restorative.

    12. I’ve been feeling similarly. Somewhere suggested doing one task a day at half speed as a way to signal to your body that everything is not a rush. I’m still trying to implement this but it seems like it might be helpful.

    13. Get out of an emotionally abusive marriage was by far the most effective thing for me!

    14. Cardio. 45 minutes at a time at least 3 days a week. You need to get your heart rate up and yoga itself wont cut it.

    16. Take time to do whatever thing recharges and revitalizes you. For me, that is spending time with a good book, my hobbies, or my garden every day.

      And minimize or mitigate the things that do bring me stress. For instance, I abhor clutter in my house so I am ruthless about purging kitschy stuff that well-meaning friends and family give way too much of this time of year. I often don’t even let it come into my house, but stop at the donation drop center on my way home from a white elephant party to part ways with the beach themed Live-Laugh-Love sign.

    17. Sunlight exposure, doing something creative / making something, gardening (both kinds), silly dancing and singing, reading comforting books.

    18. Read lots of books (fiction and history, not contemporary politics), and shelter magazines with lots of photos.

      Regularly schedule massages and blow dries.

      Take frequent walks outdoors.

      Double-up on your fruit intake.

      1. Also, keep your phone on silent and don’t watch TV at night, other than a silly movie or show.

  10. I’d love to give my mother a nice pajama set but can’t find any cute ones. She likes long sleeve, button downs in bright, colorful patterns (borderline kitschy). Any websites I should visit? Hanna, Boden, Eberyjay and Lake don’t have “it”.

    7. Uncommon Goods has a few.

      I’m curious which if any recommendation ends up fitting what you’re looking for!

    8. Bedhead is your answer. Maybe size up. But they are super comfy and wear like iron. TONS of kitschy prints but great quality.

    10. Gap has some adorable printed flannel sets available right now. The fabric is really soft, and I may have to buy myself a pair so I don’t steal the set currently under the tree with my daughter’s name on it.

    14. The Company Store has a ton of jammies on sale and some are super-cute prints!

      ALso cosign Printfresh (pricy), Nordstrom Rack (yes, really!).

    16. Co-signing Printfresh! Wonderful quality; I have at least 4 pairs. Now I just wish they would make some solid, plain non-kitschy ones I could add to my collection to round it out, but they are adorable and fun and exactly what you’re looking for.

  11. eat properly, this doesn’t mean dieting but regular meals of whole foods. Agree, make time for the things you enjoy and give yourself a break on the other. if you have small children and (yes i am confident you love them a lot) need some space or time tell your mother, your husband or your MIL to step it up. I cut my commute after cancer and honestly eventhough my new job is a little boring and junior it has been life changing and made all the other stress reducers more feasible because i don’t spend 3 hours a day in the car. good luck!

  12. The annual workplace holiday potluck is coming up, and I am feeling super uninspired. Any ideas for something low-effort but delicious? This isn’t really a “bring something from the grocery store” crowd.

    1. whipped ricotta with proscutto and a fancy honey and good bread. A bucket of fried chicken from KFC or popeyes (no joke always a big hit). Really good bread and fancy butter.

    3. Spinach artichoke dip in the crockpot. So delish and easy to make. Pair it with tortilla chips, carrot sticks, and/or baguette!

    4. Cranberry meatballs in the crock pot. Depending on what time your potluck is, you can plug it in when you get there, and they could be cooked through when it is time to eat. I’ve never taken home leftovers.

    5. The NYT has a toffee recipe that is pretty similar to the one I’ve used forever. Toffee is super delicious and it’s like 10 minutes of work (melting it and getting it to the right temp) for something that looks impressive.

    6. a block of cream cheese with pepper jelly on top, triscuits for spreading.

    7. I hate to cook and am terrible at it. Thanksgiving gathering is also a bring something homemade potluck. I made Paula Deen’s Corn Casserole and it was a big hit. I then took it to my office pot luck and will be taking it to the Christmas Day pot luck for the other side of the family. I promise, it’s super easy.
      https://thecozycook.com/corn-casserole/

    8. Buffalo chicken dip in a crock pot – the recipe is on the bottle of Frank’s Red Hot sauce. Serve w/ pita chips and celery sticks

    9. Cream cheese, sausage, ro-tel tomato baked dip with Tostitos scoops or other suitable dip-delivery chips.

      Brownies

      crock pot meatballs (frozen meatballs, grape jelly or canned cranberry sauce, and a bottle of Heinz chili sauce – recipes are available online)

  13. I wear reading glasses and would like to level up to something stylish and current. Does anyone have specific recommendations for size/shape/color that would elevate my daily look? I don’t know what I should be looking for, but I know my Costco multi-packs aren’t it! I have a small-ish head and face, and heavy frames give me a headache. Thanks!

    1. I feel like it’s impossible to recommend a style without seeing your face, but if you don’t feel like going to a store, you could use the virtual try-on at places like Eye Buy Direct. It’s actually decent and you can order whatever lenses you need. Also, fwiw, if you go shopping in person, many frames come in multiple sizes. So if you like something but it’s too big, they can likely order it in different sizes and colors.

    2. I recently bought some off Zenni and they also have the same virtual try-on option.

      I was having trouble with the cheap ones I bought off Amazon and my optometrist recommended doing something like Costco or Zenni. Having lenses that are actually good quality optically makes my eyes happier. I paid about $100 for my pair of progressive readers on Zenni after a bunch of upgrades.

    3. for an easy way to experiment at home, I found Warby Parker’s virtual try-on (in the app, free) to be super accurate.

    5. Does your Costco offer glasses/frames? If so, go in there and try on a bunch to get a feel for what looks and feels good on you.

  14. Has anyone ever done their own lash lift at home? I like getting it done but it’s expensive and I have to book really far in advance. Vogue.com has an recent article and reviews but I trust you guys more

    2. I find that the solutions for last lifts and lash tinting are pretty toxic, and I wouldn’t want to risk any eye damage due to leaking or me accidentally opening my eyes at the wrong time, so I think this is a thing worth paying for, when I do it.

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