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Oooh: I'm loving the dark green on this Piazza Mini bag from Madewell. It looks like it would be subtle but a great contrast — and you could wear it with both black and navy (all neutrals, really!) as well as some of the dark jewel tones we're seeing now. (In spring I might try it with lavender and light blue, as well.)
The bag is available in five colors for $118; you can get it at Madewell, Nordstrom, and Shopbop. The bag also comes in a larger tote as well as a larger crossbody with a more square shape.
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Sales of note for 9.19.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September, and cardmembers earn 3x the points (ends 9/22)
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles — and 9/19 only, 50% off the cashmere wrap
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Anniversary event, 25% off your entire purchase — Free shipping, no minimum, 9/19 only
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Tuckernuck – Friends & Family Sale – get 20%-30% off orders (ends 9/19).
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
Anon
I gained some COVID weight and didn’t wear my pre-COVID denim much in 2020 or 2021. Now that it’s cooled off, I tried jeans on last night. OH MY, some of those rises are so low that I feel like I need a belly chain or some other MTV TRL nonsense. I can still wear with sweaters and other untucked tops?
Also, do people wear denim with heels any more? Or just chunky boots? I am suspecting that most OOTD instagrammers do not have office jobs but maybe anything truly goes (except what in my closet goes with which other thing in my closet)?
Anonymous
I have switched to all higher roses post pandemic. Even “mid” rises feel low! I purchased two pairs of the Gap vintage something straight leg jeans, and two pairs of Ann Taylor’s sculpting pocket high waist jeans in different lengths.
Low-rise
I say yes, you can still wear your low-rise denim! I sure am – I find high-rise so uncomfortable on my stomach (and unflattering, because I have an apple shape). As for shoes, I think it depends what the cut is – straight leg, boot leg, skinny…
Is it Friday yet?
Happy Golden Enclaves Day to those of us celebrating/suffering after that brutal cliffhanger in book 2! :)
amberwitch
Just checked *the* foreign language fantasy bookstore, and they released it today – guess where I am going tomorrow:-)
BB
Haha! Love that I am seeing this here! I’m very much looking forward to audio-booking this!
buffybot
thanks for the reminder!!
Anon
Hahahaha, love this!
Cb
Quickly google maps the nearest bookshop. That’s my rainy vacation afternoon sorted.
Anne-on
I am not allowing myself to read it until the weekend because I know that I won’t be able to put it down, can’t wait!!
Anonymous
Ahhhhh! Thanks for the reminder! (And now I think I should use my handle as Tuesday Book Release lol)
PSLF question
I cannot figure this out online and have received conflicting information from customer service today. I received PSLF forgiveness within the past year, so my balance is zero, but I did not receive any refund of excess qualifying payments. I’ve since heard that this policy had changed and you can get a refund for payments made during Covid and even perhaps for payments that are now considered qualifying but weren’t then, ie, for payments above the 120 mark. If this is true, do I need to do anything or just wait for a check? Fed Loan Servicing, not Mohela, processed my forgiveness, and Mohela doesn’t seem to know I exist, so I’m not confident that anything has been transferred to them. Thanks in advance.
pugsnbourbon
I haven’t done PSLF, but I made payments during the pandemic and had to call to request a refund. I wouldn’t assume that your loan servicer will send you a refund automatically.
pugsnbourbon
To add – the rep I spoke to said to expect a check in 4-6 weeks. I haven’t received it yet and will probably call back this week or next.
PLB
I got forgiveness earlier this year. It was my understanding that you would be automatically sent a refund (this may have changed in the last several months, though…) More importantly, I’d be sure you’re entitled to a refund. I made many payments over 120 but wasn’t owed a refund because I only consolidated into a Direct Loan for purposes of forgiveness once the new relaxed regulations came down.
Anon
Yes you can request those payments back but won’t automatically happen-have to call and request them.
Anonymous
I received PSLF forgiveness last year. I was automatically refunded the excess payments I made. I can’t remember how long it took though.
Anon
I scheduled my COVID booster for next week. I get so sick from these shots. I know it’s not worse than the disease itself but I certainly don’t look forward to it.
For those who have big reactions (fever, whole body chills, a migraine level headaches, all over body aches – the aches for several days) how would you prep for it? Already planning to clear my work calendar for a couple of days minimum.
Anon
what time of day are you getting it? this time my reaction was more delayed than previously. i’d make sure to drink lots of water day of, and take tylenol before bed that night, and maybe start tylenol before the shot or an hour or two after
Anne-on
This – I got the covid/flu shots together at noon on a Monday. Felt fine Monday, felt ok Tuesday until roughly 3ish, then got chills/feverish and went to bed early and the general ick/malaise persisted until Wednesday night. This was still the ‘weakest’ reaction I’ve had to any of the boosters so far, maybe because I got covid last spring when it was going around?
Cat
I get a medium reaction but have found I deal with it best by ensuring I get a full night’s rest before the effects kick in 12-14 hours later. So, I schedule the shot for early evening Friday.
Same
Same. I get insanely sick, including a 104 fever for primary dose shot 2 and booster (I’ve only had one so far). Mine is tomorrow at 10am. I figure that I won’t get sick-sick until the evening when I’m home. I’m going to hydrate all day, buy Gatorade at CVS when getting the shot and basically just pray ha.
I have a young kid so I was deliberate to get it midweek while we had childcare and make sure some things on the home front are square, accounting for 2ish days of being fully down.
I told work that I’ll likely WFH Thursday and was direct as to why and have otherwise cleared my schedule of client-facing meetings on Thursday. I figure I can call an audible on Friday depending on how lingering the side effects are. For my one and only booster they definitely lingered for 2-3 days.
Good luck – it’s worth it!
Anon
Honestly, I just had very mild COVID. But for the schedule disruption, both shingles and COVID shots were much worse.
thanksgiving anxiety
+1
I just don’t COVID shots anymore. Plus the shots majorly disrupt my menstrual cycle which matters for unrelated reasons right now.
Anonymous
Yeah, screw everyone else out there. Survival of the fittest
F the elderly. F those with cancer. And F you if you get long Covid or severe illness. Am I right?
thankgiving anxiety
if they come out with a vaccine that prevents transmission i’ll think about it!
Anon
I will get a flu shot. But I got COVID even though I got the prior shots and COVID was milder on me than the shots.
Anon
Are people now dying with COVID or of COVID. When it was “of COVID” my calculus was different. Now it seems that many deaths are of people who may be COVID + but that isn’t killing people or making them gravely ill now. My ICU nurse friends are just reporting not what they did in day the summer of 2021. Omicron just seems really different.
Anon
Omicron’s not really different, it’s more just that virtually everyone has been infected and/or vaccinated, and people aren’t anywhere near as likely to die if they’ve been vaccinated or survived a previous infection. And, sadly, another reason is that the most clinically vulnerable died in the first few waves.
Anon
Anon @ 5:18 you’re so close. You got the shots. COVID was mild. Think, think, think. Can you connect the dots?
anon
+1 I will only get additional booster shots if I need to travel to Europe. It’s just not worth it, having finally experienced COVID
doc
You just don’t get it.
BB
I get reactions for about 36 hours, pretty much what you wrote except the headaches aren’t that bad if I stay prone. I just plan for it. I get the shot Friday after work, make sure my fridge is stocked for the weekend and/or already plan out what food delivery I’m going to order. Then I just sleep or take Nyquil and sleep, maybe read a book or watch a show. I also find hot baths are helpful for the aches if you have the energy for it!
Anom
Gatorade. Stay hydrated.
Anonymous
Anecdata obviously, but I had bad reactions to my first rounds and first booster (all Moderna) but virtually no reaction last week to my second booster (Pfizer this time). I did preemptively take Tylenol, but was fine. I had prepared for a quiet day, but didn’t need it. I have had C-vid between the first booster and now – not sure if that impacted it at all. Hopefully you’ll be the same!
Anonymous
Do you share my nausea with each shot? I found ginger ale and ginger tea helped.
Anon
Side effects for me peak between 12 and 24 hours post shot. I get it Friday morning so I can go to bed early, sleep through the worst of it and then take it easy the next day.
Anon
I reacted horribly for 2-3 days to all four shots! After the second shot I learned and I took time off or got the shot on a Friday.
Aunt Jamesina
I only had a bad reaction with my second shot, but I made soup and bought some cereal so I had no-cook food options to on hand.
Anon
I just had my latest booster, and it was as bad as the original shot – I react very strongly. I had mine on Saturday afternoon, my highest fever was Sunday (about 103.5) and wasn’t fully myself until Tuesday afternoon. I made sure I had all the foods I want when I am sick, cleared my calendar, and just hunkered down. I know it was worth it, but it is definitely not fun.
Anon
Before both Covid original shots and the boosters, I got a high vitamin immunity boosting IV drip at a sports facility and each time, did not have any symptoms from the shot. I did the drip the day before the shot each time. I know these types of IV drips are usually not worth it, and maybe I just got lucky, but it has been worth it for me!
Anon
Thanks all for the suggestions, I guess there’s no avoiding the misery, but having soup and gatorade on hand are really good ideas. I was already “layering” tylenol and naproxen sodium for prior shots, and counting the minutes until my next dose. I wish there were more I could take!!
My reaction is like Same and Anon @ 3:39. It helps in some way to know I’m not the only one. I’ve always had the shot midday and then I wake up at midnight with fever, teeth chattering and whole body shakes. The first time I even hallucinated. Then the body aches and massive headache that lasts for days.
No Face
My reaction is a roll of the dice, so I get my shots on Friday afternoons.
Nesprin
I scheduled my last one for Thursday, took Friday off and the weekend to recover. Tylenol and hydration and bad TV were the only things that helped.
anon
Make yourself some soup or food prior to, so you don’t have to cook while feeling sick, and keep plenty of water bedside. I had a fever for 6 hours, body aches for 12 more, then headaches the next couple of days with this newest booster. Very little reaction previously.
Duckles
My doctor told me it is totally fine to take meds (in my case, naproxen) immediately before getting the shot to minimize side effects, if you want to confirm with your doc. I do that for the first 24 hours and side effects are minimal (just kind of run down). Also be sure to drink tons of water day of the shot, don’t drink alcohol, and also doing push-ups throughout the day prevents arm soreness.
Seventh Sister
I didn’t prep for it, but I felt so bad 36 hours later that I called in sick to work. With my last COVID booster, I had a bad night about but then was fine by the next morning. I’m not looking forward to the next booster round.
AIMS
I schedule mine for the morning because I tend to feel worst about 12-14 hours after the shot. This way I can be in bed for the worst of It. Also take Tylenol. It makes it much more manageable.
Anon
All the shots have been worse for me than actual Covid was. Four in, fifth still to go, my strategy is to get it Friday night and go to bed early. I’m usually okay by Monday, but I plan to WFH that day.
Anon
Get a LOT of sleep and a LOT of water. I didn’t do it for my previous booster, did it for this booster, and it was night and day. No symptoms other than sore arm which went away in a day. I spent the weekend sleeping.
Anon
How is my COVID math here?
Roommate A feels sick with a fever on 9/9, tests + on 9/12. Roommate B feels sick on 9/14 and tests + on 9/15. My throat feels scratchy starting on 9/15 but I don’t test + until 9/20. Roommate C had COVID in June and so far, nothing (but C has been in a mask since 9/12). B is now testing negative (but I am still testing +). I think that C could drop the mask at this point (but WHY am I the house’s chief medical officer? it’s all dr. google at this point). Yes? Yes b/c the bigger danger now is from other people not from us?
Grace
It may be conservative but, from what I’ve read, if you’re testing positive on rapid tests, you’re still theoretically contagious to roommate C. I would say mask until you’re testing negative on rapids.
Anon
Agree. In close quarters I’d consider yourself contagious until you test negative.
Anon
Unless you’re my co-worker, who tested + last week and is here unmasked now. WHY?!
Anon
F your coworker!!!
Anonymous
My daughter’s school is requiring kids to return 5 days after the positive test. No masks.
Anon
Agree. Anecdotally a friend’s partner (same household) tested positive 9 days after him. Given the short omicron incubation period everyone assumes he infected partner after leaving isolation on day 5 (he was still positive on rapids and didn’t wear a mask). Just seems like such a shame to avoid transmitting it on the front end only to stop mask-wearing too soon and infect others.
Lily
If you are still testing positive on an at-home test, your roommate should absolutely not stop masking around you. If you’re still testing positive on a PCR test but negative on an at-home test, she can stop masking. At-home test positives indicate contagiousness.
Anonymous
So you tested positive 7 days ago. I think both of you should be wearing masks until you are past the 10 day mark and have gone more than 24 hours without a fever unaided by medicine but depends on severity of your illness: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html
I wouldn’t trust “immunity” from a June infection at this point. Also keep in mind that the 5 day push originally came from wanting workers back on the front. I think science sides with more caution for a close contact.
Anon
Isn’t it only days past + test only if you have no symptoms? Otherwise, it seems to be you count days based on symptoms.
I’m not sure how the allergy people do this — they seem to have had symptoms since the 1990s.
Anokha
I think that you continue to mask until you are 10 days out from testing positive — OR, you meet all three of the following criteria:
1) Five days out from a positive test
2) Fever free without the aid of medicine
3) Two negative rapid tests, 48 hours apart.
Anonymous
That’s not actually true if the person had moderate illness. It’s 10 days. See the CDC link.
Anokha
Thank you! That’s a good caveat.
Anon
Do people do #3 IRL? I feel like most assume #1 and 2 are together sufficient. It’s more a feeling that you may have nose funk that stays around for a + test for a WHILE, like 90 days so time is more indicative of infectiosness vs test result at that point.
Anon
My husband wore a mask until he was negative on a rapid test (it took 13 days!) before removing his mask around us. But we didn’t wait for two negative tests a full 48 hours apart. That seems excessive. The line on his test was getting noticeably fainter every day and had been pretty faint since day 8. When it finally went negative on day 13 we were done. It seemed like there was no chance he was infectious. He’d been symptom free since like day 5. Nobody else got sick.
Duckles
I did (ish), before I went places unmasked, because rapid tests are a good proxy for contagion. FWIW, I tested neg day 6, pos day 7, neg day 8, neg day 9, and only then unmasked.
Low Buy Blues
I’m trying to be on a clothes low-buy this fall but ugh I am having such a hard time. I see so many things I want but I have such a full closet already. Any tips or suggestions of how to stay strong?
Anon
Poshmark, thrift stores, trading with friends.
pugsnbourbon
Only let yourself buy things on the last day of the month (or last Saturday if you want to get the weekend sales).
Grace
Make yourself wait a couple days before pulling the trigger. That can help prevent impulse purchases. I also find reading the negative reviews can help talk me out of something.
Anon
This, and unsubscribe from mailing lists!
Anonymous
Write down things you want to buy and then wait a week! It’s easier to tell yourself “not now” than “not ever.”
I think no-buy is easier than low-buy, FWIW. If you tell yourself you can only buy what’s absolutely necessary, it gets a lot easier to weed out all the things that may lose their luster once they’re in your closet.
anon
For the short term don’t browse websites, sale emails or whichever source it is for you that inspires ‘wants’. In the medium term, shop your closet. Take some time (i.e. not when you are getting ready in the morning) to put together outfits, find a way to wear that fab piece that you never pull out of the closet somehow. In the long term, work towards appreciating a pretty thing and enjoy its beauty, without necessarily needing to own a copy of it.
Low Buy Blues
Thanks all – these are good suggestions.
Anon
Fall is my weak spot. Every September as soon as I sense that Fall feeling in the air, I want all the sweaters and scarves and wool pants and socks and plushy coats and you name it.
Do you store your fall clothing out of sight? I do because I have a small closet. I typically don’t get it out until mid October because I’m in the Bay Area and we are still going to have hot, linen-worthy days. But this year I’m getting it all out early and doing all the ironing and steaming now so that I can look at it and remember that I absolutely do have enough for Fall.
Anonymous
I’ve told myself I can buy whatever clothes I want, just has to be in person. It’s been effective at cutting down mindless shopping when I’m bored and adding things to my bag to get over a free shipping threshold. But mentally it helps me to know that if there’s something I really want I can get it, I just need to get over to the mall.
anon
Get your fall clothes out. Try things on if you haven’t in a while. Clear out anything you don’t love.
When you see something you want to buy, shop your closet for something similar.
If you follow influencers and like one of their outfits, try to put together an “inspired by” outfit with only what you have in your closet. Be creative!
Unsubscribe to email lists and find a different habit when you feel like browsing.
Anon
This is really good advice! Not the OP but I’m going to do this now! Thanks
Anon8
Random afternoon fun question– what’s the best recommendation you’ve gotten from the ‘rette hive?
I ordered the Athleta Brooklyn pants yesterday after seeing all the endorsements. I tried Modsy (RIP) after seeing it recommended here and found it really helpful. Also probably a million other little ones I can’t remember now.
Grace
J.Crew Factory sweater blazers. They’re wonderful and I used them constantly in Fall-Spring.
Anon
I posted about the Athleta Brooklyn pants. I now have 3 pairs and ordered a 4th.
I can thank this place for my Talbot’s sweater jackets, my Cuyana tote, and the push I needed to spend the $ on my Tumi hard sided roller bag!
Anne-on
It’s not a ‘thing’ but the advice and encouragement from here and the moms site on how to set and maintain boundaries at work kept me going through the ‘my kid is sick every 3 weeks at daycare and omg I need to quit because I’m a failure at work’ period. When my kid got older the stories of other women leaving roles they felt under appreciated in and their success stories encouraged me to go for progressively more senior/well paid roles despite my impostor syndrome. I don’t know many other working moms IRL and I had zero corporate experience coming out of college so in many ways this blog taught me how to be a working professional.
On a frivolous level – way too much of my closet is now made up of pieces from the Fold ;)
Anonymous
Agree with key pieces of this. This community gave me the strength to pursue my dream job and when asked about my salary expectations, to just say “I expect to be paid a competitive market rate”. I got an offer that was double my then current salary, with amazing deferred comp options as well. That and, always consider countering the first salary offer you receive is very good advice for women!
Elegant Giraffe
Dagne Dover signature tote, Away Everywhere bag, “the only way out is through,” and “do the thing”
And I also love my Brooklyn pants!
Gail the Goldfish
J Crew Going Out Blazer. And back in the day, The Skirt from Nordstrom (I don’t even remember what brand it was, but I had like 4 of them in my early lawyer career). And lots of travel and book and general life tips and recommendations.
Sybil
It was the Halogen brand and I had at least 8, despite not being a skirt person. They were amazing.
Anon
I remember the days of The Skirt! It never fit me right – too short (I’m tall) and clingier on the thighs than I was comfortable with.
Remember how everyone used to wear so much color? Like, the Skirt in mustard with a purple blouse and teal shoes. I never did but I was always amazed at the color combos people would post.
Vicky Austin
The 2010s were very colorful times, especially in fashion!
Vicky Austin
My brain’s gone blank, but so many book recs, the Going Out Blazer, lots of other things.
Elegant Giraffe
oh yes! SO many entertainment recs – books, tv shows, podcasts
Vicky Austin
Ooh! That Covergirl concealer stick that looks like lipstick. My husband steals it when he has a zit; it’s that good.
Shelle
Currently wearing my Loft crepe pintucked taper pants and sipping from my Zojirushi coffee thermos while Just Doing The Thing! :)
Anon
Silpat baking sheet, Le Petit Marseillais body wash
Lobby-est
Everything Senior Attorney has ever written. She’s my spirit guide.
Senior Attorney
Awww! That makes my day!
Meanwhile I’m over here remembering how I used to wear The Skirt in every color with contrasting tops and cardigans and Jessica Simpson high heeled patent leather pumps!
Anon and on
with you here!
Explorette
Tinkle razor is probably the best and most life changing for me.
Anon and on
wegovy. down 65 pounds in 7 months
Anon and on
you will know us by our going out blazers, Athleta pants, dagne bags, Doing the Things and looking for SA!
Anon
Can you quiet quit in BigLaw? Or quiet quit on my way to a review that sends me on my way anyway? I need to recharge and figure out what is next.
Anon
You can set boundaries and decline work, but how long you have may be shorter in biglaw than other places. I was pushed out of an up/out firm and once I was told my days were numbered I tried to stay pleasant and helpful in interactions, even if I was working a lot less.
I’d try to keep a relatively good attitude and work in the low-to-normal range until your conversation, as how amenable they will be to having you stay on pending next step will be shaped by how you are perceived before that conversation.
Definitely do set boundaries and look for your next step! If there’s no future there, don’t k i l l yourself trying to make them happy.
Anon
Haven’t moms been trying this for decades, with formalizing things and even taking pay cuts? Maybe they should have quiet quit instead.
Anne-on
That’s probably the best advice I ever received on this blog – never formalize a part time arrangement without ‘leaning out’ for a bit first and seeing if anyone notices. Spoiler – nobody has ever noticed. It also helps if you’ve been somewhere long enough to nicely say something along the lines of ‘this isn’t my job, it’s Tom’s job, let me connect you with him so he can help walk you through the support he can offer you.’ vs taking on random projects out of ‘team spirit and support’. Nope – if it isn’t in my job description there better be a darn good reason you’re expecting me to do it.
Anon
I used to manage 45+ people direct and indirect. I was a layer of management where I didn’t have any say over the work requirements coming at us, so I just tried to protect my people as best as I could. I can’t tell you how many new moms I talked out of working part time. From my perspective, the work is the same, you just get paid less for it.
Flexible work arrangements and good support staff are really what moms need, in my experience.
Anon
1000%
Cb
Right? I went back at 80% after mat leave and it was a pay cut with no impact on my day to day life. You can’t write 80% of an article. The only time I can see it is if it is low enough to get you out of teaching or an admin role (my boss dropped to part time at one point to avoid being dept chair)
SEATAC
We have a 9 hour layover in Seattle on an upcoming international trip. We’d like to get out of the airport and see a few touristy things to kill time, maybe the Public Market and Children’s Museum? Are these feasible in the time we have? I’d welcome recommendations. Should we Uber or rent a car? We will have one in a car seat (that we will bring with us).
Anon
If you haven’t ever been to Seattle, yes, do the Public Market. Maybe the space needle. Yes they’re touristy, and some native Seattleites scoff at them, but they’re both pretty fun things to do and worth an hour or so for each. I think you have time. Count on getting back to SEA two hours before your flight time (not boarding time), especially if you have Clear and TSA pre you should be absolutely fine.
Anon
adding, I’d uber to save time at the rental counter. That could take up a significant chunk of time.
anon
Uber. Depending on how old your kids are, we really liked the playground at the space needle/children museum. The market was too crowded for my liking, wall to wall people, felt a bit claustrophobic.
Anon
Yes to Uber and yes also to the playground at the seattle center (where the space needle, children’s museum and science museum are located). If your child likes dinosaurs or butterflies or would enjoy a planetarium or laser light show, the science museum is great. My personal fave (and I live here) is the Woodland Park Zoo, but it is a little farther away from the airport.
Anon8
I don’t live in Seattle but my company is based there and I travel there often for work. Definitely Uber. As the other poster mentioned you’ll waste time at the rental counter and also you’ll pay a ton to park downtown. Budget a half hour for the drive from the airport to downtown as long as it’s not rush hour. Pike’s Place Market is totally worth going to and get some coffee from a local coffee shop if you’re a coffee drinker!
Also– Seattle is the only city I’ve ever been in where all the public bathrooms are locked, including Starbucks and hotels (you’ll need to buy something to access the bathroom).
And something to be aware of: Seattle, like many west coast cities, has a big problem with homelessness which has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic. I would be comfortable walking around the market and most of downtown but stay away from 3rd ave if you can help it, since there’s a big bus stop that tends to be quite sketchy. I also avoid walking around downtown after dark.
Despite my personal safety warnings I love Seattle and it’s definitely worth visiting!
Anon
Are you coming off a redeye or is this at the start of your travel? Given that at least one of your kids is young enough to need a carseat, I would highly recommend staying in the airport if you’ll be in Seattle after a redeye flight. I’ve done a lot of international travel with kids under 5 and dragging a kid out into a city post-redeye sounds horrible. If this would be at the start of your trip and your kids will be well-rested, disregard.
Meg
Seattle has very easy and cheap light rail from the airport to downtown
Anon
For kids, the museum of flight is really fun and educational, with lots to do for most ages. There’s even a separate but attached section for space travel. Highly recommend, and it’s part way between Seattle city (which is gross…trust me I live here) and the airport.
Qatar
Hi! Have any of you ladies traveled to Qatar? I’m going to Doha for a certain giant sports ball thing and would love to hear any tips etc.
seek consular advice
Know that, as a woman, your rights are limited. Beyond just getting general consular advice on local customs and laws, before going make sure to get consular/legal advice on what to do if you’re the victim of a crime. Contacting the police may be much worse for you than leaving the country immediately without making a report.
Anon
I have! We were only there for a day (layover en route to the Maldives). I thought it was so interesting. The highlight for us was the Souq Waqif. We spent most of the rest of the day just walking around the waterfront area and then we went to the beach. Not the most unique thing, I know, but we had a little kid with us and that was high on her list. And kind of cool to say we’ve swum in the Persian Gulf. We didn’t go to the Museum of Islamic Art (see also: kid), but that would be on my list if I went back without kids.
I found some things online saying women need to cover their hair, but I didn’t and it was fine. I think in the more developed Muslim countries the standards are very different for locals vs. tourists. You probably won’t want to wear a spaghetti strap top or short shorts but as long as you’re in clothing that would be modest enough to visit a church in Europe you’re fine. At the beach, I wore a sporty two piece swimsuit but we were at a private hotel beach. Apparently at public beaches the dress code is much more strict so definitely check on that if you want to visit public beaches.
Have fun! I would love to go back. Until this trip I’d never been to the Middle East other than Israel and it was a really cool experience.
Board Responsibilities
I know I’m posting late, but I have a nonprofit board question (U.S.). If a board member learns that an employee of the nonprofit is actively looking for work, and should the employee leave, that would significantly impact the organization, are they compelled to inform the executive director? Of course their primary interest is the success of the organization, but is it unethical for a board member to keep knowledge of such a likelihood to themselves?
Thanks!
Anon
Your biggest issue is that institutional knowledge is all with one employee and you don’t have a succession plan. If this person is hit by a car or has a stroke, what is the non-profit’s plan for continuing operations?