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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 166 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Button Down Blouse

The Personal Shopper (TPS)· Under $150 | · ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Collective Concepts Button Down BlouseWow — there are seven glowing reviews for this polyester blouse, from Collective Concepts. The reviewers note that while it's a bit sheer, it's great with both a pencil skirt and skinny pants. All four patterns seem cool, too — I've pictured the “blue ditsy” pattern, but there's also a simple black and white polka dot, a pink/orange “brushstroke” floral, and a cool mint green geometric pattern. They were $69, but are now marked to $47.99 at Piperlime. Collective Concepts Button Down Blouse Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2) Psst: Check out more great deals at the Corporette Bargains page!

Sales of note for 9.30.24

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

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Comments

  1. Eleanor

    Re-posting on the new thread:

    I’m wearing brown tights with bright red shoes. Does this sound bizarre? Do I need to wear only shoes that are the same color as or darker than my tights? (I have brown shoes I can put on.) If so, does this mean I can’t wear red shoes all winter?

      • PharmaGirl

        Same here… gray shoes with black tights and black shoes with gray tights. Looks good to me!

        Not sure about red with brown, it would depend on the tone. But, in principal, I think it’s okay.

    • Amber

      I have some brown ribbed tights I wear with red leather maryjanes and I love the combo. I wouldn’t do it with patent leather, or a very bright red, but I think it works. My red shoes are usually the most versatile in my wardrobe.

    • SoCal Gal

      I have a pair of shoes that are red AND brown and I love them to pieces. You’re safe.

  2. Ellen

    Yay! I love FRUEGAL Friday’s! The manageing partner is here, but he has not shaven or showered! FOOEY! I also have to go over alot with him and he is waiteing for me now. Doubel fooey! I am hopeing to get outta here by 2 so I can go shoppeing! YAY! Myrna and I have a fun weekend planned, but she has to get gas and she is mad b/c there is none near us. FOOEY! I do not like that David never called me to see if I was OK. I am beginning to think he is not such a great catch like my Dad says. If he was so great, he would make sure I was OK. I deserve better then him. I want a PRINCE in shineing armor. I do not think he is that person. FOOEY b/c there are no other guy’s out there worth lookeing at. Be safe Corporete’s!!!!!

    • Sunshine Girls

      Ellen, be smart and stay away from David. We have been burned by “sincere” guys that will say or do anything UNTIL they get into your panties, then all bets are off. We know about Alan and this dufus is no different. Do not let him into your heart because those Internet guys are just in it for the glory of a roll in the sack with you. If you want to find a guy that will treasure you for both your fine body AND mind, look for a dude about 10 years older than you looking to start a family who has money in the bank, is less likely to sponge off you or put you back in the workforce while he plays WII and is MR MOM because guys like that often wind up banging the young mom next door while you work long hours to put bread on the table. I’ve been there and done that! As a now single mom who had to pay to dump his ass, trust me, you don’t want to be there like me, and this Adam may put you where you don’t want to be if you father his child. DON’T DO IT ELLEN, please!!!!!!!!!

      • Susan (edna_mode_nyc)

        If Ellen fathers his child? Some say trolls don’t exist, but if they do, ladytrolls must be medical marvels to be able to father a child. Count me impressed!

  3. NOLA

    Ms. BEF, one last try. I’ll be in Denver this evening. Post if you want to get together. We miss you around here!

  4. bloom

    Anyone out there have a good non-greasy hand lotion? My fingers are in dry/cracked mode already here in the Midwest. A friend gifted me the Aveda hand lotion and it just feels so greasy I can’t even use it.

    • Wordy

      I like Lubriderm. I find it on the lighter side, but it rubs in quickly so I’m not getting smears all over my phone and keyboard. I keep a bottle in my desk drawer (and one in the car) and keep applying throughout the day. Also, I find the scent barely perceptible, which is a plus.

    • Motoko Kusanagi

      I use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (the fragrance free kind with oatmeal). It comes in large pumps and small tubes. It’s for the entire body, not just hands, and absorbs super quickly (or I wouldn’t be using it).

    • manomanon

      I swear by the Gardner’s hand therapy from Crabtree & Evelyn, I don’t find it greasy although it is very thick and insanely moisturizing.

    • MaggieLizer

      Neutrogena Norwegian Formula. I swear by it, have used it for years. A little goes a long way, though, so if you don’t want to feel like you just had a paraffin treatment then use it sparingly!

      • just Karen

        Neutrogena makes a “fast absorbing” version of the Norwegian formula that is fabulous – not quite as moisturizing as the original, but much more usable if greasy hands bother you (I use the original formula on the top of my hands only, but I can use the fast absorbing like normal lotion).

    • TO Lawyer

      I use Body Shop hand lotion and I really like it. Currently am using the Wild Rose Hand Cream but have also used the Vitamin E cream – I like it. Thick and moisturizing but not greasy

    • CW

      My favorite hand cream is L’Occitane (20% shea butter). It’s not at all greasy and I love the scent. Downside is that it’s not a drugstore buy, so is slightly pricier. But I’ve found a little goes a long way, so it lasts forever.

      • Lilly

        Second this recommendation. And a tiny little dab will do. The large tube is very expensive, but it lasted for months with fairly frequent use.

    • Em

      Alright I’ve tried several varieties so I’ll give you the run down on each that I can remember:
      Aveeno: love it. However the bottle is at least 4oz and I like 3oz or smaller for the purposes of flying/not having it take up space in my laptop bag and/or purse
      Curel: love it. I don’t know if they still make it. it’s >3 oz. the bottle is slim but a little longer. fits nicely in my laptop bag
      Eucerin: it works, however this is the greasiest, IMO. it’s not unbearable, but of the rest of the lotions I’ve tried, I don’t think I’ll buy this again
      Khiels: bought this at an airport travel store. love that it’s 2.7oz. greasier than Aveeno/Curel, less greasy than Eucerin. it has a smell to it, but people have commented on the smell saying they like it. i like the small bottle
      Suave: I dont think they make this any more but it was awesome.
      Neutrogena Norwegian formula: pretty good, in my top 3 with Curel and Aveeno. 3oz bottle

      I recently bought Earth Therapeutics Gardner’s Hand Repair but haven’t gotten a chance to use it because the bottle is so large (6 oz, but in my already full laptop bag, that’s too big)

      I currently have one of these bottles in my purse, lap top bag, boyfriends apartment, bedroom (x3).. I’m wondering if your skin gets “addicted” like lips do to chap stick because I hate being without hand lotion now after I wash my hands.

      • Motoko Kusanagi

        Aveeno does come in 2.5 oz tubes (that’s what is in my desk drawer right now). You can also find the teeny tiny tubes at retailers that stock a lot of travel-size toiletries (near me this is Target and Bed Bath & Beyond). Just FYI.

      • Meg Murry

        If you are tired of washing hands and then applying lotion, I wash my hands using Ponds Cold Cream in the winter for one-stop shopping of soap and lotion. It removes dirt and germs while moisturizing, although it can feel a little greasy at first. Its also what I use on my 5 year old at night before bed as a sponge bath when his skin is too dry and damaged to give a him a full bath.

    • Merabella

      I absolutely love Philosophy’s Hands of Hope. It is rich and thick but absorbs really well. I’ve gone through 4 bottles of it, and I subscribe to it on Amazon. It is the best thing ever for my hands in the winter and summer. It is also a cuticle cream.

    • eek

      Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Has a slight smell but it dissipates and it absorbs quickly.

    • Nonny

      Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector. Wicked for deep winter hand protection. I bought it a few years ago when I had to go to Ottawa in February and my hands started cracking basically within hours. I love this stuff. Unfortunately it is not easy to find – I don’t think they sell it in all their stores. But worth looking for if you can.

    • onehsancare

      I love the Aveeno Daily Moisturinzing Lotion, fragrance free, with oatmeal.

      I bought a box of 20 small bottles to give to my coworkers because its almost indiscernable scent doesn’t cause me migraines.

    • Anon

      Cetaphil Cream (not lotion) or Eucerin (can get it in tiny bottles for purse at Target and most drugstores).

  5. Always a NYer

    I remember reading that other ‘r e t t e s were considering NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve decided to do it and would love to be writing buddies with those of you participating. The story I’m working on is a historical romance with an unorthodox plot and cast of characters. After searching for a certain type of story to read, I decided I’d try my hand at writing it. My Nano username is regina.scura and I’d love to hear from those of you writing as well!!!

    • K...in transition

      is there a way to create a group on the site for just us or a fb group? it’d be fun, I agree!

    • JessBee

      I’m signed up, but I’m using the commitment to produce academic work rather than fiction this year, so I wouldn’t be a good writing buddy, I think. Hopefully next year I can write a real novel!

  6. Baby shower menu advice

    I’m hosting a baby shower this weekend and would love some advice on the menu. The shower starts at 1 pm. It’s a small shower, just 9 women. Here is what is on the menu:

    Cream cheese/cucumber tea sandwiches
    Deviled eggs
    Pierogies (mom is Polish)
    Cheese/crackers
    Raw veggie platter and dip
    Fruit salad
    Cake
    Drinks (club soda, juice)

    I feel that we need one more substantive type of dish. Any ideas? I’m comfortable cooking. Also, do the deviled eggs seem out of nowhere? The mom loves deviled eggs, hence I included them here.

    Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

    • Em

      Deviled eggs are never out of place – they’re delicious! (If you wanted to, you could mix up the fillings – like blend some with pesto, some with a bit of sriracha, and leave some plain; it makes a nice color contrast. )

      What about some one or more substantive dips to go with the veggies and crackers? You could have hummus, baba ganoush, spinach artichoke dip. . . .

      • Motoko Kusanagi

        And you can make the deviled eggs look like little pumpkins – google “pumpkin deviled eggs” and then click on the images to see pictures. Very cute.

      • Research, Not Law

        I love deviled eggs. I like Em’s suggestion for a more substantial dip or two. The menu looks great!

    • SunnyD

      This looks like enough food to me. Everyone will have had lunch by the time they arrive and will probably eat very little.

      • Anonymous

        If I had a shower at 1PM, I might have a late breakfast, but definitely would not eat lunch first, knowing that there would be food there.

        • rosie

          Yes, I think I would be expecting lunch at a 1pm shower, although I think that the current menu would be enough for me for lunch.

          • Merabella

            Agreed. I would think that there would be enough for lunch if it was at 1PM.

        • MsZ

          Same. I think OP needs a little bit more food. What about a pumpkin or squash bisque? You can serve it in coffee cups to keep it on a fingerfood / standing food level. I don’t think the eggs are out of place.

    • Motoko Kusanagi

      I think the menu looks great as is (including the deviled eggs) but if you are looking for one more substantive-type dish, how about a warm seasonal soup such a butternut squash or pumpkin? Easy to make ahead of time and keep warm in a crockpot for serving. And delicious.

      • anon

        I was going to suggest another warm dish but couldn’t think of anything. Soup is the perfect idea!

      • SF Bay Associate

        Yes, soup! Keep it pretty smooth (not chunky) and serve in a mug so you don’t have to wash a bunch of spoons and the guests can consume it using only one hand. Mmmm butternut squash soup, maybe with toasted pepitas, sour cream, a chopped fresh herb like basil or parsley, and a pepper grinder all on the side for each guest to top her soup.

      • Merabella

        There is a great Tomato & Red Pepper Soup at Trader Joes that I love. If you want to spruce it up you can add some roasted tomato & garlic or cheese to it, but it is pretty darn good on its own, and won’t require a lot of extra work.

        • Rani

          I love this soup — I add their frozen roasted corn (~1/3 of a bag) and a can of black beans, then top with some Greek yogurt (or sour cream).

      • Nonny

        If mom is Polish, then how about borsht rather than butternut squash soup? Achieves the same thing, not expensive to make, can also be served in cups to keep it as “finger food”.

        • Lady Enginerd

          I’d be worried about accidentally staining things pink if I served borscht in mugs as “finger food”. I spill everything.

    • Meg Murry

      I love deviled eggs, so they sound awesome to me! If you wanted to make them more substantial, Rachael Ray has a bunch of recipes for beefed up deviled eggs with yummy things mixed into them like crabmeat or avocado.
      At my showers my aunt made a bowl of chicken salad with grapes, mandarin oranges and nuts, then had lettuce leaves and mini croissants to serve it on – it was nice because you could either have it as just a light salad side dish or you could make it more substantial into sandwiches.
      Pierogis and deviled eggs do seem like a random combo, but if they make mom-to-be happy that’s what matters!

    • rosie

      I think making food that the mom really likes makes sense. My husband’s family always has deviled eggs at family functions, so they don’t seem out of place to me, although I don’t like them. Do any of the guests have dietary restrictions (in particular gluten issues)?

      I made lasagna cupcakes with pumpkin over the weekend, and they came out pretty well. I used wonton wrappers from the grocery store and mixed packed pumpkin with ricotta. I layered in a muffin tin: wonton, ricotta/pumpkin, sauteed mushrooms, sauce, mozzarella, wonton, ricotta/pumpkin, sauce, mozzarella. Not sure if that is too similar to the pierogies, but it’s an idea for another hot option.

    • Brant

      Is lunch implied/expected? Without being told otherwise, I’d assume that I should eat lunch before going to a 1pm shower.

    • Mpls

      I also love deviled eggs and I don’t ask questions if I see them, so I think you’re good :) Is there meat in the pierogies, or are those mostly potatoes (I can’t remember)?

      The only thing I can think of is having meat (sandwich meat for buns, or sliced ham/turkey/chicken since deli meats are supposedly off limits for the pregnant ladies) unless there is a vegetarian slant to the menu, or something like a quiche that’s warm and a bit more filling.

        • NOLA

          Mini quiches are really easy. You can buy boxes of them frozen at Sam’s. For vegetarians, I’ve gotten them at Whole Foods and they’re really good.

      • Baby shower menu advice

        Thanks so much for the quick feedback! Soup is a good idea. The mom is vegetarian, so no meat on this menu. And I love quiche but she hates it, so that’s a no go.

        • Mpls

          Hmm – how about a bean dish – bean soup/salad/dip? Unless you have lots of deviled eggs, there’s not much else on the list for a protein/filling dish. Which isn’t necessarily a requirement for a shower, but might be a nice balance to the rest of what is there. Ooo – maybe a pasta salad of sorts?

        • AP

          A hearty salad… with quinoa, farro, or bulgur? Quinoa salads in particular fill me up.

          • AIMS

            My experience with showers is that people don’t all show up at once, so soup could be tricky as far as keeping it at the right temp. I always prefer room temp. food for this kind of event. I think a hearty salad would be perfect — pasta salad, quinoa, farro, etc.

            For an easy quinoa salad, cook quinoa with veggie broth, add diced tomato, cucumbers, avocado, some chopped herbs like dill or cilantro (optional) and a bit of grated cheese (optional).

            There was also a great pasta salad recipe with mint and eggplant in the Ny Times Recipes for Health section recently. It’s great warm and at room temp.

          • O.

            I highly recommend the Smitten Kitchen butternut squash and farro salad. I’ve been eating it for lunch all week and it was delicious. Chopping up the squash was a bit of work, but other than that it was super easy and is great cold.

    • Kontraktor

      Could you get a tray of crossant sandwiches from Costco/your local market/your local sandwich cafe?

    • darby

      I’d make a warm pasta baked dish of some kind — I’m currently loving an eggplant/orzo one from Smitten Kitchen.

  7. Meg Murry

    How are people doing in the aftermath of Sandy? I haven’t been posting much because our internet connection has been spotty, but I’ve been thinking of all you East Coasters and wishing you the best. It’s crazy, but our office here in Ohio has actually been shutdown for 3 days now due to lack of power, and its unclear when it will be back up since all spare parts to fix it have been diverted to the East Coast. I don’t mind not working for a few days, especially since I have power at home, but its bizarre being out of routine for so long, I don’t know what to do with myself since I can’t plan more than one day out. Not complaining, I know it could be far far worse, but its still just strange feeling.

    Anyone else outside of the areas the news is reporting on experiencing Sandy fallout too?

    • New Commenter

      I live in Zone A. I evacuated before the hurricane hit. (Am from a hurricane-prone part of the country originally and don’t like risking exposure.) My apartment building is still flooded and without power, and I don’t have a great sense of when power will be restored. My studio itself is okay because it’s a few floors above ground (not so many that I can’t take the stairs, thankfully.) For now, I’m staying with my great aunt and great uncle. On the bright side, they live walking distance from my office (which has power and is open, although a lot of people are out because of transportation issues; relatedly, a few of the displaced employees have decamped to the offices and are using air mattresses for beds). On the downside, I am really going crazy living with them and some other displaced relatives, and I would love to go back to my own apartment even if the subways still don’t work in my neighborhood. (I’m fine with walking and biking, and I’m hoping that my office remains flexible about hours, attendance, and dress code for the next few weeks.)

      I’m not sure what is happening with voting, since it is hard to vote absentee in NY and my polling place is presumably without electricity and possibly flooded as well.

      Pretty much everyone I know is doing okay, but I can’t imagine what I would have done if I didn’t have money to spend on evacuation/relocation (I have a cushy job and few expenses) and didn’t have relatives in the area.

      Apparently, the doormen and other staff in my building are working around the clock to make it habitable again, and I am trying to figure out how to thank them. (And, I think impressively, the management company has hand-delivered their 10/31 paychecks to them because they know money is short, even though the management company’s office is also without power and checks had to be cut by hand.) My current thinking is to give Christmas bonuses early (like, once I am back home) and to make them larger than usual, but I would love to hear others’ suggestions as well.

      • AnonDC

        I read today that the electrical companies are going to be targeting polling places as high priority for restoring electricity. I also read that some polling locations are planning on having non-electronic voting and/or using National Guard tents and generators to set up temporary polls (this may be more in NJ than NY though). I read it either the NYTimes or WSJ…sorry I can’t link to the article, I’ve read so many Sandy related articles today!

        I think the early Christmas bonus is a great idea. Hang in there!

    • Blonde Lawyer

      I am in a not so affected part of the east coast. We were lucky and didn’t even lose power. I’m having a hard time focusing on work knowing that there is so much damage and destruction hours away from me. I just want to drive there and help. Then I read the news and see that driving into NY is a problem in and of itself and going to help might just add to the congestion. I just want to bring food and water to all the elderly people living in high rises with no power. Many people in my office have relatives in NYC and I’m hearing that things are much worse there than the press is portraying. I’m truly mystified how they expect to hold the marathon Sunday and am pretty upset about the diverted resources. If things are as bad as I’m hearing, I don’t even know how all the out of towners will get into the city and where they will eat and sleep. I’m also sad today because we learned the son of a prominent lawyer in my city was killed in Brooklyn when a tree fell on him, his friend and their dog. The guy and girl died and weren’t found until the next day. The dog needed surgery but survived.

      My brother lives in Brooklyn and was luckily out of town when the storm hit and ended up “stranded” in Boston. I think he was much better off there. He made it back today but had to do a lot of funky traveling and walking to get there. His apartment has water and power and internet back. He stayed with a friend in Manhattan in route from Boston to Brooklyn and that friend still has no services.

      You may not get a lot of responses because others have done check in threads already. There was also a thread about voting. I’m guessing those most affected are not able to see the posts and respond so I’m glad people are still checking in. I’m glad to hear you are okay and I hope you make it home soon!

      • rosie

        I read about the two people killed walking the dog, very sad.

        I have been thinking about the marathon, and I am coming down more on the side that they should not be running it this weekend. (I realize there were posts about this yesterday.) One thing I keep thinking about it an article that quoted some race official (I think) as saying that police and other first responders that would need to be on hand for the marathon won’t be needed for traffic and other services as much since it’s a weekend. Assuming that’s true, would it be so terrible to give the people that have probably been working tirelessly under stressful conditions a little break?

      • PollyD

        Send money. It’s warm and fuzzy to volunteer, but really, the organizations helping people need money. Lots of it. Money is better than cans of food. I really can’t think of any specific ones beyond Red Cross and Salvation Army, but I’m sure there are lots of entities helping out up there who would love to receive a check.

    • Susan (edna_mode_nyc)

      We had been in the path of it most of Monday, but got away with only about 30hrs of lost power. Internet connectivity is majorly flaky, so I’ve been on here very sporadically via my cellphone.

      No trees fell on me or the house, no flooding. I count myself amongst the very lucky. MIL and FIL are with us right now b.c. they haven’t had power since Monday, and, unfortunately, no water pressure either. It’s nice having them here, although it took a lot of convincing to get them to come here- they were afraid of being underfoot. They’re dears.

  8. SunnyD

    Can anyone suggest a good florist in Coral Gables, FL (which I think is in the Miami area)? Thanks!

    • De

      I don’t know of a florist, but I’ve been meaning to tell you, your handle was my first screenname ever. It makes me smile every time I read it :)

  9. Em

    I’ve been eyeing that blouse for a while and now it comes in polka dots! I’ll have to make a decision to buy it soon because all they have are mediums left. Seriously, do you ladies know how hard it is to find a reasonably priced polka dot blouse or crewneck sweater? I’ve looked everywhere and only come up with a few options that are still at least $40. What I want are Forever21 prices for something this trendy.

      • Em

        Initially, I thought it was, but I don’t like that the dots are metallic. I’m being very picky lol. F21 also has a sweater that appears to be what I’m looking for, however, there are buttons on the BACK.. basically making it look like a backwards cardigan. I want a crewneck sweater, not vneck because I don’t like the contrast of the vneckline with the circular dots (very picky like I said.) I’ve come across a few smaller websites that have some options I like, but then they’ve run out of my size. There’s a 3/4 sleeve sweater from Mango.com that is nearly prefect.. anyone know if they ever have “30% off everything sales” like the Gap or Banana? Otherwise I might have to just pay full price for it.

        • Merabella

          There was a crew neck polka dot sweater on Old Navy, I haven’t looked recently, but I know a ton of bloggers were using it at one point.

          • KC

            I think I remember the one you’re talking about (it was very similar to the JCrew one). It sold out like lightening.

          • Em

            Yes! And that sweater was perfect.. it fits the exact description of what I want. And guess what.. it’s currently going for $50 on Ebay. I’m not joking. There were several on ebay. $50. Clearly there’s a demand.. someone make more for meee!

          • Honey Pillows

            I figure retailers will probably have a bunch for sale between November and December, since demand is so high and they’ve had time to start making new sweaters. It killed me that Zooey’s character on the New Girl was wearing the J.Crew sweater was on the last episode when she’s supposed to be an unemployed elementary school teacher. I mean really, guys?

    • CKB

      I’ve been looking for a black & white polkadot pencil skirt (or cotton sateen fabric so I can sew one) for months & months. I finally picked up a knit pencil skirt that it black with white polkadots.

      I hear you on demand being high! Although, I’m hoping to wear my dotted items for a while. Polkadots never really go out of style, do they? Just become less trendy? That’s what I’m going to tell myself, anyway, because it’s my favorite print, tied with stripes.

  10. anon1

    Question: I’m catering a party over the holidays. I’ve never had anything catered before, so obviously the price has gotten high more quickly than I was expecting. Is it rude to have a few things on hand to serve so that I don’t have to go through the caterer? I was thinking of just a fruit or veggie tray and maybe some deviled eggs. I’m afraid that if we ask the caterer to add those things, it’ll increase the cost pretty significantly, while I could just do them on my own for a lot cheaper.

    • notawhat

      Check your contract with the caterer to see if it says anything about other food providers. (I assume the contract somehow prevents you from hiring two caterers for the same event, not sure what it would say if you’re one of the caterers.) That said, I have exactly zero experience in this matter. (Hopefully someone more knowlegable will weigh in.)

      • anon1

        Hmmm, we don’t have a contract. It’s actually a friend of mine who just started a catering company. Should we have a contract? I mean, we have his written proposal and we’ve accepted it, but we don’t have a contract with written terms.

    • rosie

      I would just ask the caterer. If it’s at your house, I wouldn’t think it would be a problem, but I would want to establish clear expectations with the caterer beforehand so that the caterer does not show up at the event and get surprised/offended.

      I think it’s one thing if you’re going to provide the appetizers and the caterer is providing the actual meal, and it’s another thing if you are trying to get a discount for providing your own chips with the caterer’s dip (for example).

      • anon1

        The caterer is providing one appetizer (crab cakes) and the main meal. I was thinking of supplementing with some other appetizers. How does that fit into your example?

        • Bewitched

          I would think that since this caterer is your friend, it should not be a problem. As others have noted, it is not too unusual for caterer to not provide any appetizers at all, so I doubt he would have a problem with you supplementing. However, since he’ll be on your premises and obviously note the extra food-best to let him know ahead of time!

        • rosie

          I would think that would be in the realm of things that are ok, but, really, I would talk to her, especially because she is a friend, not a professional at arm’s length. Who is providing the drinks? Did you guys include that in the proposal?

  11. TCFKAG

    So I’m throwing an election watching party at my house. So far I’ve got a couple ideas. Red and blue iced cup cakes. … Okay just the cupcakes. What other red and blue themed food and drinks (really the drinks) can people think of. Ideally a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks would be ideal, it is a school night after all.

    • SF Bay Associate

      Could you freeze cranberry juice and a blue juice (grape?) in an ice cube tray for colored ice? Serve in sparkling water. I think a layered jello could also be hilarious.

    • Bonnie

      You could do punch in red and blue. Much easier than mixing individual drinks.

    • Merabella

      I googled election themed cocktails and found a good number of stuff – replied earlier, but the comment is in moderation because of the link.

      I did see something in my search where restaurants used Chicago/Boston themed foods to represent the candidates which might also be fun – since you’re in Boston (right?) that might not be as fun, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

    • Merabella

      damn c*cktail. I’ve posted two replies, and I totally forgot that they would be moderated because of that.

    • January

      This is rather uncreative, but during an election party back in college (2004! – I feel old), people could choose to drink out of red or blue Solo cups based on their preferred candidate. Did I mention it was a college party?

      • TBK

        Uh, not so sure about the partisan meatloaf (something about animal-shaped meatloaf is gross to me) but LOVE the donkey truffles!

      • Diana Barry

        Also, kool-aid comes in blue and red!

        If you want blue food, I think the best thing would be either M+Ms to decorate, or blue and red food coloring in some rice krispie treats. :)

    • eek

      Thomas Keller has a whole chapter on scones in his new cookbook. Hello bacon and cheddar scones fresh out of the oven…..

    • De

      I threw an election day party wtih my roommate in 2004 and it was the most successful party I ever had! We did “All American” food (basically we grilled burgers and hotdogs). But I think the funnest part of the party was having posterboard on the walls for each candidate where we kept track of their electoral points.
      I second the red/blue cups or drinks, that was a hit as well. We did hurricanes, mix-your-own, and jello shots. I do not recommend making the blue jello shots, they were a little rough going down. I hope you guys have sooo much fun!!

    • Gail the Goldfish

      Last presidential election I had elephant, donkey, and statue of liberty (for the libertarian party; BF’s request) sugar cookies iced in the appropriate color. For Obama-themed drinks I made pitchers of Blue Hawaiians. For McCain I did Arizona Sunrises. Not sure what I would do for Romney… But either something Boston-related or red.

      • Research, Not Law

        Non-alcoholic seems appropriate. How about roy rodgers? (Red, non-alcoholic, and has the “R”s to play with).

    • Research, Not Law

      Peanuts (for the elephants) and… ??? for donkeys. Something with sprouts? Would caramel apples or apple cobbler be too much of a stretch?

    • elz

      I know from helping my daughter with a Presidential Election project that Obama’s favorite foods include Hawaiian pizza (pizza with pineapple?) and hot dogs and Romney was meatloaf something. Maybe you could have something along those lines? I’d make mini meatloaves or meatballs to make it more party-friendly. What a great party idea. Have fun.

  13. TO Lawyer

    Toronto ladies! We have a meet-up tentatively scheduled for November 15 at 7pm. Email toronto [dot] [name of this site] @ gmail dot com if you’re not already on the email list.

    • zora

      Oh yeah, SF Bay Associate reminded me that Daylight Savings ends on Sunday! So, remember to set your clocks back an hour, before heading to the meetup :o)

  15. rosie

    Does anyone use Lush deodorant (either the bar or the powder)? I was at a store over the weekend and interested in trying it, but I did not want to spend that much money without asking around first. I currently use Kiss My Face liquid rock, but I would prefer something that does not take as long to dry.

    • Jo March

      I used to use the bar one, but they discontinued the smell I like. The one that’s left is actually quite lovely, but really doesn’t work with my body chemistry. In terms of quality of the car itserlf, I would highly recommend. Definitely works, and in fact I’m kind of freaking out because I have no idea what to replace my old one with; I used it for alsmot 15 years!

      I haven’t tried the powder; I already have enough issues with deodorant marks on my clothes!

      • rosie

        Thanks! If you liked the old scent enough to use it for 15 years, maybe I’ll give it a shot and see if the scent they have works for me.

    • Niktaw

      Lush usually gives samples. Ask and ye shall receive a small piece of rock broken off for you.

      • rosie

        Good to know, thanks. I was in their store for the first time in a long time, and the salesperson was offering to put all this stuff on me, but no actual samples to take. I will ask next time.

  16. Theory Sizing

    I’m looking at a pair of Theory pants on sale and I remember hearing the brand ran extremely small. How much should I size up (from say, JCrew or Banana Republic)?

    • momentsofabsurdity

      I wear a 2 or 26 in JCrew pants and have a pair of Theory pants in size 8 that fit. But I’m really curvy and Theory is definitely cut more for someone who’s straight up and down so I had to size up to have it fit over my hips/butt. YMMV.

      • Fiona

        I totally agree with this. Theory pants are always too small in the hips/butt, and that’s where you have to size up. I have an average frame and have the same problem.

    • Theory Sizing

      Thanks guys. I was thinking two sizes (so 0 -> 4). Might get both the 4 and 6 just in case!

    • phillygirlruns

      consistent with everyone else. theory’s “emery” cut trousers are my favorite pants, and i own about 4 or 5 pairs. i am a 4 or 6 at j.crew/AT/etc. and get the emery in an 8 and have the waist taken in. a 10 will work also.

    • TCFKAG

      Definitely definitely size up. I’m actually sized out of Theory and I’m not that big a girl. It’s annoying.

    • jcb

      I’m a 4 in J Crew and a 10 in Theory (but I am curvy from the waist down, big butt, muscular legs)

      • Diana Barry

        When I am a 6 in Jcrew/banana, I am an 8 in Theory. I am fairly straight up and down thru the hips though, and have little booty, so YMMV.

    • SoCalAtty

      I’m usually a 4-6 in Banana Republic slacks, and a 10 in Theory (and then I have to have the heck hemmed out of them too!) but sure do love them once the tailoring is done! I have pretty good sized thighs from the horse riding :)

  17. Friendship Question Update

    I’m the ‘rette who has a best friend whose boyfriend cheated on her twice, and has chosen to stay with him to her detriment. We had coffee yesterday and it turned into an all-out fight.

    She actually denies – DENIES (sorry for Ellen caps) that he ever cheated on her. It basically ended up with me telling her that I can’t deal with her negative energy, and I can’t keep telling her the same thing over and over. We have reached a breaking point in our relationship to the point where I think we’re just going to “take a break.” It sucks that I’m painted as the bad person in this situation, but I can walk away knowing I’ve said what I had to say and that I did the right thing.

  18. SH

    Salary-negotiation tips wanted threadjack! How would I get hard salary information? Would I go on interviews, try and get offers, knowing that I wouldn’t take them? I haven’t done that, since I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

    At work, the yearly review and salary negotiation is upon us. I’d (obviously) like to make more, but my company didn’t have a great year, so raises would be rather sparse. I’m an attorney, working quasi-law for a corporation. What I do is a mixture of a bunch of things, so I can’t point to “other assistant counsel in comparable companies” for metrics. One of my student loans will start to come due in January, so I’d like a raise that covers the monthly payments, and preferably more so I can stop living paycheck-to-paycheck and not lose money. I would like to keep working where I do, as they’ve make it clear that they have big plans for me (and I like those plans), I like my co-workers, and I like the work I do. Where the “other offers” would come in would be to help me say, “This [the offers] is my market rate. $XX is my minimum to stay afloat. Let’s find somewhere in the middle.” What stops me from doing this is that my boss will absolutely take it personally if I were to look for something else behind his back.

    What are your thoughts? Can I just give someone my resume and say, “How much would you pay me?” and go from there? I’m relatively sure that if I were to ask, people would say “more than you are now,” and if they don’t, at least I know that that’s the market rate. I’m in a super-niche industry, and if I were to ask, I’m afraid that it would come back to my boss and he would take it not-well. Thoughts?

    • Mpls

      Instead of focusing on what other people are making, I would focus on what you have done in the last year that merits a raise. Knowing the range for comparable work informs whether you are being reasonable in what you are asking, but your employer is going to care more about what you have done for them, then what you could make somewhere else.

  19. Frankie

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