Coffee Break: Color Me! File Folders

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I've mentioned before that I find adult coloring books calming — and I also enjoy using cute file folders for office decor. While putting together last week's post on the best office supplies (to get for yourself), I found these fun file folders that you can color.

This seems like a great use for an adult coloring project (since what are you going to do, frame it when you're done?) and gives you something productive to do while you're trying to pay attention to a phone call.

The file folders are $7.59 for a set of 12 at Target and Amazon. Color Me! File Folders

Coloring Books for Adults

Pictured, great coloring books for adults: one / two / three / four
also: recommended pencils & markers

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

As I've noted in the past, I love using pretty file folders… These can be hard to find online, but Target's a good spot to look them (like the ones below from brands like Barker Creek and UBrands). (While you're there, readers have also noted they love their Blue Sky planners!)

Sales of note for 1/31/25:

  • Ann Taylor – Suiting Event – 30% off suiting + 30% off tops
  • Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20 off your $100+ purchase
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off winter layers
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off sweaters and pants
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – End of season clearance, extra 70% off markdown tops + extra 60% off all other markdowns

Sales of note for 1/31/25:

  • Ann Taylor – Suiting Event – 30% off suiting + 30% off tops
  • Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20 off your $100+ purchase
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off winter layers
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off sweaters and pants
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – End of season clearance, extra 70% off markdown tops + extra 60% off all other markdowns

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

159 Comments

  1. I bought the athleta made to move masks over the weekend, and they’re fantastic! They’re adjustable, have a pocket for a filter, comfortable, did not move a cm even though I wore it for a long time.

    1. Speaking of masks with filter pockets, is anybody out there using filters? If so, where do you get them? I get 1,000 ads a day for masks, but have seen zero for filters so I wonder if anybody is actually using them or even making them?

      1. I bought some by Getien on Amazon. Inexpensive and they fit different mask styles I own. Highly recommend.

        1. Same. Couldn’t get any at first and was lucky to even get masks. After this much time in a low-encounter lifestyle, I probably won’t. If I were flying or in a high-contact role, I might look for some and a mask designed for them.

        2. My Dad gave me a bunch of coffee filters to use b/c he is now a Keureg fan and does not brew coffee any more. I fold up the coffee filter in 1/2, and that way I get Doubel the thickness, and hopefully can filter out all of the Covid 19 that is out there on 86th Street. There is this gross guy on 86th that always comes up to me (on the south side of the street) when I am looking for blueberries from the street vendors. He always kind of nuzzels up to me b/c he knows my perfume and likes it. I am temted not to shower and that way he will not like the way I smell and mabye will leave me alone. But in this age of COVID, how can i just get him to get away from me? He does not think I am interested in him, so he is not about to grab me, but I do not want him withing 6 feet of me. Does the HIVE have any good way of telling this guy to AmSkray? Any ideas would be VERY much apreciated. YAY!!

    2. Piggybacking here to ask how they fit? I have a narrow, small face and head and have spent a lot of money on masks that do not fit. I am wondering if they would work for me? [Related note.. I bought the Boden masks someone recommended here recently. Gorgeous patterns, nose wire, multi-layered and… enormous on my face.]

      1. Those masks have a lot of one star reviews and most of the negative reviews say they are too small, so maybe they would work for you?

      2. I recommended them to a friend who has a very small head. They work for my normal size one but are definitely not any too large, so they would probably work for you.

      3. I have a small chin/face (I am fit tested for a small n95) and also have had trouble finding a mask that works. I’ve recently been using 32 degrees mask from Costco, but they have no filter pocket so I’m only using them in low risk situations (like outside or in the house with nanny who is also masked).

    3. Unrelated, but what can I do with a mask that is good but has outlived its elastics? Use it as a filter and hold up with a buff to strap it to my face? I can sew, but stores seem to be out of thin elastic and I found that trying to go through elastic + layers of fabric made the needle end puncture my finger, so perhaps you need a sewing machine to re-sew (don’t have and don’t have room for).

      1. Can you add those plastic mask adjusters (the small silicone tubes) to the elastic and get a decent fit that way?

    4. I ordered these masks on July 7 and they just shipped, set to arrive on Friday. So, use caution if you plan on ordering these online.

  2. Random question for the lawyers out there – is there a class you wish your law school had offered? I would have appreciated a practical class on pre-trial discovery (some schools offer this; mine did not).

      1. Damn, as an actuary who does expert witness work, this is so spot-on. Why don’t they teach this? I’ve worked with brilliant attorneys who are desperately innumerate.

        1. Ha! I always used to joke that I went to law school because I thought there would be no math involved, then when I started practicing it was all about calculating damages!

          1. I am also an actuary and I was one of the first potential jurors dismissed when I was in the pool for a civil case involved long term damages, just saying

          2. Hive five to my fellow actuary, from an actuarial fellow.

            It’s so rare to meet one of us in the wild.

          3. How do you become an actuary?

            One of my sorority sisters is one (math major or minor), but we’re not close enough for me to do this. Pester an internet stranger, I will do though.

          4. Generally it’s a series of exams you take while working in the field. Math background is needed, but many roles are much more business oriented than purely mathematical.

          5. Senior attorney, I have worked closely with defense attorneys and of course have been cross examined by plaintiff attorneys, so far all in arbitration or mandatory settlement conferences.

            I have seen the strategy on both sides tailored more toward breach of contract and bad faith than the simple fact that there is a formula for how much one side owes the other. And it’s in the contract. It involves multiplication and addition and subtraction. That’s it. It’s not calculus.

            But the attorneys are so math phobic that they tailor their cases to avoid discussing it. I know from the defense attorney side, even if he/she kind of gets it, they don’t want to confuse the arbitrator or judge.

          6. Right? It’s in the contract! Swear to God, one time I did a whole multi-week bench trial and at the end of the day we won a judgment for our client that was for more or less the right amount, but he calculated it totally wrong! Hilarious!

          7. To 3:40
            Go to be an actuary dot com

            It’s a really good intro to how to become an actuary and is aimed toward people like your friend

      2. As a law school graduate who has to explain data to judges, I wish this course were required. At the beginning of literally every presentation I give, someone gives me SA’s line from below: “I went to law school to avoid math!” I am really good at explaining math to judges, but it would be awfully nice if it weren’t always an uphill battle. I cringe when I think about these people making Daubert rulings.

        1. I hasten to add that I am much wiser now and kick myself on a regular basis for avoiding math when I was young!

        1. OMG yes. I’m a commercial real estate attorney, focused on buying and selling property. Sometimes I also represent borrowers or lenders on loans, but that’s not my focus. I have had to learn how to do sooooo many things in excel, because it’s the only way my clients know how to deliver information apparently. Cash flows for determining purchase prices, budgets for property management agreements/future capital improvements. It’s all excel all the time, and this is for properties where there is no loan! When I have a loan involved, it’s an even larger amount of excel, especially a true development of raw land deal.

    1. Mine offered (and I took) Contracts Drafting and it was by far the most useful class in all of law school.

      1. ^^ This. Though ours was a 6-hr class geared towards transactional lawyers. I wish there was a 2-3 hour version targeted to everyone else. As a litigator, I had no need to learn how to put together an M&A agreement (and didn’t even totally understand what it was) but most everything else has been helpful.

        I also took a class on Statutory and Regulatory Research that was incredibly helpful. I’ve always been the go-to research person at my firm– in large part, because of that class.

        1. Ours was a 2 hour class – it was perfect. Just the right amount of info. (And the class was fun, too – we pretended we owned property that a film company wanted to use for a movie location – really made understanding contracts easy.)

    2. I feel like you should know your way around basic business forms — getting incorporated / LLC in your state, W-9, W-4, etc.

      1. Oh man! That would have been so helpful! I’ve randomly had to put together a handful of 501(c)s and I reeeally wish I could have passed that off to someone else. They should teach Delaware as the default ;)

    3. Contracts drafting
      Patent drafting
      Despite being an engineer and knowing more math than they would ever teach me in law school, math for lawyers

    4. Similar to the stats/data class, I would have liked an accounting class. In my last year, the school did begin offering “Accounting for Lawyers,” but it allowed a very small enrollment and filled immediately. Lots more of us would have and should have taken this course.

    5. A mini MBA type class for lawyers who want to advise businesses, be in transactional law, go in-house, etc. You have to understand business/business operations/financials to know how to advise about the risks!!

    6. As a legal aid attorney, it would have been really helpful to have a primer on how law firms work. Not a full class, but a couple hours on what’s a partner, what’s a billable hour, the politics of law firms, etc. it would make pro bono a lot easier.

      Also, I took a public service focused PR class and it was the best class I took in law school.

  3. If I wanted to get started on cross stitching, like in the previous post, what all would I need to buy? Is there a specific type of thread or needle or fabric?

    1. You need embroidery thread. You’ll use two or three strands, not all six. And you’ll probably want Aida fabric, which has squares in it already. If you go to Joann’s or somewhere similar it’ll all be in the same aisle. Cross stitch is super easy and I taught myself just using one or two tutorials online. You’ll have fun!

    2. You can get beginners’ kits that come with the fabric (generally Aida cloth), floss (2 or 3 strands of embroider floss from the 6 strands it is sold in (usually)), and a needle. I also use a hoop, or used to use a hoop.

      You can go to a Michael’s (etc.) or Michael’s online.

    3. Check Etsy – they sell little all-in-one kits that come with thread and fabric. I just use regular sewing needles that I have on hand, but I think they make less stabby needles for cross-stitching.

      1. +1 for this rec! I’ve done two of their kits and it was a really easy first project.

  4. I posted this a bit too late on the weekend thread – I picked up Who Says It’s a Man’s World: A Girl’s Guide to Corporate Domination by Emily Bennington from a discount bin. Just wondering if anyone has read it and whether you found it to be a good read.

    1. Maybe you could check for reviews over on Amazon or Goodreads (if you don’t find readers here).

  5. For high-risk people only – how do you all think your interactions with the community will change (if they will) from full lockdown to . . . whatever. . . between now and when you can get a vaccine yourself (or whatever marker feels appropriate to you)? I’m not high-risk, but my spouse is, so I’m acting as-if, but I’m wondering what you think “normal” will look like for you during the next months/quarters/years.

    1. No idea, but I hate big crowds anyway so I don’t see myself suddenly changing my tune and booking a cruise. It’s way too soon to tell anything for real.

    2. I’m never going back to how things used to be. My reason is that I’ve gone months and months without getting laid up sick with anything. So I’m getting real w/myself about how much the constant infections were impacting my quality of life and holding me back in general. Masks forever.

      1. Can I ask you guys what you have? Are we talking genetic immune deficiencies? That’s the boat I’m in, but I’ve been lucky to not have super frequent infections (possibly thanks to treatment).

        1. Not one of the earlier commenters, but I’ve got an immune deficiency – no IGA, IgM or IgG. I have treatment to supplement the IgG but it can only do so much. Staying home and my preschooler wearing a mask at daycare has not only helped me avoid infection but also avoid feeling rundown and having to “take it easy” for three days so I can avoid an infection. When normal people get a 3-day cold, I get two week bronchitis and a 10-day Rx before I will get better. And then another two weeks of being rundown.

          Moving forward, I won’t be afraid about speaking up and avoiding situations that put my health at risk. If you have a cold, you’re not coming to my house. I also won’t continue to see any physician who makes no effort to understand my limitations. I have a rare disease, so I often know more than a new doctor I see, but I won’t continue to see them if they argue with how to treat my acute illness.

          Also, I will not be friends with you if you tell me to eat something or buy your MLM supplement. Those will not fix my broken immune system.

          1. How did your drs discover that you had an immune deficiency? I ask because what you describe about a normal 3-day cold vs you, is what happens to me. And it happens multiple times a year.

          2. I found out by accident. My doctor threw in a test kind of randomly (I have an associated autoimmune condition, but had never been tested before). You should definitely talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

        2. I just have low IgA (probably genetic, haven’t been tested). Apparently low IgA isn’t rare and isn’t always symptomatic, but it’s always been symptomatic for me (as in, as a school kid I needed accommodations for school just from missing so many days from being sick enough with things like strep throat or sinus infections to pass out if I tried attending). It’s not treatable.

          I also have several autoimmune conditions that seem to come with the territory.

          1. These immune deficiencies can be found via routine lab work to look at blood volumes of those immunoglobulins in your blood. But more must be done to determine if you have a primary immunodeficiency or if it is secondary to another condition. It’s not uncommon to have several immune conditions. I was easily diagnosed as a textbook case but others can take decades. It’s worth asking your pcp for the blood test or to escalate to an immuno or hematologist if another condition is suspected. It took all three to diagnose me.

          2. Thanks for the advice; I haven’t seen an immunologist yet, but it sounds like I should.

    3. I have an autoimmune disease and have recently started taking drugs for it that knock down my immune system. My most recent blood test had my white blood cell count below minimum, which is expected, but I know it means I’m less able to fight off infection or illness.

      Upon reflection, this means I am less able to fight off any illness, not just COVID. So this is life changing for me.

      The biggest change I think will be permanent is that I’m never going to work in an office again. I’m 55. My last employer had layoffs in March that included me. I’m thinking I’m semi-retired at this point, and that was my last real office job. I am not without options. A friend would like me to take an open position at his company but I just don’t want to. They were one of the last employers to allow their employees to work from home during COVID, and only did so when forced to by state order. Prior to COVID they had a butt-in-chairs mentality and no one could work from home ever. Like if someone had a doctors appointment, they had to take PTO. I just think that culture is stupid, period, and I don’t want to be part of it.

      So I started my own little consulting firm. It’s been good so far. Paying for my own benefits has been eye opening, but IDK, I’d rather not die because someone thinks I need to work in an office every day.

    4. I have a chronic heart/lung condition. Something that 20 years ago was a death sentence but now is carefully managed with medication and life style changes. I don’t see things ever going back to the way they were. I’m due to retire in a year and had a retirement planned with travel and classes and activities. Now I pretty much see a future with not much socialization in it. I won’t be returning to my office for the rest of my career, everyone is still work from home but I assume after the New Year they will start bringing people back. I’ll ask for an ADA accommodation and will take early retirement if denied. I don’t see a vaccine making much of a difference for people with my condition or similar conditions, mostly because I don’t think the vaccines will be super effective and I don’t think the majority of the public will get them after the first year.

      1. Same here, same general age with incurable lymphoma, in remission now. But my low immune system means that vaccines don’t work well either. In immune-compromised people, vaccines don’t prompt the body to mount a defense, and the resulting protection is not gained. So getting a flu shot or the shingles shot means I can still get these diseases. Same with Covid, a vaccine won’t protect me enough to rely upon, especially with a 30-37% death rate from covid for people with blood cancers. I expect to have no objection to my ADA request – they may not even ask me to go back. I would get an attorney if I’m denied ADA coverage though…the law is pretty applicable.

        1. Ugh I’m really concerned about this. Part of my immune deficiency is “vaccine failure.” I hadn’t even thought about that in the context of COVID yet (too worried about other things), but yeah, I don’t think I’m going back.

          1. There was an article the other day about this. The researcher was a Johns Hopkins fellow so I assume he knows his stuff. It was pretty depressing in terms for immune compromised patients not being able to take the vaccine. I’ll see if I can dig it up. I also have an email into my specialist team, they are at JH.

          2. The Lone Ranger -if you can find that Johns Hopkins article, can you please post it?

    5. One thing I read the other day was that the pandemic has opened up new opportunities for disabled people to enter the workforce in greater numbers. People with mobility issues who can’t handle commutes and inaccessible office spaces are suddenly able to WFH in many positions, especially tech positions. I’m not really any better since I didn’t realize this was as big an issue as it is (my own high-risk condition is “invisible,”), but it saddens me to hear the calls for returns to normalcy when normalcy wasn’t inclusive for so many.

      1. I see the opposite happening. Perhaps not in terms of employment, but in terms of everything else. Curbside delivery of take out is disappearing, which means I need to go into restaurants and wait in the crowded stuffy foyers for my take out, so nope. A board I am on has been meeting by Zoom, I mentioned that I would need to resign if we went back to in person meetings, and they were all like too bad, so sad (even though they complain about having to drive to the meetings, and the parking situation, and the room we meet in, and the expense of the room). One of my social groups is resuming in person meetings, right now outside and distanced, I suggested Zoom to get us through the winter months and they were all, oh, we just won’t bother. I’m feeling very isolated, as if everyone is moving on with out me, and I have no choice but to stay locked up.

    6. No one in my immediate family is high-risk, but my husband wants to avoid exposure as much as possible until there’s a vaccine so I anticipate life not changing much for the next year for us. We will continue with takeout food, outdoor exercise, avoiding salons, etc. I’m ok with it, I miss those things but I can live without them. The things I miss most are travel and theater which aren’t really in my control. My husband is actually open to flying, since there are some recent studies that the risk there is not as high as once thought and that’s an activity without a viable lower-risk alternative. But between the border closures and the fact that the people we would be traveling to see are higher-risk (grandparents) I don’t anticipate us doing much travel until there’s a vaccine either.

    7. I don’t know, but I am trying to get DH to focus on what we can do for the kids for their extracurriculars now that school is online and gym is…what? They will naturally go to screens and I have to kick them off, but several of their activities are indoor such that we don’t feel comfortable having them go back (dance class for example). They have their instruments (classes are online) but I’m worried that if they have no activities this year they’ll turn into lumps…forever?

      1. I feel so sorry for kids. For gym replacement, what about boot camp type classes online? What about tennis or golf lessons? Tennis even indoors shouldn’t be too risky. Bicycling, running.

        1. Driving range or even minigolf is a kid friendly activity. Driving ranges are open all year round even in my northeast state.

      2. I have the same fear. My 13-year-old is (was?) a competitive gymnast. She has been out of the gym since March and has zero motivation to work out on her own. It’s a huge battle just to get her to walk the dog. Between all the lost strength and a gigantic growth spurt, it’s going to be very difficult for her to get her skills back when she eventually returns to the gym. The deconditioning will also make her highly susceptible to overuse injuries. The worst part is that her best and favorite event is bars, where it’s especially difficult to get the timing back after an extended break and/or a growth spurt. I don’t know whether she will have the mental toughness to make a comeback when it’s finally safe for her to get back in the gym.

        I’ve been trying to convince her to seriously pursue some of her other interests (art, music) while she has an extra 3.5 hours a day on her hands, but she won’t hear of it.

          1. The arm chair psychologists here are something else. I think it’s pretty normal to feel this way during a gigantic growth spurt.

          2. If a 13-year-old can barely be convinced to walk the dog and has lost interest in her other hobbies, that’s concerning af.

    8. Neither spouse nor I are high-risk, though he is more exposed because he is in the medical field and interacts with patients, some of whom will wind up having Covid. We are eager to get the vaccine, but I still anticipate that mask-wearing, sanitizing and social distancing are the new norm at least for the next few years. Honestly it’s fine. I don’t need to go to restaurants or concerts. I use my “risk capital” on workouts and I periodically visit my young adult children and mother — outdoors for walks, etc.

  6. Has anyone used the in-store decorating services provided by the big chain home furnishing stores? I feel like I could use some skilled oversight in making some home purchases (old furniture in new space, so not starting from scratch). There is an interior decorator on my street, but I understand that she is the sort that wants you go buy Lee Industries purchases through her and spend 100K with her to furnish your getaway manse (that is not me, so so so not me). Is there a good route to go (Ballard Designs, Ethan Allan, West Elm, RH)?

    1. I used Ethan Allen years ago but I don’t think they did anything I couldn’t have done myself. Also they’re limited to what they sell.

      I think you’d be better finding a designer who is willing to work in your price range. Believe me, they’re out there.

      1. I also did Ethan Allen and my person was great. She was very practical and didn’t try to sell me anything I didn’t need. The big thing she pointed out to me was how useful little tables can be. Everyone wants a place to set their drink and sometimes the end table or coffee table isn’t going to work.

        She also respected my view on “accessories,” which to me are just dust-collecting clutter, and instead we incorporated depth with different textures in the furniture.

        I got lucky though. She was a real and very experienced interior designer who took the Ethan Allen job as a side gig, rather than someone Ethan Allen trained from scratch.

    2. I haven’t personally but my mom is passionate about decorating and she has had great results with input from associates at store like Ethan Allen.

      1. Good to hear, I just started my Modsy design process for two rooms this past weekend.

    3. We did it, but with a decorator employed by an independent furniture store. It went well. They came out to the house, did measurements and talked to us about preference, then mocked up 3 designs and we went from there. And while we ended up using the same manufacturer for all the upholstered pieces, the decorator picked accent pieces/tables from a couple of different brands.

    4. I used Modsy to start (which is really all I ended up wanting to use). I then found myself in CB2, CB and West Elm looking at a few of the recommended pieces and fabrics in person. At CB and WE specifically I ended up speaking to a designer, told them what my inspiration was (modsy) and they then offered to mock it all up right then and there on their systems. No one ever came to my home as the Modsy renderings and measurements I had taken that were on the ipad I brought to the store were sufficient, but I found it very helpful.

      If my taste were more eclectic I could see that not working for you, but the in-store design cost me no money and I really liked the modsy interface and process. I’m someone who has a good eye for things she likes, being strongly drawn toward certain pieces and looks, but struggles with a blank canvas.

      1. Yes — maybe you are me?

        Parents are book hoarders, so I love a blank canvas and left to my own devices would leave it blank as it is so mentally peaceful to me. Like I could live in a staged house or a hotel forever. I’ve fine tweaking other people’s spaces but I cannot start from scratch.

    5. I used the service at room and board, and thought it was awesome. Their designers make no commission on sales, so it was a great experience. The most helpful thing was helping me rethink my furniture layout, and that enabled me to think through sizing furniture better. We also talked color scheme, how to mix colors and metals. He was great about suggesting other stores, or thing to look for to mix in with furniture I ultimately bought.

    6. I’ve never used one through a store but if there is a store whose aesthetic you’re mad for, it might not be a bad way to go. But speaking as someone who just renovated her condo earlier this year and worked with an independent full-service interior designer, you have more options than just the designer who wants to sell you $100K of stuff for your vacation home. There are others who do more modest work. There is whole range out there.

  7. Ok here’s the Married at First Sight thread.

    I’m just starting season 4. So far I thought Season 1 was the best, Season 2 was a train wreck, and Season 3 kind of broke my heart (no spoilers but I’m talking about decision day.)

    Your thoughts?

    1. I read that Season 2, they recruited and vetted the female contestants, and just half heartedly picked a few guys last-minute. I think that really showed, and I was outraged on behalf of the women.

    2. I’m watching the newest one, season 11 & I really want everyone to fall madly in love though some obviously have hurdles. They’ve streamlined the “experts” down from the early seasons (now having 3), which I think is an improvement, but I still wish they would speak about relationships/marriage with more substance.

      I’m also watching the Australian version where the experts sit down with the couples and basically have a sort of couples therapy (in front of the group) every so often … sometimes it’s insightful. As a whole it seems way less fluffy than the US version, but still reality tv drama with influencer wannabes at times.

      I heard the timing of US season 11 was during the COVID emergency & I want to see how that was documented & especially how it affected Dr Amelia and nurse practitioner Olivia. But I’m a million hours in and they’re just back from honeymoons so I wonder if they’ll spend time on later events.

        1. I think season 10 is on Netflix & I’m watching the others on Lifetime. I saw the first few seasons, quit for awhile as I wasn’t enjoying them that much & came back to the new ones. I don’t feel like I missed anything & it’s fun to discuss in real time/as they air.

          Maybe 10 would be a good place to start.

  8. Can anyone recommend a good online source for wool hiking socks? My local store is charging $23 for a pair, and I’m hoping for a better price. Usually I would go to Sierra Trading Post, but they are associated with TJMaxx and Old Navy, who I’ve heard are not doing great at filling orders lately.

    1. Darn Tough socks are my go-to. They’re such high quality and fully made in the USA.

      1. +1 for Darn Tough. I think they are part of the Labor Day sale at REI right now.

    2. Costco has six packs of wool socks, but I find they don’t last that long. I don’t think you’re going to find a high-quality pair of wool socks for much less than $20.

      1. +1. $23 is pretty typical for this grade of socks. I just wear them day to day, and still need to replace them every 2-3 seasons too. You need a sock budget if you want good, warm ones.

      2. This. I feel that you get what you pay for with these. I have Darn Tough and Smartwool and LL Bean and REI. I have an LL Bean card and use the rewards points for the socks, so I can justify what seems to be a lot of $ (OTOH, if the feet aren’t happy, the rest of me isn’t, either).

    3. Definitely Darn Tough. They are way, way nicer than my Smartwool socks. They’re expensive but worth it.

    4. Costco’s are my favorite. They’re 6 pairs for $20 and I still have 2 or 3 pairs from the first pack I got 6 or 7 years ago even though I wear them all the time. I saw them in my local store yesterday.

      Another option is REI. They’re having a labor day sale right now so you might find some discounted, but the best I’ve ever done there is $11 a pair on sale.

      1. +100. I’ve tried them all. The Costco socks are good. I like that they’re not super tight at the top of the sock. I am very skinny, with pretty thin ankles and lower calves, but the Darn Tough and more recently purchased Smartwool socks were too tight on my calves.

      2. +100! Own like 2 packages of 6 or whatever – I wear them all winter for warmth, then use them for hiking in summer because the merino wool is so effective at wicking away moisture.

    5. The cheapest pair of hiking socks on Darn Tough’s website is $16 and most of them are over $20. You need to up your sock budget.

    1. Parov Stellar. It is Austrian or Czech electro-swing. I just have some stuff playing that I found on You Tube.

    2. Might be a little out there for you, but David Teie’s Music for cats. It was created specifically for cats by cat behaviorists. My kitties love it and I also find it very soothing.

  9. How risky do you think an open-air yoga class in a park is? Attendees would be masked and spaced far apart. I am tempted because I really miss my yoga community, but I don’t know if it’s worth the risk.

    1. I think if spaced apart, it would be fine. We have been going to the pool all summer. We are masked for going through the check-in station and in the bathrooms, but not otherwise. Chairs are set up so you are distanced. You are expected to be distanced in the pool unless you are family members. Distanced + outdoor + masked I would do (possibly unless it is 100s of people or so many it’s not distanced).

    2. Do you think you’ll get the sense of community when distanced & masked? It might be difficult.

      1. I think distancing and masking is a small price to pay for being out in the open air doing something WITH people, and not on Zoom.

      2. All I can tell you is that my barre studio owner has created an AMAZING sense of community with our outdoor barre classes all summer long. They are in a beautiful park and it’s a real “stop and smell the roses” moment. She’s done great things, like buy gift cards to local (struggling) mom and pop businesses and then enter us in raffles to win them based on the # of classes we attend. She’s really been inspirational in how to pivot in a pandemic and her business is thriving. She actually offers two different outdoor locations at the same time every day because there is such high demand. She is very scrupulous about masking, ensuring our mats are the right distance apart, no-contact check-in, etc. I seriously don’t touch anything other than my own yoga mat, props, keys and flip flops and I am never closer than 6 feet to anyone (and often farther apart).

      3. I’ve been going to my studio’s outdoor, spaced classes. We don’t wear masks during practice but just while walking to and from mats. Yes. Yes, there is so much community. Our teachers are doing a great job (as they always do) emphasizing community and acknowledging that we’re all doing our best. Everyone seems to be showing up, people are friendly and smiling, there’s this sense that even though it’s not “normal,” everyone is really glad to have the opportunity to be here and connect.

    3. I haven’t been inside a grocery store since March. I’d probably consider masked outdoor yoga depending on the spacing and the prevalence of COVID in the community.

        1. Does this comment make you feel superior? Not the OP, but my DH had surgery at the beginning of March for damage from an autoimmune disorder that he will take immune suppressants for the rest of his life. I’m our sole grocery getter now and the foreseeable future, and he would love to be in a store again to pick and choose what he wants. Initially, we had (expensive and limited item) door delivery because I was taking care of him on top of working full time and couldn’t get enough moments in a day. You think you are funny. But that’s incredibly mean. Must be nice to live a life so removed from this miserable existence. May you never have weak elderly parents or a sick spouse or be vulnerable yourself where you realize what loss of freedom over small tasks like this really means.

        2. Not the person you’re responding to, but I haven’t been inside a grocery store since February. Curbside pickup is free and very convenient. I’m not that scared of the virus personally, but I’d rather use my risk capital on other things that don’t have such any easy alternative. Honestly I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to shopping in the store because the curbside pickup is so easy.

    4. Super low risk, so go! And plus, if you do feel uncomfortable at any point, it’s probably easier to pack up and leave in an outdoors setting than a usual indoor class. (I am assuming this is a smaller local class less than 50 people, if it’s more than that I would consider it more medium-risk but I would still go as a healthy 30s person.)

    5. I’ve been going to unmasked beach yoga all summer, because it’s easy to be WAY more than 6ft apart from folks during class.

    6. I’ve been doing near-daily barre classes outdoors and plan to continue til there is snow on the ground. You touch nothing, you’re distanced … I think it is as safe as can be.

    7. I’ve been doing unmasked (but distanced and no shared equipment) outdoor exercise classes since June and consider it low risk. We’re also a tight group and people have been good about skipping class if exposed or awaiting test results.

    8. Thanks, all! This helps. I think I’ll do it. It will be 15 people or less, and the park is huge so I am not worried about being able to maintain a safe distance.

    9. I’ve been going to some in DC and have felt very safe. People wear masks except when the class is going on, there is plenty of distance, and being outdoors in general seems so much safer. Doesn’t seem like any more risk then walking past masked (or unmasked ugh) people on the street.

  10. I need a new brush for applying pressed powder. I’ve already tried the Real Techniques powder brush (too big and does not apply product well alongside nose, temples, etc), the expert brush (too dense and applies too much powder), and angled Insta Pop brush (feels awkward). Suggestions? Under $20 preferred but willing to go higher for noticeably better quality.

    1. I don’t have a recommendation under $20 but Trish McEvoy #5 brush is a worthwhile splurge. I’ve had mine for 10 years and can’t imagine ever needing to buy another.

  11. Experience to share with IPL for early stage rosacea and anti aging? I have gotten really used to not wearing makeup during work from home and my skin is so happy with the exception of the redness. It’s the main reason I wear makeup to start with, and had a cosmetic dermatologist say they have good luck with it for redness. I otherwise baby it and don’t have the bumps that go along with it anymore, just the redness. Curious if anyone has real work feedback before I throw down money on this? Would happily spend it if it could tone down the redness and make me more comfortable with my naked skin.

    1. So I had my first laser treatment for rosacea this past Thursday. Like you, I only have redness, no bumps. I *think* it is going to be less red once it heals, but at the moment, it is still pretty swollen and also I have a good amount of bruising from it. I am happy to report back once it heals to say whether I have seen an improvement. I will have to get a second treatment in a month, and they are going to re-assess to determine if I need more. I asked about this here a couple of weeks ago since I was about to get it, and someone here did say they had good results with it, which convinced me to go ahead with it.

      1. I think that might have been me. It did work but the bruising is hard to live with!

    2. Alas, I did not have a great result, same old capillaries still there. I’m told a lot depends on the technician, plus machines may be better now than twenty years ago. I currently use azelaic acid to keep the bumps at bay, and the redness has also abated some. YMMV. Good luck!

  12. Curious: does anyone here own guns? What kind? Pondering making our first purchase.

    1. If you don’t know enough to provide some more detail in your question to narrow it down, I’m going to assume you’re not asking sincerely.

      1. Agree with this. Think about why you’re considering this type of purchase, what your goals are, and how you intend to train yourself and family members to use and handle it safely. Provide more info and you’ll likely get better responses. Contrary to what the poster below says, there are in fact gun owners in these parts.

    2. Depends on what you want it for. Hunting? Protection in case of burglars? I recommend you research reputable shooting ranges in your area and get info from them on safety classes. There are gun owners on this board.

    3. This reminds me – I have blocked my Alabama relative on FB because it’s not good for my blood pressure to read about how Biden, not Trump, is a menace to this country, but another relative clued me in that he was celebrating the 18th birthday of his daughter noting “her pistol permit and voter registration complete.” Ugh ugh ugh. Like that is acceptable anywhere. I’m so tired of pretending that gun culture is “American culture.” No, it’s not. It’s a subgroup — it’s not my culture at all.

  13. So you dislike these people … and that’s why you’ve been going on weird rants about “hicks” lately.

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