ByKat Hours Updated
Comments 60 Comments

Coffee Break: Colored Bud Vases

10 colorful bud vases

I've written before how about how much I love bud vases. Almost any time I get flowers I try to take one from the bouquet and put it in a bud vase right near my desk or sometimes in the powder room — it brightens my day up so much. It reminds me of a guy I used to work with who would buy himself fresh flowers every week to bring to the office — his theory was that it cheered him up so much it was worth it.

Something that I've come to realize about vases, though, is that if they're small they're hard to clean, which means clear bud vases get cloudy and filthy pretty quickly. So I love this brightly colored set from Amazon — they're in such happy, bright colors, and the fact that you get 10 bud vases (ranging from 3″ tall to 6″ tall) means you'll almost always have the right vase for the job.

The set is $32 at Amazon; there's an additional 10% off coupon today.

Sales of note for 12.3.24 (lots of Cyber Monday deals extended, usually until 12/3 at midnight)

60 Comments

  1. Posted too late on the AM thread – sunscreen you wear under your foundation or tinted moisturizer that doesn’t cause pilling? I’m not willing to put on 1/2 tsp of foundation or tinted moisturizer to the the full SPF effect, so a separate SPF is non negotiable. But I would like to even out my complexion and mask some rosacea.

    1. I have good luck with La roche posay anthelios and supergoop (i like both the glowscreen and the unseen). Neither of those seem to pill when i use Nars light reflecting foundation or dior backstage face and body foundation.

      2. +1 to LRP. I buy the Euro versions for better protection (they have a newish one, uvmune, which is great but hard to find for shipping to the US).

    2. Elta MD Physical Sunscreen, and touch up with Color Science tinted powder sunscreen throughout the day. I do this alone or under foundation.

    3. I picked up the Rohto SKIN AQUA UV Super Moisture Gel 110g SPF50 / PA based on a rec here. It plays well with my BB cream.

    4. I know this sounds odd, but I use Eucerin Daily Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Body Cream for Dry Skin. It’s super moisturizing, does not leave a white cast (I have a South Asian skin tone), and lays beautifully under all makeup. A big tube is about eight bucks, and it has been my holy grail.

    5. SuperGoop unseen sunscreen is my favorite and basically goes on like a primer. I also like the Coola mineral silk sunscreen which I used during pregnancy/nursing to avoid chemical sunscreen.

    6. My daily go-to I Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass whatever. It’s SPF30 which seems fine for my mostly-in-the-office days. My skin loves it, and I tend to redness, so the color correcting stuff works great for me.

    1. Cafe du Monde is basic but very worth a visit. I loved District Donuts. The fried green tomato eggs benedict at Cafe Fleur de Lis was incredible, one of the best meals I’ve ever had. We had great dinners at Atchafalya and Commander’s Palace, although the latter is kind of fancy.

      1. We are literally staying in a hostel – so I’m being serious when I say budget-friendly, ha! But our plan is to spend most money on food, etc., so open to ideas. I’ve been to NOLA before, but always love suggestions.

    4. Parkway Bakery for po’boys.
      Pho Tau Bay for Vietnamese.
      Jewel of the South for cocktails and small plates. And Latitude 29 if you’re into tiki drinks.
      Acme Oyster House is actually really good, especially sitting at the oyster bar and having raw or chargrilled oysters.
      Camellia Grill for any meal. Get an omelette, get the pecan pie warmed on the griddle a la mode. Enjoy the waiters and the whole scene.
      N7 or The Elysian Bar for brunch. Also Satsuma Cafe. And Surreys. Brunch is my favorite meal, and doesn’t work for my family.
      St. James Cheese Company.
      Mopho for Vietnamese/New Orleans fusion.
      Dooky Chase isn’t exactly low key, but the food is amazing and really affordable.

      1. Tout de suite cafe in Algiers point for a breakfast/brunch local neighborhood joint in Algiers Point (take the public transit ferry across the river)

  3. did anyone watch the new show beef this weekend?? I started on fri and did not realize I would then be binging it the whole weekend. omg. so many feelings!!! i was shocked at how emotional i found the whole series – i’m an 80s baby so the 90s music felt perfect and cathartic, and i was shocked at how much i felt for both characters even though they were terrible. no one else in my house watched it with me so im just itching for someone to talk about the show with!!

    2. I don’t have Netflix but am contemplating getting it just for this show – I’ve heard great things from so many people.

    3. I am so impressed you managed to watch the entire show over the weekend! I watched the 1st episode last night and was a nervous wreck less than 10 minutes in. I thought the show was incredibly well done, but deeply uncomfortable to watch. Almost every scene felt like veering towards my worst impulses, taken to extremes.

      I know it’s been billed as a “dark comedy”–does the comedy appear later on? I just thought it was super dark. Still on the fence about whether to continue.

      1. I think it continues to get more dark. The “comedy” part of it for me is that it’s all just too absurd/hyperbolic to be “real” if that makes sense so for me, it didn’t raise any anxiety bc I just knew it was fake. but I can see how it could be too dark for you! I do think what’s helpful is they do a lot more digging into both characters’ childhoods and their experiences and it helps the viewer gain a lot of empathy for me. honestly I had a lot of similar feelings at different points of my life so I really really empathized with both danny and amy

      2. oh yes and honestly I felt like so drawn to the show/understood in a way that I just couldn’t stop watching! like a trainwreck lol! plus I actually really loved the ending and felt a sense of catharsis from the whole thing. like a weird version of therapy haha

      3. I watched the first episode and it gave me the heebie-jeebies, too. I think I may have to pass on the rest.

  4. What’s in style for comfortable yet professional shoes in 2023? I’ve worn Cole Haan wedges for over a decade and realized last week that my current pairs probably need to be replaced, and it appears CH is no longer selling a similar shoe. Everything now appears to be a lug sole loafer or a flat that is thinner than a flip flop.

    I need a little arch support and don’t want to wear flats all the time as I feel more confident in heels, but stilettos and platforms aren’t super practical either.

    1. I feel like everyone is wearing loafers now but they’re not my favorite so I’ve decided to keep being unfashionable. I wear wedges. Mine are Fly London.

    3. Not sure what Chicago weather is like but I imagine it’s still Chelsea boot weather for you for a little bit. I wear Chelsea boots as my winter work shoe at least 75% of the time.

      Once it warms up, I love a low block heel sandal.

      For the in-between weather, what about a low block heel?

  5. Yeah, wedges are out for sure. Think 90s – chunky heels, platforms, lug soles. That’s the trend these days.

  6. Hit me with your best fake tanners – I have porcelain, almost blue-tinted, skin and would like to look slightly less ghastly for a summer wedding. I don’t need to look like I have a deep tan, just enough color that I won’t blind people.

    3. Bondi Sands, Skin Drop, or St Tropez. I like the express ones, where you can apply it and after 1-8 hours wash it off, the less time you leave it on the lighter the tan.

  7. Has anyone gone on an amazing family vacation with boys age 11 and 8? I tend to think either amusement park or city/museum/shopping for vacations in general, so I think I need to broaden my horizons to more active vacations. We’re not very outdoorsy or athletic, though…

    1. Try some easy river rafting in Utah! There are some family trips that my sons loved. And while it is camping,, it is pretty luxurious. The guides make dinner. It is rustic, but the fun factor and dramatic scenery outweighed any negatives.

      1. I second this, but would recommend the Middle of the Salmon river in Idaho too. It’s incredible. I am signed up to raft the Rogue River in Oregon this summer and that is also supposed to be great for families.

      2. Another vote for Moab! The Springhill Suites/Fairfield has a great pool area, Arches is minutes away and Goblin Valley state park is worth the drive.

        Adventure kind of hits you upside the head in the best possible way.

    2. An all-inclusive beach resort like Beaches is great with kids that age. There’s a waterpark as well as complimentary watersports like kayaking and paddle-boarding and you can pay for more active stuff like jet-skiing and scuba certification.

    3. I took my 9 year old boy on a road trip up the California coast years ago and it was great. Hearst castle, beaches, Winchester Mystery House, San Francisco (Alcatraz was a big hit). And did I mention beaches?

      2. Oh we did that at that age, and I loved it! I really liked Devil’s Cauldron and the surrounding state park and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

    4. I think somewhere like Costa Rica or Belize would be fun with kids those ages. Lots of different activities, some beach, some jungle, zipling, etc. River rafting like an earlier poster suggested is also a good suggestion.

      If you’re up for slightly more far flung, I can’t wait to take my kids to the Galapagos Islands.

    5. My kids are too little, but I stumbled on the websites for several dude ranch type places when I was researching all inclusive family vacations. They seemed awesome and perfect for that age range.

    6. Have you tried a ski resort in the summer? It can be great hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities, but also pool areas, spas, etc.

    7. Black Butte Ranch or Sunriver in Oregon or even just stay in Bend. Amazing hiking, rafting, biking or just swimming/relaxing.

  8. How much should laser hair removal cost? In Philly, fwiw. All of the place I’m finding have groupons, but not for legs.

  9. I am someone who wears skirts and dresses with tights and boots in winter, and bare legs and sneakers or sandals. Every spring and fall, my legs freeze if I don’t wear tights or socks (I run cold in hands and feet esp), so this time of year is peak pants or jeans season for me. I have some well worn black straight leg jeans, and dark wash wide leg jeans that are three sizes too large (but that I wear with a belt if needs be lol). Since I don’t wear pants or jeans as much, I’m wondering what would be a stylish and good to go for spring, as I need a couple that would fit. I like straight, bootcut and flare, just not sure what washes or styles would work for super casual work, and running around on the weekends. I’m an hourglass size 10 and struggling with fit and rises, and have ordered and returned so many! I wear them with sneakers, or boots that are about four inches above the ankle and always flats— apart from commuting to work, I walk everywhere in my city. I’d appreciate any style suggestions, as I’ve been on and ordering and return cycle! Thank you in advance:)

  10. I always like light blue denim for spring.

    https://www.nordstrom.com/s/ag-ex-boyfriend-slouchy-slim-jeans-20-years-skyhawk/6542962?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FJeans%20%26%20Denim&fashioncolor=Blue&color=486

    https://www.nordstrom.com/s/levis-wedgie-icon-fit-high-waist-jeans-tango-light/5444963?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=450

    https://www.nordstrom.com/s/barely-boot-straight-leg-jeans-regular-petite-nordstrom-exclusive/5886732?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FJeans%20%26%20Denim&fashioncolor=Blue&color=415

    1. Thank you for these suggestions! I will keep my eyes open for these styles and washes.

Comments are closed.