ByKat Hours Updated
Comments 179 Comments

Coffee Break: Dudley Stephens Fleece

Speaking of new stores, I forget exactly how I came across Dudley Stephens, but I've been drooling over their line of cozy but elegant fleece for a while. I WISH turtlenecks and I got along — their line of turtlenecks (and turtleneck tunics and dresses!) have such a very Audrey Hepburn vibe.

I had been eyeing their longish outercoat, but this cape has totally captured my eye — it looks cozy but sleek, and I love that it's got pockets. Who needs one of those huge hoodies when you can choose this instead?

The cape is $258, and (EEEE!) they have a limited edition pink neon color. Although the gray is very stately and lovely also. Hmmmn….

The brand offers sizing in XS(P) up to XXL (18), and their pieces are all made in the USA.

They DO seem to have a referral program, just FYI — if you want $25 off your first order of $150+, try my referral code!

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!

Sales of note for 1/1/25 (HAPPY NEW YEAR!):

Sales of note for 1/1/25 (HAPPY NEW YEAR!):

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

179 Comments

    1. The Blanket Cape is for people like me who enjoy working with a blanket wrapped around themselves but find that it’s hard to type/work/make calls while also using their hands to wrap the blanket in an ideal position. And, it has pockets!

    2. I’m glad it’s not just me. I’m really perplexed by the teddy bear fleece trend, and this reminds me of it a little. It’s slightly muppetifying.

      1. Agreed. I… I love this. It would be great to wear over structured things too, like a dress you don’t want to wrinkle.

        I want one!

    5. It makes prefect sense to me because it would hide my Covid-15 and that my leggings are S and I probably need a M now but I am cheap and an optimist.

      Plus, it make you into the shape of the triangular lady on the ladies’ room signs.

    7. If I’m cold, it’s in my extremities, not my core. This insulates the warmest part of the body and leaves the colder parts exposed. It’s also absurdly expensive for an undersized Snuggie/ giant piece of synthetic fiber.

      1. It IS pricey! I bet there’s a dupe at Costco for a fifth of the price.
        My hands get so cold – at my old job I wore fingerless wrist/hand-warmers all winter.

    9. Definitely not classic or sophisticated enough to be giving Audrey Hepburn vibes.

  2. I take Zyrtec for seasonal allergies and I stopped the other day after taking it daily all summer. I’ve noticed that I’ve been itchy ever since – like my chest and shoulders and neck are all itching, especially at night. It’s not incredibly severe, but it’s definitely noticeable. A quick Google search reveals that this might actually be a known side effect of stopping Zyrtec, although I haven’t talked to a doctor. Has anyone else gone through this and do you have any tips for stopping the itching? I’m not sure I want to stick with this allergy drug in the future if this is what happens when you stop.

    1. I had this happen after it taking xyzal daily for an extended period of time (more than 5 years). My allergist suggest tapering off my dose, by half and then a quarter. It did help the itching, but I eventually did have to go back on it (chronic hives ftw) so can’t say how long it took to stop the itching completely.

    2. Did you stop cold turkey? I always find my immune system does better (doesn’t overreact) if I step down my medications – like take every second day, then every third day then stop.

    3. Yup! Happened to me every year when I went off the Zyrtec. no good remedies except it usually stops for me after 3-7 days. I’m not totally sure, but I think I avoid this problem using Allegra. I say I’m not totally sure because I just switched this year and was patchy about taking it since we were indoors most of the summer.

    4. When I stopped taking my allergy medicine this fall, I weaned myself off it slowly. I started taking it only every other day for about a week and a half before stopping.

    5. Or it could be the opposite – you could have been having some other mild allergy this whole time (detergent, lotion, etc) that the Zyrtec was treating as well.

    6. Coming in late to say that this also happens to me with Zyrtec. The slow taper is key. I have found that Zyrtec works best for me, so I accept this downside. You may end up finding that half a Zyrtec is enough for maintenance in your allergy season, and then a week of half every other day alleviates the itchiness when you stop.

    7. Yes, this is real. Please consider submitting an FDA adverse reaction report. I had horrific itching and tingling every time I stopped, and tapering didn’t work for me. I finally went cold turkey and dealt with severe withdrawal symptoms for about 3 weeks, but I got through it. It’s been about a year now, and I’ll never take that drug again.

  3. I adopted my puppy at 3 months and he is now almost 5 months. I’ve tried to get him used to the car, but he is really afraid of it. I’ve tried hanging out by the car, opening the door and me sitting in the seat and feeding him treats, putting him in the back and giving him treats, doing a lap around the neighborhood (no new mommy, no vet, no groomer, just a lap). Eventually he will make peace with it? I have to carry him to the car and put him in the back (I give him the chance to climb in but it makes him want to run away). I’d love to take him on a nature walk now that he has had all of his shots, but it is an ordeal just to get him in the car.

    1. My puppy is also not the biggest fan of the car. Things that have worked for me include: playing soothing dog music (yes, that’s what the video is called), putting a cozy blanket with a familiar scent in the back, giving him a soft chew toy, taking breaks every 30 minutes to stretch our legs in a fun new location, so many treats (and sometimes a nibble of takeout if we’re eating in the car!). And then just toughing it out while he whines a bit – he eventually falls asleep and the whining has decreased over time.

    2. Have you tried a dog car seat for him? When our now-almost-2 year old dog was a puppy we found that she was much more comfortable in the car when she had a dedicated space to curl up in. I think routine exposure also helped. She was stubborn about walking when she was little, so I would frequently drive around with the windows down/sit in parking lots in the car with her to people watch and expose her to different environments. She eventually reached a stage where the car was no big deal. Another thing that helps when she starts to get spooked on the highways (scary trucks!) is turning on the radio to drown out some of the sounds. Good luck!!

      1. +1 Pets should be restrained in the car anyway because they’re a danger to passengers as well as themselves in an accident.

        OP, my old dog had this issue. It helps to make sure that car trips are for fun destinations like the park far more often than “bad” ones (e.g., the vet).

    3. I had this experience. The short answer is he will now willingly get in the car, so take hope.

      My guy was fine in the car until about a year. Then he started not wanting to get in at the park to come home. Then we had a minor accident and while he was not hurt, he became totally opposed to it and bit me once when I tried to pick him up to put him in the car. (Bit my thumb in thick gloves so no damage done).

      I did what you did re taking him down to see the car, get close to it, eat treats on the threshold of the back door and on the back floor and seat. I sprayed adaptil, put a toy in the car, etc., etc. He would get close, but not get in. I bought a ramp — tried so many things…. my guy will not take a treat when he is too nervous, so I knew what was working and what wasn’t.

      I hired a trainer and she basically said she thought he was feeding off my fear getting him in the car. By this time, I was stressed about it so she was probably right. She got him in by opening the back door, walking around quickly and using the handle on his harness to help him jump in. I practiced and practiced and now I just open the door and he jumps in all by himself. And he always gets a treat.

      I put a bed in the car with short sides on it so he feels contained, he is tethered to the seat belt and I have a back seat hammock, so he can’t see the floor of the car. I don’t know who much of all this helps, but it works.

      I know he is not as comfortable In the car as he was when he was younger by his stance, but as I said, he always gets in now. It was a good few months of work.

      Good luck!

  4. Now this is the workwear attire I need for these current times: a blanket I can simply button to myself.

    1. Uniqlo has blankets with snaps. For a LOT LESS than $258. In fact, they have one on sale in grey check for $2 right now. They’re not bad blankets, but you wouldn’t catch me dead in them buttoned like a cape.

  5. Any space heater recs? I hope to visit with my elderly mom in her garage while the door is partially opened and will bring some space heaters with but not sure which to choose. This is going to be a long winter.

      1. +1 million to Vornado. Bought one for my iceberg of an office and it’s great.

    2. My husband used to use a Bionaire when he was the only one WFH and didn’t want to heat up the whole upstairs (older, drafty house). Works well, no complaints

  6. Has anyone here gotten a pedicure since March? I made it through the summer and then let my feet go. I figure, I can do during the day / during the week thanks to WFH and having a slow week next week. And masks.

    Any words of advice (other than not to do it)? I figure, it is less risky than eating in a restaurant.

    1. If you live in Maine, sure. If not, it’s not safe enough unless it’s some outdoor salon setup. You don’t want advice not to do it but that’s the only advice I have. The situation in way too many states is extremely dire.

      2. I’ve never been to Maine — but if they are beating Coronavirus, maybe this is the time to give a Maine trip some thought.

        2. They don’t want you coming. Restricting visitors at great collective sacrifice is how they are in this good position.

    3. No, but I have spent the equivalent amount of time indoors in a salon for haircuts (masked). Pedicures feel way more ‘optional’ to me than haircuts, though, so I have no problem DIY’ing for the foreseeable future.

    4. I haven’t gotten a pedicure simply because I have admittedly taken other risks (seeing friends or relatives in group of 10 or less about once every 2 weeks, eating at restaurant patios maybe 2x per month, eating indoors at restaurants 1 time per month, etc) and I am trying to minimize exposure elsewhere. I have gone to hair appointments and have felt very comfortable, as I was fully masked.

      Masks have been repeatedly shown to be effective in these types of situations. I say that you should go for it…of course, remain masked 100% of the time. You can add a face shield on top of your mask for added protection. You can also cancel any other exposure plans you have for that week…do grocery delivery the week of your pedicure, etc.

      1. Added thought: In my SEUS state, the political liberals and healthcare leaders who take Covid seriously are urging people to wear masks SO THAT we can continue supporting our local businesses and participate in before-times activities like pedicures. I have 1 friend who is literally not leaving her house, but she and her husband are the exception and they are acting much more conservatively than recommended by the local healthcare and political leaders I trust (our Democratic mayor, for instance, not our Republican governor).

        It’s interesting because, on this site, the attitude is still overwhelmingly “leaving your house is foolish, mask or not.” I’m by no means saying I’m right and others are wrong. On the contrary, I’ve learned a lot here and it was feedback from this group that pushed me to make the hard but ultimately correct decision to turn my huge wedding into a gathering with less than 10 people…it’s just an interesting juxtaposition.

        1. I actually don’t think that is the overwhelming message on this site as there are a lot of naysayers calling everyone who does take precautions anxious and paranoid. And a lot of privileged people who have built “I am a restaurant goer and pedicure getter and I take a lot of well-deserved vacations” into their core identities and just can’t even consider giving them up for a brief period.

          1. I think that’s inaccurate. I see a vocal amount of commenters on this board shooting down any activities that involve leaving the house (even with masks), unless it’s a walk outdoors. Anonie isn’t mischaracterizing those discussions. The mood of the board is “leaving your house is selfish because it puts everyone at risk, including those who are high risk, who are now trapped like prisoners” and a lot of accusations that people are going to bars or being reckless if you disagree with them. It’s like a damn reddit thread around here in terms of viciousness.

        2. No, I read daily and have never heard “leaving your house is foolish.” Even the high-risk people haven’t said that that I’ve seen. People have criticized indoor meet ups, indoor and outdoor dining, pedicures, and weddings. I haven’t seen ANYONE say you can’t go on a walk or do a distanced, masked outdoor meetup with one or two friends except for the very earliest days when that went against the shutdown regulations in most places.

          1. I’m not really meeting up with friends, but that’s only because it’s too awkward when people propose going indoors or otherwise change the precautions partway through a gathering.

            But I’m absolutely going outdoors.

    5. I am in the SEUS, which is generally not a place where people are being cautious, and I’ve been much more conservative on staying home/isolating than anyone I know in real life. I have gotten pedicures 2 or 3 times since March and what I’ve been doing is finding a salon open on Sundays and making the first appointment of the day, which is usually at noon. I then wear a mask the whole time I’m there and so do the employees. I feel ok doing this because the salon has been empty for 12+ hours at this point and by the time the after church crowd starts trickling in, I’m out the door.

    6. Numbers are really ramping up … Read about all the doctors and nurses who are pleading for you to stay home. Read about the barber who died after going to clients’ homes to give haircuts. Read about those who contracted Covid-19 and “recovered” but are suffering from long-term symptoms that may impact the quality of their lives for the rest of their lives. Talk to your local doctor about the horrors she saw on the job in March/April. Read the obituary of your favorite aunt. Finally, ask yourself how important it is to have someone else pamper your feet.

      1. I know a healthy 28-year-old on day 16 of a fever after being exposed to covid at work. Her oxygen saturation was 88 yesterday. The hospital in her town is already turning patients away, just like they did in March. It’s not the time to get a pedicure. That isn’t an anxious decision – it’s a data-driven one.

          1. Pedicures specifically were actually contraindicated for me before the pandemic. This is why it’s helpful to talk to our own doctors who know our medical histories!

      3. I talked to a friend who works in a lab processing over 100 COVID tests per hour. She said that she and other health care personnel feel completely taken advantage of and taken for granted. When she drives home after a long day, having taken no vacation at all since March, and sees jam-packed bars without masks in sight (red state in denial), she knows that people just don’t get how burdensome this pandemic is on essential workers. I wonder if people will start realizing it when they get sick and can’t get care because it’s rationed or all the nurses are sick themselves. Think of them in your decision-making.

        1. I really wouldn’t speak for health care personnel. My sister is an ICU physician. She wears masks, avoids large crowds, washes her hands and get pedicures.

          1. +1

            I’m a non-healthcare essential worker who worked 20+ straight days of 12-18hr shifts during the spring and summer. When things calmed down, I resumed getting pedicures. Now things are ramping up again (just worked a 13 hr shift for the first time in weeks… have mostly been working 8s) I’m rethinking what activities I do

        3. My company provides a critical essential service. Not healthcare, but think electricity, water, phone, internet, etc. We are in the office at least 50%, some people 100%, and some people locked in the office for 10-14 days to make sure they don’t get sick and can’t work.

          Sure, sometimes I see people doing things I wish they wouldn’t. But I don’t feel taken advantage of, or taken for granted, or angry. Not only is this my job and what I get paid to do, but I am proud that what we provide to the communities we serve helps people to do things and to live at least part of their lives. So, when you think of people in your decision making, I’d prefer that you are just appreciative that so many people behind the scenes are doing so much just to keep things running, do what you can, and keep safe while doing it.

          FWIW, I wouldn’t get a pedicure but that’s because I don’t like people to touch my feet.

      4. I think this is really unhelpful. Yes, people can die of COVID. Would you similarly tell someone to read an obituary of someone who died in a car accident before getting in a car?

        Most people on this board clearly have no understanding that people like nail techs need to work and cannot just quit, and patronizing a business like a nail salon safely (masked) helps them support themselves and their family.

        1. You could donate the cost of your pedicure to a food bank, if it’s really about supporting others.

          2. Donating the money to a food bank helps many types of people, but it doesn’t help nail techs wanting to keep their jobs

        2. I think we need better security for everyone whose livelihood depends on doing things for other people that most of us can do for ourselves in a pinch.

    7. I haven’t done a pedicure, but I did get a manicure. I went to a salon with outdoor seating (I was the only one), and wore a mask the entire time. (The manicurist also wore a mask and face shield). I would get a pedicure under similar circumstances.

    8. Nope. I meant to treat myself to a mani/pedi to celebrate my new job at the start of the year, but put it off too long. But honestly, everything they do at a pedicure can be done at home with the right stuff – I know it’s not the same without the foot jacuzzi and massage chair, but those things can wait.

    9. I have had a few pedicures since salons reopened here. Certainly mask-wearing is a baseline. My salon is distancing customers, as well. But you are in proximity to your technician. There are plexiglass dividers for manicures but not for pedicures. The last time I went I declined all but the basic service so I would be in and out faster and I really didn’t engage in conversation. I don’t know that there are other precautions you can take other than timing it so you are there at a slow time.

    10. I went for the first time since February two weeks ago. Cases are at about 1% here. I made an appointment at my usual place, I didn’t see any other patrons. I and the pedicurist and owner/receptionist wore masks. There was also a clear divider coming down for the ceiling in front of my face. It was lovely and I tipped well.

    11. Yup. I did one over the summer, and am thinking I might do one this week. I’m masked and the technicians are all masked. Nail salon techs often wore masks in pre-COVID times anyways so I’m not concerned about non-compliance on their part. Whenever I walk by salons, they usually appear to be empty or have maybe one patron, definitely easy to social distance. I was pleased that they actually enforced compliance when I went over the summer as a woman had her children with her and they weren’t wearing masks and the owner required them to put masks on or leave. There aren’t any places I’ve seen that offer outdoors pedicures either in the city or the suburbs, so that’s not an option for me. I’m in NYC area and our positivity rate is averaging 1-2%, FWIW.

      1. I have gotten 2 or 3 pedicures in NYC since March. I’m in a zip code with remarkably low rates – think it was 39/100,000 for the last 7 day average – and I want to make sure my local places stay open. I tip 30 percent, am fully-masked, and have my temp taken before I’m allowed to get a service. Way less risky IMO than eating indoors, which I have seen people doing regularly since it was permitted.

    12. I have gotten two pedicures, one in July and one in October, in the DC area. I picked a salon that I have been to in the before times that is very high end, and because it is so expensive I found it was never very crowded even pre-COVID. They are doing temperature checks at the door (mostly theater, but can’t hurt), all staff are wearing masks and face shields, they make you wash your hands when you arrive, and they have signs saying you have to keep your mask on/no eating or drinking. I appreciated all of that. The first time I was one of two clients in there the whole time (weekday evening) and maybe 3 or 4 staff. I was seated maybe 8 pedicure seats away from the other client (so way more than 6 feet) and I was out within probably an hour. The second time I went it was a holiday, there were always at least 3 other clients, maybe as many as 5 others at one point. Everyone still was wearing masks, but it felt distinctly more busy/a little riskier. I was definitely still six feet away. I also got a manicure this time. I will say-I would go back and get a pedicure again, but I would do it on a weekday evening again, and I would not do a manicure. The total time including manicure was too long for my comfort for being in the indoor space, and you are much closer face to face with the tech when you are getting a manicure.

      While I agree with everyone who says to be cautious, I think that pedicures are pretty low risk activities as long as your salon is taking precautions about mask wearing, spacing and taking them seriously. While I agree that the spike across the country is very scary, what is driving that spike is restaurants, bars, and people socializing (especially indoors) unmasked with friends and family because they “trust them.”

    13. I go once a month or so. Mask compliance is 100% and it’s pretty well socially distanced as well. From what I’ve seen (see: hairstylist who had COVID but was masked with all masked clients), masks are effective in these situations.

      While we all have our own personal risk tolerance, I also think it’s unhelpful to say things like “read the obituary of your favorite Aunt”. People on this board tend to forget that nail techs need to make a living, and plenty of workers cannot just “quit”, and assuming the activity is allowed, masked, and you’re comfortable with it, getting a pedicure is helping them feed their family.

    14. I have but cases are low in my state and we are trying to support small local businesses so they don’t all close. Remember, the gov’t unfortunately is not going to bail any of these people out. Expanded unemployment is ending with no safety net to follow and the senate is not re-convening for weeks.

      My local spa is only taking two people in the pedicure room at a time so I book it with my neighbor we podded with.

      1. Yep, this. These nail salons are largely small businesses, and obviously I’d advise taking precautions (masks, etc), but if it’s open and you can mask, I really don’t see the issue. These businesses need customers, and someone’s livelihood and family are depending on it.

    15. Yes, around once a month. They have 100% mask compliance and it’s my local business that I want to support.

    16. Yes, I’ve gotten a few. My strip mall salon – in a deep red county – has 5ft tall rolling plexiglass dividers between each chair and over your lap to separate you from your technician. And everyone’s wearing masks. And they keep the door open if it’s nice out. Feels safer to me than other indoor activities where people are crowding together and not paying any attention to separation.

      1. Yes, those events are unsafe. Doesn’t mean nail salons are safe. They’re unrelated.

    17. No, I am in a state where I had to sign a statement that I would otherwise lose a tooth in the next year in order to get dental work done. The concept of putting my community at risk for my toes is a hard pass. I would reach a different conclusion if some one with a medical condition that requires treatment or who cannot reach her toes due to a disability or has palsy was asking this question.

      1. Right? There are a lot of hard decisions to make in this pandemic – do I see my elderly grandmother outside, do I put my kid in daycare so I can work. Not going to the salon for a pedicure is the easiest decision anyone could ever make. Send the salon money if you want.

    18. The reality is that we are going to live with Covid for years. You can’t just take outdoor, masked walks for the next couple years and call it a life. You can balance risk. Like, I will get a pedicure with a mask but I go to a bar. I’ve cut down eating at indoor restaurants to almost nothing, but I have been twice since March.

      And by the way, I had the misfortune of asking this board if anyone was stocking up on meds, toilet paper and cleaning supplies and got mostly “OMG calm down” so I take people’s opinions with a grain of salt.

      1. Yeah, but how much does getting a pedicure really contribute towards living a full life? I’m surprised anyone thinks it’s important (unless necessary for medical reasons).

        1. You could say that about almost anything. Maybe it’s pedicures for the OP, getting a haircut for someone else, outdoor dining for someone else, quarantining and then seeing friends/family for another. Just because something doesn’t seem to have a high reward for YOU doesn’t mean it doesn’t for others. I personally wouldn’t get a pedicure but I’ve never liked people touching my feet. That doesn’t mean I’m incapable of understanding why it’s an indulgence someone may enjoy. For me, that indulgence is a latte and breakfast with a book at my favorite cafe. I hope you have something that brings you joy that others find frivolous. That’s part of the joy of life

          1. But you can have ALL the frivolous things that bring you joy except the ones that require you to be indoors in groups … that’s actually a lot of things, isn’t it?

          2. Well according to plenty of people if those frivolous things involve more than x people outdoors you can’t have them either. And not everything is doable outside. If you are content with only doing masked outdoor meetups for the next two years by all means you do you, but it’s pretty ridiculous to ask that of everyone else.

        2. A pedicure is waaaay less risky than a bar. That’s one of the stupidest activities I can think of doing during a pandemic.

      2. Or you could just be an adult and wait a few months until the fragile can get vaccines.

        1. Please do share where you are getting your information that a vaccine will definitely be available in a few months. I’d love to buy stock in that company.

      3. So much this. Covid isn’t going away anytime soon. I think everyone needs to decide what works for them but the argument that you cannot do anything other than outdoor socially distanced masked activities for the next however long is ridiculous. I get the frustration with people who are choosing to do every single activity that is available but I don’t think that’s most people and certainly not most people on this board.

        1. Agreed. There is no way that I am not leaving my house except for emergencies for the next year. And I won’t apologize about it. I have gotten 2 or 3 pedicures. Salons were quiet, practically empty, everyone was masked. Felt fine. Please take care of your mental health.

          1. What? If you are not resilient enough to stay home, it is your mental health that needs attention.

  7. Yikes — I got a save the day for a college commencement for this spring. And a $500/night hotel block to join. From a giant state U in another state (driveable, so not sure why I’d need a hotel), so the graduating class is thousands of people already.

    Are spring 2021 commencements really going to happen? A la usual, with large family restaurant dinners and drinking afterwards (maybe: hence hotel)? I just can’t imagine this.

    I guess I will put it on my calendar and make the reservation (which I’m sure I can cancel if needed). Really surprised. I am an optimist, but this would be a stretch for me right now.

    1. Nobody knows what anything is going to be like next summer.

      I can tell you there’s no way I’d pay $500/night for a hotel for anything and definitely not a college graduation.

      1. Yes — giant state u college town in-demand weekend premium rates. It is cheaper than a DUI — think of it that way.

    3. I would only do it if the charge is completely refundable but that’s an insanely high cost.

    4. Who is the graduate? If you’re surprised to be invited and getting a save-the-date, this sounds like someone not exactly in your close circle… I wouldn’t plan to go.

      1. I’m in the step-family, so I think there will be Drama unless we are all there and smiling. I’m sure you all know a family like this? It will be a good thing to say the day before “I’ve cracked a fever and will see you as soon as my quarantine ends.”

      2. OP here: I wasn’t surprised to be invited, but surprised that there was something to be invited to.

        1. I bet if they even have a graduation ceremony that they’ll seriously restrict tickets allowed per graduate. Heck, even back when I graduated I remember there being a limit of four tickets per grad.

      3. oh, ok – gotcha. I would note the date on my calendar but be surprised if it’s actually a go.

        1. same. I was reading some old texts the other day and realized that when we all hunkered down in March I was still hoping my sister’s April 30 graduation would be held…ha, and also ow. Oh well.

    5. At Giant State U., aren’t commencement tickets usually very limited even in the absence of a pandemic? So are you really being asked to go stay in a hotel and participate in family dinners and drinking but not actually go to the ceremony? This happened to me once–BIL was mad that we didn’t travel 1,000 miles each way and stay in a hotel for his daughter’s graduation, even though there were only enough tickets for her immediate family to actually attend the ceremony.

      1. IDK — I went to a tiny college and only my parents came to my graduation and stayed maybe an hour away in a Motel 6, so this is not something I’m used to (but what you wrote sounds like what is being planned). It is so surreal. I don’t know when the go/no go decision will be (by the school), but I guess they plan, God laughs, and we plan again . . .

    6. Make sure you read the cancellation policy very closely. Hotels in college towns often have strict cancellation policies for commencement and football game weekends.

    7. God willing, my son will graduate his grad school program in spring 2021. I am not assuming anything in terms of an actual ceremony. Maybe they’ll have a virtual one.

  8. I’m speaking to a recruiter this afternoon regarding a tech-adjacent job for a financial services company, and he mentioned a “base” salary. My field is usually salaried, end of story. It it likely that he’s just using that terminology because he’s a finance recruiter? I don’t want to sound clueless.

    2. Yup. I’m in tech and above manage level you see base + bonus. You’ll want to confirm how frequently those bonuses get paid out. I’ve worked at some companies where it’s a given and some where they don’t happen unless you meet the company’s way too high revenue goals.

      In my sector (health tech), managers are ~5% bonus, Director 10-25% VP 30% SVP and above is more than half

    3. It might also include an equity component. I work in tech and my comp is calculated as base (annual salary) + bonus (% target based on salary) + equity (stock because we’re public, options when I was at a startup).

    4. Base salary implies that it will be Base + Bonus or Base + bonus + equity. It’s good news! There’s so much compensation value to be gained by bonus and equity.

  9. A survey — did anyone permanently (or semi permanently) change their living situation because of covid? So I mean like you left a city for a suburb or left an apartment for a buying/renting a house? Do you intend to stay where you ended up — i.e. did you move out to the suburbs to a rental house thinking this is only for the WFH period and you’ll eventually return to your city apartment or do you think you’ll stay long term where you went? I’m more looking at input on those permanent/semi permanent moves rather than we rented a summer home in the mountains for 3 months.

    I am very much wanting to leave my high rise apartment for a further from the city garden apartment situation, but IDK I’m lazy too so the thought of packing and moving mid pandemic seems like a lot (single so I’d do this alone though hire movers at the end to take my packed boxes + furniture). I find myself thinking it’s one of those things where if I don’t do it, I’ll be sitting here in May being like — why didn’t I? And if I do do it, then bam we’ll be vaccinated in April and life will feel normalish and I’ll regret moving an hour from my city and being totally car reliant (I do already have a car though).

    1. No, but we have taken longer (with precautions…) trips to scratch that itch. Like, we rented a beach house just for ourselves for 2 weeks, and will be doing the same thing later in winter. We might actually do a month. We take one of the weeks as vacation but the others we just work like normal and enjoy having a pool to ourselves at night!

    2. Things aren’t suddenly and completely going to go back to normal, bam, within the next 6 months. There’s certainly no need to worry about that.

    3. Our big change was to buy a small second home in the mountains. I am really glad we did. It was a ton of work to set up a second home, especially in COVID times. However, we are actually looking forward to the holidays in the snow and sine it is a drive and just us — there is no risk. I think it was worth the work. We used to travel a lot and I don’t see us traveling for quite a while.

      1. We are considering doing this but are struggling to narrow in on what areas we should be looking outside of our city (DC) since we haven’t visited most, and visiting each to compare would push our timeline. Would love to hear more about your process if you are willing to share (here, or I have a burner if you prefer).

    4. I don’t know of anyone who changed their living situation *purely* for COVID, but we moved from the heart of Chicago out to rural New England in part because of COVID. The original reason we contemplated moving (grad school) no longer required in person attendance (or even in-state presence) this year, but we couldn’t stomach staying in a costly high-rise apartment with no access to parks or green space and neighborhood walks becoming downright unsafe. So we left, and I traded all the nice takeout food for a home office and a Peloton.

      I will say this: buying my first house and moving across country in the middle of a pandemic is really hard – like sleepless nights, reduce-you-to-tears hard. But getting to the other side was very much worth it. And I fully expect to be grateful I made the move for months and months.

    5. Yes. Started planning to leave my city in late March, trading an apartment for a SFH on land. Single 30s female. Friends told me I was nuts; I told them that I was just doing the math (no central leadership plus ignorant populace plus…). I moved in May.

      Feels like the best decision ever. I do not plan to go back. Normal is not coming in April. I am a little worried about social isolation but I am 15 minutes’ drive from a cute little downtown and will re-assess if and when it makes sense. For all we know, another pandemic comes on the feels of this one. I walk my dog on the rural street and people stop to greet me and have a distanced chat. I am really optimistic about the community spirit here, which seems to eclipse anything I experienced in the city.

    6. Yeah, we bought a house on property to move away from the dense townhomes and super packed in SFR that we’re in now. I am so sick of screaming kids outside at all times of the day and night, since I’ve been WFH since before the pandemic. Adios brats!

      1. I haven’t done this yet but I can’t wait to say adios to my condo neighbors! Still looking…

    7. we have not but our good friends gave up their apartment in our M/HCOL city and are living with one person’s parents in upstate NY and loving it (big house, getting to see their family cross country that they dont usually see as much). they plan on returning in half a year or so and looking for a different, larger aprtment here but are enjoying the family time while they like it

    8. Yes, I had two sets of friends purchase housed and move to the suburbs from city apartments for more space with two working parents and kids. I had friends move across the country to be closer to family because they realized the need for back up childcare. And had friends move to weekend home, which will likely become full time home.

  10. I was recently promoted and will be relocating to another location. I’d like to get my small, tight-knit, all-female team a thank you gift before I go. Any ideas? Price point about $50 per person.

    1. I would probably do electronic gift cards due to COVID. Maybe to a local restaurant group

  11. I saw a couple of people on the morning thread post about manufacturing companies in Ohio with job openings. Any idea in what part of the state these are located? My husband was laid off a while ago and his background/skills would be a good fit for a manufacturing company.

      1. +1. I believe Rogue (crossfit equipment) is hiring. There’s also a handful of manufacturers along the I-70 corridor east of Columbus, around Springfield and London.

        1. +1 to Rogue hiring. They are getting a huge surge for equipment since everyone is home for the foreseeable future. They treat their employees well and care about keeping mfg. in the U.S.

          We were on a waiting list for kettlebells for about six weeks, so I can only imagine how much more work they have.

  12. Has anyone used a scat mat for keeping cats off the counter? I’m looking specifically at the PetSafe ScatMat on Chewy.

    1. I have not, but we’ve had good results with the motion-activated compressed air cans from Chewy.

      1. I’ve had good luck with diy solutions like covering the counters loosely in foil or stacking empty soda cans so that they fall over. I reuse the foil over and over to break the habit

      2. Thanks! I’ve used those before, but it’s been a while and I think the mechanism finally died. I’ll probably try a combination of both from Chewy.

    2. I’ve had good luck with double-stick tape where the cat would land when jumping up.

      1. I tired that once with another cat where I put a bunch of tape on a poster board and he managed to step in between the tape. I should have been more careful with putting the close very close together. I’ve also heard about using a mat with little nubs – like a chair mat – but I worry about them hurting their paws.

    3. I’ve got the strips I used to try to keep them from scratching the carpet (they only scratch at the edge of the carpet and the wood for some reason). They worked for a time, but died fairly quickly, and then the cats just went back to scratching.

    5. Yes, I bought multiple mats to cover a large island, and they worked fine for the most part. They’re pricy though!

    6. Not counters but other areas (new kitten) and they work great. Our kitten has set it off literally 3 times, all in the same day. She has never touched it again and I leave it out but not turned on. They learn FAST not to touch that thing. The (sometimes) problem is that when the mat goes away you need to be vigilant about keeping them off the space. My old cat never tried again once the mat was removed but new kitten is in the ‘into everything’ stage so I’m not even testing taking away the mats yet.

  13. I moved into a new apartment at the beginning of September. I never used to have an issue with this, but I started noticing fruit flies in the new place. I kill the ones I can trap but they keep coming back. I only have a few pieces of fruits and potatoes/onions/garlic in bowls on the counter (I check them regularly to make sure they’re not rotten), and I usually wipe down my counters down daily. The trash is in a cabinet under the sink, and it gets taken out every few days. Ironically, I rarely notice them in the kitchen, more when I’m sitting at my desk or in my bathroom. I just can’t figure out where they’re coming from. Anyone have any suggestions for how to deal with this problem?

    1. The drains. Fruit flies breed in the traps, especially if you have ones that don’t get used regularly (like a second bathroom). Run water as hot as you can for several minutes to ensure it fully flushes all the way out, then do either a bleach rinse or a baking soda and vinegar mixture.

      1. +1. We had a big issue with them in our bathroom a few years ago. I got a set of refillable traps and once the pre-made solution ran out, I used apple cider vinegar with a tiny drop of detergent (breaks the surface tension). And yes to flushing the drains with hot water.

    3. Do you have any houseplants? That’s where my last set of fruit flies came from. Took awhile for me to kill them all.

      1. I have an aerogarden with herb plants in it. It came with me when I moved into this apartment, and didn’t have any issues before. Do you think that could be it?

    4. Plug your drains and check under the rim of your toilet. If you have plants they could be another pest, like fungus gnats.

    5. Until you find out where they are coming from – fruit flies will be attracted to small bowls of beer – and drown, so you can put some small bowls in the bedroom and bathroom (think like a little dip bowl for soy sauce size).

      There are non-poisonous sort of sticky plastic panels to put on windows etc – they stick to the sticky thing. I get mine in the hardware store.

      1. This works best if you cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and poke holes in the top. That way they get in but then cannot escape, leaving them to drown. Apple cider vinegar also works.

      2. A drop of detergent in the attractive smelling liquid will ensure that they drown.
        If you have a very sunny spot, a carnivorous plant can also help you.

    6. I was getting them from my Imperfect Foods box.I stopped it by washing all of the produce as soon as it arrived.

  14. I’m in need of new street sneakers and debating between black and a grayish taupe. I’ve never owned grayish taupe shoes and am having a mental block in figuring out if it would look good with fall clothing. I know black works with my wardrobe but I already have lots of black shoes.

    1. Grayish taupe is a fantastic color for street sneakers and will go well with clothing for any season. I used to have Chucks in a similar color and wore them with everything, from jeans to leggings to shorts to casual dresses. Black sneakers can only be worn with long pants, and to me they look like part of the uniform for a job where you’re on your feet all day.

    2. I have lots of shoes. Many of them are black, so I sometimes try to branch out to other neutrals and colors. The end result: my black shoes get worn all the time and the others largely sit in my closet. Exception for lighter sandals and sneakers during the summer.

    3. For me it depends on the color pants I’m wearing, and it’s tough for me to judge until I see it on me with example outfits. Can you order them and try on with the pants you typically wear to see if you like the look? I did this when I bought my current white sneakers. For the cooler weather I’m switching to black boots but I still tried them on with all the fall/winter clothes I expect to wear with them.

    4. I find medium-gray-taupe to be versatile for wearing with lots of shades of denim. But I also wear a LOT of navy, so an outfit of navy cable knit sweater + skinny jeans would mean I’d choose not-black shoes to go with.

    5. Like the other poster I would wear that with navy, like medium to dark denim. Unless I’m wearing a black top, I don’t particularly like black shoes with navy or denim. I’d rather wear a medium neutral.

  15. I turned a milestone birthday this year and was planning to do a very in-depth physical that would include body fat %. That got cancelled. Is there a good way to estimate this? Like calipers (do you need another person doing it though)? I’d just like a baseline — I’ve had a sedentary job for decades and would like to take stock before I really start to deteriorate. I’m lucky (genes) that most other things are good (blood pressure, cholesterol), but I am kind of kidding myself that I’m “fine.” I’m going to run a timed mile tonight and have a 5K (that I will run/walk — aiming for 45 minutes) on deck for Halloween.

    1. I have a FitTrack smart scale that measures body fat and BMI in the phone app. It connects by Bluetooth.

      1. +1 the scales are crazy inaccurate as far as I know, but if there’s some new technology out there i’m all ears

    3. My husband claims calipers are the most accurate of the inaccurate home methods (he does not have any reason to be an expert except he did a bunch of research). You don’t need another person, you’re just pinching some of your love handles (my love handles, anyway) with the special tool, which only costs a few dollars.

    4. We have one of the electronic hand-held analyzers. Full disclosure that they are not as accurate as whatever the doctor might do, but I like it because I can see the trend if I’m trying to be diligent about my fitness and nutrition. You might also see if there’s a BodySpec provider near you. They do a super quick scan (fully clothed) and give you a print out of skeleton, muscle, and fat, along with the breakdown of where it is on your body. They have mobile trucks and on-site locations.

Comments are closed.