ByKate Antoniades Hours Updated
Comments 45 Comments

Coffee Break: Syndicate 20-oz. Water Bottle

I love this glass-and-silicone water bottle from Ello — I bought my first one a couple of years ago and then later got another. I hate the taste of water from plastic bottles, and I've always had the impression that stainless steel ones need some kind of special care (is that the case? I haven't bothered to google). This one is a good size (20 oz.), it's not too heavy, and it has a little carrying loop at the top. In the reviews at Amazon, some people mention mold becoming a problem, but I've never had any issues — I wash my bottles in the top rack of the dishwasher and let them air dry before putting them away. (Note: Be sure that the lid is on straight and is secured before you throw it in your work bag — it's possible to put it on a little crooked, but it's easy to see.) The water bottle is about $11–$15 at Amazon, where it has 1,700+ reviews, and it comes in nine colors (some eligible for Prime). Ello Syndicate 20-oz. Water Bottle 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!

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45 Comments

  2. Looking for specific recommendations for nice jeans and/or black jeans to wear to a work conference at 2 months postpartum. Something that hides/minimizes the belly but without any destressing etc. Currently size 12/14 and open to different price points. Thanks in advance!

    2. Old Navy Rockstar jeggings in the no-fade black. Yes, some of them have an elastic waist like maternity pants, but they do pull you in nicely. And they are a nice price point (like $30 on sale).

      1. +1 for Athleta Sculptek jeans — I was suuuuper skeptical to try on jeans from an athleisure store but am a true believer now! They’re great — high rise and suck you in, but don’t stretch out. Totally retain their shape.

    6. I like the Wit & Wisdom line with Ab-solution from Nordstrom. Not exactly elastic but holds you in.

  3. I have a glass water bottle with a rubberized cover, though I don’t think it is this brand, and I love it. I keep it on my bedside table.

  4. Does anyone have them? How do they run?

    I want to order some, but am generally just an Athleta S. I’m a BR Logan 8 and need something that can accommodate my generous hips, tummy, and backside (so I can’t wear the BR Sloanes at all; I need the Logans). Jeans generally never fit, but we just went casual at work so I want to try some.

    1. I like mine and I wear the same size in them as I do my BR Sloanes. They’re stretchy but they don’t stretch out. They’re a little short, so I’d order talls if you’re looking for them to be longer.

    2. I commented above on the postpartum jeans question to recommend these. I wear my same/normal Athleta size in the Sculptek jeans and I’m a M/10 in their clothes. I carry my weight in my stomach, if that helps, with generous hips and skinny legs.

    3. I like the quality of them, but thought they ran a bit small. They’re not quite as stretchy as my Old Navy Rockstar’s, but the fabric does feel a bit lighter and I like the ideal of the “Sculptek” (basically a panel in front of the pockets that holds in my tummy jiggle. I don’t necessarily think they’re worth full price, but I don’t wear jeans terribly often, and if you do, they’re probably more worthwhile. I’d order two sizes and return whichever doesn’t work.

    4. I’m usually a 10/12 and the 12s from Athleta were obscenely tight. I returned them and did not size up because I wasn’t looking for something quite so tight in style (they’re very skinny jeans), but I know others like them.

  5. Any advice from the Hive for an upcoming on-site interview with Amazon’s legal department? I’m interviewing for an attorney position. I’m familiar with Amazon’s “leadership principals” but am curious if anyone here has any particularized advice for the interview process. TIA!

    1. Amazon interviews tend to be technical in nature, and the same holds true for attorney positions. Be prepared to talk about recent legal developments in your field and unusual or complicated laws affecting online retail clients. Specific examples of recent client work are great.

    2. I also interviewed there (for a non-engineering technical role) and decided to take a different offer…

      Ditto to the other response here, especially that specific examples are gold with their interviews. They place a premium on that type of answer, so it’s definitely worth practicing your examples to be sure they are well-structured and relatively concise.

    3. I can only say…beware. I have several friends who have gone there, worked insane hours and run away screaming. It’s intense. One of my friends was the only attorney for over 1000 business-side folks. She used to get 300-400 emails _a day_. Every day. Good luck.

      1. This sounds terrible. Who wants to support 1000 cleints unless you are getting paid an hourly rate for each of them? Not me, no way HOZEE! If I want to work that hard, I would INSIST on value billing where I would get 25% of all billeings to these internal cleints. But inside council does NOT typeically get paid like that so I would NOT go in house there. DOUBEL FOOEY!

  6. I’m planning a trip to Italy for late Spring. Does anyone have specific hotel suggestions for Venice, Florence, and Rome? Looking for hotels walkable (and my walkable range is pretty far. Like 1.5-2 miles) to major tourist sites under $250 a night. Don’t need anything fancy, just a place to sleep that’s clean and safe with a comfortable bed. I’m sorting through tripadvisor reviews, but always helpful to have recommendations. Thanks!

    1. Hotel Damaso in Rome is great in that price range. It’s just a few blocks from Piazza Navona and we walked pretty much everywhere.

      1. +1 to Piazza Navona – that’s the best area to stay in if you want to be walkable to everything in Rome.

    2. Rome: Made in Rome B&B. Excellent location, gorgeous terrace, comfortable rooms.

      Venice: Ca’ San Georgio. Again, excellent location, just off the beaten path but super charming part of the island. Best part was walking back after visiting the more touristy areas. All around fantastic.

      1. +1 on Ca’ San Georgio. We loved it, and it was just far enough off the beaten path to be restful.

    3. Hotel Cinquanta Tre (Hotel 35) in Rome. Near (but not too close) to the Trevi Fountain, metro easily accessible, cute little rooftop terrace for breakfast.

    4. Venice: Ca’Arco Antico. Small, beautiful rooms, great staff that bent over backward for us. Accessible from the vaporetti, but I wouldn’t try to find it after dark. (We felt totally safe – it would just be difficult to find after dark.)

      Florence: Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci. Room was fine, I remember breakfast was great, and it was a great location. And a nice rooftop if it will be warm enough for you to enjoy.

    5. Ca’Pisani Design Hotel in Venice- walkable to everything, but in a very quiet, more residential feeling part of town. The included breakfast was really good, and our room was massive (we were there in November a couple of years ago, so I think we may have gotten upgraded to a suite due to the off season).

  7. Any recommendations for where to stay on Anna Maria Island in Florida? Or other similar, smaller beachish places? Heading there around Easter. Will it be warm enough to swim in the ocean?

  8. I had a family member die and was offered my dream job within the span of 7 days. My emotions are so frazzled.

    3. Hugs. Something similar happened to me many many years ago (it was a close friend who died) and even though I am generally a stony-hearted nonbeliever, I always secretly thought my friend pulled some strings in heaven to get me the job!

  9. What kind of blazers are we wearing over sheath dresses these days? I can’t seem to get the silhouette right. FWIW, I’m an hour glass with a long torso.

    1. I like a collarless open blazer — broken record here but the JCrew Going Out Blazer is my favorite. I have a similar figure and it hits at a flattering high-hip point.

  10. For some reason, I’ve had a very unproductive day. Lots of nonbillable emails for a volunteer group I’m in (normally I answer these in the evening – why did I open them Monday morning? I don’t know), looking at the weather (which will be bad) to cancel client appointments (nonbillable)… What are your favorite tricks to turn around an unproductive start to the day? When do you throw in the towel and plan to make up hours later in the month?

    1. Make a great to-do list for tomorrow, leave with an organized workspace, and plan to get in early to tackle it first thing.

    2. How late do you usually stay? Even starting at 4, if you can stay an extra 2 hours, it will make it easier to make up the hours quickly. Assuming you would normally bill 5-6 hours before 3 pm, you can make that up by billing 1 “extra” hour per day this week. That’s not a huge adjustment–come in a little early, take a quick lunch, and/or stay a little longer. But if you’re resigned to losing the whole day, then it’ll be harder to make up.

      This advice does not apply if you’re unproductive because you are sick or exhausted–then, I say, make your to-do list, go home and rest, and come back to work strong.

    3. omg this is me! am I you? how is it 4:45 right now?!

      (I’ve attributed it to February slump, weather coming tomorrow, a Monday, just blah)
      we’re going to come in tomorrow and crush it

      1. Yes we are! I managed to at least creep past 4 hours this afternoon (thanks to those above too!) but am spending the rest of my time here getting my list together for tomorrow with a reminder to not check those pesky emails first thing. Lesson learned. :) good luck to you!

  11. PSA: allow yourself to get suckered into the pink packaged Rose Oil Hand Cream at the TJ’s checkouts. It absorbs fast and definitely has a rose scent; I’m annoyed by many scents, but not by this one. I just realized I put it on around 10:30 and my hands still feel soft/aren’t begging for more lotion.

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