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Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Classic Button-Front

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

InStyle Essentials TrioFit I always like a good basic white blouse that fits you in both your bust and waist — so I was intrigued when InStyle Essentials reached out to tell me about their new TrioFit shirts (from the same team behind Rebecca & Drew). The shirts are at a great price point — $59 — and they'll be having events in different cities over the next few weeks to launch the collection of three shirts. (New Yorkers, they'll be in Chelsea this Saturday and Sunday!) My favorite is the Classic Button-Front, priced at $59 — but Corporette readers can take an extra 10% off with code CORP10P. Classic Button-Front

Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.
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178 Comments

  1. Immediate TJ— My boyfriend of 4 yrs told me last night that he wants to go ring shopping!! (and he knows I won’t look at rings unless a proposal will follow soon after). I’m in the DC area and we have no idea where to start in terms of jewelers. Can any DCers give me a recommendation? Preferably in Montgomery County, MD? We are looking to spend 5-10K so no Tiffanys or Cartier.

      2. Yay! Fruegel Friday’s! I love Fruegel Friday’s!

        As for the OP, Congreatulation’s! I onley wish I was you today, b/c I need to get married soon and have a baby! But the guy’s I have now are either unworthy, untrustworthy or just want to have sex w/o makeing any comitment.

        When I was in DC, lots of guy’s just wanted to have sex with me, but I held out for a ring (which I never got). I knew alot of places then where there were very nice Dimond’s, but now they have other places.

        So I called my freind, who works in the goverment as an attorney, and she recomended a place called Tiny Jewel Box, where it is not to expensive.

        1147 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
        TEL: 202-393-2747

        They have a websight called tinyjewelbox that is on the Internet that you should looke at first, b/c you ALWAYS have to be careful of jeweler’s.

        My dad got my mom her dimond ring when he was overseas in AMSTERDAM, and he said he was abel to get the best deal by lookeing around and telling these guy’s that his uncle lived in South Africa. What that had to do with anything is beyond my pay grade, as he says, but mom is wearing a 2 carrot ring that Dad says is worth over $30,000 b/c it is about FLAWLESS, and he onley paid a little less then $3K — but that was OVER over 30 years ago. It sounds like it is a good deal, but back then, peeople made alot less money.

        Dad alway’s make’s mom show peeople her ring, b/c he knows they all think he was such a great dealmaker in Amsterdam. I think that is where he was doing all that GLAZZNOST stuff with the women. Mom does NOT know about that and dad says I can NEVER TELL HER. FOOEY! DOUBEL FOOEY!

        1. I love your posts. I can’t imagine how you can be a lawyer and not be able to spell at all, but your comments always make my day.

    2. DC prices are really inflated. I’d suggest going somewhere like Tiny Jewel Box to get an idea of what style you’d like and then buy the ring online. My DH told me he saved about 30% buying online. Congrats!

      1. Yeah – could you go to a couple stores and look at rings to see what you like and then design your own together on Blue Nile or a similar website? My hubby designed mine on Blue Nile and I like it much better than anything I saw in the jewelry store when we went to look at bands (we ended up getting bands from Blue Nile too), partially because he designed something super simple that he knows I would like. Also – I do think you get a much better deal on-line.

        1. Second Blue Nile. We just hit up our local mall/Jared’s/etc. to get an idea of what size band/diamond looked good on my finger and then used Blue Nile for both the diamond and the setting. My brother in law bought my sister’s setting in person locally but then bought the diamond off of Blue Nile and had the local jeweler set it.

        2. +1 for Blue Nile! Such great products. Definitely go to a store and try on rings to see what you like, but encourage your soon-to-be-fiance (congrats!!) to buy online.

      2. My husband bought my diamond online and then had it set in a custom band at a small jewelry store. It appraised for about 40% more than he paid for it.

      1. +1 for real. I have heard they have the best quality for the price. I have diamond earrings from there and they were appraised for 30% more than what we paid.

        1. I think it was Jimmy fallon that recently reveiled he got his wifes wedding ring at cosco

      2. I second this, Costco has great jewelry.

        Another option is Greenan and Sons in Silver Spring, a family business I know well. They reset my late mom’s engagement ring and did a great job.

    4. My husband bought mine at Ascot Diamonds in Ballston. Ask for Paul. I’m not sure what their selection is, but they made mine custom. I had given my husband a bunch of photos of rings that I liked and he picked one, showed it to Paul and asked him to make it. My understanding is that the price was very good, especially for the quality of the diamond.

      If you have no idea what you want, you might want to just browse online photos and then go to a few jewelry stores (even the ones in the mall) and just try on different ones to see what suits your hand. (Also consider how it will look on top of whatever style of wedding band you want, if you plan to wear them stacked. Some fit over bands better than others.) Once you know what you want, you can choose a jeweler based on quality and price and have them make a ring based on your description. Then you’re not locked into paying for name brands or choosing a jeweler based on what styles they have in stock (and Ascot at least can import a stone if they don’t have one in stock you like — that’s what they did for mine). Also consider buying the stone and setting separately, which is what a friend is currently doing for his girlfriend’s ring.

    5. Congratulations! We went ring shopping at Charleston Alexander, which has a location in Bethesda. They were very patient about having me try on a variety of band styles, literally every single diamond shape, etc. My DH was able to negotiate with them on price a tiny bit (he was going to buy a loose diamond from somewhere else, so they adjusted their price).

      1. Thanks! I was looking at Charleston Alexander or Mervis. I’m not sure what his plan is on buying, but I definitely want to try on different styles to see what looks good on my hand. I had a friend who was shocked that square cut diamonds looked horrible on her finger. We are also eligible for a military discount if anyone knows jewelers that give those (I know Zales does 10 percent but I was trying to avoid Zales or Kay)

        1. The Mervis sales reps in DC were extraordinarily polite and helpful, but their prices were pretty inflated. We didn’t end up going with them, but they indicated that they were open to negotiation/price matching of other retailers.

          1. We had a great experience at Mervis – although we had a family diamond, so we just needed a setting (and later, wedding bands). Definitely worth checking out, especially since I have never seen a setting that I loved as much as the one that I found at Mervis.

        2. You may be pleasantly surprised by Zales and Kay’s. A diamond is a diamond; a VS1 will be the same whether you buy it at Tiffany’s or Zales. We bought our wedding bands at Kay’s and it was a great decision. They were cheaper, appraised higher than we paid and we have gotten a lot out of the $75 warranties.

          1. Actually, VS1 isn’t always the same because different certification systems differ. For example, a GIA certificate would probably list a less favorable grade than say, an EGL certificate for the same stone. That doesn’t mean you can’t find something you like at Zales, it just means that comparing grades isn’t always the apples to apples comparison some might think it is.

          2. I have an aquamarine, not a diamond, but my husband custom-designed my ring at Zales, and not only am I really happy with it, I still get a compliment on it at least once a week and it’s over two years old at this point.

      1. Are overachieving women still waiting for their boyfriends to propose? Make the decision together. I can’t believe people still give one person all the power. Even if your BF wants to do the actual proposal, it should be a joint decision. No waiting around will or wont he bull.

        1. My husband wanted to propose. We made a joint decision to get married, and then he wanted to buy a ring and actually propose. And it took him a while to do it since he had to save to buy the ring, so I had to sit around and wait for him to do so. He did not want me to propose, and he did not want our mutual decision to get married to be the start of our engagement (yes, we discussed both of those things). He’s not normally a traditional guy, but it was something he felt strongly about.

        2. Yes we always dated each other with the intent to get married, and we decided on the timeline of our engagement/marriage together, but we both still wanted a traditional proposal. Plus it was up to him to save for the ring and decide on the when/where/how. I don’t think most proposals are really a “surprise” to anyone nowadays. I mean they may be surprised about when/where it happens, but women (or men) usually know it’s coming.

        3. Please, let’s be kind here. Some people–women and men–still choose to follow some of the older customs, even though many of them can be traced straight back to the patriarchy. Choosing to follow some traditions does not necessarily mean also throwing out one’s brains! (When I make these choices, I find it reassuring to be part of a tradition larger than myself, and to be carrying on the same customs that were followed by my parents and inlaws who either enjoyed or are still enjoying longlasting and happy marriages.)

          Yes, we can all point to examples of people who perpetuate customs without any critical thought, but the world also has plenty of reflective, caring, concerned people who try their best to combine old-fashioned and newer values.

          Smart, capable, well-educated people (aka the “overachieving chicks” found here) may also decide to express their traditional values by choosing to: take their husband’s last names; pray weekly or daily; cover their hair with hats, scarves, or hijabs; believe that charity means not only feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and supporting the frail but also nurturing all stages of human life including unborn fetuses; and/or even (gasp!) vote Republican*.

          * Longer-term commenters may recall that my own politics, not always expressed here, are ferociously liberal, pro-choice, and Democratic. However, the fact that I hold so-called “progressive” beliefs doesn’t mean that I also believe that people who vote differently are motivated solely and totally by their loyalty to evil values! Despite all of the nastiness and polarization in this country I keep hoping and believing that our common ground exists, somewhere, and that we will eventually realize that what unites us is larger than whatever divides us.

          1. I actually wasn’t even talking about customs. I think its fine if the dude wants to propose. I just think its so weird to not know if the person youve been with for four years wants to marry you. and yes, that is a rather tall soapbox. I am just saying- take some control over your own life.

        4. It’s not a question of IF he wants to marry me it’s a questions of when he will propose.

      1. Second this site, very informative. Also, an alternative to Blue Nile is James Allen.

    8. Congratulations! Definitely try on rings at a store to get an idea of what you like, but I want to suggest getting a vintage ring on Etsy if you’re into that sort of thing. My soon -to-be fiance ordered my ring there (Wilson Brothers jewelry) and it is gorgeous! Plus he got a great deal.

  2. Sorry to start this off with an OT beg, but I need to see a client in Stamford CT while on a trip to NYC. I can fly into any NYC airport, and don’t otherwise need to rent a car, but am not sure of the best way to get from midtown out to CT. Am hoping there is some sort of train service that isn’t only @ the morning / evening rushes. Don’t even get me started on the helpfulness of corporate travel.

        1. Okay I looked it up. There are at least 3-5 trains per hour and from 5-6pm, there are 13 trains leaving GCT for Stamford. Trains run 24 hours/day at least during weekdays — I didn’t check weekend schedules. (GCT = Grand Central Terminal)

    2. Amtrak also goes NYC to Stamford – not all trains but I think almost all Regional Rail

    3. Thanks all! I have done Amtrak and NY subway and PATH and NJ Transit — this will be my maiden Metro North voyage.

    4. Try to make sure you get the direct line to Stamford from GCT – it shouldn’t take more than 45min. during morning/evening rush hour (it’ll be the train that stops at Harlem then straight to Stamford). If your client isn’t in downtown Stamford by the train station take a cab, there are plenty and you do not want to be walking far in downtown Stamford, it gets seedy really quickly.

  3. Boone & Sons is great — it’s a family-onwed business with a great selection, good quality, and fair prices. They have a location at 1025 Connecticut downtown, also in Chevy Chase and Tyson’s. I buy all my jewelry there. I highly recommend them.

    1. Sorry, I meant this to be a reply to Anon (and I meant “owned,” not “onwed”!)

    2. See, I’ve never been treated well there. Perhaps shopping for a wedding ring will be different (I’m usually getting a watch sized or some other little task done), but I personally won’t go back.

  4. I despise button-ups but saw the bit about them in InStyle and was intrigued – has anyone tried them yet?

    1. I wear button-front shirts every day. While I think the bust sizing is an innovation, this shirt’s darts are horrible. The model is a _model_ and she looks like a linebacker–the darts emphasize her blocky shoulders in a not-flattering way, and I am sure she’s tiny. This former swimmer would look NFL-ready if I were to purchase a shirt with darts set that way. I love darts…just not ones that draw the line upward/outward like this shirt does.

      Also, I am very wary of buying white shirts sight unseen. It’s possible that the material isn’t super-duper see-through….but if I am wearing a white shirt, I don’t generally want it to be see-through, as it’s supposed to be a basic that adds to my look and doesn’t detract. Thus, I am going to hold off on purchase until a brave ‘rette gets back to the Hive and lets us know how this goes.

      1. I agree. I am not impressed by how this looks on at all. I’ve noticed that InStyle is giving these away to tons of bloggers and I haven’t seen anyone that looks good in them.

        My favorite button ups are from Martin and Osa (RIP) and I have a J. Crew perfect shirt that I wear under things. I much prefer silk blouses to stiff cotton ones.

      2. I agree with you about the darts, and also this shirt looks oddly short. I suppose if you wanted to leave it untucked this is the length you would need, but when I wear button-front shirts I tuck them in, and this would come untucked immediately.

    2. I was going to try it , but $10 for ground shipping for one shirt? I think I’ll wait until I get to NYC or Houston and go to the store so I can see it in person…

  5. I”ll join the threadjack trend since I’m not sure I’ll be around for open thread.

    I’m looking for an interview appropriate shoe (for an architecture position) that has a roomy toe box and a flat or minimal heel. This week makes the second time this year that I’ve had my toenail cut back for an ingrown toenail (blech), and while it will probably heal enough by the interview that I’ll probably be able to wear a standard pump in a pinch, I’m really looking for a shoe that will put absolutely zero pressure on the nail of my big toe, particularly at the top of the toe box (since I can play with shoe size and width for room at the side). I have a pair of Hush Puppy mary janes that fit the roomy-ness bill but are way to clunky/ casual for interview wear.

    Any suggestions? Ideally black, max. heel of about 2.5″, under $120 or so. I have skirt and pant options for outfits, so anything from a loafer to a pump to another brilliant idea is fair game.

    1. I’d suggest going to DSW. They often have wide width pumps and you could try things on. I can hardly ever wear pumps without a strap but, for my Dad’s funeral (under the gun), I found perfect black low-heeled pointy pumps that actually fit me at DSW because I was able to get a wide width.

      1. My local DSW typically has exactly zero wide width shoes. If yours is different, I’m jealous. I just returned two pairs I thought I could live with but I should just accept that fact that I am a solid 7W.

        1. No kidding! I haven’t spent a ton of time in the local one – it’s fairly new. The one where I bought the funeral shoes was Frederick, MD. But the one in Birmingham, AL, had a lot of wides, too.

    2. I have a new pair of Geox pumps that have a 1.5″ block heel that I got on Zappos. The leather is very soft and floated around my problem toes.

    4. I have these Hush Puppy wedges in the white and coral, but I think the black or the brown would *probably* be interview appropriate in a not to formal atmosphere (which if I understand it, most architecture firms are?)

      http://tinyurl.com/kbhu63y

    5. Gentle Souls have very comfortable heels with soft leather. Pricey, but I am willing to pay for comfort. If you get shoes with harder leather, it’s worth it to have the toe stretched so that it won’t rub.

    6. The Comfort Plus line from Payless – they’re extremely comfortable (like, “sprint for the train across uneven concrete without wanting to die” comfortable), and they come in wide widths (although you may have to order the wide size online – some stores carry it and some don’t). I prefer the round-toe version to the pointy-toe version as far as toe box roominess goes, but either way you really can’t go wrong.

  6. Can I just say how lovely it is to be sitting on my bed with my laptop watching Kelly and Michael (OMG they are hilarious today) rather than being at work? I just might take a shower soon if my SO if on his way.

    1. Yay for mental health days. I am taking one myself and trying to motivate to get dressed.

      1. I so desperately needed this. I relaxed completely and got a good night’s sleep! Yesterday, I went for my annual GYN visit and they said my blood pressure was dangerously high. Scary!

        1. Oh do try to have a “rest” time weekly, NOLA. We don’t want you to have high blood pressure! Have a wonderful weekend. Rainy days, staying in bed, relaxing!

    3. Nice – I plan to leave work a couple hours earlier than normal today – but that’s so I can finish hemming a dress that I need for an event tonight. Enjoy your time off!

  7. Fitting in the bust and waist is great, but an option for sleeve length would make it even better. Why isn’t this an option for more women’s clothing?

    1. My problem is arm width. I carry weight in my upper arms (thanks genes!) and any shirt that fits through the bust and waist will be far too tight in the arms. (I really would consider plastic surgery for this. Not for the cosmetic aspect, although that would be nice, but because it would make a huge difference in my ability to buy clothes off the rack.)

          1. Me too. I buy carefully and have the seamstress remove the caps so it is more of a “tank” or “sheath” dress/top. Then it is easy under the cardis and jackets, or alone! So I look for items that have a seam between the bodice/shoulder and the “cap.”

    2. I don’t know. Maybe if this brand takes off then retailers will get the signal that we would like things with actual measurement options. At least for basics!

  8. I’m returning to work on Monday from maternity leave. :/ I’m getting to be OK with it.

    I’m hoping that someone can take me through their at-work pumping routine! I will be pumping probably twice per day, and am trying to figure out the best process. Do you pump into bottles or bags? Combine them? how many sets of horns do you have? etc., etc. etc. (FYI, I have an office with a door that locks, and already have the hands-free bra).

    1. A friend swore by putting her pumping sessions on her Outlook calendar so people wouldn’t try to schedule her in meetings at those times.

    2. I have 4 sets of parts. During the week, one set lives in my desk (because it is so easy to forget one or more parts!), one is in the dishwasher, one is with me, and one is in my cabinet at home (or comes in handy if a part needs to be rewashed, breaks, etc.). I have a freestyle that I leave in my desk along with a handsfree Simple Wishes pumping bra.

      I pump 2-3 times a day, for 15-30 minutes depending on what I’ve got going on (e.g., if I’m in a hurry just 15; if I’m just reviewing a document at my desk, I may leave it on for 30). The first few weeks back, I actually set outlook appts so that I wouldn’t forget to pump. I’ve gotten better about remembering now, so I aim for one session in the morning, one after lunch, and sometimes one late afternoon. Between sessions, I toss the parts in my fridge in my office (along with my expressed milk) and don’t rinse or wash during the day. The parts and milk go home with me at night in a wet bag (available on Amazon) and an insulated lunchbag, and the parts go straight into the dishwasher. That night or next morning, I bag up a new set of parts in a Ziplock bag (reused each day for the clean parts) and bring it in with me in a lunch bag.

      The expressed milk (which has ranged from 8-14 oz.) is fed to the baby the next work day, and it usually works out that she also gets one formula bottle. We introduced a little formula partially because I didn’t want to have a bad pumping day and have to crack into frozen milk supply or be stressed out about pumping enough to feed her.

      Hope that’s helpful! Good luck.

      1. I missed one of your questions: You can combine milk of the same temperature, so you can either combine the fresh milk or the refrigerated milk to get the desired bottle size. I tend to dump together the product of lighter pumping sessions (e.g., 1.5 + 2 oz) while fresh, just cap off bigger sessions (3-5 oz. per side) and then adjust the refrigerated stuff later if necessary.

      2. Wow I had no idea it takes 15-30 min, I would have thought 5 at most. The more I learn the more apprehensive I get about ever doing this.

        1. Yeah, and some people (like me) have to pump every two hours to keep up supply. I was so happy when my baby turned 1.

        2. Pump time: I find I get most of the milk out in 7 mins. I can pump longer, and usually do for 15-20 mins, but don’t get much more. If I pumped more often, I think I would get more milk because would have another let-down.

    3. I pumped into bottles but kept bags at work in case I forgot the bottles. I had 3 sets of flanges/tubes/etc. so I didn’t have to wash them during the day. Just put them into a ziplock and into the fridge. I had a small fridge under my desk , which is very helpful. Also, bring a small towel for any clean-up.

      I also found that any stress really reduced volume. I couldn’t even go through work emails. I ended up shopping online and reading fashion blogs, which is how I found this one!

    4. I pumped at work for almost a year. I blocked out a morning and afternoon apt on my calendar (for an hour, even though it only took 20 minutes). I brought four bottles and pumped into those, although if I didn’t have four clean ones, I would pump and dump into my bags. I kept all my milk in the little cooler that came with my pump along with the frozen insert and never had a problem with the milk not staying cool until I could get home and transfer into the fridge or freezer. When I started, I was bringing two sets of everything I needed and either cleaning the morning parts or putting them into a plastic bag for home. Very soon, though, I started using the Medela wipes, and I’d clean off all the parts and just put them into the cooler until the afternoon session, which was so much easier. I also started with the hands-free bra, but for me, I seemed to pump more milk when I went one side at a time. It honestly didn’t take that long and I didn’t use the hands-free bra for it–I just did one-handed stuff, like review case law, dictate, take conference calls, etc. I also became quite adept at pumping en route to places or while traveling for work using the same parts and process. If I was driving, I’d pull off at an exit, set up and then get back on the road. When one side was done, I’d pull off the road, switch, and take off again. I’d usually just put the bottles in my cupholders and then put them into my cooler when I got to my destination. I’ve also pumped on planes, using my nursing cover. Looking back, I’m surprised by how nonchalant I was when I pumped in public, but I’m equally surprised by how gracious and helpful people were. Not one seatmate or fellow traveler ever hassled me, TSA was uniformly kind about it, and more than once, a hotel room was offered to me at conference just for purposes of pumping during the day. Fellow lawyers at depositions were kind enough to break so I could pump and even when I had court appearances, I could arrange with the clerk or bailiff to sneak out and pump. It was nice to see people have the “we’re all in this together” attitude. Very heartening.

    5. I used an insulated lunchbox and an reusable ice pack when I was pumping and kept the pump parts in there (when I didn’t forget and put them back in the pump bag) but it was mainly for the milk.

      I pumped into the bottled I’d use the next day and kept bags for backup (harder to use for me, plus the milk settles out and the fat sticks to it, so harder to get all of the good stuff into the bottle you’d actually use.

      My workplace put a lock on my door — cannot recommend this enough.

      I never used the office refridgerator — it would have been too many trips (before / after each pumping session, which was initially 3x/day), too much time, too much TMI, ick factor for co-workers (not debating whether or not it’s justified, just that I can totally understand not wanted your lunch next to someone else’s bodily fluids), what if my stuff was taken-disturbed-spilled, etc. Never had any issues — my hippie friends insist that pumped milk is pretty darned hardy.

    6. In the beginning, you will may need to pump more often, but over time your supply will level out and you can cut back to 2 or 3 times during the work day. I strongly encourage pumping at the exact time every day because your body will acknowledge the demand and produce more for those times. I always struggled to pump enough when a meeting threw off my routine. A hands free pumping bra is great so you can continue to work while pumping. I used an insulated lunch sack and freezer pack to store pumped milk and parts. It may be contrary to official advice, but I never cleaned my pump parts between pumpings during the day. I just threw them in the insulated sack where they were kept cold with the milk. They got washed well at home at the end of each day. This really cut down on time and effort because I didn’t need to use additional time to clean parts or lug back up parts. I also pumped directly into the bottles for use the following day, which made preparing bottles for day care a breeze.

    7. I pumped at work for 9 months with each of my kids. I typically pumped at about 10 am and in the first few months at lunch and then again at around 3 pm. Eventually I pumped just at 10 am and 2 pm. I pumped into bottles and then kept them in the little bag with the ice pack. I typically combined milk from one session into one bottle, unless there was too much. I initially only had one set of parts and so I used the medela cleansing wipes to clean after each session. Then I bought another set and just cleaned at home each day. I kept bags at work in case I forgot bottles.

      I would put a sign on my door that said “please come back in 10 minutes” and lock the door. No one ever knocked or anything, so that was good.

      Good luck. It certainly is a bit of extra work, but I found it to be easy to get into a routine and helped me feel connected to my baby even though I was at work all day. Also, sometimes it can be hard to “let-down” while using the pump and I found it helpful to have a onsie or blanket my baby had used (so it smells like them) and a picture of baby handy during those times.

    8. Related TJ… has anyone brought back pumped milk in checked baggage? I have some travel coming up and will have a good amount of milk to transport back. I don’t think TSA will allow me to take it all as carry-on so I was thinking of checking my bag. Has anyone done this?

      1. No, take it carry-on! DO NOT CHECK YOUR MILK. As I wrote below, KellyMom (on Facebook) is a good resource for this. Human milk is considered a medical item and you can bring as much as you need on board. You can also ship it on dry ice if need be.

        1. Thanks for the Kellymom FB group tip – just joined it. Could you say more about why I shouldn’t check it? I read somewhere that it stays colder in the cargo hold than in the cabin and that’s the rationale behind checking it. But I am eager to hear your advice

          1. OMG — think of the places it could go or not go without you! I have had over-heavy planes de-board my checked bags even on direct flights and even if I’ve been extra-early. The nuisance value alone, having to buy replacement bottles while you wonder, just no no no. You can get a cheap foam cooler and pack that up and take it with you and you know it’ll get there and stay cool. I’ve seen people do this with insulin (which needs to stay chilled).

          2. Sorry for the all-caps response, I just know how valuable b-milk is so the idea of you checking it gave me heart palpitations! I agree with Stamford CT’s assessment — too much risk of loss. Plus b-milk, unlike most fluids, can actually be at room temperature (which would be a worst-case scenario, i.e. your cooler stopped functioning or something) for several hours. So keeping it super-duper-uber cold is great but not entirely necessary.

            You can bring (literally) gallons of b-milk on the plane if you need to. TSA will wave some strips over the top to make sure it is what it claims to be, but other than that you should sail through undisturbed. I’ve traveled with a small cooler of b-milk (4 bottles’ worth) before and it was crazy easy. You can also bring your pump (if you need to) onboard and it counts as medical equipment so you can have it with you in addition to your carryon and personal item.

            That KellyMom group has saved me more than once. Once you get admitted, try searching the page for questions about travel (or post your own!). Lots of good stuff on kellymom dot com too.

          3. Thank you both SO MUCH! I was worried about TSA but I am going to carry all the milk with me. ANP, you are right – it is very valuable and I was worried about TSA asking me to toss it… I think I would throw a temper tantrum if that happened. But seems like that won’t be an issue so I will carry it with me. I also didn’t know I could take my pump on as medical equipment – such a great tip! Thank you, thank you!

    9. Good for you, mama! I’m on month five of pumping at work (DS is almost eight months old). I agree with people who say multiple sets of pump parts — I have three sets and bring one set + six bottles + six lids every day. I pump once in the morning, once around lunchtime and once in the late afternoon. You can’t combine milk of different temperatures, but combining same-temp milk is fine. In between pumps, I simply wipe the flanges down and store them in the wetbag I use to carry parts to and fro. I store the connecters and valves in an insulated cooler w/the pumped milk, alongside a reusable ice pack. I have two wetbags so one is always with me and the other is packed, at home, ready to use the next day.

      Also, if you can swing it I HIGHLY recommend leaving your pump at work. This has saved me a lot of having-to-remember-my-pump and general schlepping.

      I put pump sessions on my work calendar if the day is busy (and did it religiously my first few weeks back, until I got into the swing of things). I also pump in my office behind a locked door w/a hands free bra and am able to get work done while pumping, which is a godsend. Good luck!

      PS: if you have a Facebook account, try joining/searching for KellyMom Mother-to-Mother Bre@stfeeding Support. It’s a private group and super-helpful for all things BF’ing, including pumping — especially as you work with the person watching your kiddo to make sure baby doesn’t get overfed (a common problem with B-fed babies).

    10. I have been pumping at work for 6 weeks now, so I think I have figured out what works and doesn’t work for me. People talk about having a set calendar appointment, but this never works for me just because my schedule is pretty variable. I started exclusively pumping during my baby’s 2nd week, so I had a lot of experience with pumping before I came back to the office. (Initially, I pumped every 3 hours or so, but now I am down to pumping 4 times a day, and I still make more milk than he needs even though my milk production has decreased by a few ounces.)

      I get up at ~8 AM and immediately pump (at home).
      I pump again at work some time between 11:30 and 1:30
      I pump again at work some time between 4 and 5:30.
      I pump again at ~10:30-11:30 (at home).

      I have two pump in style advanced and two hands free bras. One set stays at home and one set stays at work. I have 4 sets of pumping parts. I take a new set + 3 empty bottles to work with me every day. These all fit in the little black cooler that comes with the pump if you take out the ice pack. I have a mini fridge in my office and a fairly short commute so I don’t worry about keeping the bottles chilled in the cooler. I don’t clean the pump parts during the day– I just put them in the fridge. For the first pump, I combine the milk into one bottle and then I re-use one bottle plus a fresh one for the second pump. Obviously, this only works if you are not making a huge amount of milk. I usually make 7-8 oz during my work pumps so 3 bottles is enough to make this work.

      Although I have my own office with a locking door, I sometimes use the firm’s mothers’ room because they have a hospital grade pump and because it is not next to others’ offices. I sometimes feel worried that my personal pump is really noisy and is annoying the guy in the office next to mine even though he has never complained. I plan to continue pumping until the baby turns 1, so I have another 5 or 6 months to go.

    11. Apologies in advance if this comment isn’t helpful, because I’m not really answering your question. I keep not-replying to questions about returning to work and pumping because I honestly don’t really remember much about it–but I just had the thought that I’d have appreciated that perspective when I started struggling. It is not forever! One day (9 months after quitting, in my case) you might not even be able to remember much about it!

      I only pumped for about four months after I returned from leave before I stopped due to supply and scheduling issues, but it was hard for me. I really beat myself up and got incredibly stressed out (and just plain hated the act of pumping), and in hindsight I would love to have known how fleeting that stage really is. Whether that would have motivated me to stick it out longer or just not feel as bad when I eventually quit, I don’t know, but I think it would have helped.

      Good luck!

    12. I have 4 kids and pumped for all (and am pumping for my 4th). You can do it!! I have a pump in style (medela) at home. I keep my Medela Freestyle in my desk drawer at work. I nurse in the morning at 7a, then pump for extra milk & to keep my supply up. Then I get to work, check emails and pump around 9:30a. Then I walk to daycare if I can (it’s 5 mins.) and nurse or pump around 12:30/1p. Then once in the afternoon (this one varies a lot – from 3-4:15). Then I nurse when I get home to keep my supply up and ensure baby4 can make it until bedtime (8p) for final feeding. I pump when I go to bed (9 or 10p) so I can keep my supply up but only get about 2 oz. then.
      I have a fridge in my ofc and keep my parts there ALL WEEK. I just dump the milk into a bag, freeze it, and use the parts for the next session. I sometimes mix fresh milk into cold milk in the bottles. I did for all of my kids and they’re all healthy & fine.
      I have 3 sets of parts of my freestyle and 4 sets for my pump in style. I swear by Lansinoh milk storage bags and organize my milk in Sterline ice cube bins from Target – they’re the perfect size for standing bags of milk and only $2 (versus those specialty ones for milk for like $20). I also prefer Medela breast pads. I use a nursing bra (Bravada are great) daily and a bustier to pump (although for kids 1-3 I just held the bottles with one hand and worked with one hand while I pumped).

      I think with kids 1-3 I pumped about 6-10 months total (from birth – so 3-6 mos at work). I think I nursed for 9 months with them, but started to mix in formula after a while. With baby1 I was in trial out of town for 3 weeks when she was 5 months old, so I ended up getting an RX for Reglan from my OB when I got home to keep my supply up. Then I got pregnant with baby2 when she was 9 mos old so I stopped taking Reglan and basically stopped nursing shortly thereafter for supply reasons.

      I made partner between baby3 and baby4 and have always worked full time and always taken 12 wks maternity leave. And I was the first lawyer at my firm to take leave and now am the first partner to do so. Although wonderfully, female associates at my firm now outweigh the males.

      Again: You Can Do It! (But if you can’t, don’t worry! Nurse while you can and mix breastmilk and formula.)

      (P.S. I had lunch with a preggers friend yesterday who told me she used to pump in the car with her babies1&2 while driving with a bustier….never tried it, but…?!)

    13. I’ve been pumping at work now for 7 mos and just starting to wean off of pumping this week. I’m actually pumping right now as I type… I highly recommend pumping soon after you get to work. Prolactin levels are higher in the morning and you’ll get more. I pump into bottles so that I can measure out milk into 4 oz bags throughout the day. and i will combine refrigerated milk with newly pumped milk. (Speaking of bags – you can 100-bag boxes of lansinoh bags on amazon.) I’ll leave 1-2 bags of fresh milk for baby for the next day and freeze the rest, so my freezer supply is getting rotated through, but she gets the benefit of refrigerated rather than thawed milk.

      I would also say pumping at work is different than pumping at home. It took me a while to destress enough while pumping in order to be able to get let-down. I would try to visualize gushing waterfalls of milk. And look at all the adorable pictures of DD on my phone. Movies and audio helped too. also, particularly at the beginning, I would ask the nanny to make sure baby hadn’t eaten within an hour before I got home so I could nurse her right away. So for a few months she’d have half bottles at 5 or 5:30 before I’d get home around 6:45.

      Good luck!

  9. So I tried the Cole Haan Air Talia pumps on a recommendation from another poster, and unfortunately these shoes are uncomfortable as well. Something about the arch being off for my foot – when I put the shoe on, there is a space between my arch and the shoe, if that makes sense.

    So any other suggestions for a non-patent leather black pump btw 2.5 and 2.75 inches high? Must be 100% leather interior (my feet just get too stinky otherwise). Have already tried Ivanka Trump and LK Bennett and now Cole Haan. Thanks!

    1. If sounds like you have really high arches; have you considered trying insoles of some kind? It may be that your feet may just be special snowflakes (I mean that in the literal way) that just aren’t going to be comfortable in shoes without some extra support. I don’t know a ton about insoles because I don’t have them, but something to slip in the shoe to support your arch might do more towards making the shoe comfortable than anything else (especially since, if you foot really is an unusual shape, its unlikely that too many mass retailers are going to make shoes to fit it, since they wouldn’t sell very well. Does that make sense?)

      1. Hi there, thanks. Good point on the insoles. The weird thing is that I haven’t had an issue in the past with my feet. They are size 8, medium width, pretty ordinary shape as far as I can tell. I have a pair of Ivanka Trump pumps that I wear to death that don’t require an insole (unfortunately they changed the fit recently). The only thing I can think of is perhaps my arch has changed post-pregnancy (although the shoe size has not changed).

    2. Geox Mid MarieClaire (not sure if leather lining, but they are famous for their non stinkiness)

      Gabor Gabor 75.240

      Bella Vita Presto

    3. Ann Taylor’s Perfect line is the most comfortable shoe for me (more comfortable than Cole Haan). I believe they usually have an option in that heel height.

    4. They’re not for everyone, but if you have high arches Earthies are great. They’re the only heels I’ve ever worn that didn’t make my feet hurt and actually didn’t leave space between my arches and the insole of the shoe. They’re expensive, but totally worth it. This year’s styles are all pointy-toed (which is not my style at all), but you can still find a lot of last year’s styles for sale if you want more rounded toes. Some of the styles are weird and ugly, but there are enough nice ones to be found that you might find what you’re looking for. You might also try the plain Earth shoes, which are another line by the same manufacturer. I haven’t worn them, but it looks like this year’s styles are lot more classic and simple and less frumpy than they’ve been in the past.

  10. I’d love any advice or resources that you ladies have for serving on a non-profit’s board. I have an opportunity to serve on the board of a local rape crisis center. I have sense of what the time requirement is from the board member I am replacing. Any other things you wish you knew when signing up for service? Any books I should read? Community involvement is a big part of my firms culture so I want to go about this correctly.

    1. I’ve served on a few boards before.

      Personally, I’d be interested in learning about the committee structure (if any) and expectations of participation. Also, I’d ask about how the board primarily communicates (expectations for phone calls/in person meetings or email).

      as a lawyer, I’d ask about legal liability, d&o insurance, and if there is any expectation that I would provide legal advice to the organization in any capacity.

      Most boards are either (1) working board, org has limited staff, and board handles a large role in fundraising, staff management and running programs or (2) governance board, org has staff, and directs ed to program ideas and big picture vision/mission, and also handles some fundraising role.

      Idealist.org has some resources, and well as blue avocado.

      1. +1 on all of this. Also try to get a feel for how the board operates. I was on the board of a small performing arts organization and it was a trainwreck. Totally disorganized, very little documentation to retain institutional knowledge, personal disputes among the members. Try to meet with some of the members to get a feel for them — ideally you should feel they’re professionals whom you trust to handle the business of the organization. Also have some questions (anon in tejas’s are great) and see how they respond. If they don’t have good answers about basic practices like insurance, decision-making, funding, responsibilities, etc., proceed with caution.

    2. This is all very helpful. I get the sense that it is a governing board. I’ll definitely ask some of these questions when I meet with them.

    3. You said you know the time requirement- do you know the give/get (you are expected to personally donate a certain amount or obtain a certain value of donations from others)? Directors and Officers insurance is vital, too. I don’t have a specific book to recommend, but United Way has a program where they train people about non-profit boards. I know there is one in NY. I don’t know if they have the same programs in other cities.

  11. Can you do a TPS posting or Shopping Roundup on white shirts that are NOT button-fronts? As a curvy gal, I can’t deal with the gaping and that the shirt fabric simply will not skim from my decollatage to my waist. All the tape, snaps, hook/eyes, brands for curvy girls, they just don’t work for me. I’m a 10-12, so it’s not a size issue.

    All of the solid front things I see seem to be tanks or long sleeved tanks that look like a tank – not a blouse, not a shirt. Love the Judy P tops, but it’s not as formal as a dress blouse/shirt. You should check them out as basics I think they are better smoother fabric that the tanks/camis who advertise on your site. Wash and wear easily. Tons of styles and colors and the modal fabric is double think on the front for smoothness. I am NOT a vendor, I promise. I just rely on them.

    You’d be in my favour eternally!

    1. I’d be interested too. Or on tips to wear button fronts when hourglass-shaped.

      Also a busty but smaller gal, and I’ve never been able to look professional in button-fronts. If I wear them, I end up covering them with a buttoned blazer or sweater. The gaping, the boxiness around the waist (my smallest part), the weird angles when you tuck in, the messiness of leaving untucked.

      1. I’m hourglassy (my measurements are +11 1/2 – 0 – +13, if that makes sense) and I love the H&M button fronts. The cotton is blended with something stretchy, so they come in properly at the waist while still accommodating my hips and chest (plus they don’t need ironing as long as I remember not to leave them languishing in the dryer). When I tuck them in, they stay tucked in flat, instead of blousing out at the waist they way all my other button-down shirts do, and they also look good untucked.

          1. Good point – I am petite (5’4″) and can see how they wouldn’t work well tucked-in for tall women.

  12. Anyone happen to have a free shipping code for Restoration Hardware? I hate paying for shipping! TIA!

  13. I live in Texas where I do more commuting than walking from place to place, but I really want a pair of wellies….even just for walking from my car to my office/court house on days that we are experiencing heavy rain.
    I am leaning toward a pair of Hunter Wellies, but don’t love the price tag. Have any of you had luck finding them on discount?
    Any other suggestions brand-wise?

    Thanks!

    1. I have a pair of kamik (?spelling) from Canada. They are great for navigating Texas downpours and temporary flooding. I love that I can pull out the insulation panels. I have had them so long I can’t recall the price though.

      I also have a pair of “duck shoes” but you were asking about wellies!

    2. Not for nothing, but if you’re really just getting them for wearing from the car to your office door, I’d check out the ones at Target (for example) which are probably not as nice as the Hunters – but will probably get the job done and they are about 1/3 to 1/4 of the price. I particularly like these houndstooth ones. http://tinyurl.com/kpt82me (Though all of them have at least one review saying they leak, so you probably want to make sure you get the right fit.)

      1. I have Target rainboots, and they’ve worked pretty well for me for walking through puddles & keeping my pant hems dry, which IMO is all you really need for car-to-office.

      2. I have some Sperry’s that I bought at Famous Footwear, inexpensive, have stood up well, still look good, keep my feet dry ….

    3. I got a pair of Chooka boots after seeing them on this site. They are cute and not too expensive.

    4. Depending on your foot size, you may be able to get the kids’ size Hunters, which are half the price and just as great quality. I’m a size 6.5/7 and the youth 5 fit me just fine. I think the Youth 6 would fit up to a size 8. I like that they are a little lower on my legs, and the calf size was fine.

    5. Hunter will pop up on the flash sale websites from time-to-time (ideeli, ruelala, hautelook, beyondtherack, and gilt have all had them before). If you’re not on a specific timeline for getting them, I’d just stalk those sites until it pops up again. (Should probably see them around now-ish anyway, as most of the flash sale sites are going boot-crazy of late.

  14. What do you ladies wear to work on Fridays? I’m a fairly young lawyer at a small firm and we have casual Fridays. I like to dress down but am not a fan of jeans at work so I constantly struggle with my Friday outfits.

    1. I’m a big fan of black/grey denim or cords, a non-collared shirt (blouse or dressy tee shirt) and a blazer with flats for casual Fridays.

    2. I mostly wear jeans on casual Fridays… but if you want to try something different, maybe look for a few pairs of slim ankle pants? I’m thinking specifically of the the J.Crew Minnies and Cafe Capris, but I think Loft has a cute version, too. Black is always a good staple, but something in a muted color (burgundy or dark olive green) wouldn’t be too loud for the office and would look nice paired with a neutral top.

    3. I’m also a young lawyer at a small firm with casual Fridays, and I’ve mostly given up on the casual Fridays. My jeans-and-a-sweater weekend look still makes me look like a teenager, I think, and trying to dress up jeans with a blouse or blazer means I am even less comfortable than I would be in my regular work clothes. So, I mostly wear my regular work clothes on Friday.

    4. If not jeans, how about going for a graphic t-shirt if that’s within the allowed lines?

      For me, in IT; it’s genrally doc martens, black jeans, band t-shirt and a hoodie.

    5. I wear mostly black all week so on Friday I wear color. I have a long of colored pants, which don’t feel professional enough to wear M-Th.

    6. Try ankle pants like these ones from Ann Taylor Loft for a more casual (but not denim) look. Link to follow.

    7. Today as many Fridays I’m wearing trouser-cut jeans. I’m wearing it with a tie-front blouse and cardigan. I also often wear bootcut jeans with a blazer. Maybe you just need to go jeans shopping and find something you like/works for you?

    8. I don’t like wearing pants, but my office culture is such that people comment a lot when someone doesn’t dress down on Fridays. In the summer I wear a chambray skirt or dress, and in the winter I have an a-line corduroy dress that I love. I also own a few colorful ponte knit dresses with more casual silhouettes (a-line rather than sheath – the Limited has some great ones right now) that I wear on Fridays year round.

    9. I feel you on jeans feeling informal, but if everyone’s in jeans, you should really think about trying to incorporate jeans. I’m at a small firm too, and fitting in with the “group norms” is an important part of succeeding in a small office.

      For me, since I hate being too casual, I wear trouser-cut dark wash jeans with a silk or sweater shell or short-sleeve shirt, and then wear a a (clearly non-suit) blazer and shoes that are dressy-ish, but that I wouldn’t wear during the rest of the week (example: today I’m wearing my zebra print closed-toe pumps). You could also go with a less-dressy-but-not-jeans pant, like corduroy. I’d probably avoid being the only person in business wear on a Friday though – it kind of makes it look like you don’t “get it.”

  15. For anyone looking for this type of cut but with much more flattering (IMO!) darts, try the L.L. Bean pinpoint oxford. It has three-quarter sleeves rather than long sleeves, but it’s also quite a bit longer than the In Style shirt, and stays tucked in reasonably well for me. (I’m extremely long-waisted so this is a perennial problem.)

    http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/38246?feat=79943-ppxs&dds=y

  16. TJ: I recently accepted a position in the PR sector of a large consulting firm’s office in NYC. My first day is next week and I’m beyond excited, but my supervisor has indicated to me that their office is “business casual”. Does anyone have any insight as to what that means based on the city and the type of work? This is my first experience with anything related to consulting and want to start off on the right foot. First day outfits always terrify me because I look really young (like a teenager due to height/face) and always feel like I’m trying so hard to not look like I’m playing dress-up by going too formal.

    2. I work in NYC at a business casual engineering firm. I wear a pencil skirt or dress pants and a blouse of some sort or a shift, and usually dress up jeans on Fridays. The men in my office wear khakis and a button down every day. I never see ties, or jackets on either gender. My experience is that dressing for work in NYC is not as fancy as you might think it is. Wear manageable heels & black to offset your young looks?

  17. Question about unemployment benefits. I’m a public interest attorney with a fellowship that’s ending in October. I’m job hunting but nothing so far. I’m not sure if I’m eligible for unemployment or not (and I’ve never filed before, so I know nothing about it). I’ve read up on it, and I meet all the minimums (time worked/$ made) plus I’m losing my job through no fault of my own, which seems to be the standard language.

    But given the nature of my employment, I’m not sure if I qualify. Because this was a two-year fellowship, and I took it and now it’s been two years and it’s ending, as predicted. I mean, my employer did indicate they hoped to keep me on, but inevitably there were no funds once my fellowship grant expired so they’re letting me go. I can’t seem to find anything about time-limited jobs and whether they qualify.

    I think I’m going to apply regardless, on October 1 when I’m officially unemployed, and just see what happens. But I feel like my employer might contest it/object (see, I don’t even know the right terminology!). Which is kindof hilarious given I work for Legal Aid and actually have a whole department for appeals of public benefits denial.

    Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts/experience in a similar situation I’m all ears.

    1. I had a position that was a limited-term position and when it ended, I applied for and received unemployment benefits.

    2. I found the answer to a similar question on my state DOL website. I’d go there, starting with any FAQ docs and then moving on to the relevant statutes/regs, which were posted. I also found the people in the local office surprisingly helpful.

    3. File a claim. Worst case the unemployment office decides you aren’t eligible upon review and notifies you of that. Sounds like your office would not rebut the claim.

  18. As I sit here watching a webcast CLE, I’m curious whether you ladies prefer to attend CLE events in person or to just receive the materials and stream it?

    Personally, I’d rather attend the event, but I wasn’t able to today. I like free coffee and pastries, I like meeting new people, and I love getting out of the office.

    1. I never find that anyone is interested in talking at in-person CLE, so I don’t ever meet any new people. Plus, CLE gunners are the worst (even worse than law school gunners). Still, I find I retain information better in person. So if I picked it because I thought it would be really useful, then I prefer in person. But if I’m just trying to fill up my hours, I prefer to stream.

    2. I’ve had to do my last 2 years of CLEs in person because of NY’s requirements. I’m so excited to finally get to do them on my own. It seems cheaper to not go in person, way more convenient for me, and I really don’t like going to meetings where I don’t know anyone. I’m not good at meeting people and the whole process exhausts me.

      1. +1. My company has tons of live calls and recordings of previous calls that are eligible for NY CLE at no cost. So nice to be able to stream it while I sort laundry or load the dishwasher.

  19. Total TJ time! I need some help!

    I am an archivist/librarian/project manager who is currently on the job hunt, as my current digitization project is ending. I currently have two interviews lined up, and I don’t know what to wear! I haven’t interviewed in over six years. I live in Minnesota.

    My first interview is for a project manager position associated with a Catholic project. I will be meeting with the President of the organization, who is a nun. My second is for an academic librarian position. I will be meeting with the library director (but, since this is a second interview (first one – phone), I will also meet all of the other staff at the library).

    Do I wear a suit? Is that too formal, especially for the first one?

    1. I’m an academic librarian who hires – and I would say most often our candidates wear suits or at least dress pants and blazer. Our work place is fairly casual so we try to dress us for interview days. If you’re meeting with the director, he or she will probably be dressed more formally than the rest of the staff. A professional dress with a blazer would be fine, too. No idea about the archive. Good luck!

    2. Go with a suit. You can pretty much never go wrong looking TOO formal (in a professional sense…not if you wear an evening gown :P). My husband is in your field and has always done suits during interviews. If it’s a library director who has to deal with university presidents and such, he/she will probably be suited up anyway.

    3. I’m a business librarian, used to work in archives. I always wore a skirt/nice blouse for my nice interviews, now I wear a suit. Our company is casual but I’m really put off by people I interview who don’t dress up. A sheath dress and blazer or a suit seems good to me. Better to be overdressed than under!

  20. I’m headed out to the Bay Area and Napa next week. Does the weather differ drastically depending on where you are? I guess what I really want to know is whether I need to bring jeans and long sleeves and warm-weather clothes.

    1. Depends where you are, but basically yes. SF is usually 10 degrees colder than South Bay (San Jose area). Bring a sweater and maybe one pair of jeans along with your warm-ish weather clothes and you should be fine.

    2. Yep. You can count on San Francisco being much cooler than the surrounding areas, especially when you factor in the inevitable fog and wind. Napa is gorgeous this time of year, so I would recommend dresses and/or skirts for your visit up there. The best packing advice I can give you is to bring lots of layers because weather in the city tends to vary a lot even within one day. Definitely bring jeans, too. Have fun!

    3. Yes! SF will be cold and foggy (although this time of year is probably the sunniest/warmest it ever gets). The southern part of the peninsula and south bay (Palo Alto, San Jose, etc) are very nice right now – sunny and 70s but it gets cold (down to almost 50) at night so definitely bring warm clothes to sleep. Napa is usually similar to the south bay but a couple degrees warmer. I second the advice to bring layers and if you plan to wear dresses in Napa or the south bay, bring a sweater or blazer for evening and you should be ok. Personally I’m never warm enough to wear dresses in SF but I’m one of those people who is always cold.

    4. I can’t wait to meet you!!! I’m going to try to hit the Open Thread early with a reminder for our meet-up next Saturday (1pm, Vino Locale in Palo Alto). So excited.

      Yes. For SF, bring a scarf and a warm jacket. If you’ll be outside touring a lot, I’d bring a warm hat. Please note, though, that it’s “Indian Summer”* time in SF so it might be unseasonably warm and beautiful on any given day.

      It’s getting cooler at night in the South Bay so if you are out after sunset (~7:30 now), bring a lightweight jacket. Napa is usually similar to, but can be cooler than, the South Bay. If you are going on cellar tours in Napa, wear jeans instead of a dress because the caves and cellars are kept at a pretty cool temperature.

      *I don’t know if this term is PC or not but it’s the term even ultra-PC hipsters use for this season in SF. This week, the KFOG morning DJs actually debated whether SF should come up with a new term but no one proposed anything that anyone liked.

      1. I’m excited to meet you too!!! It’s one of the secret highlights of my trip (secret because I haven’t been telling people I get to meet my Internet friends) :)

        Thanks for all the advice, everybody.

  21. Working for a campaign as a lawyer — anyone have insight?

    I’m interested in trying to find a position with a presidential campaign in this next election as a lawyer. I’ll be senior associate level, and I’d like to try to get a position with some degree of responsibility rather than entry level. I’d also just like some general information. Anyone have insight?

    1. No insight, but I’m very interested in this as well. Will be a new mid-level by the time primaries get into to gear.

    3. My guess is you’d probably have to do election law at a firm first for a long while

    4. Never worked on campaigns at that level myself, but I have two thoughts:

      1. Entry level on campaigns is not the same as regular workplaces. Things move very quickly, and your level of responsibility can literally change in a week or less. Plus, there isn’t time to really break things down to entry level/high level tasks, there is a lot of delegation, someone who might be entry level on paper is trusted with a lot of responsibility.

      2. I have seen research teams with almost all JDs and (practicing) lawyers on them, I haven’t seen lawyers in any other positions in the campaigns i’ve worked on. But I imagine for national level campaigns if you want to have a ‘Law’ role, they would be looking for some existing experience in FEC Compliance issues and other election law issues/voting access law, etc. Is that what you are thinking of? Policy positions are not usually lawyers on campaigns, they are political messaging experts, because campaigns aren’t really focused on making law yet, just optics to win the election.

    5. It depends on what type of thing that you want to do on a campaign.

      Do you want to work for the Presidential HQ, one of the associated groups, or in an actual state?

      Also, do you want to be a lawyer who does policy or voter protection?

      If it’s policy (ie your practice healthcare law and want to be the resident Obamacare expert), I’d rewrite your resume to focus on that. These jobs would be in the campaign HQ and the also associated groups (think RNC/DNC, and possibly some PACs). There are not a whole ton of these jobs and they typically go to either completely fancy/well connected people, or folks with less mind-blowing resumes and came up through the ranks.

      Jobs in the actual state are more likely to be on voter protection issues (policy is not really set on the state level for pres elections) which is actually growing in importance due to all the new election laws being passed on the state level. Since this is a relatively new field of law, there aren’t a whole huge pool of people who do as a career.

      Someone also mentioned research, and while there are many lawyers in research for a Presidential race being a lawyer wouldn’t actually really give you a big leg up on someone who already has a few cycles under their belt. If you went this route, expect to be lower level.

      In general politics has an exceptionally informal job network. These jobs are not going to be posted any where and if they are, its a one in a million chance that the campaign is going to hire someone cold like that. The best way to break into this field is to work your network. I would start asking everyone you know if they have any political connections to the candidate/party you want to work for. Then shamelessly work your network. If you have any political connections in either the state that you want to work or nationally, I would try to figure out who is likely to be in a position of authority in your desired campaign and figure out if there is anyone in your network that knows that person or knows someone who knows that person. Also, you have sometime to start volunteering somewhere and create more of a network before hiring starts. For HQ type jobs I would anticipate hiring to start around January of 2015 and for state level jobs I would anticipate hiring to start January of 2016.

      The poster above is right, Perkins Coie does most election law litigation for the Dems, but unless you’ve done election law before or are seriously absolutely amazing.

      One final note, campaigns are brutal. Think 100+ hour weeks for the last stretch. They’re a lot of fun though and completely addicting.

      1. One final note, the state level jobs will likely be given to people who already have connections to the state. So there I would work all of all the law firm and donor angles you have for the state you want to work in.

        1. And apologies for all the typos, written quickly while on a really boring conference call

  22. Anyone have a good recipe for 5 bean baked beans? (preferably the kind you can cook in a crockpot?)

    1. Are you kidding? You almost never get this kind of email gold in real life! It’d be worth going back just because of people like this. I had a ton of good friends in law school, but the total crazypants ones were the ones who gave us something to snicker about when we were all stressed out from exams.

      1. Yes this exactly. I miss the crazy emails that used to go out over our school-wide listservs. Law students be crazyyyy

        1. Some of the comments to the article are pretty great. Like the one who says the guy in front of him/her in crim pro watched p*rn in class every day. Who does that!? Are other grad programs as full of wackos, or is law school just a special, special place?

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