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Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Doubleweave Skirt

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Merona® Womens Doubleweave Skirt - Assorted ColorsReader E wrote in to recommend this basic skirt from Target: “Sometimes they really knock it out of the park with work basics, and this is one of those. I've been worried about wardrobe for my first summer as an attorney, but I think this skirt will carry me through. It's light and made of cotton with just enough stretch to make my booty look amazing. I own the blue and I'll be returning for the others!” As near as I can see, the only available colors online are black and khaki (in both regulars and petites, sizes 2-18) but perhaps your local Target store will have more. Either way, though — a good basic is always needed! The skirt is $22.99 at Target. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)

Sales of note for 12.2.24 (Happy Cyber Monday!! See our full sale listing here!)

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

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273 Comments

  1. I also have this skirt and think its great. I have short legs but Merona skirts seem to be the perfect top-of-the-knee length for me. The fabric does seem to catch cat hair more than other items I own, so I have to be careful. It is lined though and has pockets and was cheap so I love it.

        2. I don’t really have hips, so I’m not sure. I also left mine sewn shut for awhile but they aren’t anymore and still lie pretty flat.

        3. I have this skirt in three colors, and I’m also “hippy.” I’ve found that the pockets like pretty flat on me, so I don’t feel strange leaving them open and say, tucking in a shirt.

    2. I also have this skirt and it is great. I like the little bit of stretch. I however, also own about 6 colors of the seamed halogen pencil skirt from Nordstrom, so if that skirt works on you, it does not mean that this one won’t.

  2. Anyone have any experience with Dorothy Perkins clothes, specifically dresses? A number on their site looked cute (and disturbingly affordable). For reference, I usually wear a 14 or 16 and am 5’2″, short-waisted, and busty.

    1. I am eyeballing their site right now and am sorely tempted. The pattern on “taupe bird box pleat dress” is absolutely adorable, and they have other bird-themed items, too.
      I don’t have any input on sizing… only had one DP top many years ago when I was about 3 sizes smaller. It was very cute and lasted forever.

      1. I found that their dresses are a bit smallish on top and tend to be short. I think I’m usually a 2 or XS in Loft tops, for DP I’d need a 4 or maybe 6. I ordered a really nice navy sheath-style dress in a 4 and it fit me very well (5’3″, about 122-ish, 32D) but was too short for my comfort. They give length measurements for a lot of their dresses, so I’d measure a dress you own and see how it compares to the DP dress. I should have known the navy dress would be too short, but I tried it anyway.

        I think the quality was pretty good for the price, maybe slightly better than Loft. I kept a black cardigan that had slightly puffed shoulders and nice buttons, and also a sheer tie blouse printed in black birds on an off-white background. I totally love that shirt.

    2. The UK sizing tends to run pretty TTS – I have tons of stuff from DP and it’s usually pretty good quality for the price. I have a lot of dresses from there and am also short and busty and they tend to fit me pretty well.

    3. I bought a jersey maxi dress not long ago, and it doesn’t work at all on me (I’m 5’10” and long waisted). The hem doesn’t quite reach my ankles, and the “waist” hits me about mid-ribcage. You might have better luck, with your proportions. The quality was decent, though.

      BTW they constantly have sales and send discount codes, so sign up for their emails and do not, I say again, do not pay full price!

    4. I have a couple of dresses from DP, my suggestion is to definitely check out the length before you purchase. I’ve gotten some dresses that I’ve intended for work only to find that they are mid-thigh.

    5. Agree on length. for me, dresses need to be at least 37″ to feel comfortable wearing to work. However, I do have 5 dresses from DP that I love ! I have the Navy lace sheath that is currently online and I highly recommend it! Its packable.

  3. This is a GREAT buy, and I think I will go this WEEKEND to get one- hopfully I will be abel to get into a size 4 — I have been watcheing my diet alot, and staying away from FATENEING deserts.

    When I went to MORTON’S I did NOT get the TERRAMASOU, and got BERRIES instead. Their were alot of seed’s (Ptooey!) and NO wipped cream. I was GOOD! Yay!

      1. Ptooey, or PTOOEY, is only broken out for special occasions involving seed-spitting.

        FOOEY is good for day-to-day wear. :-)

  4. After the thin/fine hair discussions this week, I will add yet another question:

    How do I get that beachy-wavy look with my type of hair? I have tried to use mousse and gel in wet hair, but it just gets too crunchy. Any tips or tricks?

    1. I’ve tried to figure that out, too! Unfortunately, mine only gets that look after being out in the humidity. It does it naturally, but I couldn’t replicate it if I tried.

      1. Ooh I’m going to try to make the salt spray that article links to! I love what my friend’s does to my hair, but I refuse on principal to pay big bucks for what is essentially a spray bottle full of salt and water.

    3. I’d play around with different types of mousse. I rock the beachy waves on the daily, since that’s what my hair is naturally inclined towards. Some mousses crunch, others just give nice, loose definition. I can’t remember the name of my favorite mousse off the top of my head, and wouldn’t recommend the one I have now. Maybe ask your stylist? Or presumably other, more hair-conscious people will have suggestions.

      Other than that, I towel-dry my hair, scrunch through mousse, and let it air-dry.

    4. I have fine hair, and the only way I can get beachy-wavy hair is to go to Hawaii for a week. Then it looks awesome. Otherwise, flat, crunchy, weird

      I admit my suggestion is not that practical

    5. I have your type of hair and I’ve found that there just.isn’t a good way to get that look. Whatever I do, my hair may START the day looking all beachy/wavy and it ends the day flat. Le sigh.
      I was the one who posted the youtube video of the woman using a cloth head band to curl her hair. That’s really the only method that works for me (though they neglect to mention that you want to do that when your hair is damp and make sure it’s dry before taking out the head band). When I first take it out, it’s alot more curly, but by the end of the day it’s more loose curls/waves.

      2. I watched that video with interest when you posted it before. I thought that starting with damp hair made sense, as well. I’m planning on trying it!

      3. I did that on my daughter’s hair after you posted it. She has super-long, fine, straight hair. It was hard to get her hair untwisted from the headband (she slept in it) but when we finally untangled it all, she ended up with some cute, loose waves.

    6. I have naturally wavy hair, and the trick to crunch is this: wait until your hair dries, then scrunch the crunchy parts of your hair to break up the “cast” of the gel. You’ll still get hold, and it won’t look or feel crunchy.

  5. Sigh. The girl I was planning on living with backed out, leaving me in the lurch. I’m ready to suck it up and pay extra for a one bedroom – I’m too stressed out to deal with finding someone else and then hunting for a place.

    It’s a grumpy Friday for me. Anyone else really, really need a holiday weekend for recuperation?

    1. I share that feeling and was looking forward to sitting in my yard and doing nothing Monday, but my DH invited friends over for a BBQ without consulting me. I am pouting about it and feeling very very grumpy. I can’t wait for the long weekend

      1. As long as DH does 100% of the work of preparing for the BBQ or coordinating w/friends, it’s less annoying.

        Or…could a “very urgent assignment’ pop up on the day of the BBQ, leading you to have to “go to work”? Leave all the preparation and socializing to DH, and instead of going “to work,” go shopping instead so you can be by yourself!

        1. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that idea! There just might be a “very urgent assignment” that comes up during BBQ prep time, then I won’t have to peel potatoes for potato salad.

          I hope all of us grumpi-rettes and just say FOOEY and move on from the grumpies.

        2. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that idea. There just might be a “very urgent assignment” that comes up during BBQ prep time, then I won’t have to peel potatoes for potato salad

    2. Yes. I worked for 11 hours on Monday, 15 on Wednesday, and at least three a day last weekend. These might be normal hours for some folks, but I am far too delicate for this *********. Also Monday through Wednesday contained Major Life Decisions, because of course when it rains it pours. This three-day weekend is the only thing that has gotten me through the last 48 hours.

    3. The car that I was supposed to be getting fixed for cost is going to have to get fixed somewhere else because the shop that was doing me a favor is having trouble sourcing the part, and doesn’t really have the time to do a lot of research into finding the part for me. It’s got a temporary fix so I can drive it somewhere else to have them tell me how much it’s going to set me back, which is definitely going to be more. And that I’ll probably have to buy a new car in the next year. And I’ll probably end up buying my parents’ old car (which is less than 10 years old and just over 100k miles, so is perfectly fine) but makes me feel a little like my parents are bailing me out, and less like the adult I want to be (that can buy that brand new car she really wants). Not really something a long weekend can fix, except to give me a chance to get some job applications in for a new job (that hopefully pays more). Le Sigh.

    4. Yes. A ten-day repair in my rented condo is now up to 60 days, with no indication of when it will be done. The airheaded property manager’s latest position seems to be that her fee gives us access to her rolodex, and that it is up to me – the tenant – to manage the workmen. I’m about to go all Middle Ages on her @ss.

    5. Hear hear. I need a few days away from hating my job and not getting so upset that I still haven’t found a new one. Looking forward to (hopefully) getting to sit around a lot. I have a mandatory work thing tonight and I overbooked us for Sunday but I think Saturday/Monday are free and clear!

      1. KLG, I am totally in the same boat! Hate my current job, so disappointed since 2 opportunities that I was excited for just dried up (guess I flunked the first round interviews) this week, and I am so tired, severely sleep-deprived and have to prep for an exam (to up my qualifications so I can hopefully look like a better candidate).

    6. That sucks! It happened to me once and I wound up living on a friend’s dining room floor for months because I couldn’t afford a place on my own.

      When we’re you supposed to move?

      1. June 1, but luckily, my current lease is not up for a few months so I have a bit of time to figure something out. However, I do have to figure *something* out soon since I gave my landlord notice I was leaving and don’t want to be homeless come fall.

    7. yes, but different. my kitty was put to sleep this morning. she was 18 and lived a long, full life, but it is still very sad.

      4. Oh, I’m so sorry. Lost my 18 yo cat several years ago and I still miss that boy.

      5. So sorry to hear that. It is the hardest thing to put down a loyal companion that you’ve had for so long. You just have to know that she was in pain and miserable.

  6. If all goes well with an upcoming interview, I will be leaving my current job. Depending on how fast negotiations take place, my two (although ideally I’d like to give 3) weeks notice to my current company may fall during my two week scheduled/already approved/very-much-bought-and-paid for/there’s-no-backing-out vacation.

    Question for all: can I count the two weeks of vacation time as part of my notice or do you think I need to come back from vacation and put in a few days of work at my current job?

    PS would love good vibes about the interview.

    1. Theoretically, the two weeks is to both give the employer time to find someone new to fill the position and to transition/wrap up your work. If you felt that you could transition/wrap up before vacation, then the company would still have the two weeks during which you were on vacation to interview candidates and fill the position with little or no impact (assuming they are already aware that you are going to be on vacation and have planned for it). When you give your two weeks, I would be prepared with transition memos done/status reports on all your work.

    2. Vibes vibes vibes :)
      Since your vacation has already been approved, you don’t need to put in additional time working at the old job (they you can be sure they’ll ask). However, it would be a good idea to tie up loose ends, finish projects etc. before you even give notice so you make a “clean break”.
      Best of luck at the interview!
      In my experience, nothing ever happens at the time you expect it to. Most job offers I received were delayed. Now my standard answer to “When will you be able to start?” question is “X weeks after I accept the offer of employment”, never a hard date.

    4. Good luck! My employer’s personnel manual specifically prohibits the use of vacation time during the required notice period, so make sure you know the policy at your office.

    5. In the non-profit/social services world, it is actually standard to give 4 weeks notice when leaving a job. I didn’t realize other fields were different. No, vacation wouldn’t count (unfortunately), you’d be expected to come back after vacation and work your 2 weeks or 4 weeks, etc.

  7. I just wanted to add something to yesterday afternoon’s discussion of several people being frustrated when the interviewers “really really like you” but you don’t get the job. Years ago, right out of graduate school, I interviewed for a job that I thought would be great. The three of us who were finalists all knew one another because our field (mine at the time) was really small. My interview went great and I knew the director really liked me. He called me a few weeks later to almost apologize for not giving me the job. I was devastated but applied for a bunch of jobs that day, including the one that led me to where I am now. Long story short, now over 20 years later, the woman who took that entry level job is still in it and the two of us who didn’t get the job have moved up to bigger and better things career-wise. So don’t lose hope!

      1. The same thing happened to me… I didn’t get the job I applied for, but got a call back a week later from the same organization because someone else in the same department was retiring. Stay positive!

  8. Help! Emergency fashion threadjack!

    I just got invited to a sports event tonight in the private suite of a prominent local politician and I have no idea what to wear! Typically, my game day attire would consist of team t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, but I know that’s out of the question for tonight. How formal do I go for this? The event starts at 7, so I assume some people will be coming from work, but others may have time to go home and change. For what it’s worth, my office is closing early today, so I will definitely have time to go home and change, so all attire attire options are available. Also, I should probably add that I am a baby lawyer hoping to make a good impression and the friend that invited me works for another prominent politician.

    What would you wear if you were me?

    1. I should also add that it’s almost 90 degrees and humid as hell out where I am, which adds another layer to my dilemma.

    2. Do you happen to have a not-too-revealing casual dress in the home team’s colors?

      1. I agree with Emily I, in a similar situation I wore a fun sundress that was not too revealing with wedge sandals and was perfectly appropriate. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be the home team colors, though that’s definitely a bonus! At the same event there was a guy who showed up in cut off jeans and flip flops who was definitely underdressed and was embarrassed. There was also a woman who showed up in stilletos and a long slinky dress cut to her navel with makeup to the nines. She was definitely overdressed, and got mocked (by the same guys who were staring at her cleavage!) though she didn’t appear to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

    3. Eh, I think you can still wear jeans (nice ones), a team shirt, and nice shoes (i.e. heels or work flats, no sneakers). Even though it may be a box and a local politician, it is Friday night and a holiday weekend. If it was during the week, then I would probably say you need to wear a suit; but even politicians and those who work for them dress down for occasions like this (and bring changes of clothes to the office when they know something is after work on a Friday). If you want to go the dressy look but not jeans, wear a nice skirt (but not suit skirt) and a nice top. Or you can go jeans with a nice top and skip the team shirt.

      Also, any chance you can ask those around you what they are planning on wearing?

      1. Thanks for the advice. I’m planning on asking my friend, but if his typically ill-fitting pleated khakis are indication, I should not count on his fashion advice.

    4. in a similar situation, I wore a cotton pencil skirt, flats, and the sleeveless shell from a Jackie twin set (in a reddish orange – Phils colors).

        1. i a blues fan, but still have to admire your reference on this blog. I love a girl who can dress fashionable yet still enjoy sports with the best of them

    6. I worked as an attendant in boxes at an athletic venue in a fairly conservative area, and I saw all kinds of clothes. Typically people were more dressed up than jeans and sneakers, but I don’t think you’d be massively out of place in that.

      If I were you, I’d wear something nice but casual, like a sundress or a skirt and top, with accessories on the more dressed-up side. Bonus points if it’s in the team colors, but I wouldn’t flip out about it or anything. Women wore a lot of Tory Burch-esque stuff, but then we were in the South so I’m not sure how well that would translate to wherever you are. If I was dressing myself to go to one of the boxes I worked in, I’d wear something like this http://www.toryburch.com/BRONWYN-DRESS/21121486,default,pd.html?dwvar_21121486_color=883&start=6&cgid=clothing-dresses-skirts with flat or low-heeled sandals, and pretty jewelry. (Slash now I just want that dress.)

      1. At events like this, I’ve worn dark trouser jeans or nice black capris with a nice top in the home team’s colors.

      2. I hate you a. for posting that dress, by the by, its cute and I want it and I have zero use for it right now. haha.

      3. What I really hate is the “may we suggest” feature. No, you may not suggest items that I really want but shouldn’t purchase. Waaaaaaaah.

        1. seriously, tory needs to stop making such perfect clothes. it’s painful for my wallet.

        2. Yeah. I usually don’t let myself click on anything that anyone posts because THE TEMPTATION, but I have nothing to do today so allowed myself some vicarious shopping.

    7. TJ: don’t refer to yourself as a “baby lawyer” unless you are either (1) doing family law or (2) are three years old. And even then, it is questionable.

      *rant over*

      1. My horrible, no-good, very bad, very terrible, witch, almost-killed-my-spirit old boss always called me a baby lawyer.

      2. TJ: don’t rant about someone’s language choice that is relatively innocuous and likely not something she would use in real life (e.g., introducing herself to politician).

        *rant over*

          1. Neither, for the most part, do women who are inflexible or lacking a sense of humour

      3. When I say I am a baby lawyer, I mean that my practice is exclusively focused on representing infants.

        Just kidding, duly noted.

    8. Team shirt (assuming it is home team and/or team supported by the politician), nice jeans or a cropped pant that goes with the jersey, and nicer shoes- like nice sandals, not flip flops or sneakers.

      If this is going to be at all a “boys club” type event: from a networking perspective, men generally love when a woman shows interest in the sport, not just the socializing. Thus, the jersey will be safe and conducive to your professional goals. It’s also a good conversation starter (esp if its a player jersey).

    9. Team shirt! Definitely, with nice jeans, cute flats, and even a hat if you like.

      And only because this is my personal pet peeve…no pink shirts please. :-) Just the true team colors. Thank you.

      1. Yes x 1,000 to the no pink team shirts. Drives me CRAZY. Buy a kids jersey if you want one that fits well!

    10. Don’t dress up too much. Nice jeans and a team t-shirt or something in those colors with wedges would work. Just avoid wearing slubby jeans or that old oversized jersey.

      1. This. I work for such a politician and often attend games in similar circumstances (I am not a sports fan so this is really lost on me as a cool thing). Only arrive in business attire if you legitimately just came from an important work function or are going to one afterwards.

        Team shirt (if you have one) and nice jeans is the way to go.

  9. Threadjack. Sorry if this topic has been discussed before, but I have a question about work pumps. Mine are getting a bit old looking and the inside lining near the toe is starting to bunch up a bit (do you ladies know what I’m talking about? It’s like the inside lining of the shoe is starting to come up near the toe….) I’m just wondering if it’s worth it to get work shoes repaired, or do you ladies just buy a new pair? These are nothing fancy – plain, basic black pumps. Ivanka Trump, so they were about 120 I think. Please advise!!

    1. If you love them lots and lots, then sure, get them repaired. Why not? But if the outside is also getting old and worn looking, there is only so much they can do (I think).

      How old are they? Why not start stalking sales and invest in a new pair of quality basic black pumps?

      These quite nice looking Ivankas are on pretty good sale right now: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LL5O78/ref=asc_df_B004LL5O782026439?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=wwwshopstylec-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B004LL5O78&ascsubtag=489091540

        2. I have those in a croc heel variation. One small problem: the shoe does this weird thing where around the middle it sort of bunches open when you walk. I hate that! Not sure if I am describing it well but some shoes, particularly round toe ones, just do that and I think it always looks awful. If you’re just standing/sitting around this shoe looks great.

    2. Are they “old looking” on the outside or is the inside the only problem? Any cobbler can replace the insole for cheap — less than $10, as I recall. I’ve had this done several times with good results.

    3. If you like them a lot and think you would have a hard time finding a good replacement, then I would say get them repaired. I hate replacing “functional” shoes, so if there’s just one thing wrong with them and I like them otherwise, I’d usually try to repair. But I’ve never had that specific problem repaired. It sounds like it would be pretty cheap to do, though, so even if you only get another few months of wear out of them, it would probably be worthwhile for an over 100 dollar pair of shoes.

      But if you feel like they look tired overall and you’re ready for a new pair, get one.

    4. I do get my shoes repaired and polished regularly. That said, only you can be the judge — if they’re looking too rough, out they go.

      You do have more than one pair of regular (plain black presumably) work pumps?

      1. Ladies, thanks for all your input so far! So, I think I’m just going to get them repaired. They are not bad at all on the outside – I think they’re only about a year and a half old. Problem is, they are the only black work pumps I have and I wear them ALL the time, so I should probably get another identical pair or a similar pair and just rotate. Would that be weird if I just got the same pair and rotated? I do that with my running shoes!

        1. If you like them, get another pair! The only pitfall I could see is mixing up the pairs, which could make for an uncomfortable day if one foot is well worn-in and the other brand-new.

        2. It wouldn’t be weird at all! I totally wish I had done that with my favorite pewter shoes which I wear every day and now can’t find anywhere. :-P

          You should totally buy them now though. There are tons of great sales on black leather shoes right now as we head into summer, so nows the time to pounce if you’re going to buy them. ;-)

        3. It’s not weird, but why not get a more sassy pair for your second pair? That’s more fun!

    5. My husband and I both did P90 in our 290 square foot apartment (not at the same time though!) and yes, it’s doable!

      We picked p90 because we were on the 3rd floor and unlike insanity, it doesn’t have a lot of jumping (there is some running in place type of stuff though). You need somewhere to put a pull up bar, preferably with room for a chair underneath it (i couldn’t do the full pull ups with a chair). You need to be able to lunge, kick in all directions, do push ups, sit ups, and yoga, while watching the TV/computer.

      I think you could definitely do it in your apartment – we did! But I second what everyone else has said- I was a runner looking to switch it up and tone. I lasted about 6 weeks and I looked great, especially in my arms. However, I quit because I really, really, hated it. I just don’t enjoy video work outs, and this one is pretty long- 6 days a week, and some of them are 90 minutes. It just felt like torture. I’d rather be outside, running for an hour in the fresh air, zoning out with my headphones. So, there’s that. But you should be able to do it in a small space and you will see results!

  10. 6pm dot com is having a very weird but amazing $25 and under sale. Really random stuff but if you need to stock up on random tops, work out gear, $5 Simple sneakers or just happen to love Ed Hardy – check it out. Good mens basics, too. Oh, and if anyone needs “evening” shoes – there is a crap ton. Summer associate w/ a black tie gala & a budget, I hope you’re reading :)

    1. Thanks AIMS! I was just about to go toZappos to buy another pair of flats to replace mine that are wearing out but 6pm has the same pair for $20!

  11. Hi All-
    Wondering if anyone has any experiance with any exercise programs, such as P90x, insanity, in an apartment. I have a typical, about 700 sq feet apartment, and i’m wondering if that’s enough room to do any of these thigns in. I dk the measurements of my living room, but its pretty standard size for any apartment i’ve seen in arlington VA….just wondering if buying one of these is worth it or if i’m just going to be running into my fridge or something stupid. Any recommendations? I work out a lot, but i basically just run, so i’m looking to shake things up a little and hoping that if i get a program I can do at home, my less fitness conscious boyfriend will join in….he’s the type whose too embarrased to go to the gym unless he’s in shape, so therefore, he will never GET in shape. ugh.

    1. I do the 30 day shred and other Jillian Michaels dvds in my apartment. You basically only need enough space so that you can spread your arms and legs and not hit something!

      1. Agree. We have a tiny living room, but I could do it. If you can do a snow angel on the floor, you have enough space. I also liked that I could do one workout on a tired/busy night or 2-3 when I was up for more. It’s also hard to say that you’re too busy for a 20 minute workout, so I actually did it regularly.

    2. I’m a big fan of the Jilian Michaels DVD’s. You don’t need lot of stuff: it’s usually a lot of jumping jacks and jump rope movements to get the cardio in, and free weights to work on your strength. I find the 30-day shred works great, and doesn’t compromise my running too much at the same time. That said, my husband doesn’t like her, and refuses to work out to her DVD’s…

      1. Third for Jillian! Works great in a small space with minimal equipment. I’ve gotten the best workouts with her videos, and I like that I can alternate them with other non-JM DVDs when I’m in the mood for something else.

        Other advantage is not having to buy a whole system at once – I pick and choose from Amazon based on reviews, buying new ones as a “reward” for sticking to one I already own for enough time that I want something new for the rotation. I recommend 30-day Shred as a first dvd if you decide you want to try her out. Like Kora, I use it as a supplement to running.

        My husband hasn’t tried them, but I wouldn’t rule it out in the future. I can understand though that she wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

    3. DH did the P90X workouts in his cramped little man cave (probably 13 by 9, with a small couch, chair, desk, bookshelves, coffee table, beer brewing supplies and bean bag chair, all jammed in there), so you could probably manage in an apartment with a reasonably sized living room.

      Beware though – DH lasted about a month, then dropped P90X because it was a huge time investment. He would spend 3-4 hours on Sunday cooking for the entire week, and then easily spend 2 hours a day just eating, and another hour doing the workout. No quality time with DH = grumpy emcsquared.

      (While doing P90X, DH also called me from a strip mall parking lot to come pick him up because he was so sore he couldn’t move his foot from gas to brake pedal while driving. So there’s that.)

      1. p90x is a huge time sink, even without the eating, because the workouts are 1-1.5 hours a day. An hour of a weights workout followed by a 20 min ab work, hour long cardio workouts and a once a week 1.5 hour yoga hell workout.

        The most regularly I did it was when I was studying for the bar (yay flexible schedule) and was the lowest weight/smallest I’ve been as a full grown adult.

        That being said, since it doesn’t require commute time to the gym, an individual workout isn’t that much more of a time sink than a trip to the gym. It’s just the 6 days a week thing that gets old.

        1. I read emcsquared’s comment quickly and thought she had to pick up her sore husband from a strip CLUB parking lot.

          Ha!

          1. Both original and this comment made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the boost ladies!

        2. P90X just scares me. I read a discussion of it in Men’s Health a while ago, and every paragraph I just kept being like “Really? People voluntarily do this to themselves?” And then the founder was talking about how elite runners weren’t strong, which just prompted ginormous eye-rolling from me–does he actually know how much core work and strength training elite runners do? See: Jenny Simpson’s guns at the World Championships.

          More power to you if it works for you, I just will not be sipping that Kool-Aid.

      2. My brother, who is 50 but in great shape, started doing P90X and he told me that he almost threw up in his livingroom the first couple of times he did it. Yikes.

        FWIW, I do 60 min of cardio 6 days a week and do weights (around 60 min) 3 days a week. It’s a lot but my SO lives out of town and I schedule around when he’s here.

    4. It should be doable. Both SO and I did p90x together in the living room of a similar apartment. It was a little tricky with two of us on a few of the moves, but it just required careful alignment during the kickboxing video.

      Insanity was fine if I was solo, I think it would be a little trickier to do with two people, since there’s a little more forward and side to side move than in p90x.

      This was all without a coffee table between the couch and TV, btw.

      Also, be careful with the TV and any weights you’re using — flying weights + screen = bad things.

    5. With P90x, the amount of space varies with the particular workouts. I don’t think any of them require more space than the average living room. There are a few moments in the plyometrics workout where you need some space, but I’ve been able to make do in my 800 sq foot apartment. If you’re going to do the full program, I think you will need a pull-up bar. That’s something to keep in mind. They make some that brace themselves on door frames w/o having to be screwed in/permanently placed, so it’s doable.

      I like the P90x workouts, but I don’t follow them in any particular order. I basically use them like my other exercise dvds and do whatever I’m in the mood for.

      No idea about Insanity.

    6. I love love love P90X and Insanity. You can get by in a small apartment if you can create an open space about 7’x7′ (approximately two yoga mats side-by-side). The only thing about Insanity is that it is a lot of jumping, so it might not be as good if you’re in a wooden building with people living below you. Cement buildings (like modern high rise apartment buildings) should be fine though. I’d start with P90x if you’re looking to supplement your running with weight training / cross training, or Insanity if you want to do serious cardio and get faster at running. Have fun!

    7. I was able to do P90X in the living room of my 625sq ft apartment, with some caveats:

      -Like someone else mentioned, I didn’t have a coffee table. If your living room is “full” you may need to move furniture to give yourself some open space. I had an 8’x10′ area rug that basically served as my workout space, and that was generally enough. I could’ve used a few more feet during the walking lunges, but that’s not a huge deal.

      -My apartment had unusually thick (in terms of height) crown molding, so I couldn’t use the chin-up bar, nor was there a doorway with a view of my TV that I would’ve been able to see the moves even if the bar did work. I had the band, but there was nothing to loop it onto–if you’re actually pulling hard enough to work your muscles, you’re going to yank off whatever the band is looped through unless you live in an industrial loft style apartment with exposed metal beams like in the videos.

      -I lived on the first floor, so I didn’t have to worry about noise. If you’re on an upper floor, some of these moves are going to be pretty difficult to do without pi$$ing off your downstairs neighbors, especially if you have hardwood floors. I’m thinking especially of the plyo moves in the Cardio X video–I never did the full Plyo video, but I would guess that entire thing is a stomp-fest.

      -Second what someone else said about it being a time-suck. I didn’t even do the diet, and I resented that I never had the time to do my favorite cardio workouts like running and biking because the P90X schedule is a full plate. And as a regular runner/cyclist, I thought the “cardio” workout was less cardio-intensive than trying to catch the bus. While my arms and abs were more defined at the end of the 90 days, on the whole I felt like I came out of it in worse shape because my cardio fitness had dropped so much.

      1. I do Insanity in a tiny 550-sq foot apartment and have no problems. For size reference I don’t have a coffee table and I’m 5’9″, so I do have to look out to make sure I don’t punch the ceiling on some jumps but that’s about it. It’s been a tremendous investment for me, and I vastly prefer Shaun T’s style to Tony Horton (Tony is super obnoxious to me). I don’t follow the diet but I didn’t have any real weight loss goals, so ymmv. (Insanity WILL whip you into shape if you put in the effort, I noticed better muscle definition after two weeks.)

      2. The plyo video is so tough. I’m usually ready to just lay flat on the floor for an hour afterward. And it hurts to walk for like 2 days. I’ve been slacking off and just doing the cardio x one for a while now b/c it is tough to get motivated for the plyo. I love the yoga workout though.

    8. Different strokes for different folks, for sure, but I’m somewhat amazed at the number of people who have commented that 60-90 minutes of exercise, 6 days a week, is a huge time suck.

      1. I get what you’re saying (I assume you are the kind of person who enjoys working out and makes it a priority), but since you can get and stay in pretty good shape with 30 minutes of intense exercise 6 days a week, the jump up to 90 minutes is substantial. I can easily do 90 minute workouts (or longer) on the weekend but committing to that on at least 4 weekdays/week would be a challenge.

        To put this in perspective, I run marathons, and I only run for 90 minutes or longer on a weekday during the absolute peak training weeks. P90X would require less time on the weekend, but a lot more time during the week!

        Also, many people work for 60+ (or 70+!) hours a week — so, yes, finding that extra time can be a real challenge.

      3. I workout 60 minutes 6 times a week, but I didn’t like that it had to be the same system for all of that time. That’s what I meant by it being a time suck. I want to be able to run, go for a bike ride, meet some friends for a class, etc. and in general be outside during nice weather, and not devote 100% of my workout time to watching DVDs in my living room, especially when I found the host obnoxious and the workout relatively tame.

    9. Might want to look into “Ten Years Thinner.” Easy free-weight based exercises and a sensible paleo-ish diet program.

    10. Caveat, I haven’t done it, but have you looked into Bodyrock? It’s an at-home, internet based workout program that (I believe) focuses on short, fast-paced core/strength workouts. You apparently don’t need much space or equipment (but I think you do need some basic stuff, like a timer and a big swiss ball?). It seems to get great results.

    11. You only need a couple feet for Insanity. I am a big fan of that program. If you have downstairs neighbors, keep in mind that it involves a lot of jumping.

    12. Whoops- reposting, accidentally posted this further up the thread:

      My husband and I both did P90 in our 290 square foot apartment (not at the same time though!) and yes, it’s doable!

      We picked p90 because we were on the 3rd floor and unlike insanity, it doesn’t have a lot of jumping (there is some running in place type of stuff though). You need somewhere to put a pull up bar, preferably with room for a chair underneath it (i couldn’t do the full pull ups with a chair). You need to be able to lunge, kick in all directions, do push ups, sit ups, and yoga, while watching the TV/computer.

      I think you could definitely do it in your apartment – we did! But I second what everyone else has said- I was a runner looking to switch it up and tone. I lasted about 6 weeks and I looked great, especially in my arms. However, I quit because I really, really, hated it. I just don’t enjoy video work outs, and this one is pretty long- 6 days a week, and some of them are 90 minutes. It just felt like torture. I’d rather be outside, running for an hour in the fresh air, zoning out with my headphones. So, there’s that. But you should be able to do it in a small space and you will see results!

    13. I just started Insanity last week and so far am loving it! I do it in my bedroom and I love that I don’t need any extra equipment. Luckily I live on the bottom floor, because there is a lot of jumping. I’ve heard that P90X is more geared towards men, but I haven’t tried it to confirm.

      1. I have also done JM’s 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30 in the past. I felt like those were good warm ups for Insanity, but a little more boring since you do the same video for a whole week.

  12. I wouldn’t go too formal, but I wouldn’t wear jeans/tee shirt/sneakers either.

    If it were me, I would wear a casual-ish skirt, leather flat sandals, a crisp top or tee (I am thinking a white cotton shirt and a lightweight blazer/jacket that you can take off if it gets unbearably warm and/or everyone is casual.

    The kind of skirt I have in mind is like this:

    http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/skirts/mini/PRDOVR~85398/85398.jsp

    The shirt is not a tee shirt, but more of a blouse material without buttons. Or a silk tee.

  13. I tried the Target skirt and even though the fabric was nice (and lined!) the pockets ruined it. It created weird lumpiness. I sized up and even when swimming in much too large of a size, it still showed those stupid lumps. Consider yourself warned.

    1. At this price, if you really wanted, you could probably get the pockets removed and sewn shut, couldn’t you? (Perhaps someone with more sewing prowess could confirm.)

      1. I have done this! I had the pockets tacked shut and removed on the inside- my darling mom did it in about 10 minutes flat.

        I own the skirt in the dark denim color and khaki (I mentioned it in a thread yesterday actually) and it’s wonderfully versatile. A few other women in my office have the same skirt- we joke that we have to have a memo on who can wear it each day. Our one gripe is that you will likely eventually have to re-sew the hem, which falls out after a few months. I’ve done mine with stitch-witchery and it turned out fine. Otherwise its a great skirt- especially for a girl on a budget!

        1. What’s the wrinkle factor? I have a long-ish train commute and spedn much of my day sitting at my desk and this looks like a skirt that could get super wrinkly.

          1. I get a few minimal lap wrinkles by the end of the day, but not as bad as most cotton or cotton-blend skirts. The fabric is pretty thick and it’s lined, which I think both help.

          2. My khaki one wrinkles more than my blue one, weirdly enough. Neither is too bad- both easy enough to smooth out.

    2. Take the pockets out and sew the openings closed! Should be a quick fix at your dry cleaner’s.

    3. Mine came with the pockets sewed shut, and I never cut them open. No problems with lumpiness yet. However, mine is an awesome snakeskin print that hides all manner of problems (lurve!!!!).

  14. What else in the business professional clothing set would you recommend from Target to round out this skirt so I can go for free shipping?

    I’m 5’5″, size 16, apple shape.

    Thanks!

    1. My two favorite Target purchases of late were the Merona Cross Front Ponte Knit Dress (in Stadium Red) and the Women’s Dot Blouse w/ Tie Waist in Fox Tail.

      They are both great and have become nice work basics for me, but are also good for weekends.

      1. TCFKAG, I followed your advice, went straight to Target the next day. The foxtail was gorgeous, a really good color for me — and on clearance, too — but the tie waist landed about four inches above my actual waist and it looked so bad on me I wanted to cry. To the longwaisted out there, skip this one.

          2. This is really cute. I haven’t been to the Limited in years, but I’ll have to go in. (Another Saturday shopping trip, thanks to you!). I’m not digging the chevron, though — the little dots on the Target blouse were just about as much pattern as I can take. I always think other people look great in bold patterns but I feel like I’m in a clown suit.

            Thanks for the ideas, and have a great holiday

    2. I recently picked up the Merona short sleeve ruffle smocked top and I love it so much I’m going to buy it in at least one other color. It’s cut generously in the sleeves to not bind my arms, and the princess seaming is really flattering. It looks like a blouse 2-3x the cost.
      http://www.target.com/p/Merona-Womens-Ruffled-Smocked-Top-Assorted-Colors/-/A-13941869

      Also, not for business, but the Merona cap-sleeve value dress (value?! It is only $20) – is an extremely flattering and comfortable weekend dress. It looks a lot like one I saw at Macy’s for $50 over the weekend.

      1. I second all of these recommendations (I own a shocking amount of Target clothing). I’m also wearing a printed button-down sleeveless black and white top from Target today that I picked up yesterday. I can’t seem to find a link on the website, but it’s got a tie neck and (my favorite feature) the back hem is SLIGHTLY longer than the front, so it actually stays tucked.

    3. I’m not sure that they are even available at this time of year, but if you are in need of a cardigan, I really like the ones I bought at Target. I have a red 3/4-sleeve one that I wear a lot. For the price, it has stood the test of time, and I can throw it in the washer, which is huge for me. I think the ones I have are Merona.

      1. I think I have the same cardigan you’re referring to in white. I wear it all the freakin’ time. And it’s held up awesomely through regular washing/drying.

      2. I recently bought a Merona cardigan based on recs from the hive and am very impressed.

  15. Has anyone ever tried Zella workout wear from Nordstrom? I am tempted by the black capris.

    1. I love Zella. Holds up really well. Not sure about the black capris though. I love all the jackets I’ve gotten, some gray and stripe capris, and sweat pants (yummy pants and don’t recall the other style). But it can be a bit hit or miss. I have some of the live-in leggings and although they’re nice and thick which is great for lounging, I wouldn’t wear them working out. They tend to be really hot and they completely slide down anytime I bend over. I’d say do Nordstrom’s free ship and return though–definitely worth the time to check it out.

    2. Zella capris are my favorites. Mine are reversible, matte, give good compression, and have a little key pocket in the waistband. They’ve held up really well for over a year.

    3. I love zella! The quality is great, the clothing is cute, and it’s substantially cheaper than something like lululemon.

      1. I had heard that it was similar to lululemon. I don’t own any lululemon, but lately have been loving black capris for after workouts. They’re great for changing into and throwing on a clean, dry tee and going to brunch or doing errands. I have a cheap pair from Express that are already fading and stretching, so I wanted to upgrade.

        (Don’t judge for not showering immediately after runs — sometimes I make do with just a hairbrush, headband, facewash and some deodorant)

    4. Love mine. Got them on a great sale too at the Nordstrom anniversary sale. So if you wanted to wait until late July, they might also be on sale.

  16. Threadjack – I’m moving at the end of the summer for my first “real” job and will be living on a tight budget for the first time in my life. I know what my budget will be for the month and my mom is helping me with my rent. What I’m worried about is groceries and toiletries. I only need to buy for myself and while I’ve pared down on what I use, I don’t know what to do about the things I like getting but don’t need to, ie facials, massages, getting my hair cut and colored every six weeks. Also the little things that I pick up (magazines, new lipstick, shoes) but really don’t need.

    Do you have any advice/tips/samples to share with me? Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!!!

    1. 1. Hair – can you go 7 or 8 weeks instead of 6? Do you get highlights? If you just get all over color, I’ve found that it’s very easy to do your own color at home. I’ve done that a few times when I wanted to save money. I recommend Loreal’s Feria hair color.

      2. Facials and Massages – I think you’re just going to have to not get these for a while! Perhaps you can find an awesome groupon/living social deal. You can always do an at home facial – I really like philosophy’s microdelivery peel.

      3. This is a general comment – start using coupons if you don’t already! I am obsessed with couponing (but not in a crazy “extreme couponing” kind of way). I went to CVS yesterday to buy crest whitestrips, some body wash, eye makeup remover, etc. and I saved $35.00 just from using coupons. Love it!

      2. Where do you find the coupons? Online? In store? I would love to do this but I am a coupon virgin…

        1. Google “couponing 101”. It’s this really informative and useful coupon blog. I started out there when I was first getting into coupons.

          My fiance got a subscription to the Sunday paper just for the coupons. We cut coupons for groceries and toiletries. I love CVS b/c if you shop there and use your CVS card, you start accumulating points. After a certain number of points, you get cash back (basically like a credit card that gives cash back). They also email me bi weekly coupons for either 20% or 25% off my total purchase! So you can use the manufacturer’s coupons that you clip from your Sunday paper, and then use a 20% off total purchase coupon and save a ton of money. They also have “extracare bucks”. Which is basically free money. For example yesterday when I bought my eyemakeup remover, there was a sign that said if you buy 2 of them, you will get $4 in extra care bucks. When I checked out, I got a coupon for $4 to spend at CVS during my next purchase. :)

        2. Try to find a coupon blog that will do the coupon/grocery store sale match-up that matches the ads in your area. For instance, I’m in the Southeast and check southernsavers.com for the Kroger and Walgreens/Rite Aid match-ups each week. That way I don’t have to do much looking through the ads and coupon stuff myself. I just see what works for me that week and pull out the insert and clip/print as necessary.

      3. 2nd the diy hair if it is a minor change from you natural color. Even if you don’t want to commit to permanent color at home, glazes or temp color will add pop and not be damaging.

        Sephora also sells $20 tweezerman scissors that are okay for trimming split ends or bangs. I wouldn’t try them on a full haircut but they work for minor things. Don’t use them for cutting anything but you hair to keep them sharp also.

      4. This.
        Buy your local Sunday paper and clip the coupons. Before you go grocery shopping, check out they’re weekly ad. You’d be surpised the amount of money you can save. I regularly save 25%-30% at the grocery store just through the use of coupons and store sales.

      5. While I fully support couponing, I find that most coupons are for prepackaged goods (cereals, crackers, etc) — stuff I don’t really eat — and some cleaning products. There are very few, if any, coupons for items on the perimeter of the grocery store (fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, poultry, dairy). So, I’m not so sure that couponing is good for everyone.

        1. Getting canned and jarred tomato sauce on sale is *huge* to me – when I started cooking on my own, I would have starved without that stuff. Always buy those on sale. Frozen vegetables aren’t cheap either and are also healthy – stock up on your fave few when those go on sale as well. Also, I never buy shampoo and other drugstore stuff without a sale unless it’s an emergency. The CVS 20-25% off coupons is when I stock up on lady stuff and drugstore.com also has 20% off on beauty and other categories (although drugstore,com can be dangerous, stay away).

        2. I find this, too, except that I still use coupons for cleaning supplies, like you said, and toiletries. I get all my shampoo, make-ups, feminine products (avoiding moderation), etc. at the grocery store, and coupons for that stuff can really add up. If you buy nicer toiletries than I do, though, these of course wouldn’t help.

        3. There aren’t a ton, you’re right, but they are certainly out there! Our grocery store (Jewel) gives us coupons for $ off produce and meat! There are also always coupons out there for eggs!

        4. I don’t use many coupons for food other than an occasional treat, but you can still save a ton buying cleaning, personal care, and toiletries with coupons + sales. The only caveat is, to get the big savings, you have to largely give up brand loyalty. The only product I am routinely brand loyal to is Charmin toilet paper. Whenever I can get the ultra soft for less than $.50/double roll, I buy it so that I never run out and have to pay full retail.

    2. Your mother lives the way she does after 30+ years on the labor market. Since you’re just starting out there is no way you’ll be able to replicate her lifestyle – it may require a mental readjustment.

    4. Make grocery lists in advance and stick to them. Pack your lunch.
      Do your own facials at home. Ulta and drugstores sell single-use face masks for under $2, or make your own with honey, oatmeal etc.
      Get involved in a sport, hobby or volunteer activity that will keep you busy outside of work hours so you would not be tempted to go shopping.

      1. I definitely advise sticking to the grocery list. I’m really good about cutting out mani/pedis and expensive hair stuff and clothes shopping, bringing my lunch, etc. but for the love of God I cannot go into the grocery store without buying double what I came in for. Ditto Target so I just avoid going to Target anymore.

        1. I once heard Target referred to as the “Hundred Dollar Store” because the speaker would go for one tiny item and end up with $100 worth of stuff. I’m so guilty of that sort of thing–Target is dangerous!

          2. Seriously. I stopped even looking at clothes at Target (other than sports bras, very occasionally) because it can really add up. Even without clothes, between a few groceries, toiletries and cleaning products, it’s easy to get to $100.

    5. If you take regular prescriptions, fill them all at Rite Aid. The points add up fast. At 500 points you get 10% off the store for a year. At 1000 points you get 20% off the store for the year. I have the 20% off for this year and will likely for next year too. I buy whatever I can there.

    6. Cutting back on your groceries is really easy. I’d say check out a few budget cooking blogs.
      I found that packaged snack foods were the most expensive, but if you really want them, coupon cutting will save you money there. Good olive oil is cheaper than butter and block of cheese is cheaper (and better!) than a bag of shredded cheese.

      I do minimal cooking, so I eat a lot of stir fries, __ in a pita, and omelets. Having spices around keeps meals interesting and I make a big batch of rice/pasta/couscous each week to save time, then add it to whatever I’m making that night.
      Personal preference is a lot of peanut butter, eggs, and sardines as my form of protein, but I’m pretty sure that will also save you money. My “splurge” is baking supplies for cookies, although you can get stuff for that cheap at Costco and Trader Joes.

      If you have an ethnic grocery store or a farmers market in the area, check them out! I’m a block away from an Indian mini-mart where rice, beans, and spices are really cheap. Chinese grocer has 20c tofu blocks, greens, and dumplings. I don’t always know what vegetable I’m cooking (okra was new to me) but steaming or stir frying is pretty fool proof.

      Getting a Starbucks giftcard/card is worth it if you go to Starbucks often(after 15, free modifiers and plain coffee/tea refills). Costco membership is worth if it you have a place to store things (larger freezer/pantry) and are *very* good at sticking to a list. Group potlucks are great, going to the library, checking out plays/events at local universities, running outside, free Kindle or library books/DVDs, going to a town/state beach or pool.

    7. This was one of the hard things I had to learn after graduating college. IME, it depended in part on whether you are a “spender” or a “saver”. I am a “saver” and knowing that I didn’t have the money for those fun things kept me from being tempted. My sister is a “spender” and had a harder time transitioning. As far as groceries and toiletries, I have done coupons, but similar to other commenters, have found that they were mostly for items I didn’t use. I typically used ones for cleaning products. Not being brand loyal helps a lot- most of what I purchase is store brand, and I am careful to check the unit prices on what I buy. The upside is that after a while, it becomes easier and you learn what you really need.

  17. Hello ladies! I am finishing my first week at my summer legal internship, and I’m looking to to spend a little bit of my first paycheck on some nice blouses for work. I have three suits (black, navy, and grey pinstripe) but I can’t figure out what kind of tops are best to wear with them. It’s really hot and humid where I am, so I’d prefer short sleeves (but probably not sleeveless). Thanks for any recommendations can provide!

    1. I bought the Limited cap sleeve tops from the Friday post I think three weeks ago –

      As a clerk who wears a suit every day, they are my new favorite purchase. I really recommend them, even though they aren’t a ‘blouse’ necessarily. They look really nice under suits.

    2. I think your best bet is anything silk, honestly, if its going to be hot and humid. Depending on your coloring, those colors go well with a lot of things in the pink, berry, purple, blue, or green color family (but also orange or red probably).

      This shirt from J-crew is a little different, but kind of fun.

      http://www.net-a-porter.com/am/product/190148?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-ProductFeed-_-JCrew-_-Tops&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-ie0A8nhadyFita8txmFcyg

      One other link will follow of a longer sleeved shirt that you’d also be able to wear without a jacket, when you want to take it off.

    3. I would go for short sleeved, non-collared silk shells in a variety of bright colors or patterns. Something like this is perfect (but for the price):

      http://www.neimanmarcus.com/product.jsp?itemId=prod142560188&ecid=NMALRJ84DHJLQkR4&CS_003=5630585

      I bet Ann Taylor has similar, less expensive versions (though they may be polyester blends). (this is pretty: http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/catalog/productDetails.jsp?prodId=278985&colorExplode=false&skuId=11255895&catid=cata000010&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=9013&prodId=278985)

      I also like the J. Crew perfect shirt. Some people don’t like collared shirts under blouses. And they are long sleeve. But, they’re really lightweight cotton and quite comfortable.

        1. I am not busty at all and am a 6 – 8 on top, bought the small. I am wearing the shirt now and it seems like it could accommodate someone much bustier than I.

          I cannot say enough how much I love these shirts.

    5. Love21 has a lot of nice silk and silk-blend shells/tanks right now for about under $30 each. Some are sleeveless but that might not be the worst thing if it’s very hot and you have to wear a jacket all day anyway (plus they can double as cute tops to wear with shorts on the weekend). Maybe not the most long term solution, but a good way to round out your wardrobe with a few basics. I also really like the Ann Taylor Factory Store/outlet for a good selection of all kinds of shells and blouses. If you are near one, that could be a good place to go hunting and get a good bang for your buck.

      1. Oooh factory stores! I completely forgot about those. Will they be absolutely swamped this weekend?

        Also, thanks for all the suggestions, ladies! I can’t wait to go shopping tomorrow. :)

        2. If you go early in the day, you could beat the crowds. Sunday might be a good day for shopping as well (it seems less crowded than Saturdays). You might even have luck if you head to the mall very early on Monday morning.

  18. Question to tie into the budget discussion from yesterday. I need to save some money on food expenses. Carrying cash has helped cut down on the drink and snack expenses at work. Meals out are still killing the budget though. As a bonus I need to lose some winter weight so cooking more and bringing lunch should help in that area.

    Any websites or books that would provide frugal, healthy recipes? I’m fine with a partial veg/vegan or macrobiotic diet and reducing meat consumption. Also, any tips on making the preparing lunch is the morning or night before less time-consuming?

    1. Sparkpeople.

      Seriously, they have recipes for anything you want, by any category you want, sort of like a google for recipes (i.e. I want dinner with less than 15 g carb per serving, and including chicken – they give me 20+ recipes).

      They can also make a weekly meal plan and grocery list for you.

    2. Skinnytaste. her stuff is WW friendly, but even if you’re not doing it they’re low-calorie and are Mr. L approved in terms of taste. Bonus, most things freeze well and it’s really easy to make a big batch of whatever and have your own frozen lunches. I like the chicken rollatini.

      2. I love freezing stuff to have easy meals. I usually only did it for weekend lunchs weeknight dinner. Don’t know why it never occurwd that I could take them to work for lunch.

    3. For eating out, I am always amazed how much $ gets added to the bill if you are ordering drinks – even nonalcholic (ice tea plus a coffee often equals $7-8), but booze esp. I used to date this guy who never drank and so I usually wouldn’t either when with him and going back to restaurants we used to go to, I am always surprised by how much more expensive they now seem because SO & I like to have a drink or 3 with supper.

      In terms of preparing lunch – the least time consuming thing is to bring leftovers from the night before or to make soup or something else similar on the weekend. To make it more interesting I throw in random other stuff on hand so it doesn’t feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over again. E.g., I’ll make quinoa and veggies for dinner but make extra veggies so that I can them throw them in a salad, make into wraps, throw over pasta, etc. In terms of making salads, if you have everything more or less washed and prepped the night before, it’s just a matter of throwing it together in the morning. Splurge on prewashed lettuce and put it on top so it doesn’t get soggy – the whole thing becomes a snap. I just do it while watching tv or listening to a podcast.

      In terms of saving money, I am sure there are recipes specifically targetted to this, but what I find is that you’ll do great if you just buy seasonally and look to see what’s on sale. E.g. right now zucchini and asparagus are in season, so I have been eatting both a lot. Or if I am in the mood for fish and I see salmon is on sale that week, maybe I do salmon instead of cod. I don’t really follow recipes per se – I just go to the market, see what looks good, buy it and figure out something to do with it. I think this tends to work out well most of the time.

      1. One of the booths at the market has a free bin of undersized or non-pretty vegetables that I do go though when buying from them. It does help offset the cost of things when it is something you don’t need much of.

        I think my main issue with leftovers is I struggle in the morning to come up with a side or snack that isn’t a duplicate of dinner the night before. I just get a mental block of possible options when I have to leave in 5 minutes.

        1. When I go to the grocery store, I plan my sides and snacks for my lunches, as well as my meals. This usually eliminates the “OMG it’s 7:55 what am I eating for lunch??” moment.

          Utter basics, almost always have 2/4 on hand:
          Carrots (carrot sticks; get the baby carrots if slicing is too much prep)
          Bananas (filling!)
          Apples
          Oranges

          Slightly more prep-intensive options:
          Plain Greek yogurt with strawberries and honey (slice strawberries, drizzle with honey; spoon over a few big spoonfuls of yogurt)
          Hummus/spinach and artichoke dip and carrot sticks
          Corn chips and guac (flavor packet from store + two avocados + juice of one line + spice to taste)
          Salad (pre-washed lettuce, plus whatever’s lying around–cherry tomatoes, carrots, avocado, roasted beets)
          PB & J (it’s a classic for a reason)

          Also, this: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/02/23/want-to-save-on-groceries-cook-like-a-peasant/

    4. As for making packing lunch easy, I am all about dinner leftovers. I put dinner leftovers in lunch-sized tupperware when I’m cleaning up after dinner and then just grab the tupperware on my way out the door in the morning. It’s a lazy person’s budget dream. Also, if I’m making something that is easy to double (for example, lasagna or chili), I’ll make double, portion it all out into lunch sized tupperware and freeze a bunch of them. Then I’ll toss them in the fridge sporadically to thaw and just grab that for lunch.

      This won’t work for everyone, but I keep snacks (instant oatmeal, granola bars, 100 calorie packs of cheezits or chex mix so I don’t eat a whole box :)) at my desk so I don’t waste money at the vending machines.

      As for specific diets, I’ve never followed any but I do have the south beach book and make a lot of recipes from there because they’re relatively healthy and they taste good. My parents have actually followed the south beach diet and it worked well for them.

      1. KLG, get out of my head! I do the same thing for lunch. For snacks, I always bring an orange to work, and I keep almonds and pistachios at my desk. I’m a boredom snacker, so I have to keep decent food in my office, or I’d be attacking the vending machine with a vengeance every day.

    5. You asked about prepping lunch in the a.m. or night before. Might I suggest freezing your lunches in individual portions on the weekend (to the extent you can – obviously this doesn’t quite work if you’re eating, say, salads and sammies)? I do that and just yank a tupperware out of the freezer on my way out the door every morning. Really simplifies things, and I don’t have to give any thought to what I’m going to nom on for lunch that day.

      Also, I’m a big fan of frozen veggies since you can get interesting things now (asparagus! squash! sweet potatoes!). I usually cook up a protein on the weekend, put small portions in each lunch container, dump bunch of frozen veggies in each container, and I’m good to go.

    6. I have found that pre-prepping food for lunch is helpful – ie cut up veggies/portion out things. Once that stuff is done it is easy to grab and go in the mornings. The most difficult thing for me when I started bringing food for lunch was making sure I brought enough/not too much food. And bring a snack for before or after lunch depending on how late you are working. I found that this really helped keep me from going to grab coffee in the afternoon (saving money and using my calories more wisely).

    7. I think meal planning has really helped us stick to a budget. For example, if we have grilled chicken one night and I know there will be leftovers, then I plan to have chicken tacos another night that week. We buy produce that is in season, which helps with the cost.

      For lunch, I typically get a box of spring mix salad, make a simple balsamic vinaigrette, and a bag of frozen edamame and then each morning throw it together, keeping the dressing separate. If there are good leftovers I will take that too (like grilled fish or roasted vegetables to throw on top of the salad.)

    8. Cooking Light! The print magazine has a section for “Feed 4 for under $10”, and the website will mark items on sale in your ZIP code.

      My spouse and I plan all our meals for the week, make a list (and stick to it!), and I build my work lunches from the leftovers – I make extra salad or vegetables, or a big pasta salad one night, and then pack it in individual tupperwares when we’re cleaning up from dinner. I won’t have the presence of mind to build a sandwich or dish out from a big serving bowl in the morning, but I can grab a pre-portioned dish and go. This has seriously, seriously cut down on both our dinner and my lunch budget – I don’t buy expensive frozen/premade meals anymore, or go out for lunch, and we don’t have those mid-week crazy runs to the grocery store for one thing that end up costing more because we impulse buy.

      Individual things that have really cut the food budget are finding a produce shop that has better prices than Trader Joe’s on fresh fruits and veg. IQF chicken is a better value than the butcher counter. I buy any meats on sale in bulk and then portion it down and freeze. We eat at least 3 vegetarian meals a week, and “meat as condiment” the others, too. Oddly, meal planning sounds so stodgy and restrictive, but it’s ultimately made our meals have more variety and be less boring, because we take a little time every week to go through and pick out things that are new and appealing, as well as a few “old favorites”

    9. For lunches, I take it all on Monday (we have a big fridge at work). I take a container of grape tomatoes, a bag of baby carrots, a gallon ziploc of blanched green beans, and a container of chicken (cut up into chunks then sauteed in a little olive oil with salt and pepper). It makes me feel like I’m eating a big plate of food and I can pick at it for awhile, plus I’m eating a lot more veggies. I was just tired of nasty sandwiches or other packaged foods and I can rarely ever get out for lunch.

    10. I replied extensively to the budget question above. (and this response was wayy longer than I thought)

      Having a set list of “building blocks” helped me eat better and save money. Basically:
      Grain: pasta, rice, couscous, polenta, pita
      Protein: egg, sardines, cheese, beans, tofu, PB
      Vegetables: whatever is on sale, tots of spinach and green beans.
      Fruit: apples and bananas, frozen or fresh berries if on sale

      Then I mix and match. (obviously PB is a loner). Breakfast is omlet or hash-esque deal. Lunch is leftovers or pita sandwich with fruit or side salad. Eating my lunch in a pita makes me feel cool and for me, it’s less expensive than bread. I’m really fond of sardine, babagnoush, and balsamic vinegar sandwiches.
      Dinner is whatever style of cooking I feel like that night. Lots of stirfries. I make a big batch of pasta/rice/couscous at the beginning of the week.
      Snacks are normally peanut butter/ almond butter with an apples or a handful of almonds. KIND bars are really good so sometimes I grab them on sale, same with Greek yogurt.
      Desert is cookies. I make a double batch hen scoop them out and freeze in a ziploc. Baking supplies is where I splurge , but bulk and different stores will save $$.
      I get spices and sauces cheap from the ethnic grocers in the area, so that keeps meals interesting. I eat the same things over and over, but I’m not bored.

    11. This is super-late, but I definitely recommend looking through http://justbento.com/. Bento are essentially Japanese lunch boxes, intended to be filling, tasty, and pleasing to the eye. The website there is a great place just to look for ideas for lunches.

  19. Hey ladies, my boyfriend wants to get me a watch as a graduation present and I need some help. I have two choices (links to follow), but would love some more options if they’re out there.

    What I like about the two choices:
    1. I like the bangle idea (smooth near the face rather than links)
    2. No gold
    3. Classic
    4. Sparkly (I am a girl)

    But other than that, I am open. I want something classic that will look good in 5-10 years. My budget is around $600, but the less I spend on the watch, the more I get to spend as I wish on a gift card.

    Oh, and preferably something we can go into a store and look at vs. something online only.
    Thanks in advance ladies.

      1. FWIW, I like the second one a lot. Really pretty and I’ve had Bulovas that lasted a long time.

    2. So…I did some searches with your requirements and there are a bunch of options. I’m not really a watch girl, but this one is lovely. Really lovely. I don’t know if you’ll like the colors aspect of it (and its not sparkly), but there’s just something about it.

      http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306418149&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446413395&site_refer=AFF001&mid=13816&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-O23MgRtz2RkxS_PSTgftQw&LScreativeid=1&LSlinkid=15&LSoid=203720&LSsid=J84DHJLQkR4

      1. That is really, really nice, but unfortunately, there is no Saks in Denver.

        1. Could you order it on-line and return it if you didn’t like it? (I honestly am wondering. Seems like a lot of risk with something so pricey. Other than my e-ring and wedding ring, I’ve never bought any jewelry that has cost so much).

          1. If I were buying the watch, I would, but my BF is against the idea of ordering off of the internet. SO behind the times. :-)

    3. Have you looked at antique watches? Maybe an art deco one? Paul Duggan, faycullen, and oldwatch are good sites to try.

      1. That was not something I previously considered. Thanks for the rec.

    4. I’m a Skagen girl myself – they usually run the $100 to $200 range, and many of them incorporate Swarkovski crystals for a bit of bling. I know Macy’s carries them (that’s where I got mine) and I imagine other department stores will too. Amazon also has many on a bit of discount too, if you want to go that way after seeing them in store.

      Skagen has a few bangle options, but has more mesh bracelets options. They tend to have a range in different metals (stainless steel, silver colored, gold, rose gold, some leather straps).
      Links to follow…

      3. Those are nice, but I am not really feeling the mesh for some reason. But I will check out the rest of Skagen’s stock.

        1. Frankly, I was meh on the mesh myself and got one with links, rather than mesh. Shrug. Someone must like them :)

          2. Ooooh, multiple prezzies! didn’t even think of that. I like.

      4. If you like Skagen check out Overstock. They have great prices on these. My husband loves the brand and we are doing watches for our first year anniversary. I was shocked at how low priced some of them were.

    6. OMG you can get my Movado watch and we can be watch twins! I have this without the bling http://tinyurl.com/6vmnaz8 (which I purchased in store under $500 with F&F discount). They have every iteration of this watch in terms of color and bling. I’d recommend going to an outlet mall and trying on different watches that a fine jeweler has (their prices are about the same after coupon discounts).

      As for wear and tear – I never take this watch off. Well, except to get henna on my arms. But that’s pretty much it. I’m pretty rough on jewelry and I’ve smacked this thing into columns so many times and the glass is still *perfect*. The steel has acquired interesting scratches in all kinds of directions but I like that. Citizen and Bulova has nice stuff, too. Congratulations on graduating!

      1. Ohh, I was so excited at the thought of being watch twins with you, but I tried this on yesterday and my wrist fat was pushing though the band. I’m so sad now.

        2. Ask if they can add links! I know Macy’s does free adjustments. I can mail you my extra links if anything.

      2. I have a Movado one very similar to that one, but the band is one peice instead of 2 and it doesn’t have the diamond panel things on the sides. Also, the face of mine is pale pink, which I think is just a lovely extra feminine without being too girly touch. I think that I’ve seen it or very similar at Overstock for a little over $300, and I’m sure you could get a more recent but similar model at Macy’s or similar.

        I’ve worn my daily for about 3 years, with no visible wear at all. Love it.

      3. Ru, you and I are already watch twins. I’ve had this watch (sans bling) for years and it stands up to all kinds of abuse. It’s my default watch and I still get compliments on it.

        Ms. Basil E., I really like the first Bulova you posted. (I also have a Bulova that has held up really well.) The tank style is really classic. I’m not so wild about the second Bulova – the contrast between the large face and the tiny band will make it look dated, I think.

    8. I have a Movado ESQ I love and thanks to the ladies here, I got it at an outlet during a huge sale and got a way nicer watch than I would have otherwise. I truly love it. If I can find a link I’ll post.

  20. Calgary- could use a restaurant reservation- not too picky but I want something I could get a reservation to tonight and that my fiancé can wear jeans too. Would prefer a more upscale place than a run of the mill steakhouse. Thanks!

    1. It’s totally too late- I was doing due diligence all day out of the office, then went for drinks- but honestly, you can wear jeans to pretty much any restaurant in Calgary, it’s so relaxed here. I personally love Farm and Charcut or Blink or Vintage Chophouse if you’re looking for places to go tomorrow or later this weekend:)

      I’m vegetarian, but I know all those places serve great food and apparently high quality meats, should you be looking for Alberta beef.

  21. OK, all you doctors out there: why do your staff insist on:

    1. Discussing my health issues with me in the waiting room?

    2. Looking at my name, which I write FIRST LAST, on the sign-in sheet, and asking, “Mrs. LAST, are you ___ [insert first names of several other women in town with my last name, all of whom are or at one point via marriage were related to me]” instead of just asking “What is your first name?”

    I do not want people in the waiting room to hear my health issues. And I don’t want to know who, among my father’s current or previous wives or my many half-siblings thereform, comes to your office, or when, or for what services. And I *certainly* don’t want them to know the same information about me.

    Has nobody heard of HIPAA? Or just good, old-fashioned discretion?

    1. Add to the list:

      “Is your address still 123 Merriwether Way in Skickmancy City?”

      “Is your phone number still xxx-xxx-xxxx?”

      “Is you emergency contact still your little brother, Timmy McLastname?”

      1. Dear office (and CVS) staff:

        How about the good old fashioned “has any of your personal info changed.” (Note, this is what my dr.’s office staff does…and if anything has changed they ask you to step aside and use a phone to call the hospital’s administrative line, which is quietly and privately off to the side).

        Also CVS — when you ask people to confirm their address aloud in the store, you make people who work with victims of DV nervous.

        Thanks.

        1. Another for CVS – probably unwise to say the names of people’s prescriptions within hearing distance of other customers. Maybe design your stores so that we aren’t all bunched up around the counter, eavesdropping on who’s getting what drugs.

        2. Also, to CVS pharmacy staff:

          When I’m picking up antibiotics and you’re at the other side of the pharmacy checking something on your computer, probably not a best practice to yell to me that “this can interfere with birth control, so make sure to use another method for the next week or so.”

          Great information to know. A little discretion though maybe?

        3. My husband endured a CVS pharmacist announcing in front of me, his then college girlfriend, “have you ever used a suppository before?” He had no idea his medication was coming in *that* form and was sooooo embarrassed. Most people would be, but my husband is an introvert so it was even worse.

    2. At the gynocologist’s office, in the waiting room: “Will you be getting an STD test today?”
      *my face turns purple*

      1. My favorite from the waiting room staff was when she asked in her best non-discrete voice:

        Why do you have to have your birth control TODAY?!

  22. Hoping I get some replies before everyone leaves for the weekend!

    Got a new job (yay), but I would like to do something special for my team. So far I’ve come up with gift certificate to their fav restaurant, favorite beer or wine, and that’s it. Any other little things to add?

    1. A thoughtful note. I’ve had two team members/supervisors do that for me over the years and it meant the world to me. I still have both!

  23. Does anyone else find that shipping from Target is extremely slow? I recently made several purchases online and have come to the conclusion that they deliver via Pony Express…

    1. Hahaha, it’s true! Now that I finally ponied up the annual fee for Amazon prime I am an amazon devotee. My roommates think I spend my whole day shopping online because I’m always picking up my vitamins or other toiletry-type stuff there. I know what I need, and have usually ordered before so it takes 30 seconds and I have it within 2 days, no shipping charge! :-)

      1. I am so beyond addicted to Amazon now that I have the Prime membership.

      1. I know! I thought after the 30 day trial period that I would cancel because it surely wasn’t worth it…that was in December. It’s more than paid for itself.

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