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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 164 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: “Libby” Blouse

The Personal Shopper (TPS) | · · ·

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Melani Libby blouseOooh: royal blue? silk? on sale? Sign me up. This cobalt chiffon blouse was originally $119, but is now on sale for $41.65 at Dillards (and lots of sizes still available!). Antonio Melani “Libby” Blouse Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

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Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. CL

    Pretty blouse, but can we talk about the model’s dead, dead eyes? She certainly hasn’t been schooled in the Tyra Banks modeling method.

    • Lawgirl

      @CL, didn’t notice until you mentioned it, but yeah, the model’s eyes are pretty creepy. Need to catch up on Ms. Banks and her TyraMail. Funny show ;-)

    • Ellen

      I agree. We women should NOT just put on to much eye shadow WILLIE NILLIE, as it makes us look like a MANNEKIN.

      When I was in law school, my Tort’s professor was always stareing at me, and he told me it was b/c I looked like his first GIRLFREIND in college, who wore the same EYE shadow.

      I told him I did not care, and all I wanted to do is learn TORT’s. So then he said he wanted to date me after the class was over, and I said NO.

      After he gave me a B for the class, I wondered if it was b/c of my eyeshadow. I thought I should get an A, so FOOEY on him!

      • Monday

        No Ellen, the B was your ding for NOT dateing your professor. If you had been reading Corporette as a law student, you would have known better. EVERYONE here has dated her proefessor or manageing partner, and that is how we got ahead.

      • anon

        maybe you should sleep with ALL the partners proactively, it is possible the MANAGEING PARTNER alone doesn’t make the decision…

    • dead eyes

      In my high school senior portraits (which I wasremembering as my own daughter is in HS) my eyes look like this model’s. In the portrait session, the photog kept having me look here, or there – never directly into the camera, which I didn’t realize at the time. Now when I look at the portraits, it looks like I’ve been conked on the head and my eyes have rolled off to the side, cartoon-style.

      TGIF!

  2. Dutchfan

    I’m always drawn to royal blue but then I remember it always looks SO bad on my skin tone. Darn.

    I’m looking to lateral, but I’m not sure this is the right time given the economy and since I’m so junior (one year into my law firm job). If I apply to a firm and they reject me, and I out of the running for applying again in a couple of years?

    I might also upgrade my credentials if it turns out that would help me. Would it be wise to wait until I’ve improved my resume/upgraded my credentials? I’d really like to get out now, but I don’t want to ruin my chances at some of these firms in the future. TIA!

    • Too Early

      If you leave your firm just one year out of law school, everyone will assume you were asked to leave. Stay. Burnish your resume. Do some writing and public speaking and local bar activity (leadership roles, not drinking :) ) in addition to your work. Move later.

      • Dutchfan

        True, didn’t even think of that. I am in Canada where in some provinces we have to article (10 month contract, in essence). Maybe in my case it wouldn’t look so ‘I got asked to leave’ but rather ‘my articling ended and I wanted to go somewhere different.”

        Also, I’m looking to move to another city, so would that factor into a “I didn’t get asked to leave, I wanted to move somewhere new” explanation?

        • Westraye

          Ah articling. A lot of people I know moved at the end of articles, but the majority of those moved because they didn’t get hired back at their firm (this was a few years ago fwiw so things may be different now). Even with that, it didn’t seem to cause them any long term harm. If you’re not happy where you are, may as well move now. The new city aspect will help.

        • Canadian

          Are you currently articling or currently a first year associate? I agree that lots of people change firms after articling (whether they ‘opt out’ of hireback or don’t get hired back), but I think it is more rare to leave a firm after being an associate for one year.

    • Fiona

      I disagree that people will think you were asked to leave if you apply with only one year of experience. If a firm is hiring and looking for someone junior (1-3 years), it won’t hurt to apply. During the interview they’ll certainly ask you why you’re looking to leave, and then you can explain it in a positive light (looking for more responsibility, wanting to move into a specialty, whatever). Don’t self-select out — if a hiring committee feels you’re not qualified, they won’t call you in, but if you never apply you have no chance of getting the job.

      I also don’t think it would hurt you to apply somewhere and apply again later if you don’t get hired. It shows you’re genuinely interested in working there, rather than “I applied because you have a job opening.”

      • Anne Shirley

        Um wow? I agree if you quit after a year with nothing lined up people might think you were asked to leave, but not if your resume shows you moving to a similar or better firm immediately after. I’m not sure how Canada differs, but I just lateralled after one year (new practice area, better job location) and found the interview process surprisingly helpful. A couple places interviewed me, bur ultimately went with someone older. Since my interviewers liked me, I’ve kept in touch and added some nice connections to my network. People do ask why, so have an answer ready, but my experience hasn’t been negative at all.

        • Dutchfan

          Not so much worried about the negative reaction to leaving after one year. My move would be both a step-up and a more specialized type of firm I’m looking for so if I got hired it would look good. I’m more worried that right now I don’t have the creds (and the firms don’t have the space to take me on).

          So if I apply now instead of, say, two years from now with some more experience, I get rejected, then I try again after a few years, will my application be remembered as “that girl we rejected a few years ago so why even bother interviewing her?”

          • EM

            I wouldn’t worry about applying, being rejected, and then applying later and having them remember you “as that girl we rejected”. Too many unknowns. I actually interviewed at my current employer 3 years prior to actually getting hired. The first time around, they were looking for someone with slightly different qualifications and went with someone else. The second time I interviewed, they definitely remembered me, and my qualifications were more in line with the position they had open. I think having interviewed before was definitely a positive, and the hiring committee unanimously wanted to hire me, which apparently is rare.

            Honestly, the job market is so bad now that chances are, you might not get hired somewhere else for a year or more, in which case being at your current position for a year will be moot.

    • Erin

      I don’t think it looks bad to leave after a year (less than a year looks a bit flaky), and I wouldn’t assume that you’d been asked to leave. I also would point out that it’s rare to find a new job right away, so likely by the time you start your new job, you’ll have been at your old one for more like a year and a half.

  3. Erin

    KAT – a lot of us are unable to click the links using Shopstyle at work; they’re blocked by our workplace’s filters. I realize that Shopstyle is the way you make your commission, but could you say in the post where the featured item is from? (Like just say it’s now $41.65 at Nordstrom, or whatever store it’s from). That way those of us who can’t click your link will be able to find the item. You don’t even have to post a link; just say where it is available. I’d really appreciate this and I’m sure others would too.

    • MissJackson

      This particular shirt is from Dillards.

      Love the color! I need to resist… between the comments about great sales and the posts themselves, this site has sent me on a shopping spree in the last couple months.

    • Kat

      Sorry about that — just amended the text and sent an email to the folks at Shopstyle. Not sure why they’re blocked…

      • Erin

        I think my job blocks all referral links, not just Shopstyle. I don’t think there’s anything you can do about it unless you’d like to persuade my employer to loosen up. Thanks Kat!

  4. Lyssa

    The other day folks were discussing the “slutification” of Halloween, so I thought this was interesting. Went to dinner with a group last night, including a law student in her early 20’s and her friend, who’s a nurse. Both are really pretty girls, and they were going to the law school’s Halloween party later that night. (I went to the same school, and the party is traditionally a parade of pretty young things showing themselves off, as you would expect.)

    Anyway, the nurse is going as a . . . nurse. Not a sexy nurse, just a nurse (I think she was planning to wear scrubs). The law student was going with her boyfriend as Mary Anne and Gilligan, but she specifically was clear that she was “toning down” the Mary Anne costume. As in, the 70’s girl-next-door icon that we all pretty much grew up watching would be too slutty a costume for her. (She said that she’s going to have to work with a lot of these people for her whole life, so she doesn’t think they should know what her belly button looks like.)

    I was impressed.

    • Batgirl

      Yay! I totally agree. People at my law school would wear the most revealing costumes and I always thought “man, someday we’re going to be networking, and I’m going to remember you as a slutty bandaid (or whatever).

      • Lyssa

        “Slutty Bandaid” cracked me up!

        It reminded me of the “slutty pumpkin” from How I Met Your Mother (“How could a pumpkin costume be slutty?” “It was stratigically carved.”)

    • Ellie

      This isn’t a DC school is it?

      Also, nurses dressing as nurses just reminds me of the Parks n Rec Halloween episode.

  5. JAS1

    Hey Ladies – questions re: CLE’s. I am a new attorney (as of yesterday…eeee!) in MA, where CLE’s are not required for your bar membership. I want to attend the CLE’s that are relevant to the practice areas I ideally want to work in. Is it appropriate/done to put them on my resume once I attend them? If so, how should they be listed? Any insight would be appreciated!

    Also, I really like the blouse but agree the model’s facial expression is disconcerting.

    • Erin

      Do you have a job already? If so, I don’t see any reason to list them. If you’re job hunting in a particular practice area, I think it would be relevant to mention in your cover letter that you attended CLEs in that area.

    • Anonymous

      I’m in MA as well, and I’ve not seen this done. As a junior attorney at a firm you’ll go to a lot of these or similar, firm-run trainings so it would be odd to list them on a resume , I think. On the other hand, if you attend a training program or the like through which you develop a tangible skill, I think that would be relevant.

    • LawyrChk

      I would not put them on your resume. Once you have completed some projects in the area that the CLE addressed, I’d only then add that subject area to your resume. It would be like listing out every class you took in law school on your resume.

      • Anon

        If you are looking for a job in a new or different practice area, one way to demonstrate intereset in that area to potential employers is to mention the relevant CLEs you’ve attended in a cover letter.

    • Caroline

      I agree with the responses you’ve already gotten but wanted to add: CONGRATULATIONS!!

    • CC

      Just fyi you are not a lawyer yet. MA character and fitness isn’t complete until the posting period has passed.

  6. A mother

    Has anyone ever experienced a grandmother vs nanny conflict? I would love to hear that someone else has survived such a thing….

    (threadjack)

    • AN

      Yes. I had to lay boundaries for the granny ( my MIL). she was only visiting, nanny is a live-in. Plus nanny is always v respectful and used to check back with me regardless. One good talk with MIL sortedit, with some interventions now and then.

      Good luck.

  7. Anon

    Apologies because I know this has been addressed before but I couldn’t find it in the archives. Can anyone recommend good (free) time keeping software? Thanks in advance.

  8. MelD

    Random Rant-

    Dear Runners,

    If you are going to run at night, please do not run on a 4-lane highway with no sidewalks. Similarly, don’t run in the road on a winding road with street parking where the driver cannot see you until he’s a few feet in front of you. Finally, don’t wear dark clothing with no reflective markers whatsoever. Do you want me to run into you? Is it that hard to use a sidewalk if you are going to run at night? It just seems like common sense to me.

    • MaggieLizer

      How am I going to get rich if I don’t get someone to hit me so I can try to get a big pain and suffering award? Personal injury is the new lottery!

    • anon

      Are those the same people who refuse to ride their bikes on the bike path and prefer to ride on the narrow 2 lane road (even though the bike path runs adjacent to the road)?

      • Anon

        Yup. My street makes a U-shape and when connected with the road that it intersects with in two places makes a nice 3 mile loop. Very popular with joggers and bicyclists. Unfortunately, it’s also mostly 2 lanes, very hilly and windy with no shoulders, so there are only a few places for motorists to safely pass. TOTALLY annoying to be stuck behind some j*ack*ss in purchased sponsor logo spandex while he gets his workout at 20 mph. To be honest, I tend to tailgate them.

        • AnonInfinity

          Bicyclists have as much right to be on the road as motorists. It might be annoying for you to have to slow down your drive until you can safely pass (you lose, what, 1-2 minutes of your day), but it is not okay to tailgate and put everyone at risk. What if that cyclist has to brake suddenly because there’s a bit stick in the road or something similar?

          • gov anon

            Agreed. The cyclists where I live insist on their rights to be treated with respect by motorists–huge “share the road” campaigns, etc. I just wish the insistance on following the rules of the road cut both ways. I can’t begin to count the number of times that cyclists ate weaving in and out of traffic, ignoring traffic lights and stop signs, turning without signals, and so forth.

          • AnonInfinity

            I totally agree. The cyclists who do that stuff are obnoxious, and I think they make the road more unsafe for all of us because drivers will often assume that all cyclists weave in and out of lanes and blow through stop signs.

        • Also anon

          You do realize that it is probably illegal to do that, don’t you? Most states have a law requiring motorists to treat cyclists as they would other vehicles, and to maintain at least 3 feet of passing distance. And you do realize the cyclist can tap their brakes and stop their 20-pound bike a lot faster than you can stop your 4,000-pound car, don’t you? And when that happens when you are tailgating you will kill the cyclist. But at least he and his purchased sponsor logo spandex won’t be riding around getting exercise in your neighborhood anymore.
          (And a cyclist doing 20 mph on a recreational path is extremely dangerous to pedestrians/dogwalkers/rollerbladers, which is why most choose to ride on the road instead.)

          I am a runner, cyclist and motorist. I obey the laws, wear lights and reflective clothing at ALL hours of day and do my best to be aware of my surroundings, whether I’m on a bike, running or driving a car. It’s called courtesy, you should try it.

          Perhaps instead of tailgating and being annoyed, you could contact your local government and suggest wider roads or contact your legislators and ask them not to take transportation funds (originally set aside for bike lanes) and use them to fund other projects.

          • AnonInfinity

            You said this so much better than I did. I am a cyclist, too, and almost everyone I know who has been riding for long knows someone first-hand who was killed by motorists who pull this and similar stunts.

          • another anon

            Totally agreed. Thank you. I am a runner and recently also got a bike. I do my shorter runs in my neighborhood, which does not have sidewalks, but has relatively non-busy streets. Longer runs mean heading to a local bike path, but since there is no connector to the path from my subdivision, that means either driving there or running along two busy roads (with sidewalks) for a short distance. I have to cross one street when I do this, and 99% of the time, drivers who are turning right do not look where they are going before doing so. And I have seen so many people texting while sitting at that intersection. Not cool people!

            I haven’t ridden my bike much yet, but the first time I did I became acutely aware of how non-cyclist friendly my area is. No bike lanes, no crosswalks at most intersections, and surprise, there is no green light to cross the street and get back into my subdivision (they are building a development across the street from my subdivision, so presumably they will eventually fix the light so that it cycles through a green, but right now, my only option is to cross against the light or to ride another 1/2 mile or so down the street to the next intersection).

            I am amazed at the hostility some people seem to have for runners and cyclists. Personally, I am always glad to see people out in my neighborhood, whether they are walking, running, biking, rollerblading, pogosticking, or whatever in my neighborhood or community. IMO, this makes things safer, because there are more people around to monitor what’s going on and notice if something is not right.

          • Tika55

            Thanks for saying this better than I would have!

            The one related thing that DOES annoy me is people sauntering across the street, not at an intersection, and paying no attention whatsoever so oncoming traffic. But cyclists lawfully sharing the road with motorists, and people walking parallel to the road (assuming they observe some basic safety precautions), not so much.

          • Anon

            I agree. I was recently hit by a truck while cycling to work resulting in a fractured tibia, knee surgery and crutches for 6-12 weeks, meaning that as a single economic migrant, I probably won’t be able to visit my family for the holidays. For the record I avoid main roads as much as possible and use bike lanes when they are present.

    • ks

      Please amend this to include early morning runners as well! It never ceases to amaze me how many people don’t understand the basic rules of traffic either – you always run INTO, NOT WITH traffic. Runners who run with traffic, in dark clothes and/or with head phones/earbuds simply have a death wish.

      • anon

        I agree this is annoying. Unfortunately, a lot of suburban neighborhoods in my area are built without sidewalks, so there is nowhere to run or walk other than in the street.

        • Bianca

          Even worse — parents and nannies in NY jaywalking with a stroller or toddlers. Can’t stand this.

          • Oneanon

            Parents and nannies in ANY city jaywalking with a stroller or toddlers!!

            Particularly those who seem to view their child-in-stroller as a means of stopping traffic, as in – If I defiantly push my stroller off the curb and into traffic while glaring at you, you (driver) will brake, because you wouldn’t hit a baby, would you?

            No, I wouldn’t hit a baby, OR ANYONE ELSE, provided that I have enough time to f***ing stop. Please please please don’t put your child’s life in harm’s way and at the mercy of someone else’s most recent brake work.

            It boggles the mind. Which movie is it where someone is ranting about how you need a license to hunt, a license to fish, etc. etc. but any idiot can be a parent? That.

          • a passion for fashion

            While the jaywalking strollers might be annoying, what is even more annoying is when you are pushing your stroller/walking with your child/baby IN a crosswalk, and yet cars still dont want to stop. Or when you are standing trying to cross at a crosswalk and the cars wont stop. it goes both ways. so when i glare at you for not stopping, dont be suprised. it most states, its the law that you have stop for people in crosswalks, regardless of whether there is a stop sign, yet most cars dont ever come close to stopping. THIS boggles my mind.

          • Bianca

            Yes, cars should stop for pedestrians when pedestrians have the right of way, completely agreed!

            I don’t drive, so this is not a rant coming from someone in a car, but I have noticed in New York that when there is an intersection with a light/walk signs, every day I see parents crossing with their kids/strollers when the walk sign displays a red hand/do not walk. Every day! Normally there are no cars coming, but it is terribly irresponsible and a bad habit to teach young children. I don’t understand why they can’t wait for the light to change!

            Thanks for letting me rant…

          • Oneanon

            In response to a passion for fashion – completely agree that it goes both ways, I don’t understand people who won’t stop (or, worse, who speed up!) when people are clearly waiting to cross the street.

            I just can’t fathom why I would ever try to use my child/stroller to “win” that battle.

    • L

      On a similar rant about runners. What about runners who take up the entire running trail with a double-wide jogging stroller CARRYING DOGS!!! Arg! They are the worst.

      • SCS

        So are the runners (mostly women–sorry!) who run three or four abreast on the trail. Um, the trail is wide enough for two people to run next to each other in each direction. So when I give you death stare because I have to run off the path to accomodate your four runners next to one another, don’t act like I am the one being rude.

        • AK

          Inconsiderate, dangerous people abound in all modes of transportation — cars, bikes, runners, strollers, etc. What makes me crazy? When the ones who are doing stupid, dangerous things (drivers on cell phones; drivers who try to run bikers off the road; runners with headphones turned too loud; anyone wearing black at night and not paying attention; etc. etc.) are the ones who get angry when they almost kill you. It has happened to me too many times to count. Sigh.

        • JM

          why don’t you just say “passing on your left” when you are a few feet behind them? Unless they are running towards you, in which case, they are being inconsiderate.

          I agree about the strollers with dogs, though. And runners who wear headphones during a race when there is a mass start. And cyclists who yell at me to move over when I am already at the right most side of the trail.

      • Alex

        The parent rant is from Keanu Reeves’ character in Parenthood. It was just on – I love that movie.

      • MeliaraofTlanth

        Wait, the dog is in the stroller? I fully don’t understand the point of this. Your dog does not need to be strolled. It can be walked, or it can be left at home. It is not an infant that requires constant care.

        My personal favorite are motorists that purposely rev their engines when driving past me horseback riding in a field just to see if it will spook the horse. Thanks, a**holes, that’s real safe. (Honking your horn and having your little children wave is fine)

        • L

          That really pisses me off. One of my horses is afraid of motorcycles (visibly so) and never fails there’s some moron who thinks its funny to race UP AND DOWN where I’m riding. Bottom line, people who put other people’s lives in jeopardy suck.

    • karenpadi

      Same with bicyclists! I know y’all “share the road” or whatever. But if I can’t see you, I can’t share the road with you!

      I am more understanding of bicyclists who are of lower socio-economic status. It’s the yuppy-training-for-a-triathalon who doesn’t have lights or reflective tape (but can obviously afford it) that drives me bonkers!

    • LawyrChk

      Hmm, if I am a runner where there is no sidewalk, and I need to get from A to B, you are legally required to share the road with me. I agree that we should all think about wearing clothing that allows us to be seen better, but what is it about drivers that make them think they are the only ones with a right to be there?

      If you can’t tell, I don’t think you have much right to be pissed at the runners here.

      • MelD

        Again, my complaints were about runners who run *in the dark* (usually without the proper clothing) assuming that people are going to be able to see them and swerve in time to stop an accident. A four-lane highway with no sidewalk or shoulder where speeds regularly top 60mph is not a smart place to run at night. Similarly, if a winding hill road with street parking has a quality sidewalk, why are you going to run *in the road* when it is still dark out?

      • anon for this

        When you’re running in the road and I’m driving a two-ton car, I think the owness is on you to make sure you make yourself seen. I’m a careful driver but when it’s pitch-black and I can’t see you until I’m right on you, neither of us are safe.

    • mamabear

      Do we even want to talk about lane-splitting motorcyclists?

      I have no desire to hit a motorcyclist.

      I’m pretty sure one day I will.

      I know the laws about lane splitting – but when you are not stuck in non-moving traffic, and you are just trying to go faster than the ~45mph all the cars are going on the Bay Bridge, and you zip right in front of me and I have to slam on my brakes not to hit you….. what if I were momentarily looking in my rear view mirror?

    • SCS

      This was a wonderful thread, MelD. Thanks for getting us started! I feel so much better knowing I’m not the only one who has these thoughts…

      • MelD

        I had no idea this topic would develop into such a heated argument! I was just pissed at this woman I saw running this morning on my way to work who was crossing a busy street with no sidewalks, even though if she ran the other way, there was a lovely paved path available for her.

    • Miriam

      In response to all the comments on bikers/runners I think the bottom line is those not in a car need to be extra cautious. Drivers should look out for them, but the fact of the matter is the bikers/runners are the ones who lack the 4,000 pound protection. Sure you can sue a driver who hits you, but it is not worth the physical damage of being hit. Although runners/bikers have a right to be on the road too, they need to realize that drivers aren’t always careful! I wouldn’t take the risk especially on a smaller, winding road or at night.

  9. SF Bay Associate

    Ru, Hajj Mubarak. I have enjoyed your comments very much, to the point that I am making a conscious effort to not buy more black clothing :). I’m sure your new moniker will offer similarly valuable insights. All the best to you and your family. Safe journey!

    • MaggieLizer

      Just saw Ru’s goodbye comment from last night. We’ll miss you, Ru. Have a fabulous trip!

      • Ru

        Thank you ladies =). And to make you all proud, I will not take a single article of black clothing to Saudi Arabia, ironically enough. Well, except maybe underwear. And socks.

        • Anon Traveler for this

          this reminds me of something I overheard …

          a year ago, DH and I were on a cruise via Regent Seven Seas…high end, you’d think

          There we were, eating dinner in the dining room and a table of three ladies sat down. Seemed to be all the same age. One loudly led the discussions. People were turning and glaring at her, to no avail. So we all were regaled with this question … warning,

          you may want to swallow whatever beverage you’re drinking or food you’re eating so as not to have problems…

          “So, what color underwear did you pack? How much did you pack of each?”

          I was so stunned, I didn’t listen for the answers. Hopefully there weren’t any.

          No, I’m not a troll.

  10. AnxiousInAtlanta

    I’m really liking bright colors for the fall this year. Maybe it’s because Atlanta has had some great weather.

    On to a hijack, I’m currently waiting for the bar exam results. They’re going to be posted at noon. I’m home, chilling with the hubby (awesome boss gave me the day off), so definitely looking for distractions. What’s everyone’s plans for the weekend? Any fun Halloween plans/costumes?

    • AnonInfinity

      Good luck today, Anxious! I was you about 6 weeks ago. Ours were posted at 4, and I’m surprised I did not break the refresh button on my browser.

      To address your question — I’ve got a weekend full of birthday parties! It will be fun. No costumes, unfortunately :(

    • Tika55

      Maybe a run, or a bath or something? No way around it, I would be a nervous wreck. It’s not totally similar, but when I took my PhD comp exams years ago, we got an email notification out of nowhere with the results. Which was kind of nice, in a way. No buildup whatsoever, although my heart was in my throat when I saw that thing in my inbox!

      • AnxiousInAtlanta

        I’ve already baked cinnamon apple oatmeal in a pie pumpkin, showered, cleaned and tried putting together a puzzle. I’ve been up since 5:15 and finally ran out of distractions. hehe, so glad I’m not at work. There’s no way I can sit still.

        • AnonInfinity

          I want your cinnamon apple oatmeal!

          Yeah, being at worked on The Day sucked. Every other person who walked by my office said something about it being The Day. Then I didn’t get to leave in time to check alone at home. But since I passed, it was nice to be here when the results were posted because people came by to say congrats. I think I literally billed about 3 hours that day.

    • Bunkster

      In the spirit of your question…

      I’m going to a movie tonight with a fellow Corporette. Then we’ll probably have a drink.

      Tomorrow I’m sleeping in. I can’t deal with pitch black mornings this week. In the afternoon, I’m headed to my parents’ house. My mom is away and my dad is clueless. Sunday morning I’m going to a brunch/party with my dad and some friends. The party is the end of the season celebration of a series of sailboat races that take place every Sunday in the fall.

      And I’ve already posted about my dislike of costumes. Unfortunately, my team is requiring me to dress in the chosen theme (Red Sox) and decorate my cube. Currently, there is a team of guys building the Green Monster along my aisle. There’s a two-by-four stretched along my cube.

    • MeliaraofTlanth

      Halloween is my favorite holiday ever, likely because it was a huge deal growing up because people came to our neighborhood to trick or treat, so we had hundreds every year. This year I’m going to a friend’s party, and the costume is Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood. Though I may have to change the black shorts to black pants, since apparently snow mixed with rain is predicted for Saturday night in NYC.

      Good luck on the bar:-)

      • Anon

        As long as whatever you’re wearing is skin tight, you’ll be right in character!

    • Erin

      I’m at home, or more precisely at a neighbor’s apartment, hanging out with my 2 cats (who are locked in the bathroom, poor dears) while an exterminator sprays poisons in my apartment. Fun times.

      Tomorrow I’m going to a charity gala, and a friend is having a Halloween party Monday. Much more fun times!

    • Lyssa

      A good friend of mine did. Recovery was not horrible, but not easy. I think that she was originally supposed to be out of work for about 2 weeks, but it wound up being more like four because the healing took longer. It’s definitely not as easy a surgery for adults as it is for kids.

    • Kay.Em.Bee

      I had my tonsils out as an adult. Not to scare you, but it was tough. Be prepared in advance to take care of yourself during recovery so as not to get dehydrated. My throat was so sore that I barely drank or ate anything for 10 days and I had to go to the hospital to get fluids through an IV. I was fine in about two weeks. You may want to do some research on what are the easiest things/ways to eat or drink and be prepared before surgery.

    • Seattleite

      I did. It was tough, but worth it.

      You need to make sure you keep your throat moist, even though it will hurt to swallow. Wake up at least every two hours to sip some water or watered down juice (straight juice will hurt too much).

      My mom came and stayed with me, and honestly I really needed the assistance. (Didn’t for any of the nine other surgeries I’ve had, just so you know I’m not just a wimp.) She was here for two weeks. I went back to work after 2 weeks but could have used 3 off.

  13. Anonymous

    Is anyone else proud of Mrs. Merkel for calling the bankers’ bluffs and getting a debt plan in place? I am so proud.

    • Noner

      I had no idea what you were talking about until I figure out that Mrs. Merkel is actually Chancellor Merkel of Germany… funny how a title can key you into the context for news…

    • Erin

      She’s pretty awesome. I wish she got more play in the US female-centric media – she has magazine-worthy style, and she’s an amazing example for aspiring women politicians.

  14. anon today only

    Did an informational interview at lunch yesterday with a 2L who came in jeans, sneakers, no makeup, like she just came from class (which she did). IF I get a thank you note from her, should I mention how she should dress next time, or that she should always bring a resume or should I just trust that the career office will do it at some point? I’d like to help her out since I’m sure she has a lot more of this kind of interviewing to do but I also don’t want to hurt her feelings. I think her approach to all of this was somehow that this was lunch with a friend, not an informational interview (I met her while she was working at an event for law school alums and she followed up and asked if we could meet. I told her to bring her lunch and come to my office. ) Would you have dressed for an interview? I’m 40 years older than she is, we really aren’t going to be friends.

    • anon

      you’re not hurting her feelings, you’re giving her sound career advice (and very graciously so).

      “It was nice to meet you as well, Marie. As you continue researching career options and meeting alumni/ae, I recommend that you dress in professional attire and always bring your resume, as these are very important factors in the impression you make upon prospective employers. Best of luck.” etc.

    • AnonInfinity

      I don’t know that I would have worn the full interview suit because I wouldn’t have wanted the person that I was having the informational interview with to think that I was trying to have a stealthy interview. I would have worn nice business casual stuff, though, not just jeans and sneakers. I’m less than 1 year out of law school, though, so it’s entirely possible that I did it wrong.

      As for whether you should let her know that she should have dressed up more, I’m kind of torn. On the one hand, I always want to know when I do something wrong that could hurt my chances. On the other hand, this is the type of message that I’d prefer to hear from a mentor or friend. (On a side note — Do not trust that her career services office will help with this. Mine was next to useless.)

    • Elle21

      Hmmm, jeans and sneakers do seem a bit too casual, but a suit would have been more out of place given your description of the previous exchanges with her and what essentially amounts to a bag-lunch meeting. Based on your description of the context and her likely expectations based on the conversations, which seemed pretty informal and not an interview at all, I probably wouldn’t have dressed for an interview either with a full suit or skirt/jacket combo. (But I probably would have worn a more put-together “outfit” as opposed to jeans and sneakers – Perhaps either (a) nice jeans, heeled boots, blazer/jacket or (b) dress pants, flats, cardigan.)

      I don’t wear makeup on a regular basis and only throw on mascara for big events like court appearances or weddings, so I can’t really fault her for the no makeup thing either. In my humble opinion, no woman should be required to wear makeup.

      I do, however, think that she should have brought a resume with her and that may be worth mentioning if you chat with her down the road. But, depending on your conversation during lunch, she may have figured that out on her own when she was embarrassed to admit she didn’t have a copy when you asked for one!

    • eaopm3

      I think she should have dressed more appropriately, given the circumstances you describe. As for telling her about the faux pas, I would call the career services office and maybe make a blanket statement about appropriate attire and bring resumes. Mention that you recently met with a student and she needed some guidance, but don’t give her name. If career services has already let the students know, then this particular student is clueless or doesn’t care.

    • Ashley

      As a young professional, I would definitely want to know if I’d done something off-putting. You can’t learn if people are afraid to teach you. I like anon 11:28’s suggestion to give her a gentle heads’ up in response to the thank you that she *hopefully* sends!
      I will say that while her attire sounds a little too casual, I wouldn’t have worn a suit to this type of meeting. I had an informational interview with a lady that I met while working as a barista. When she came in for her coffee the morning of our meeting, she confirmed the meeting, and told me to dress “comfortable”. She was headed to the office in dark-wash jeans, a nice shell, and a casual blazer. I showed up in dark-wash jeans, heeled boots, and a nice turtleneck for the meeting.

      • another anon

        Agreed. I would write something like what anon suggested above, but don’t mention the make up. make-up is not a requirement for looking professional.

    • karenpadi

      This might be geography-specific. I see no problem with her outfit–especially if the informational interview is on a Friday. Even though it was on a Thursday, I wouldn’t have thought it unusual, maybe a little more casual than I expected but not unusual.

      But then, I’m a patent attorney in the Silicon Valley. Most of my non-lawyer meetings involve guys wearing flip-flops, cargo shorts, and a t-shirt who may or may not have shaved in the last 3 days. I have some inventors who I even dress down for–they’ve made a few “fancy lawyer” comments.

    • Erin

      I would contact career services and tell them that clearly their students are not being adequately prepared for interviews and professional meetings. They should be preparing students for these things, and they’re in a better position than you to deliver feedback to this specific student.

      I’m not entirely clear about the context of your interview – was it a practice interview, or an informational interview and the student would like to work for your firm someday? If the former, I think it’s appropriate to give feedback like this, but if the latter, the student’s technically a job candidate and it’s inappropriate. (At the very least, in the latter case, feedback should be coordinated through your firm’s HR department to make sure you’re not running afoul of any company policy or legal requirement.)

      • anon today only

        Actually, I am a sole practioner with a downtown office, assistant etc. When I met her and exchanged pleasantries at the alum event, she said she was interested in the pros and cons of solo practice and could she come talk to me about solo practice and maybe even about the possibility of doing an externship with me next semester. She followed up in a few days and we arranged to meet yesterday. I didn’t expect her to wear a suit but I didn’t expect her to look like she was headed for the grocery store either. Nice jeans, a sweater or blazer, flats. Clearly crossed communication.

        • another anon

          I’m a 2L and I would 1) always welcome constructive feedback/ criticism from an experienced female attorney (i’d rather know than not know and find out later and feel unprofessional), 2) know that I should probably balance what you say with context and feedback from other professionals or my career planning office, and 3) definitely have worn a pencil skirt, button front shirt, heels, and pantyhose or some equivalent outfit.

        • Erin

          In this case, I think it’s appropriate for you to give her feedback directly, and it would also be a nice, mentor-y thing to do.

    • Miriam

      Definitely say something to her! If I was doing something inappropriate early on in my career I would definitely want to know. She will probably be embarrassed, but grateful. I agree about not mentioning the make up though.

      • anon

        I also think it’s fine to say something to her. I’ve had informational interviews with people who gave me very forthright advice. One person even told me that I sounded like I was bored when I was talking about my work history and that I needed to show more enthusiasm. I was so taken aback but grateful! I had no idea that was the image I was giving off! Now I’m so much more conscious of that in interviews. I think most young professionals will be glad to hear feedback even if it is a bit negative. For the most part, we know we don’t know everything and we want to get better.

  15. Anonforthis

    Excuse the venting: I’ve been working my a*s off all week long and just now managed to get a grip on everything. I was looking forward to a weekend with only a couple of hours in the office. This morning it dawned on me that my managing partner has not assigned a pre-mediation task to me he usually does – despite me repeatedly asking “what kind of prep do you need for the mediation.” So I brought it to his attention, and of course he had simply overlooked it, and now I have to literraly work all weekend to get this done in time. Gahhhh!

    • The Cheat

      Things like this always remind me to do what I can to keep task schedules under control when I can. As an associate, I’m not above many people but when I do assign work to juniors and staff I always try to give them the maximum amount of time and will work with someone else (if I can) to prevent late night or weekend work. It takes more effort on my end, but it is worth it. If the higher-ups can’t keep the “emergency” weekend and last-minute projects to a minimum then organizations will eventually lose good people. Good luck this weekend!

  16. Canadian

    I am heading to Boston this weekend for the first time. Any reccomendations for things to do/see/eat/shop? TIA!

    • anon

      first time? bring walking shoes and a good coat.

      i will leave the details to boston residents, but fall is the best time of year in boston, and IMO there’s nothing like a walk along the Charles River and around Harvard Square, etc. to see the pretty buildings, maybe catch a crew race, experience the “New England college towns in autumn” thing.

    • Anne-on

      Head to the North End to walk around/eat gelato/poke into the fun stores. One of my all time favorite lobster rolls comes from a place called Neptunes in the north end- teeny, so try to go early, or be prepared to wait. The liberty trail is a fun self-guided walk around Boston that I highly recommend for first time visitors.
      I also have a total soft spot for the Gardens and the make way for ducklings statue (even as an adult!). If you’re looking for serious shopping, Newbury street is great for designers, Beacon Hill is fun for more independent stores.
      The Liberty hotel is a fabulous place to grab a drink and one of the more trendy bars in the city. I also love the bar at the Intercontinental (and the sushi there is pretty good too).

      • Boston

        Restaurants: Harvard Gardens, Eastern Standard, Barking Crab, La Summa, Mike’s Pastry, Amrheins, Mamma Marias

        Things to Do: Freedom Trail (Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, etc.), Walk around Harvard, Walk through Public Garden, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Museums (Isabella Stewart Gardner)

        Shopping: Newbury Street in Back Bay, Boutiques in North End (Shake the Tree, Acquire, Twilight), Charles Street in Beacon Hill

    • RAD

      Definitely bring warm clothing – it’s already in the 30s/40s and snowed in Central MA last night! If you enjoy good food, I’d highly recommend Toro (Spanish tapas) in the South End and Craigie on Main near Central Square. Toro doesn’t take reservations so I’d arrive early. I’d recommend reservations for Craigie. Boston’s chinatown can be fun to explore and there are a few reputable dim sum places. My preference is Chau Chau, but I know many people like Hei La Moon. If you head down to the Seaport District to visit the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA ), which is in this gorgeous modern building right on the water, I’d also recommend stopping by the bar Drink afterwards. The c*cktails are definitely overpriced, but delicious! If you spend any time shopping in the high-end Newbury Street area and don’t want to spend too much on lunch, Parish Cafe has reasonably priced and tasty sandwiches. As others have said, Harvard Square and the Charles are beautiful this time of year and the North End/Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market are all part of the Boston experience. Enjoy your weekend!

    • Anonnc

      Unfortunately, the weather is supposed to be terrible this Saturday into early Sunday morning, so you might not want to walk around much. The mall at Prudential Center/Copley Place could be a good option if you want to shop without getting soaked — there’s an Anthropologie across the street from one of the entrances to the Pru (I think I recall seeing that there’s no Antropologie in Canada). Other indoor options include the Boston Public Library at Copley Square has great (free) exhibits, and the Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum are great if you like art museums.

      If you want dinner in the North End, I highly recommend Marco. I think it has a fireplace, and it is very cozy with exposed brick. I suggest calling ahead because they take reservations and can get booked.

      Another fun– though rainy– day could involve heading out to Harvard Square to shop and visit the Harvard museums or libraries. Harvard Square has largely been taken over by chain stores, but there are still some stand-alone places left. The Harvard Co-op often has interesting speakers visiting. For a tasty, greasy lunch in Harvard Square, I recommend Bartley’s Burgers.

      Not sure where you’re staying, but when the weather clears on Sunday, I recommend heading to the Beacon Hill B&B on Charles Street for brunch followed by a walk around the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common.

      Ooh– another option for dinner would be The Beehive in the South End. It’s got pretty good food, a great bar and live music (usually jazz, and I’ve never been charged a cover).

  17. Yay

    Success story I feel stupid sharing with anyone else:

    Racked up about $14K in credit card debt during law school…bad decisions, I know. Some was for traveling abroad, which I do not regret, but a lot was just stupid $hit. Regardless, I took charge of my $hit, and TODAY, I finally paid the LAST FREAKING ONE off….AND reached a 3-month level of emergency savings.

    Um, next up is about $100K in student loans….Blah.

    • L

      I love these posts! They inspire me to not lose hope when I face my mountain of debt each month.

      • L

        Oh, and congrats! I’m seriously happy for you. My apologies for making that post all about me. :)

    • AnonInfinity

      GREAT JOB! What a freaking relief.

      I made similar mistakes in law school, and my next CC payment will be my last. I can’t wait!

    • there with you!

      I have practically the same situation! I am in the midst of knocking those fracking payments out and it feels good each time I make a payment, but MAN I wanna be finished with them so badly. (And then, just like you, next up: Student Loan Debt.)

      Congrats to you!

    • Makeup Junkie

      Congratulations! I remember when I first got my student loan debt under 6 figures, that was an exhilarating feeling!

    • karenpadi

      Yay! I have a Yay too!

      As of Monday, I will have my emergency savings replenished after buying a house 10 months ago. Then it’s on to the mortgage. When that’s paid off in 6 or 7 years (barring meeting the man of my dreams and having kids), I am executing my “get out of law” plan.

    • CC Debt is Not So Bad

      Congratulations–this is a super big moment!

      I’m still paying some school CC debt off, but I don’t regret it. Without credit cards I would have lived in a very crappy apartment and ate Ramen every night. With credit cards, I could live in a safe area of town, eat healthy groceries, and go out to dinner at a modest restaurant on Saturday nights. Sure, the CC interest is crazy high but it is a lot easier for me to sacrifice now to pay it off (smaller house and not eating out quite so much, but still a good life) than it would have been to not have incurred the debt in the first place.

  18. eaopm3

    I am so distracted today after last night’s game – I have to say it: GO CARDINALS!!!!!

    • Tika55

      Yay!! I purposely didn’t watch the game last night, because they seem to lose whenever I do. I’ve been reading about it all morning, though. Go cards!!

      • eaopm3

        Haha. Yeah, I actually fell asleep when I thought it was “over” and woke up in time to see the end of the game. I am going home over my lunch break to grab my Cards gear so I can go straight to the sports bar after work. I cannot *wait* for the game tonight!

          • Emily I

            As I was saying…I wore my cards shirt with a pencil skirt and cadigan to work today. Go Cardinals!

          • eaopm3

            That is amazing. I am thinking of just changing into my game outfit in the hopes that the one partner in the office today will tell me to get outta here. GO CRAZY FOLKS! GO CRAZY!

    • SCS

      GO RANGERS!!!! Texas bleeds red in so many ways…it’s nice that today it’s for the Rangers.

    • a passion for fashion

      woo hoo! I havent been able to get anything done all day :)

    • gov anon

      Yeah! Although I don’t think I’ll survive another game like last night’s. Dear Cards’ fielders, please catch the ball without dropping. Berkman and Freese, you’re doing fine. Keep up the hitting.

      • eaopm3

        Dear Matt Holliday: Sorry your pinkie hurts. But I’m glad you have to sit this one out. Alan Craig deserves your spot.

        Dear Lance Berkman: Your dirty beard and your crazy eyes are working. Not in a handsome way, but in a hardcore way.

        Freese: Hammertime.

  19. mamabear

    Posting my shame: my office is having a Halloween party this afternoon, and apparently I’m the only one who came in costume. And it’s not like it’s some sedate black dress where I can just take my witch hat off. No, I had to wear the giant pink fairy princess dress! UGH.

    • Anonymous

      OMG. Get thee to Old Navy and grab a Halloween T-Shirt to wear next year!

    • Aria

      Oh no! We’re having our office Halloween party on Monday, and I’m going as a “blood-sucking lawyer” just to be safe, since it’s pretty easy to take out fangs!

  20. Louise

    This blouse is a lovely color, but I’m always worried when there are “lots of sizes still available.” That tells me it didn’t sell well in the stores, which means it probably fits oddly. I get that same red flag when I see a clearance rack full of all one style.

    But if someone buys it, I’d love to see a positive review back here.

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