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Updated: Dec 14, 2020 102 Comments · by

Holiday Weekend Open Thread

Weekend Open Thread

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July 2024 Update: The biggest sale of the year — the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — starts July 15! (Unfamiliar with the NAS? Check out this page for more info on why it's the best sale of the year.) Sign up for our newsletter to stay on top of all the major workwear sales, or check out our roundup of the latest sales on workwear!

The below content concerns the 2019 Nordstrom Thanksgiving Sale.

Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

The Nordstrom sale is really good, and I promise I'll have my sale roundup soon (so. many. great. gift. ideas!). But I wanted to get the Weekend Open Thread up on the earlier side — so here are some gorgeous cake stands from Anthropologie that I'm buying in the Nordstrom sale.

I'm getting two sizes because I am perhaps insane, but also I figure a) we do not have ANY cake stands, thus I'm not too crazy to get two sizes, and b) I just saw something about how if you keep a lot of olive oils and salt grinders and so forth out near your stove (yes! all the time!) that you should put them on a cake stand to organize them in a pretty manner.

See? It totally makes sense. (Ah, or if you happen to be blessed with a large bathroom counter, this could also be lovely there…)

The smaller size is $16, and the larger size is $22; both marked down 40%. Soda Lime Glass Cake Stand

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans — I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend. Stay tuned for some Black Friday sale roundups, also… 

Sales of note for 10.10.24

  • Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
  • Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
  • Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
  • Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
  • White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

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

Comments

  1. Anon

    Looking for a long weekend solo trip itinerary in Feb or March (from Chicago). Don’t really want a beach vacation, but would like something warmer than our frigid winter temps. I usually plan urban trips with lots of cultural activities, but I am not feeling a city trip for this one.

    Where would you go? I love great food, yoga, hiking, running, art, history…

    I don’t drive much and would prefer to go somewhere that is easily accessible without a car or via public transport.

    Ideas for destinations, boutique hotels, resorts welcome! Not on a budget.

    • Anon

      Palm Springs!! I like the Ace, it’s probably a little on the hip side for a lot of readers here, though.

          • Anon

            I guess I missed the thing where everyone is hopelessly un-hip, unless you mean generally, in which case I think you’re in the wrong place.

            FWIW I’m sure I’ve been going to Palm Springs longer than you have.

      • Monte

        Come on. I love Ace Hotels, but — having spent time in their NY, LA, Chicago and Portland hotels — calling them too hip for anyone is a bit much.

        That said, Palm Springs could be fun. My suggestions would be Austin and Mexico DF — easy direct flights, good food, good museums, and fun walking tours. Austin is also great for running, stand up paddleboarding, yoga, and kayaking. (DF might be too, but I didn’t look into any of that on my trip.)

        I have also never been to Santa Fe, but as another Chicagoan on the lookout for weekend trips, that is on my list.

        • Anon

          Hello fellow Chicagoan looking to escape winter! I was looking at Santa Fe! My only hesitation is that it is pretty cold then so it might be better for a spring or fall weekend instead.

          Love Mexico DF and Austin. Those are great ideas.

    • Anonymous

      New Orleans? I love browsing art and antique shops in the French district. I’ve been there alone for a weekend like 5 times and it’s always a great trip.

        • NOLA

          But seriously, that time of year here is particularly lovely. Just avoid Mardi Gras. The city is completely different then and you have to really want to do Mardi Gras to come then.

  2. dc

    Anyone live in the suburbs of DC (whether in MD or VA) who can comment on the relative ease of commuting, public schools, and neighborhood feel of the various options (including but not limited to Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, McLean Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac, Travilah, Tacoma, Fulton, Columbia, etc.)? Would living somewhere between DC and Baltimore with one spouse commuting to each be a terrible idea? Exact job locations are still unknown, but will be moving there in the summer.

    • Anonymous

      Silver Spring stretches halfway to Baltimore it seems. I know plenty of families who live there in smallish houses and make it work. But driving in that part of the US is not a joy (have clients sprinkled b/w Dulles and BWI and they seem to want in-person meetings periodically, which is great, but eats the day up).

    • anon a mouse

      Where are you coming from? What sort of budget?

      I assume you have children since you asked about schools. If your budget allows, ideally you would have at least one parent with a relatively short (30-45 minutes max) commute to school pickup from work. I would not live between Baltimore and DC unless you had a work location near there. Traffic is just too unpredictable and soul-sucking on a daily basis. Rule of thumb all around is that closer is better. My commute is 6 miles to downtown and it’s not uncommon for it to take an hour at peak rush hour. (I try to go in about 45 minutes earlier than peak times to minimize traffic; with no traffic I can get to the office in 15 minutes.)

      Personally I’m partial to the Virginia side, but I have friends in Bethesda who are passionate about its benefits. The most walkable areas are going to be the most expensive in any neighborhood. Arlington and Alexandria are closest to DC but also the most expensive (and getting worse because of Amazon HQ2). Fairfax is a little further out, but a huge county with lots of different interesting pockets, and good schools.

      • OP

        Thanks for the input – coming from a lower COL where we have 5 BR and 3600SF – I’m aware we’ll have to downsize. Budget probably around $1M. A good school district is a priority but so is a not-terrible (up to 45m) commute for both of us (which I know we can’t really nail down until we know where our jobs will be, but at least was hoping to get some anecdotal input on the various areas). Does anyone live along a Metro line and use that for daily commuting? We’re coming from a driving city and I was interested in being able to take public transport, but it’s not nearly as accessible as the NYC subway, obviously, so a driving commute is probably inevitable.

        • Anon

          I commute on the metro, it’s about a 30 min trip door-to-door for me. It’s I deal for me because I hate traffic and gridlock, and I can just read on the metro. But it all just depends on where you office and home are

        • Anonymous

          I live on the metro in Arlington and am all about it. Schools are top notch, and my area is super walkable. My house, which is a decent 4-BR but muuuch smaller than yours, was a little over $1M four years ago, but it would be more like $1.2M now according to the real estate websites (see also: Amazon). If I had to do it all again, I’d make the same choice, even with the higher prices (surely no confirmation bias here =P). But, you probably want to wait to figure out if you have an idea where you’ll be working before you start thinking very seriously about where to live. E.g., downtown DC vs. Tysons Corner would make a big difference.

      • Ellen

        Dad read this and he agrees. He worked in Langley, and lived in Fairfax, which is top notch, but he said it is probably to far for the spouse who is going to work all the way in Baltimore, and that could jeopardize the marrage if that spouse (you or him) has to be sitting on the Beltaway all morning and evening while the other spouse works in DC. Personaly, see if you can get your spouse AND you to work in DC and you can BOTH comute together into work, on the METRO, and you will maintain your marrage, Dad says. Dad also said that when he was at the CIA, he knew people who comuted from BWI and that is even much closer and they ALWAYS scowled when they talked about their drive and that was YEARS ago! It has onley gotten WORSE since he was there along time ago! FOOEY on Comuting! That is why I live and Work in the City, as Dad wanted me to live at home where he could keep an eye on me (and set me up weekley with local schlubs who would want to marry me). No thanks, tho some of them could have become good providers, but I could not fathom haveing s-x with them at the time, and that is what they all wanted! DOUBEL FOOEY on that!

    • Anonymous

      Fulton and Columbia are nice in a very planned out suburban community sort of way with suburban amenities and stores, and have good school districts and low crime rates (I live right outside of Columbia and my work location is right off I-95). I wouldn’t live in Columbia or Fulton unless your jobs were along Maryland Rt 29 or I-95, closer to Baltimore. No real public transit into DC from Howard County, unless you count the MARC commuter train. Columbia and Fulton are *slightly* cheaper than Rockville, and Bethesda is definitely more expensive than Rockville. Rockville and Bethesda have more cultural options and nice restaurants than Columbia & Fulton though, if that’s a factor.

    • Anon

      I grew up in Rockvillr/north Bethesda zoned to WJ and my parents still live their now. Public schools are overall good. Mom commuted downtown by metro abd fortunately worked right off the red line so only took about 45 min door to door. Dad works in burbs and has 20 minute commute. I’m here visiting now and can be at metro, mall, multiple super markets etc all within a 5 min drive

    • Anonymous

      We’re in North Arlington – not far off from Chain Bridge and very near McLean. We’re in an older 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with a huge yard. Market price would be about $950,000 – but would pretty much be a teardown. I expect we’ll be the last to live in this house. I commute downtown every day – it’s anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes each way depending on how late I leave. I love our neighborhood – wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Schools are great. I commuted downtown from Reston for a year, and you couldn’t pay me enough to do it again.

  3. Anon

    I HATE that the text on the home page is not the same as the text when you open the post. I always expect to keep reading and it’s weird that I then encounter a totally different sentence.

    Also, keeping your bottles or jars on a cake stand just gives them something to be knocked off of and is one more thing to keep clean.

      • Monday

        Doesn’t sound cat-ready either. We all know they go on the tables and countertops while we’re at work.

    • Anon

      I think these cake stands are really pretty, like I had that oooh want reaction, but I always wonder where people store things like this. If I make a cake, I put it on a plate. Does that make me some sort of philistine?

      • Anon

        I put it on a plate too..if I want to use a stand, I would like something like plain non colored glass, plain white/wood cakestand. The cake stand shown here has too much to going on to match/blend with most table settings, draws attention to itself and takes away the attention from the cake.

      • nona

        I display it on some of my open shelves in the kitchen. It looks pretty, it’s too awkward to take valuable cupboard space (I don’t have a lot), so it works well on an open shelf where I can’t cram too many things without looking cluttered.. But I’ve only got the one.

      • Anonymous

        Eh, I have a cake stand with a dome instead of a plate. I got it when I moved into a house with a big kitchen and random display shelves, so lots of storage. It’s clear, but the colored ones look nice. Some people like the bling.

      • Anon

        I definitely put my cakes on cake stands, they’re too big for any of the plates I have. And I think this one is pretty! But I wouldn’t buy one just to keep stuff on, that’s not what they’re for and wouldn’t be good for that job.

      • rosie

        I think these are lovely, but I need something with a top for cakes. I have a sturdier glass one that has a domed top that I use when I make a birthday cake or similar. It’s a 5-in-1 thing where you can turn the stand upside down for veggies and dip, use the lid for a punchbowl, etc. I would get something like this to put out bars and cookies (transferring to/from airtight container for storage) if I had space to store it, though.

        • Anon

          Ok so for real, I put a cake on a plate and dome if with my largest mixing bowl.

          • rosie

            Good tip! I will have to experiment to see if any of my mixing bowls are the right proportions to do this.

      • Oh so anon

        I have this cake stand in the pinky shade and I love it! I keep it on the bar with a stack of folded cloth napkins on it.

    • Anon

      Do people still have decorative curio cabinets to hold nicer dishes like decorative cake stands? Is that old fashioned?

      • Anonymous

        I have one out of necessity because I have a lot of inherited china/crystal/silver. I got my cabinet from the local furniture consignment shop ($200 and most of that was delivery and set up). I like that it’s big enough to store everything and I can still display some pieces.

        I think all of this stuff is pretty old fashioned though. Just about every realtor I’ve ever worked with has tried to convince me that dining rooms are old fashioned. Most of my friends don’t register for china when they get married. I don’t think I know anyone who’s registered for silver.

        • Ellen

          I have a beautiful antique China set from Grandma Leyeh, which she got from her grandmother, who was descended from local royalty. She gave it to me b/c I was the older daughter, but now she says she wished she gave it to Rosa, who has China from Ed’s grandmother. Mine is nicer, but I am not married, and it is in Dad’s basement until I can move to a big home after I get married and have kid’s (tho they should NOT be able to use the China).

        • Anonymous

          I would never ever have registered for silver, but my grandmother gave me her own mother’s full set from her 1919 marriage and we use it alllllllll the time :).

    • Senior Attorney

      We keep a lazy Susan on our kitchen counter for the oils and salt and so on. I agree they would fall off a cake plate.

      In other news, if you have two different sized cake plates you can stack them for a fun way to serve appetizers or coookies or whatever.

  4. Houda

    Since many people are traveling soon, what was the most elegant (as in put together and walkable) travel outfit you have seen at the airport?

      • Anon

        +1

        Although this question is a million times better than that one time somebody asked what they should wear on a road trip because people might see them at a rest stop and god forbid you’re not perfectly put together.

        • Anon

          In general, I think fashion matters extra when traveling since we’re mostly interacting with strangers who know nothing about us that they can’t learn at a glance. I’m not saying it’s important to be dressed up at a rest stop or on a plane, but I think people do notice our choices, whatever it is we chose to wear.

      • Anon

        I see a lot of fabulous clothes at the airport. I assume I’m just seeing people who are wealthier than people who live and work near me, but plenty of people wear great outfits while traveling.

        • Anon

          I see a lot of women in jumpsuits at the airport and I always wonder about it, due to issues I’ve had when wearing a jumpsuit related the amount of time and disrobing it takes to go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t think of a jumpsuit as a practical garment for air travel, but I see a lot of people who disagree with me in airports.

      • Anon

        I actually find I get better service when I am well dressed when I travel. And it makes me feel better.

        I basically copied an outfit I once saw someone else wearing: very comfortable, wide legged pants (they are in a jersey fabric that looks good but feels like PJs), a black turtleneck or shell depending on weather, a long black cardigan (weight depends on weather), a scarf, and booties. The full length pants and booties hide my compression socks. Make up depends on whether it is a red-eye – minimal with lipstick if I am not flying. Tinted moisturizer and lip balm and nothing else if I am going to be sleeping.

        The exception is if I am flying to somewhere tropical, when I wear a dress, leggings, a cardigan, and slip on shoes on the plane knowing I will be taking off the leggings and cardigan right before we land.

      • Seventh Sister

        True, but *I* feel so much better when I’m wearing something nicer-than-average. Even if it’s just my favorite “nice” jeans and a newish t-shirt, I feel less anxious and upset about the whole thing. I’m this.close to being an agoraphobe, and I really, truly hate crowds in places like malls and airports.

        • Seventh Sister

          And for what it’s worth, since customer service is generally so awful in airports anyway, I find I get *slightly* more help/assistance/etc. if I look a little bit nicer-than-average in an airport. I’m talking jeans and a blazer, not a full suit.

    • Anon

      What is the purpose for your elegance? That definitely informs a lot about the suggestions. In airport, to me the primary concerns are comfort and warmth. If you can get to the airport without a puffer jacket:

      Black bratop tank top or plain turtleneck (depending on the temperature)
      Black high quality ankle length leggings (Zella, Lululemon, etc.)
      Black all birds or commuter type booties (Blondos?)
      Top with an oversize long sweater, or, even more chic, a decorative stole (like the Uniqlo 2-Way Neutral Checked Stole).

      Nude makeup (or my favorite, Nude type makeup and a red lip) and slicked back hair in low ponytail.

    • Houda

      I apologise if that was offensive. I just wanted to start a fun thread for the weekend. Sorry it was off putting. My bad.

      • Anonymous

        I don’t think it was off putting. I’m flying tomorrow and was just starting to think about this, so I appreciate the conversation.

      • Anonymous

        y’know… now that you started this thread, I’ll be on the lookout this weekend as I travel!

        I’m usually the bare-faced no makeup (a miracle if I even put on contacts), yoga pants, t-shirt, fleece jacket, and sneakers type of traveler, so this will be an interesting people-watching exercise.

      • Anon

        It’s not offensive and I think people were being a bit rude in how they answered you. The most elegant outfits I’ve seen are either Donna Karan type all stretch pieces but still dressy pieces (not athleisure) or when women wear their preppy type blazers over comfortable pants and top.

        I travel a lot so I have an airport uniform as well. If you’re interested, it’s the black or navy Eileen Fisher crepe pants we talk about a lot on here, a tunic top in the same color, and then a longer cardigan. I wear a pashmina type scarf with it so that I can use it as a blanket or shawl on the plane. Flats that can be worn for work if needed.

        • Anon

          OMG nobody’s being rude. Pointing out that it is not important to get dressed up for travel is NOT rude. Nobody’s attacking Houda personally, calm down.

          • Anon

            Maybe you should calm down, you seem awfully defensive. P.S., your statement was rude, and you know that it was. Your rudeness has been pointed out to you repeatedly and every time you get defensive or accuse other people of “tone policing,” aka expecting grown-ass adults to behave themselves. This has been said here before, but this isn’t the place to vent your anger and general frustration at life. Chill out. Have a glass of wine. Happy Thanksgiving.

      • Original Moonstone

        This question brought back memories for me of flying internationally to see my grandparents in a little tweed suit (a blazer, buttoned shirt and pants made for a 7-year-old). In the early ’70s, everyone was wearing dress clothes to fly because there were not a lot of clothes that transitioned between dress wear and casual wear. My mom was just as dressed up and uncomfortable in her tweed suit. AND we had a 5-hour drive to the grandparents’ house once we were in-country. Like, why could I not have worn jeans and a sweater and changed into the little suit in the airport once we arrived? I guess it just was Just Not Done.

      • Another anonymous judge

        I agree! I like to look put together when I travel. Would welcome any suggestions!

      • Anonymous

        Not offensive. I enjoy looking put together when I travel and would like to know what this stylish professional group does as well.

    • anne-on

      I usually fly for work in either leggins and a tunic plus comfy flats (Rothy’s 90% of the time), or jeans, light layering sweater or top and a blazer (so as not to have to cram the blazer in my bag) plus a scarf since I get cold. Simple, basic, classic. FWIW, black jeans (or blue ones for the men) plus a nice shoe, and a blazer over a simple top seems to be the default ‘I just got off a red-eye but came straight to work) outfit in my office.

    • Monte

      This is a weird thread. Plenty of people care as much at the airport about fashion as they do whenever randoms want to know what casual shoes to wear while running around on the weekend. Thankfully, Americans have gotten used to dressing so terribly at the airport that class/race prejudices can fall by the wayside because so many people look terrible all the time when they are flying that looking nice is the exception rather than the rule — you get a bonus rather than a demerit for your airport clothing if your coworkers see you.

      All that to say…I will be on the lookout tomorrow. It is too late in the year to wear Rothys (unfortunate, because I meet so many random woman when they strike up conversations over my shoes), so I anticipate I will be wearing an above the knee skirt, turtleneck, and booties while running through the airport tomorrow.

    • Anonymous

      I love to people-watch at the airport! Generally it can be a fun place to see fashion and styles from lots of different geographic areas and up to a limit, various incomes as well. The outrageous brightly colored items – usually pricey based on the wearers’ accessories- always get my attention and admiration.

    • NOLA

      I have seen some incredibly stylish women traveling at Christmas time. Now I take non-stop flights to Charlotte, so I won’t have the time in the Atlanta airport. BUT, I remember several years ago seeing a women in skinny jeans and all black on top with black fringed stiletto boots and thinking WOW. She looked incredible. And I have seen some amazing boots on women in the security line (and have stalked said boots later). I remember some shorter moto boots with a gold heel. They’re really common now but when I first saw them, I thought they looked spectacular.

  5. More on student loans

    I know someone who was talented in music (specifically: opera singing). She was encouraged to go to a conservatory (Peabody) and study there. And she took out loans. No one told her not to. She had to transfer and then got pregnant and wasn’t even qualified to teach music in a public school (job with health insurance and pension and summers off) when she cobbled together classes to finish a BA eventually (like 6-7 years into it). I feel so bad for her, but it is too late b/c her loans aren’t dischargeable and it’s not like opera singing was really going to be her career (or whether you even needed that much formal training to get a job).

    I just want to scream. So many first generation kids in my city are being pushed into colleges they aren’t really academically qualified for (or they go to 4-year state u colleges with a 38% degree completion rate) and have to start with remedial classes, drop out of stem fields b/c they can’t do the work and become majors in other fields with no job prospects, etc. So much awfulness!

    • Anon

      You’re conflating two issues here. Taking a degree/higher ed in music doesn’t have to be a recipe for unemployment. It can be if you’re too choosy about what jobs you take. Versatility is key. I didn’t care for the lack of stability/constant hustle of getting the next job and chose another path (I was an instrumentalist, not a singer) after getting a bachelor’s degree in music and several years of playing professionally both before and during.
      First-generation and lower income kids either unprepared for college or pushed towards predatory for-profits are a whole other kettle of fish. Where I live now, the university that has the largest proportion of PELL grant and 1st Gen kids is also one that the legislature consistently starves for funding because their “performance metrics” aren’t up to par. They need MORE, not less resources to get their students up to speed.
      Taking student loans out and not finishing a degree is an awful situation to end up in (financially) regardless of why or what degree program.

    • Ellen

      Dad says that we should follow our dreams, even if they do NOT always pan out. That is what was happening in the movie Flashdance, but at the end, the beautiful female welder got a job at the local Pitsburgh Dance Conservatory, and wound up haveing lot of great s-x with her cute boss, who should have married her, b/c there was alot of spark’s between them! She NEVER would have gotten the audition (interview) with the Conservatory if her boss had not put in a good word for her, but since it was her passion, and she was legitimately talented, she was abel to get the job (and presumably give up welding for marrying the guy and driving away in an expensive Porsche, which is my dream! So far, tho, I have NOT landed a guy who can wisk me away from my current job and carry me to a castle in Chapaqua where we could have kids and live happily ever after, but I am VERY HOPEFUL that one will materialize, and I will be receptive! Then I will have a great Thanksgiving! For now, I am with Mom & Dad and tomorrow everyone will be here to eat a 22 pound Turkey Dinner! YAY!!!!!!!!

  6. Anon

    Does anyone have Blundstone boots? They are super trendy where I live, and they seemed great so I bought a pair. But I am finding the leather is just so stiff and uncomfortable, even after taking them to a shoe guy to have them stretched. Maybe I just need to wear them more, but they make walking uncomfortable so I don’t want to wear them and be in pain. After all the rave reviews I’m disappointed. Has anyone else had a poor experience with them? They are too worn to return to the store now unfortunately.

    • Anonymous

      I got some for my husband 5ish years ago. He loves how they look. Hates how they feel. Kept not getting rid of them b/c he loved how they look. Then wearing them even to sitting-down events (like dinner out) and regretting it.

      It’s like the national boot of Australia, so maybe they work for some types of feet and not others?

    • Anon

      My 18 yo daughter and husband both wear them. My husband has had his for 10+ years, my daughter for 3-4 years. I think they’re more like clogs in that they don’t flex as much with your feet, and that takes some getting used to, but they certainly don’t wear out easily. We’re in Nor Cal so they’re basically rainwear for my two.

    • Anon

      They are ubiquitous where I live and I have a pair. I wear them almost daily in fall/winter/spring. I do recall there was a breaking in period of a couple of weeks but I don’t recall them ever being actually painful. I find them very comfortable and I have low arches and an on the wide side forefoot. I don’t find them stiffer than any other boots. Maybe you got a size too small?

    • The Good Wife

      I’m an Australian so I’ve been wearing blundstones for years, and they definitely have a break -in period. But after that, they are really comfortable for me. Maybe it’s a footshape issue?

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for posting this thread. I’ve been considering them for ages but really can’t cope with stiff leather or shoes with a break-in period thanks to a myriad of foot problems. It sounds like they’re off the list.

      • rosie

        Highly recommend Born Chelsea boots if you are looking for alternatives. I find them super comfortable and no break-in period.

      • Anonymous

        Look at the Alma from Kodiak. Similar look and also waterproof! Super comfortable for me.

  7. LA

    These are gorgeous, but please hand wash! We have a similar set that were put in the dishwasher years ago, and the color flaked off. Better to be safe than sorry.

  8. legal aid?

    Considering work with legal aid, switching from local government. Looking at glassdoor, and had an info interview as well, but does anyone here know anything about pay or benefits? Would be switching from a government job where my pay has topped out at less than 100k, but traditional benefits.

    • Anon

      Just assume the pay is a lot less and benefits are more stingy. Take of that what you will, but I don’t know why you take a 20-40k paycut with good benefits to work for legal aid. Can’t you volunteer to scratch that itch?
      Unless you’re independently wealthy or have a high income spouse, then go ahead as salary doesn’t matter anyway.

      • legal aid?

        Wow, this is not helpful. Why would I base any career decision on assumptions?

        • 780

          I think you should continue to pursue it, but I would be shocked if you would make more in legal aid then in local government. It sounds like you’re looking for a pay raise and I don’t think you’re gonna get that in legal aid

    • Ducky

      I love working for legal aid. I have worked for the government in the past and prefer this type of work because I have more flexibility and am able to control more about the way I handle my assignments. Also, the benefits are really quite good and we get more paid days off than government employees. Every legal aid office is different, but I have been very happy with my decision.

      • legal aid?

        Thanks. I believe the office here is grant funded- do you worry about that aspect of the job security?
        And may I ask if you office has any retirement benefits, or are you talking about medical, etc?

        • Ducky

          We are also entirely grant funded. We have a retirement plan, but it is just okay. We have pretty good health benefits.
          I don’t worry about job security because we are the biggest legal aid group in California and we are growing. I also don’t worry because the job market here is very good for attorneys.
          Most importantly, I love my job. It makes me feel good to do good work and give back to the community. My legal aid work has been far more gratifying than the work I did for the government.

    • Ellen

      Dad told me that you will have to handle REAL cases, not just push papers in the government law department and go home early. Are you up for that? The pay is not great either, he says, and you can’t get warrants and must use subpeenies, which people do NOT always comply with. Dad says talk to women who work in that office, and ask them why they are there. If they have rich husbands, that is a factor, as you will need to have him making enough money to support both of you, and Dad is always right.

  9. Anonymous

    What is everyone’s skincare routine as the weather starts to get colder? I’ve been using Clinique’s overnight mask but I’m still getting patchy dry skin.

    • Anon

      During the winter especially, I use a sleeping pack, which is essentially a very heavy cream moisturizer. Etude house, laneige, kiehl’s and tony moly make good ones – although they may be called some variation of “sleeping mask” or intense night moisturizing cream.
      I also use oil on my skin at night after washing and that works super well – jojoba, moringa, camellia, or any of the fancy skin oil blends works great.

    • Houda

      These days I am extremely lazy, I simply use Pai’s rosehip oil on damp skin. I feel it keeps my skin decently moisturised. It does not smell good but the stench goes away.
      I also tried a sleeping peptide mask from elemis. It is very moisturising but I cannot get over the sweet smell. I plan on finishing it but think the oil is better.
      Recently, I love the fabulous face oil by aesop. It is very moisturising, I put it over whichever serum I feel like using that day, and it does feel and smell great, earthy herbal.

    • Anonymous

      I like Kiehl’s nighttime oil, Midnight Recovery. I also slather it on when I am on a plane.

  10. Anonymous

    These are lovely and nicely priced! They’re prettier in the other photos, look a bit garish in the featured pic above. But I love glassware.

  11. Helena

    Life in and send your children to private schools in Baltimore. A lot of people commute via train from Baltimore to DC.

    Also, understand where in Baltimore and where in DC your offices would be located. More businesses, government agencies, and law firms have relocated to the area near Union Station in DC, for example.

    Telework at least 3 days/week. Telework is very common in Washington, DC. Some people only physically visit an office once per month or once every two weeks.

    The good public schools are in the NOVA suburbs and the Maryland suburbs in areas that are not at all convenient to Baltimore. Traffic is punishing. Public transportation can take a long time. Even for the one person who works in DC, living in district for great public schools could have a horrendous commute.

    Columbia has a great reputation, is in between DC and Baltimore. But you should send your children to private schools.

    • Anonymous

      lol what to all of this.

      sure, SOME people commute from baltimore to DC, and vice-versa, but unless you love spending 3+ hours of your day commuting, I wouldn’t recommend it as a lifestyle choice.

      telecommuting is just like anywhere else — common in some work places, less common in others, most peoples will not let you start by being out of the office more days than you’re in immediately off the bat.

  12. Legal Aid Lawyer

    Probably too late to be seen, but here’s the deal from a Midwestern market where Biglaw starts at 110k. Legal Services generally ranges from 45-65k, with a hard cap at the top. Benefits are generally very good (lots of PTO, good health coverage, but stingy 403b match). Hours/lifestyle depend on your office/organization.

    My organization is unionized (many are). There were layoffs in the great recession, but none since. Anyone hired as a Staff Attorney has seniority based on start date, so it’s last in/first out in the event of a layoff.

    I highly suggest that you take some pro bono matters to test the waters before jumping in. Take the opportunity to test drive it!

  14. Anon

    Posted a week ago but there was minimal traffic on that thread, so hoping to get a couple more suggestions:

    Any recommendations for New Zealand in Jan with a 1st grader? (visiting friends in Auckland who have kids too) Will be there for 2 weeks, and don’t plan to rent a car. I suspect due to weather we’ll have a lot of outdoor time, but will not be attempting anything that requires hiking boot type footwear. North and South Island recs appreciated, or advice on taking the train to multiple cities, if that is a relaxing way to transit. Thanks in advance!

    • Ethel Benjamin

      Yay! Kiwi here. January weather is usually very nice. I know you said you don’t want to rent a car, but you should probably rent a car! The train service between cities is almost non-existent and the buses not very family-friendly. Two weeks is not all that long to see NZ – I suggest you either do Auckland then fly to the South Island or do Auckland and the rest of the North. You would be very rushed if you tried to do more and all of NZ is on holiday then so traffic etc is worse than usual.

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