Workwear Hall of Fame: Regent Blazer in Linen

·

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.

J.Crew Linen Regent Blazer | CorporetteOur daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. My goodness: this linen blazer come in NINE colors (and at least three more patterns). That is confidence, folks. My favorites are the lemon yellow and tidewater, but the “autumn bluegrass,” pictured, is also lovely. The blazer comes in regular, petite, and tall sizes, and is fully lined. It's $178, full price. J.Crew Regent Blazer in Linen 2016 Update: This blazer is now in our Workwear Hall of Fame! Year after year it comes out in great colors and prints in a variety of fabrics, often great for summer. (As of 2018, note that Nordstrom also stocks the blazer in regular and petite sizes!) Looking for ideas for how to wear it? Check out our roundup of work outfit ideas for summer blazers. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! summer workwear classic blazer

Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine's Day!):

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save up to 25% on select suiting, this weekend only
  • Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase — and extra 60% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + 15% off (readers love their suiting as well as their silky shirts like this one)
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 300+ styles $25 and up
  • J.Crew – 40% of your purchase – prices as marked
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site and storewide + extra 50% off clearance
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Flash sale ending soon – markdowns starting from $15, extra 70% off all other markdowns (final sale)

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

140 Comments

  1. Boden has an awesome looking mustard yellow pencil skirt available in a ton of sizes. Look up the “Notre Dame Skirt.”

    1. I’ve never been formally diagnosed with PMDD, but I did switch to a birth control that specifically combats symptoms of PMDD and it has been life-altering. For no reason I could identify, I would find myself crying uncontrollably for hours on end. During the week before my period every trivial thing would feel me with dread and grief. I could be driving in my car, jamming to my favorite song and begin crying. All of the emotional turmoil I felt leading up to my period was non-existent at all other times of the month. If this article resonates with you, talk to your doctor.

      1. Same here. Have gone through early menopause so I’m past that now but this would have really helped me in my 20s.

      2. I have noticed that I have more anxiety at certain times than others, for no discernible reason. And things that might roll off my back many days can stop me in my tracks on a different day. In other words, I just notice that my outlook and emotional responses to things are not constant. I’m now wondering if PMS/PMDD is what’s happening. I’m going to start tracking when those more anxiety-ridden or emotional days happen and see if there’s a connection.

      3. I went on prozac about 6 months ago for PMDD for the 14 days prior to my period. It was like all of a sudden getting my normal life back. I was anxious, irrationally ANGRY, moody, sleepy, and just generally not myself. I only regret that it took me so long to raise it with my doctor.

        1. I use Beyaz. Which I think has been controversial for other reasons, but my Dr is very comfortable prescribing it.

  2. I’m finishing my second year of the federal district court clerkship that I began right after law school, and I’ll a one-year clerkship with a federal appellate court in the fall. I would love any advice about what I can/should be doing now to get the ball rolling on post-clerkship opportunities at firms for Fall 2016.

    Last week, I sent resumes to about thirty biglaw firms, thinking that it’d be a good idea to submit something before they fall in love with their summer associates and decide to extend offers for any open spots to them. I’ve received responses from recruiters indicating that it’s too early for them to know what their hiring needs will be in a year and a half. Fair enough. Should I leave it at that for now? Worth reaching out to attorneys, or is that a waste of their time this far in advance? I’m also not sure if I’m better served by focusing on law firms that are perhaps less of a reach; my law school is regionally respected but doesn’t carry any weight beyond that. Hoping that a circuit clerkship will open some doors, but I’m not sure how much stock to put in it.

    Any advice would be so appreciated. Career services hasn’t offered much guidance, and my judge has limited advice because most of his clerks have opted to stick around in the local market. Thanks in advance!

    1. In your position, I would wait – probably a year honestly. I know waiting is hard, but the recruiters you spoke with are right. The firms do not know their hiring needs for fall 2016 yet – particularly for someone who is going to come in not as a first year most likely, since you’ll have clerkship credit. I know you said your judge isn’t much help, but do you know other judges in the circuit and their clerks? Could you ask them advice? Most clerks I know that did not go into the clerkship with a spot waiting for them had something arranged for them by their judge or another judge in the circuit. I’d really work that route and not cold-drop resumes.

      1. Thanks for this reassurance; my Type-A tendencies are obviously having a hard time taking no for an answer, but I didn’t think about the fact that I wouldn’t come in as a first year. I hadn’t thought about reaching out to other judges in the circuit — that’s a great idea, and yes, much better than cold-calling.

    2. Does your state have a federal bar association? I’d go to all of their events. Figure out which firms usually attend, comb their websites for anyone who went to school with you, or just went to your school and try and connect. It’s not about finding a job right now at all- it’s about making sure people know who you are.

      1. THIS. Invite people to grab coffee or get lunch. Not because you’re looking for a job, but because you’re trying to get to know more people. Think about it as making friends. Don’t go with an agenda beyond just knowing more people. If you like some of the people you meet, invite them to do social things, like have dinner or whatever you’d invite friends to do. (even if they’re older than you are — my husband and I have a number of friends in their 50s, couples whom we invite to dinner etc., and they are fantastic resources plus very interesting people).

        Also, do this forever. Make time for coffee, drinks, lunch, whatever fits your schedule. It will make you happier because people with friends are happier and it will serve your career in ways you can’t predict. (Since OCI, I haven’t gotten a single job through blind application. It was ALWAYS through someone knowing about an unposted opening and passing my name along.)

        1. Definitely do all of this. But I would also keep an eye out for anyone who is more established in doing something that really interests you and offer to buy them lunch or coffee specifically to learn more about what they do and their career path. (Hint: They will *never* actually let you buy.) You don’t ask about jobs, specifically, but this will almost always lead to them looking at your resume and promising to keep you posted for any opportunities that they know of.

          I wish that I’d done this from the very start of law school.

          1. This, a million. I’ve had these sorts of connections be helpful down the line. It might seem frustrating/ pointless because they don’t always bear immediate fruit (or even years later) but remember that your career is long and your relationships can be valuable to you in so many ways (even just the joy of knowing your colleagues). Think of it as planting seeds.

        2. This advice is so helpful. Networking is of course such an essential skill, but the first two years of clerking (particularly in a small town) have been a convenient way for me to justify avoiding reaching out and initiating those relationships. Thanks for the kick in the pants — I need to start getting to know some movers and shakers.

    3. I’d wait until you’re ~6 months out from being ready to start — law firms really aren’t built to hire “off calendar” but especially now when they are drowning in summer associates does not make sense. Assuming your clerkship runs on roughly an academic aug/sept-aug/sept year, I’d reach out next spring. I’d also probably just call or email their recruiting rep directly and ask if they are hiring federal law clerks. Some firms just don’t hire outside their summer program, but most do. I’d also say as a federal circuit court clerk on just about any circuit you are probably “competitive” for most any big law firm, so don’t sell yourself short.

      1. +1 to everyone who said to wait a while. My BigLaw firm does hire associates who did not summer with us, but much closer to the starting date than the typical track. During on-campus interviewing in the late summer/fall we consider some 3Ls who did not summer with us to start the following year, but I think for laterals — which is what you would be considered here, since you would be starting as a 4th year — the hiring is a little later, in the spring. This is mainly because the number of laterals we hire relates to the rate at which people are leaving the firm, and most associates don’t give much notice. You are not competing with the current summer class — they are not graduating law school until 2016, so they are three years behind you as lawyers — you are competing with other 2013 grads looking for lateral spots. I don’t think it hurts to send out resumes this fall, but doing so before then probably won’t get you much traction, and don’t be surprised if you don’t hear anything until spring. Also, I’m at a top 10 firm and as a federal district + circuit clerk you would DEFINITELY be competitive here, regardless of law school (assuming you have the amazing grades that typically go along with those positions). Do not sell yourself short.

      2. +1. Starting at 6 months out gives you plenty of time. The best thing you can do at the moment is keep in touch with your friends in law firms, whether it’s via email or going to lunch every once and a while. When it comes time, a good head hunter should have no trouble finding you lots of options.

    4. My firm (NY biglaw) usually waits until fall hiring season is over to even THINK about hiring clerks. We usually interview them in the first quarter of the year, since that’s a quiet time. So I would send out resumes next October / November. Do not underestimate how draining the fall recruiting season is for firms.

    5. Can you reach out through friends and classmates to ask to be put in touch with their firm’s recruiting team? I agree with the timing considerations that waiting until after fall recruiting would be a good idea. If you were my contact, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an email to my office’s recruiting manager to ask if she could spend a few minutes on the phone with a circuit court clerk who is interesting in finding a post-clerkship firm position. That would take you out of the blind-letter response game.

      1. And define friend super broadly. They’ll nearly all be getting 10k or so if they bring you in and you stay for 6 months so people are usually happy to hear from you.

    6. Are you interested in DOJ? Honors program applications open at the end of August, I believe.

      1. just watch out for the deadlines…there is a 36 months (to the exact day) limitation on how far out you can be from law school/start of a clerkship (not exactly sure which one…look it up and be sure!) to start DOJ, even if you are in a qualifying clerkship/fellowship.

        1. DOJ Honors would actually be the dream outcome. I applied last year and was rejected; I’m hoping that the additional year at district court and the year at circuit court will make me more competitive. Applications open on July 31 — got it marked on my calendar. Any advice about that process would also be really appreciated!

          1. The clerkships will make you a more competitive candidate. Take a look at the hiring components and apply to ones that have more slots, and also I would suggest not limiting yourself to appellate offices, even though you will be coming from an app clerkship, just because there are so few openings in the appellate offices.

    7. Thanks to everyone for these responses, all of which make me feel like I can exhale a little bit and look forward to my next clerkship without worrying that I’m neglecting the job hunt. And the encouragement about networking is well-taken. This seems like a good time to develop that muscle and learn how to build those relationships. Grateful for all of your help!

    8. FWIW: my biglaw firm hires exclusively clerks. Our “hiring season”, so to speak, begins in earnest in January for fall start dates. I think you would get taken seriously if you applied a couple months before then, but 2 years in advance is just too early. Firms need to wait to see what their staffing needs are, which are much easier to predict as you get closer to actual start dates.

      I’d relax for now, enjoy your clerkships, and focus on building solid relationships without worrying too much about the specific connections or job opportunities.

  3. Does anyone own this blazer and can speak to quality? I have sworn off Jcrew so many times due to quality issues, but the great styles always suck me back in. Anyone want to talk me off the ledge (or push me over the edge)???

    1. I have a friend who loves loves loves this particular item, so I think I’ll be pulling the trigger.

    2. Stick to your guns. JCrew quality is in the toilet, and the reviews on this item are not great — complaints about poor tailoring and uncomfortable lining.

    3. Wait for it to go on super sale (which it inevitably will) so you won’t be sad about the quality. Their full price is total bull inflated just so they can offer massive discounts.

    4. I’m having the same dilemma. Plus the No.2 skirt in cotton twill has so many gorgeous and summery colours… I’m trying to resist.

      1. The No. 2 skit in cotton is the DEVIL. (Am I remembering this right? Cotton wrinkles hellishly and the wool is delightful perfection?)

    5. I got this in the metallic linen color (not listed on this link, you have to search for it), because it looked so versatile. The quality was good, although the jacket is somewhat stiff. It’s going back, however, because it’s much longer than I anticipated, and the upturned collar, especially combined with the slight metallic look, made it look too much like a Nehru jacket. I can’t speak for the regular linen one, though. At any rate, the quality seemed fine, for J Crew; it was the shape and style I didn’t like.

  4. Vicarious shopping challenge please! I’m desperate, have no good stores nearby and am completely overwhelmed by online options. I need a pair of flat or low-heeled (preferably wedge) dressy sandals or peeptoes that are suitable for a business-casual environment. I’m 32 weeks pregnant and am sick of my black patent leather flats — I’ve been wearing them all winter long with dresses and trousers, and with the change in seasons I need something more seasonably appropriate. I prefer real leather but at this point am pretty desperate and would take anything.

    Price point: under $100, but under $50 would be outstanding. Could also be swayed into some sort of gray or even nude-for-me color (I have fair olive skin), too.

    1. I was at DSW last week and they had tons of black flats. I also got a pair of black Taryn Rose wedges for under $100. Not sure if the online selection is as good. Depending how much your feet have grown during pregnancy you might not want that investment for the wedges. FWIW, I’ve had a couple of pairs of MeToo wedges and they stretched a good bit with regular summer wear.

      1. I have a Cole Haan wedge like the last one on this link and I love it. It is really comfy to wear all day

      1. I know most people swear by the tali, but if you have any ankle-rolling problems, my sister and I have found that the air tali and other similarly low wedge shoes increases our ankle rolling

  5. I replied late to your comment about housing in Montgomery, Alabama. I’ve lived in the Montgomery area for several years and I am happy to help you find somewhere to live. Feel free to email me at anp3474 at gmail dot com

    1. This kind of courtesy is why I keep reading this blog, even though Ellen drives me in-freaking-sane. This is so nice of you!

        1. Ellen is our resident troll. To learn more, google “Ellen watch” which explains it better than I ever could.

  6. What do you guys do if you get LinkedIn invites from people whose names you don’t recognize, but seem to have a reasonable number of things in common (like same industry or schools, maybe 1-2 shared connections)? I tend to keep my LinkedIn limited to people I actually do know, not just random people. Is it weird for me to send her a message that says “Hey, do we know each other?”

    1. I may be in the minority, but my gating criteria for my LinkedIn connections are: I actually know the person AND would be willing to reach out to them to either ask for an email introduction, or would be willing to email them out of the blue to connect them with someone else I know.

      1. +1. I have in the past rejected connection requests from people I know but would never vouch for. (People who went to school with me but were horrible or who let me down on group university projects)

        If she’s female, have you considered that you might know her under a different surname? You could search for her on FB and see if you recognise any pictures.

    2. If I am not sure if I know someone I search my gmail for their name. I sometimes accept connections if I have a lot in common with someone even if I haven’t met them yet, but might want to.

    3. I’m the opposite. I accept almost every request on LinkedIn. I know who is in my “close” network, and am fine with having a lot of people in my network that I don’t know or will never need to talk to.

      1. Same here. I keep my options open but know exactly who I can recommend professionnally.

      2. Ditto. I use LinkedIn to link with people I have tenuous connections with as a jumpstart to get to know them better. It is futile to me to only connect with people I already know well.

        With that being said, I think it is appropriate to ask the requester whether you know her and how.

      3. Ditto. It’s LinkedIn – it’s supposed to help you grow your network IMO. As long as there is some tiny connection that seems remotely reasonable (and I don’t think they are a recruiter or MLM person that is going to flood me with messages), I accept.

      4. Me too, since I figure nothing on it is really personal, so there’s no reason not to. Though I admit that I don’t really use it much.

    4. I only connect with people I know. Sometimes it’s someone who has applied for a job with me. That’s weird. Sometimes it’s students and I will always connect with students I know because I want to keep up with them after they graduate. But if it’s a student I’ve never heard of, then no.

    5. to answer the last part, no there is nothing weird about asking “hey do we know each other?” It’s perfectly acceptable for linkedin and you might find out she would be a useful connection for you to have!

  7. It’s time for me to replace my 4 year old flip flops, but I’m having trouble finding good ones. The ones I have now are Sanuk yoga mat flip flops (link to follow of a child’s version, but mine basically look the same). What I’m trying to find are flip flops that have: Good footbed support, thick-ish straps but not super athletic looking, fun colors, synthetic. Any recommendations?

      1. THANK YOU! I looked for a replacement for my black Reefs all last summer and they were oddly nowhere to be sold. I’m so happy to have a pair on its way. They are hands down the best flip flops and all black is so perfect.

    1. I’m obsessed with my Rainbows. I’ve had them for 6 years and they’re in amazing shape and super comfortable. I wear them all day, every day that I’m not in the office and it’s warm enough for flip flops. They’ve traveled all over the world with me. They’re pricey, but worth it.

      1. I love my Rainbows, but disagree that they have any support. They do last forever and look good with most everything, but if support is important, I would recommend Chacos.

    2. You don’t want another pair of Sanuks? I’ve tried several and those are the most comfortable for me.

    3. Try Ipanema flip flops, which you can find in boutiques and on Amazon. They have quite a few style, some with ankle straps–ankle straps are not all that inconvenient, I can slip over the heel and don’t need to do the strap each time. Some of the sandals have a more contoured sole, which I prefer. I have friends who find the flat sole just as comfortable.

    4. Look at Vionic flip flops – serious arch support, lots of colors. Not cheap, but they are made really well and will last.

    5. I bought a pair of OluKai. They were expensive for me, but totally worth it. I can put them on after soccer or triathlon/half marathons and my feet are comfortable. They provide arch support and they are very durable given the price. Mine are like new, even though they are 4 years old. Highly recommended. PS. It’s flip flop weather here like 8 months out of the year, so I wear them a lot.

      1. LOVE my OluKais. Super durable and I also wear them 8 months a year. They have fantastic support, better than the various Reefs I wore for years.

      2. I totally agree with the olukai recommendation. I have two pairs that are at least five years old and still look newish and are very comfortable. Definitely worth the money.

  8. I would love to hear how other people handle dinner time. My husband and I tend to eat late, in front of the television, almost every night. I hate it. It’s terrible on my digestive system and it causes its own form of inertia – we eat while watching something around 9, then watch something else, then it’s bedtime. He grew up in a household that ate dinner in front of the television. I would much prefer to eat earlier, around 7, at a table, and then do something else for a few hours. He’s digging in his heels because he says that he gets tired after he eats and doesn’t want his day to end at 7:30. Practically speaking 7 is about the earliest we could eat since I don’t get home until around 6:30.

    No kids yet, but I’m adamant that when we have them, we will eat at a table as a family. I’d like to solve this before then, though – any thoughts / ideas / commiseration?

    1. My only advice is to remember that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Maybe you could move to a system where you watch TV every other night and eat at the table the rest of the time. Maybe you could meet in the middle and eat at 8. There’s room for compromise on both sides of this.

    2. Have you thought about cooking together around 630 or 7 and having that be your “together” time, and then eating separately?

      1. And for reference, my husband and I do something like emeralds suggested above – our schedules vary so much that we often aren’t home for dinner together, but when we are we’ll veg out in front of the TV when we’re super tired, or eat at the table when we want to talk and catch up on our days. On Sundays though we always cook together and eat at the table.

        1. My boyfriend and I have actually fallen into a similar Sunday routine, where we make dinner together and eat together. It’s really nice, especially since our schedules during the week don’t usually allow for time to cook together. But it feels like a real luxurious treat on Sundays and has become sacred time.

    3. I’ll just say that once you have kids, it becomes much harder to improve routines, so if you want to eat as a family, you’re right to want to establish the habit now. What we do (similar to Emeralds’ point) is have ‘family movie night’ every week or two — order pizza or Thai — and only then do we get to eat in front of the TV. It feels like a treat (and it’s generally Friday, when everybody’s wiped out from the week). It’s easier for us to do this because my job (academia) has more flexible hours — I have time to cook after picking up kids. We usually sit down for dinner between 6:30 and 7, and that still leaves time after for kids to finish homework or practice piano.

      Could you and your husband go for a post-prandial walk after dinner? That might re-energize him, so he’s not sleepy at 7:30, and starting in summer, when it’s light out, would be really enjoyable.

      1. +1 On all of this!

        My husband was like this, too. We argued over it, and I stressed about when to make food, gaining weight, etc until I finally just said that dinner is ready when I make it. Then he agreed to sit with me while I eat. He then just reheats his food up later. We still go out to eat or eat in front of the TV at times so there is flexibility. But what I found is that we actually talk to each other a lot more when we sit together at a table. The thought of keeping each other company at meals spread to our kids and now we kind of just make sure there are at least two people at the table. Our kids end up telling us a lot more that way. Not family dinner type strict, but more of a having company dinner.

        And if you do ever have kids, there is no way that their little tummies will wait until 9 to eat. They will FREAK. So if you start making food earlier now, it gets you in the habit for later. Doesn’t mean family dinners are required, but at least there is food when your kids are hungry.

        1. I typically eat dinner before my fiancé gets home. If he hasn’t already eaten, he’ll have dinner when he does get home and I’ll sit down at the table with him. On the rare occasions that I get home later, he’ll either wait for me and we’ll eat together, or he’ll sit down with me while I eat. Since I eat alone a lot of nights, I do typically eat in front of the tv, but I eat early in the evening, right after I get home, and the dinner/tv ritual helps me unwind from work so I can do things later in the evening.

    4. Dinner together as a family is overrated. It’s great when it works out, but not great when it leads to more stress, like one partner rushing to get home early and being grumpy about it, or hungry kids having to wait to eat and getting grumpy about it. To reiterate what emeralds says, it’s not all or nothing – maybe pick two or three nights a week for family dinners (with both parents and kids).

      1. I agree. I have two teenagers and a stay-at-home spouse. He feeds all of us in shifts: the kids eat promptly at 6, I text when I leave the office, and my dinner is waiting when I arrive. It works, and no one stresses about it. Holidays, dinners out, and carry-out meals become special occasions.

    5. Have you tried coming home, making dinner, eating it at the table at 7, and going for a walk after? And repeating 3 nights a week? Lead by example.

    6. We have kids and eat dinner at 6:00-6:30. My husband isn’t always home by then so I save him a plate. The kids start foraging for food on their own if dinner isn’t in the works by then. They eat lunch at noon at school, so it makes sense. What time are you eating lunch? I usually do breakfast around 7:30 or 8 in the morning, lunch noon or 1:00, and then by dinner time I’m hungry. Couldn’t hold out until 9:00. We ate on basically this same schedule before kids, maybe with dinner creeping a little later, 6:30-7:00. Maybe the fact that it’s not really great for you to eat that late/right before bed could sway him?

      1. Ah, yes, part of the issue is exactly when we are eating lunch. I eat between 12 and 1, so I am hungry when I get home from work. He eats lunch much later because he doesn’t get hungry until 2 or 3.

        It’s important to him that we eat together, even if it’s on the sofa in front of the television. I’m fine with eating separately and some days I eat without him, but it’s not my preference. There are some good suggestions here – thanks everyone for your comments!

    7. I am also currently struggling with dinner time, and working on the building blocks like a healthy dinner, even if for now it’s in front of the TV or later than I’d like. My understanding is that all of your habits and schedules shift when you have kids, so there are lots of opportunities to develop family habits when you have a family. I think if you can have some of what you want – like emeralds suggestion – you’re in better shape than most people.

      We eat dinner at the table and usually not with the TV on but we scarf it pretty quick and often have our phones out. There is lots of room for improvement. No family yet.

    8. We usually have dinner at the table between 7 and 8 unless one of us has to work late, TV is on while dinner is prepped and then goes off or on mute for actual dinner. If we’re home Friday or Saturday night we’ll usually do take out and then we’ll watch a movie and eat in front of TV, but that’s more of a “treat” type of thing (not that eating dinner at the table is a chore).

      What I find helps is to a) have a table set up for this separate from the TV and b) making a commitment to just doing it, even if you have to be the one that starts the pattern. In our old apartment the table faced the TV so it was easy to keep TV on for dinner, but in the current place to watch TV we’d have to sit on the couch and eat at the coffee table which is easier not to do. I also like to eat earlier than Mr. AIMS so I tend to start on making it before he would, once there’s hot food on the table no one is going to say no to it. At this point though we’ve gotten into a good groove and if I don’t make dinner, he’ll make it on more or less my schedule. One other point – I’m not sure what “gets tired after dinner” means because it doesn’t seem like it requires a lot of energy to sit on the couch and watch TV after you eat, but maybe try making lighter, less meat/carb-heavy meals so that the sleepy feeling you get after heavy food doesn’t set in?

      1. I also thought that maybe the sleepiness could be coming from the type of food and portion size. Also, maybe he’s just sleepy because it’s past 9pm by the time he finishes? Has he actually tried eating at 7pm and he still got tired?

    9. Probably not much help, but my husband and I eat dinner together every night we’re home (usually about 3 of 5 weeknights). We coordinate timing during the day (we both have semi-unpredictable days), and one of us usually stops at the grocery store to get what we’ll cook, and we cook together and catch up while we do that. We also eat at the dining room table together- I’m a fan of placemats and candles for every day. We love it. He often has to work after dinner, but that’s our time together.if we didn’t do this it would be hard to find quality time to spend together during the week.

    10. Dinner is probably my favorite part of my domestic life. My SO and I both enjoy cooking and make a meal plan together every week, doing all of the grocery shopping on Sunday. Whoever gets home first does the cooking (almost always me, around 6.30 or 7), and we usually eat at the table in a civilized way – candles, wine, etc. We talk about everything, and it’s something I really look forward to. Maybe once a week we’ll veg out in front of the TV with takeout, but those aren’t my favorite nights. We also eat out about weekly.

      I think keeping meals simple and having some ground rules really helps. When I cook, he sets the table and cleans. Sometimes we split the cooking duties – he does the meat, I do the side, etc. All said and done, it’s about an hour of time to cook, eat, and clean. Our relationship really benefits from it!

      We eat a lot of meat but keep it quick and healthy. I rely a lot on the slow cooker and try to prep/marinate/chop things on Sunday. Last night we had pork tenderloin with a simple herb rub, with pan-roasted Brussels on the side. It took about 25 minutes to make, but was delicious and elegant. I’m sure this won’t be a realistic routine when we have kids, but it’s just right for us for now.

      1. We have a kid and eat like this–though without regular candles and wine. It is sometimes hard but so worth it to us.

    11. I currently live with my sisters and we have a system such that by 7:30 or 8 we all sit at the table and eat with the TV on. I personally don’t watch TV but this is the only meal we have together so even on days when I’m not feeling Ok or don’t want to eat whatever was cooked, I’ll grab tea and some snack and sit with them while they eat and watch TV.
      After that, I do get sluggish so no major activity for me.

    12. AS a kid, we ate at a table — and a lot of times the TV was on. We’re Jewish so we had at least once/week Friday night/Shabbat with no TV ritual. Jeopardy and the Local News make for decent conversations – I was one of the dorky kids who was always up-to-date on current events.

      Why not at a table, with TV on, at 8:30 to start, and see what happens?

  9. Does anyone have experience with GoodReads or any other online book groups for professional associations? I suggested using GoodReads as some sort of “filing/shelving” system for books on topics that would be of interest for a professionals group I’m part of. FWIW our group also has a custom built website complete with forums. However, the classification system we have for resources especially books is not as “smart” as the one GoodReads has. I thought that the added advantage is that GoodReads also has a system where you can have online book discussions–I noticed that some members of online book clubs also meet in person. I seem to recall that there was a GoodReads group for members of this site i.e. C*rette? If you are a member, how much use do you get out of it? Other comments/suggestions from the hive welcome. Thanks!

    1. I am a member of this-site group on GoodReads. I think I am the last person to update a discussion there and that was almost two years ago – it is not the most active group, you might say. (I might actually go there now and update a few books to the site that have been recommended in the comments here that I’ve enjoyed.)

      https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/65851-fans-of-the-website-corpor*tt* (Replace the asterix with e)

      I think if you already have a group of people who are active readers and want to participate, it can be a good resource. However, if you already have a forum that people use, it might be just as easy to just use that – then they won’t have to learn something new.

  10. We have kids and eat dinner at 6:00-6:30. My husband isn’t always home by then so I save him a plate. The kids start foraging for food on their own if dinner isn’t in the works by then. They eat lunch at noon at school, so it makes sense. What time are you eating lunch? I usually do breakfast around 7:30 or 8 in the morning, lunch noon or 1:00, and then by dinner time I’m hungry. Couldn’t hold out until 9:00. We ate on basically this same schedule before kids, maybe with dinner creeping a little later, 6:30-7:00. Maybe the fact that it’s not really great for you to eat that late/right before bed could sway him?

  11. My earlier comment seems to have gone into moderation….does anyone have experience with GoodReads groups for professional associations? Our professionals group already has a custom site with discussion forums. Thought of adding a GoodReads group/widget as “filing/shelving” system for books that would be of interest to the members. The idea being that GoodReads or similar sites have a smarter filing system. For those who are members of online book-groups, how much use do you get out of them–especially if they are also affiliated with a professionals group/association? Comments and suggestions welcome. Thanks!

    1. I love this idea and am excited to see what other people say. My Lean In group just has a reply-all where we suggest books, but a formal system would probably be even better.

  12. I have seen good recs here for vacationing in the Pacific NW over the years, but can’t seem to find them. Apologies for covering territory that may have been covered before.

    We are considering spending 4-5 days in the Pacific NW in August with our 3 kids, ages 4 (almost 5) to 9. This would be a mini-vacation, part of a larger trip (the first part will be in NW Montana) in which we would stop over and then fly out of either Seattle or Portland. I’m more interested in nature than in cities, but I can’t decide between all the options — coastline, rivers, lakes, mountains, whale watching, volcanoes! They all sound wonderful, but I don’t want to spend the entire time in the car. (I’m fine with some car travel, and seeing a few different places, but would prefer places that are reasonably close together, or just picking one spot and sticking with it.)

    For those familiar with the area — if you had 4-5 days within a reasonable proximity to Seattle or Portland with kids, how would you spend it? For what it’s worth, we love nature and being outside, but are not true “roughing it” types. Thanks!

    1. PNW is pretty spread out, so unfortunately you’ll have to make some choices if you don’t want to spend all your time in the car. A few ideas that I think would be great:

      – Oregon Coast. Stay in Astoria, Cannon Beach, or Newport, and spend time at the beach, hiking (Neahkahnie Mountain or Saddle Mountain), going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, wandering around Seaside for “boardwalk” type activities, and seeing the Newport Aquarium.

      – Bend. Stay in Bend, OR the whole time and enjoy hiking in the mountains, walking along the river, and hitting lots of good restaurants and breweries. Bend is very kid-friendly and there are a million things to do.

      – Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Camp or stay at the lodge at Mt. Rainier for a few days and hike – it’s absolutely beautiful with amazing wildflowers in the late summer. Mt. St. Helens is very cool to see for a day trip. You could also see Seattle or Portland in conjunction with these two mountains — seeing both cities and both mountains would be a lot of driving for 4-5 days, though.

      1. Thanks so much for these suggestions! I’m leaning towards 5 days, split between the Bend area (probably Sunriver Resort) and the Oregon Coast). We would fly in and out of Portland, and would stop at Crater Lake. Is that too much? If not, how would you suggest splitting up between the two places. They both look wonderful.

        1. Crater Lake is pretty out of the way, if you’re hitting Portland, Bend and the coast. It’s cool, but it would be a three-hour round trip drive from Sunriver. 4 hours from Portland, and even longer from the coast. My suggestion would be to skip it – there’s plenty of beautiful mountains and lakes around Bend. Or just do a day trip from Sunriver.

          I love Sunriver! Especially for kids. My suggestion is to rent a house – they are decently priced and much more fun than the rooms or condos. Most come with bikes in the garage, so you don’t have to rent. The kids can bike all over the resort – to the pool, to the village for donuts or ice cream, etc. There are a few great golf courses, tennis courts, and plenty of restaurants for dinner and lunch.

        2. That’s too much for just 5 days. Even splitting 5 days between Bend and the coast is hard, but I’d say do Bend for 3 days, then Newport for 1 day, and then on the last day drive back up 101 on the way to Portland and make a pit stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory (because all kids need to go to the cheese factory). Even with that itinerary, there will be a good deal of driving.

    2. +1 to CHJ’s suggestions, Bend and Astoria are some of my favorite places to visit from Seattle. If you decide on Bend, add a day trip to Crater Lake. If it’s a hot day, go all the way down to the water where the boat docks are and go swimming. It’s a long hike down and up, so depending on how old your kids are, it might be tough to come back up. They have a 20 ft cliff that you can jump off of into 60 feet of water, it was the highlight of my trip!

      Other suggestions: Stay on one of the islands (Orcas Island, San Juan Island), do a whale watching tour, hike or drive up Mount Constitution on Orcas. Be prepared for a long ferry ride wait, although they have started doing reservations for ferry rides.

      Do Olympic National Park. You could stay a couple of places, see Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rainforest, and the Coast in a few days.

  13. Any suggestions for mothers’ day gifts for a SO’s mom? I’ve covered off my mom but not sure what to get for his mom (and he’s having the same dilemma on what to get for my mom). Thanks ladies!

    1. Yay! Nice Blazer’s, but I prefer Ann Klein’s.

      As for the OP, this is a touchy subject. Your SO’s mom could be dificult when it come’s to mother’s days, particulearly if you are not viewed in her Eye as significant enough for her son — your boyfreind. When I was in college, my freind Laurie was trying to make a good impression with her boyfreind’s mom and she got her a nice antique brooch for mothers day. The mother did NOT like Laurie b/c she thought her son, Henry, was to good for her. Henry had gotten into Georgetown’s MSFS program, and she had high hope’s for him that he would become a big diplomat, which he would NOT be abel to be with Laurie holdeing him back.

      So when she got the brooch, she looked at it and said “this is cheap junk. I would not wear such junk” and handed it back to Laurie. Laurie was devastated b/c she spent over $100 for the brooch. As it turned out, Henry wound up listening to his mom and dumped Laurie (after haveing sex with her for 3 1/2 years of college, and then –on his own — never finished the MSFS program. He is now a mid-level burocrat in DC workeing for HHS, while Laurie wound up marrying (and divorceing) a very rich husband and she lives in Virginia and now rides horses all day. So you never know what you will wind up with. YAY!!!!

    2. It would never occur to me to get anything for my husbands mom for mothers’ day. Is this a thing?

      1. I thought the benefit of being married is that now all gifts are from both of you

        1. OP doesn’t say they’re married and people handle gifts differently.
          How about a nice plant for each of them?

          1. My husband and I give joint Mother’s Day gifts (something from both of us to each mom). Did it when we were dating too.

          2. I didn’t respond to the OP I responded to the commentator who used the word husband. But yes I still wouldn’t get my boyfriend/girlfriends mother a mothers day gift

          3. I would say that it doesn’t really matter whether they’re married or not here – if they’re close enough that she would get something for his mom for mother’s day, they’re close enough to give joint gifts (and each should be ultimately responsible for his or her side of the family, with suggestions from the other).

      2. I hope not. I do remind my husband to get something for HIS mother, but part of the marriage deal was that I do for my relatives and he does for his.

      3. It would never occur to me to get separate gifts for them. We get one gift for my mom from the two of us, and one gift for his mom from the two of us. It is either the same thing years that makes sense, or we are each in charge of getting our mothers the gift from “us”.

    3. Just off the top of my head: Edible Arrangments go over like gangbusters for just about everyone I send them to. Just check for allergies beforehand, but it’s about the best all-purpose gift I’ve come across.

      I got my mom (art/G&T teacher in a very small town) a set of desk stationary that says “From the desk of Mrs. Lastname”. She goes through a lot of notes, so it’s something useful, but she probably wouldn’t buy them for herself. I think that’s the big thing I go for on gifts like this – nice, useful, something they wouldn’t spend money on for themselves.

      No MIL (yet) so I can’t talk there, but my brother and sis-in-law got her a scrapbooking set, if that’s any help. :P

      1. Really? I find Edible Arrangements very meh, unless they’re the 100% chocolate-covered strawberry ones. I just think there’s so much better fruit out there than grapes, cantaloupe, and pineapple. As always, I guess YMMV.

  14. I’m looking for my unicorn — a purse with a top zipper, 1.5 pounds or lighter, under $250 with shoulder straps that is not a full cross-body, and around the 13 inch by 15inch range, and not at all preppy (i.e. not le pliage, just not my style). My favorite daily purse is the Madewell transport tote but I need something that can zip closed. TYIA!

    1. I think this unicorn is in LL Bean Town & Field Tote territory. Not sure if the straps are long enough, though.

    2. Check into some of the MZ Wallace styles – Hayley, Georgie, Willow, or Bea all might work for you, depending on how flexible you are with measurements. They are above your price range now, but there is usually a summer sale.

  15. Vent: Yesterday I finally got up the courage to have an uncomfortable conversation with someone over the phone… They didn’t pick up so I left a message asking them to call me back… now waiting for them to call me back… Feeling pretty anxious. Deep breaths…

  16. Random question — does Marshall’s let you try on bras in the dressing rooms? I heard some places don’t…

Comments are closed.