Wednesday’s TPS Report: Sharp Suiting Blazer

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Juicy Couture Sharp Suiting BlazerI really, really like this blazer — which is why I'm recommending it even though it's only available in a size medium. That bit of piping, the covered buttons on the cuffs, the general shape — very nice, and the makings of a great separate. The fact that it's 60% off doesn't hurt, either: was $298, now marked to $120 at 6pm.com. Juicy Couture Sharp Suiting Blazer Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)  

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

183 Comments

  1. Bankruptcy threadjack:

    One of my best friends in the world has moved to my state (NJ) and while I’m over the moon about it — she was living a 3hr flight away previously, the silver lining is attached to a black cloud. She moved from another state, and still has some assets in that state, but she’s recently become a NJ resident.

    She needs to declare bankruptcy and needs a good lawyer in NJ. Does anyone have a recommendation for good lawyer that has expertise in matters of bankruptcy? I am not a lawyer and have never gone through bankruptcy (thank goodness), so I am hoping the lawyers on here who know folks in NJ can help.

    Thanks in advance!

    1. I would start with the NJ Bankruptcy Bar Association, if no one here has a specific recommendation. The executive board’s contact information is on their site.

      1. Not sure where in NJ she is – but Jeffrey Herrmann at Cohn, Lifland, Pearlman, Herrmann and Knopf is very good.

    2. Are there law firms that are highly regarded in the Central and Southern NJ area?

      She lives in Plainsboro, NJ and thankfully has a car, but I just googlemapped the distance between her apartment and the Saddle River NJ firm posted earlier and it’ll be a tough haul. Not sure if she’ll be able to manage that + her job (which takes her further south in NJ and in the wrong direction.)

      1. Call Jeffrey and tell him he came highly recommended, but is unfortunately too far… and ask him to recommend a local colleague?

        I thought I heard somewhere that lawyers get a kickback sometimes for making referrals to other lawyers.

      2. Nothing is really close to Plainsboro. I checked the American Board of Certification and found a lawyer in Marlton and one in Mt. Laurel, both certified in consumer bankruptcy. That’s how I would find a bankruptcy lawyer in an unknown area for one of my sisters.

        Law Offices of Robert Manchel
        1 Eves Drive
        Suite 111
        Executive Center of Greentree
        Marlton, NJ 08053
        Phone: (856) 797-1500

        Steven N. Taieb
        1155 Route 73
        Suite 11
        Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
        Phone: (856) 235-4994

  2. High of 90 in Baltimore today… just panic-ordered a bunch of breezy linen dresses from Lands End, though by the time they arrive, I’m sure the weather will be back in the 50s.

    1. I almost ordered a bunch of shorts yesterday myself! I’m loving the sunshine right now, but it does look like its going to start dropping back into the 50s soon in NYC.

    2. I’m on the other side of this. Yesterday I wore a sleeveless shift dress. Today I’m in a turtleneck, scarf, tweed skirt, and tights. Love Texas weather in the spring.

      1. We seem to be firmly in the high 70s to low 80s right now. Although we did have a weird dip to the 60s not long ago. I need to switch my clothes. I still have winter things in my closet but I moved some of my lighter dresses in.

    3. So lucky, I’m in Chicago for a few days and we have thunderstorms. Better than home though where there was still a bit of snow on the outskirts.

      1. Boo hiss to the weather in Chicago! My flight that had a connection at O’Hare was cancelled, my new flight was delayed, and my connection was delayed OUT of O’Hare. At least it wasn’t a blizzard :)

    4. I know, what’s up with this weather? Last week I was freaking out because I went to an event outdoors without a coat and was so cold that evening. And now we are in mid summer temps?!

    5. Wanna send some of that warm weather over here? I’m facing more snow tomorrow, and a high of 3C. Today is alright, I think it’s supposed to be 10, but it’s gray and miserable out, so…partial win at best. I am so. over. winter.

      1. Yup, same here. I don’t know if I’d rather have 90s, but I’d settle for a nice 50 or 60. Or even a bit of sun.

      2. Agreed. It’s not that cold today (mid-50s) but it’s been pouring rain all day, as it has been since December. Seriously, after this year, my hat is off to anyone who can survive anywhere with a climate like Galicia or the Pacific Northwest. This delicate Virginia flower is dying from lack of sun.

        1. A veritable monsoon started here last night and is still going strong this morning. Anyone need any water? I’ve got lots.

          1. I don’t think we’ve seen the sun here in Wisconsin in over a week. So depressing.

      3. It’s been raining here for two days and we’re supposed to get anywhere between 15-25 cm of SNOW in the next 2-3 days.

      4. Dude. It is still going down into the minus double-digits at night here in Winterpeg…the snow piles on the corners are down to about 3 feet high though, so that’s an improvement? Ugh. I am so glad my office is attached to the courthouse so I can change when I get here and still wear cute skirts/dresses and proper shoes.

    6. I didn’t check the forecast this morning, but it looked very grey and overcast so I dressed warmly. Turns out we may hit 80.

  3. Does anyone have a great ice cream recipe? I received a Cuisinart Ice as a gift and want to put it to use for a dinner this weekend. Are the standard recipes that come with the instructions decent? Any tips? Thanks!

    1. Are you on Pinterest because I have a whole board of ice cream recipes.

    2. I have a cuisinart. If it has the freezer bowl, make sure it’s really really frozen and cold.

      I use pioneer woman’s recipes and adjust based on flavor I want. Her blackberry ice cream is awesome. I think Ina Garten has a peach ice cream recipe, but I haven’t tried it. I’m sure it’s fabulous.

      1. Yes, I was going to say put the bowl in the freezer NOW. It works best if it just lives in the freezer. Whatever time the manufacturer recommends is not enough.

        Epicurious has good ice cream recipes, with reviews, if you don’t have time to get a new cookbook.

        1. P.S. Do you have the Cooks Illustrated cookbook (The New Best Recipe)? The section on ice cream is very good.

          I think that is where I learned to use vodka when making fruit ice cream (coats the fruit and helps keep it from freezing, which gives your ice cream an icy’ness, which is not good).

    3. Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco has an amazing Ice Cream (and other deserts) Cookbook. My personal favorite is the brown butter pecan – so delicious. I substituted sweet & spicy pecans from Trader Joes and everyone I made it for went crazy over it.

    4. Homemade ice cream is one of my favorite things ever. I really need a bigger kitchen so that I’d have space to keep an ice cream maker!

      I actually really like the vanilla recipe that comes with the Cuisinart, but be super careful when combining the warm liquid with the eggs! I’ve accidentally cooked the eggs at that step before and it ruined the ice cream.

    5. Jeni’s. Jeni’s Jeni’s Jeni’s. You need Jeni’s ice cream recipe book. Amazing flavors. And the technique is super easy and nearly fool-proof. It doesn’t use eggs, so you don’t have to worry about ending up with scrambled eggs in your ice cream, and she takes the time to explain the science behind her technique, which gave me a lot more confidence in the recipes. Also, you can stop spending $9 a pint when you can make her best stuff at home :)

      1. oh my gosh. i just discovered jeni’s at my local store and almost cried when i tried the salted caramel. i dont’ know how she does it! im a HUGE fan and will definitely check out her book now!

        1. I’ve made it and loved it. There’s a slight adjustment you have to make (check her website) and you melt the sugar till it’s the color of older pennies. It was sooooo good. I’m getting ready to try her goat cheese with the red cherries since they’re seasonal or maybe the cherry lambic sorbet.

      2. omg Jeni’s icecream in the freezer section is one of the few things I miss from Pittsburgh. (along with dave and andy’s!)

        I’m a fan of sweetened condensed milk recipes for fruit ice creams. I make a peach one for my friend that’s allergic to eggs.

    6. My favorite class in college was Kitchen Chemistry, and one of the recipes was liquid nitrogen ice cream, which is AWESOME. The tricks to the best ice cream are:

      -Fat fat fat. Small fat globules are what give ice cream its creamy mouth feel – water droplets freeze into ice crystals that ruin the mouthfeel. So if a recipe calls for cream or whole milk, use it, don’t substitute lower fat milk – eating smaller servings of full fat ice cream is worth it compared to larger amounts of less quality ice cream, IMO
      -Fast freezing and fast mixing: the faster the mixture freezes while being well mixed, the smaller the ice crystals will be -> again, better mouthfeel. So to that extent:
      -Make sure any parts that are supposed to be in the freezer are there way longer than the minimum and taken out only right before you use it.
      -Make sure your ice cream mixture is as cold as possible before putting in in the machine, so be sure to allow for chilling time between making the mixture and putting in the machine. The final product out of the machine will probably only be soft serve constistancy, if you want hard scoop consistancy you are going to have to put it back in the freezer.
      -One other fun tip: mixing in boxed mixes into your ice cream recipe (I’ve tried yellow cake mix powder, brownie mix powder, chocolate pudding powder, chocolate mousse mix powder – all were awesome, if you ignore the “fake food” ingredients on the box).

      For the best vanilla recipe, the one from America’s Test Kitchen is supposed to be really good, but I don’t have a current subscription to the site so I couldn’t say for certain. It certainly looked good when I watched it on tv). Enjoy ice cream making!

      1. What an awesome class! What else did you learn? I’d love to take something like this in my spare time

        1. It was a seminar, so we only met once a week for around 3 hours. The textbook was “On Food and Cooking” by Howard McGee – which is the source material for a lot of the science behind ATK and Alton Brown, I believe. It was awesome, and far and away my favorite class I ever took. You may be able to see if local vocational schools or culinary schools have some kind of “science of cooking” class.

          We made guacamole (experimenting with different types of acid to keep it from browning without messing up the flavor), bread (studying yeast reactions), scones (playing with vinegar/baking powder balance for optimal rise & taste), precipitated cheese (like paneer) experimenting with different acids and herbs, as well as lots of other recipes I’m forgetting, but the liquid nitrogen ice cream was the best, and it was fairly common around campus for people to get LN from our labs and make various frozen foods/drinks. I’ve heard there is a new ice cream shop called SubZero that was on Shark Tank, I’d love to try it someday.

  4. Since I know it was mentioned here before, I wanted to say that I saw a guy at church wearing a navy jacket with white piping. I don’t know if it was the Target version but it looked good. I still don’t think a straight guy would wear it, but this guy was able to carry it off.

  5. Apropos of the weather conversation – I’m going to a formal Saturday evening wedding near DC. Highs that day just shy of 70. Sleeveless dress with wrap, or is it still early enough to pull off a purple lace dress with 3/4 sleeves?

    I kind of want to wear the lace one, but it might look too wintery or be too warm….

    1. Do you have a link to the dress? It might be too warm, but the dress sounds like it could be just fine for a formal wedding in the evening.

    2. Indoor or outdoor? The way most places are blasting the AC at the moment, I’d say lace.

      1. Anonymous – could be!

        I don’t have a link to the dress – I’ve had it for a while – but maybe I’ll just go for it. I’ll be both inside and outside…

    3. The lace will be fine. It’s supposed to dip into the 40s Saturday night so you won’t be too warm. You may not be warm enough with the sleeveless dress. I’m sure others will disagree, but I don’t think lace is ever too much for evening events.

  6. Does anyone have any ideas for finger foods for impromptu get-togethers? Some of my girlfriends would like to stop by tomorrow (7-8 people) and other than frozen mini quiches that I can heat up, I’m not sure what else I can put out. Do you keep some food in the freezer or pantry for these type of occassions? I have time to go to the grocery store but not a lot of time time to prepare anything– any suggestions (other than chicken nuggets and/or french fries- which are the only things that are coming to mind).

    1. Mini Caprese Salad bites – leaf of basil, some mozzarella cheese and a grape tomato – delicious and light

      olives

      baked bree with raspberry preserves on top with crackers

      1. Second baked brie with preserves (I like fig, but any kind will do). It seems very fancy for the amount of time dedicated to it. Also, you can do goat cheese with a layer of red pepper jelly spread on top of it (I do mine in a little ramiken) and then stick it in the oven until warm. Serve it on crackers. It’s very yummy and also sorta fancy.

        1. My family does a combination of those two ideas – goat cheese and fig preserves on toast made from really good multigrain bread.

      2. Similar to this, but a little different, that I’ve had a couple times and made a couple times – get mini mozzarella cheese, blackberries, and basil leaves and put them on little skewers. Its so good and seems “fancy.”

        Also – everybody likes chips and dip. Everybody. Maybe make homemade guac? OR – just buy some guac or salsa or whatever. Seriously – your friends are coming to see you, not be wowed by the food.

        And for desserts or sweets, bake Tollhouse cookies? They’re always a win.

    2. bites of brie on a thin cracker with a blackberry on top, or with a little apricot jam on the cracker and the bite of brie on top of that.

      Also, it sounds a little weird, but they are super yummy snacking foods — open a few cans of garbanzo beans (chick peas or cici beans depending on your area of the country), drain them, and toss them with a bit of olive oil and some salt and pepper (or any other seasoning to your liking). put them in a layer on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 45 min to an hour, or until crunchy. If you get them real crunchy, they will keep for a few days, otherwise they get a little soft (still good, but not the same)

      1. Roasted chickpeas are delicious. I usually use a mix of salt, pepper and cumin and eat them like popcorn.

    3. Are you near whole foods or other nice-ish grocery stores? Or grocery stores that have prepped salads and stuff? I would do a quinoa or couscous salad. Also look in the freezer aisle, they have a surprising amount of good appetizers out like mini spanakopita, brie in puff pastry, etc…

    4. Hummus and veggies, premade veggie platter at the grocery store or premade cheese platter from the grocery store? We tend to keep chips, pretzels or veggies plus a dip option or two around just because that’s we like to snack on. If you are a fan of using ranch as a dip, the packets are easy to keep around, and we usually mix with yogurt instead of sour cream. Trader Joes or Costco guacamole also freezes well, we tend to stock up on that.

      Is it around a meal time that people would expect to be fed, or will nibbles be ok? Is it too late to call a few of the closer girlfriends and ask them to bring something/pick something up? All parties in my circle of friends and family are assumed that everyone will contribute to the meal/snacks, but I know not every group works that way.

    5. If you are looking for casual finger food, I like to make ham and cheese sliders or chicken enchilada wraps. I found the recipes on Annies Eats.

    6. Fruit and veggies are always the first to go when I have people over. I also like baked brie with chutney/preserves on top or baked goat cheese (Martha Stewart has a recipe) with a sliced baguette. Frozen edamame can be warmed quickly and goes well with potstickers (I like the Trader Joe’s ones). A friend frequently sets out bowls of seasoned gourmet popcorn.

    7. White bean dip! Quick search will yield tons of easy recipes, but it’s basically just cannellini beans, lemon juice, garlic, red onion mashed up together. Serve on endive or bell pepper strips or crackers or pita…

    8. When I’m rushed, I’ll make some quick quesadillas and buy a couple fun salsas for dipping (usually from Trader Joes). Just a slight step up from chips and dip, but makes it seem more ‘homemade’.

    9. What a great thread; I’m definitely going to use some of these ideas! Here are some of my favorites:

      Low fat coleslaw – grab a bag or two of shredded cabbage and carrots, mix with a few tbsp of greek yogurt, some fresh lime juice, Sriracha to taste, chopped green onions and cilantro. It’s still good without the greek yogurt too, but then I like to top it with some crushed peanuts to make it a bit more hearty.

      Apple and fennel salad – cut a few apples into matchsticks (I like green apples with this) and thinly slice some fresh fennel, add a bit of fresh lemon or lime juice and zest. Goes great with goat cheese or ricotta.

      Meatballs with teriyaki sauce – I like the party sized or turkey meatballs at TJ’s, but any kind of frozen meatball will work. Thaw (or bake for a few minutes), toss with some teriyaki sauce and throw it in the oven.

    10. For quick get-togethers I always make cheese or chocolate fondue. I serve cheese fondue with sliced vegetables and cubed cheese. For chocolate fondue, I cut up vegetables and pound cake.

    11. Cheese plates are easy. Ina Garten has the best guidance. Arrangement is key. I usually have all the “extras” (nuts, dried fruit, olives, pickles, salami) laying around and I just make everything pretty on a plate and put it out with some crackers and/or bread.

    12. My mother-in-law makes little appetizers that are endive leaves with a scoop of boursin cheese and a cherry tomato at the end. They’re always a big hit at parties, and they’re perfect finger foods. Also, while I haven’t made it before, I can’t imagine this taking more than 10 minutes.

    13. Brie en croute (using frozen puff pastry or crescent dough in the tube) is super easy and delicious. Cover brie with jam or mango chutney, with or without walnuts, wrap with dough and bake. Serve with wheat crackers and slices of green apple.

      On the opposite end of the highbrow spectrum, I buy pre-made meatballs and put them in my mini crockpot (or oven) with a mix of sweet and savory sauces (chili sauce and grape jelly is the classic, but I’ve also mixed jams, mango chutney, etc with bbq sauce, sriracha, worchestershire, etc), and serve with toothpicks. People love them.

  7. Threadjack!

    I know Boden is popular here, and I recently got a few of their T-shirts (and like them — they’re so soft!). My question is, they say they’re supposed to be dried flat, which just seems like madness to me for a cotton tee. Has anyone tried them in the dryer? Do they shrink?

    1. I usually hang my Boden stuff to dry for a while, then get irritated and start putting it in the dryer on low. I have neither the patience nor the space for drying stuff flat.

    2. I’ve dried their cotton tees on low without shrinking them, but I’d probably follow the instructions at least for the first few washes because Boden is usually pretty aggressive on their tags. (They don’t slap “dry clean” on everything and call it a day like many retailers.)

  8. Help!

    I have my lit skills trial tonight and I’ve been fighting what I thought was allergies. Well, it’s turned into a deep cough and my voice is GONE this morning. I can fight off the cough with Ricolas or whatever, I’ve got cold medicine, etc., and my professor is very accommodating and already said I can carry a safety water bottle if I need it. But do any of you have tips/tricks on getting a sick voice to warm up just long enough to get through a speaking engagement? I’m not nervous about my material at all–I just need my voice to say it. Other than hydrating like crazy and hot tea, any last ditch tricks? I feel a lot like I have in the past when I’ve had bronchitis, and I frankly don’t have time to go to the doctor today–I’ll go tomorrow. I just have to get through tonight.

      1. +1 I have some professional singers in the family and they swear by lukewarm saltwater gargle.

    1. I can’t remember the brand name, but there are some throat sprays that you can buy at CVS that will at least help numb any pain and probably help moisten things up a bit.

      1. Chloraseptic! That stuff tastes like death but it’s amazing. It won’t help with the lost voice, but it will kill any pain in OP’s throat.

    2. Ricola too close to the argument may make it worse. I would cut them out a few hours before. Do not take the zinc lozenges either – they make my voice worse. No peppermint either.

      Tea (black) with honey and lemon, all day. Do you have an inhaler? That may make it so that you can take a breath without coughing. Otherwise you may have to take long breaths very slowly to get your diaphragm to get air without spasming.

      1. The ones I have are just Vitamin C drops–the other kind taste so disgusting I can’t handle them. I’ve got hot black tea in one day and a water bottle in the other right now. No inhaler…although I move slower generally I can take a full breath with no epic spazz.

    3. Throat Coat tea with honey and lemon. And rest your voice today as much as possible.

      1. FWIW, avoid trying to talk with others by whispering. I have a friend who is a speech pathologist, and she once told me that whispering is actually harder on your voice than trying to speak.

        I would also try to sit near a humidifier or vaporizer all day if you can.

    4. I woke up with laryngitis/a cold on the day of my trial skills exam (full trial). It sucked but I whispered/croaked through the whole thing and still got an A. I guess my point is, try all the recs but I don’t think anyone will hold it against you.

    5. Our high school choir director always gave us cinnamon hard candies. If you are allowed, keep an insulated mug of hot tea available during the trial. I lost my voice the day of my dissertation and that got me through it. Taking a sip to clear my voice actually bought me a second or two of thinking time on some tough questions, too ;) GL!

    6. This sounds bizarre, but I swear by bottled whisky sour mix (without adding any liquor). I learned this trick from my high school debate coach when I developed severe bronchitis just before the state championship — a few sips just before each 90-minute-or-so round got me through.

  9. I’ve spent much of the past 5 years either pregnant or nursing (so needing pumping-friendly work clothes) or in a weird post-partum size or back to pregnant a few times; you get the picture.

    Now that the youngest is 2, I am finding myself buying clothes all.the.time. It’s insane, but I tell myself that I hit the pause button on my non-maternity wardrobe in 2007 (when I just shopped for a wedding dress and one cute honeymoon outfit). Plus, I do things like go to the pool all the time in the summer, so I have even more clothing needs than before (bathing suits that I can lift wet, squirmy children in without something popping out; rashguards so I don’t burn since I now have to be in the pool and not covered up reading). [Plus, I ruin things more frequently due to a rougher-on-clothes lifestyle and less time to focus on Delicate Things.]

    Is it just me? Or does this pent-up shopping bender happen to everyone?

    1. I’m right there with you. I’ve been telling myself to cool it lately to save for our family vacation, and oh, you know, the kids’ college fund, but It. Is. So. Hard! This site doesn’t help either . . . .

      Plus I am washing or dry cleaning everything after one wear because I can’t go a day without ending up with milk/diaper creme/ spaghettios/snot on my clothes, so things don’t last as long . . .

    2. I haven’t had kids, but I’ve definitely done this after losing a lot of weight. It’s just so freaking exciting to fit it “normal” sizes and shopping is actually fun again. Totally justified shopping, if you ask me!

    3. Me too. I find after every kid that some of my clothes are now unfashionable and I need new ones!

    4. Right there with you. I feel like I have been on a shopping binge the last few months after spending the last 3-4 years pregnant and nursing. I still haven’t lost all of the weight I want to, but I’m back to a place where I at least feel semi-normal again and have been splurging. I need to stop and keep telling myself to wait until I lose that last 5-10 lbs, but I’m just so glad not to be in maternity clothes and even worse, my post-pregnancy fat clothes.

    5. I’ve got the flip side of this. I’ve bought so many cute clothes while I was effortlessly thin from nursing my 2 kids and now that my youngest is about to wean I’m paranoid that nothing will fit any more (unless I, you know, exercise and watch what I eat).

    6. same situation. 3 kids age 6 and under, youngest is 2. now updated wardrobe after having refused to spend money on clothes when i was constantly expanding, contracting, pumping, etc. my husband even commented last night that i had a bit of a consumer bug raging. it’s expensive, but i really didn’t buy any decent work clothing for about 7 years.

    7. It is crazy! This morning’s thought soliloquy: whether to keep a tunic — it is a bit short and sheer, so many it would be a pool cover up — try on bathing suits — maybe a coverup is wrong b/c I’m going to be in the pool (not on deck) until they can swim, so where would I really wear this — more thinking — more thinking — maybe another tunic would work as a coverup (that I won’t wear as such for a few years) — more thinking — STOP: YOU HAVE TO GET READY FOR WORK!

      And: taking a 7 year old suit in for alterations b/c it doesn’t fit quite right anymore and then realizing that you never wear skirt suits more than a few times a month and certainly don’t need a 7-year old RED one. And then not having time to run it to the thrift shop so it stays in your closet (so as not to wrinkle) taunting you as you think maybe you could break it up as separates.

      I am glad it’s not just me.

    8. I’m there, too. I feel justified in that the reality is that most of my clothing is trashed and/or outdated.

      I did find that it slowed back to a normal pace once my weight stabilized and I had refreshed an adequate wardrobe.

    9. So glad you posted this because I was wondering the same thing! I am starting a new job in 4 weeks plus relocating to a new state for this job and I have been on a spending spree in the name of “new job wardrobe”. The latest was some serious damage on the Nordstrom site last night, the whole time telling myself I should wait for the semi-annual sale; but of course I didn’t. I just hope I can stop myself at some point!

      1. Just think of it as ensuring that your size will be available. Check back on May 22nd and if anything you bought is on sale, use livechat to get the discount.

    10. All I have to say is that I’m really, really looking forward to a shopping bender in a few months when I’m back to my pre-pregnancy size. I have a lot of it’s-my-first-job-and-I-need-a-work-wardrobe clothes that have now seen better days, so the end of maternity leave is going to be my excuse for a massive purge and an appointment with a personal shopper where I will buy ALL THE THINGS! I feel much more justified in feeling like this after reading this thread. :) I also hope the promise of pretty new clothes and looking good again is going to make depositing the baby in day care and returning to work a little more bearable.

    11. I was just thinking about this! My husband and I just got new jobs more than doubling our income, and my job requires me to dress nicer than I ever have before. The combination of money to buy things + excuse to buy them is becoming a serious problem. All I want to do when I have spare time is shop! I’m even contemplating buying a $140 dress from anthro, despite the fact that I’ve never spent more than $100 on a single piece of clothing before (and that was a wool coat!).

  10. I just need to vent. I am IN A MOOD this week and struggling not to punch people in the face. Just having one of those weeks – busy at work, boss in a bad mood, lots of annoying little things going wrong, etc. My coworker who started approx a year ago, shortly before we moved to a new office, is friends with the owner and he agreed when she started that she could have a window office, meaning that I would move into a non-window office. I wasn’t happy but what could I do. She kept going on and on and on to me about how happy she was that she was going to have a window – to the point where I finally had to tell her to please stop because I wasn’t going to have one. (BTW for 10 years the owner promised me that if we ever moved I’d have a window but that’s not on her and she of course didn’t realize she was taking my window.) Anyway, she’s one of those cold people and her office is always freezing because of the window and I just had to hear all about it and I finally just said, “You wanted the window” and basically walked out of the room because I just couldn’t today and now I feel bad. I just have to vent that waaah waaah waaah it’s not faaaair. Waaah waaah. Thanks for reading.

    1. HUG’s to you! Life some time’s stink’s, but it get’s better. I have had ALOT of the same expeiriences as you, but I have GOT through them and pretty well I think. We are thinkeing of moving to better space, and I said that I want a CORNER office with 2 window’s when I am a partner. The manageing partner said he would think about it, but I will NOT hold my breathe! FOOEY!

      Robert took me to GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL (actueally I met him there b/c I do NOT want him hangeing around my office). We did go to the SOUP place, but I also had a CORN BEEF Sanwich at MENDY’s b/c I can NOT LIVE on Soup alone! YAY!

      He is not a bad guy, but he insisted on the Fish Chowder. Talk about fish breathe! I can NOT see me kissing that, especialy b/c he had stuff in his mustach that I could NOT tell how old it was! FOOEY! I want a guy who shave’s every day, not something like a dirty mustach. DOUBEL FOOEY! I do NOT care for that dirty wisk broome tickeleing me, either.

      He said he know’s someone at Citi Feild that can get him Met’s ticket’s, so mabye we will go next week. I have NOTHING else going on with guy’s so I told fish breathe that he should call me when he has ticket’s and I will decide then. At least this guy did NOT grab my tuchus. What kind of looser has to do that? FOOEY!

    2. That sounds frustrating, I’m sorry. Have you gotten enough sleep lately? I’d start there.

    3. This calls for a cocktail and a new manicure. Or a new pair of shoes. Whichever suits your fancy (or whatever other splurge is your personal choice.)

    4. Reposting because of the dreaded word.

      This calls for a [drink] and a new manicure. Or a new pair of shoes. Whichever suits your fancy (or whatever other splurge is your personal choice.)

    5. Thanks everyone, I mostly just wanted to complain so I feel better already. For dinner last night I had pizza and vodka, with a wine appetizer and that helped. I’m trying to sleep and going to the gym and doing what I’m supposed to – I’m sure that will all kick in soon. And if not I have more vodka!

  11. I came across another article about Lean In today that I thought was interesting. The author points out that even when trying to move women forward and up in the workplace, people are still using “soft” words to do so, which is continuing to perpetuate the stereotypes about working women. I thought it was interesting so I thought I’d see what you all thought about it.

    http://www.inc.com/vanessa-merit-nornberg/sheryl-sandberg-lean-in.html

    1. This is not aimed at you at all but after sitting in an airport listening to what I think was an msnbc broadcast on loop, if I never hear the words lean in again it will be too soon.

        1. We can be ornery together. I love being ornery. Get off my lawn!

          [/statler and waldorf]

      1. I saw breakfast sausage for sale at the grocery store recently, and at the sight of the word “lean” on the package, I thought, “What does sausage have to do with leaning in?”

    2. I’m right there with Anonymous, but the description intruiged me and I read the essay. It’s the most valid criticism of the book I’ve heard. I think it’s an excellent point.

      It struck a chord with me since lately I’ve been annoyed with some similar issues in real life.

    3. However, the title (Lean In) is meant to contrast with what she describes some women doing — “leaning out” because they might have children or might need to move or might go to grad school sometimes even years before they do those things.

      “Stand Tall” would contrast with what? Sitting? Slouching? Slumping? None of those seem to accurately describe the “lean out” situation.

      I think “Stand Tall” could be an appropriate title for much of the material covered in the book, but would require re-writes to make it tie in appropriately.

      Besides, the words that she’s denigrating are “sharing” and “encouraging” and other similarly “soft” words. I don’t think that “lean” is a soft word in the same vein.

  12. So, I really want to go to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Has anyone been to the Olympics before? How do I go about it? Should I hire a travel agent? When should I buy airfare and tickets to the events? Any other tips?

    1. I haven’t been, but since we just had it here in London, I can tell you that here tickets went on sale about 18 months before the events. Each country got a quota of tickets and you would apply in-country for them. Here, it was done by a lottery, hence I didn’t get any. Other places are first come first served.

      I don’t think you can buy flights more than year in advance, and hotels would be more difficult as it would depend on which events you get as they are not all in the same cities.

      1. I’m from the US and went to the London Olympics last year. I was also at Atlanta. +1 as to plane tickets — you’ll likely need to wait until 12 months in advance. I arrived on what was to be the busiest day at Heathrow, and found there to be a lot of great hubbub but absolutely no hassle. Heathrow just did it right; could have gone badly.

        As for event tickets, we entered the US ticket lottery the day it opened and scored nothing. (The stats were something like 70% of tix went to UK citzens, 30% to the rest of the world, rationed in some fashion by country.) Then on random dates thereafter, with a few days’ notice, more tix would be released and we’d try again. On some days I was online 2-3 hours and unable to get through the checkout process. Other days we were successful. The worst part was coordinating with others about what to buy, which created delays, so if you can avoid that, do so. We ended up with very random events, but I enjoyed every one for what it was. Being open-minded will help here. There will be large screens throughout the city where you can view sold-out, popular events in crowds/pop-up parties even if you can’t get a ticket.
        London was heavily criticized for holding too many tix for sponsors, etc., leaving venues empty, and had to rethink ticketing on a daily basis. So Rio may use a different ticketing process altogether. Just keep checking the official site in the years leading up to find out the plan.

        I never tried to buy tix on the street in London, but I understand there was not a lot of that activity there. Atlanta was a different story.

        Also, if you have a ton of money to drop, there are VIP ticket/experience packages you can get. Regular tix are expensive. These are outrageous. But as the kids say, YOLO.

        Keep up with what other events are happening in the city during that two weeks. There will be plenty of special events/exhibitions to keep you busy when you’re not attending Olympic events.

        One other point — both London and Atlanta emptied out during the Olympics except right at the venues. (Atlanta had a vendor area outside the venues that was a giant crowd; London kept everything in the venues and then used Hyde Park for a distinct party venue, so getting in and out was a breeze). Locals stayed in, worked odd hours or from home, or took a holiday. It was easy to get into museums and restaurants, etc. so a great time to see the city. It is hard to tell what people in Rio will do. I’m painting with a very broad brush, but Rio has such a reputation for being a party city that I wonder if the locals will be as likely to, say, stay inside or take vacation away that week.

    2. I lived in London during 2012 and I managed to get some tickets for $40 each on Craigslist. OK, it was for handball, but it was a lot of fun!

    3. I did! I went to the Torino winter Olympics in 06. Not sure how Brazil will handle it but in Italy, there was a ticket sale in the US on the USOC website site months in advance, which we didn’t have any luck with. We wandered up to the ticket office each day and bought tickets to random hockey games and events, which honestly ended up being more fun than had we planned it out. If you are a go-with-the-flow person (which I am usually NOT) – I say wing it when it comes to tickets, especially if you don’t care what you’re actually going to see. Many of the non-medal rounds and not as popular sports seemed to have a lot of availability.

      Many events were really spread out (though that may be specific to winter sports – needing mountains, etc.) so our hotels weren’t terribly expensive considering how close they were to some of the action. Another option is to take a train in that day – I think Olympic cities have to commit to a subway or train system to move people. Italy completely dropped the ball on that one, though – their subway wasn’t complete by the time of the games.

      Overall I had a blast, and most Olympic visitors were so awesome. Bring Team USA (or wherever you are coming from) shirts, hats – people traded with us on the street with their country’s jersey.

    4. I lived in Vancouver in 2010 and my advice is to go! It was so so much fun. I agree to try to get tickets for cool stuff and also just whatever you can. It’s fun just to be there. There are things going on in the city at the same time (countries have their own pavilions and there’s neat stuff to see) and it’s fun to also just explore the city – just the atmosphere was amazing, the city was so alive and full. I volunteered and it was an incredible experience – the Olympics from behind the scenes. I highly recommend it. If you have tickets for events they can schedule around it. (You’ll have to take a lot of time off though.) According to the media, there were hotels available right until the last minute because people assume there won’t be anything and so they just stay away. I’m the kind of person that would have to book early though. I couldn’t handle the stress. Oh and Vancouver had the same ticket lottery for residents that was described above.

    5. I haven’t been to the Olympics, although I tried to go to Torino back in ’06… book accommodations EARLY because stuff fills up fast. We tried about 6+ months out, and that was way, way too late, even for non-traditional lodging.

      I have been to some events at another major international sports competition, and it is really, really cool. I imagine the Olympics is even better. We just happened to be visiting the city on business and hadn’t even been aware the competition would be going on, so bought tickets the day of for whatever events were available. We ended up seeing sports that rarely make it on prime time TV coverage (wushu?! I had never even heard of it). Very interesting! Don’t overlook the events that don’t get much press. It’s incredible to see masters of any sport, even ones you know nothing about.

  13. After being off of birth control for a while, I’ve decided to start taking it again.

    Looking back through past [this site] discussions, Nuvaring and the mini pill seem to be recommended as lower-hormone options that don’t completely kill s*x drive and still allow the flexibility to skip periods.

    Any recommendations between the two?

    1. The mini pill doesn’t allow you to skip periods. You take a daily pill that contains the same amount of hormone every day, and I still get my cycle on its normal-for-me schedule.

      I’ve never tried the nuva ring so I can’t compare the two, but I have no complaints about the mini pill. No side effects for me other than mid-cycle random bleeding maybe twice a year, which is annoying, but as far as side effects go, I’ll take it!

      1. Thank you – I had no idea about not being able to skip periods on the mini pill.

    2. I skipped every other period on the pill for a decade and had perfectly clear skin, and then switched to NuvaRing. NuvaRing was terrible for me. Not only did NuvaRing make me as dry as the Sahara 24×7, not just during LGPs, and keep trying to come out to the point that I’d have to use the restroom at work once or twice a day to shove the darn thing back in, but skipping my period on NuvaRing resulted in my first experience with cystic acne. I got several huge, painful, ugly cystic acne spots on my chin, one of which left a faint scar.

      1. sorry, accidentally hit enter. The mini-pill also gave me 3-4lbs of weight gain around my stomach that I could not lose with dieting or exercise. Progesterone is derived from testosterone (I think), so thats why it can give people who are prone to acne worse acne. I’ve been off of it for 3 months and my skin is clearing up and I lost 4lbs. I’m now on Mircette (which is made for people with migraines).

        1. Thanks, good to know – I got back acne for the first time in my life from going off of BC (ortho tri cyclen lo) and definitely don’t want it to get worse.

          1. Just as another data point – I am also acne-prone, and the mini-pill didn’t make my acne worse at all. I actually have clearer skin since I’ve been on it (although that may be due more to aging – late 20s when I started the minipill, now early 30s) than the pill itself.

            Just wanted to add this because I was also concerned about possible acnegenic side effects, but didn’t experience them. But it seems that everyone’s experience varies here.

        2. Wait wait. Pill for people with migraines? Tell me more of this! I had a similar bad experience with Mirena (which is progesterone-based).

          1. Before BC, my migraines were more regularly tied to my cycle. So when I started taking the pill, I took it continuously – same concept as Seasonique & the like, just cheaper – since you’re on a continuous dose of hormone, there’s no fluctuation to trigger menstrual migraines. Helps with other things like acne, ovarian cysts, eliminating PMS, athletic training/performance, etc. Works best with a lower-dose mono-phasic pill like Ortho-Cyclen or its generic equivalents (Sprintec, Mono-Linyah). I’ve done this for years & years at a time over the last 20 years with no problems.

          2. A lot of women with hormonal-liked migraines can get them during the 2nd week in your pill pack. Those pills are usually a different color. It’s when the estrogen level drops (estrogen drops right before your period as well, hence period migraines). Mircette has one level of hormone for 3 weeks, 2 days of no hormones (sugar pills), and then 5 days of medium-ish hormones. The more consistant 3 weeks of hormones prevents me from getting menstrual and cycle-related migraines.

          3. Oh man, I had hopes you were referring to a pill that had been deemed safe for women who had migraine with aura. I got kicked off Seasonale for that reason and I’ve struck out with IUDs, so my options are limited at this point.

          4. I get aura migraines and was put on Micronor. I am also over 35 and a smoker AND have a history of stroke in my family. Micronor was deemed the safest pill to go on, with the migraines being one of the main factors in that decision. Migraines is why I did not go with Depo-Provera.

            My skin was great on Micronor (I went off it last month in prep for TTC…now I have to quit the damn cigarettes), my moods were fine and so was my libido. I did gain some weight, but it seemed pretty well distributed all over my body.

    3. I’ve never tried either of those, but if you’re open to other options I’ve had a great experience with Seasonique. No side effects and you can’t beat 4 periods a year.

      1. I’ve been on this generic for around 5 years and also love it. My only issue is if I miss a pill near when I would normally have my period I get some spotting, but that’s easily preventable.

    4. I’ve been on both Nuvaring and now the minipill. I was happy with Nuvaring until my doc asked me one simple Q: do you get migraines and/or headaches around your period? Yes, I always have. He counseled me to get off Nuvaring *immediately* (as in, take it out when you get home from this appointment) because I was at an elevated risk for stroke. I had been on Nuvaring for 4+ years and no doc had ever asked about the connection. I’m so glad he did!

      The minipill has been fine for me. My periods were/are very irregular – as in, some are only 4 days long, no cramping, while others are very uncomfortable and longer in duration. Time between periods can differ. I would also say that I feel more interested in LGP’s on the minipill.

      Hope this helps!

      1. Yes, there can be an elevated risk of stroke, but there are other factors at play. When I asked my neurologist about this recently, she said that for a healthy non-smoker under 40, the risk is much less than for someone older with circulatory or cardiac issues.

    5. Never been on Nuvaring, but I’m on the generic for lo-seasonique (can’t remember the name). I have 4 periods a year. I’ve been on it for about 2 years, love it, and have no plans to change it anytime soon.

    6. On the birth control topic- does anyone have any advice for a pill that won’t give you melasma (the skin discoloration on your face, usually around your mouth, that makes your skin look dirty)? I just got back from vacation in the sun, and while I got a little bit of a tan, the skin on my face just looks patchy and dirty. I’m careful about sunscreen and wearing a hat.

      It makes me so self conscious! I really don’t want to be dealing with this all summer!

    7. From what I understand, because the mini-pill has such a low dose of hormones, you have to be really really exact about taking it at the same time every single day to be effective BC. I’ve been told the packaging says stay within a 3 hour window and my doctor said you should try to commit to closer to a 1 hour window and that she really doesn’t recommend it to anyone for whom an unplanned pregnancy would be a major life problem. I am not good at being consistent at things like this (no matter how many alarms I set, my pills and I don’t seem to be in the same place at that time, and then I forget) so I decided the mini-pill isn’t a good choice for me.

    8. I’ve been on the minipill for a few months and like it. I don’t have a period on it and haven’t noticed any breakouts or adverse side effects,

  14. Another great “what I learned” post from Belle today on Capitol Hill Style. I don’t think this is ground-breaking (at least not in the legal field — we’ve been telling would-be legal eagles to cool their jets since about 2009, and they’ve FINALLY started listening) but it puts everything in a great analytical framework for anyone considering grad school. http://caphillstyle.com/capitol/2013/04/10/chs-careerist-lessons-learned-part-ii.html#more-36261

  15. Question for Philly r e t t e s-

    Recommendations on somewhere to go for engraving? Buying my little bro cufflinks and want to get them monogrammed. Must be in/close to center city. Jeweler’s row would work — there’s just so many places and I don’t want to choose the wrong one!

    1. sorry, no recs for engravers, but this reminded me, is there any interest in a Philly [this site] meet-up?

    2. It’s not center city, but an easy ride on the R5, Wayne Jewelers, in Wayne, PA. I have had several things engraved there and they have done an excellent job. If you can’t make it there call them, and ask them to recommend a jeweler in the city.

  16. cfm, I think you recommended Allen Woods to me as a DC florist – I just ordered an arrangement for my friend to celebrate her new job! Such beautiful choices!

  17. I’ll be in Chicago for business in May, and will have a free afternoon and evening to do some sightseeing/exploring/eating. I’ve never been to the city before, so any “must do/see/eat” recommendations for the my free 8 hours?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. The Art Institute Museum
      Field Museum
      Museum of Science and Industry
      Shedd Aquarium

      I like museums!

    2. I strongly recommend catching some outdoor sites. May is one of the best times of year in Chicago.

      Millenium Park – right in the middle of downtown. Just check it out.

      Boat tour of the city by the Architectural society. What a great way to see the city! Float on the river, fantastic views, a bit of history from the guide. Do it.

      Art institute. Have lunch there, go see the special Picasso exhibit right now. It is in walking distance to Millenium Park and the Boat tours.

      Early dinner at the Purple Pig…. small plates, tasty and interesting… and close to everything else mentioned. But get there early or be willing to wait for a seat at the bar…. which are the best seats!

      That would be a perfect day!

        1. +1!!!!

          Best order would be…..

          Early lunch and Art institute visit. They are least busy from 11am – 2pm.

          Walk through Millenium Park en route to the….

          Boat tour.

          End with drinks and dinner at Purple Pig.

          Maybe go listen to jazz at the Green mill (kinda far…) or Blues at Buddy Guy’s (take a taxi …. not too far) in the evening.

    3. I second the museums, but do you like baseball? Will there be a Cubs home game? Sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley is an unforgettable experience. Eat at Portillo’s or Hot Doug’s. Fancier food: Alinea (seriously amazing, seriously expensive, but worth it – dinner for two was almost an entire student loan payment), Avec, Blackbird, Frontera Grill.

  18. With the weather starting to get kinda, sorta nice again, what razors do you ladies use to shave your legs?

    I still use the old Venus Divine, but there has to be something thing better, right? I hold on to it because I still have replacement blades for it sitting around. I’m terrible when it comes to shaving; I nick myself like crazy and wind up walking around covered in band-aids

    1. I use the Venus Embrace. The 5 blades gets me a much closer shave than anything else I’ve tried. The $$$ of it drives me nuts though.

    2. Use men’s razors (I use the Mach 4). The companies give us pink plastic and men metal for the same $$ or more. Why?

      1. My husband’s mach blades fit on my Venus razor, so that’s what we buy now, although I only use the razor for underarms, bikini and emergency legs. I bought an epilator for my legs, and while pricy, once I got used to it I loved it. I don’t have the pain tolerance to use on my armpits yet though – the few times I’ve tried I wussed out after 1-2 passes.

    3. I use the Schick Quattro and would not go back to Venus – the handle is made of metal rather than plastic and it seems to me that the weight of the handle gets a closer shave. I don’t find I have to replace the blades as often, and I can replace with one of my husband’s Schick blades if I’ve been delinquint about buying mine which is a bonus.

  19. I learned that my SIL is pressuring my BIL (husband’s brother) to get a v*s*ct*my (will that get me moderated?) now that they are (ok, she is) done with kids. I should stay far, far away from this, right? It just makes me sad because it seems so permanent – SHE is the one who is done, and he loves kids and could see himself having more. I don’t know….it just seems like something very final to be pressured into. But, seriously, I should mind my own business, yes?

    1. You should seriously, seriously, seriously MYOB. What your BIL & SIL do with their reproductive organs is up to them. Unless he has asked you for advice or you think SIL’s “pressure” goes beyond pressure and into the realm of abuse and you want to have a larger conversation with him about your concern for him in this relationship, you should keep your mouth clamped shut on this issue.

      Also v*s*ct*mies can be reversible.

    2. Stay out of it. Only two people get to make that decision and have input. Her not wanting any more kids is a very valid position and should get the same respect as someone to have 10 more.

    3. Yes, stay away. If we were to be done having kids, you bet your buttons DH would be the one to get it done. He isn’t the one having had to gestate and push out the kids!

    4. He’s not even your brother???!!! OMG, seriously, take your own advice and the advice of others and MYOB! I doubt I would say something if it’s my own brother but I would never say anything to my husband’s brother!

    5. I agree with what others said: stay out of it. If neither of them asked you for advice or discussed the situation with you with the expectation of feedback, it’ s not any of your business.

    6. This I would not touch with a ten-foot barge pole. It’s their relationship, ultimately their decision, and their own interplay about birth control.

      While women of course have different attitudes about being “done” having kids, I’m in the “we have 2, I am 99% sure I am done, D-O-N-E” camp, while my husband would probably be OK with about 6-10 kids. If I was 100% sure, I’d probably suggest that my husband have a tiny, elective surgery as partial payback for the 2 c-sections.

    7. Really not your business. Even if they ask for your opinion, stay out of this. If you are uncomfortable with permanent procedures of this kind, then by all means never get one. If your SIL doesn’t want to go through pregnancy, childbirth, and b-feeding again, she should absolutely be discussing options with her husband while strongly advocating for her position.

      Thankfully, I had this conversation with my husband before we got married!

  20. I wish this sort of conversation would stay private, if the participants aren’t looking for input.

    Maybe it’s just from growing up in a plastic-surgery-happy family, but it still makes me feel deeply uncomfortable to hear how partners sometimes feel entitled to make surgical demands of one another.

    The fallout from my BIL’s surgery/reversal was so stressful that I still resent my sister and her husband for talking about it so much and expecting everyone around them to nod supportively. I didn’t want to hear about it, and I didn’t want to think about it, and clearly now I am just venting!

    1. Get a grip. Seriously. This isn’t a nose job. What about the hormones and procedures women have to endure their entire lives to stop pregnancy? Men can at least get the snip when they are done having kids!

      Just because your family is dysfunctional doesn’t mean that vasectomies are a bad idea.

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