ByKat Hours Updated
Comments 176 Comments

Kat’s Favorite Suits of 2012

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In keeping with the theme of yearly look-backs, these are some of my favorites suits recommended here this year… (Each picture links back to the original post… and of course, don't forget to check out The Corporette Guide to Basic Women's Suiting.) Readers, which were your favorite pieces recommended in 2012? Any favorites from the commenting threads?
(Although I didn't get a chance to do this round-up in 2011 due to technical difficulties, you can check out the round-up from 2010 here…)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

176 Comments

  1. In line with the question about Park City yesterday, I am spending New Years’ Eve in New Orleans this year. It’s supposed to be a high of 66 with a good chance of rain that night. Any ideas what I should wear? We’re eating at Palace Cafe and then probably heading out to Bourbon Street to watch the madness (although not participate so much probably).

    2. I was in New Orleans a few years back for NYE, and everyone was super casual, especially around Bourbon. Most people were in their respective team’s gear for the upcoming Sugar Bowl. I’m not familiar with the Palace Cafe, but assuming it doesn’t have a dress code, I’d think jeans and a festive top is fine. Of course, I’m all about dressing up on NYE even if everyone else is slumming it, so I’d probably wear some form of sequin skirt, tights, and top. I’d def wear shoes you don’t care about though.

      1. This. I’ve done NYE on Bourbon Street before (when my team played in the Sugar Bowl) and I would say clothing-wise, anything goes. And definitely wear shoes you don’t care about. Between normal Bourbon Street sludge and the rain, you’re feet will be gross. Maybe old heeled boots so you stay dry and your pants do too.

    3. Hmm… Our NYE plans are almost identical… You wouldn’t happen to live in ATL would you? Feel free to “out” yourself via email to binthebayou at g m a i l dot com ;-)

      I’ve only been to the Palace Cafe for lunch and Sunday brunch, but I know it gets dressy in the evenings. I plan on wearing something cute and kinda fancy for dinner and then changing for the walk around Bourbon and the French Quarter. I’ll probably end up switching into some knee-high boots a cute sweater and my coat.

      I really hope it doesn’t rain.

      1. Nope, that’s not me. I live in the great state of Texas. What are the chances are plans would be the same??? Funny.

        That’s a good idea to change clothes. I may do that too.

    4. Things are pretty casual downtown where the tourists are. Palace Cafe can be a little nicer but I wouldn’t wear anything too nice because Bourbon St. could be nasty. 60s can feel chilly in N.O. with the humidity.

      1. Yes, Palace Cafe can be a little nicer, but I definitely suggest flats, especially if you’re going to brave Bourbon. The fleur de lis drop in Jackson Square (also FQ) is something great to stop by – free concert, etc. Enjoy!! I hope you have a chance to enjoy a lot of what our fabulous city has to offer.

    5. Years ago, pre-kids, my husband and I spent NYE in NO. I have a photo so I can tell you I wore a thick sweater, skirt, tights, and some sturdy oxford type shoes. And a feather boa. You know.

      We ate at a restaurant I can’t remember the name of, then wandered over to the riverbank to watch the “baby drop”, and I have never figured out what that meant…. NOLA? But anyway, fireworks.

      I wasn’t too cold in my getup.

      1. I think the baby thing was the old year changing into the new year (baby new year). I thought it was a gumbo pot that dropped, but honestly I’ve never been down there for NYE. Too crazy.

  2. Gosh, those are some gorgeous suits! I wish I were a TV lawyer rather than a real lawyer so I could wear them. :)

    1. (Not saying they wouldn’t work in my office, just that I can’t afford them on a real lawyer salary.)

    2. I want a life where I can wear that red Tory Burch regularly. Alas, that is not the life of a corporate librarian, so…

      1. Meh. I bought that Tory Burch skirt and returned it. Didn’t get the jacket but I think together they wouldn’t have been any better. It was bulky.

  3. My husband and I will be in NYC this weekend, and the weather is looking pretty bad for Saturday. Do any of you ladies have recommendations for indoor activities? We’re staying downtown (near Financial District), generally don’t love museums, generally do love to eat and drink (and have dinner reservations already), neutral on shopping. We used to live in the city, but for some reason I’m can’t think of anything indoor-sy to do! Thanks for any ideas!!

    1. Brooklyn Bowl has good food/drinks and activities. Ice skating is also fun, even in bad weather (or you can check out the indoor rink at Chelsea Piers). Have a great time!

      1. We were thinking of going to Brooklyn for breakfast/brunch, so that could work out well. Looks fun, thanks!

    2. You should go to the SOUTH Street Seaport. There is alot of thing’s to see and do and shop and eat and EVERYTHING! Yay! I went to Pier 17 and its alot of fun. Your man can see the OLD ship’s there and there is also a police thing.

      The manageing partner is wondering if I have lost any weight. Actualy, I lost 2 pound’s, but put back on 1 pound, so I STILL need to loose 4 pound’s by Jan 2. I am trying, but it is NOT easy! FOOEY!

      I also am tryeing to finish his POWER POINT for his CLE. It is ALMOST done, but I can NOT figure out how to change the FOOTNOTE which has the name of the presenting company that I found who’s power point I was copying. Does ANYONE in the HIVE know how to get into the FOOTNOTE to erase the name of the company? I have to get this to the Bar Association, and Lynn is off on vacation until NEXT week! FOOEY!

      Finaly, I am tryeing to figure out how to present to these two supermarkit guy’s about WC. What do they care unless we win? That is what I will tell them. Not to settel and to alway’s be prepared to go to court, b/c if the judge like’s you, we win! Yay!

      That guy, Evan called and said he wanted to set up a consultaion with me after the first of the year. I want the manageing partner to be there, so I will have to tell him that I met Evan at the Matzo Ball. FOOEY! But if it turn’s out this guy has money and hire’s us, that would be a GOOD thing!

      Happy New Year’s to Kat and the HIVE if I don’t write back b/f the New Year’s! Yay!!!!!!!
      s

      1. Seaport is pretty much out of commission following the hurricane, so don’t go there planning to spend hours shopping or eating.

        1. Intriguing; does this suggest that while Ellen may have lived in NYC at one point, she no longer does?

        2. Alot of the SEAPORT IS OPEN! Fooey on you for NOT promoteing the City to this nice woman.

          And of course I am real. Who is typeing this if I am not real? How silly it is for this faceless person to question ME! Just read up on it yourselfes! Silly GURL!

          http://www.southstreetseaport.com/Directory

          And BTW, I LIVE in Manhattan now. I am JUST on vacation now working on loosing some weight b/f I go back for my weigh-in with the manageing partner. I can make $500 if I loose 5 pound’s! Yay!!!!!!

        1. I will try. Thank you. You are WONDERFUL WANDA for helpeing, not like some other’s who say I am not real.

          I am meeting MYRNA and we are goeing up to ROBERTA’s to celanrate NEW YEARS Eve b/c her husband is away on a business Tripp to Taiwan. We are going up to get DELI but I will NOT Eat bread or any thing but DIET DR BROWNS soda b/c I am still 3 pound’s over what I need. Myrna says I can keep useing her Exercycle until my tush is flat like hers! I said that means she is gifteingit to me!

          My mom and dad bought me a nice silver BROOCH from lord and Taylor that I will wear to meet the supermarkit guy’s. And now the doorman is calling me statuesque! He must be dreameing or . FOOEY if it is the BOTTEL talking!

  4. I’m putting together closing books for a transaction, and the lead attorney has asked for something fancier than a plastic ring binder but wants to still be able to remove pages for easy copying (i.e., not a bound volume). I’ve found leather corporate minute books with ring binder insides, but they all have embossed stamped labels that say “corporate records” and can’t be customized with the name of our transaction.

    If anybody knows where I could find something that (a) looks like a corporate record book, (b) allows for easy removal of pages and (c) can be labeled or customized with the name of our transcation, I would really appreciate the help!

    1. I found binderfinder.com via search — don’t know anything about them, but they have leather binders & they will add custom logos / artwork.

      1. Those are really awesome and now I want several for myself. And seriously, how bada** would I look if I sent a client an etched aluminum closing binder?! I’ve got a call in to see if they can print or etch on 3″ binders. Sadly, I think that is probably too exciting for my profession, but a girl can dream.

    2. I’m running on very little sleep, trying to finish a brief, and read this as “cooking books” and wondered why the partner has you making cook books. I then re-read it. Yeah. I am not one of those people that functions on low sleep.

    3. My firm always does closing CDs/DVDs and rarely does hardcopy books. I would do your usual hardcopy books and supplement with the electronic closing set so that the lead attorney (or, more likely, his assistant) would be able to print out the documents directly from the computer, rather than using the photocopier. I’m sure there’s a reason you’re not taking this approach, though.

  5. I know this is a stab in the dark, but I’m getting desperate for help and hoping the hive might have some ideas. I have a 4-month old baby and about 2 months ago I started developing pain and stiffness in my joints and muscles. It is concentrated in my shoulders, upper arms, wrists, thumbs, hips and right foot. I have undergone tons of blood work and all the likely diagnoses have been ruled out (rhuematoid arthritis, lupus, infection, toxis, lyme disease). Prior to this I was a runner; I did yoga and pilates throughout my pregnancy and was walking 2-3 miles every day up to the day I delivered. But now the pain and stiffness is to the point that I have difficulty doing anything-walking, getting out of bed, standing up, bending over, picking up the baby, etc. I am scheduled to meet with a second rhuematologist in a few weeks but all the doctors seem to be at a loss right now. Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about this?

    1. I’m so sorry to hear that! I have read a lot about how many of the processed foods we eat & basically all wheat can cause inflammation in the body. I just saw this testimonial about a woman who had severe pain for several years which could never be diagnosed or treated. Once she started eliminating foods (and eating a paleo diet) she felt better. Here’s the link: http://www.thepaleomom.com/2012/12/real-people-real-paleo-jolaines-story-and-how-difficult-getting-an-accurate-diagnosis-can-be.html

      1. Thank you for the article-it is interesting (and scary!). I will definitely look into the paleo diet!

        1. Please consider the source when it comes to internet articles on medical topics. No harm switching to a paleo diet, of course, but for medical advice you should really see your doctor (as you have planned) or use reputable sites such as Cleveland Clinic or WebMD is pretty good. The lady in the story referenced obviously had a number of pre-existing medical conditions, so I don’t think the article is at all relevant for your situation.

    2. I presume your bloodwork showed normal thyroid levels? I’m really sorry you are in so much pain.

    3. Could it be related to carrying the baby? Maybe you should check in with a physical therapist.

      1. That’s what I was thinking, too. A physical therapist and/or a really good chiropractor. I bet your spine is all out of alignment from your pregnancy and you have inflammation/repetitive stress injury from carrying the baby around.

      2. Ditto. My back killed me when my kids were infants. Also check out the shoes you are wearing, especially when carrying the baby or pushing a stroller — you need support! Stroller-pushing is awful for posture and might lead to some joint pain???

      3. +1. After I had my son, I went in for physical therapy for an abdominal separation. The physical therapist asked me if anything else was bothering me, and I noted that my knees were killing me. I thought it was unrelated to the pregnancy, but she said that she sees it all the time after women give birth. My muscles had atrophied (was on modified bedrest for the last 7 weeks of pregnancy and then wasn’t cleared for exercise until 6 weeks after my c-section), so I needed to do some targeted strength training. My initial reaction was possibly lupus, but it sounds like you have already been cleared on that front.

        1. How did you know you had the abdominal separation? I worry about this, as I have some discomfort in my abdominal region, and it has been 3 months since giving birth

          1. There is a way to “test” for it – essentially, you lay flat on your back, place your fingers in the center of your abs by your belly button, and lift your head up. If you feel a space with your fingers between the two sides of your abs when you flex, then you have a separation. The separation is measured by how many fingers wide it is – mine was large, 4 fingers, but I was able to close it through physical therapy. Also, you can ask your ob to check for it. Oh, and one symptom is that when you try to sit up, your abs “tent” rather than stay flat. Its kind of hard to describe, but Google diastasis recti, and you should be able to find pictures/directions of how to determine if you have it.

    4. I know new moms are busy people, but have you been continuing with your yoga, pilates and walking since the baby was born? Could it be that your body is reacting to not exercising?

    5. This could be a ton of things. The first to come to my mind is Parkinsons, which can manifest itself in a lot of different ways. (Parkinsons runs in my family — I’m not a doctor, and I am definitely biased.) That’s unlikely given your age, and I’m sure there are plenty of other conditions and diseases with similar symptoms, but you may want to see a neurologist as well.

    6. This was me a year ago, less the baby. It sounds like you are on the right track with seeing another rheumatologist. I did physical therapy for a year, occupational therapy, acupuncture, elimination diets, homeopathic treatments, chiropractic therapy and saw multiple doctors, including neurologists. I even tried hiring a personal trainer in case I was just out of shape. Nothing worked and I kept getting worse. I asked several of the doctors if it could be a type of arthritis and they said no, they tested for that plus I would be in a lot more pain. I didn’t want to see any more specialist but when I explained the situation to my GYN that I had used for over 10 years she convinced me to try just one more rheumatologist. I had to wait over 3 months for an appointment but it was worth it. He was the first doctor to actually treat me for anything. He explained that there are a lot of autoimmune disorders that can’t be ruled out with a blood test – RA included. Also blood test results can change over time – mine did. After three months of treatment I am 65% better and have my life back. I may never run again but at least I can climb a flight of stairs without pain. Good luck and don’t give up!

      1. I second this. My first thought when I read your post was lupus. It took four years and more than ten different doctors before I got a diagnosis. I had one abnormal ANA test in a sea of normal tests and that is what got us in the right direction. I still almost always test negative for most of the lupus markers, but the treatment for mild lupus/RA (plaquenil) works for me so that’s what I’ve been on for almost ten years now. Do you have family history? I have two aunts who also ha ve rheumatological problems so that helped in diagnosing as well. My main symptoms were the pain you described, plus rashes in the sun and headaches. I have read things about a flare up occuring during/after pregnancy as well (on rod the many, many reasons I won’t be having kids).

        One of the things that helps most for me is exercise. My rhuematologist suggested it and I looked at her like she had two heads because I just spent 10 minutes telling her I was tired and could barely move. She suggested walking, hogan elliptical, etc. (anything low impact) and after making myself do it for a month or two I noticed a big difference in my aches and fatigue even while not in a flare.

        Please don’t stop trying doctors until you get an answer you are happy with. I could be nothing, it could be something, but you are the only one who knows your body.

    7. I posted about my dad awhile back when we were at our wits end. He was getting no relief, constant pain, had aged 10 years in a month. He was finally diagnosed and treated for PMR. I think it stands for poly-myalgia-rheumatica. No time to google. The symptoms are very specific though and are located in exact locations. You can compare your symptoms to the spots the disease can manifest. Good luck!

    8. Have you been checked for Crohns and/or colitis? One of the major symptoms of both is joint pain (I know weird for a GI condition) and pregnancy can be a triggering event for a first flair.

      1. And I’ll add to TCFKAG that celiac disease (also an autoimmune condition) can be triggered by pregnancy and has aching joints as one of its many symptoms. All-over arthritis like pain was certainly my symptom pre-diagnosis.

        Good luck and I hope you get the pain under control/gone.

    9. I had myself checked for that right after I had either my first or second kid– probably the first. I think I was just worn out and achy from picking him up all the time. Nothing ever came of it, but I still have a lot of neck/shoulder stuff that is clearly from having a desk job and being 40. Good times. But seriously I’m fine and I’m sure you are too– but of course you should get it checked out.

    10. Hi!
      Sounds very much like an autoimmune problem triggered by the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
      Not my specialty. Hope you get a rheumatologist who figures it out for you and gets you on the road to recovery. Echoing comments above, don’t give up; some of these can be tricky to diagnose and can be missed at first.
      Please let us know when you’re better. Hugs to you and your 4 mo :)

    11. Aloha. I had same symptoms, minus new baby, for about a decade. I tried to woman up and lawyer on. I couldn’t find a diagnosis, although one doctor suggested fibromyalgia.

      Anyway, ignoring it didn’t work. In the decade following the onset of these symptoms I have had: frequently dislocating left shoulder, repaired; torn in half right rotator cuff, repaired; cervical fusion; three knee surgeries for overstretched or torn ACL or other knee ligaments; and a cervical fusion. Oh, and a thumb repair (at base of thumb). Constant joint and muscular pain. At present, I can barely walk and am always exhausted. Also hard to sleep.

      Ultimate diagnosis: Erhlers-Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic connective tissue disorder; in particular, hypermobility syndrome. After my 7th surgery, my orthpod suggested something systemic must be going on, because, based on my multiple joint surgeries it appeared I had been a football player or had fallen out of an airplane.

      One visit with the right rheumatologist provided the answer. To be certain, he did some genetic testing. I hope you don’t have this disorder, because there is no cure. Only thing one can do is refrain from all exercise except in water. But, it does show there are a lot of undiagnosed auto-immune disorders out there. Keep searching and good luck to you.

      Oh, and be sure to rely on the kindness of strangers as well as loved ones. This is not the time to be warrior woman. I tried, and it just made everything much, much worse. Take care.

  6. I underpaid my Dec mortgage payment by $2.42 I don’t even know how I managed to do that. Luckily BOA waived the $80 fee for me. 2013, are you here yet?

    1. Do you have money in escrow for property taxes and/or homeowner’s insurance? BoA kept changing my payment amount as their formula for those things fluctuated over the past few months. It was really frustrating and took 3-4 calls to customer service to get the payments straightened out.

      1. Thanks for the tip! I just checked and yes, I do. I think it was my fault (though I swear since I paid through the web portal there’s no way I could underpay the minimum amount, which I clearly did). I’ll keep my eye on the escrow account to make sure nothing funny is going on.

      1. Yep, love that site and bought a bunch of ski gear earlier this year at crazy discounts. Sign up for their emails and you’ll get coupon codes just about every day between 25-40% off (better than the ones listed at the top of the website).

    2. try the clymb – it’s a flash sale site for outdoorsy/active/sporty stuff.

    4. Thanks for the recommendation! DH and I are headed to Snowshoe in a couple of weeks. It will be his first time skiing ever and my first time in over 10 years, so there should be lots of wipeouts, but lots of fun.

  8. Any last minute ideas for using almost $2000 of flex spending, today? I will probably buy some new glasses and sunglasses, but am at a loss as to what to do with the rest (I was supposed to have dental work done this month, but for various reasons it was pushed back, grrr).

    2. Glasses and sunglasses for sure – prescription sunglasses changed my life in that I am actually willing to wear glasses now. Do you need condoms or BC? Bandaids? I built a first aid kit last year with leftover FSA dollars.

      1. I believe over-the-counter items no longer qualify for FSA spending starting in 2012.

        1. Under my plan they qualify only if you have a prescription for them. (So if your doctor suggests you, for example, take Tylenol for your headache, get him/her to write you a prescription for it so you can use your FSA to buy it!)

        2. On my plan meds like Advil or vitamins don’t, but bandaids, antiseptic, ace bandages, still do.

          1. These changes are SO DUMB!!! Especially that vitamins no longer qualify. I swear, our health system is just completely screwed up!!!

      2. My plan also allows for first aid items. This can include heat and cold therapy, crutches, etc. So I went on Amazon and built up a lifetime supply of first aid items, purchased in bulk. That includes high-end ice packs of all sizes, heating pads, burn treatments, an ankle brace, bandages of all sorts, etc. I kept most and shared some.

        1. I have given first aid kits as gifts to early drivers/students starting college. You could buy a few extra for that sort of thing.

    4. I would get the best, baddest glasses I could fine. Maybe multiple pairs, maybe designer frames. Also if you wear contact lenses you can get a year’s supply of lenses and lens solution and eyedrops.

      1. Maybe this differs depending on your provider, but I know I can use 2012 money up until March 1 (or thereabouts) of 2013. Glasses and contacts are always a good stock up item though, or if you regularly use an OTC medication like Claritan or something, see if you can get your doctor to write a scrip you can pick up and stock up.

        1. Some plans allow for a grace period (which is what the extension is, unless you plan has a start date other than Jan 1). Others don’t – so it definitely depends on your company’s plan.

    5. Book and prepay for cosmetic/dermotological procedures, maybe? I think you can prepay under the FSA rules?

      1. Sunscreen expires-check the expiration date! (yes, I burnt my fair skin when using a “new” but expired sunscreen).

  9. Atlanta Ladies: Second request for availability on the weekends of Jan 12/13 or 19/20. I have already heard from a few people!

    Unrelated: you guys, I bought jeggings, after hating on them forever, and I have to confess that I kind of love them and want to wear them everywhere.

    1. Oh me too re jeggings! Mr. TBK will not stop giving me a hard time about it (I was maybe a bit harsh on the trend).

    2. What kind? I bought the BR jegging and am sending it back because I didn’t like it.

      1. Joe’s Jeans and Paige Denim (yes, I got two, and I plan to wear them ALL THE TIME).

        (In fact, I will confess that I wore them to the office yesterday (with a long top and a jacket and riding boots), thinking that none of the partners would be there, and instead everyone was there and wanted to hang out in my office and chat, SIGH.)

    3. This is slowly happening to me w.r.t jeggings.

      I think it’s because when I first saw them (like anything that was trendy), I thought they were weird and I immediately spotted the flaws about them. Repeatedly being bombarded with images everywhere of people in jeggings, and then seeing them everywhere on lots of people re-established what was normal. I’ve always said that people get their idea of what’s normal from the context around them. This is why advertising works (on me, at least.)

      I now think they’re normal and have even started to like them. The problem is, I spend so much time resistant that by the time I get on the trend, it’s past it and I’m past it. Oh well.

    4. Oooh, I’m in for an ATL outing! I’m around the 12th/13th but not the following weekend.

    5. In for an Atlanta meet-up! The weekend of 12/13 works slightly better for me. Thanks for organizing!

  10. Any tips for a lunch interview? I’ve never done one before and am feeling pretty nervous…

    1. Get something easy to eat, like soup or a piece of meat. No salad, pasta, or sandwiches if you can avoid it, because of the potential for mess. An interview over a meal is good because if you want to think about an answer for a second, you can take a sip of water.

      Good luck!

    2. Not sure if this is too late — Have a few really safe conversation topics in mind (recent holiday plans, yes; views on gun control, no) that you can trot out if you need to. Interviews over meals are usually there to see what you’re like outside an office setting. In most cases, the interviewer doesn’t want you to rattle off your skills and top projects of 2012. This is the “would I want to be trapped on a cross-country flight with this person” test. I’m assuming here that you’re having lunch as part of a longer interview day (e.g., 2-3 interviews at the office then lunch, or vice versa). If lunch IS the interview, you want to touch on all the things you’d touch on during an in-office interview, but I’d still say the person is looking at your social skills as well. For me the trick is always being comfortable enough to seem friendly and approachable, without letting my guard down too much (i.e., acting like I’m having lunch with friends instead of being on an interview).

      1. Thanks, it’s not today so not too late! :). Lunch is the only part of the interview and it’s not for a firm or a job that would usually include a meal interview.

  11. Impromptu Bay Area Holiday Meetup

    Sat, Dec 29th, 1pm
    Lisa’s Tea Treasures
    Santana Row, San Jose

    We’re talking about taking a nice walk around the shops afterwards if folks are up for it. We’d love to see you there!

    2. Just moved back to the Bay Area, I think I’ll join you. Do you have a secret signal to know it’s you? In theory, I could just walk up to the large table of well-dressed women, but Santana Row on a Saturday might have many tables that fit that description :)

      1. Well, I wouldn’t say we are very strict about being well-dressed. Email me at karenpadi at hotmail and I’ll send you a link to my online bio with picture.

  12. Thoughts on purchasing an extended warranty for your car?

    I have a 2008 entry-level luxury call (think BMW 3 series, Mercedes C Class) with 49k miles on it that’s fully paid off. I was initially planning on keeping it for another 2 years or so. It’s no longer under warranty, so I’m considering purchasing an extended warranty. However, the price for a 2 yr/25k mile extended warranty is $3,500, which seems high to me.

    If I trade in/sell my current vehicle & add $3,500, I could have a pretty solid down payment for a new/slightly used car with a brand new warranty that would last a lot longer than 2 years.

    What would you do in my situation?

    1. *I have a 2008 entry-level luxury car…

      Apologies – clearly it’s right before a holiday weekend & my brain is not fully turned on yet.

    2. Keep in mind that if you trade in/sell your current vehicle, you are also adding monthly payments to the mix.

      So, assuming you keep your current vehicle and the warranty covers most work, the maximum out of pocket for your car over next two years is $3500 (plus routine maintenance, gas etc).

      If you sell/trade, you avoid the $3500, but are likely paying $300-500/month in a car payment or $3600-6000 year. You will have a newer car, of course!

      I have never purchased an extended warranty, but I have found that at 5 years, stuff starts to “go” on my cars, thus necessitating repairs, which are costly and annoying from the perspective of time out of your schedule etc. However, I don’t think I have spent $3500 in two years-maybe a max of $1500/year. I would personally skip the extended warranty, keep the car until it is 7-8 years old, then sell/trade in. My hubby just drove an Audi until it was 10 years old, and we paid for repairs as we went. It’s almost always cheaper to repair a car than to buy a new one, but for some folks, it’s worth it to pay more and have the new car so YMMV.

    3. I self-insure for car repairs. I put money aside every month in a separate account and when I need a repair, even a major repair, it’s there. So I’d put that $3,500 in a “car repair” account and let it sit. If you need it to pay for repairs, it’ll be there.

      I also am always making “car payments” to myself (another separate account) so that when I am ready for a new car I (a) have a substantial down payment and (b) already have the payments in the budget.

      1. I’ve been making car payments to myself for the last few years now, so I do have a decent lump sum saved for a new vehicle.

        I may borrow your idea and “self-insure” my vehicle by setting aside money every month.

      2. I do the same – even on a luxury car, I hope $3500 in repairs over two years would be unusual.

        Also, FWIW, I had a five-year extended warranty on my car that ran out last year (thrown in as a sweetener by the dealer to give me comfort with buying a one-year-old car). In those 5 years we only made two claims, one of which was denied (and appealed and denied again). The sticker price on the policy was $1500 and they paid out $500 on the claim. Profit center, indeed.

    4. I second Senior Attorney’s recommendation. Given that your car still has well under 100k miles on it it is unlikely that you would need repairs in excess of $3500 in the next two years, unless of course you got into an accident, in which case it would be covered by your insurance.

  13. I got a sizable “surprise” performance bonus for this year! Yay!

    I’ve written about my horrible BigLaw experience and the psychological scars resulting from that. 4 years, commiserating on this site, and some cognitive behavioral therapy later, I feel like I’m a successful lawyer again.

    2. So happy to hear this. Congrats! Now I hope y0u spend the money on something to be nice to yourself with, and feel proud you have come over to the other side after this issue!

    3. In my circle of friends there has been a long string of bad news with bonuses. So nice to see a surprise good news bonus!

    4. That’s great! Good to hear someone is getting something…it makes me feel better. Congrats!

  14. Can a mental health day ever be a sick day? Like if I want to take it off in advance. No right? especially not if its new years eve I’m assuming. I just am at that point where I need a break. And want to reorganize my whole apartment.

    2. I vote yes in general, but probably not for NYE as your manager will probably look askance at that and think you’re just taking an extra weekend/holiday vacation day. Unless you have a sympathetic manager? Hope you get a break soon :)

      1. Yeah that is what I am thinking. It is going to be slow so I could take a vacation day, but I would much rather use a sick day. But I feel like I can’t really do that in advance. But sometime soon I think I will take one. I do have a sympathetic manager, I just dont want to look weak when he is so overworked himself.

    3. Yes. Just try to pick a day when the office is going to be slow and plenty of other people will be there to pick up the slack. If you have a back-up who isn’t going to freak out, let him/her know that you are planning to take a mental health day.

    4. Yes, I think so, but be careful on your office sick day policy. Some offices have the right to ask for a dr note any time you take a sick day, and taking NYE off might be a red flag for this.

  15. I wanted to say thanks for the activity suggestions earlier this week. I made sure to tell my cousin how much I love and support her, and in keeping with a long running family joke, how she’s one of the only family members I would share my (hypothical) lottery win with, that’s how much I love her! I’m terrible at mushy stuff, but I could tell she appreciated it.

    A local ice skating rink was open on Christmas so my cousins and I skated between seeing Les Mis and Rise of the Guardians. Les Mis was just so great. Rise of Guardians was much better than I expected; the animation was amazing, and I spent half the movie wondering why I found Jack Frost so attractive before realizing he was voiced by Chris Pine!

    1. So glad you found a way to connect with your cousin. However, I am mainly posting to +1 your attraction to any part of Chris Pine, including his disembodied voice. Yum. Not that I’m counting down the days until the next Star Trek movie, or anything…

  16. Update on my emerald green dress purchase from Land’s End: Either I am smaller than I thought, or their sizes run REALLY BIG. (Sorry for the caps, but I needed some emphasis there) I was expecting the dress to be snug, and have to lose some weight to fit into it. Not so.

    I am well endowed right now due to breastfeeding and the XL-Tall size dress is almost a bit loose on me. (I thought I was a size 18 post-partum, but maybe I lost more inches/pounds recently, I don’t know.) I expected the bust to be tight, but it isn’t at all.

    Based on my experience, I would almost say you should take a size down in their ponte knit dresses.

    I also want to note that the dress is a semi-wrap style (sewn through the mid-section with a built in belt) and it will work for breastfeeding. This is a godsend for working mothers like me, who feed their babies and dash out the door in the morning.

    Link to follow to avoid moderation.

      1. Black tights, leopard shoes? Or people are wearing nude shoes with black tights here in CA, that’s a novel look.

    3. I’m telling you! I am 5’10” and 190 lbs. I wear a 14 anywhere else. Only Lands’ End thinks I am a Medium or a 10.

      1. Right? Insanely large. I’m 5’7 and 160ish, normally wear a 10-12 everywhere and definitely wear Ms and 8s in LE (and J. Jill). The only thing I can think of is that maybe they are cut for curvier figures. Definitely have more weight to lose but I am pretty straight up and down.

        1. Oh boo! I ordered the medium yesterday (mostly because they were all out of smalls) thinking “c’mon, a size 10ish HAS to be a medium.” I’m 5’9″ and about 160lbs (trying to get back down to 150lbs). Sounds like it’s going to get returned.

    4. I am boob-tastic (H Cup) and Lands End runs TTS for me. I think they’re cut for well-endowed women. They’re the only place I can find button-front tops and dresses that fit.

    5. I’m sorry to hear that as I was about to buy the dress on your recommendation! It looked lovely. However, I’m not surprised it runs big as that has been my general experience with Lands End. I really like their casual dresses, so I hate being sized out of it when I can fit into every other major retailer.

  17. Update on that second round of news I was waiting for…it’s GOOD and hopefully there will be more good in the next 2 weeks. Dear Santa…

  18. Happy Friday and happy New Years! Just had to tell someone because after 2 years of dealing with fertility issues I just found out I’m pregnant!!!!! Jumping out of my skin!!!

  19. Apropos to nothing, but I printed out a picture of the haircut of the model in the bottom right hand picture and brought it in for my haircut a couple weeks ago and it came out great! So unexpected benefits of this site.

    1. That’s awesome. I was supposed to have my haircut last week but rescheduled since ‘there is no one around to see it anyways’. I discovered mousse while housesitting and am kind of in love with my wild curls.

    2. Incidentally, I’ve found a great trick for better haircuts. When I get one I like, I hold the phone at arm’s length and snap a few pictures from different angles. Then the next time I’m in, I just whip it out and give the hairdresser an instant refresher on what I want, or point out precisely what I want different this time. I tried to make a big effort to learn the correct technical terms a while back, without much success, pictures work much better. And according to my hairdresser, who was really happy about it last week, this works much better when it’s pictures of you rather than of magazines, as it shows your own hair clearly. But of course it’s mostly good for us stick in the muds who’re mostl pleased not to be surprised by something too outlandish and unplanned :-).

  22. I have discovered that the only Pandora stations that translate to good work background noise for me are an Ella Fitzgerald based jazz station, and a station based upon…Taylor Swift’s Love Story.

    The elitist alt-rock chick deep inside me is deeply ashamed.

    1. I can top that – mine is based on Kesha. Can’t tell you how it works, but it is seriously the only way I can focus on a busy day.

    3. I have Ella’s Songbooks on my kitchen player so I can sing along while I cook. Not that I can actually carry a tune but no problem if it’s just me, Ella and the dinner fixings.

  23. OK, it’s a slow Friday and I’m planning my scuba-vacation in a few weeks.

    So, for scuba diving, I wear a wetsuit over a speedo-type one-piece. I’m not a little girl and I’m looking for a swimming costume that I can wear outside of diving for snorkeling and lounging on the beach. Honestly, I’d wear my wetsuit but that would look silly.

    What is the opinion on women wearing board shorts that are almost knee-length for swimming? I’m not religious but I just feel safer when traveling solo if I dress more modestly (I know–I’m a victim of the patriarchy and feeling this way is so not feminist). I’m thinking about the Lands End shorts:

    http://www.landsend.com/pp/womens-aquaterra-supplex-board-shorts~231650_59.html?source=pla&cm_mmc=128660126&applyPromo=5

    Thanks!

    1. Do you feel comfortable in the outfit? Then I think you answered your own question. You could even add a rash guard shirt if you wanted to look sporty and modest. I would swim in the shirt, maybe not the shorts (personal preference for movement in the water). Just keep the shorts handy to cover up. With the emphasis on protecting skin from the sun and the trendiness of surfer gear, I think you are fine.

    2. When you say swimming, do you mean actual swimming, or just splashing around/lying on the beach? If the former, I agree with mascot that I wouldn’t swim in the shorts because it’s harder to move; I’d get a rash guard instead and cover up the top only while in the water.

    3. Except for tourists, most water-women in Hawaii wear board shorts, often Roxy brand or other local suppliers. Go for it!

  24. Just found out that my boss is going to be out of the office for the next two months for health reasons. This leaves me pretty much in charge of the Corporate department. This could either be really good for my career, or really bad. I guess you can guess which one I am going to try for.

    Cripes, so much for hoping for a quiet few weeks at the beginning of January….

  25. Any recommendations for late-December things to do/see/eat in (old) Quebec City? SO and I booked the trip last-minute a while back partly to take advantage of a sale on flights that was about to end (Yes Porter, Canadian ladies) and after a few crazy weeks at work suddenly it’s tomorrow! We’re on a bit more of a budget than usual after a big trip in November and I don’t ski. Or speak much french… But hey, just read that Boy George is DJing at the new years party.

    1. Him, been a while since I’ve been but just wandering around the old town is always fun! You could probably rent snow shoes/skates somewhere. Quebec City is definitely more francophone than Montreal but in the touristy areas you should almost always be able to find someone who speaks English. Have fun! I may be heading there in a few weeks myself :).

  26. Job search vent:

    At the end of what seemed like a successful interview, the hiring manager told me she thought I’d be great at the job, we discussed compensation, and she told me to discuss with DH while she talked details with her partners so that I could let her know if I’d accept a formal offer. Well, two weeks later, she’s now changed her mind. Obviously there was no formal offer (only a verbal discussion of one to come), but it all seems unprofessional and frustrating. Why ask me to discuss with DH whether we were ready to commit to a job (that would have involved a move) before you’ve made your decision?! We could have discussed desired compensation etc without her telling me she was planning to make an offer and just wanted to hammer out details. And why decide to tell me you changed your mind in the middle of the holidays? Why not wait a few more days? It wouldn’t have changed anything (not like I would give notice at my current job or make plans to move without a formal offer in hand)…but it wouldn’t have cast a shadow on my mid-holiday birthday.

    <>

    On a different but related note…anyone ever re-apply to a mid-size company that rejected you before? Not the same one, but there’s an opening at a company where I interviewed when it was a small startup (several years earlier). I know I made it far in the process, down to two, so it’s not like I was a completely horrible fit. But the job is in the same unit, though different position.

    1. Ugh, that really is unprofessional, Anon. My sympathies, and though it’s small consolation at least you won’t have to work with someone so obnoxious.
      To answer your question — I have not, but a good friend of mine did, and got the offer on the second time. I’d actually referred her for the first position, and she was rejected before her interview. However, she applied for a different position, in the same department, just a few months later, and actually got the job.

    2. Sympathies. I am in the reverse situation. I have been strung along for more than a month by a candidate who told me straight up she would take our job if we offered it to her, then came back to us for more money, which I then had to fight my company to get for her, and then silence. And some more silence. It turns out she really wanted to use our offer to leverage the salary on another offer, the one she really intended to take all along.

      So my candidate is not an attorney, but if she were I would say – I hope she’s going to work for the manager you interviewed with. They deserve each other.

    3. That sucks, anon. But definitely apply to the other company again. First, it’s changed a lot, it’s really not the same place. And you can always argue that you liked them a lot back then and are still interested, which would make you stand out as a motivated but not stalking candidate :-).

  27. Ladies! Any suggestions on how to entertain folks in Chicago? We have a couple staying with us tomorrow before they head back home on Sunday. They’ll be arriving early afternoon, and I’m weirdly blanking on activities – maybe it’s because they’re actually friends of DH, more than mine. Any ideas would be most welcome – thanks!

    1. Zoo lights! LPZ or Brookfield depending on where you live. Spiced wine and nocturnal animals = awesome. Also, ice skating in millennium park makes for an excellent outing, and the bar on site makes a mean cocktail (to enhance your skating abilities, clearly).

      Really, these were my go to winter Chicago date ideas when I lived there, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work for visitors too…

      1. I have a nicely thought out comment awaiting moderation, but I used a Forbidden Word (c***tail). It’ll show up eventually.

        Zoo lights and ice skating in millennium park are my top two.

        1. Excellent ideas! Thank you, Lady Enginerd! Really, you should be called Lady EngiCOOL.
          Sorry, couldn’t resist :( Anyway, thanks!

    2. wander state st and go shopping/look at the huge tree in macys and windows/go to garretts popcorn. a warning for skating at millenium park is that the line is very very long and it’s pretty crowded. i also love the art institute and its in that neighborhood too. book of mormon is also playing (but pricy pricy pricy…i just super wish i cuold go)

  28. I may need to post again later to get more feedback, but I’ll ask my question anyway!

    My husband and I received a Blu-Ray player for Christmas and now need to decide which instant streaming provider we want to go with. We were thinking of going with Netflix (because we’ve used it before), but I’m now rethinking. I’m strongly considering Amazon Prime over Netflix because we would also get the benefit of 2 day shipping.

    Can anyone give any insight into what they’ve liked/disliked about Prime, Netflix or any of the others (such as Hulu Plus)??? TIA!

    1. I’m actually considering switching from Netflix to Amazon Prime, as the movie selection on Netflix Instant (for me) has been very limited. Its TV selections are good, but as far as movies, I think it’s really lacking. O

    2. We have Netflix and Amazon Prime (mainly for the shipping). We watch most things on Netflix – Amazon does not have that much that we want to watch available for free, or at least there is a lot of overlap with Netflix, and we go to Netflix first. I use Hulu to watch new stuff. I got Hulu Plus for a month to catch up on a show, but you still get commercials and things became unavailable suddenly, even with the Plus subscription, so I definitely didn’t like it as much as Netflix.

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