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Coffee Break: Jet Set Travel Tote for MacBook Pro

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MiCHAEL Michael Kors Macbook Tote | Corporette

I am always interested when I find a working girl's cult item that I hadn't known about before — it seems like the Jet Set tote from Michael Michael Kors might be one of them.

A few readers sung their praises on the best interview totes thread, it's highly rated at all of the stores that carry it, and the bag is so popular that it's available as a special Macbook tote through the Apple Store (which also has some from Cole Haan and Kenneth Cole) and Michael Kors for $299.

The non-laptop version of the bag (dimensions: 14.5″ x 6″ x 10.5″) comes in black, white, brown, and a ton of colors at Nordstrom, Zappos, and Piperlime for $189-$278. Jet Set Travel Tote for MacBook Pro

Readers — are you fans of the Jet Set tote (either as a laptop bag or not)? Which is your favorite laptop tote? Or — do you prefer laptop sleeves?

(L-#)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

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243 Comments

  1. I want this tote SO MUCH it’s not even funny but I just cannot justify $200 for a tote bag at the moment. But said tote would be such a wonderful way to transport my new MacBook Air (which I can’t wait to get YAY) to grad school. Sigh.

    Would love recommendations for cheaper priced, similar style totes that can house a laptop (probably need a dedicated laptop sleeve) + notebook + pens + purse items and will work to carry around as a general school bag.

    1. TCFKAG might have some good recommendations.

      Have you tried Wilson’s Leather? I just glanced at the site, and there is a top-zip pebbled leather tote for $99. It doesn’t have a dedicated laptop sleeve. There is the Wilson’s Leather Madison Laptop Compatible Tote for $99 too.

      2. The tote I use for my laptop is from Wilson Leather and it has been great. Definitely a good place to look.

    3. Thanks guys! Should have specified that I’m looking for something more in the $50-75 range, since the computer is eating up most of the available funds… sigh.

      1. Try Marshalls if you have one near you. I generally hate stepping foot into Marshalls, but the one thing that I think they pretty reliably have is relatively good quality bags for cheap.

        1. Thanks! There’s actually a Marshalls right nearby but I don’t think I’ve been in recently and didn’t think of it as an option. I’ll check it out!

        2. Also check TJ Maxx. Same company, but TJM is better for handbags (Marshalls is better for shoes).

    4. In some grad schools you’d be the odd one out if you carried a tote rather than a backpack. Plus, it would be more practical (more space for lunch/workout clothes/books and easier to carry heavy loads when you’re walking around campus a lot). I know you didn’t ask but FWIW I’d suggest waiting to start school before you decide!

  3. Just FYI, the Extra Large version of the Jet Set is part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale for $218 (usually $328). They’re offering it in black, dark slate (gray), and iris (purple).

    I have the Large Jet Set in navy and I absolutely LOVE it.

  5. So I’ve been experiencing this interaction more often than I’d like:

    Person: So, what do you do?
    Me: I’m an attorney.
    Person: Oh. You mean a real attorney or a paralegal?

    I find it very frustrating (and a bit offensive) that people feel the need to clarify what I told them. Have any of you ladies ever expereinced this? How do you respond?

    1. Wow, that’s incredibly offensive–because it suggests that you don’t know your own job title, or worse, that you’re lying about it. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. My favorite line is always Ms. Manner’s innocent-sounding “Why do you ask?”

    2. When I was younger, yes. Never now. I noticed that it came from people who didn’t have much occasion to speak with people of the professional classes, so they didn’t know any other lawyers and probably found it more plausible that I would be a paralegal.

    3. Yeah – that would be an extremely frustrating response – especially since I can’t imagine a male ever getting asked that. But really, try to remember that the person is mostly just revealing their own ignorance when they ask that. Because anyone who knows much of anything about the law knows its not really kosher for a paralegal to represent themselves as an attorney.

      Though, there is a fairly serious problem in a lot of cities especially of people who are not lawyers (whether they be paralegals or something else) holding themselves out as being able to provide legal services. So I might reply something like (if this is someone you’re having more than a two second convo with) “No – I’m an attorney. Paralegals aren’t really allowed to call themselves attorneys. Why do you ask?”

      1. I like this response a lot, and I think TCFKAG is right that there’s a problem with plenty of less-than-qualified individuals holding themselves out as highly-qualified. I also get this response, and I also find it obnoxious, so I have started avoiding the whole problem by just telling people I work at a law firm. They can draw their own conclusions. (I realize this is not a good long-term plan, but at least until I’m a few years older I feel it works.)

        1. Aren’t you still a student, though? So neither attorney nor paralegal would be accurate anyway.

        2. In social situations also go with the “I work at X”, unless I feel that dropping the L-bomb (as I like to call it), will help me in the conversation…but usually if I need to say what I do to be given the time of day from someone, I usually don’t like them all that much in the first place.

          Obviously in professional situations (or quasi-professional…like alumni events, which are partially for making friends, partially for networking) I just say that I’m a lawyer.

          1. Not sure if this is what you meant, but please don’t feel like it’s braggy or some kind of faux pas to say you’re a lawyer. I think I felt that way as a new lawyer because most of my friends weren’t as focused on their careers as I was. I felt like people would think I’m stuck up when I’m really just answering a question. If I could go back, I’d tell myself never to be embarrassed of my accomplishments, and that being confident in myself and my life choices does not mean that I lack respect for other people or their life choices.

          2. I definitely always feel like I’m bragging, but I also never want to become one of those lawyers that..well, always talks about being a lawyer so I try to avoid it because that also? I’m just always afraid of coming off as stuck-up, particularly as I’m sometimes a little reserved, on the border of cold, when I first meet people, and so if I say lawyer, and then I’m quiet all night, I seem stuck up, when really…I’m just a lawyer who is reserved in new social situations.

            But your point is well-received, I did work for it, and I shouldn’t hide it.

          3. I think it’s just a fact that in some circles the “L bomb” (love that) inevitably becomes a conversation killer. Not often, but I have definitely been in circumstances where it’s a little like, “whoa, you’re a grown up” and it then requires me to work extra to get the conversation back on a comfortable playing field. Again not often and not with actual friends, but definitely enough that I’ve noticed it. And I have a good friend who works at the D.A.’s office and it’s ever so much worse for her because she has to deal with really dumb comments like “are you going to tell on me if I do X?” Granted, why would anyone want to continue a conversation with someone who says dumb things like that and all, but sometimes when you’re in a social setting it’s just easier to avoid the whole conversation if you can…

          4. Huh. I’ve never thought my being a lawyer was so special that I couldn’t share it. Distasteful to some, yes, but not braggy. I know a lot of moderately intelligent and modestly accomplished people who are lawyers. There are over a million of us in the U.S. That makes us 1 in 300, or 1 of 1 million, not 1 in a million.

      2. I agree with TCFKAG’s response “No – I’m an attorney. Paralegals aren’t really allowed to call themselves attorneys. Why do you ask?”

      3. I missed that you passed the bar! thats awesome and congrats! (I hope I’m not confusing you with someone else, if this has been a long time than pretend I said this years ago :)

        1. Thank you! Although in your defense, there are a lot of us have “grown up” on this blog.

      4. At my firm, all of our paralegals are attorneys, and that’s true for several other firms in town. For different reasons in my firm, none of them are practicing attorneys (didn’t want to take out-of-state bar, didn’t want to re-take bar, not offered atty position but admitted to bar). So it’s not necessarily such an unusual question around my neck of the woods.

    4. That’s insane! I can’t believe anyone is saying that! What on earth makes them think you’d say you were a lawyer if you weren’t? I can’t even fathom. I don’t know what I’d do if that happened to me. I think I’d just be incredibly confused.

      1. well, I have to say, my sister-in-law’s new boyfriend is a paralegal, and introduced himself to us as an attorney… It’s only because my brother is an attorney too and I asked him if he had any particular specialization that he said ‘actually, I’m paralegal’ ….
        so it might be more common that you would think….

        2. Wow. I’ve been practicing for a long time and I’ve never heard a paralegal do this. You would think someone in the legal field would know that attorneys are licensed and that there are rules against the unauthorized practice of law, so they should be careful about how they represent themselves. Hopefully he (or anyone else who would say this) isn’t giving legal advice.

          1. I’m currently a paralegal (in the process of applying to law school), but very much aware of the fact that I am NOT an attorney. I want to be one…but until I pass the bar, I know that I am most certainly not a lawyer.

            That being said, the assumed demotion doesn’t only happen to lawyers. I work in a very small (predominantly male) law firm as a senior legal assistant. I’m 23 and by far the youngest person in my office. I worked my ass off to get this job (I replaced an attorney who had been working as legal assistant), and I take a lot of pride in the work that I do. My boss has passed on words of commendation from every attorney here.

            I am regularly referred to as “the secretary” by clients or by brokers (we deal with a lot of real estate), and I take a lot of offense to that. We have a secretary and an office assistant, and they both do amazing work, but I don’t appreciate–and am insulted by–the assumption that because I am a young woman that I must be a secretary. (And they always say it with some degree of derision or contempt, which is doubly insulting, given that secretaries work pretty damn hard!)

    5. This is annoying. And timely considering an interaction I had in the elevator this morning that made me smile. I held the door open for an older gentleman who saw that I had pressed the elevator button for a floor that was part of the same firm we both work for. We had never met before and introduced ourselves. He asked how long I had been with the firm and what practice group I was in. The man assumed I was an attorney! I was amused at myself that I was surprised by his (correct, by the way) assumption of my position since we hear so many stories of assumptive demotions. Made me smile.

      1. This is heartwarming! Especially because we so often hear “well, when he was starting his career women were only secretaries so you can’t blame him for assuming you are too…” and such.

    6. One of my co-workers has twice recently been asked by court staff if she is an attorney. (she is an attorney. in a suit. holding a case file) . So frustrating

      1. A security guard at court when I was going through the metal detector once asked me if I was a juror. I was in a suit carrying a redweld. I mean, I know I looked kind of young, but have you ever seen a juror wear a suit?

      2. In my old small town court, when I had gone through security and said hi to the same security guard literally dozens of times, *always* in a suit and pumps, that security guard once stopped me and asked if I was a runner. What! I know that I look young, but a runner! What runner wears a suit and heels!?!

      3. I was once asked by my client, after he watched me argue his case, in court robes no less, if I was thinking of going to law school. There’s just nothing you can do sometimes…

      4. I was once asked by a small claims mediator if I was a law student. In my mind, I said, “yes, because we just send our law student interns out to court all unsupervised and whatnot.” But instead I just took it as a complement that I look young and said no, that I’d been practicing for, I think about 3 or 4 years at that point, but just hadn’t been down to small claims court for a while.

    7. Yes, this hapens to me alot, in court all the court clerk’s think I am some ONE’s PARALEGAL, but NEVER an attorney at LAW, and counsel of RECORD for the defendant/respondent. Just b/c we are women why cant they figure it out? We go to law school, get JD’s, and take the BAR!

      What do they think, that we did all that to get some smelley guy coffee and muffin’s? OF COURSE NOT! We have to SIEZE the power we have and to LET men know that we are all JD Profesional’s and we are ADMITTED to the BAR. FOOEY!

      Even Alan, my ex, who was ONLEY a BS/CPA tried to put me down and make me make him coffee and get food for him b/c he was to busy to be bothered. We should NEVER let men consider us as their hand servant’s. We are BETTER THEN EQUAL to MEN. DOUBEL FOOEY!

      Myrna realy puts down men who try to mess with her head at work. She is very pretty so the men think she is dumb. But she is smart and they wind up lookeing dumb when she show’s them up in front of their manageing director’s! YAY MYRNA!!!!!

    8. Oddly, nobody has asked me about being a paralegal, but that may be because I’m a B.

      I do get the opposite, “oooh, hot shot NYC lawyer” which I really don’t think of myself as since I don’t act like Harvey from Suits…

      Although, for a few blissful months, I got to be a “law clerk.”

      2. So while I love Suits, a big part of me hates it because now when I meet new people, they ask me if my life is like Suits, and then they ask if I’m more like Harvey or Mike

    9. Not excusing it all(!), but have you tried using the word lawyer instead? Attorney sounds formal and (maybe?) confusing but everyone knows what a lawyer is.

      1. Ok. This is something I am really curious about. For an informal poll, do people prefer Lawyer or Attorney? I can’t seem to get that Starr Jones SNL skit out of my head (where Tracey Morgan says, “AND I’M A LAWYER!”) so I always say attorney, but is that more pretentious? Curious what the lawyers and non-lawyers out there think.

        1. Canadians never use attorney. Like ever.

          We use “lawyer” or, if you’re in the mood, “barrister and solicitor”, though really, even though we’re all technically both, most are either a barrister OR a solicitor.

          As a related question, what is the deal with Esquire as a a suffix?

          1. I’m always amused at solicitor because to me that’s an annoying person that rings my doorbell trying to sell me crap I don’t want.
            I don’t know why people use esquire, and I use lawyer and attorney interchangeably.

          2. I think people use esquire when there are zero context clues that they are an attorney. Like – Wildkitten, Esquire; Dog-Walker. And also I used as much as possible it for the 24 hours immediately after I passed the bar.

          3. Esq. doesn’t mean anything in the U.S., but U.S. lawyers use it anyway. Back in the middle ages, an esquire used to mean a candidate for knighthood. Over time it became an honorific simply connoting respect. Blackstone and Edward Coke used it and drew up lists of those they deemed worthy of the title for various sons of peers, etc. But it was always arbitrary and never reserved exclusively for lawyers. No one actually knows exactly why it became so commonly used by lawyers in the U.S., but technically it has no relation to law.

            Personally, I never use it because early on in law school I worked with a very sharp woman who told me to “put it on correspondence to other lawyers but never after her name because other lawyers like it, but she knows that she is not actually an esq.” The empty puffery of the “title” (and her explanation) kind of stuck with me, so I just always think of it as silly to put after my own name.

        2. I say lawyer; I don’t think “attorney” is pretentious really (perhaps antiquated, though), but so many of the hacks in the obnoxious TV ads say (scream) “I’m Attorney AEK” that I just assume there is something wrong with doing it that way.

        3. As a non-lawyer, I’d have to say that attorney definitely sounds more formal. Lawyer is a title that directly deals with your profession – the law. What does an attorney do anyway? What is attorning?

          1. Attorning just makes me think of conflicts of laws and attorning to a jurisdiction.

            I need more non-law friends.

          2. I remember hearing the word “attorney” for the first time as a kid and because it was new and fancy, insisted on always answering the question, “What do your parents do?” with “My dad is an attorney.” Elementary school me thought it was a big deal :)

          3. I say lawyer for this reason. It is more descriptive. I always think people mistakenly use attorney to sound pretentious, but really anyone can be an attorney — an attorney in fact.

        4. Ok so to me, attorney sounds more professional than lawyer…
          Although, I once had a law professor say that the difference between an “attorney” and a “lawyer” was about 50 floors. This prof was a very seasoned litigator and definitely preferred to be considered a lawyer.

        5. I always say lawyer, precisely because it seems less formal and stuffy. Not a fan of esquire at all.

        6. While I assume that most people responding would be able to claim both, I’ve heard that lawyer and attorney are actually not interchangeable – lawyer means you have a J.D. (but didn’t necessarily pass the bar), while attorney means that you have a J.D. and are also licensed to practice law. Is that true? Does it just apply to so few people that it doesn’t really matter?

          1. P, you are required to pass the bar in order to call yourself a lawyer or an attorney. Unfortunately, you don’t get a title with a J.D….. aside from being a J.D. :)

        7. I say attorney because it sounds more formal and that’s how I’m trying to sound when I do trot out the J.D. in conversations.

      2. I had a conversation a few years ago with a man who was giving us a bid to do some home contracting work. He asked what I do and I said I worked at a law firm. He asked if I was a paralegal and I said No, I was actually an attorney. He asked if I was planning on going to law school someday. I gave him kind of a funny look and said that I already had. He then asked me why I wasn’t a lawyer, then, if I had gone to law school. I had to explain that attorney and lawyer are the same thing. Since then I just say that I am a lawyer when asked – much less potential confusion to clear up!

      3. Hmm, I guess I avoid “lawyer” because it sounds like “liar” and also leads to many ppl exclaiming, “I hate lawyers” whereas there aren’t as many “I hate attorneys” jokes… it just doesn’t roll off the tongue the same way.

    10. Thanks for the responses ladies! Good (and really, really bad) to know I’m not alone. And I use attorney and lawyer interchangeably and never really thought about it before.

    11. Do you work for a legal aid program or a public defender’s office? Because it’s not a daily occurrence for me, but pretty close. I love when clients tell me “Well, I’m going to go hire a real lawyer.” Okay, you do that. Me and my law license are just gonna hang out here. Lately the trend at my office is that everyone thinks we are paralegals because we are “legal aides.” It doesn’t help that I can’t for the life of me get the Social Security Administration to acknowledge that I am an attorney and not a non-attorney representative. I like to believe that’s just how they code me because we don’t do fee agreements. But deep in my heart, it hurts a little.

      1. Ugh, I HATE the “real lawyer” thing. I hadn’t thought of the “legal aide” confusion, but I think some of my clients think that because we don’t charge them, we’re not really lawyers. It’s about the only time I ever have the impulse to say, “I went to Harvard.”

      2. I work for SSA as an attorney and when a judge or hearing reporter hasn’t clearly marked you as an attorney and I can’t google the answer (which is often the case for legal aid lawyers in our area), I will mark you as a non-attorney. You are correct that we definitely rely on fee agreements a lot to tell who is what. :( Sorry but I feel like it’s a better mistake to make than marking someone an attorney who is not. I definitely understand your frustration though and wish there was a better way!

    12. I started working as an ALJ right after I was admitted. Whenever people asked what I did, I’d say “I’m a lawyer.” They invariably ask what type, to which I’d answer, “I’m an ALJ and I hear and decide [these types of cases].” To which they’d respond, “Oh, like an intern for the judge?” I’d answer (typically with a smile and huge dose of humility): “No, I am the judge.” I get that it’s not typical to start off as an ALJ right out of law school, but it was always a weird interaction.

      RE: the distinction between an attorney and a lawyer, I use lawyer in reference to work that furthers the law, but not in an advocacy role. I use attorney in reference to work that involves advocacy. But maybe I’m weird that way.

    13. I have had similar questions many times. Also, people who find out I am doing a judicial clerkship frequently ask me if it is an internship. To which I am tempted to say, “No, it is a REAL job.”

  6. I have it in the signature. I use it to carry my 11 inch Macbook Air. It is one of the only accessories I will use in a signature print because it looks subtle and classy. Also, it is the perfect work/tech bag. The signature is not leather but has been highly durable. Take off the honkimg medallion and reduce the weight of the bag by 25%!

  9. I feel like this tote has been everywhere I look for at least the last 2 years, and I’m wondering if it’s veering into only-used-by-suburban-soccer-moms-and-high-school-girls territory the way that Coach bags seem to have done in the last five years or so.

    It looks like a great bag, but I’m not convinced I could carry it to the BigLaw NYC job I’ll be starting in the fall without looking like a suburban wannabe.

    1. Probably a wise move to not buy it. There are a ton of “great” accessories I don’t buy because I definitely would not want someone to mistake me for a BigLaw NYC job wannabe.

      1. If you want to pretend that image plays no role whatsoever in a career, particularly a woman’s career, by all means, give that theory a whirl.

        The fact is, I’ve witnessed plenty of women – some on this site – talk down about certain brands of bag (Coach comes to mind most immediately, but I’m sure if I searched old threads, I could find more) precisely because it’s what the soccer moms and teenaged girls are carrying, regardless of the actual quality of the item. I’d rather not kick off my career with comments like that happening behind my back (or to my face, although let’s be honest, behind my back is more likely).

        1. As an executive who’s been in the workplace for 20 years, these comments make me chuckle. I am far too busy at work to be concerned about colleagues gossiping about my brand of purse. I’m pretty sure nobody notices or cares. Make sure all of your accessories are well cared-for and of a decent quality, and don’t give it a second thought. Really.

          1. I haven’t been out nearly that long, but long enough that I notice quality and desirable traits before I notice “brands”

            Really, I think these comments only serve to spur the “catty women” theory.

          2. +1. No one in my office even noticed when I went from blonde to dark brown hair. No one has noticed that I leave the office several times a week in full-on yoga gear to go to class. (I was recently asked “you do yoga?” by someone I’ve worked for for 7 years.) Trust me, no one will notice your purse.

        2. or….you could just realize that people who would judge you based on the fact that you have a Coach bag are complete idiots and losers, who literally have nothing better to do with their time, and just buy what you want to buy and wear regardless of what other people think.

          Fine point: is there such a thing as a “suburban wannabe”? If one wanted to live in the suburbs, wouldn’t one just go and live there? Do you think a lot of people who live in NYC are thinking, Ugh I wish I could live in the suburbs but they’re just too darn affordable and you get soooo much space?

          1. I am a suburban wannabe. But mainly because I went from living in inner suburbs my whole life to living in rural BFE. I would kill to be lost in suburban hell these days!

          2. i think the phrase suburban wannabe refers to folks who live in the suburbs but wanna live in the city.

          3. @anon atty: oh. that makes a lot more sense. i mean, it still makes zero sense, but i can see that there would be a group of people who fit into that category.

        3. I’m unconvinced that a bag is going to ruin a career if you’re an otherwise competent employee, especially in an environment where people will be too busy to give you a second look. I don’t think I could tell you what kind of bag any of my colleagues carry.

          1. Agree. Any time we start talking about purses/logos/brands and what kind of message that will convey at work, I feel like Warner in Legally Blond:

            Q: What kind of purse was your colleague carrying?
            Me: Um…a black one?

          2. I would only notice a Coach bag if it were pink, sparkly or covered with the “logo” print.

    2. Maybe if you bought it in the patchwork quilt option.

      Actually, I briefly had that thought about the LV Neverfull and even though 1/10 of the people in the subway, on the way to work, etc, have it, I DON’T CARE. I LOVE IT.

      If a ton of other people have it too, it’s because they realize how awesomely utilitarian it is.

      End rant.

    3. Seriously this is absurd. I love to be unique and I pride myself on having an individual sense of style, but if I like something, I don’t care if its also loved by suburbanites or whatever. And neither does anyone else. Here’s a hint: People are way too wrapped up in themselves to worry about what kind of purse you are carrying. Nobody is thinking that deeply about your choice of accessories, beyond, “Oh, that looks nice” or “Her scuffed shoes/ratty purse need to be replaced.”

      1. Agreed! I recently bought a the Dooney and Bourke Charleston Shopper (which fits my Macbook pro and/or any papers I need with me perfectly), and I love it! When I was in high school, a ton of girls I knew had these purses, and I couldn’t afford one. I don’t make a ton of money, so this was an investment for me, and it’s beautiful, quality caramel leather. If someone, attorney or not, judges me based on the purse I carry, it’s a pretty clear indicator that they are not someone I want to work with or for.

    4. I keep hearing about these high school girls who carry Coach purses. I live in a fairly affluent area and I’ve never seen this phenomenon. Most (I say most, admittedly not all) of the high school girls I know carry bags their mothers bought them at Walmart or Claire’s, if they carry bags at all. Who are these Coach-toting high schoolers? Just curious…

      1. On Long Island (in Long Island? I don’t know, I grew up in Queens) there are a lot of Coach-toting high schoolers. Although in the fancy towns they go right to the Prada and the LV.

      2. Nonny, really?!! My little sister is in high school and she is way too old for Claire’s. I think that’s more like elementary school age. My little sister has coach purses and wristlets – either from the coach factory outlets or from what I have bought her!

      3. They exist. The NYC suburbs (NJ & Long Island) are chockful of them. Whether that should influence anyone’s sartorial choices is a different question, but I will be the first to confess that if too many people have something, I start to not want it. Maybe that’s shallow or silly, but it’s not really any different from how I hate the color of bright dark blue (cobalt?) that’s so often featured on this blog or the fact that I will never understand wearing sneakers with a suit/dress no matter how sensible or comfortable it may be.

      4. I grew up in suburban Milwaukee (yes, that’s a thing) and 10+ years ago when I was in high school there was a lot of Coach. When I go visit my parents most females over 16 seem to have a Coach or equivalent.

        1. I grew up in Madison, and most of the affluent girls in my (public) high school carried Dooney & Bourke, Coach, or some similar brand of bags.

      5. When I was in high school 10 years ago, lots of girls in my suburban PA high school had Coach or Dooney & Bourke bags. We weren’t rich, but we were well off enough that whatever money we made in our after school jobs was disposable and went to fashion and other fun things.

      6. They were all in high school with me(5 years out), now that my siblings are in middle and high school it stretches even as far as 7th/8th grade.
        Some have hand me down bags from their moms or outlet/Marshalls coach bags… others just have overly indulgent parents from our low cost of living high income area.

      7. I don’t know, maybe it’s regional. I deal with high school girls on a fairly regular basis and many of them wouldn’t be caught dead carrying a purse in the first place – all they have is their school bags. Those who do have purses have very cheap ones for the most part. The main exceptions I see are from wealthy Japanese, Taiwanese and Iranian families (yes, very specific ethnicities in my city) who often skip straight into LV or something similar.

        1. I live in an affluent suburb of Portland, Oregon, and the highschool girls here definitely carry Coach. They also drive Audi and BMW, though, so they are just beating me all around ;)

    5. I generally agree with the comments about your “suburban wannabe” statement, but I will just let it go as one of the very many foibles and faux pas of the baby lawyer. I am an 8 year lawyer in big law and honestly, it just made me chuckle. But I do remember feeling that way on day 1, so I will cut you some slack. Also, in about 6 months, this will be the least of your concerns,and you will probably feel a little silly rereading this post!

      On the bag front, I have and LOVE this bag. Its my everyday work bag. It is plenty big enough to stash files and commuting shoes, it is structured and has a firm bottom so it doesn’t sag (but it does not have feet), and it is a lovely saffiano (sp?) leather that has held up beautifully so far. I get a TON of compliments on it and I take it everywhere from lunch runs to court. I have the navy, which is my “new neutral” of the moment. (No, Pantone, you CANNOT tell me what color to like this season!) It does not zip shut, but has a clasp to close it a wee bit. But not much. It doesn’t do much for security, but the open structured shape of the bag is what makes it such a great daily work bag for me.

        1. Yep- this is the bag that i have and love (I don’t have the special Apple bag, but the regular Kors bag).

          2. Romie, I am trying to reply directly to you but there is no button! Mine totally fits my laptop but it might depend on how big a lappy you have. i have a 15″ dell and it fits perfectly and doesn’t poke out the top much. which is good because my laptop is obnoxiously hot pink and i can be a little subtle sticking in the bag! I do not put it in a case, but there would definitely be room to do so, although that might peek out the top. i hope that is helpful!

  10. A big thank-you to Angeleno, SoCal Atty, Senior Attorney, and everyone else who responded to my question about a long July 4th holiday in and around LA! I loved, loved the Getty – not only the art, but the building design/layout that allowed me to exit with my toddler and let him run around for a few minutes in a glass-walled, cool corridor with lovely mountain views. We both enjoyed our meal at the cafe when – once again – we had to separate from the group for some time out and a meal. We decided against Universal Studios, and Disneyland was the highlight of the trip.

    1. Glad you had a wonderful time and YAY Disneyland! We still love going there.

      We did end up at the beach for the 4th, but brought our bikes and parked far away and biked in. That worked very well.

  11. This bag looks great, except that I hate the “michael kors” metal label on the front. Can anyone recommend somethings similar that fits a laptop, but without the branding.

  12. So I’m looking for a bag that I can use cross-body during the summer. It needs to be big enough to fit a wallet, phone, keys, lipgloss and a sunglasses case (which is pretty big unfortunately). I’ve found things on either end of the spectrum but I haven’t been able to find something perfect.

    Cheaper is better but I have a weakness for MBMJ and could be convinced if someone will vouch for a bag.

    Thanks all!

      1. I have a very similar Fossil bag in black (maybe a teeny bit smaller). I really like it because you can shorten or lengthen the strap, so depending on circumstances, I sometimes shorten the strap and just carry on my shoulder, and other times lengthen and use cross body.

    2. what about the rebecca minkoff mac or mac mini? My more fashionista friends tell me they are played out, but they are SO CUTE!

    3. Check out these two bags. I have both and love them/wear them all the time. The MBMJ bag is great for travel because it’s so light and has lots of pockets.

      http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/marc-by-marc-jacobs-preppy-nylon-sasha-crossbody-bag-large/3370313?origin=PredictiveSearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=DEEP+TEAL&resultback=4387&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_12_C

      http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/rebecca-minkoff-m-a-c-shoulder-bag/3450697?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=5300&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_16_A

  13. I already stated my love of this bag on the previous thread – but let me expand on why I selected this bag. My requirements were: black leather, no prints, large logos, etc. Had to hold a laptop for going home and traveling. Had to hold a legal length file for court, depositions etc. And could not be in excess of $500. I know, a hard task.

    Really, I fell for this bag the minute I found it. It meets everything I needed and I can even wipe dog drool off very easily. When I went into the apple store to purchase I took everything I normally carry wouldn’t have walked out unless everything fit in the bag well.

    My singular grip is that my ipad in a nice case doesn’t fit in the ipad slot (yeah, first world problem) but I use that for a memopad instead) The Apple guy tried to convince me not to use a real case. No sell.

    1. Brenda – can the bag hold an actual laptop (and not a macbook)? My work laptop is 13 inches I think. Are there metal feet on the bottom?

      1. A macbook pro is a pretty decent laptop size, esp in the 15″ , So I’d bet your 13″ laptop would be fine. Looking at the laptop slot it goes the length of the tote at it’s widest point is pretty generous in width.

        No metal feet on the bottom, but I’m several months into this tote and not a mark on the bottom yet and I’m not one of those people that is “super” careful with their bags all the time.

      2. nope. no feet on the bottom. but it is super structured and has a firm bottom insert.

  14. I use a generic black rolling laptop bag when I travel. I have to carry two computers and assorted equipment, so the rolling feature balances out the fact that I probably look like Steve Urkel. I have to say that I love the Michael Kors tote!

    This is kind of a long shot, but will any of you ladies in Infosec be at Blackhat this year?

  15. A friend and I were discussing tipping last night. We both were shocked that 18% has sort of become standard, with 15% for poor service, and 20% for extraordinary service (or at least that seems to be the norm among our friends).

    Then I saw an article today complaining about tipping:
    http://business.financialpost.com/2013/07/11/is-it-time-to-get-rid-of-tipping-at-restaurants/

    What is your standard tip/tip for poor service? What is the tipping like in your city? Do you think tipping actually results in better service? I’m curious.

    1. 20% is my standard

      More for exceptional service (I don’t think I’ve gone higher than 30)

      Less if the service is really poor

      I don’t think I’ve ever gone below 10% and it has to be REALLY bad for me to go that low

      I’m in the US.

    2. I usually tip at least 20%, more if the server is nice or if it is a small bill ($25 ballpark). If it is really poor service, I would go down to 10% to make a statement, if I am not likely to go to that restaurant again. Most of our friends do the same.

      IME, tipping 15% is now only standard for older people (60s and above) and people from non-tipping countries; otherwise it seems cheapskate-y.

        1. Yeah, basically.

          I worked as a server in NYC to put myself through undergrad. In the US, tips are the servers’ wages. (The federal minimum wage for food service hasn’t gone up in 20 years, and I believe it’s $2.50 or somewhere in the ballpark.) 20% is standard. Not double the tax, not 18%, certainly not 15%.

          It’s not only cheap to only tip 15%, it’s insulting. Servers work really hard and are often treated really poorly. If you can’t tip 20% for good service, you can’t afford to eat out. Period.

    3. My standard is 20%. I do 15% for poor service, although it’s hard for me to stomach doing that, even for bad service. I think the standard in NYC is 20%. I don’t think that tipping results in better service, but it’s the majority of the servers’ wages and so I give 20%. Also, I suspect tipping 25% or more at a place that you go frequently would probably result in better service, although I’ve never gone to the same place often enough to try it.

    4. 20% pretty much always. More if you’re great. If you’re half a**ing it, but not to the point where I can pinpoint it on you (server) 18. If I’m pissed enough that I’d tip 15, I’m speaking to a manager. To be fair, I also used to work as a server so typically I can spot who made what mistake (kitchen, host, server, etc).

        1. HA! Well, generally speaking I can. Usually it’s based on the server’s overall attentiveness (it actually gets harder at nicer restaurants where there’s a million staff). But an example; if I have a server who is generally prompt, refilling drinks, good pace for apps/salad and then there’s a huge pause or one dish is cold while another is hot – generally the kitchen. If they’re running around tending to other tables and the dishes come out lukewarm; s/he forgot (and no one else dropped them off). If the bar is backed up you can usually tell because you’ll have everything your server can deliver quickly and then your mixed drinks will take awhile.

          My biggest red flag is when they disappear for long periods of time. A good server shouldn’t be intrusive but should be walking their section to make sure their guests have everything they need. If you’re in the back/at the bar for long periods of time you’re not doing your job.

    5. I am a grumpy restaurant tipper.

      I basically take the view that I shouldn’t have to pay someone extra for simply doing their job (yes, yes, I know all the arguments on the other side). However, I rarely leave absolutely nothing. For the most basic, nonchalant service I have been known to leave 10%. For really good service I tip about 20%. It tends to even out at about 15%.

      I like the European model where the service charge is included in the bill and you only go above and beyond that if the service was truly exceptional. I wish we would adopt that model in North America.

      1. I agree with you on the European model. I loved not being hustled out of my seat while I was there, so calming.

      2. I’m sorry, but ouch. The model may suck, but in most places (US) people are making $2.13/hour. I agree you shouldn’t have to, but tipping 10% for basic service seems harsh and punishing the person for an industry standard.

        1. Neither Nonny nor I are in the US. No servers here are making that low of a wage, I’m actually quite certain that my province (which is the stingiest), requires at least $9 that for the LOWEST possible wage (i.e. bartenders), and it’s closer to $10 for not-bartenders .

          And I’m against tips and for an accompanying appropriate increase in wages, not simply cutting tips, obviously.

        2. Disregard! Sorry, Nonny didn’t remember you were not US. I’m making a mental note that if I ever decide to flee to Canada, at least I can fall back on my skills and actually earn a decent living.

          1. No problem, sometimes when I make these comments I forget how much the US model sucks. And then I wish your lawmakers would buck up and fix the minimum wage. $2.13 is preposterous.

          2. I wish they’d fix a lot of things :). I’d do far better in Canada if it weren’t for the cold. The thought of it makes me want a parka.

        4. Employers are required to cover the difference between the 2.13 and the federal minimum wage if you don’t make it in tips. Now, obviously there are probably enforcement issues with that, and whether the federal minimum wage is adequate is a whole other discussion, but it’s not quite as bad as it sounds initially. (I’m all in favor of moving to the european model)

          1. there are absolutely enforcement issues. when i was a server, i was instructed to always claim enough tips to make it to the minimum wage. this is not a good excuse for not tipping at the standard.

      3. So, I agree with this when it comes to non-restaurant tips, which I really think have gotten out of control. At a restaurant, you’re paying for food and the service is on top of that. At other places where I’m suddenly expected to tip nowadays (like at hair salons, nail places, dog washers, etc.), all you’re paying for is the service. So why tip on top of that? It would be like tipping a lawyer (although I know I make more than they do, but there are other reasons for that). And wages at those places are not built to rely on tips like they are at restaurants.

        1. Ugh, agreed. I’m getting married soon and have learning about vendor tips. Really? I’m supposed to give the DJ/photographer/florist/videographer money on top of the rate they chose? I understand exceptional service, but these are their jobs.

          1. I don’t think you’re expected to tip for a direct service from the owner of the company. I do think it’s good to give the caterer a tip for the servers.

          2. I didn’t tip my photographer or florist. I don’t have a videographer but if I had I wouldn’t have tipped them. I tipped my DJ because he worked for a company that I’m sure took a huge cut of his fee, and also because he worked for an extra 30-60 minutes for us for free due to a contract miscommunication (he easily could of had us pay). I tipped the people who delivered our flowers, but only $15 or so (they drove a LONG way).

            My florist and photog owned their businesses, and I definitely do not think you have to tip in that case.

          3. Yeah – I didn’t tip if the person providing the service also owned the company (so I was basically already paying them directly and they set their own wage!) But I did tip if there were extra hands involved (though our venue specifically said we didn’t have to tip the servers as there was a “gratuity” included in the venue charge.)

    6. These days, my standard tip calculation is 18% but I usually round up so it often ends up being 20%. I remember coming to this realization and getting in an argument with someone about whether 15% is a fair tip (I still think it is, but I recognize I’m not really generally agreed with, so I have acquiesced). In my home state, servers are required to make minimum wage (no exception for tipped employees – the restaurant has to pay them minimum wage) so I tip closer to 15% when I’m home and don’t feel bad about it. I also do not think much of establishments that only let you tip in cash since that always looks to me as a way to avoid taxes (please let me know if there are other reasons to do this – it’s just always been explained me this way) and I rarely have cash on me.

      For poor service, I’m a wimp and pretty much give 15%, sometimes 10%. I’ve never been brave enough to actually give a $0 tip, even when the service has been horrendous (think cab driver making you sit in front and putting his hand on your leg kind of crazy bad). That’s my issue though and I think people should feel justified in giving a $0 tip for bad service. But in general, I think that people should make minimum wage for the amount that they work, even if they are crappy at their jobs (in which case, they should be let go – but they should be paid their wage for the time they did work) and I know most restuarants won’t actually make up the difference and bring servers up to minimum wage, so I feel guilty tipping less than the expected amount.

      1. I think some companies have credit card arrangements which mean they pay a significant fee to process your card, and a tip has to be processed separately, so sometimes tipping can actually cost the company, or at least not result in a net positive.

        But, yeah, at all the places I’ve worked people underreported tips to avoid tax.

      2. I’ve given $1 tips before, for truly horrendous service. My mother always taught me that if you don’t leave a tip, the server might assume you forgot – but if you leave $1, you’re sending a clearer message that you meant to give a really horrible tip.

          1. I can only ever remember doing it once or twice, and for truly, truly horrible service. Like, person-should-not-be-waiting-tables horrible.

          2. Ah, well that’s fair. My father is more liberal with his excessively low tips.

      3. I actually only tip cash because then I know it gets to the person I intended- the server.
        I worked in a small coffee shop and the fees charged by the credit card company to run the card at all are outrageous, and (though I’m sure this was more my boss than the way it is supposed to work) we didn’t always get the tip money from cards – even when we knew it was there.
        I avoid going out at all costs because I just can’t afford to tip 20% on top of a dinner where I got a salad and water or super cheap wine and someone else got a steak and a 24$ glass… the joys of being just out of college.
        As far as actually tipping- I aim for 18-20% and if I paid for the meal in cash and I’m tipping I always leave more because I leave whatever is left plus the coins and an extra few dollars.
        Maybe that isn’t the best scenario but it works for now.

    7. Tipping well never results in better service, unless you go to the same restaurant and have the same server so often that he/she will remember you, and even then, presumably you’re only tipping them well in the first place because they did a good job, so getting good service on subsequent visits probably has a lot more to do with their natural inclination than with your tips.
      Personally, unless we’re talking about an absolutely huge check (like dinner for 10 at a nice restaurant), I don’t bother to calculate the tip carefully enough to distinguish between 18 or 20%. If I got good to exceptional service, I do at least 15% but then round up to some even number. I have been known to give only 10% for truly bad service, as I do not think 15% is low enough to make the point. Whenever I hesitate over how much to tip, I always remind myself that an extra dollar or two makes very litle difference to me, but may make a big difference to the person being tipped (I particularly take this view when it comes to cab drivers).

    8. I usually tip 20% and up, and never tip less than 15%. But I waited table for years, so I know how many service problems are not controllable by the server.

      If I’m unhappy with the service, I’ll ask the server if something is wrong long before it’s time to settle the check. My father in law taught me this (by example) years ago. We were out to dinner with family, and the waiter was being very brusque. Several of us, me included, were saying things like “maybe we should leave?”, when my FIL got up and pulled the waiter aside and asked if there was a problem or some way that we had offended him. He admitted that he was in paid – toothache, I think – and he didn’t realize how he was behaving. After that, he was so nice to us and his other tables. Lesson learned: if you’re unhappy, ask about it.

    9. start with 20% post-tax and round up depending on service. so honestly probably close to 30% pre-tax sometimes.

      I’m from Philly, though, and twice in the last two weeks have separate people told me we were apparently very generous tippers. I also come from a lower-class background and have worked at 4 restaurants for tips.

      1. This is pretty close to my model. I’m usually between 25-30%. Running joke by colleagues and friends is that I excessively tip. Upside is I have regular waiters, nail technicians, cab drivers, etc. who fight to serve me. In Dallas now, but grew up in a poor, rural, small town. Something about growing up with no money and working any job I could find makes me err on the side of over-tipping (if there is such a thing).

    10. I tip double the tax for restaurants. It’s kind of arbitrary with local taxes and such but it evens out to 16%-19%. For hairstylists, manis/pedis, etc. that aren’t taxed, I tip a flat 20%.

      One question: service providers who own their business/are not employed by another. I was taught that if you are receiving a service from the business owner, you don’t tip (because they set their own rates). My friend disagrees. What do you do?

      1. I will if they’ve done something above and beyond service wise or if something is comped. IMO a good owner turns down the tip and asks you to tell a friend instead.

      2. I tip my hairdresser a small amount over her fee b/c she lowered her prices when she went out on her own & I want to support her as a small business

      3. I also double the tax (9.25% here), and round up to the next whole dollar. I also tip my hair person who now owns her own business. I’m pretty sure she’s raised her rates substantially since I first started seeing her six years ago but she still charges me the original rate, so I tip 20% which I think nets out to about what she charges new clients (minus the tip the new clients would pay). I’m also going to help her incorporate, so I think that’s a pretty good tip :).

    11. Do y’all tip on the bill total or the pre-tax total? I usually do 20% of the total total.

      2. I always tip on the total, including tax. I’ve recently heard that some people won’t include the price of alcohol or bottles of wine when considering tips, but that just boggles my mind. I’ve always just tipped on the total and a standard of 20%. Like other people said – I figure that money doesn’t make as much of a difference to me as it would to someone making a base wage of roughly $2.50/hour.

        1. This is exactly my attitude. It’s a couple of bucks here and there to me, but if everyone tipped a little extra when they could, it’s a nice boost to the terrible hourly wage servers earn.

        2. I generally tip 18-20% post tax, but if I am at a nice dinner, the tip for the bottle of wine’s portion is closer to 10%. Especially if you didn’t offer any insight on wine pairings, taste, etc. if I got full sommelier service , that’s different.

      4. I grew up in Oregon, which doesn’t have sales tax (or whatever it would be called at a restaurant) so out of habit I tip off the total total. It never occurred to me until recently to calculate it pre-tax when I found out that’s what my boyfriend does. I still tip off the total and normally do 20% because the math is easy (move the decimal point over and double it).

        I get really confused when I go to pick up takeout and there is a tip line on my receipt. I normally don’t tip on that and assume it is just the way the receipts print normally, but sometimes I wonder if I’m being rude by not tipping.

    12. 20% standard, more for exceptional service. Unless a server was flat out rude, I probably wouldn’t go below that. I feel like the money matters so much more to them than to me.

      1. But this is what I don’t understand in that logic: if the money matters more to them, shouldn’t they try to do a good job? I don’t mean things beyond their control but basics like not bringing you water when you asked for it twice, not checking in to see if you got your food, bringing you your drink only half way through your actual meal…. Granted, this doesn’t happen often, but if it does, then I assume that getting a good tip is not at the top of their priority list. I don’t hesitate to tip less on such occasions.

    13. I almost never tip in Scandinavia (exception: if I received outstanding service) because the meal in itself includes a fair wage for the waiters and staff.

      When I’m abroad, I research obsessively the customs of the country to make sure that I tip appropriately.

    14. My standard is 15-20% minimum for average/decent service (tax here is 13% so I take that number and add a little and then round up from that), usually closer to 20%, more like 25% if it’s good service. I still tip about the same for bad service just because I usually feel bad for the server and can see that a lot of the time it’s not their fault (restaurant is crowded or the kitchen screwed up).

    15. In California, minimum wage, even for a tipped employee, is $8 / hour (source: US Department of Labor, link to follow because it will end up in moderation). I go 15% for average, 10% if I sat without a refill for too long, and 20%+ for smaller bills or outstanding service. Tax here is 9.25%, so I usually just double it because I’m lazy.

    16. I normally leave 15-18% for ok service 20% or higher for really good service and have left 10% for bad service. My DH disagree about whether tips should be on the pre or post-tax amount. I think it’s the former since we have a high tax at restaurants.

    17. I generally do 15-20% on the post-tax bill. I just do a rough 20% calculation and then round up or down to make it easier to add to get the total. I’ll tip more like 25% for amazing service. If the bill is really low- like entrees less than $10/person, I’ll usually tip a little more.

      I understand that servers at lower end restaurants aren’t making great money, but I just can’t bring myself to feel all that concerned/sorry for waitstaff working at higher end restaurants, where I know that they’re probably making as much or more an hour than I am. I mean, we can talk about the $2.13 minimum wage all we want, but if you’re a server at a decently busy restaurant serving entrees in the $20-$30 range, you’re making far more than the standard minimum wage.

    18. I do 15% for average service, 20-25% for great service, 10% for poor service, nothing for terrible service. Based on pre-tax total, or what the total would be without a discount/coupon. I was a server for almost 10 years and don’t feel bad at all for tipping less if the service is sub-par; I know what the job entails and what reasonable expectations are.

    19. My standard is 18-20%, usually 15% (but sometimes less) for bad service. It varies for great service, based on the size of the bill and the level of greatness.

    20. What are your thoughts on tipping at coffee shops, bakeries, etc., where the sum total of your “service” is ‘What can I get you?’ and ‘That’ll be $3.60’? It kills me to throw an extra dollar in the jar- or worse, put $0 in the tip line on the debit transaction- but I also don’t feel like asking two basic questions, as part of your job, requires extra me to pay more for your service.
      And to clarify, if I ask them to go out of their way or ask a lot of questions, or if they go about and beyond for me or my kids, I will absolutely give them a 25-50% tip.

      1. I almost never tip at coffee shops or bakeries but usually tip $1 or round up to the nearest dollar for takeout when it’s an actual meal. I never really thought about it, but I guess it’s because with takeout it takes a lot more effort to make a meal than fix coffee or grab a pastry that’s already baked.

      2. I leave the change if I am paying in cash- otherwise nothing, with the exception of my two regular coffee places. One is amazing coffee and I am friendly with the people, the other is not great coffee but I get breakfast/lunch there plenty because its at work and the staff 1) is great, very quick and polite, and 2) I have seen them be treated SO rudely by other customers. Usually everyother day I see someone being so condescending or rude. So they get tips from me :)

    21. This may be too late but do you all usually tip 20% on large bills too? Say if a small group spent $500-600 on dinner because the restaurant’s prices are high. Does that 20% standard still apply?

      1. Definitely. More expensive restaurants usually means that the service is more involved, so they earn it IMO.

  16. I know there have been threads like this before, but anyone have good dinner recipe recommendations? (or even just suggestions for something you have been making, I can probably find a recipe)
    I feel like I am being the opposite of creative in meal planning lately. My ideal recipe week is 1-2 more involved recipes, with 4-5 quick meals. Bonus if we have a small portion left over – our little one usually can’t wait for me to get dinner ready after work so on those nights, he gets what we had the night before.
    I don’t mind the crock pot, but it is awfully hot in Texas for a lot of crockpot cooking right now…

    1. Not sure how old/adventurous your little guy is but my stepdaughter’s current favorite quick meal involves a packet of Campbell’s thai green curry sauce, uncle ben’s 90 second brown basmati rice, with a side of frozen steamed edamame. I just stir fry some chicken, pour the sauce over it per the directions on the sauce packet, microwave the rice and then stir the rice into the skillet. Sometimes I will stir vegetables in as well but she prefers to eat them separately.

      Other quick summer meals involve me marinating chicken or shrimp in freezer gallon bags overnight and then freezing them. When I get home from work, I grill or stir fry the contents and toss it over salad. We like the lowry’s carribbean jerk marinade and whatever the lemon one is.

    2. One of our favorite recipes is a crock pot recipe (hey, it’ll be fall soon) for chicken curry. I got it from Real Simple, so it should be findable on the website. Basically, throw in chicken thighs, onion, ginger, curry powder, tomato paste, and water, cook all day, add greek yogurt, and serve over rice. This is the only way my 5 year old daughter will eat chicken (this and actual chicken curry from an Indian restaurant, but this is healthier I think). I actually prefer the crockpot in the summer because it beats turning on the oven or the stovetop!

      We also do a grilled chicken (outside grill), with heirloom tomatoes, olives, and Italian dressing (also a Real Simple recipe–I highly recommend their recipes!) in the summer.

    3. I’ve been big on salads lately. I either buy a rotisserie chicken (assuming I’m too lazy to cook a chicken, which is, sadly, often accurate) or make tuna salad (mayo, dill, and celery). Then I have other “building blocks” at the ready–rinsed black beans from a can, sliced almonds (store bought), cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, low fat feta cheese, and peppercorn dressing. It’s super easy and delicious!

      1. Hey, no laziness at all. Where I live, it’s about 50 cents more to buy a rotisserie than to buy a whole roaster. That hour and a half is absolutely worth 50 cents.

        1. Not to mention the cost of fuel to cook the chicken and the hot water and soap to wash the pan and prep utensils. Could be close to fifty cents.

    4. We’ve been doing a lot of tacos lately. Fish, chicken, veggie, you name it. With chicken and veggie and just about any other meat, I think you could probably make the filling ahead of time so it should be easy, and then add whatever you like — corn, avocados, scallions, mango salsa, tomatoes, radishes, rice, etc. I think fish tacos are better when made fresh but fish takes about 10 minutes to cook so, again, no biggie. Bonus: when you get tortillas for the tacos, the leftover ones make an easy quesadilla for the kid’s next night’s dinner.

      Another go to is either lentil or quinoa salad with whatever vegetables are in season. Recently I’ve been going with asparagus, avocado, cherry tomatoes and shelled edamame (I buy frozen), with some parm or goat cheese on top. The next day, I take the leftovers and toss them with arugula, lemon zest and dill and it’s whole new tasting lunch. You can vary them to suit your tastes, but it’s super easy and you can make the quinoa/lentils in advance so it’s very quick to put together.

      Another fun option when I get bored is a frittata with whatever is sitting in my fridge (chicken & gruyere; tomato, basil, and mozzarella; mushroom and leek; etc., etc.).

      In the summer, I also like cold soup (gazpacho or cucumber dill with walnuts) and a sandwich as a lighter option. In colder months, I get store made tortellini and tomato soup and make that for a lazy dinner.

    5. The Dinner A Love Story blog and cookbook are really good for recipes friendly to working folks and kids. Lots of recipes, but also mentalities and strategies for kid friendly meals.

  17. Just catching up from this morning. Before trying Accutane, I’d try the UV BluLight facial, and I am a new devotee of African Black Soap. I finally changed derms because mine was a cranky old dude who just pushed new medications when the old ones stopped working (which they inevitably did after 6 months-1 year. Last time I saw him his comment when he saw me was, “Ah, ThisSite Reader, I haven’t cured you yet?” That was the last straw). I’ve tried Differin, Tazorac, oral and topical antibiotics, lots of stuff out there, and have been on oral BC for years. My new derm offered me the UV treatment – I did four sessions, each a couple of weeks apart – for $200. It’s been a year and I am still acne free for the most part (sometimes I make my own trouble by squeezing blocked pores). I reduced my facials from every 6 weeks to every 12 (and at this point prob haven’t had one in much longer than that right now). I occasionally use the light cream Differin if I feel clogged pores, or DuoGel for a big pimple, but both of those are about to expire and I haven’t used them in months so probably won’t refill. My daily regimen is African black soap in the shower, light moisturizer, and a makeup remover wipe at night. I really like the Dickinson’s witch hazel ones. That $200 was the best money I’ve ever spent. If I ever go off BC, I will go back for another round as a preventative measure.

    1. Thanks! I’ve heard good things about black soap. What brand do you use? I’ll have to look into the UV facial as well. I’m currently on Epiduo and Clindamyacin, but I’m not sure if they’re working (still getting pimples, but they might just need more time) and they’ve definitely made my skin more dry and sensitive.

      1. Thanks! I’ve heard good things about black soap. What brand do you use? I’ll have to look into the UV facial as well. I’m currently on Epiduo and Clindamyacin, but I’m not sure if they’re working (still getting pimples, but they might just need more time) and they’ve definitely made my skin more dry and sensitive.

  18. Hey gang–I always have such trouble picking restaurants in NYC because I’m overwhelmed by how much is out there and never keep track of where I’ve been that I liked, etc.

    Anyone have any good blogs that they recommend for this sort of thing? I usually just troll through nymag(dot)com and yelp.

    Bonus points if you have a system for keeping track of the places you like. I just started a google doc with restaurants that I’ve liked and the neighborhoods that they are in.

    Thanks!

    1. If you’re looking for lunch, I like MidtownLunch.com. I also read SeriousEats.com.

    2. Also interested in this. Heading to NYC for the weekend and overwhelmed by all the restaurant options. I will check out both of Liz’s suggestions.

    3. I love Eater’s Heat Map and some of their other groupings (best brunch, essential restaurants. etc.). I always get good ideas.

    4. I am a big fan of immaculate infatuation, and esp. their iphone app. You can mark places you like/want to visit, and search by gps for what’s near by. I’ve also just started to keep a little memo list in my phone for places as I notice them. It makes it much easier to go back later and be like, “Oh, yeah, I meant to try that place!”

      1. I’m trying to get the app, but it appears in the App Store and then says the item is no longer available when I try to install it. Boo.

        1. That’s so odd! Try their website and see if you can download it that way? I already have it installed so can’t test it but it’s coming up in the app store so don’t get what the glitch is. So weird!

          1. No luck there either. I’ll try again tomorrow and hope its a temporary glitch.

  19. I am about to start in house at a small company and I have no experience except a few summers at a firm. Does anyone have any recommendations for materials that would be helpful to an in house attorney just starting out? It is a company that is a wholesaler, so it will be a lot of contract disputes, vendor agreements, etc. Any websites, books, supplements, etc. that you could recommend would be mih appreciated as I try to find my footing. Please excuse any typos as this was typed from my phone.

    1. Ask you employer to get you an ACC (assn of corporate counsel) membership! The site has tons of resources for everything from employment law to IP, and plenty of templates too!

      1. Second the ACC membership – and if your employer won’t pay for it, I’d get it myself. There are references that are specific to new-to-in-house lawyers, and when I was the only in-house attorney for a small company, their resources were often my first stop when I was presented with an issue I hadn’t worked with before. Good luck!

  20. My go-to for totes now is just putting my laptop in a neoprene sleeve and sliding it into whichever tote I’m using. That way all of my totes can be used for work, or not depending on what I need.

    1. That’s also my go-to. Often it’s my large Le Pliage tote, which is pretty much my go-to bag for lugging around my 15-inch work laptop (as opposed to my much lighter 12-inch personal laptop)

  21. Thanks for suggesting Rent the Runway for my black-tie wedding dress problem yesterday, ladies. Now a styling question: I ordered this dress, and am trying to figure out what shoes to wear.

    Dress: http://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/badgleymischka_dresses/midnightglamourdress

    Are these shoes too flashy? ( I already own them.) http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/enzo-angiolini-demario-pump-nordstrom-exclusive/3422283?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=886&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_3_B

    1. ha – seeing this because the links stuck it in moderation — but just have to say that I had that exact dress when I presented at the Fashion 2.0 awards this year (RTR let all the presenters rent a free dress). Watch out for the neckline, it is Way Low. It is very flashy by itself so IMHO I’d stick with muted (satin?) shoes/muted wrap and then go for bling with your accessories — a cuff worn on your forearm, a cocktail ring, something in your hair.

  22. I just learned that the (teeny tiny, but STILL) pay raise I asked for was approved! Feeling pumped!

      1. the asking was the hardest part. i work for a small non profit and have spent most of my career being thankful for my low-paid job doing something i love. finally got the guts to say loving the job isn’t an excuse for below-market wages. feels good!

  23. Can any of you recommend a swimsuit cover-up? I am looking for a caftan or dress-style cover-up that is above the knee, opaque and has sleeves and is under $100. Thank you!

    1. The Lands’ End website shows a Mosaic Tunic and a shirtdress style that might work.

          1. I’m not going to reveal that because there are some people here who know me from the meet-ups, but the Mosiac Tunic is available in lucky sizes only.

          4. Thanks for the rec for 6pm AIMS. That one is cute and there are some others there that are too. I had checked Zappos, but didn’t look at 6pm.

    2. Somewhat related question – I’ve been looking at cover-ups and always cheap out. I just can’t justify spending that much on something I just wear over my bathing suit to lounge around the pool/by the beach. (Maybe if I was going on a fabulous vacation?)
      Even though I make a pretty good salary now, I still feel guilty spending money. Work clothes I can kind of justify and have been working my way up in price points, but still feel guilty and talk myself out of a lot things I like. I think even if I set a budget of how much “fun money” I get to spend each month I would still feel pressure to stay under and save the rest. I’m also worried if I start to spend won’t stop. Any tips on getting over the penny pinching mentality without going too far the opposite direction?

      1. As far as cover-ups go, I am just getting one that I plan to keep for a long time. It is not something that won’t fit next year if I change sizes.

        If you really appreciate clothes and don’t just want to dress well to impress others, then you find it is okay to spend money on things that your co-workers won’t see you wear. I would start by just buying one or just a few items, like if you find just one sweater or pair of jeans or boots or coat that is only appropriate for the weekend and see how much you enjoy wearing it. You don’t have to go to Brooks Brothers for your weekend wear, but it’s healthy to indulge in some things that are just for you.

      2. Susie I agree with you on the coverups but for a different reason: I don’t want to expose a nice piece of clothing to chlorine and salt water. But it is good to have nice things for the weekends and you should not feel guilty. I feel more confident if I look more put together.

  24. I attended a conference earlier this week, and met a bunch of great contacts. One works for a competitor, and called me today essentially telling me he’d love to bring me on, there are lots of opportunities for someone like me, and of course he knows (it’s obvious- plus, we chatted about it) that I’m 7 months pregnant and will be in “new momma” mode for probably the rest of 2013 and it’s a non-issue.

    That said…I’m happy where I am in that I have earn a comfortable salary, work from home, have a super flexible boss, and am getting put on lots of great projects. Downside here is that the company I work for (and many of its employees) are really “B” players. I get put on these great projects and earn a great salary because I’m viewed as one of the few really competent people in our division (not trying to toot my own horn- this was brought up at my last performance review, and again today when I got tapped for yet ANOTHER project that I’m passing on because I just.do.not.have.time). They’d like me to build out a division here, which is a great opportunity. But the company itself is really not all that inspiring.

    Company that’s trying to poach me is looking to put me in a more senior role with an already established team. It would be a more defined role, and put me into a space I used to work in but have moved out of and truly miss. The firm itself is a direct competitor of my current company, but I wouldn’t be moving to a role where I’d be in danger of breaching my non-compete. My current role and proposed role are in entirely non-conflicting departments.

    What are important questions to ask? The maternity leave is a non-issue as I’d not start until next year, probably. I want to make sure the team I’d be working with/for/over is smart, accountable, and generally good people (only the last one applies to my current group…). They’re trying to poach me, so obviously I’d want a salary bump. I can also work remotely with this company (they don’t even have an office in my city), and I’d want to get a feel for the travel demands…but I travel frequently now as it is.

    What else would you want to know if you basically just apparently wow’d the pants of someone enough that they’re talking about hiring you 6 months down the road after you have your baby (without even seeing your resume)? This hasn’t really happened to me before…I did get pulled from my last job, but it was through a friend-of-a-friend, not a totally new connection.

  25. Vent: This Wells Fargo underwriting process is killing me. “Please explain why you were unemployed in 2009.” Because I was laid off from my law firm. Really? “Please explain EVERY deposit made into your checking account for the last six months.” “Well, this one is people paying me back for concert tickets, and this was a transfer from my husband’s account, and this was from returning a pair of shoes…”

    Just take the blood sample and be done with it. What happened to checking account, credit score, and credit report? I just handed over 4 months worth of statements on every credit card I still have open. That seems horribly intrusive. I pay the things in full every month, what else do you need to know?

    ARGH!!

    1. I had an awful time w/ my WF refi but I stuck w/ it b/c they were offering me a rate on an investment property that couldn’t be beat. I’ll email you about it offline sometime. It is a pretty long story. My best advice is to take really good notes, keep on them, and don’t be afraid to ask for a supervisor.

      For the mortgage in the home we live in, via another company, I had to get something from my bank proving the source of a $40 check I had deposited w/ my paycheck b/c my income was “higher that week.” I explained it was higher by $40 b/c I got a gas reimbursement. I could see if they wanted me to prove why my income was lower, but higher??? It was such a process to get a copy of the $40 check from my bank too. So annoying.

    2. Yep, I had to explain the same unemployment issue to WF and then also explain that the reason I didn’t pay rent at the place I moved to during said unemployment is because I was LIVING WITH MY PARENTS. Way to rub it in guys.

      I am purchasing a house from a family member who shares my same last name (something weird, not like Smith or Johnson), which as you can imagine is clearly indicated in the sales contract/title work/etc. and they just pushed our closing back because underwriting did not realize I was related to the seller and therefore required a field review of the appraisal.

      But as Blonde Lawyer said, it was the best rate in town… (which thank goodness we locked in before they went up!)

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