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Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Meadowbrook Stripe Dulcie Cardigan

A woman wearing a red pink stripe knit cardigan and white pants

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

I love a red/pink combo, so you know this Tuckernuck cardigan caught my eye. The wavy stripe pattern and slight balloon sleeves add a bit of whimsy, but paired with an otherwise conservative outfit, I think this would fly in most business casual offices.

I would pair this with a white blouse, navy trousers, and loafers, but if you work somewhere more casual, it would look great with dark denim.

The sweater is $198 at Tuckernuck and comes in sizes XS-XXL.

Sales of note for 1/1/25 (HAPPY NEW YEAR!):

287 Comments

  1. Can anyone recommend a streaming workout video service with monthly workout plans? I’m looking for something that will tell me exactly what workout do each day (or weekday) for a month, where the workouts aren’t more than 30 minutes, and it’s a mix of cardio, strength training, and maybe yoga or mobility. Ideally it would be a different workout each day for a month, no repeats.

    I’ve been doing this through Just Move, but I’ve done almost all their monthly challenges already, and I’d like to explore something new. Having the workout already chosen for me makes it so much easier for some reason!

    1. Nourish Move Love – she has prebuilt plans on her website that you can follow along with.

    2. Sweat app, which is $134 for an entire year. I do the PWR Express module, which is workouts of about 20 minutes that meet your requirements – tell you what to do, are scheduled (if you use that feature), and include rest days and cardio (although they don’t tell you what to do for the cardio days). Even though the workouts are only 20 minutes, they are hard, and you can make them harder by going up in weight. If PWR express doesn’t work for you, there are many other options that are different genres – more cardio, yoga, HIIT, etc. I’ve recommended this app several times because it is really the best! It’s so cheap (costs less than one month at a studio) and has so many options. I’ve been using it since March 2020.

    3. Fitness Blender has a planty of month-long workout videos. Many are free and the paid option has more programs. The filter lets you choose length and type of workout, equipment required or no equipment. They have a lot of programs for “people who get bored easily” where the exercises are not repeated within a workout.

    4. The Peloton app would work well for this, paired with the Hardcore on the floor calendar (there’s a FB group, or separate site at hcotf dot com, monthly calendar link). There are prescribed workouts that pull from the Peloton catalog. It’s a great mix of weights/strength, yoga, walking, stretching.

    5. The Peloton app does this now. If you don’t want unlimited bike/tread classes, its $12.99 a month. If you want unlimited bike/tread classes (if you don’t also have a Peloton bike or tread), its $26 a month. You tell the app how many days a week and what type of workouts you want and it creates a schedule every week.

    6. BodyFit by Amy on YouTube. She releases a monthly calendar via email. Sometimes they go to the 45 minute mark, but most are close to 30 and a good mix of cardio/strength/mobility.

    8. Husband got a device that streams workouts through his insurance. I think it’s called sword health. Not sure if it has everything you want

    9. I second the Peloton app + HCOTF on Instagram which recommends a set of classes tot take each day.

      I also like Sydney Cummings on YouTube who posts daily but may be too strength focused for you (although she mixes a lot of things into her classes)

      1. +1 Peloton app + HCOTF. There’s a Facebook group too. It’s a trainer who actually makes the calendar. She has downloads in the Facebook group every month. I have yet to actually follow the calendar but I really enjoy the discussions. Every day there is a new posts and people talk about the workouts of the day. I find that the community is really encouraging and engaging.

    10. Ladder! It’s set it and forget it for me. I love it. I’ve never kept up with any workout plan before it.

      Peloton has a new copy cat program like it but there are still a lot of options. Too many and it shuts me down because I get decision fatigue.

    11. Another vote for the Peloton app + Hardcore On The Floor (HCOTF) – the creator has a website/IG/FB group where you can find the monthly calendar and she just takes donations but otherwise no cost.

    12. Action Jacquelyn (on Youtube) has an app – Barre Definition. You can try some workouts on youtube and decide if you like her. Her app is $99 for a year. The workouts are mostly barre / pilates but also includes yoga, stretching, hitt, and some straight up strength. She posts monthly calendars and drops new workouts monthly. Some days run longer than 30 min – because she will list multiple workouts to string together. Just skip the extras. Most workouts are 30 min or less.

    13. Faster way to fat loss. Offers both diet support (macros) and new workout videos every week. 3-4 strength sessions per week, 1 HIIT, 1 yoga/recovery, plus optional workouts. All 30 min.

  2. Life comes full circle sometimes. I used to love clutches when I didn’t need a laptop bag. Then none of them worked because I also needed to bring readers with me. So I got some bigger bags. Then I switched to progressive readers and wear them all the time if I’m awake — no need to lug what I’m wearing, so now the clutches are back in play (and I never de-accessioned anything, so the whole collection is still with me). I have a party tomorrow night and have a lovely beaded one to use unless I go with a gold one. Decisions, decisions.

    1. I’m now on Team Clutches too. It’s good motivation for bringing with me only what I actually need rather than lugging around a ton of stuff I’m fine without.

      1. I used to always pack a clutch in my roller bag for business trips. Laptop tote by day, clutch bag for dinners. But then I realized I at least need a thin chain strap. I am too much of a gesticulator to lose the use of one of my hands at any social gathering.

  3. Any good drugstore body moisturizers for my angry skin that I can keep in my gym bag? The quick shower is just so drying that my skin gets angry and itchy afterwards.

    Also, any recommendations for a good drugstore face moisturizers? Doesn’t need sunscreen (again, for the post-gym shocked skin). OK if it’s a wee bit tinted but I just need moisture.

      1. +1 to Vanicream for the face. I really love the Vaseline Pro VitaB3 Serum Burst Lotion for the body, it sinks in super fast and doesn’t feel sticky soI don’t have to wait around for my lotion to absorb.

      3. +1 to Aveeno. I have extremely sensitive skin and have tried everything, its the best there is. Fragrance free version.

      4. Another vote for this combo. I especially like the Aveeno daily moisturizing with oat.

    2. My favourite facial moisturizer is the Cerave PM moisturizer, it doesn’t have sunscreen.

    3. I hate heavy body lotions and have sensitive skin– I use Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream. Feels really light and soaks in fast.

      1. Also, Google “soak and seal” — if you have eczema, the timing of applying the lotion matters.

    5. Cerave in the tub for body! I actually also use it on my face as well – so, that would be a good two for one for your purposes. Less products in your gym bag!

      1. My husband just learned the magic of Cera-Ve in the jar for winter dry skin. For a while I had him going that Michael Cera actually did invent it (ala the Super Bowl ad “human skin is my passion”)

  4. I put up a Christmas tree in my apartment – 1 bedroom, live alone, WFH. I wasn’t going to but I’m really enjoying having it up, especially since I’m home all day. I actually get a lot of bang for my buck that way. What seasonal decor do you put up in an apartment?

    1. Changing out decorative pillow covers and tablecloths / runners / throws
      Plates and mugs
      Artificial wreath hung from either a formal over-the-door metal hanger thing, or fishing line and an upside-down command hook

      Store the non-holiday versions of the same things in the holiday containers until you swap them back.

    2. I also live alone in a 1BR. Some years I’m really into the holidays, some years I’m Grinchy. The only holiday I ever decorate for is Christmas.

      This year I felt middle of the road: reusable wreath on my front door, small tree with a few ornaments and lights (bought in a kit from WF, I’ll link what I bought below), one Poinsettia, and one thing of lights around my living room window.

      I have holiday dish towels that someone gave me that I dug out too. I kind of hate having different towels, throw pillows, mugs, etc for holidays but these were a gift so I use them.

      And I love pine scented candles, but I use them in fall and winter.

      I have storage space in the basement of my building, which is where my decorations live 11 months of the year.

      2. You just reminded me I need to get a poinsettia. I love the white ones. They’re harder and harder to find.

    3. I’m really enjoying my Christmas Village! It’s not huge, about 7 pieces from Lenox but they all light up and it makes my kids happy to turn them on at night. We put them on the fireplace mantel this year as we have kittens but normally they go on my dining room buffet. I think they’d also be very cute on windowsills or on a TV stand!

    4. I also live alone in a 1 bedroom and put up a full 7 ft tree and hang a wreath on my door. I love them! I also picked up some pointsettias for my table this year.

    5. I have a mini sleighbell ornament that hangs on my front door knob. The little jingle every time the door opens or closes is understated but makes me smile.

    6. Not an apartment, but my favorite small Christmas piece is one of those old-fashioned ceramic light-up Christmas trees like this: https://mrchristmas.com/products/18-inch-nostalgic-christmas-tree?variant=29386297147461

      Funny story: When my husband and I were first dating, I had just remodeled my house and was TIRED and decided I was going to skip the Christmas tree. Then one evening he came and picked me up for a date and casually mentioned he had put up his Christmas tree that day. I decided I couldn’t let him outdo me, so I spent the whole next day putting up my 8-foot artificial tree with hundreds of decorations. Then when I went to his house for dinner a few nights later, I discovered the “Christmas tree” in question was one of those — take it out of the closet, plug it in, and you’re done! We still laught about that every year.

    7. Not in an apartment any more, but nutcrackers. They come in lots of sizes so it’s easy to find ones you can store. Antique stores are a good source too for ceramic Christmas trees and other smaller decorations that can be used every year.

    8. Oh, all right, I was all set to be a grinch this year and not put up any holiday decor, but it is nice to have my reusable front-door wreath, reusable Christmas tree (but with only colored lights this year, not bothering with additional ornaments), “Feliz Navidad” throw pillow cover, and creche on the sideboard, plus assortment of stockings. I figure my houseguests will enjoy it, and I will like it while I work from home for the next ten days or so, and beyond. Thanks for the inspiration, ‘rettes!

  5. What are you getting the 8 year old boys in your life for holiday gifts? Looking for any unique or fun finds for that age range.

    1. We just bought for our nieces the Makedo set that has kid-friendly tools for crafting with cardboard. Figure their family has tons of boxes around (don’t we all) and it looks like a great way to encourage creativity.

    2. Ant farm! The gel ones are very cool, and some come with a light-up base, so once the ants are kaput you have an interesting nightlight.

      My 8 year old is also getting some books about space and oceans, and a couple new bey blades

    3. “Popin cookin” candy-making sets are great stocking stuffers/small gifts/party favors for kids around that age.

    4. Nine year old, but a transformers action figure (he only gets toys like this for Christmas , and I think he’ll be really excited) and a basketball hoop. A new graphic novel for the night before (family tradition).
      Last year, the Ravensburger Gravitrax Speed was a huge hit. He loves marble runs, and that was his favorite.

    5. Loop Lasso, fidgets (speks are my personal pick), Jacob’s ladders, mini video game machines (they smallest are about the size of a credit card – these were a HUGE hit last year).

    9. At that age my son really liked the books They Lost their Heads (Carlyn Beccia) and How They Croaked: The Awful Ends to the Awfully Famous (Georgia Bragg). A little gross (but not gratuitously so) books about famous historical figures.

    10. We’re doing a hoverboard, fit bit, cheap drone, wearable blanket (the Cozy is the company – i think this’ll be a big hit), and books. For family I’ve suggested a juggling kit, a new water bottle (he’s sporty, going personalized gatorade brand). He also loves the perplexus maze balls. Adding baseball cards to his stocking.

    13. Lily Hevesh domino building sets. Our 8-year-old is obsessed with domino toppling and making rube goldburg machines, and I am totally supporting that!

  6. Re: the poster yesterday whose boyfriend’s mother told her she needs to be the “most beautiful” at a family wedding in another country:

    I’m nearly 100% positive that your bf’s mother is trying to, as another poster suggested, “convey some norms.” I’ve dealt with this pretty extensively within my own (now) MIL so I’ve become more astute at picking up on these things. Is your bf’s family from a culture (Persian, Arab, Slavic, etc.) where people get really, really dressed up for weddings and she’s trying to signal that to you? I wouldn’t take it as a comment on you personally or (even less so) on your boyfriend’s brother’s fiance.

    1. Oh yeah its definitely nothing as crazy as what some comments were suggesting. It was just a comment that she’s happy you’re serious, and that she does think you’re pretty, and that you should dress up as nicely as the “future daughter in law”. A little odd maybe, but nothing bad.

    2. That’s so obnoxious. If that’s what she is trying to convey, then she needs to use her words and tell the OP what the cultural expectation is. Or at least tell her son to be clear about it with his girlfriend. This vague statement doesn’t share that information and just insults her soon to be daughter in law.

      1. Different cultures (even within the US) have different communication norms and expectations. In a lot of places, being super direct like you’re proposing is rude. I’d err on a kinder interpretation that the mother is communicating within her culture’s norms, which is not obnoxious.

        1. I agree that this is probably true, and also, it’s confusing and doesn’t tell the OP anything that she needs to know! If I were the OP, I would be stressed out and BEGGING the boyfriend to help decode these messages.

        2. Making someone guess what you’re saying to them is not kind. People act like reading between the lines is some sort of universal communication technique but it isn’t most people interpret vague communication entirely differently and don’t come to the ‘right’ conclusion.

          1. There are pros and cons to most of these cultural differences, and different cultures accept different trade offs.

          2. What I’m saying is that in the mother’s culture, it’s entirely possible that this statement would convey the information needed. The mother might not even know the poster is confused bc the message was conveyed through the boyfriend. It’s now on her to ask clarifying questions.

          3. One of my ex bf’s mothers used to speak like that. It made sense in her cultural context. It doesn’t really translate well to the US but it wasn’t insulting or weird if you knew her.

          4. You must understand that your ideas about what is and isn’t “kind” are culturally informed. In many cultures being very upfront with what you’re saying isn’t considered kind. There are even some norms here that reflect that — I think everyone would agree that “well, it’s getting pretty late” is a more polite way to kick your guests out than “you should leave now.”

          5. + 1 million to Anon at 11:33.

            Communication is cultural. You wouldn’t tell someone ‘You should leave now’ at the end of your party. And this possible future MIL would view it as rude if she was similarly direct with the OP from yesterday.

          3. Yeah that’s not what’s happening here and you’ll need to take off your US blinders to see that, which is the whole point of the post.

          4. You can’t be this obtuse when it comes to other cultures 10:02. This is why we have Trump.

        2. Seriously. And I’m from the American south which is closer to the MIL’s approach than the suggestions here.

          1. Me too. I have a friend who moved here from California. At first she thought everyone here was rude bc we’re not direct. Last year she said, “I now realize it’s just a different language! I understand what’s happening now that I’ve learned it.”

            I would assume that’s what’s happening here rather than assuming the mother is just a huge bully who wants to hurt someone’s feelings.

          2. It’s not a different language you’re all misinterpreting eachother but because you never talk directly you don’t realize

          4. No— we don’t misinterpret each other. (Southern poster from above) I’m not sure what your evidence is that would contradict millions of people’s experiences. You might not like or understand the communication style, but that doesn’t mean we all go around in a haze, never knowing what anyone around us is saying.

    3. I definitely wouldn’t have gotten that from how the future MIL phrased it. I wouldn’t know what to do with that information, and even with this context, what does really really, really dressed up even mean?! A ballgown?

      1. Girlfriend is now on notice to find out what the expectations are for dressing up at the upcoming wedding, which would be a good thing to look into in any event. Why some commenters insist on finding an insult in all this is beyond me.

      1. Statistically I feel that most men just aren’t good go-betweens for women when it’s some kind of social etiquette issue.

        1. Yeah
          Just ask the boyfriends’ female family members to send links to dresses, please, or go shopping with you at the stores

    5. This is directed at no one in particular but rather the chorus of people that misinterpreted the comment.

      So many people love to signal how diverse and inclusive they are when it’s often clear they’re not.

      It was clear to me from the outset that the mom was speaking in a way many immigrant communities do. I immediately imagined a Persian or Latina mother though I could name 10 more possibilities. It was intended as a compliment with no underlying dig at the gf or the bride. That is why the bf relayed it.

      Get out a little people. Immerse yourself in others cultures vs virtue signaling by “holding space” for them.

      2. Right? It’s like y’all never heard of “askers vs. guessers.” (And I say this as a die-hard asker!)

      3. Yeah, I’m sort of cringing at the people chastising a woman in another country for not speaking in an American enough way to please them

      4. I immediately imagined a Greek mother. It’s funny how our interactions with other people in the past have shaped our expectations. In my personal experience, this would be the Greek mother telling the girlfriend that she needs to wear a knockout dress, prefer preferably sequined.

    6. Seeing the comments about being direct vs. not makes it clear that lots of people don’t understand what “direct” means.

      I’m from Texas, and I know EXACTLY what’s being said because I grew up with it. I live in California now, and it’s a different style here. It’s fascinating to talk with my friends in both places because they don’t understand some of the norms. An example: guns. These are just not a big deal at all in Texas, but my CA friends are shocked and scared and sad to hear that guns are so normal.

      I can imagine a CA person running around in circles trying to figure out what someone is “conveying” by inviting them to a gun range or talking about gifting a gun to a grandkid or asking whether they killed the turkey or bought the turkey for Thanksgiving. They’re not conveying anything, they’re just talking about a perfectly normal topic, in a perfectly normal way, given the context!

      I have no idea what the MIL in the story is saying, but it’s probably quite “direct” to her son and to her. She literally IS being “direct”, given her cultural context, and if she made this comment to a woman in her own culture, they would know exactly what she’s saying.

      1. I am a Californian with TX relatives. I grew up shooting guns for sport. I have no interest in going to a gun range with you. I seriously doubt anyone is “running around in circles” when you mention guns. They probably just don’t want to go with you. Sounds like you are very smug about your assumed correctness

        1. I think the point was to comment on the difference between what is “marked” and “unmarked” in different contexts/settings (but “guns” are so marked here that it’s probably not neutral enough an example)

        2. I’ve seen people running around in circles on this very board.

          The most recent one was a conversation on a federal agent carrying at a funeral. It sent many into a tizzy.

        3. I’ve never personally invited anyone to a gun range, I don’t own guns, and I don’t personally know/like/engage with guns/hunting/marksmanship. I’m the weird one in my extended family, as these types of conversations and invitations come up all the time.

          Maybe I just run in different circles, but any time the question of guns comes up among my California friends, it’s a completely different conversation. Knowing I’m from TX, sometimes they specifically ask if people really do think guns are fine/common/useful. When I confirm that this is the case among my family, the shock/sadness/confused reactions come out. This has happened multiple times over the years.

          That’s fine if that’s not your experience, but it’s a good example of a pretty standard divide among the majority of people I’ve met in CA vs. the majority of people I grew up with in TX.

    7. Why was this even an issue. The mother made a comment to her son, he passed it along. It seems pretty benign. The mother likes the OP and is telling that to her son, the son wants her to know mom approves. It seems like mom’s way of flattering the OP, not trying to set some great, vague expectations

      1. …. No one said anyone was Indian. Please see the above points about people in different cultures (even within the same country) communicating differently.

    9. The MIL is probably saying that her son’s GF needs to dress up at the wedding. In a good way. Not in a “ you suck” way. Give people some grace, guys.

  7. What do you do with small reusable bags? Like the ones you get from Athleta or higher end clothing stores. I had just been sticking them with my grocery bags, but I have to many, they are too small to use for groceries, and I want to clean that area up. But just throwing them away seems like such a waste

    1. If you have kids, I use them to send myriad things into school (projects, donations for the classroom, snacks for parties, snow gear, etc). I also use them when I give away things via buy nothing or marketplace, or to friends/family. You could even offer all the bags in a buy nothing group, I bet someone would come pick them up. And sometimes I’m sticking things in my purse and want them to have a little extra “protection”, so I wrap them in a bag first

      1. +1 to all of these – we use them for donations, buy-nothing groups, to schlep kid stuff in for school (costumes, athletic gear, etc.) and I generally keep at least 2 in the trunk of every car in case I forget a bag and need to run errands.

    2. For the ones that have long handles, like Athleta, I use those to bring my lunch to work. For drawstring types, I use them when traveling for laundry or shoes. I guess you could use the long handled ones for those purposes too.

    3. I love Athleta’s, they’re the perfect size for packing my lunch in. I’d buy them from Athleta if I could (I do rarely splurge for Athleta)

    4. See if any of the stores will take them back. If not, you could use them for when you donate items. I’ll be checking back here for others’ ideas.

      And then bring your own bags to all stores, including clothing stores, so you don’t collect more bags in the future.

    6. They work good for shoes in your suitcase, along with lunch. Otherwise, since I returned to a slouchy purse, I just normally put the stuff in my purse and declined the bag.

    7. One of the small athleta ones was the perfect size to hold all my vacuum cleaner attachments. I use a more medium-sized one as a beach bag since I don’t care if it gets destroyed. They’re randomly useful for things like that.

    9. Donations: they are great for holding all the heels I have been donating. I also keep them in my car trunk for random shopping needs.

    11. Bring them with me when shopping so I don’t end up with more? Plastic bans are banned in my area so I have a stash of reusable bags in each car and at home. I keep separate bags for grocery and clothing items. I like the Lululemon smaller ones to store my clothing reusable bags. They are also popular here as lunch bags for high schoolers.

  8. I joined a large insurance company’s legal department last year after decades at a competitor. Substantively everything is very similar but at this company we’re invited to quarterly zoom meetings with the senior legal officers. I cannot, for the life of me understand what these people are talking about. They speak with a lot of what I think are business buzzwords about goals and strategies. I cannot understand what it means for me or how I can contribute. For example, at a recent meeting they talked about something similar to SMART goals but with a different acronym. It feels almost silly. At my last job I’d get directives like “we want to increase our proactive motions by x percentage. Please review your files for and advise where summary judgement is appropriate” from my department head. Id like to adapt more abstract concepts and come up with ideas for our practice area but it seems like the higher ups talk in circles. Do they want to resolve things more quickly? Do they want to see better settlement numbers? These are examples of the kinds of goals at my last job, but here we’re implementing a new goal structure for what reason exactly I don’t know. Is it possible that I lack understanding of business jargon? Are there resources for this? Thanks!

    1. It’s not that you don’t understand it’s that they aren’t actually saying anything.

    4. Find a friend at your company and talk to your boss. There’s not a book for this, it’s specific to your company so the resource is your colleagues.

      1. This. Ask to talk to someone before the meeting so you know what to expect, and after the meeting just debrief so you know what happened.

    5. In about six months, you will move from “It feels almost silly” to “it is incredibly silly,” and you will be correct.

    6. I am also in-house at an insurance company and I came from a law firm. This is so relatable! I started keeping a list of acronyms. If I couldn’t figure them out from googling I just asked my boss at our one-on-ones. You’re not expected to know all the jargon coming in, I promise.

      1. +1

        I have been with my firm for over a decade and still run across new acronyms and buzzwords. My colleagues are used to me coming to them after a meeting with questions about words I have not heard yet, and it’s become almost an inside joke. They sometimes even proactively define new terms in meetings so everyone understands what they mean.

        1. My whole career has been at insurance companies. My entry level friends and I made up a little nursery rhyme song of all the TLAs people used so that we could remember what they meant.

          (TLA = Three Letter Acronym)

      2. The last 2 large international firms I’ve worked at – 1 bank, 1 consulting company – have an acronym glossary on their internal homepage. Very helpful!

  9. This group always has such great travel advice. Recommendations for a baby moon? Traveling from the east coast in February or March.

    Must have accessible emergency care, so FL and TX are out. Would prefer nice enough weather to be outside. Must not have Zika. I’d prefer to not travel somewhere that the main attraction is something I love but can’t enjoy, specifically scuba diving and booze, so that knocks out most of the Caribbean, Hawaii, wine country CA, much of Italy, Bonaire, Costa Rica — basically everything on my bucket list. I also don’t want a super long flight so South Africa and are Australia out. I’m not sure what that leaves. Sedona? Montreal — will it be miserable that time of year? Thanks for your help!

    1. Waddling through the Montreal snow sounds miserable. It’s not bad for locals (who have the right gear, balance, and techniques) but I wouldn’t suggest traveling there if you aren’t from a snowy place.

    2. The requirement for accessible emergency care (which I totally understand) knocks out most of the places domestically when it is warm enough to be outside. Maybe New Mexico or Arizona? I don’t know the state of the law there, but might be ok. San Diego would be decent weather.

    3. Montreal will be cold, but probably snowy and beautiful in Feb. I visited a year or two ago in the winter and loved it.

    4. Not sure if it would really be warm enough to hang on the beach, but maybe St. Simon’s or Jekyll Island in Georgia? Taos, NM? What would you like to do or see on your baby moon?

      1. I wouldn’t suggest St Simon’s or Jekyll if you’re worried about accessible emergency medical care. Putting aside the state’s laws on abortion/ambiguity as what counts as a medical emergency exception, there isn’t great general emergency care access there anyway. There’s a hospital in Brunswick, but for higher levels of care (like if you needed a higher-level NICU), you’re an hour and a half from Savannah or Jacksonville. Plus, weather on the Georgia coast is iffy in February/March. Might be lovely (more likely in March). Might be cold. Warm weather requirement also rules out Taos or Santa Fe to me–given their elevations, it’s actually pretty cold there in February/March. Agree with southern California or Arizona suggestions.

    5. If you’re ruling out FL and TX for accessible emergency care reasons, you should be sure to check local laws in the other countries you are considering. For example, abortion is not legal in much of the Caribbean.

    6. Bermuda, San Diego, Sedona, Santa Fe.

      What do you like to do/what appeals to you for activities?

      1. That’s a good question! I’ve been so bummed about all the things I CAN’T do I hadn’t put much thought into what I can. I’m usually pretty active and this whole process (including 2 years of IVF) has derailed me in so many ways. I don’t even recognize myself anymore. I’d like to feel like me again. I’d like to be outside in sunshine and at least get to walk around even if I can’t do the challenging hikes or bike rides or dives that I usually enjoy. DH isn’t into spa treatments or a lot of woo – he’s trepidatious about Sedona – but I don’t mind pushing him out of his comfort zone especially under these circumstances.

          1. If you’re going to do southern California in February, I would try Palm Springs area instead of SD or another coastal area. Better chance of sunnier, nicer weather in the desert.

        3. . I’m usually pretty active and this whole process (including 2 years of IVF) has derailed me in so many ways. I don’t even recognize myself anymore. I’d like to feel like me again.

          Hugs. I get it. But that’s a lot of pressure to put on a trip, you know? Said with love because I’ve done the same and felt very disappointed.

        4. Then I repeat my suggestions of San Diego or Bermuda. Swimming is amazing when you’re pregnant, even if you can’t scuba dive. Kayak. Play beach volleyball.

        1. Yeah, if you are super concerned about emergency medical services, I don’t think going to a small island would be your best bet.

    7. How far along will you be? You might under estimate how uncomfortable a long flight will be, especially given how many bathroom breaks you’d need. Having said that, Aruba could be lovely, and depending on your airport may be a direct flight. We stayed at Manchebo Beach Resort and loved the vibe. You’d have to research the medical capabilities but they were excellent for some routine vacation illnesses we experienced – they’re a Dutch colony or something to that effect and it was high quality and low cost. Not sure about having a whole baby there (check NICU offerings). Bermuda would be off-peak but could also be nice. Otherwise, parts of Western North Carolina do want tourists. The Grove Park Inn has an exceptional spa and massage offerings. My folks were just up there for a weekend and while they said it was much quieter than normal, they were trying to get some of the economy back on track in the tourist areas in Asheville.

    8. What do you actually want to do? Sit on a beach? Walk around a beautiful city? Walk around in the woods?

      1. And yes, Montreal will be absolutely frigid in Feb. It is the height of winter. If nothing else, I think finding maternity snow gear might be a PITA – e.g. your feet might be swollen enough that boots won’t fit, really warm maternity coats are expensive, I don’t know if maternity long underwear exists…
        You may also want something more sedentary than usual in late pregnancy–people tend to be really tired and unable to sleep well–and find long flights uncomfortable.

        1. Montrealer here. Maternity long underwear does exist. I recommend getting a coat extender vs a specific maternity coat – much cheaper! Montreal in Feb is likely to be pretty in a very cold, winter-y kind of way. Could be tough if you’re not used to it. Montreal in march will be a grey, soupy mess. Do not recommend.

    10. TBH most of the good warm weather destinations are in states where I would not be comfortable going and I also wouldn’t want a long haul trip to CA. I fervently hope you have an easier pregnancy than I had but a work trip to CA from NYC when I was 6mos pregnant landed me in the hospital with a minor blood clot afterwards
      Would you consider doing an ‘active’ spa vacation like Miraval Berkshires or Lenox Spa Berkshires? It will be snowy but not as frigid as Montreal.

    12. So I wouldn’t rule out wine country just because you can’t drink. There’s so much to do there that doesn’t involve wine tasting. Lovely hikes/walks that are easy, great meals, antiquing, little towns to check out, spas, etc. In February or March it will be delightfully chilly and foggy and the rates are great at many hotels. I’d personally look at Healdsburg over Napa, and my favorite place there to stay is the Madrona.

      1. I went to Napa pregnant and had a wonderful time. We had booked the trip before I knew I was pregnant. I looked at beautiful views, played with winery dogs, got a massage, and ate great food.

      3. I am sober and we spend a lot of time in Sonoma. I love the redwoods. I love the Russian river, I love the northern California coastline, I just love the vibe. You can do it without wine, easily.

    13. Honestly, given all these comments and limitations, can I just say that not taking a baby moon is a completely valid option. Maybe just book a night at a nice hotel close to home, have a lovely dinner, get a prenatal massage if you so choose.

      1. Yeah, I’m having a hard time visualizing a trip that you’re not going to find disappointing, looking at the “I’d like to feel like me again” comment above. A trip is more likely to highlight all the things you’ve lost about yourself and how uncomfortable pregnancy is, in my experience. I’d put my energy into figuring out the most enjoyable local things I could throw into my routine. (An art class, exploring local walking paths or museums, maybe getting a pool pass if you have a local pool, finding a good coffee spot and becoming a regular, etc.)

    14. Go to Arizona. Phoenix/Sedona or Tucson would both work. There are hikes, the weather will be warm enough to be outside but not hot, you can explore Saguaro National Park or go to museums, and you can eat delicious Mexican food.

    15. If you think you can deal with the cold, I’d suggest Quebec City rather than Montreal. It’s like going to France without the long flight!

      Also So Cali is likely to be quite cool (although certainly warmer than much of the east coast) in Feb/March.

      1. Quebec city is way too hilly for an inexperienced pregnant woman to traverse icy sidewalks.

    16. Hey, Palm Springs is definitely right up your alley. Sunshine, everything is outdoors, including the airport! Joshua Tree is a quick day trip and has easy flat short hikes but amazing scenery payoff right away. Lots of cool houses to check out as well.

      1. I love Palm Springs. I’m in the Bay Area, and that’s where we go when it’s raining up here and it’s my kids spring break which is usually in March. Tends to be reliably sunny there. We love downtown Palm Springs. We are not big spa people.

    17. San Diego would be a gamble – it might be 75 and sunny and it might be 55 and rainy, but there is a lot to do and even our “bad” weather is not really that bad compared to the rest of the country.

      The greater Palm Spring area would be lovely – although quite cold at night, but there is some nice hiking and the spa scene cannot be beat. The only problem is getting there since its airport is tiny so you really have to fly into LA, Burbank, Ontario, San Diego and then rent a car and drive. Time that drive carefully!

    18. Food tour in southern Italy. Senior Attorney’s friend is a travel guide in Italy and could set something up.

      I went to Italy for both of my baby moons – amazing food means you don’t miss wine in the same way. You can do olive oil tastings, pasta making, dessert making etc. and buy a bottle of something special to celebrate with after baby arrives.

    19. Palm Springs if the flight is manageable! I was there in Feb and loved it. Lots of cute shops, art, etc. to stroll around downtown. If you’re up for it you can do some easy hikes, if not, plenty of other things to do. Get a vrbo with a pool!

  10. For a one time fee of $18, you can buy one of Fitness Blender’s 30 min/day plans, which is basically a calendar of free YouTube videos (but watch them on their site) and repeat it indefinitely. It works really well and no membership is needed. If you look at their older plans, there are a number that are 8 weeks long, currently priced at $28, and those are honestly my favorites. But that is because I like the original trainers best. They have a low impact version, abs-focused version, etc. If you buy an ongoing Fitness Blender Plus membership, then all are included for no additional charge with the monthly fee.
    https://www.fitnessblender.com/plans?minutes%5B%5D=30

  11. Any favorite recipes or any other ideas to use up 4-5 dozen oranges we received as a gift? A few weird restrictions: I don’t eat meat, not a big drinker (but still considering an infused vodka or simple syrup for lack of other ideas), and I can’t eat them plain or I get terrible canker sores (cooking with zest is okay and I think small amounts of the fruit or juice will be okay as long as it’s diluted with other things, like in a dressing). I like to bake and I’ve already made some excellent orange cranberry muffins (from NYT cooking). I know you can freeze the juice and zest, but I still need a plan to use it eventually…

    1. Can you pass on to neighbors or co-workers? There is zero way I could use all of these (nor would I want to).

    2. Would you be open to regifting some to friends and neighbors? I’d love if someone gave me random fresh fruit!

      1. Yeah, we’ll almost certainly do this. Unfortunately my husband says that the fruit is only okay, and there are only so many people I feel comfortable giving mediocre fruit to. The zest and juice seem good to cook with, though.

        1. If you’d like to be able to cook with the juice at a future date, you can freeze it. I grew up in Central California and we had four or five really productive orange trees and that’s how we did it.

          I’m in the bay area now and I have an orange tree, but it’s not that good, however, I have a completely bonkers lemon tree and I’m always looking for ways to save the juice from that.

          Juicing and freezing is a completely legitimate use of citrus fruit. Don’t forget to put one of the empty juiced-out rinds down your garbage disposal to make it smell nice

          1. Also can boil the rinds + fruit too and have potpourri

            Could dehydrate slices in the oven and use that as dry potpourri

      1. Some of these sound like good ideas but some don’t
        Like I would think putting orange juice or oil or scent on you to repel mosquitoes would succeed in attracting ants?

    4. Marmalade? Could be a fun winter afternoon project, and there’s a million recipes online.

      1. Marmelade, and if you want something seasonal, cranberry orange marmalade is yummy.

    5. I would post on Next Door and rehome them. I do this with the Mrs. Fields cookies I get every year and don’t really want to eat. It’s a good reminder that we have neighbors who are relying on food pantries during this season or that receive no gifts from friends and family at all.

    6. That’s a lot of oranges!
      I’d take them to work – I’d be happy to see them in the break room.

    7. I would regift some, but would definitely use a couple to make cranberry relish. Whole orange (peel and all) + bag of cranberries into a food processor. 1/4-1/2C Walnuts if you like them, sugar to taste (I usually just use a couple TBS, because I like it on the tart side). Its delicious plain, on salads, as a yogurt topping, with a turkey sandwich, etc.

      and +1 to marmalade

    9. Ugh, I was 12 years old when my dad proudly walked home with a giant crate containing 10 kilos of grapes (grapes are lightweight so 10 kilos was as big as an armchair-high pile) and left it to my mum to deal with.

      I have not eaten a single grape since. I love wine but will not abide any bunches, sprigs and their jammy or juiced derivatives.

      Don’t orange your family into trauma. Give them to food banks if you can.

      1. Oh man, my husband still tells the story of the time that his dad’s garden overproduced eggplants. The whole family was eating it – roasted, baba ghanoush, fried – all summer. 25 years later and he is only just reestablishing a relationship with eggplant.

      2. Forty years later, my spouse is still scarred by his childhood encounter with the entire pallet of sale-priced canned green beans his dad acquired one year.

    10. Citrus cakes. Sally baking addiction has a good sunshine cake recipe that uses a fair amount of orange juice. I also like a citrus curd that mixes orange/lemon/lime juice together.

    12. Bag them up in reusable shopping bags (see post above) and drop them off at a community food bank, where fresh produce is much appreciated.

      2. Yes, fresh fruit at a food pantry is such a treat! It’s not a common donation and will be snapped up right away!

    14. I’ve seen a lot of very pretty Fall and Christmas decorative garlands made with dehydrated orange slices strung on cord or ribbon. You’d need to google how to do it, but I don’t think it’s difficult.

  12. I had my yearly mammogram today, and there was a concerning area on one breast. Waiting on the call to schedule a biopsy. How do you prevent yourself from going immediately to worst-case scenarios?

    1. As someone who was a worst-case scenario, here are my suggestions: do not Google; know that most biopsies are completely normal; stay as busy as you can; and remember that even if it is the worst case scenario, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing to take care of anything. Seriously though, the vast, vast majority of biopsies are negative.

    2. As someone who has had this happen several times – by knowing that first, most of the time, it turns out to be nothing, and second, in the event that the biopsy results in bad news, the bad thing has already happened, and what you are doing now is exactly what you should do to handle it.

    3. Between my ultrasound and my biopsy, I went to Europe for two weeks and celebrated by 60th birthday in Paris. Obviously, that trip was already planned and the timing was weird, but it was good to just keep going on with life. I journaled throughout the trip, which is something that I like to do when I am on vacation and when I am stressed so it was a two-fer. It helped me to put my fears on paper and get them out of my head. Wishing you good outcomes.

    4. Wish you good luck and the best vibes. Understand most biopsies are negative so don’t worry in advance and don’t google. Whatever it is, you will deal with it and you will be fine. Knowing is always better than not knowing. Speaking as a 12 year BC survivor.

    5. I know this isn’t exactly the same, but I deal with health anxiety so have lots of practice with worst case scenarios.

      One thing that has helped me a lot has been to set a parameter around my spiraling. Honestly, your brain is going to go to the worst. It happens to most people in this situation. I would allow myself to really think about the worst case scenario at a designated time. So at like 2:15, I could just really think about that for 15 minutes. If a worst case scenario thought came up at a different time, I tell myself I can think about it all I want at 2:15, and that the time right now is designated for work, etc.

      In other words, allow yourself to be scared! This will help you process the emotion. After a few days of doing this, I’m better able to focus and sometimes don’t even “need” my worry time.

      Being generally present and doing body scans where I focus on neutral or good feelings in the rest of my body help immensely as well. There are several on the Calm app if you have that.

    6. I just went through this a month or two ago, and everything is fine. I hope you get equally reassuring results from your biopsy. I really appreciated that, post-mammogram the doctor basically said, “This happens frequently. It’s not definitely concerning, but it’s not definitely NOT concerning, we just need to be sure.” It made it easier for me to just wait and see without catastrophizing.

      Word to the wise, reschedule your biopsy if you’re not feeling 100% that day. I was eager to have everything behind me so I tried to power through with a mask even though I was feeling really run down, had a bad cold, and hadn’t slept well the night before. I ended up having a vasovagal episode when they went in with the needle, the procedure had to be aborted, and I had to reschedule the whole thing at a different facility with a table where I could do it lying down, adding another couple weeks of waiting!

    7. Just in case you need a sample of one to add to your list of things it could be. I’ve had two needle biopsies, both were benign adenomas. I’ve also had a call back to do additional imaging on an area, which led to more frequent surveillance, and that turned out to be a cyst (probably). No problems since then.

      Good vibes to you I know it’s hard.

    8. If you feel compelled to research, I recommend open evidence or even ChatGPT. His doctor recommended open evidence but I found ChatGPT very in line with open evidence.

      I just went through a somewhat lengthy and complex medical process with my son. There were a lot of unknowns but I honestly research to soothe. ChatGPT kept me from falling into scary and intense anxiety inducing message boards or vague general information.

      ChatGPT was able to give me the information I was looking for but in a factual way. It helped me run through a lot of scenarios and that helped me get through a long 2 months.

  13. Can anyone recommend a good posture correcting bra or undergarment. I need something to help me keep my shoulders back. Thanks.

    2. If you’re having issues with your shoulders, have you started strength training? Your pectoral and chest muscles have to be strong enough to keep your shoulders back versus just making small adjustments throughout the day.

        2. Damn, I saw this comment out of context and was really interested in magic garnets since that’s my birthstone. Are you now telling me I can’t just go out and buy magic garnets?

          1. You may be able to trade a cow or some beans for magic garnets

            Source: a girl in a red hoodie

        3. I saw a PT and my muscles were strong. The garment reminded me to use the muscles I already had and break some bad habits. There’s a place for them!

          1. Because indirect communication is so good for reading things between the lines that aren’t there.

    3. I’m not sure the science actually supports these things working :( I think it’s more an Instagram trend than an actual solution

      1. Ditto – anything that forces you into the position isn’t going to help long term.

        The brand Forme is supposed to be an FDA registered medical device that helps “remind” you to achieve a posture, but I didn’t find the one I ordered to be comfortable. It’s possible I ordered a smaller size than I needed, and that’s why it’s uncomfortable.

        Honestly, a timer that reminds you to check your posture until it becomes a habit is probably more useful? Or other dance/movement training than just strength training.

        1. A brace may not help long term if it lets muscles out of doing the work, but compression garments and support garments are effective and recommended for posture at least for specific issues. They make it more comfortable to engage one’s own muscles than not to. Continuous reminding is way more effective for me than periodic reminding with a timer.

    4. This isn’t a bra or undergarment rec, but I’ve recently started using the Upright device and it’s been really helpful. From my research, the device is better because it reminds you to use your muscles as opposed to a garment which acts as a brace and gives you support when really you should be strengthening your muscles. The Upright app works well and you can calibrate the vibration reminder so it’s subtle. If you go this route, I recommend getting the necklace for easy removal instead of the adhesives, especially for workouts. I bought mine used from ebay but it’s not super expensive new either.

    5. Look to Reddit/ABraThatFits. Poor-fitting bras will cause you to slump, because too much of the weight is forward and not supported by your entire trunk.

    6. A family member tried this, but they are generally not effective if they are so thing/mild that they can be worn regularly underclothing. And even the heavy duty velcro ones you wear on top of your clothing … you adjust to over time.

      Make sure your work station is perfectly ergonomic, with large external screen at the right height, good chair etc.

      And then one yoga instructor (pain specialist) taught me the greatest simple technique. Whenever you are standing, hold your hands behind your back. Clasp them, either hand to hand or one hand to other wrist. Doing this pulls your shoulders back, reminds you lift up your head and stand erect. It is great. I try to do this all the time now.

      Doing yoga and Tai Chi has also helped.

      And of course, stop surfing on your phone. That’s when our posture goes to hell.

  14. Would you mention something to your boss in this situation? I’m working on this major project with my manager and I’m the lead, but my manager was very involved in the lead up and planning. I have been working my butt off on this project, especially all the technical aspects since my manager is totally tech inept. I’ve been working incredibly hard to make it a success. The whole time my boss hasn’t had one positive thing to say. Every comment is yuck, ick, I hate this, I hate the vendor we’re working with, this is terrible. I can’t adequately convey how demoralizing it is to hear negative things every day multiple times a day on something I’m very working on. Should I just suck it up?

    1. There’s no way to give you advice without some relational context. What’s your guess on the source of the comments — is this coming from, “I relate by complaining” or “I’m mean” or “I’m stressed and depressed and I hate life in general” or “OP, I hate you and am out to make your life hard.”

      And what’s your general relationship with your manager — good? Fraught? Icy? Do you like/dislike the manager in general?

      Also, is your manager literally using the words “ick” and “yuck” in conversation, or is that you venting and summarizing what the manager is actually saying?

      1. She’s literally saying ick and yuck!

        I think she’s stressed and likes to vent to me without realizing the impact it has on me. She’s acknowledged before that she doesn’t like change or doing new things, and this project is new. We generally have a good relationship.

    2. I had a boss like this. They don’t change. I’m not sure whether the manager and boss you mention are two different people. If manager is different from the negative boss, ask your manager if there’s anything you should do differently, given boss’s feedback.
      Hopefully the manager will have something more positive to say, and if you’re really lucky manager will manage up to the boss and try to stem the negativity.

      If not, ask the boss the same question. I hear that you hate this vendor, would you like me to explore alternatives/ how are they falling short, so I can address it.

    3. can you specifically ask for feedback on your part of it? like “oh I know Beatrice is difficult – did you think I handled that call well?”

  15. I packed too small of a lunch and not enough snacks today… what are your healthy things to buy and eat when you’re in the office?

    Not looking for fruit – I’ve already had 3 servings today and need something more filling.

    I have a Wawa, another convenience store, and a Starbucks nearby.

    Unfortunately due to hoteling I can’t keep a stash of healthy foods at my desk.

    1. single serve hummus & carrots
      nuts
      a snack wrap with lean meat
      a bag of those flavored pickle slices

    3. Single servings of cheese, or those cheese and salami rolls.
      Clio yogurt bars at Wawa.
      Pistachios or Kind bars.

  16. Just wondering whether anyone else has dealt with this. I’ve always loved natural fiber sweaters, and scarves. I’ve never had a problem with wool or cashmere, although I don’t suppose I’d wear Shetland wool next to bare skin. But merino wool and cashmere were never a problem.

    Now anything even slightly woolen is making my neck itch, specifically my neck. Has anyone had skin that changed in this way?

    1. Sometimes I find wool itchy if I have dry skin, it’s a signal I need to moisturize.

    3. I have super sensitive skin in general. I can’t wear cashmere or scratchier wool, but can usually tolerate merino wool socks and sweaters, though I go through phases where it bothers me at my ankles, wrists, and neck. It’s usually when my skin is already irritated by something else, and it’s usually worse if it’s tight or there’s elastic involved, especially in the wrists and ankles. I wouldn’t necessarily assume it’s permanent as opposed to your skin being dry and irritated from winter or something else right now.

    4. Yes, even though my skin is oily. Merino / nylon blends are OK, as are silk / cashmere scarves. But anything else, even cashmere, gets a cotton turtleneck or shirt layered underneath. It’s fine — I run cold. But it’s weird to layer a turtleneck under a turtleneck, but otherwise my neck revolts.

    5. Yes, happened to me. I have sensitive skin, and over the years have developed more and more allergies to topicals.

      Hopefully you already treat your neck as you do your face – mild cleansers and moisturizing twice a day.

      I can’t even tolerate my soft pjs (crew neck) touching my neck when I sleep! V neck only…

    6. I found switching to a body oil for moisturizing helped, and I also wrap a silk scarf inside a sweater neck.

  17. Can someone please encourage me to apply for a job where I meet the requirements but not the preferred qualifications? It would be a huge step up and I feel ready for something new! thanks!

    3. Finding a new job is a bit of a numbers game, so apply to all the things where you’re a fit! And think a little bit more broadly about being a fit, since some skills are transferrable and some are easy to learn or acquire once you’re in the role.

      If you apply to every role where you’re mostly qualified, a single rejection won’t sting as much, you’ll be able to hone your resume, and you can practice your interview skills. Lots of benefits to applying when you meet most of the criteria, just do it!

    4. I have did that in law school and my friends teased me for it. Still got the job. DO IT!

    5. do it! talk in your cover letter about how your experience with X and Y would lend itself well to whatever the preferred thing is.

    7. Tradwick is already spiffing up his resume, and he’s not half as qualified as you. Go for it!

    8. Real talk: knock off the imposter syndrome and apply.

      The company is very sensibly delineating actual requirements from its wish list, knowing it may or may not get the latter. It isn’t playing games by throwing out a long list of “requirements,” half of which are optional, and scaring off qualified applicants.

      Pray tell, what else do you want them to do to signal that someone like you should apply?

      (Take this as a good friend sort of shaking you by the shoulders.)

    9. I’ve been the hiring manager for roles where I advertised for X and got everything from X-2 to X+2. Sometimes I wouldn’t be interested in anything but X, however, there are lots of cases where I hired someone overqualified and was able to get a bigger title and budget OR where I took someone more junior without all the experience I wanted, but at a slightly more junior title and salary with room to grow. One of my best hires had none of the “resume” skills I wanted but came from a different area in my org and showed up with essentially a list of “here’s what the person in this role should be doing- and it could be me or someone else but this is what the business needs.” She clearly got the job.

    10. Hey! I have an application for a job like that I need to send out too – do it do it do it!!!

  18. I’m moving the day after Christmas. Please can you help me figure out some nice bites for the children to eat for their Christmas dinner, which will be a picnic dinner while watching a movie. I have trader joe and Costco available.

    What I have so far is:
    Pizza wheels

    Chocolate lace cake, ice cream and redi whip for all but one child who doesn’t like this dessert but doesn’t have something else to suggest.

    Grapes and strawberries Christmas tree.

    Help! It’s a tough move and I’m trying to make the best of a horrible situation by giving the children a nice meal.

      1. I asked them what they want and the list I have is what they requested.

        It’s a very emotionally difficult time for them. I’m also all over the place, very stressed with the pressure so struggling to think straight.

        1. Ah, okay. I hope this tough season passes quickly for all of you.
          Chex Mix was always a favorite of mine as a kid.
          Tamales from either Trader Joes or Costco (easy to heat and eat or freeze)
          Cranberry ginger ale or some other “festive” drink (Crystal light fruit punch mixed with Sprite works well, too), or hot cider/chocolate if that’s more their thing.
          Milk and Oreos

      2. Forgot to add that they don’t want Chinese. That was my first suggestion and they all shot it down fast.

        I thought about grilled cheese sandwiches shaped with a Christmas themed cookie cutter but 2 of them don’t like grilled cheese and I’ve already got cheese pizza on the list.

        1. PB&J tree sandwiches
          chicken nuggets
          carrot sticks & ranch dip or hummus
          popcorn
          Jingle Jangle if that’s not sugar overload

    2. My kids would like all kinds of snacky stuff in this situation, maybe set up as appetizers before pizza (FWIW, pizza + grapes and strawberries seems totally OK as the entirety of dinner itself to me). Bamba, popcorn, maybe some sweet things too–Trader Joe’s has some white chocolate covered peppermint popcorn right now, for example.

      For the kid who doesn’t like that dessert, do they like ice cream? You could maybe add a sundae bar with all kinds of toppings (hot fudge, crumbled oreos, M&Ms, gummi bears, whatever–some of this could may be do double duty as snacky appetizers), which I think could maybe make dessert work for everyone…

    4. Are you moving from a place where people might be happy to bring festive food to you?

      Make sure you have enough paper plates and stuff and garbage bags. Don’t worry about plates or forks. Finger food.

    5. All the TJs apps: mac and cheese bites, pigs in blankets.

      Christmas cookies (bought or acquired).

    6. It’s totally ok if Christmas dinner is light and casual. Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch are often much bigger or more festive meals, and dinner can be just leftovers or a cheese plate in my experience. If you’re doing “special” beforehand, don’t worry at all about the night before the move.

  19. Is anyone going to SFIG in Vegas this winter? What is the dress like? I think it may be formal, since it’s finance. I’ve been having some foot issues and worry how comfort shoes will look and building good outfits from the ground up that won’t seem out of place. Thanks!

    1. I go every year (work for a bank) and there’s a range. The conference officially says it’s business casual but I’d say it leans a little more formal than that. The average man will wear a suit with no tie. Some women will be wearing heels and a matching suit but mostly it’s flats, loafers or nice sneakers with a midi dress or pants + blouse with a jacket for a layer. It’s a lot of walking- no one will bat an eye at comfortable shoes

    1. I used to back in the 80s and 90s. If you have a straw or other obviously seasonal bag, then I feel like you should.

    3. Not always but I used one of those nylon Uniqlo crossbody bags all summer because I hurt my shoulder and wanted something super light. We got into cold weather and it no longer felt “right” – so I guess I do change my bag for the season! I’m using a Longchamp leather and suede crossbody I bought in Paris right now and it feels more correct for this time of year.

    4. Not each season — but hot/cold, yes. I like lighter purses in the summer with all my sandals and linen, but those purses look strange in the winter with my boots and wool. So I change it up.

      1. This feels right to me — a temperature change. I have a navy canvas tote that I carry in warm weather and a leather tote in cooler weather.

    5. Not really by season except for the summer. I have an All Saints Captain Square Crossbody in gray leather that I wear as a daily running errands bag throughout the year except I switch to a straw crossbody in the summer (it’s the Jelavu Ata Bali – Small Crossbody White) because it matches my seasonal lighter clothing/shoes more. I have different evening bags but they’re not really weather dependent (my most used are three smallish designer bags in black, hot pink, and red). I have the same two work bags year-round — both from Lo & Sons.

    8. I feel like I don’t have an everyday bag anymore, it’s more situational. If I’m going to a big concert or sporting event then I have to bring a clear bag. Most other casual events, I’m carrying my lululemon cross body. My workhorse MZ Wallace comes with me to beer/wine festivals where I’ll want to pick up free coozies and such. Running errands I grab whatever bag my wallet is currently in.

      All of these events used to require just one bag per season. I wasn’t having to swap out all the time. But now with the size and clear restrictions I have all these bags for different functions.

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