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Splurge Monday’s Workwear Report: Acclaimed Stretch Gramercy Pants

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

I love the look of these “cappuccino”-colored pants from Lafayette 148 for this time of year. They’re still a neutral, but not your typical black, gray, or navy. This pair looks really polished with pintucked details, and they’re fully lined, so they're ready for the transition to winter.

I would wear these with a black turtleneck and black bootie for a casual office day.

The pants are $448 at Saks Fifth Avenue and come in sizes 14W–24W.

Two more affordable options are the very popular Eileen Fisher stretch crepe ankle pants (on sale for $112 and up) and these Halogen slim-leg pants available in size 0–16 ($79).

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Sales of note for 12.5

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

273 Comments

    4. I bought this exact robe. Very cozy, good quality.
      I am also a winter/cool tone girl.

      I got the raspberry. It’s a deep color and looks good.

      FYI – the robes are huge so size down down down.

    5. I look best in warm tones, so using me as the opposite guide, I would look TERRIBLE in the light pink one, slightly ill in the raspberry one, either okay or slightly ill in the clear blue one, depending on how clear that color really is, and okay in the navy one.

      If I had cool tones, I’d get the light pink if I want a muted one, and the raspberry if I wanted brighter or darker.

    1. But OMG is this how we’re supposed to look this winter? I just cannot. The high rise, the stumpy legs, the high boots under pants . . . My brain is just not able to compute how this should work with my current possessions. I feel like this is how older people are still dressing in pleated pants and boxy jackets with shoulder pads — at some point, you just give up with keeping up with changes.

      I’d be all about some 1980s dressing if it were from The Americans. But these are like all of the bad wig / bad disguise getups from that show.

      1. Agreed, this is a horrifying look combo. I will in no way be participating in this granny pant trend.

      3. Ha! I would never wear these pants either……frumpy for my body type.
        I do love the color though and would wear cream or black.

      4. This picture looks terrible, but the picture on the website where the model’s top covers the top of the pants look fine.

      5. If it’s not flattering on me, it doesn’t get bought. I would rather look “outdated” than terrible.

        Maybe this is one advantage of living in a small Midwestern city. We’re so behind the times, fashion-wise, that you just wear whatever you want because it’s either in fashion or it’s the same flattering stuff everyone’s still wearing.

      6. I would feel soooo ugly in this combo – the pants and the boots. I’d be self conscious and miserable all day.

      7. I’d wear these pants with a black cashmere sweater, but hard pass on the booties with them. Black suede smoking slippers, sure.

      8. Yeah, I try not to buy into “conventional flattery” too much, but… OMG this is just heinous.

      9. Wow, I don’t know what you all think is so bad about today’s pick. It’s not my color, but as a person with hips, I love the high waist + cropped combo. Would totally wear in a not-brown version.

        1. I think it’s 95% the pairing with the selected boots, not that the pants themselves are bad…

          1. I think the pants are bad. I don’t understand all the grandma pants featured here lately.

        2. I’m not sure if I’d wear this, but as someone shaped like the model, hooray for showing a newer style on someone with hips for once? I honestly think the cries of FRUMPY are because they’re not featured on a thin model, but perhaps that’s my cynicism showing.

          1. I can’t tell if this is just a regular model though, in which case on my hips it would look 3 times more the way it looks in the photo.

          2. No, it’s not about the model’s body. It’s about the pants themselves. They don’t even fit the model and they would still make her look awful even if they fit. High waist + tapered leg = bad look on any body type. Add polyester and sewn-in creases and you get the pants my grandmother used to wear.

  3. Hi, a friend is looking for a family law attorney licensed to practice in NJ. Issues are child custody and kinship legal guardianship. I’d really appreciate any recommendations.

    2. If the child is involved in a case where they are in or otherwise would be in foster care, I would also highly suggest you contact the child’s attorney/law guardian/GAL/CASA. Ask them if there’s anyone they might recommend.

      There are usually a handful of lawyers who work frequently in this arena. In my experience, while many family law attorneys have done this a few times but really specialize in divorce law/child custody in that type of situation… there will be a few people who really are great at guardianships and knowing the kinship opportunities (like – there is likely funding. Even if you don’t need it, it can become the child’s college fund.)

  4. Random PSA: if you have leftover FSA money to use up for the year, you can now buy period panties or reusable pads with it, if you’re considering trying them. I just bought a pair of Knix and charged it directly on my FSA card…they are doing a cute collaboration with Anna Sui. I also have bought Party in My Pants pads for many years and recommend them (other than the lame name). Last I checked they will give you your first one free.

    1. ooh thanks!

      I can always use some up on contacts or glasses, and this year, note you can buy at-home Covid test kits as well!

      1. At-home Covid tests is a great idea (if I can find some in stock!). I have also bought extra sunscreen in a desperate bid not to let any of my money expire.

        1. Covid emergency changes may let you carry over this year’s dollars to next year. I don’t know if this is automatic or if the employer must approve, so check with your employer to be sure.

          1. We can always carry over a certain amount from ours, but it’s a giant pain, since they won’t let you use it until after May 1 and then they still won’t let you use it until after you use the 2022 pot of money, so you run the risk of losing it if you leave your job. It’s better than nothing, I guess, but I’ve learned that it’s better to just spend the money before the end of the year if you can.

    2. Excellent PSA. This is exactly what I will use any remaining funds for. I love my Thinx and I want more of the sleep shorts.

    3. One year we used expiring FSA dollars on multiple first aid kits (for our cars and house), heating pads, hot water bottles, and reusable gel ice packs.

  5. My athletic and artistic niece is about to turn nine and I’m struggling for a good gift for her. I got her a jewelry making kit last year that she loved but am out of ideas now. She plays basketball and flag football, loves to draw/color/paint, and also loves her Nintendo switch. Please help! Budget is around $100.

    1. I bought a bunch of art supplies for my similar niece last year (although she was 12 at the time) – “good” coloured pencils, sketch books, some fancy markers, etc. Report from her dad “how does Auntie know me so well?” Felt like a win to me! I DK if the “Klutz” series is available where you are but they have some really cute and pretty good quality crafty kits for kids that age.

      1. I agree – get her fancy art supplies. Something splurgey and “professional” her parents wouldn’t get her normally. I’d throw in some “really good” (to borrow from Ina) sketch paper.

        1. Adding: your local art store (Blick’s?) can help you determine what’s fancy but appropriate (e.g. maybe don’t get super fancy paper if she’s still going through 6 sheets a day, but there’s an intermediate level for brushes and paper that still makes everything look better). But I was scared to use fancy supplies at that age unless they came in a kit that told me how to use them — I didn’t want to waste them. If she’s a good reader, I might consider an adult learn to watercolor or learn to use pastels kit. I felt very grown up having those. I also loved my sketchbook and basic colored pencils around that age. She may also be at the right age to think Moleskine is extremely fancy, but note that any book that doesn’t open flat is annoying for sketching/art.

          1. My nine year old loves having a sketchbook. One of those spiralbound ones with premium paper.
            Depending on what she likes to draw, you might be able to find a book that has helpful tutorials. My kid loves cute Japanese art and I got her a book called “How to Draw Cute Things.”

    4. My kiddo just turned 8 but has very similar interests and got a ton of art stuff (including some jewelry making kits) that she loved. Can’t help on the electronics front, but big hits with my kid (who has a LOT of 9 year old friends) including:
      – nail polish kits (there are really good ones that have instructions and guides + materials to do really artsy manis)
      – sport themed accessories (mine plays tennis, soccer and lacrosse- we got lax hair ties, fun soccer socks and a new tennis skirt from athleta; water bottles are also always great and can be filled with other stuff)
      – rainbow loom (she might be aging out of this), or paracord bracelet making stuff
      – does she have a kids fitbit? those are huge in our school for older/mid elem kids
      – she got these paint crayons, which she loves: https://www.amazon.com/OOLY-Smooth-Stix-Watercolor-Crayons/dp/B07TZT5QB2/ref=asc_df_B07TZT5QB2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385177066989&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3892299118410034745&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001878&hvtargid=pla-820440385413&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=81510837594&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385177066989&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3892299118410034745&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001878&hvtargid=pla-820440385413
      – LED light up lights for her bike and room
      – a hoverboard (says 12+ but it’s really not. an athletic 9 y/o can do it. My 6 y/o can do it just fine.)
      – books (might want to consult mom / dad on this one)
      – personalized jewelry (eg. my kid got a medium nice (~$30? $50?) necklace with her initial on it and LOVES it.)
      – starbuckes or amazon gift card. My kid is just starting to understand buying stuff for herself and had so much fun looking at all the stuff she could buy!

    5. There is a store called Wool and the Gang that has kits for beginner knitting projects for hat, scarf, etc. and they are in your price range. I ordered one for myself but haven’t started yet.

    6. Art subscription boxes. SketchBox has been a big hit for teens, tweens and adults in my life.

    7. Prismacolor pencils, a spiralbound sketchbook, a set of drawing pencils/erasers/sharpener/smudge sticks, and an instructional book on drawing. My artistic kid liked the Illustration School series by Sachiko Umoto at that age.

    8. How about a trip to Blick or another art supplies store together and maybe a lumch out together? If you are able to do that together. Looking at art supplies can be a whole hobby in itself, but maybe you can pick out a sketchbook and a set of markers or “grown up” pencils together. I got a copy of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and a couple of how to draw 3D objects and portait books when I was 9 or 10 and starting to teach myself how to draw.

    9. My daughter just turned 9. Her absolute favorite gift this year were the books How to Draw Cute Stuff and How to Draw Cute Animals. Less than your budget, but perhaps in combination with other items. It’s also a good age for strategy games.

    10. Oooh, I’d recommend anything from here: https://johnmuirlaws.com/field-sketching-equipment/. He teaches nature journaling and there are lots of applications for kids. You could do a DIY kit of “how to nature journal” book, plus sketchbook plus pens/watercolors. He also has a lot of free resources online to watch videos on how to nature journal, so there’s a nice deep dive your niece could take if this is of interest. It’s nice because it’s something you can do in your backyard, so no need to go far to get “nature.”

  6. I am not a lawyer. I recently received a “Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Hearing”, stating that I have been identified as a potential member of the class, with the standard options being submit a claim, exclude myself or do nothing.
    The legal situation is related to discrimination of job applicants based on immigration status, and in my case, this dates back to 2014-16. I may not even have proper documentation of my eligibility anymore, but here’s my general question, since I don’t know anything about Class Action Settlements.
    Does it ever make sense to submit a claim? Has anyone ever received a payment from something like this (FWIW, the proposed net settlement fund is in the single digit millions)?
    Trying to understand whether it makes sense to dig out old emails and stuff, or whether this is a scam.

    1. I frequently do these for small stakes things (e.g., consumer products that were misrepresented in advertising) and do get a check months after I filled out the form and forgot all about it, usually less than they implied it would be, often only a few bucks.

    2. It’s likely not a scam but also you’ll prob get next to nothing. Google the specific notice you got.

    4. I got $550 for a contacts one a few months ago. I had no idea how much to expect, so I was really surprised when the deposit showed up!

    5. It does make sense to join, my husband received three reasonably sized checks from the tech non-compete cases. The rest have been small in comparison, but it’s better than nothing.

    6. I’ve gotten money from Barbri and diamond class actions; unless you think you’re going to go find a lawyer to resurrect your suit from 6-7 years ago, I’d sign up. (I do first independently search for the class action rather than just click the link in an email, though, to ward off scams.)

    7. I always join them because I am lazy and they are almost always very low stakes for me. I’ve gotten some small checks over the years!

    8. My husband received a check for about $600 from a class-action settlement from a job he had for 3 months waiting tables in NYC. Apparently, the managers were skimming tips. It was a welcome bonus, received about 8 years after he left that job. I don’t know how much the entire settlement amount was–similar cases at larger restaurants, though, were around $5 million. Single digit millions isn’t necessarily low if the class is relatively small.

    9. So a friend of my husband’s got a notice like this, related to wage theft (the company made people clock out and then keep working) at chain restaurant he had worked at a number of years back, and sent in the form and his old W-2s from his time working there (he fortunately had kept his tax records). He ended up getting $18k from the suit. He had worked for the company for about 7 years and had been a shift manager, and so the back wages + penalties added up. That’s the largest amount I’ve ever heard of someone getting from a class action and definitely not the norm.

      I’ll periodically get notice that I’m part of a class and I usually do fill out the form and send it back, as long as I don’t have to do too much digging to find any past documentation they ask for. I think the most I ever got was $100 related to a Hyundai class action lawsuit for my model year of Sonata. Usually what I get back is either nothing or a check for like $10. If you don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to find what they’re asking for, OP, I’d send back the form.

    10. Appreciate all your insights! I’ll definitely dig around a bit to see whether I can find some documents. The letter looks legit, coming from a court, there’s also a website for the case etc.

    11. Definitely worth signing up for… I was a part of one a few years ago against a former employer. The managers were considered ‘salaried’ but we were forced to work 5 10-hour days and only got paid for 40 hours plus other wage issues. Needless to say, I ended up with a check around $4-5k and was pleasantly surprised.

  7. I grew my hair out during the pandemic, and OMG it is so tangly now. Internet says that usually means it’s dry, but I experience it as somewhat oily (especially at the scalp). Any suggestions for conditioner, products, etc.? I have fine, thin, mostly straight/slightly wavy hair.

    1. Briogeo has an avocado kiwi hair mask and I like to use it once or twice a week. I find it helps and it smells soooo good!

      1. I have this same hair and same here. Once my hair reaches a certain length, it starts to tangle. If I keep it shorter than that, it’s fine, but a few inches past my shoulders and it gets snarly.

      2. Same. I’m not sure exactly how it works but when my hair is very tangled and I can’t figure it out it just means I need a trim.

        1. The Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment + deep conditioner of choice is my favorite protein treatment.

        2. and for me, tangles means a protein overload! and also that I need a trim. I also like Olaplex 3 for deep repair treatment in between cuts.

    3. The lengths can need a different treatment to the roots. I like the Body Shop banana range for my similar-sounding hair.

    5. My hair is like yours, here are a few suggestions: get a trim, use conditioner (doesn’t really matter what kind just not one for “volume”) every time you shampoo, blow dry your hair instead of air drying it, and wear it to bed in a braid or loose bun.

      1. I use shampoo only on the top of my head (unless the bottom has spit up in it) and conditioner mostly on the bottom.

      2. Yes, I agree that blow drying helps my scalp stay less oily longer. I find that I actually only need to blow dry the roots, which is great because I’m lazy with hair.

      3. Same ideas from me. I went through the same hair growing process during covid, and had to learn that braiding my hair at night really helped. Also, rinse with apple cider vinegar. Makes my super fine hair really smooth (no tangles) and shiny yet also have sound bounce. Also – what length are you at now? There was a stage for me where it kept getting caught in my purse/scarf and tangled terribly; now it’s mid back and easier again.

    6. I have hair similar to yours, and I like DryBar’s Mudslide hair mask. It’s basically a deep conditioner – I slap some on my hair and let it do its thing while I wash, maybe shave, then I rinse it out. But yeah, at a certain point, I just need to cut my hair when it starts tangling easily.

      I use it a couple of times a week now that my hair is longer. I wash my hair every other day, more or less.

    7. I grew out my hair as well and have found that I need to brush it more often to keep it untangled. I started carrying out around a little comb – some quick brushes throughout the day keep it in good shape. I trim every 8 weeks

  8. What would you do if you were me?
    Savings: $30k cash
    Income: varies between $80-110k/yr before taxes
    Student loans: $51k left, biggest loan is 17k at 8% interest. The rest are about 5%. (All govt loans)

    I rent, no other debt, and have small retirement savings (like 20k). I’m early 30s, childfree, first kid in my family to do college or grad school and learned some hard lessons doing it.

    Student loan payments are supposed to restart next year. I do not expect any student loan forgiveness, at most maybe 10k. I’m proud of myself for saving $30k for the first time ever (mostly thanks to no loan payments for so long) but am wondering if I should make a big payment and pay off the $17k loan with high interest. Or, since I don’t expect forgiveness, should I just refinance the whole batch to a lender with lower interest?

    1. I need a little more information to be really helpful, including:

      – What are your monthly expenses, roughly? (i.e. how many months will $30K last you?)
      – How stable is your job/industry?
      – Do you have any anticipated upcoming major expenses (i.e. car or car repairs)?

      I see two things most immediately: up your retirement accounts because time is your friend there, and then aggressively pay down your loans. I’d make sure you have a healthy 4-6 months of an emergency fund and then get after it.

      1. My monthly expenses are roughly 2500/month but I paid cash for a car about six months ago when my old one broke down. My industry is normally stable but this year has been a hold/wait on some big projects (all expected in 2022) so that has impacted my bonus income.

        My six month savings number for all necessities is $10k – rent, utilities, budget meals, gas. I’m in a MCOL city but in the Midwest so if I had to job search, driving 150 miles for an in person job interview is a reasonable possibility.

        1. How are 6 months of expenses $10k when your monthly need is $2.5k? Wouldn’t you need $15k as a cushion?

          2. I included what I’m really spending, like meals out and my gym membership. I would drop those non-necessary things if I lost my job or something catastrophic happened that required me to dip into my emergency fund. 10k would totally cover six months of bare bones for me.

          3. She specifies “necessities.” My monthly expenses are about $5500 but I could cut that to $4K pretty easily if I had to.

    2. I would throw about $10k at the 8% interest loan before payments restart and save more aggressively for retirement. Where is your money going? Do you live in a VHCOL area or are you frittering it away?

    3. I would look at what your actual monthly expenses are and keep 6x monthly expenses as emergency savings. If you had additional funds beyond that, I would max out my Roth IRA for this year and maybe next year. If you had additional funds beyond that I would pay down student loan.

    4. Without knowing anything else? Sit on the $30k, be proud that you now have an emergency fund, and throw all of your focus on paying off the loans going forward.

      1. +1. The $30K is a great buffer. Keep 6 months’ expenses out of that, and if you have anything left, I’d start throwing everything I could debt-snowball style at the $17K then get rid of the loans entirely.

    5. After payments restart, I would consider refinancing that 8% loan with a lender like SoFi. You will lose some of the federal loan protections but you will pay it off much more quickly.

      1. +1 I had a similar amount and even though my job qualifies for PLSF, by the time I had put the 10 years of payments in, I would have paid pretty much the same amount – if not more – than if I refinanced through a private lender (I went with Lendkey and got around a 3% rate, pre-COVID) and paid them off in five years. I have a bigger monthly payment, of course, but it’s worth it to me to get them knocked out and reduce the overall amount of interest I pay.

    7. Keep 6 months expenses (looks like that will be $18k), max out IRA or 401k if applicable, pay down any leftover on the 8% interest rate loan.

  9. My in-laws stay about 1hr45 away and often stay the night when visiting us. We have a lovely guest room with large bed and it’s own bathroom, plus a twin bed in my husbands office (which is also the junk room). At home they are open about sleeping in separate rooms if one is disturbing the others sleep but I suspect it’s actually all the time. On holidays or away with friends they share a bed. At ours my father in law now asks us to make the twin up for him and it’s just a pain as it’s an extra load of bedding and room to get tidy ready for one night. Am I awful for saying the room isn’t available? They also stay when we go away and watch our dogs so I guess if it’s for a week it bothers me less (and I know they are doing us a favour) but for a one night visit it drives me mad. Washing bedding is one of my household tasks, husband preps the room and it also annoys him as it keeps him out that room. Doing it for the week long stays has opened it up to the one night ones I think.

    1. I think it’s worth the load of laundry to have your in-laws feel comfortable when they stay with you.

      1. Op here – if it was just the laundry I would 100% agree, it’s more we use the spare room for folding laundry, our ironing board, holding space for returns etc and tend to move anything floating around to the other room when they come. Maybe I just need to be more organised!

    2. Living without sleep is miserable living the whole next day. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable ask OBO the non-snoring spouse.

    3. An extra set of bedding is not that big of a burden, just get over it.
      Tidying up a junk room is a whole project. Warn FIL that you use the room for storage so it’s going to be junky, but the bed will be made up for him. The minimum I’d do is clear a walking path to the bed and enough room for him to dress in the morning and call it a day. It’s his choice to stay in the junk room as it’s not a guest room.

      1. This is exactly what I would do. I would also consider how often they stay and how often you use that twin bed and perhaps *not* change the sheets in between if it’s just FIL using it.

        1. +1 to all of this.

          Of course make up the bed, minimally prepare the room (he will leave it as soon as he wakes up to join his wife!), and leave the sheets on!

      2. I agree with this. Make up the bed so everyone sleeps. It’s okay if the room isn’t perfect.

    4. Honestly if they’re the only people visiting you and they’re not sleeping there for many nights, then I don’t think you need to wash the sheets each time they visit. They can sleep in them again, right? But otherwise maybe it’s a pain but you really should do it without complaining. Both sheets can fit into a single load to streamline things. Your husband can tell his dad that he may still need to use the room and then just use it normally while FIL isn’t asleep. You would be unreasonable to tell them that he can’t sleep there.

    5. Throwing in an extra set of sheets into a load of laundry is nothing! If they’re not overly demanding in other aspects, I’d have no issues doing the extra laundry.

      1. Right?! I would give a lot for inlaws who watched my dog. Buy some rubbermaid bins and clean up your junk room or just toss what is truly junk. Pls be a good host who lets them sleep in peace.

    7. Could you ask your husband to manage the sheets for the one night visits (and / or push back on his parents has he wishes)? Seems like it should still be split the way you normally do for the longer stays since that sounds more like they are providing help for the both of you.

      Alternatively, are they close enough and mobile enough that you could ask them to make and strip the bed themselves? That’s what we do with our parents at our house and at both sets of parents’ and no one seems to be bothered by this, everyone knows where the sheets are stored and where the washing machine is.

    8. When things are too busy, my mom and I have both been known to strip the bed and leave clean sheets, but leave making the bed to the guest. Junk in the room goes in bins, and it’s understood that we have access (with a knock) during the day.

    9. Free at home pet care on demand ~ heck yea I’d let him have the room & would move all the detritus to one side when he’s there.
      Definitely would not change sheets each time, just make bed & fluff pillow.
      All of this is said by someone who, when I have houseguests, gives them a room as if they are really a guest.

    10. They stay with your dog for an entire week? If they wanted me to disassemble the bed and reassemble is smack dab in front of the TV in my living room I would. Throwing some sheets in the wash is 100% not a big deal.

      1. Ha yes this. Maybe it’s just the fact that I have a very neurotic chihuahua but this is no small favor they’re doing you!

    11. Op here. Thanks for the reality check! Neither of them snore, and the single night stays are much more often than the dog sitting (they do that partly to visit local friends & the city for the week but I do 100% appreciate it). It just makes having another room to get ready with things like a lamp, table, extension cord etc all feel a lot of effort after tidying up when we have a nice guest room setup mostly for them. I will go down the route of changing the beds less often and not setting things up so much in the office and be less of a grump about it! They do sometimes strip the bed & duvet covers to be helpful but that is why I end up washing the bedding haha.

      1. Ahh ….. just set the room up & leave it at the ready for when they come. It does not seem to be that big of a deal to me. Oh~ and tell them there’s no need to strip the beds.

      2. Neither my husband nor I snore but I can’t sleep in a bed with him. There are lots of ways someone can make bed sharing difficult. Even if they just prefer to sleep separately or are having marital problems, I don’t think it’s really too big an ask for people who are otherwise good guests.

  10. I think perhaps I just don’t know what pants are supposed to look like anymore. These pants with these boots seem frumpty dumpty. Maybe they look better in person!

    2. I saw this look in person recently. It was actually done a bit better than this but the lines and general components were the same. From all other indicators, I could tell this woman was hip and trendy, so I knew that what I was looking at was “in”, but the outfit just looked bad. I am not someone who would generally even make that observation/judgment.

  11. Any other nerdy ladies catch Dune this weekend? I thought it was probably the best version yet and man, I LOVED the visual style.

    1. Loved it! It was such a slow burn. I’m not usually a fan of things with dream sequences but even that was good.

    2. LOVE that director! His visual style is amazing. I thought the movie was good, but I’ll be incredibly annoyed if they don’t make part 2!

      And I say this as someone who was mostly “meh” on the books.

    3. We watched it on HBO Max on Friday night and loved it so much we’re going to go see it in the IMAX theater near us this coming weekend. It was so, so much better than I was expecting and is just a beautiful, amazing movie even if you aren’t a fan of the book (or know the story already). Loved loved loved it.

    4. I had not read the book or watched the other version(s?) but I thought the movie was beautiful. I was a little confused by a couple things and I thought it was a nice Sunday movie to watch then pause, do a chore, then go back to.

    5. I have not read the book or seen the movie (yet) but the cinematography in the trailers looked so gorgeous that I want to watch the movie in IMAX.

    6. I really liked the visuals and production quality, the cast was good, and I appreciated how much easier it was to follow this movie then the batpoop crazy adaptation from the 80’s – that movie is fun, but very confusing. That said, I kinda thought this would be more similar to the David Lynch rendition in terms of excitement and ridiculousness, just with better effects and acting, so to get a more slow burn just building up to what I’m sure will be an exciting part 2 (if it ever gets greenlit), was slightly disappointing. But I’m hearing from people who read the book, that it’s a much more accurate and respectful adaptation.

      So TL;DR, do watch it , especially if you have HBO Max, but go in with low to moderate expectations. It’s not Star Wars, it’s more of a space drama than a space epic.

  12. I went hiking this weekend and put it on Strava and my DH used his GPS. Over a supposed 5 mile hike, the two were off by half a mile for distance travelled. We were on a trail and had maps and compasses (and reading glasses, oof). So I’m now not sure — if distance had mattered, which is generally more right?

    I’m still in shock over the family + dog who died in California after (I’m guessing) running out of water in very hot weather (but probably at the end of a long hike where they were not terribly far from their car). Things like that have me double-checking what I do to be safe and the GPS/Strava distances were not something I expected to find. He is stumped, too. It didn’t matter for this, but before I go a segment on the AT or another more rural area, I really want to have nailed this down.

    1. In my experience, GPS specific devices are more accurate than a measurement generated by Strava using your phone, particularly in more rural/remote areas.

    2. The distance marked on the trail will be accurate, which device was closer to the trail marked length?

      1. This usually isn’t true in my experience. I plan for hikes to be off by as much as a mile when I’m out. OP, just don’t go hiking on a 100-degree day, make it a practice to carry Aqua-Tabs (they weigh nothing) if not a regular water filter, and don’t over-rely on GPS for decision-making.

    3. Two different trackers are never going to match and even two of the same brand watches may not match. There are several factors that go into this: how often your device pings on your location (the more often, the more accurate but your battery drains more quickly), where the triangulation pounds are for your device and how many it’s pinging off of, is there assisted GPS in your device (for example on iPhones), are there things that could be blocking your signal (trees, clouds, buildings, etc.), etc. All that to say, as someone who hikes and runs in the woods A LOT, your experience is not at all surprising to me.

      Your tracker is the least important thing for safety IMO. If you are really concerned you should be telling someone where you are going, what your route is, and when you anticipate being back. Give them instructions of what to do if you don’t check in on time. Do your research – weather, route information, etc. Pack snacks and more water than you think you’ll need if you are going to be out for a very long time (and if you can safely carry it). Do not do routes that are greatly beyond your skills and experience without someone else who is more experienced. Get a Garmin InReach or something similar.

      I feel very safe on my hikes/runs and I don’t even honestly do all of the above. I wouldn’t be all that worried about the tracker differences. It’s just not what is going to keep you safe at the end of the day.

      1. OP here (and I don’t disagree with what you wrote) — we were talking about getting an In Reach anyway (but which one?). Water, emergency bivy, weather check, etc., all good pre-trek activities. Sometimes we will post on social media where we are at a trailhead just as a failsafe in case we don’t come back (esp. if large dog is at home for those who use SM to generate burglary targets) and leave a note in our car (going NW on the Ridge Trail 10/24).

        1. I don’t have one so I can’t help with recommendations, sorry! The good news is that are lots of reviews out there (which mostly prove nothing is perfect), but it will of course depends on the types of hikes you’re doing. If you’re going backcountry for days at a time, it’s probably a good investment. You might also think about getting up to speed on plants and other things you could eat in a pinch if you absolutely were lost without rations. I am bad at this, but I also am doing day hikes/runs not that far from civilization for the most part.

      1. Seriously, also that sounds miserable even if you’re in a well trafficked area with enough supplies.

      2. This is blunt, but I think it’s a really important safety point. Planning for there to be problems en route and planning to achieve much less than you theoretically could before you hit safety constraints (like rising temperatures) isn’t perfect, but goes a long way and is far more important than being off by a bit on total distance.

    5. You’re asking the wrong questions. Your Strava app is not a safety tool. You should never be in a situation where plus or minus half a mile is putting you in danger.

      1. I don’t think that anyone is using Strava as a safety tool (except to maybe as a notice to others of your whereabouts, which is a safety use if friends follow you on that). But I use it as a fitness accountability tool (like I am done after X miles) or like calorie counts on food boxes. I get that things aren’t exact, but being 10% off from expectations is a surprise. I had thought I walked a 5K one day and now maybe it’s a 4.5K (or maybe a 5.5K, which would be a nice surprise, but not in line with the Monday I’ve been having).

        1. If you set a goal of walking a 5k on any day I would always be sure to walk a bit extra in case the measurement is off because you don’t wan t to find out this whole time you’ve only been walking like 2.8 miles and failed at meeting your goal over and over. Strive for a 5.5k each time and then you will never be a loser.

  13. Another low-stakes robe question – I’m looking for a waffle-style bathrobe. Any recommendations? Jersey is too thin and I think terrycloth/fleece will be way too hot. Prefer something with regular sleeves instead of huge open sleeves. I’m typically an XL/16, and am now pregnant, so I need something forgiving/lots of fabric.

    2. I really like the parachute waffle robe. it’s light and comfortable. I got one for my birthday and am getting DH one for the holidays this year

  14. I am trying not to use Amzn. I need some ergonomic products to set up my home office (wrist rest for mouse use, keyboard pad, etc.) and I went to the Office Depot clear across town, only to find they were out of business. There is nothing else similar within a reasonable drive. Target had nothing. Any other ideas?

    1. Order online from Office Depot/Staples? Or Walmart. Sounds like you’ll have to rely on online shopping – there are plenty of non-Amazon options.

  15. So, I am a little bit of a clumsy person and occasionally drop things, including my iPhone. I’ve come to accept this is who I am, so I have consistently used the Otterbox defender series cases (without the screen cover) for the past7+ years and my phones always look good as new because of how well they are protected. I’m getting a new iPhone, and thus need a new case. The defender cases used to come in an array of colors, but now my options for an iPhone 13 pro are limited. Is anyone familiar with a super protective brand of iPhone case that comes in fun colors? Like a bright blue or green or bright purple? Thanks!

    1. I’d get the Otterbox in black and wait till the new year for the bright colours. Supply chain issues are hitting these producers hard.

    2. I have a light blue Lifeproof for my iPhone. I love Lifeproof cases- I’m also clumsy and drop my phone (and everything else I own) frequently and need a heavy duty case.

    3. I am in your shoes and will go basic for now with my Defender — I don’t dare have a new phone without one.

    4. Newer iPhones are really pretty sturdy. I only ever use a screen protector and a regular silicone case and never have a problem despite dropping my phone constantly.

    5. So my cases have always been Arium Clutch Bumper. There’s a clip on ring for keys and I loop it around my right index finger so I rarely drop it. It also keeps my hands free for other things when walking around.

    6. If orange is in your fun range, you can get bright orange rugged iphone cases for the 13, search for rugged or military grade.

  16. I accidentally turned on a burner under my empty Dutch oven (Lodge, enameled) and burned the bottom of the pot (inside). Anyone have any tricks for getting that cleaned up?

      1. +1

        I have done this multiple times (well, my brother does this when he comes to visit….). :\

      3. Barkeeper’s friend is… just baking soda. I’ve stopped buying it because I always have baking soda on hand.

        My personal approach to burnt pans is now – let soak with dishwasher soap. Pour out and scrub with a ton baking soda+ dish soap.

    2. Oxyclean powder. Take a small scoop, add a few inches of water, and boil it for about 10-15 minutes. Let it cool, then rinse the pan.

    3. I’m often surprised at how well boiling water and then adding baking soda in works. Repeat the baking soda add ~3-4 times and let it continue to boil for 5-10 minutes to loosen and that often lifts off the gunk. Not sure if it will work if there’s not burned on food though.

      2. Used to work in a food manufacturing facility and this is exactly it. On an industrial scale, you boil out with a much stronger caustic, but for household uses, this is the answer.

    4. If barkeeper’s friend doesn’t work, I use a mixture of dilluted bleach and let set overnight (some people recommend to heat that, or use straight bleach.. I don’t find that safe, and so far have never even needed to)

  17. Favorite drugstore or drugstore-adjacent (so, not super spendy) product to exfoliate my face?

      2. And you don’t need to scrub with a wash cloth. Just pass it over your face a few times. Works great!

    8. Glossier Solution! A little more than drugstore ($24) but a container lasts a long time and it has done wonders for my stress acne.

    9. An acid. I use BHA 1 %, but you could use AHA (at night, or with a good sunscreen) as well.

      The Ordinary 2 % BHA would probably be one of the cheaper ones, but I’d be hesitant to use a BHA with witch hazel (can be an irritant) unless you know your skin likes witch hazel.

      Don’t do a physical one. No baking powder, beads or scrubs.

    10. Differin, especially if you have any acne issues. It’s a little spendy, but readily available at the drugstore and lasts a long time.

  18. Help. I have a friend/colleague who’s turning 50 on Wednesday and I need to get her a gift. She’s an introvert, loves to read, enjoys baking/cooking, drinks Truly and iced tea and water (so, no coffee or hard liquor habits), and is just the kindest person in the whole dang world. Her politics are decidedly liberal and we definitely share that in common. Ideas? Not a lot of great stores around me so it’s not like I can just jaunt up to Williams Sonoma or something…

    2. Is she a fiction reader and does she listen to podcasts? If I were her, I’d love a patreon membership to the Currently Reading podcast. I think it would be great even if she is not familiar with them because their reading trackers and other extras are awesome.

    3. How about a nice blanket and some candles so she can be cozy while reading? Or some cozy socks or slippers.
      Some fun sprinkles, cupcake liners or spatulas for baking

  19. You guys, we recently figured out that one of my colleagues has started living in the office part-time. (Note: there is a similar post on AAM, which prompted me to post here, but I’m not the AAM commenter.) We returned on a hybrid 2 days/week schedule about a month ago, and I did notice that no matter how early I turned up or how late I stayed, he was always there. Like, if I randomly was at work super early for a European call, he was there; if I swung back by the office to get my stuff after a client happy hour down the block, he was there. I noticed that he always had an overnight bag in his office too. Well, a friend talked to him and apparently he and his wife moved to another state during COVID and since we’re only in the office twice a week, he’s just sleeping in his office chair and showering in the gym downstairs.

    I recognize that there’s probably all sorts of trouble he could get in with the firm (like tax issues since he’s working from home in another state where we don’t have offices), but I’m mostly just sort of fascinated by the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler-ness of basically living in the office. I guess it’s not THAT different than my early years of practice when an all-nighter or two a week was commonplace…

    1. On the tax front, his W2 will be sent to his home address.

      Why doesn’t he get a hotel??

      1. I have no idea, because our office is literally next door to a Courtyard by Mariott. I have so many questions but he didn’t tell me directly so I can’t ask…

      4. Obviously he doesn’t get a hotel because hotels cost money and he can live in the office for free, at least until he gets caught and kicked out.

    2. This is one of those things that sounds absolutely insane… but it happens! Working in politics, it was shockingly common – particularly when talking with people who had to travel to the State capitol for only part of the year a few days a week on very low salaries.

      I’m kind of intrigued by the idea that this sounds like it was his plan? Or did he assume he could just work remotely? So many questions!

      1. I have so many questions to, but since he didn’t tell me directly I’m just marinating in my curiosity.

      2. I had a number of friends who did this when I was younger. They were all making like 25k a year before taxes and having to come into Austin or even DC and it was either sleep in the office or a park because there was no way they could afford a hotel

    3. WOW. What is he planning to do long term? I think it would have made more sense to rent the cheapest room possible in someone’s house or apartment. Someone was always going to notice that he was sleeping in the office eventually.

      1. I’m an academic and every once in awhile we get an email reminding us that no one should be sleeping in the building. I commute across cities and rent a room in someone’s house.

        1. OP here – we got a similar reminder that no one should be sleeping in the office, which was actually part of what prompted me to think, WHOA, hang on, I think so-and-so might be sleeping in the office!

          I have no idea what his LT plan is – maybe he’s going to leave the firm? His wife has taken a job in the other state apparently and it’s about 4 hours round trip from there to here. I guess if you only have to do it once or twice/week, it would be doable but I feel like that’s really hard to hide for more than a few months and since we don’t have offices there I do suspect it’s not going to be okay with the firm if the partners find out. Maybe he’s looking for an apartment and just doesn’t have one yet?

      2. I used to have a roommate who lived 2 hours each way from work. He was over to the house two or three nights a week. IMHO, perfect roommate situation; I usually had the place to myself but got to split rent.

        1. My in laws rented a room to a nurse in this situation. She had long shifts two days per week and stayed at their house. Otherwise, she lived on the family farm 2-3 hours away.

    4. My husband had this come up at work a number of years ago – a guy (thankfully not one of his direct reports) got kicked out of his house and decided to start living in the office. Their office had showers and a full kitchen with a range, so pretty easy to just take up residence there. The guy had a couch in his office where he slept and he put all his bedding, extra clothes, etc. in a couple of file cabinet drawers. He brought in a mini-fridge for food, which wasn’t uncommon; a lot of people in that office had them. He would switch up his hours – like some nights he would “work late” and other nights he would “leave for home” but instead go to happy hour or dinner and then go back into the office later. Some days he went to the gym down the block early so he wouldn’t always be “the first person in the office.” I don’t think he ever admitted to exactly how long he was living in the office but it was over two months.

      I guess this was some kind of insurance liability issue, or at least that was the reasoning the company used for telling him he couldn’t do this anymore. He was making plenty of money and could afford an apartment; apparently just thought that any day his wife was going to let him back into the house and so didn’t want to bother with getting a lease, getting furniture, etc. The company referred him to the EAP and gave him three days to clear his things out. He ended up going to an extended-stay hotel and then got an apartment, he and his wife ended up divorcing.

      Agree that this is a weird issue but not an entirely uncommon one. Are you planning on saying anything about this to anyone? No judgement, just curious as I’m not sure what I would do in this scenario.

      1. No, not planning on saying anything since it doesn’t affect me in any sense. If I thought based on what our friend recounted that this was a situation of some sort of family or financial distress I might approach him about it, but it doesn’t sound like it.

      2. Oh, I’m not saying anything about it! I’m just sort of fascinated in the same way as I’m fascinated by those articles about people who work two jobs simultaneously. If I thought he was in financial or personal distress I would say something, but it sounds like that’s not the case.

      3. Wait, what? No. This guy is an attorney (I’m assuming based on the use of “firm”) and he can and should find a crashpad, not the office if he is determined to have moved away but still be working an in-person required job. How is this not setting a terrible precedent to allow this?

    6. My office has its own shower and I have a feeling that this is happening. Not overly concerned as no clients are coming in for meetings. OTOH, don’t members of congress routinely do this? If it is OK for them, why not for us?

      1. Yes, this is pretty common for members of congress. I worked for one that did this for years before he upgraded to living on a boat (no, it was not Joe Manchin)

        1. I guess then it’s fine. [Not where I work, since we went all-in on glass offices with motion sensors.] I don’t want to see anyone’s dirty laundry or worse tho. Don’t people in SF sleep in cars or campers parked on the street b/c they can’t afford to live there and drive in from somewhere crazy far away?

    7. I worked with a guy who lived in a different state and commuted about 5 hours each way on Mondays and Fridays. I assumed he was renting a room or a motel, but it turned out he was using a campground and a gym for hygiene. There’s no job worth that.

  20. Ugh — younger men (like <30) pushing back on COVID shots b/c of myocarditis risk. I think that . . . this is just another excuse. Google says that the risk of it is higher if you get COVID (vs the shot). Where you all work / go to school, has this truly been a big issue? It seems to hold less water than pregnant women avoiding shots (based on unknown unknowns, but then we have the risk of COVID + pregnant means that both of you might die). It's getting some traction b/c it sounds like a health-based reason (vs the "mah freedums" which is in the background of some of these folks). Another day, another excuse. Just get the shots!

    1. Pregnant women had reason to avoid the vaccine before – the guidance was incredibly wishy-washy, the risks were poorly understood, and obviously the stakes felt high. It’s not their fault they had nothing to go on. Now, though, we have incredibly strong evidence that remaining unvaccinated poses huge risks to both the mother and infant. Some doctors have seen more maternal deaths in the last three months than in the previous 20 years of their careers. All pregnant women who have not gotten the vaccine should run, not walk, to the nearest pharmacy and get it.

      And yes, men are using myocarditis as an excuse, especially young men who smoke and drive drunk and do any number of incredibly risky things on the regular.

      1. Le sigh — re younger men, that is sadly what I thought. Do better, younger men. Do better.

      2. A former colleague lost her baby to COVID in the third trimester and was very ill herself. I suspect she was unvaccinated. It was horrible and I am still mourning her health and that baby. It didn’t have to happen that way.

        1. The CDC did not endorse the shot for pregnant women until mid-August. Lots of doctors were advising pregnant patients to wait. And given the number of experiences friends and acquaintances (and I) have had with the shot affecting their periods, I have to say I think it was reasonable to wait and see.

    2. It’s an excuse or they’re not very logical.

      The choice is get the vaccine or catch Covid at some point (or stay away from humans indefinitely). If they genuinely care about myocarditis, then the vaccine is safer. If they care about morbidity and mortality generally, the vaccine is safer.

  21. Vitamin B12 tablets under tongue with expiration date of 10/16. What is the reality of vitamin expiration dates? This bottle was stored in a cool dark place.

    1. This is my area of recklessness.

      IMO, unless it is something moldy or bulging or smells (or is penicillin), older just means possibly less potent or less delicious. OTOH if it is cheap to rebuy, just rebuy.

      I will drink an “expired” beer but wouldn’t take an expired antibiotic.

      1. Thanks, OP here….it is cheap to rebuy…looks like also ok to use but may not be effective.

      2. I just read about someone getting very sick eating canned goods that expired 5 years ago (that apparently looked fine). I used to risk it but it’s not worth it for a can of beans.

        1. Five years is beyond. I used to volunteer for a food bank that used six months beyond the best buy /expiration date to gauge what canned food to discard. I will go beyond an expiration date on non-persishables myself but only by about a month. I stick very closely to the expiration date on perishable items.

    2. I’m currently using up allergy meds that expired in 2017 so I say they’re fine but I don’t really know.

    3. we routinely use low-stakes medication like vitamins, ibuprofen, etc that is a year + past its date…

    4. It’s fine.

      The army funded a study many years ago on the shelf life of medications, and had surprising (or not….) results that most medications are shelf stable for many many years, most > 10 years and more. If you have a medication that is particularly sensitive (eg. light/oxidation sensitive once opened) then that may be a problem, and you should check with your doctor if you are taking prescribed meds. But I’ll be honest, most doctors wont know either, and most pharmacies will on reflex tell you a 1 year expiration date for most things without evidence.

      BUT…. Considering that the B12 vitamin you have is not likely screened for purity/concentration/contaminants due to our great American lobbying efforts, I can tell you I would be more comfortable taking an expired high blood pressure medicine than an expired vitamin or supplement or herb in this country. Because no one actually knows what are in those vitamins/supplement/herb bottles in most cases! It could be ground up melamine from China (!) or just flour or a mix and match of whatever the manufacturer put in.

      We are a crazy people. FREEDOM!

    5. I’d toss it. It’s unlikely to cause you harm, but might not be very effective. Vitamins are more sensitive than most things to breaking down over time, though light and temperature are the factors that matter most. I’m a microbiologist and have spent a lot of time culturing bacteria, which requires using lots of different types of culture media for different growth conditions. I’m super paranoid about making fresh vitamin solutions and always storing them cold and in the dark (same for most antibiotics) or I’ve had problems with my bacteria not growing. At home I happily eat canned food past the expiration date, but I’m more cautious about medications.

    6. If you know a pharmacist, ask. My neighbor growing up was a pharmacist, and we were always surprised to learn which things really did have a shelf life and which she was like, yeah, that’ll be good for another 20 years.

    7. Really nice sublinguals from Jarrow were like $6 last time I bought them. I would just buy more. (Though I’ve personally switched to B12 injections and they’re about a thousand times more effective for me anyway.)

    8. If you genuinely are among the people who really need extra B12 – get some that are not expired.

  22. What’s your favorite hydrating light to medium coverage foundation? My skin is really dry and when I used my normal medium coverage foundation (an ELF one that I bought on a whim) over the weekend, it looked so flaky. I did switch to a heavier moisturizer and used that under a tinted moisturizer today and things look okay, but I’d like a better coverage option too.

    I would prefer a drugstore/Target brand, but since I don’t wear heavier coverage all that often, I am okay with something more splurgey. Hydrating or not having the moisture sucked out of my skin is really the key here.

    Thanks!

    1. So kinda splurgey ($50) but I am in love with Fountain of Youth Perfect Skin Illuminator. Pre-COVID, I was a full coverage foundation chick but once I started using it, I never looked back and actually threw out all my foundations. It’s glowy and doesn’t dry out my face; totally smooths out my fine lines and acne scars; and provides just enough coverage to even out my skin. I actually have all 3 colors (light, medium, dark) so I can mix them depending on season (tan in summer, pale in winter, everything in between). I have been using the same tubes for over a year now and am finally running low on medium, my most frequently used color. They market it as a BB/CC cream and bonus, it’s clean and not tested on animals. Highly recommend.

    2. I’d get the flaky-foundation look if I hadn’t been exfoliating. I also have dry skin –so clean with a light cleanser and washcloth (exfoliation), then moisturize, then foundation. Works better!

    4. Oil of Olay first, let it absorb for a minute before applying bb cream/ foundation

    5. Pacifica CC cream. Super light coverage and only SPF 17, so you’ll still need a real sunblock, but I love its finish.

  23. Where’s the best place to watch the New York City Marathon as an out of town visitor moderately interested in viewing it? I was thinking somewhere in Central Park and then going to visit the Met, but my research leaves me unclear on whether there are places to spectate in Central Park outside of the ticketed finish zone.

    1. Yes there are non ticketed areas available for viewing near and in Central Park (just not super close to the finish). Just be aware of what side of the street you’re on and where else you plan to go because options to cross over the route are very limited

    2. You could watch on First Avenue and then head over to Fifth for the Guggenheim and other museums on the east side

      1. This is what I did when supporting a runner. You get to see the middle and then the end of the race with an easy walk to switch locations. It was not very crowded in either location.

  24. Is anyone else noticing — in FB local groups — trolls are taking profile pictures of black people or other minorities in order to pick fights with people? I think I’ve seen in 2x now. Divisive, unsubstantiated comments with a “come at me” vibe.

    2. No, but I only use facebook for sharing a few pictures occasionally. I give all ‘news’ and groups a SUPER wide berth.

    3. This was very popular on Twitter a few years ago. Accounts with stock photos of black people, poorly impersonating black people, that exist to rile up white people.

    5. Someone on my one of my local FB page did this and our moderators came down HARD. Deleted the post, suspended the person who did it, reminded everyone of the rules for the group, etc. (but then this group bans pictures of third parties taken without their consent anyway).

      I love my neighborhood FB pages (we have one for dogs (“Real Housed dogs of ***”), cats (same), a general community page and one for my street we mostly use to organize block parties, but would absolutely drop them if they allowed that kind of thing.

  25. Any recommendations for a CFP in Dallas? Or advice on how to find one? Our assets are getting big enough that we need some guidance.

  26. Yikes. Still processing this so just need some…co-processing? Reassurance? Advice? I dunno.

    My FIL and Stepmom-IL are separating on her request. He’s mid-60’s, semi-retired. This is marriage (technically partnership) #3. He struggles with alcoholism, so DH and I are also concerned this may trigger some “bad habits”. Part of the divide with him and Stepmom is likely political; he’s left of center/progressive, and as time as gone on she has become, welp, borderline sympathetic to the January 6 insurrectionists. DH’s childhood best friend’s wife has also very recently asked for a divorce (she found a spark elsewhere).

    This is on the heels of a very tough (but ultimately uphill) ~2 years in my own marriage. We’re still not where we’d like, but it feels like it is in sight. Tough for me not to internalize this news given my own anxiety, people-pleasing, etc. even though it’s not about me.

    1. Wow – this is a lot all at once. Very stressful. “Focus in” first. Keep that uphill direction going with your husband. He will need support right now. And try to find an additional support for your own anxiety. Check in with your therapist, get enough sleep, careful with the coffee/caffeine, get outside in the sun for a few minutes every day, exercise if you can, mindfulness meditations.

      It’s going to be ok.

  27. Friend who is a new mother is moving and I would like to get her something to make the move easier. Looking for recommendations in Frederick Maryland for house clear and meal prep/prepared meal services. Thank you!

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