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Updated: Aug 7, 2024 210 Comments · by

Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Puff-Sleeve Shirtdress

The Personal Shopper (TPS) | ·

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A woman wearing a green puff-sleeve dress and beige sandals

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

What are we wearing on humid August days when we are required to show up in the office and look somewhat put-together, despite the fact that we’re melting? Let’s do a linen shirtdress. Will it get a little bit rumpled as the day goes on? Yes, of course, but aren’t we all a little bit rumpled at 80% humidity levels?

This short-sleeved dress from Karen Kane has slightly puffed sleeves and a breezy, but still structured feeling to it. I would probably swap out the self-belt for a braided leather belt to add a little more structure, but otherwise this looks perfect for getting us through until the heat breaks. 

The dress is $166-$238 at Bloomingdale’s and comes in sizes XS-XL. In addition to this gorgeous green, it also comes in black and orange. 

Sales of note for 8.30.24

  • Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
  • Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
  • Boden – 20% off
  • Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
  • Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
  • Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
  • Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
  • White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a 30-something lawyer living on the East Coast. She spent seven years as a Biglaw associate in NYC, three years as a partner at a medium-sized firm, and is now in-house counsel for a large company. She loves Diet Coke, '90s sitcoms, and dresses with pockets.

Comments

  1. Do it all black midi skirt?

    I moved away from skirts in the past few years but want to dive back in with one good do-it-all black midi skirt. My ideal – elastic waist (or at least partial, like in the back), under $150 (or close), not tiered/hippy style, I don’t like t-shirt material type skirts (sorry Halara and the like). I have a casual office so it doesn’t need to be fancy material, just not flowy if that makes sense.

      • Anon

        Me too, if they are blousy and belted. I feel like I look frumpy/matronly. The Somerset Shirtdress (not the basic Somerset) at Anthropologie is a great alternative because it isn’t blousy. I also have a nice one from Abercrombie that is more fitted, so it doesn’t blouse.

      • Anon

        Bodies are different, too! I am athletic and hourglassy, so shirt dresses look good on me.

      • Anon

        I like and look good in well tailored shirt dresses, but a lot of what’s in style now looks too much like a kid playing dress up in adult clothing to me.

        • Anon

          I like the idea of a shirtdress- polished, one piece, accessorize well and you’re good to go…but I HATE collars. I don’t wear button-ups or polos unless I have to, or it’s freezing outside. Any ideas to replicate the professional look without a collar?

        • anon

          Cosign. I also can’t deal with the overly stiff fabrics I’m finding. That really makes me look like I’m cosplaying at dressing like an adult. I don’t think the stiffness plays nicely with my softer body type.

          • Anon

            Thanks! The Gap one is cute. I love the descriptions of ‘cosplaying at dressing like an adult’ and ‘softer body’ as those were the words I was missing from my own vocabulary.

      • Anon

        It’s true. I love the idea of a shirt dress, but hate this one. The sleeves, the length, the lack of defined waist, the excess and floatiness of the fabric—all make me sad. But I like the essence of this dress. My ideal shirt dress is based on a 1940s aesthetic with a more structured fabric, a very defined waist, but not longer than knee length, and not too much fabric. So I get why people might like this dress. Taste tends to get specific.

  3. Anonymous

    I got my colors done last year and am struggling to shop online and get the right color / shade. Lots of returns. Does anyone know of any stores, blogs, etc., that label clothing shades as “cool,” “warm” or the season like how these color places categorize them?

    I found a couple makeup brands that label cool and warm and that’s been helpful. But interested in more to help me sustain what’s been a fun and worthwhile change!

    • Anon

      No one does that, you have to make your best guess from the photo of the clothes.

      • Op

        Bummer! Ok, good to know. Was hoping it caught on enough there might be brands doing it!

        • Cat

          When you find a brand whose colors work for you, odds are they’ll stay that way. Like for me, I know Talbots pastels are 98% the wrong tone for me – too chalky.

          • anon

            And this is why I have to pass on Madewell and Everlane. Beautiful stuff, but the colors are way, way too warm for me.

      • Anonymous

        There actually is a company that does it. They offer each of their items in a full range of colors, coded according to color seasons. I forget the name, but google around for it. I think it might be out of England?

        Also, if I’m concerned about getting the right color when shopping online, I google the item and see if the photo comes up on different sites — the same items’s colors can look different different sites. And i look at it on different screens (phone v. laptop), because my own screen affects how I see the color.

    • ColorAnon

      If you search HOC and your season as a hashtag on the gram, there are a lot of color consultants from there who validate colors for various seasons and post shopping roundups for seasons and colors. It helped me quite a bit when I was trying to figure out a few tones. HOC Dallas does summer well if thats your season as well.

      • anon

        +1. Finding individuals on Insta has been very helpful for finding shopping recommendations for things in my season! It’s also helped fine-tune my eye so I can pick it out myself.

    • anon

      The only one I know of is Kettlewell, and that is just very, very basic styles.

      Can you try to compare to any color swatches you received in your consultation? Online is tough because of variations in monitors, photography, etc., though I’ve gotten pretty good at it with time. It’s much easier to tell in person.

      Also, remember that it doesn’t have to be exact; a close approximation is what you’re going for.

    • Anon

      I often have the best luck shopping in “my” season- as a summer I find more that suits me in the summer or the winter, not much in the fall and spring when colors tend to be warmer. I have a lot of trouble with size and fabrics online, but I generally don’t have too much trouble with colors, though, other than red, where I do find it tricky to find one that suits me, probably because it’s a borderline color on me to begin with. Blues, pinks, purples, grays, and greens are more obvious and I rarely have trouble, especially if I read the reviews.

      • anon

        Agree. OP, what are the dominant colors in your season? That’s really the best place to start.

      • Anonymous

        Also, words in color descriptions can be really helpful. Brick is death on me, also blush or clay or putty or fawn. Black, red, icy blue, pale lilac is a yes. “Barn red” is often a no but not reliably a no like brick. Navy is a yes but not anything called country blue. Never ivory or bisque.

    • Veronica Mars

      Will chime in here– I’ve been updating my personal style and MM Personal Styling on Youtube is somewhat against doing a personal color analysis and buying things based on that. Her point is that yes, there are certain colors that will look amazing on people, but it’s often best to build your wardrobe around the basics (cream, white, blue/denim, black, chocolate) and then add the color as fun accessories or in smaller bursts. Also, answering the question, H&M does have filtering by basic color and material (100% cotton, etc).

      • anon

        I think color analysis can be helpful to identify best neutrals, too. That said, as a soft summer, some of my best neutrals are nearly impossible to consistently find, so I do end up with black/navy/soft white as fallbacks.

    • Anonymous

      What is your season? Tell me that and I will give you some thoughts. Signed, your friend the winter (and not an exotic winter, like with dark brown hair and green eyes, but light brown hair and rosacea, so fun times but I find that just getting a good color next to my face do what I want elsewhere).

      • Anon

        I always felt way too girl next door, with my dark brown hair and green eyes. Finally, I get to think I am exotic (winter).

        • Anon

          I am a Boring Basic B*tch Winter.

          I do think that as I age, black may be becoming too harsh and navy may look better with my rosacea.

    • Anonymous

      I keep track of what colors are trending; then I know when to stock up on mine. Otherwise it’s a bit hit or miss.

        • Anon

          I’m sort of a dark summer and I just go with anything she says is cool toned (winter or summer)

    • Nudibranch

      Kettlewell seems to. I haven’t purchased myself, but they sort their offerings by season, so it looks good for basics.

  4. Anonymous

    The mid-80s are back. To wit: saw a woman wearing a short-sleeved sweater at the grocery store yesterday. It may have been that olden color, dusty rose. And it had what I think is my great aunt Sylvia’s doily repurposed as a collar on the sweater. Very Laura Ashley meets “I heart country,” I think. But it was a current outfit — matching cropped raw hem khakis and golden goose sneakers. All she needed was one of those Jordache purses.

    • Anonymous

      I have a couple drop shoulder sweater “t shirts” from my mom.

      I don’t find them practical. If it’s warm enough for a short sleeve, I don’t feel like wearing sweater material.

      • No Face

        I love short sleeve sweaters under blazers in the fall or winter. Avoids the double sleeve issue and is not too cold if I take the blazer off.

    • Anon

      I love short sleeved sweaters! I run very warm and hate fabric at my wrists, so they do the trick in the cooler months. Otherwise I live in the smartwool 3/4 zip sweaters w the sleeves scrunched up.

      There was one short sleeved sweater that I once bought in 2004 that foolishly gave up. I managed to find it’s twin on poshmark and now do a regular search for it so I can have a back up.

  5. Anon

    The EPA issued an emergency order withdrawing a commonly used (on vegetables we all buy) weed killer from the market due to high risk of harm to fetuses – something that hasn’t happened in 40 years. What do you think the GOP’s move will be – get this specific weed killer back on the market somehow or just gut the whole EPA?

    • Anon

      The Supreme Court has already gutted the EPA, if you look at the Corner Post decision.

      • Anon

        Yes, but emergency order power remained. How long until that’s gone under a Trump presidency? Then they’ll have us back on a weed killer that was identified as a carcinogen in the 90s and banned in the EU 15 years ago.

        • Anon

          TBH we have not had catastrophes on this front (and if we have, pls show me). I just hate these sky is falling posts each day.

          • Anon

            A whiny complaint about something fully within your control isn’t a dissenting opinion.

          • Anon

            I have to wonder what you would count as a catastrophe ensuing from inadequate regulation (a species going extinct? rising rates of obesity, cancer, or diabetes? record temperatures? medications or foods recalled for making people ill?).

          • Anon

            I’m the Anon @10:28. I love environmental regulatory agencies (used to work for one). I do not love the idea that women should just shut up if they don’t have the perfect opinion. You can also just scroll by opinions that you don’t like (or engage substantively with them), instead of saying that women who hold them should “just collapse the thread” (and shut up).

    • Anonymous

      The EPA is already a shell. I think there will be a lot of gnarly corporate profit driven deaths if this election doesn’t go well.

    • Anon

      I don’t have a comment on your question, but want to reassure other currently pregnant women that it appears that this move was done more to protect pregnant farmworkers and gardeners (which is good!!!) than it was to protect consumers of the products. I found an EPA letter summarizing the risks to be helpful/comforting (will follow up with that in a minute).

      Obviously, wash your veggies, etc., but hopefully this gives an anxiety reduction to women who see this headline and have that jolt of fear.

      • Anon

        This is true of pretty much every pesticide- the risk to workers or people who live nearby is far greater than it is to consumers, which is why that dirty dozen list always annoys me.

        • Anon

          But doesn’t it help the workers and the people who live nearby if consumers create a demand for products that are safer for workers and neighbors?

          • Anon

            That’s one of the primary reasons I buy organic. There are organic farms in my state that have much healthier working conditions and far less impact (pesticide runoff into local streams, etc.) on our local environment.

          • Anon

            No, because it has nothing to do with pesticide use, just what’s left on the part you eat. So the clean fifteen are basically all things with peels, which can still have pesticides all over them, vs. the dirty dozen that have thin or no skin.

        • Anon

          Yes, but there are some pesticides where the concern extends to the end consumer, and I’m saying this doesn’t appear to be one.

          • Anon

            I wouldn’t go that far. The risks are greatest for those handling the pesticides in employment situations but there isn’t evidence of safety in consumption that I’ve seen.

          • Anon

            Yeah, sorry, I meant that the EPA’s explicit, data-supported list of concerns did not extend to the consumer, not that there was evidence of safety. Lack of evidence of non-safety, not evidence of safety, would’ve been the better way to frame it.

      • Anon

        I do some work for an organization in my hometown that primarily serves migrant farmworkers, most of whom are undocumented, and I’m concerned for them. Workplace protections are nonexistent and legal recourse even more so. Pregnant women feel they have to keep silent even when they know the risks.

    • Anon

      So you need an actual dead human baby to support this decision? Or, it sounds like you need a ton of them.

  6. Deedee

    Just started a new job, am reporting into someone higher at the new org who I sense is quite formal. My previous manager was very hands on and available so 1:1s were frequent and almost always updates she was aware of to some extent. Someone here has mentioned an effective 1:1 meeting template before, with categories such as inform, discuss, etc. If you think you run good 1:1s—up or down!—could you let me know your tips?

    • Anon

      Are you used to starting email subjects with headers such as INFO, ACTION, OPPORTUNITY, REQUEST, REMINDER etc? My org does this religiously. If so, I would almost schedule my 1:1 like that. Run down all of the action items you need them to work on, reminders, and the like.

      I always like to provide an agenda for a 1:1. Ideally a shared doc that both parties can add to. While I add an AOB section, most things ti be discussed are on the agenda.

    • Cat

      First I would talk to your new manager about preferences for the meeting – might as well find out up front!

      If none, I provide a brief (bullet) summary of the main projects I’m working on, and gather all my lower-priority escalation questions to go through.

    • Anon

      I like when my directs have a list of topics, I keep one too and there’s usually overlap. We toss the topics out first and then discuss in order of priority.

  7. Paging Cb

    Thanks everyone for your advice yesterday! Cb, thanks for your offer to get coffee in Edinburg, would absolutely love to! My email is ruthbaderg at g mail.

  8. Elle

    I’m looking for a sweater tank top and matching cardigan- less formal than a shell and cardigan, something you could wear with jeans to a family function. Does anyone have suggestions?

  10. Anon

    What is your favorite meal kit/ready to heat meal brand? I’ve been busy this summer and relying on takeout too much. I would like to start eating at home more often, but honestly don’t have the energy to spend 30+ minutes cooking every night. Any recommendations?

    • Anon

      See if there are any healthy meal delivery services in your area (google). We used one years ago in DC when we both had crazy hours. Meals were prepared in a commercial kitchen in the area and delivered on Sundays – you made your choices the week before.

        • Anon

          Not the original responder but I used to use Territory Foods in DC. This was years ago so it could be outdated but you could also pick up meals at certain Crossfit gyms.

          • Anonymous

            Territory is still around in the DMV! I’m in Silver Spring and use it from time to time.

    • Anonymous

      I like Amy’s frozen meals, if that is what you mean by ready-to-heat.
      I have also had decent luck with the “kits” in the grocery store, like Publix and Fresh Market.
      But I think you might be better off making a list of some quick toss-together meals you like. Shrimp cooks really fast. Add that to a bagged salad. Rotisserie chicken presents loads of options that take 5-10 minutes to assemble, often with no heat required. A block of tofu with sesame soy ginger sauce takes 3 minutes and no cooking to make. Add a salad or steam some frozen vegetables. . . etc.

    • Anon

      Factor is decent, gets a bit boring over time. I like Hello Fresh better, but you do have to make your food. They have a lot of fast recipes though.

    • Anon

      Meal kits don’t make cooking any faster. They just eliminate some of the mental meal planning effort. Trader Joes has interesting frozen options. But your best bet is using an easy meal formula. Thin cut chicken cooks quickly in a pan. Get some steam-in-bag frozen vegetables or prewashed salad greens. I also like jarred olives, marinated artichokes or peppers, etc that can be thrown in the pan for a minute once your protein is ready. Your carb can be a microwave baked potato, a dinner roll, or rice made in a rice cooker. Keep interesting seasoning blends, lemon and lime, and vinegar on hand to quickly add flavor.

      • Anon

        Disagree on meal kits not making things faster. I thought that for ages and it kept me from trying them. Turns out having all the ingredients presorted and ready to go all in one place cuts out a ton of time. I can get a meal kit dinner on the table in under 30 minutes and that’s hard with a grocery shop for the same level of meal. It’s more work than microwaving something from TJs but a lot less than doing a recipe from scratch.

      • NY CPA

        To me, reducing that mental load is why I get them. I just get huge decision fatigue if I have to put things together, even simple things. I’m sure it’s not that hard for many people, but for some reason it’s just beyond me.

        Blue Apron tends to be my favorite.

        • Anon

          I posted above and same here. Not figuring out what’s for dinner is an amazing relief too.

    • anonanonanon

      Cook Unity — all you have to do is heat it up. Quality is very good and there are a lot of choices. Works out to about $15/meal, four meal per week minimum.
      I was always very annoyed by meal kits (the worst being Blue Apron) that made no effort to minimize cleanup or pots dirtied.

    • Anonymous

      I’m a great cook, but I refuse to anymore, so here is how I feed myself.
      1. Taylor Farms salad Thai or Asian flavour, with either edamame or sriracha tofu added
      2. Indian sachet meals personally I’m a fan of the Ashoka and Gits brands, I serve them over basmati rice and with premade naan.
      3. Instant ramen with frozen veg and tofu
      4. Gnocchi with jarred sauce (I usually boil some broccoli with the gnocchi or toss frozen spinach into the sauce to give myself a green)
      5. Chili mac, using a can of chili and box of mac. I mix jalapenos into the mac.
      6. Sandwiches! This is infinitely more appealing personally if I have good bread so I buy artisan rolls.
      7. Tomato soup and grilled cheese…. lazy classic for a reason
      I’m a big fan of the Amy’s frozen cheesless pizza too.

      • Anon

        Can you explain more about how you add in broccoli and/or spinach? I’m new to cooking, so is this while the water heats to boiling, while the gnocchi is cooking, or do you cook the green first in separate pot and add to sauce as it heats up in the pan? And what kid of sauce do you use/make with gnocchi that isn’t tomato or lemon based? (I’ve seen that in several recipes for gnocchi).

        • Anonymous

          If I’m doing Broccoli it gets boiled with the gnocchi, both take about three minutes, both get plopped into the boiling water at the same time. If I’m doing spinach it gets put into the sauce to heat with the sauce. I use a spicy tomato sauce, a white sauce (Nonas cashew Alfredo), or a DIY rose (red sauce + cashew cream).

    • Lily

      I am loving Factor meals. My husband was lukewarm on the idea but loves them too. He gets way more variety than me because there are only 3 or 4 veg options every week. I end up ordering 2 of each veg option and 4 or 5 meat/seafood options for him so I have lunch/dinner covered for most of the week. We also get the protein caffeine shakes which are tasty. For dinner we make our kids their own meal and then we eat our factor meals. It makes evenings so much less stressful and i feel like we’re wearing more / more varied vegetables and proteins. The taste ranges from a solid B to A+. I particularly love the tofu options.

    • Anon

      During the pandemic, I discovered that Costco has an interesting selection of relatively healthy frozen entrees (among not-so-healthy ones). They seem to discontinue them and get new ones regularly, but if you are a member you can check for same day delivery. I am still wishing they’d bring back the cauliflower kale curry…

      I also buy frozen riced cauliflower in bulk there, which can become the basis of any number of quick bowl-type meals!

    • Anon

      I say nay — it’s pretty much the worst time of year there, cold and rainy without the holiday joy. But I confess I do not have the love for Paris in general that many on this board seem to. For me it’s Italy that’s always a good idea.

      • Anon

        I lived in Paris for six months and Italy was my least favorite of the 8+ other countries I visited, lol (though I do have a couple more Italian cities on my bucket list)

        • Anon

          yeah I know I’m in the minority on not loving Paris. I think I’m just not a big city person in general. I do love Rome and a couple other big cities, but otherwise would prefer the mountains, ocean or countryside over big cities 95% of the time. The other parts of France I’ve been to were much better than Paris for me.

    • Anon

      100%. “Everything is always worth it” is a good motto to live by when it comes to your leisure choices. I went to Paris in February and loved it – I prefer cold weather for walking miles and miles!

    • Cb

      Yep, I’ve got a conference at the end of Jan and am taking my husband and kid for a Paris experience. Pastries taste better when it’s cold.

    • Anon.

      I say Yay.

      Anecdotally, we were in London in the second half of January this year, which I would consider completely off-season. While it was cold, the museums and main sights were not crowded at all.
      Due to some health circumstances in my family, we also are very rarely dine indoors anymore, but found it very easy to actually go to restaurants when they were almost completely empty (e.g. at 5pm), since there were no tourists, and the regular people who live there went at more regular hours (after 6pm).

    • Anonymous

      Absolutely! I love Paris in January. The city is pretty quiet, not a lot of tourists, great time of year for long cozy meals, just need a good umbrella.

    • Anon

      Parisian here. It will be probably be gray, rainy and damp, and the holiday lights won’t be up any more. But it will be way more quiet. If you enjoy museums, reading im cafes, and other indoor pursuits, and don’t mind bundling up to walk around a bit, it can be a great time.

    • Winter

      Strong yes! Crowds are much smaller. It can be very grey, but not too cold. My screen name is Winter, though, so ymmv.
      Most of Paris does winter sales in January. This is a big deal because they don’t do the Macy’s-type sales every week. Just 2x a year, summer and winter. (At least this was true did a hundred years ago when I studied there during undergrad– maybe someone with more current knowledge can weigh in if this is still accurate?)

  12. Anon.

    I have a relatively new dentist. Received text and email requests for confirmation and I clicked on the email, affirming that I would be there three days ago. Yesterday, I get an email telling me that unless I confirm my appointment by end of day, the appointment will be canceled and I will incur no show fees. Since when are businesses charging no show fees for not confirming in time?! Thinking about getting a new dentist over this.

    • Anon

      This type of thing drives me crazy – same with doctors saying “please arrive 30 minutes early” when there’s no need for it. I’ve arrived when requested only to be checked in instantly and then wait 45-60 minutes to be seen. I don’t show up early anymore unless there is a legitimate reason.

    • anon

      I would get a new dentist over this, but I’d first talk with the dentist. I could see a small provider contracting with some company to provide reminders not realizing that the company was sending nasty grams saying that if you don’t confirm (a second time!) you’ll both be cancelled and charged a no-show fee.

    • Anecdata

      Yeah, this is definitely getting more common unfortunately – the no show rates are just too high. Needing multiple confirmations is the part that seems a bit unusual though – maybe the first time you clicked it didn’t go through. I find it annoying too but wouldn’t leave a good dentist over it

      • Anon

        Shockingly, the generation that flakes on plans with friends all the time has also not been great about showing up for appointments.

        • Anon.

          Well. 1:02. I could click on the email, call them on the phone, and answer the text and STILL NOT SHOW UP. The confirmation thing is insane.

      • Anon

        Increasingly all my (and my kids) doctors seem to require multiple confirmations. Like if I confirm via text or email they still call (or make me call back) to verbally confirm. It’s very annoying.

    • No Problem

      What doesn’t make any sense is the threat to both cancel the appointment AND charge a no-show fee. Which is it, dentist? If you don’t confirm “on time” (again!) but you show up, you’d both have zero appointment and a no-show fee?? Isn’t the point of the no-show fee to compensate the practice for an unfilled appointment? I gather that no-shows are a problem, but unless they have a hefty wait list and feel they can guarantee finding a replacement it makes no sense to cancel your appointment on you.

      FWIW my dentist used to call for confirmations and if you didn’t answer they INSISTED that you call back to confirm. They would also call back repeatedly until they got you on the phone. One time I never confirmed (missed all of their calls and didn’t call back) and they were absolutely apoplectic when I showed up on time for my appointment that ZOMG I never confirmed with them and they were expecting me not to come. I had been going there for years and never missed an appointment or been late so it was a pretty absurd reaction. I was so grateful when they finally switched to text and email confirmations. One click of a button or text reply at whatever time of day I receive the message and feel like replying and they don’t ask for anything else.

    • Anon

      Worth a conversation with the dentist, to make sure they know what the staff and/or practice software are doing. But if that is really their policy and not a misunderstanding, then I would walk over that — it’s an unreasonable amount of burden to put on you as the patient to address issues they are having *with other people.*

    • NaoNao

      This is 100% one of my little-big irritants. Stop requiring 20 confirmations via text, email, phone, and on and on. I get that it’s annoying when people no show or cancel last minute but the constant hassle and heckling from messages from restaurants, various appointments, doctor’s offices, it’s just the sand in my oyster!

  13. Anon for This

    Help me figure out what to make for dinner tonight. There are 3 kids, including one who has been at camp all day and will be absolutely ravenous and want a bigger meal. I have 1 adult who likes a larger meal on the healthy side – carb/meat (preferably chicken or fish)/veg. I then have one mostly vegetarian but who will eat fish or meat but who is constantly complaining about their weight and talking about their diet so it needs to be light and low cal… This is mostly because I flat out don’t allow them to talk like they do about food around my kids.

    What’s the move here? broiled white fish with a salad and baguette? I feel like a pasta dish won’t work… do I do make your own tacos and let people pick what they want to put in them?

      • Anon for This

        Thank you! I invited some family members for dinner who I normally only have over for brunch because a spread with bagels/fruit salad/a baked egg thing works for the whole crowd.

        I love cooking vegetarian, but somehow cooking a meat-optional yet filling yet ‘somebody won’t bring up how they’ve been doing weight watchers since 1996 and did you know they made fat free greek yogurt zero points!’ is just… too much for today.

    • Anon

      Rice bowls with ground turkey. Add veggies as desired to either the turkey or on the side. A quick vinegar pickle of cucumbers and adding a soy glaze to the turkey will make it all taste good.

    • NY CPA

      Mix of half zucchini noodles and pasta noodles with tomato sauce and turkey meatballs. Super easy, light. People could also customize their blend of noodles if they want if you keep them separate (i.e. someone wants more veg, less carbs, just takes more zucchini noodles).

      • Anon for This

        I like this idea and am going to use it to make taco bowls with regular or cauliflower rice.

    • Roxie

      If I was ravenous after a long active day and someone gave me broiled white fish and a salad I’d set the place ablaze

      Your taco bar idea sounds great. Ground turkey, black beans, veggies and fresh toppings like diced avo, salsa etc plus corn and flour tortilla options, rice etc.

    • Anecdata

      I would do salmon glazed with soy sauce in the oven (feels a little fancy for company)

      Rice or rice noodles and pre-washed salad greens

      Then toppings: quick pickle cucumbers, grated carrots; steam-in-bag edamame (vegan protein)

      Dressings: some kind of bottled soy/teriyaki/miso ish salad dressing; sesame oil (lets ppl add fat easily); chili crisp or some other spicy

      And then let people make either rice bowls or fancy salads however their heart leads them

    • Anon

      Things like assemble-it-yourself bowls, as others have suggested, are great for both kids and generally picky eaters.

    • Runcible Spoon

      Shrimp salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob. Bake a potato (or serve potato salad) or two in the microwave for anyone who is still hungry. If you are feeling a bit ambitious, throw in a tomato/fresh mozzarella/basil salad. Yum!

  14. COVID

    My elderly next door neighbors seem to both have COVID. I gave them some of my old (expired!) COVID home tests last night, and She (the one feeling unwell with chills/fever) came up positive. Now this morning, the He is starting to cough. They have no local family, so I’m going to help them out. Just pushing him now to test himself, and call their doctors.

    Amazingly, I haven’t had COVID and am not up to date on things. No more free home COVID tests, right? Is there a place you guys buy home COVID tests that has a good price? I want to go get some more for them that aren’t expired (and for myself!). Also just curious – if you came up positive on a home test, did your doctor want you to go in for confirmatory testing at the clinic or ?walgreens, or are doctors prescribing Paxlovid based on home testing/symptoms alone?

    Thanks.

    • Anon

      Everyone I know regards a home + test as conclusive. No doctor wants you to come in to confirm that.

      • Anon

        No doctor wants you to come into the office but many still need a Walgreens test before they can prescribe Paxlovid, which these elderly people should get. If you don’t need Paxlovid, no reason to get an “official” test.

        • Anon

          For younger people, do official tests ever help get in to long COVID clinics when necessary? Or is at-home enough these days?

          • Anon

            I got an official test when I had it last summer for that reason — wanted “proof” in case long Covid issues developed, which thankfully they did not.

        • Anon

          My doc prescribed Paxlovid to me via messages and didn’t require any proof of my positive test. I know you said some doctors, but I wouldn’t want your saying that to put OP off. Her neighbors should contact their doctor(s) and ask for the prescription.

    • Anon

      We only needed a confirmatory test once to get insurance to kick in for trip insurance. Otherwise, never. Even our schools take our word for it but I do take a picture of the + test stick.

    • Anon

      Doctors do prescribe Paxlovid based on home testing alone, as well as symptoms + positive contact at their discretion. (So if everyone else in the house tests positive, and you have symptoms, that can be enough.) Where I live, the libraries still have free RATs, but we’re pretty blue here. A lot of expiration dates were extended, so their tests may or may not have really been expired. There’s a “PAXCESS” program for paying for Paxlovid if insurance doesn’t cover the full costs.

    • anon

      You’re very kind to help.

      Paxlovid, an antiviral for Covid, works best the sooner one starts taking it, and prescribers will totally prescribe based on a home test. Paxlovid is no longer an option if not started early enough or if symptoms become severe, so it’s really important not to wait to discuss the possibility of Paxlovid with a provider. I think there is at least one other antiviral, but I’m not familiar with alternatives to Paxlovid.

      You’re right to push them to call their doctor’s office right now. If they can’t get prompt attention from their usual doctors, a video visit with an online providers or an in-person visit to an urgent care (call ahead to find out Covid precautions) will do the trick. They’ll need their med list, as a few prescriptions must be stopped during Paxlovid treatment.

      Free tests aren’t widely available anymore, though they are available under limited circumstances. For example, California requires state-regulated plans to reimburse for home tests, but that excludes those covered by federally-regulated plans, like many employer-sponsored plans. I buy tests from major online retailers. Target, etc. should still have them if you want to pick up same day. There are also now antigen tests that cover both flu and Covid, which I plan to buy for flu season.

      For you, make sure you have high filtration mask (N95 or KN95 or similar) to help them and as much ventilation as possible (ie, open windows, leave door open). If you can help them from outside, all the better.

    • anonshmanon

      My health insurance still lets me order 8 at home tests per month for free. Your post was a good reminder to order a few more, since mine will probably be expired too. (not a big deal but when new ones are free…)

    • No Problem

      You can buy the tests at any pharmacy or online (Am@zon, W@lmart, etc.) for somewhere around $8-10 per test. If you’re ordering online and flexible on when they arrive you can probably get them for a bit less.

      They should call their doctors and see if they can get Paxlovid prescribed. Only their doctor could say whether they will prescribe it based on an at home test, but my money would be on yes. Warning: it’s not cheap, and coverage may depend on their insurance. If they have logins for whatever pharmacy they use (Walgreens, CVS) they should login and look up the price under their insurance. I did that when I recently had it and it turns out it would have cost me $1,400 (high deductible health plan; haven’t had many expenses yet this year to get me anywhere close to my deductible). My illness was very mild and it would have absolutely been a waste of money, but I’m not elderly or otherwise high risk. I assume they’re on Medicare and may have other expenses that have contributed to their deductible already this year, so it may be more affordable for them. There is also some kind of discount program from the manufacturer. Or maybe price isn’t an issue and they just want to ensure they get through the illness safely.

      Good on you for looking after your neighbors!

    • Cat

      I haven’t ever called the dr after a + test – just rode it out at home – but thankfully all my experiences have been ‘average cold’ variety.

    • COVID

      Wow, thanks for all of this great advice everyone.

      Unfortunately the wife is not up to date on all the COVID boosters etc… and hates doctors and is not in great shape so I think she really needs the Paxlovid. I had no idea it was so expensive so thanks for sharing that….I will look into Paxcess.

      They are in their 70s, appear to still have employee coverage through her prior employer (she isn’t officially retired, but only works like…. once a year… amazing), but its a very cheap HMO plan. So who knows what their drug coverage is like.

      Thanks again all of you. You’re the best.

    • Katie

      Hi,
      I have Covid now and just got Paxlovid – with my insurance, it was $25, so that really depends. I just called my doctor and said I had tested positive and would like them to prescribe Paxlovid. The admin asked some questions about symptoms/exposure and they prescribed. I do get the terrible metallic taste from it, but cinnamon candies have been helping, so consider getting something cinnamon in case they get that side effect.

  15. Anonymous

    What are your thoughts on the couch meme and Walz’s comments from last night? I feel like the couch meme is primarily funny because it drives home that he’s the kind of guy where you’re not sure if that’s made up or not, and in general it’s just harmless fun. But I feel like the constant BJ jokes and hints from the Rs about Kamala are disgusting and stereotypical. (Why BJs? Even if she did have an affair with the mayor and benefitted from it, do they think it stopped at BJs? Are they referencing Lewinsky?)

    • Anon

      I am grateful that I am not online enough to have any idea what you’re talking about.

          • Cat

            ha- fair enough, I clearly keep the day’s thread open to refresh throughout the day, but otherwise no.

      • Anon

        I’ve seen it and it’s absolutely vile. I don’t know why that seems to be the Republican Party’s specialty these days.

        On Fox News a representative of the Republican Party called her the DEI Vice President and “the original hawk-tuah girl” So clearly it’s some sort of official talking point.

      • Anonymous

        Someone on Twitter said that JD Vance was the first candidate for office to ever write about having sex with a rubber glove between couch cushions, and referenced pages of Hillbilly Elegy. When he was announced as the VP pick, memes started of JD Vance along with close-up images of couches, zooming in with sexy music in the background.

        The story has been debunked, but the AP had to retract their story that he had never had sex with a couch, because they couldn’t prove it one way or another. So the couch story lives on.

        Meanwhile for Kamala I’ve heard garbage about how of course she’s childless because you can’t get pregnant via throat.

        • Anon

          The Kamala story is true though. She did in fact do that for Willie Brown – everyone admits it.

          • Anon

            She dated Willie Brown but how could you possibly know the details of what went on in their bedroom? And what is so scandalous about BJs between consenting adults anyway?

    • Anon

      Recalling that the republican primary debate in 2016 devolved into literally fighting about d*ck size, I think his joke was well on the ‘tame’ side of the line.

      I think Walz is funny and relatable and reminds me of my dad. He’s a candidate that both inspires nostalgia and hope for the future. Was the joke in bad taste? Maybe a little, but Vance himself has worked in jokes about it.

    • Anon

      I live in MN, have met Walz several times (he’s lovely), and could not feel more proud of his representation of good old fashioned human decency. Biden’s campaign theme of ‘the world is ending’ wasn’t sticking … a nod to internet memes and a bit of humor is a welcome change. It was funny, not mean spirited.

      On the whole, ‘he let Minneapolis burn to the ground’ thing – well, two years later Minneapolis voted him back into office with something like 86% of the vote within city limits, so they themselves were not too concerned with his response.

    • Anon88

      I think there are a couple key differences. First of all, no one in the democratic party legitimately thinks Vance made love to a couch, it’s just trolling/poking fun. If you break down why people think it’s funny, it’s because the idea of man having sex with a couch is so absurd it’s ridiculous. Also there’s no cultural context that makes the Vance thing problematic.

      Making BJ jokes about Kamala is different, not only because it’s not actually funny. If you were to ask someone why they think it’s funny, what would they say? Women are sex objects and the only way they could be in a position of power is by sleeping with powerful men? I literally can’t think of a reason someone would legitimately think it was funny. And of course obviously the context here is misogyny.

      Add the additional context that the republicans/trump have been saying the most outlandish nonsense for years without any basis in reality, then doubling down and treating them like legitimate “investigations” or whatever while the democrats have been very serious and doing the “they go low we go high” thing…it’s refreshing to see the dems embrace a dumb joke and give the gop a harmless taste of their own medicine.

      • Anon

        Kamala ACTUALLY did that! It isn’t a joke. He was married, she did that, and the quid pro quo was supporting her as she ran for office.

        • Anonymous

          wow it’s great to know so many people were in the room with them so as to be privy to these discussions

        • Anon

          He was separated from his wife at the time and if he hadn’t been he would have been the one cheating, not her. And who cares about why they dated? Maybe she dated him because she liked him, maybe she dated him because she thought it would help her career. Why does it matter?

    • Anon

      Yeah I think Rs are extremely hypocritical for getting worked up about the couch jokes given all the racist, misogynistic stuff they’re throwing at Kamala and Obama and Hillary before her. But logical consistency has never been their strong suit. The Trump team released a statement last night slamming Walz for restoring the right to vote to convicted felons. Ummm….

      Fwiw, I think the couch thing is primarily funny because the AP ran a story headlined “No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch.” If that hadn’t happened, the joke would have died quickly.

    • Anon

      I think it’s hilarious how conservatives are up in arms about this after their own discourse during the last 8 years. They can dish it out but they sure can’t take it. I thought it was funny and not inappropriate.

      I’m sick of “when they go low, we go high” because it was never, ever going to work. The Obamas have always been more concerned with their own personal legacies than the future of the country and Democrats have been way too timid and weak. If that’s changing now, then great. I just hope it’s not too little too late.

      • Anon

        I also think the delivery matters a lot. Hillary called them deplorable and it completely backfired, which I think is the main reason the Democrats tried so hard to lean into “when they go low, we go high.” When everyone on your ticket is an Ivy-educated lawyer it’s pretty easy for criticism of the other side to sound like the elites condescendingly scolding the dumb poors. There’s probably an element of racism and sexism in this too, but punches from rural, non-Ivy white men just seem to land better. You’ll notice Kamala isn’t calling anyone weird.

        • Anon

          Part of the difference is that “deplorable” was directed at Trump’s supporters, but “weird” is directed at the candidate. It’s Politics 101 that you criticize your opponent, not their supporters.

          But I do agree there are things men can say that women can’t, and the “they’re weird” wouldn’t have landed nearly as well if Kamala had said it.

      • Seventh Sister

        For reasons (chance meeting with someone from my hometown), I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the bullying I took in high school. The guys that bullied me could dish it out but had a lot of trouble taking it, even if it was a pretty mild insult. Vance strikes me as the same kind of guy, the one at the cocktail party who starts shouting at you or telling you how ugly you are if you decline his phone number.

    • Anon

      This is a great line: “Violent crime was up under Donald Trump,” Walz said. “That’s not even accounting the crimes he committed.”

    • Anon

      I feel like it’s not okay to lie about those things, even if you personally dislike the candidate.

        • Anon

          People faked a early draft of the book; it was still part of a joke, but it was shared by people who really thought the passage was real.

          • Anon

            Tim Walz’s joke was referencing a pre-existing joke that maybe inadvertently became a misinformation campaign. He didn’t originate it.

            I personally think it’s all playing with fire.

    • Anecdata

      I don’t like it, and I wish they wouldn’t do it – what R’s say about female politicians is unquestionably /worse/; but “jokes” about a political candidate’s sexuality are not okay in my book.

      Not a perfect analogy, but I feel the same way about some of the Olympics coverage that is very focused along the lines of how male athlete X looks in his shorts – yes, female athletes have been treated worse for a long time, and no, that doesn’t justify it

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