Weekend Open Thread
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Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
As we head into sweater weather, this cotton biker jacket from Saint and Sofia looks perfect for a warm fall evening.
I like that it's 100% organic cotton, and that it's handmade in Europe. I also like that Nordstrom has started carrying Saint + Sofia — the indie brand has stalked me on social media for a number of years now! For returns, note that Saint & Sofia's policy applies, not Nordstrom's — you have 90 days to return the item by mail or to a Nordstrom store. (They've started doing this a lot lately, so do make sure to check when you're checking out!)
The jacket is $179 at Nordstrom and Saint + Sofia (where they have EIGHT more colors!).
Sales of note for 9/26/25
- Nordstrom – 7400+ new markdowns! Also: 6x points on beauty.
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale, plus $20 style steals
- Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 15% off
- Boden – Sale now up to 50% off PLUS an extra 10% off
- J.Crew – Extra 30% off sale styles, plus up to 50% off layers they love
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything + extra 20% off $125+
- Nordstrom Rack – UGG up to 40% off
- Rothy's – Up to 50% off last-chance sales
- Soma – 6 panties for $36 — readers love these no-VPL panties (and these PJs)
- Talbots – 40% off one item, plus 30% off everything else
- White House Black Market – 30% off all full-price dresses, and $50 off $200+ purchase
Posted this late this morning, so reposting here:
What have you bought recently that you’re genuinely awed by the quality of? A friend got me a Dandelion Chocolate package, and the paper the company uses to wrap their gift boxes is so luxurious that I actually said “wow.” (I don’t actually like chocolate, so that part is kind of a wash for me! But the paper is amazing!). Wondering what has blown you all away in quality recently, as it feels like everything is trending the opposite direction.
(Bonus points if it’s a duvet cover.)
I LOVE Dandelion chocolate too!
My answer is weirdly, my Apple watch. Love it.
I’m kind of obsessed with mine too!
Not recent, but I absolutely love my current skis. They’re perfect for me.
I treated myself to a Matouk Valetto down pillow at the beginning of the year and it is HEAVEN. I am obsessed with this pillow, and even bring it when I travel because I’ve gotten so spoiled. It’s in a completely different league than the other pillows I’ve tried– wirecutter best pick, Macy’s down pillows, etc.
It can be squished into whatever shape I want and fluffs right back up, it’s incredibly light but the weight of my head doesn’t flatten it out, and doesn’t have that crinkly feeling like cheaper feather pillows. I got mine for a very good discount with after Christmas Bloomingdale’s sale + coupon, and I’m honestly considering getting another one this year.
If you decide to get another, remind us when you do (if they are on sale)!
25% off now, if that is sufficient discount to motivate you.
I listen to audiobooks to go to sleep, and the bluetooth headphone i was wearing wasn’t great. I bought the Avantree Slumber 2 pillow speaker and I love it.
Duvet cover – Laura Ashley. Beautiful prints, very soft cotton, very durable, fastened with real buttons that can be replaced if they fall off (rather than zippers or poppers).
Minor but my Owala water bottle lives up to the hype.
Not recent, but my favorite duvet cover is from Comphy. I think it’s the SoftSpa version. It is so, so soft.
Once upon a time, I lived near a Yves Delorme outlet and bought two duvet covers. Despite outlet prices, they were still quite expensive (to me) but 10+ years later, with wear and tear of babies/toddlers/and now tweens + dogs sleeping on the bed with us…and they’re in perfect condition. Perfect.
A very nice couch (from Ethan Allen). I LOVE it – it’s both because it’s a better size for me (previous couch was so deep I had to have two pillows behind me to lean back) and because the fabric feels and looks so luxurious.
I have one pair of lululemon socks and they really are better than any plain old kohls sport sock….
probably not the right forum for this, but – if anyone brings in plants from outside what steps do you take to ensure there aren’t bugs? i wash my cuttings in a water with a tiny bit of Dawn and try to really pay attention to the underside of leaves and stems. I just tried baking soil, too…
I do nothing. If they were covered with bugs like aphids, I’d rinse those off with water. If you’re terrified of bugs you could repot but I don’t think that’s necessary.
I check them over and if they look OK, I bring them in. Maybe hose them down once before. I just don’t worry about it that much!
I grew up once I started working wearing suits to work. I’ve been trying to adapt to a casual office, but I am struggling. I like a jacket / blazer, but it’s hard for me to find something besides solid black pants, solid white pants, or jeans to pair with them. Not everything works with black! And if those two works, I feel that then you’re left with the boringest solid shirt to wear with it. And somehow finding shoes to tie in. My struggle lies in being a magpie of sorts who loves texture, so while I have many white or black shirts, many are a mix of color, pattern, or texture (ditto what I call “fun jackets). Is this so much of a struggle to others? I hate to think of it, but I’m starting to miss suits. If a suit could have a bit of ease in the pants and stretch in the jacket (without being a 1970s era polyester leisure suit — although I now see why they were so popular), I might dive back in.
I’m having a bit of a hard time following your post, so I’m not sure I understand the exact struggle you’re having. Is it that you have plenty of fun jackets, and plenty of colorful blouses, but you don’t know how to put them together into outfits, or you’re lacking the right trousers to wear with them?
If it’s that you can’t make outfits, is the issue that the items you have aren’t proportioned well to work together, or that the colors don’t work — or both?
I’m not sure what you miss or what the struggle is? If you want, you could start small, wearing patterned blouses. There are plenty. You could add navy, burgundy, or camel to your wardrobe.
Alternatively, buy suits and wear them as separates, adding in patterned blouses or colors as you see fit. A column of color with textural differences sounds chic, too.
I haven’t given up suits, and have found many with some ease/stretch of late. Honestly, I just like the simplicity of a suit. And in the last three years I have made an effort to find, buy, and invest in some interesting blouses to liven them up. Come in . . . the water is warm.
What exactly is the struggle? I wear blazers all the time. I also buy pants in other colors… green, gray (many shades), burgundy, navy (lots of navy options), camel, brown. If my blazer is a pattern or texture than usually I’ll wear a solid colored shirt. If the blazer is solid colored (with or without texture), then I’ll maybe have some pattern in the shell. As long as all three of your pieces are clashing patterns/colors, I don’t see the issue. I also have fun with shoes and always wear jewelry (including some larger necklaces and earrings sometimes). Full suits are for court only. I never mastered the blazer with a dress though (unless sold as suit separates / designed together) so I tend to buy dresses with sleeves.
Gift ideas for a one-year-old? Need help finding something…what have your kids loved at that age?
How much are you looking to spend?
I guess up to $200 – it’s for a special family member/circumstance. They live in an apartment though so limited by size.
Balance bike, Lovevery kits, personalized kid furniture (like the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair), a nice winter jacket (Patagonia, North Face)
If the parents have room and agree to it, Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair. Get the full-sized one, not the tiny toddler one.
That’s tricky. You could ask if they’d like a play kitchen, pikler set, or nugget, but I would assume they wouldn’t love those. My kids loved a shopping cart and ride-on toys at that age, but they can be annoying. Wooden Montessori-type toys are “nicer” and may be well-received. I would avoid things that light up and make noise, except for maybe a Tonie Box, which is this trendy music player for toddlers.
Always books.
Always.
Yup.
Yep, and make them board books so they don’t rip the pages. Ask me how I know!
Here’s another favorite of my kids’ at that age:
https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-corn-popper/-/A-13921055?sid=2767S&afid=google&TCID=OGS&CPNG=Toys&adgroup=204-10
My daughter loved baby dolls (my son didn’t really care about them) so she loved a baby doll stroller at that age. It was just the right size for her.
They both also loved that pull behind toy with the dog.
One year olds are, or will be soon, ALL ABOUT walking, so toys that involve walking quickly become the favorites.
I’m in m-d so pls check back. Here’s another link
https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-walk-the-pup-pug/-/A-89960161#lnk=sametab
Normally love giving books, but they have a ton and it’s what I gave at birth and Christmas. I’d rather do a fun toy of some kind (and I know that would be appreciated).
Always and forever, at all ages.
Board books with high-contrast black and white illustrations, textures and noise. Things that make noise. Things with noisy gift wrap.
One-year-olds really don’t need gifts, so maybe try to please the parents instead? Heritage illustration plate and cutlery set (Peter Rabbit, Moomin), heritage jewelry or national costume element (opal necklace, silver or gold charm necklace or spoon, tradtional knife), nostalgic books, high quality wool throw?
I disagree with all of this. High-contrast black and white is for newborns. One-year-olds can appreciate colorful illustrations.
The second paragraph is all expensive junk that we never used or displayed but felt obligated to store in perpetuity.
Alphabet trains in the kiddos name. It looks super cute for presentation and it hooks up to brio trains. My kids played with those for years.
I’ve been ordering personalized books from Wonderbly for my baby granddaughter. Maybe a personalized alphabet or counting book from them?
Ask the parents before buying either, but a Nugget or toy kitchen are kind of the classic “big” toys for 1 year olds.
The kind of ride-on toy that they sit on and scoot with their feet. The Wheely Bug is adorable and there is a wide selection of animals. A play kitchen. A play tent with a tunnel that attaches.
Chapter 13 here with an update…I found a job! For those who missed my update last time, I detailed how I lost my job with the federal government. This summer has been an incredibly trying time, but I’m so excited to not only start a new job in a few weeks, but to start one where I am getting paid $50k MORE than what I was making in government. I’m so thankful. However, I’m not out of the woods yet – I still have to pass the background check. The job is with a Big 4 in the U.S. If anyone has any experience with their background checks (or in general), please share. I already told the recruiter that they would find the Ch. 13 during my credit check and she thanked me for being honest, but didn’t say one way or the other if she thought it would be ok. I’m very anxious.
Also…I just entered year 4 of the 5 year plan. I have 24 payments left!
I’m cheering for you!
You are doing great! All the fingers and toes crossed for the background check!
you’re amazing!
Good luck!! When I went to work for Big 4 I had to pass a credit check. A bankruptcy would have eliminated me from consideration, however that was 15 years ago so hopefully times change.
Can you share more? Did they tell you a bankruptcy would have eliminated you? My credit is about 600 so not sure if that is “pass” worthy.
I work at a Big 4 firm. The background check was much more involved than any I’ve had at other companies. I had some back and forth with the person doing my background check to answer questions that came up. My responses were detailed and accepted without comment. I’m not sure how a bankruptcy would factor in. I wish you the best of luck and congrats!!
Why was Violet Affleck addressing the UN this week?
Asking for mask mandates. This is very google-able.
She wants mask mandates (i.e. infection control with PPE) in healthcare facilities.
Outside of healthcare facilities, she talked about cleaner indoor air (filtration, sanitation, ventilation) and mask availability.
Because she’s weirdly obsessed with mask mandates
This is a RW talking point. It’s not a weird obsession ask hospitals to follow established guidelines for protecting patients and staff from airborne contagion.
I’d like to treat myself to a nice pajama / lounge set. Slight preference for a long sleeve top and shorts or pants, but open to a nightgown / robe option too (I’m tall, so would just prefer it’s not too short). Any recommendations from recent purchases?
i really love my printfresh jammies if you like any of the patterns! otherwise i’ve been dying for a pair from lunya.
It doesn’t sound glamorous, but Soma Cool Nights pjs. They have longs in many but not all styles.
+1. Soma Cool Nights fabric is my favorite. So smooth and soft!
What are your skincare and makeup “category killers”?
I mean things like, I’ve found the perfect mascara (L’Oreal Panorama) so I never need to try any others again.
Other than the mascara, I also love the NYX mechanical eyeliners, the Revlon sheer lipstick in 003 Glossed Up Rose, my Beauty Pie niacinamide superdrops, and my Biore Aqua UV sunscreen (the Japanese version only.)
Interested to hear yours!
Mine would be Nars soft matte concealer, Dior addict lip glow balm, and Supergoop Unseen sunscreen.
Avon Glimmersticks brow pencil – when they go on sale for $3, I order half a dozen. They last forever and are a perfect match for my hair.
Elf 16 hour camo concealer – a champ on my dark under eye circles. Lasts and doesn’t make my fine lines look worse.
Smashbox always sharp eyeliner that sharpens itself – sharpening a pencil (or a dull pencil) ruins my morning, and this product is the best of the bunch
L’Oreal true match tinted serum. I will never, ever buy another tinted serum or foundation.
E.l.f. Wow brow gel
Tarte tubing mascara
Palladio I’m Blushing 2-in-1 Cheek and Lip Tint, but I only use it for blush
I loved the old version of the Sephora collection liquid eyeliner and lip stain but don’t like the new ones. I akso don’t wear eye liner anymore.
I like to play around with my lip color, so I don’t think I’ll ever be done trying new ones. But I also haven’t the right one for me yet.