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Updated: Oct 31, 2018 156 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Angelina Skirt

The Personal Shopper (TPS)

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. ShapeFx SkirtThe asymmetrical flounce looks lovely — and I am intrigued by the “built in power mesh slip, held in place with lace gripper trim.” They have a bunch of skirts with built-in shapewear, and they're all on sale. This skirt — which comes in 3 colors, sizes 0-16 — was $59, but is now marked to $24. Angelina Skirt by ShapeFX Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-0)

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Comments

  1. worldoyster

    Where in the world to go…

    I am quitting my job and have a rare chance to go on an international vacation with my partner, anywhere in the world! In 3 weeks! Our budget is on the cheap side – around $2500/pp for 9 days.

    We’d like somewhere with a city to see (and eat) for a few days and then do something active for a few days – hike, maybe camp, or at least be out of the urban center. We like wine, but that’s not essential. Italy, UK, France off the table, as we’ve been there extensively. We’re hoping to take a longer trip to Argentina next year, so probably want to exclude South/Central America, but not absolute.

    Flights to Morocco are cheap, so we’re thinking that’s an option. We’re also considering Iceland/Norway, but are a little turned off by the chilly weather. Spain sounds marvelous but we’re worried about the price – though it’s tempting to go somewhere with the Euro. Other ideas?

    • Mpls

      Australia, maybe Melbourne instead of Sydney. Wine country in outstate Victoria (Moet and Chandon have a vineyard out there). Some great coastal road drives.

      Or New Zealand. Because its awesome.

    • anon a mouse

      I would go to the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia, and if time/budget allows, add some days in Greece.

      Alternately, Morocco is a good idea, especially if by hike you mean take a guided tour into the desert.

      • Travelanon

        This is a great recommendation. Croatia is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and very budget-friendly.

        Also, have you considered Turkey? Cruise on the Bosphorous, great food, mountains and Mediterranean…

    • Mo

      You said you’d prefer not to go to Central America, but I think Panama sounds perfect for you and your budget. Panama City has the canal, colonial architecture and good restaurants, and there are plenty of “adventure travel” or beach options in other parts of the country. Copa Air flies direct to Panama City from several US cities, too.

    • Grey Falcon

      Morocco is beautiful this time of year, can offer you a mix of city/hiking, and it’s easy to get around (especially if either of you speaks any French or Arabic). You can rent a car and head out from Marrakesh if you want to go hiking in the Atlas mountains. Essaouira on the coast it also beautiful and easy to reach overland. The local wine is terrible, but there are of course lots of European imports that are easily obtained anywhere with a tourist infrastructure.

      • la vie en bleu

        YES. I would totally do Morocco this time of year. Or even Egypt. Those are two places I have been dying to go to. Wherever you go have an amazing time and please report back!

    • emeralds

      Why not Spain? You can absolutely do it cheaply if you like. The Basque Country and La Rioja are right up your alley if you’re looking for wine and the outdoors. I would fly into Madrid or Barcelona, whichever’s cheaper, spend two days there, and then head to Logroño in La Rioja or Vitoria/Bilbao/San Sebastian/Pamplona in the Basque Country if you want another city, or some tiny random wine town (Haro springs to mind) as a base for wine and hiking. One of my acquaintances from when I lived in Spain has blogged extensively about both wine and outdoorsy options in northern Spain–http://youngadventuress.com/ and then the Spain Travel tab.

      Seriously do not be scared of Spain being expensive. It’s can get pricey in the more urban areas, but food and drink are dirt cheap most anywhere, and you can find a decent hotel in non-schmancy cities for like 35E a night if you’re okay with minimal frills.

      • Travelanon

        This is true; I lived and traveled in southern Spain for a month for 500 EUR. I speak Spanish and stayed in hostels, which helped, and I was willing to take buses, but I ate well and had a lovely experience for very little money.

        If you do go north, there’s a lovely little seaside town near Barcelona called Tossa del Mar with an old fort and beautiful windy streets and the best paella I’ve ever eaten.

      • Anonny

        +500

        Spain is unlike a lot of Europe – from the landscape/countryscape, to the people, food and culture. It’s also quite inexpensive if you do it right with a little homework. Madrid and south, and then to the Mediterranean coast (Valencia) offer a lot of variety in terms of sights, culture and relaxation. It’s also very reasonable to use Madrid as home base and then use the rail or bus system to get around.

      • Emily

        I think if you can swing the flights for cheap (fly mid week, awkward times, perhaps with a hotel+flight package) do Spain! We just got back and found it so affordable! (we live in NYC) You can do spain as cheap or as luxurious as you want and eat WELL.

        Nice bars and cafes in Barcelona had wine for under 2 euro a glass at times. The price for a bottle of wine was the same as the price of glass of wine in many NYC bars.

    • Anon

      Iceland is beautiful, even if you’re cold! I went in late March 8 years ago. . . gorgeous place and you can do outdoorsy stuff.

      I’ll also plug Portugal – a cheaper version of Spain, and the weather should be amazing.

    • Anon

      How about Portugal? Gorgeous architecture, nice food and wine (especially if you like port), lovely nature & hiking opportunities. It is also cheaper than other European countries (even than neighboring Spain). The weather should be warm (but not yet too hot) this time of year.

    • Anne

      Honestly, in 3 weeks Norway will probably be not as chilly as you think unless you’re coming from a very warm climate. Early May is generally a fairly nice season here.

      Plus, since our currency is tied to the oil price, at the moment it is also not as expensive as it would have been just a year ago…

    • Travelanon

      The one area I don’t yet see here but is excellent for budget travel and warmth is Southeast Asia. Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand may be expensive to reach, but they’re very, very cheap once you are there (including travel between the countries). Such a trip would be prohibitive in under ten days, because of jet lag, but with three weeks you’d really get to see a lot. The temples of Cambodia are among the wonders of the world, and Thailand has some of the best beaches. Not to mention the food is very fresh and generally based on lots of herbs and vegetables, so it feels healthy and refreshing.

      • Travelanon

        Whoops, I just saw that you’re only looking at nine days. It would be a bit tough for jet lag, but I think the area is still worth considering! Lots of biking etc available outside the lovely main cities.

    • Anonymous

      I think Europe is your best bet because the flights will be cheap enough that you can totally swing food, excursions, and hotels with the rest of your budget. If you start looking at Asia and Aus/NZ, the flights alone would be $2000pp.

      FWIW, I did a 4 site (3 cities + Cinque Terre) trip of Italy over 10 days for $2500pp while staying in St. Regis hotels in two of the 3 cities (we got great rates, but still, there would be considerable room to save even more money with Airbnb or midrange hotels). I know you said Italy is out, but I just bring that up to say that even if certain European destinations seem expensive, it really is quite doable, particularly with how weak the Euro is right now. There are so many cheap but still delicious dining options in Europe, and lots of free or cheap sites.

    • Houda

      Might be late for this but I’m from Morocco. You’ll be fine even with just English. You can go to seas (we have atlantic ocean and mediterranean sea), you can do sand surfing in the desert or windsurf (some of the best spots in the world), you can go for hikes etc.
      Plus you have to come just for the food alone. We are good at gastronomy, sweet and salty , spicy , delicate mixes. You will love it. And hey I can show you around.

  2. Sizing rant

    I don’t have the local shopping options and time to shop that I’d like (and many stores are primarily online with women’s suits). I own a tape measure and actually measure myself v. size charts when ordering (probably my most valuable post-partum purchase a few years ago).

    I am:
    4P in Banana jackets and dresses
    4 in other items (waist can be a bit big)
    no size in Talbots (4P fits, but skirt length is not work appropriate; I’m only 5-4)
    6 curvy in Gap bottoms (and 6 non-curvy annoys my curvy parts by midday (discovered the hard way))
    6 in LE Fit 2 pants (maybe not an A+ for style, but they fit and don’t fight me and are both washable and reasonably-priced –> WIN!)
    8 in nothing
    10 in DVF sheaths (but top half is enormous, so not helpful)

    • Snickety

      I really love the fact that Boden includes actual garment measurements (not just the generic chart) on their website. I can generally tell when a dress is not going to work on my size 4 top/ size 6-8 bottom.

      • Anon

        +1 to Boden! I need a dress to be > 40 inches in length to be work-appropriate, and Boden is the only place I can count on.

        • Boden

          But with Boden, what I want to know is how far the waist is from the shoulder seam (on dresses). they are never in the right place on me and I of the non-flat stomach always look pregnant in their dresses. Their blouses fit me fine (but they are all their relaxed fit cut).

        • tesyaa

          I know you’re not in the U.S., but some major U.S. catalog merchants (Lands’ End, Eddie Bauer, and L.L. Bean) will give out garment measurements on request. It’s sooooo helpful.

          • LilyS

            That’s useful to know – Land’s End do ship to the UK but as I have no idea about their sizing I’ve always been wary.

    • emeralds

      Lady I feel you so much. I’ve put on some weight and have had to buy some new pants, and I am all over the damned place. There’s a really nice consignment shop near my office, and on one lunch-break shopping trip I tried on (from a variety of brands, can’t remember them all now) 4s that were too small, 6s that were too small, 8s that were too small, 8s that were too big, 6s that were too big, and finally some 4s that fit. Yesterday I got two pairs of pants at Anthro from the exact same brand–a pair of 28s that fit a little on the loose side and some 29s that are tighter. Granted they’re different cuts of pants, but seriously??

      Size numbers are completely meaningless in terms of the actual size of women’s garments.

      • Baconpancakes

        It’s weird, though, once you get to the larger sizes, they tend to seem more stable. I only own one thing in a 16, a dress that I had taken in extensively (I loved the print), and a couple of blazers in a 10, which is consistent with my more pear-shaped hourglass. Everything else in my closet is size 12 top, size 14 bottom. Most of my clothes are LE, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Banana Republic.

        • tesyaa

          Maybe it just depends on the person, because I am always a size 4 top and size 6 bottom. Size 2 never ever fits (except maybe in Lands’ End tops), and size 8 is always too big.

          • Snickety

            For me, sizing variations are usually due to the cut, not the manufacturer. I can wear a size 4 skirt if it’s A-line or flared, but I need up to a size 8 for a pencil skirt and need to have it altered at the waist. I’ve pretty much given up on sheath dresses. I usually wear a size 6 regular pant (generally taken in at the waist), size 4 curvy fit sometimes works straight off the rack. I get a lot of things altered.

            I wish I could find curvy-fit pencil skirts!

          • tesyaa

            Clothes fit me the exact way you described until I had kids. Post kids, my waist got bigger and my back end sort of flattened out, and that’s why I’m a more consistent 6. It’s actually easier to shop now, and I need fewer alterations.

          • Snickety

            tesyaa – the opposite happened to me! Pre kids, I was a consistent 4. My waist went back to pre-baby size, more or less, but I ended up bigger around the hips.

        • HSAL

          I’ve noticed this as well. I’ve gained a little weight recently, but at size 12, I was 12 everywhere, and since I started buying 14, that’s also been consistent. I just have never seen a wide size variation between brands/stores.

          • Mpls

            +1 – I am a 12 in just about every store (I can’t think of one where I’m not, but I’m sure there probably is one). I size up on skirts, but that’s only so they sit at my hips instead of my natural waist (very short waisted)

            Even Lands End – I might size down to a 10 if I wanted something to fit tighter than their model, but 12 has never been the wrong size for me.

    • Parfait

      I have items ranging from Extra Small to XXL in my closet. OK, the Extra Small shirt was probably designed to be all loose and tunicy, and on me it’s a fitted t-shirt, but still. I wear it all the time. Numbered sizes ranging from 8 to 18.

      It is nuts. I love Boden. Also, I have been enjoying LikeTwice for this reason. They give garment measurements for everything, which is great.

    • Anonymous

      I vary this much in sizes too and would actually find it really helpful if Kat did an open thread where we could all list our sizes in various brands and at least a general description of body type. That way, if I know I wear size L, M, N, O and P in stores A, B, C, D and E and want to order a dress from brand F sight unseen, I can see if anyone else with my similar body type and ABCDE sizing has tried brand F and what size they wear. I know there can be variation within brands, but it’s at least a start.

      I’m afraid this also has the potential to be a trigger for those who are sensitive to body issues, so maybe it’s a terrible idea, but my thinking is that at least this way it would all be confined to one thread where someone who wants to avoid discussion of sizes can more easily avoid it, rather than popping up in the comments of regular discussions?

  3. Fiction recommendations?

    I have a rainy weekend ahead of me and am looking for something good to read… has any one read any good novels lately? I just finished The Signature of All Things and liked it (even though I didn’t expect Elizabeth Gilbert to be my cup of tea). Now what?

    • tesyaa

      Not a novel, but I am reading a book about George III of England and his wife Queen Charlotte – it’s fascinating and very readable! It’s titled “A Royal Experiment” and the author is Janice Hadlow.

      • Queen City anon

        My understanding is that Queen Charlotte was just as crazy as George III was. IIRC, she made the children live at home well into their adult years and they were very unhappy / failure to launch / messed up. Yes? No?

        FWIW, I went to an exhibit that claims that she was a multiethnic (or perhaps: a bit multiethnic for her time).

        • tesyaa

          Yes, she kept her daughters at home. That, combined with the Royal Marriages Act, in which the sovereign had to approve the children’s marriages, really messed up both the daughters and the sons. No wonder they had only one legitimate grandchild until 1817 (and probably dozens of illegitimate ones), and his sons had to hastily marry late in life to produce an heir to the throne…

          The sad thing is that, as a young couple, George and Charlotte had the best of intentions and tried hard to have a happy home life, but their controlling natures, plus the king’s illnesses, sent everything into a tragic tailspin.

      • LilyS

        Oooh, straight on my TBR list! Thanks!
        (It seems to be called The Strangest Family for the UK market)

        • tesyaa

          That explains something I didn’t understand in the author’s introduction, where she refers to the book’s title as “The Strangest Family”! They forgot to update the introduction for the U.S. version, I guess!

    • mascot

      It’s closer to non-fiction, but Erik Larson’s books are good. I’ve read Devil in the White City and want to read his new one, Dead Wake.
      Fiction suggestions: In the Kingdom of Men, The Lowland, The Boston Girl

    • AnonInfinity

      I read “The Invention of Wings” a few months ago and loved loved loved it.

      Also if you like historical fiction, maybe you would like “Blood and Beauty” about the Borgias.

      • Senior Attorney

        I just finished “The Invention of Wings” for my book club and loved it! Gobbled it down in two days!

      • LilyS

        Me too! I listen to the Knitmore Girls podcast and they kept mentioning it, and then the TV series has just appeared on UK Amazon Prime – so I downloaded the first book onto my Kindle and got through it last weekend. Bearing in mind it’s about 900 pages in print… that shows how good it was, that I read it in two days.

    • la vie en bleu

      these book rec threads are killing me because my wishlist is already so long and I have been totally failing at getting in reading time lately! I need 12 more hours per day just for reading the books.

      Also in historical fiction land, i will second the earlier this week recommendations for Geraldine Brooks, especially Year of Wonders.

  4. Toronto Shopping Help!

    Long time lurker, first time poster.

    I’m starting my summer firm job in a couple weeks and I need to add to my wardrobe fast. At present, all I have are my two OCI suits (Gray and Navy) and one blouse.

    I’m 5’7, a 12-14 top and 14-16 bottom, 36DD, with a size 12 shoe and I hate shopping. If anyone could recommend somewhere I can get multiple pieces in one trip, that would be great. And shoes! The only pair I have now is the size 12 Karmen from Payless and that doesn’t fit quite right but I can never find size 12’s in any other shoe stores.

    I’ve read a lot on this site and I know I should get enough for the first week until I see the office style. Suggestions??

    • A Nonny Moose

      Is there a Nstrom near you? I would set up a personal shopping appointment. Tell them your sizes, style and price range and let them do the work!

      • Toronto Shopping Help!

        No Nordstrom in Toronto until Fall 2016 :( If I’m desperate, I might flit over to Ottawa next week

        • AMB

          I don’t find the selection huge so I’d suggest calling ahead before you do that.

    • YouSaucyMinx

      Shoes should be a big priority–Payless shoes, especially ones that are ill-fitting, just aren’t going to cut it and will cheapen your whole look. With 2 suits, you have some mix and match options. Think a small capsule wardrobe, where every piece works with everything else, to maximize outfits without buying a lot. That will hold you over until you have a better idea of the corporate culture and dress.

      6pm is a great online source for shoes for hard to find sizes, from size 4 to size 13 women shoes.

      Zappos is of course another nice shoe option.

      But for regular clothes, I agree Nordstroms is amazing for building a functioning starter capsule wardrobe.

      • tesyaa

        I’ve seen the Karmen – it’s a favorite of many, and despite its Payless pedigree, it’s not cheap looking at all…

        • ace

          ITA with this. Generally i’d say upgrade on the payless shoes, but I have the Karmens and they look better then many of my $150-200 heels.

          But, if they don’t fit… probably need to get some new work shoes.

    • TO Lawyer

      We sadly don’t have a Nordstroms. I would suggest going to the Bay on Queen Street, for clothes anyways. (I have no idea about size 12 shoes, sorry!).

      Go to the fourth floor – there are a lot of professional options (and it’s Bay Days right now so there’s a lot of stuff on sale).

      Do you have a patient friend who can come with you and help pull items? I know the Bay does personal shopping but I’ve never used it so I can’t comment on that.

      Good luck!

    • (Former) Clueless Summer

      I second TO Lawyer’s Bay recommendation – there is a lot, although it can also be overwhelming because the organization is by line rather than style/item. Otherwise, I am a huge fan of Ann Taylor. They have not super expensive suits (not wool, but still) and lots of great work dresses and tops. Could be a one stop shop if you like that store. J. Crew is also a possibility. If you have a cheaper budget, Express or RW&Co can be made to work, just be very careful about hem line length and sizing.

      If you are truly business formal, you’ll want one more suit. If not, several blazers that work with everything (i.e. a summer tweed or a white blazer) and several dresses, preferably with sleeves so you can lose the blazer. Keep in mind the summer is when we Bay Streeters cut loose and pull out the casual clothes (gasp…peeptoes, sleeveless dresses) so it will likely be a little more casual than articling. However, as a summer, you should be on the formal end of the dress code spectrum for sure.

    • Anonymous

      I’d also recommend just going to Banana Republic- they always have sales. You’re a summer, people aren’t expecting you to show up in Theory.

      • Emily

        Yep, they also tend to use the same suiting fabric for a couple of years so you can pick up coordinating pieces as you find them.

        I had to be in a suit everyday my 1L summer so I ended up with 2 BR suits where I had the skirt, pants, dress (if available) and the blazer. With a couple of coordinating tops, you CAN get by with just those two. I thought I needed another and bought one from Macys (Anne Klein) and while the cut was perfect, the fabric was crap and I wore once or twice then dumped it.

    • AMB

      You should check out Talbots, they will have stuff in your size and if you are picky you can find stuff which is more age appropriate. I have a nice suit in a 14/16 that I picked up from there not too long ago and they also sell good shells.

      You should definitely go to Ann Taylor – I find their pants fit me well, and if you can, try the Holt Last Chance that I think is at York Mills, they might have shoes in your size, I believe there is also a Nine West out there.

    • Toronto Shopping Help!

      Thanks for the tips everyone. I’ll head out as soon as exams are over.

    • Wednesday

      Try Holt’s! I buy a lot of suiting there and they have personal shoppers too. You can also try on different suiting until you find a brand you like, and then go to their stand-alone store for more options.

  5. Term 80 Life Insurance

    Here’s a question. Husband and I are overhauling our insurance needs. We visited a long-time family friend who works for Northwestern Mutual. He advised us to buy NW’s “Term 80” life insurance plan for me. Effectively, it is a life insurance policy that can stay in place (theoretically) until you are 80; however, the policy has increasing premiums over the life of the policy. It would become insanely expensive in about 15 years. The agent advised that we can decrease the coverage amount as our assets grow over time to manage premiums – also, i expect we’ll be steered towards whole life at some point.

    The little research I’ve done suggests that Term 80 is generally a bad deal. However, my family history is really, really challenging – I lost both parents in their 50s (one to early onset dementia). The agent suggested that the Term 80 policy makes sense in my case b/c if I were to be diagnosed in my 50s with either parent’s illness (around the time that a 20 year term would run out for us – my parents were both diagnosed in their early 50s), I’d be uninsurable at the point when we’d need a policy in place the most. I am the primary breadwinner, and expected to earn most of my husband/my retirement. Thoughts? The family history thing is throwing me for a loop, when I otherwise would just go for a 20 year term policy.

    ETA: We currently have small children (under 2), if that changes the analysis at all.

    • YouSaucyMinx

      Term 80 is a bit ridiculous and extremely expensive.

      What kind of savings/income do you have? For many, life insurance covers you when you don’t have a huge nest egg–so that say, when you’re 40 and you pass, your kids and your spouse would have some form of income.

      Presumably when you’re in your 50’s, assuming you made a decent income and were a dutiful saver, you should be preparing for retirement anyway and would have enough assets/savings in case something were to happen.

      Moreover, with Healthcare Reform, companies now cannot refuse to cover you for a preexisting condition–so your healthcare insurance would still be available to you, so your expenses wouldn’t run up due to the worst case scenario of a similar diagnosis.

      This just sounds like poor advice–I am extremely suspicious of anyone who sells life insurance, even if they are a friend

    • tesyaa

      Don’t buy a product from NWM just because you know a NWM agent. Research which products from all carriers might meet your needs, and meet with either an independent agent or one affiliated with the company’s whose product best meets your needs. Can’t you buy universal life (more expensive than term, obviously) and pay the minimum premiums needed to keep the death benefit in force?

      Something to think about: do you have the risk factors for the illnesses that caused your parents’ premature deaths? Any other history of early dementia in your family?

      Anecdotally, both of my father’s parents died relatively young (one mid 50s, one mid 60s); he’s now 91, and his only sibling is 89 and they’re both healthy.

    • Former Partner, Now In-House

      Whenever anyone says insurance, I say USAA. If there is any way you might be eligible, call them. Also, source from at least three carriers before making a decision.

      Also, with your family history, what about disability and long term care insurance?

      • Term 80 Life Insurance

        Alas, not eligible for USAA.

        I am putting supplemental disability and LTC in place as well right now. Very good points.

        • In House Lobbyist

          Anyone can buy USAA life and investment products I believe. The auto and homeowners and bank services are limited to military service.

      • Anon

        +1,000,000,000. If there’s any chance you might end up needing caregivers, and with dementia, you may, you 100% need to figure out how you’ll pay for that – likely a combination of aggressive saving now and LTC insurance. Nursing homes can be $150,000/year in urban areas now, and even LTC will only pay for a couple years in most cases. The unfortunate reality is that long-term caregiver needs may lay waste to your retirement savings, even with the best planning, necessitating Medicaid.

        • Term 80 Life Insurance

          Yes, such good points. Without LTC insurance, my parents would have been bankrupt. We are buying the “longest term” policy of LTC, and it’s only 6 years ($12K/month with inflation protection). Indefinite coverage is no longer available bc it’s been such a bad investment for insurance companies.

          • tesyaa

            I may be wrong, but the total dollars are the benefit (even though they state the benefit in years). If you spend less than $12K per month, the term of the LTC policy may last longer.

        • Blonde Lawyer

          If it would all have to be spent down anyway to qualify for medicaid why aggressively save it? I’m normally a saver but that is one circumstance where it would seem to make sense to spend it now so that you qualify for medicaid when you need it. I can’t imagine anyone saving enough to self insure long term care. Unfortunately, most LTC policies are prohibitively expensive. I’m not sure what the solution is – maybe LTC should become part of health insurance but then the cost of those policies would skyrocket. It seems for most people medicaid really is the best option in that bad situation.

          PS: I’m not saying don’t save for retirement since you may end up not needing LTC. I’m saying I don’t see the point of trying to self insure LTC if you can’t get a policy.

          • Anonymous

            Because long-term care costs are more than just nursing home care costs. Part of where families struggle the most is in that interim gap between when an individual can’t live completely independently and when they require full nursing home level of care. For some people that is only a few months; for some that is a few years. Plus given the political climate, who knows what Medicaid will look like by the time the OP would actually need LTC.

          • tesyaa

            Don’t most LTC policies cover home health care needs? I know they didn’t when they originally hit the market in the early 1990s, but in more recent years HHC should be included.

    • Mo

      I am exposing my ignorance here, but can’t you get 20 year term life now and replace it with a new 20 year term life policy in 5-7 years? I’m guessing the premiums on the second policy would be higher – but perhaps not higher than the term 80 would be in 15 years?

    • MNF

      Get quotes from several other agents. If you’re also buying disability and LTC, perhaps discuss LI with that agent as well. With a company like NWM, I’d feel confident that your investment will be there (good company, etc.) but not that it’s the right investment for you. I generally recommend independent agents because they don’t care about selling you a certain product. Also, since you’re reevaluating anyway – time to rethink your estate plans.

    • Anonski

      These policies are such a waste of money. You would be better putting the money away for retirement.

      • tesyaa

        For people with no dependents counting on their earnings, life insurance is a waste of money, I agree.

    • ADE

      I love my Cuyana tote! The leather is so soft and its totally chic! It doesn’t have a zipper (although I think there is a new style that does) and only has one small pocket on the inside, but I bought a bag organizer off Etsy that fits perfectly and gives it exactly the little amount of structure it needs to be amazing! Highly recommend!

    • Alice

      Thank you! I’m incredibly tempted. Can I ask whether you have the long or short tote?

      • ADE

        I agonized over this decision as well, but upon a friend’s advice, I went with the short tote because it seemed like the proportions were better and I definitely think that I made the right choice! Now I want it in more colors!

    • Mountain Girl

      How about the oversized zippered tote? I bought the Madewell zip transport tote and it is okay but I am a little bit concerned about the strength of the handles after consistent wear. But, I did get it at a pretty good price and I love the caramel color so I’m thinking about using the bag and If it breaks in a year or two maybe replace it with one of these.

  8. Anonymous

    I just discovered that my dishwasher detergent pod was more or less stuck in its little cubby for the last cycle. The flap opened, it just didn’t come out. Can I just throw a pod in the bottom of the dishwasher and skip the cubby, or is there some reason it can’t be in there right away?

    • Zelda

      I think it’s fine, as long as you start the dishwasher right away. The detergent flap on my dishwasher seems to open almost immediately after I start it.

    • mascot

      I think there is an initial rinse cycle before the detergent release. I have the occasional tablet get stuck but i just rerun the load then.

    • Marilla

      Our dishwasher manual suggests putting the pod in the cutlery basket – maybe try that?

    • CHJ

      DH and I have a constant debate about this. The manual says use the cubby but I throw the pod on the floor of the basin and turn the machine on right away. DH disagrees, but his cycles inevitably end up with pods stuck in the cubby. I prefer my approach.

    • PinkKeyboard

      I used to cubby but it kept getting stuck and my husband does the throw on the floor. I’ve converted and it seems to work just fine.

  9. Lawyer Mom

    I am sorry to repeat – going to try this one more time! Last Friday a couple corporette’s volunteered to share TX bar materials. My reply was caught in moderation, but I would be super grateful! I am at:

    Mary AT mysistersbookshelf DOT com

    And thanks all for the advice!

    • Coach Laura

      To avoid moderation, do not use the word corpor@tt@ in your post as that word will always cause moderation. Even a word containing the letters @tt@ like the past tense of the word “regret” will be moderated.

  10. Hildegarde

    I could use some car-buying advice. Someone ran into my car last weekend and my car is totaled, so I need to buy a new car. I’m thinking of buying basically the same car I had from an individual (not dealer) owner off craigslist. Does anyone know if it’s normal in this situation to take the car to a mechanic and have them look it over before you buy it? Or is it more like if you’re buying a car off craigslist, you take what you see? Thanks for any help or advice!

    • tesyaa

      Yes, definitely take the car to a mechanic. We’ve done this when purchasing a used car and it is standard practice. If the seller won’t allow it, buy elsewhere for sure.

      • Zelda

        +1. I did this with my last car and was able to negotiate the price down for a (fixable but not urgent) brake issue. Your mechanic will probably offer a standard used car inspection at a set price.

    • Anonny

      I sold a car on Craigslist, so maybe this info is helpful. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, but you can verify your seller did their homework before selling. For me, prior to the test drive I took the car to the local dealership and got an end-to-end inspection. I didn’t repair anything they pointed out (nothing major), but rather used that to price my car appropriately and sell it “as is”. I brought the report on dealer letterhead with me to test drives.

      We did the test drive from a parking lot where there was a bank on a Saturday morning (lots of people). We conveniently both had BofA, so when all was said and done we just walked right into the branch and initiated the wire transfer on the spot. You could of course also accept a bank check if you don’t have this convenience, I think.

      I found a form Purchase & Sale document online for an as-is/where-is sale, and tweaked the language slightly, but basically signed just the one document in order to turn everything over to the new owner. You might want to do some homework around transferring title, especially if there is a lien still out on the car. I forget how we got around this (I think I owned outright at the time = paid the loan off a week or two before selling.. but I don’t quite remember).

      Separately, I brought someone with me so I wasn’t getting into a car with someone random. I also let the seller know I would have another person with me. I asked the seller if they would come alone or with someone (they came alone) just so I wouldn’t be spooked if an unexpected person showed up.

    • Bonnie

      Also get the carfax report to make sure that the car has not been totaled because of flood accident etc.

    • Annie

      Yup, take the car to a mechanic to have them look it over. It was ~$70 for me when I bought my car. You can probably make that part of the test drive.

      • Ella

        Seconding the mechanic. Totally normal and if the buyer balks, that is a bad sign

  11. anon4this

    Update: Had my conversation with the university president last night and it was a really positive, frank conversation from both sides. What happened is that they brought in 3 finalists (two men and me) and two of us were fairly equally liked and the 3rd was a dud. Then, just as they started to deliberate about the two of us left, the other viable candidate dropped out, leaving just me. The president felt that this was not a good way to end the search, just hiring me by default, although I may ultimately be the person they hire. She assured me that there is nothing she needs from me at this point – that I had a lot of support. This is fairly common in academia – the upper level administration want the opportunity to look at more than one candidate in their deliberations. The president wants to go back over the applications received and make sure that they didn’t leave anyone out who should have been considered. Basically, she’s doing her due diligence and I respect that. But she also doesn’t want to lose me in the process. I told her that I was not applying for other jobs – I applied for this job because it seemed like a good fit and others have not – and I’m willing to wait for them to finish their process. I also let her know that I was interested in the job and found the opportunity challenging, but that taking this job would be a huge decision for me both personally and professionally and not one I would undertake lightly and that it would have to be the right offer for me to make it worth picking up my whole life and moving halfway across the country. All in all, a good conversation on both sides and they’ll be back in touch with me in early May. Whew!

  12. Breton top

    Soliciting input as to favorite Breton tops! Ideally 3/4 length sleeves, natural fabric, slightly fitted but not too fitted…

      • Jessie

        +1 I just had to decommission my last boden breton shirt after 7 years of steady wear. I plan to purchase another.

      • LilyS

        I have 4 of the Boden Bretons. One long-sleeved, the rest short-sleeved. This summer’s colours are on point in my opinion.

          • LilyS

            They’re so good – and incredibly durable. I wear mine constantly, so the two I bought last year have probably been washed upwards of 30-40 times each and still look and feel as good as new.

      • LilyS

        If they’re the ones I’m thinking of, they have them both predominantly navy and predominantly white, in two sleeve lengths.

    • nutella

      i recently did a closet cleanup and discovered that i really, really, reaaaaaaaally like striped long sleeve cotton shirts. but my favorite is a jcrew one i have in three colors (painter boatneck tee in stripe) — you should size up.

    • Breton top

      Thanks all! The H&M one is sold out in my size online, so I will check my local stores and may put in my first order to Boden.

      • LilyS

        Boden: after your first order they’ll probably send you a further discount voucher and codes. Put yourself on the email list; never order with less than 20% off (unless it’s urgent) as there are almost always offers.

  13. Brant

    random question- how do you find someone / a company to come over and do some spring cleanup yard work? We are moving and I just cannot find time to do it myself this year. I checked angie’s list and craig’s list…don’t see what i’m looking for. I don’t need full on lawn service, just a one-time clean-up after a brutal winter.

    Our immediate neighbors are DIY, so I couldn’t get a rec there….is there some kind of secret referral network I need to know about?

    • Sparrow

      I would think that a landscape company would be able to provide an estimate for that type of work. We got new landscaping around our deck last year, but they also did some edging and cleaned up the existung mulch beds in the front.

    • Clementine

      Honestly: Facebook. I found our (AMAZING, WONDERFUL, CAPS NEEDED BECAUSE SHE IS THAT AWESOME) cleaning lady when I asked for recommendations and a former grad school classmate suggested her.

      Note: this obviously doesn’t work if you’re brand new to your area and don’t know anyone

      Alternately, just start calling random landscaping companies and asking about a Spring Clean-up.

    • Anonymous

      Yeah, just call any landscape service. I had a really low maintenance yard that needed clean up twice a year and that’s what I did. Some companies won’t come for a one-off. The ones I found usually charged more than I think they would have had I been a more regular customer. Try the Yellow Pages.

    • Coach Laura

      Ask your real estate agent (or any agent). That’s who I ask when I have a rental property that needs to be spruced up before being re-leased or sold. A good agent will have a network of service people.

  14. Ellen

    Yay! Fruegel Friday’s! I love fruegel Friday’s and this fruegel Angelina skirt! This is a realy GREAT pick, Kat! If I had 1 wish, it would be that I buy this skirt and then get mistaken for Angelina Jolie! YAY! Then I could be MARRIED to Brad Pit and everything would be great.

    But that is just a wish for a dream that can never come true b/c Brad would NEVER leave Angelina for me. So I will have to find another man to date and father our children. The schlubs in NYC realy do NOT measure up to him. I am very tired of haveing to meet and be nice to bald guy’s with bad breathe just b/c they work on Wall Street and make enough money to support me. Why can’t a guy like Brad Pit walk into my life in WC court next week?

    This weekend, the firm is all goieng out to a restrunt that the manageing partner’s brother just took an equity interest in. The manageing partner had me look over the paper’s. He owns a percentage of the busness with an option to acquire MORE. He paid $300,000 for a 22.5% interest and there was this stuff about dilution that I did NOT understand but just left it b/c I did NOT want to appear dumm about those thing’s. The manageing partner said the restrunt will be a real money maker, and we will get to eat there FREE on Saturday, b/c I did the legal work for him. I still see him in the apartement, but he has had a woman liveing there with him b/c I hear them in the bedroom when I am trying to sleep at night. FOOEY! Even that guy has more sex then me, but I am glad he found someone else to have sex then me! YAY!!!!

  15. Option A or B

    Let’s say you’re a sole practitioner with a new-ish, expanding practice and you need to lease new office space. Option A is an office in a genial law office suite where you pay X amount and the likelihood based on past history is that your rent would not be raised for the foreseeable future. The office space is on the small and dated side but there is a nice conference room you can use to meet clients, a well equipped kitchen and everyone is very friendly.
    Option B is a nicer, bigger office in a different law office suite that’s also below market rent. The initial rent would be $50 cheaper than option A but would annually increase to become market rate. This law office suite would probably be better for you for getting business referrals from the other lawyers there but no one is particularly friendly.
    Do you opt for cheaper rent/no likelihood of referrals or more expensive rent long term but increased prospects of business coming in from others in suite?
    Location is the same.

    • Anon2

      Complete outsider here (not in law, never would be in this situation) but I’d pick B. Think of it as a long term investment – your business will grow from generating more business, not from saving in rent.

    • Anna

      I like option A. $50/month more means one less decent lunch out a month. If the people are not friendly under option B, you will not get referrals anyway.

      One thing I’ve learned about Real Estate is that it is “location, location, location” and since there is a kitchen in Option A, you will not have to go out for lunch that often. You also might meet another lawyer and share your practice with him/her.

  16. Bonnie

    I’m intrigued by this skirt but wish they’d show a picture of the built-in slip. I didn’t realize Spiegel was still around.

  17. CA State of Mind

    Grr, I really like the skirt, but I recently bought a gray suit. That wouldn’t necessarily stop me because they’re very different styles, but the website specifically mentions a matching jacket as a suit separate, but then doesn’t seem to actually have it!

  18. HalfPass

    I did not realize Speigel was still around either. Cute skitt , but one of my pet peeves is vendors that do not list length (of skirts or dresses). The worst offender is including things like “knee length”. What does that even mean?? Knee length on me at 6′ or someone who is 5′. Big difference.

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