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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 200 Comments · by

Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Bailey Tweed Jacket

The Personal Shopper (TPS)

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Bailey Tweed JacketI was bummed when I realized April 1 fell on a Sunday this year — after all, I'd already found a great jacket. But then I found this beautiful blazer, styled as pictured, and I thought, well, isn't that fun. Of course you'd want to wear it layered with a sweater and bikini boy shorts. Like, duh. In all seriousness — the jacket is lovely, and what looks to be one of the season's hot colors: pale, minty greenish. Shopbop is almost sold out of it, but it's also available at Rag & Bone. It's $535. Bailey Tweed Jacket Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-4)

Sales of note for 9.10.24

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Comments

    • January

      Haha! Please forward a copy of the “Are You Wearing Pants” flowchart to the model.

      Seriously, though, I am wearing this exact outfit right now. No one’s said anything.

      • Ellen

        OMG! How could I come in to work with the MANAGEING partner???? He is so busy STAREING at me already? Now I have to come in w/o pants?

        FOOEY! And it’s is to expensive just for the jacket! $535? No way!!!!!

        • Bella

          That’s one of the perks of not wearing pants; more room in your budget for the jacket.
          This also shows the intentionality of the outfit. It’s a great statement to come in looking like you can certainly afford to be fully dressed, but choosing to go without pants.

          This says “I am so busy, I don’t get up from my desk.” “I’m so important, EVERYONE comes to me for meetings.” “I add so much value, no one dares to comment on lack of pants”. The purse is a reference to being chained to ones job, with golden chains = $$$$$$$.

          That’s why everyone gets quiet when you step into the elevator. They are deeply impressed and humbled.

      • Monday

        As long as it looks intentional, I think wearing boy short panties to work with a blazer is OK in most offices.

  2. Tough Mudder

    @Herbie – How’d it go? I’m thinking about signing up for next year.

    • AnonInfinity

      Herbie aka Bada$$ McGee is my new hero!

      If you’re reading this, Herbie, did you have the obstacle “electroshock therapy”? If so, what was that like?

    • Bada$$ McGee

      Hi guys!

      It was a blast!! So much fun. It really isn’t as bad as they make it out to be. I think the key is to pre-hydrate, stay hydrated, and to pace yourself. I would definitely do it again (and am thinking about doing the one in Austin in October).

      Electroshock Therapy was the very last obstacle. I skipped it – I occasionally get an irregular heartbeat when I’m dehydrated, so mixing that w/ 10K volt of electricity didn’t seem particularly wise. Most people did it, though, and were fine. I’ve read multiple reports of people blacking out or passing out, though. *shrug* Our alternate team name was “Team F*** It,” so my buddy and I didn’t have a problem going around it to head straight for the beer.

      If anybody is going to do it and has questions, ask me! I’m happy to share.

      Also, I’d like to put in a plug for Darn Tough merino wool socks. I wore them with my regular running shoes, and they were absolutely awesome! No blisters, raw spots, etc. Didn’t need Body Glide, vasoline, or anything else.

    • Bada$$ McGee

      Also, definitely sign up for it! Even though they like to go on about “obstacles designed by British Special Forces,” yada yada, and all the pictures on the website are of totally ripped up people, you don’t have to be some sort of elite athlete to do this. I was really surprised by the range of fitness levels of the participants. I had assumed I would be on the lower end (I basically just use the elliptical; don’t run–at all– and don’t lift weights, even though I really should). I was probably somewhere in the middle. There were plenty of military people there, and I did see a bunch of people who must have like 5% body fat; on the other hand, there were plenty of people carrying around an extra jelly roll or three, and they seemed to be doing just fine. I think it’s more about mental grit than anything else.

  3. Eloise Spaghetti

    EEEK! I like the jacket but this photo reminds me of a bad dream: Court with no pants!

  4. Rural Juror

    My Monday started out with an outrageous client email worded in Ellen-speak. I’m having a hard time taking it seriously.

    Wedding question- are either or both of the following patterns appropriate for a wedding (guest) dress: black & white stripe; leopard. It is a casual wedding, both dresses are silk, j crew, not too revealing.

    • Oil in Houston

      no leopard please…. black and white : why not, as long as the white isn’t dominant!

    • notawhat

      I don’t see a problem with either, so long as the white isn’t dominant on the black and white print. There seems to a proliferation of rules for wedding attire for women guests, and worse, there doesn’t seem to be wide spread agreement about them. I’ve heard the following 1. no white, 2. no black, 3. no red 4. no animal prints. What guest-attire rules have you heard?

      • Bluejay

        I’ve heard nothing that can be mistaken for the bridesmaids’ dresses, no all-white dresses that could be similar to the bride’s, etc. But really I think the point of all the rules is not to dress in an attention-getting style. Attention should be on the bride, not you.

    • Bluejay

      What time of year and day is the wedding, and where is it? I’d probably shy away from leopard for most weddings, but it might be appropriate for some weddings (like a Vegas semi-elopement or something similar).

        • Bluejay

          I think leopard is probably fine if the wedding is indoors and in the evening, and is not formal. I assume you won’t style it with drab ankle boots like the model :).

      • eastbaybanker

        Bluejay perfectly summarizes wedding attire, in my opinion. This is a cute dress! I wouldn’t wear it to a spring wedding, though. I think the tan/nude and black is a little too fall, and also, the leopard print is attention-grabbing.

  5. Diana Barry

    Wow, this color would look horrific on me, but looks nice on the blond shopbop model (who is also wearing tiny jean cutoffs). Note, the color looks a LOT different on the other pictures than it does in the bikini bottom one above. :)

    My firm just switched to windows 7 and now flash isn’t working on firefox, so I am having to have 2 browsers open, IE for music and firefox for everything else. Silly!

    • NOLA

      Yeah I had to do that. The security settings on IE were messing up a lot of sites and I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out how to fix it. So I use IE for radio and for opening links from Outlook and Firefox for everything else. Oh well.

  6. MissJackson

    Love everything about this blazer. If it were available in my size, I’d be incredibly tempted despite the price tag. I have an obsession with tweed and blazers, and it’s possible that I need an intervention.

    As an added April fools bonus, the Rag & Bone website shows it with matching “formal shorts.” (Because who doesn’t need “tweed tennis shorts”??? I have to admit that they are cute… but they don’t fit my life or body type.)

  7. Getting back to the gym

    Exercise TJ – I just got back into a gym routine and need to update my current workout gear. I feel like I should get new sneakers but don’t know what kind to buy. I’m either on the elliptical or treadmill when not doing weights/strenght training. My feet have an extremely high arch and I love New Balance, any particular kind to look for? What about clothes? My go-to when packing my gym bag is just an old t-shirt and a pair of sweats. Since I want to make this a permanent part of my routine I’d like some nicer duds, any brand recs?

    Also, do I need special shoes for yoga? I want to start going to a weekly class but don’t like being barefoot in public places, especially gyms. I’ve been doing yoga DVDs at home and have no problem being barefoot on my own mat in my own home but wouldn’t do that at a yoga studio. Thanks in advance.

    • Ellie

      If you’re going to be spending time on the treadmill, get yourself to a nice running store and have them fit you for a good pair of shoes. Worth the time, and the money. If you post which city you’re in, I’m sure runners on here will be able to point you towards a good place.

      • Bada$$ McGee

        Second the rec to get fitted for a pair of shoes at a running store. Take your old sneakers with you. They’ll look at them to see where the most wear is, whether they’re angled because you pronate, etc. Your old shoes can tell them a lot about what kind of new shoes you need.

        As for clothes, I’m a big fan of Nike Dri-Fit. They have looser and more fitted options. It’s comfortable and will keep you dry. Plus, they have some really cute stuff!!

        • Whit

          I love Nike but I do find the sizing very inconsistent- I have items in medium – large and extra large which fit similarly. Best to try on before buying. I also like underarmor and champion — champion often has great sales on their website.

      • CA Atty

        Thirded or fourthed or something for getting fitted at a running store. It’s not any more expensive than buying any other pair of shoes, as long as you’re not (or not planning to) run in your $20 discount trainers from payless. I went to fleet feet which is endemic at least throughout Northern California and have been SO happy with their shoe recommendations.

    • sweetknee

      I have beguna regular gym program, and do feel a lot better when I have the approrpiate attire. I think shoes are a very individual thing, so I won’t really comment on those. However, I am very cheap, and have bought a few pairs of lycra/cotton owrkout pants and capris at Walmart. They are made by Danksin, and they have held up to washings really well. ( I sweat a LOT).

      Regarding yoga, most places will not allow shoes. I have seen some “yoga socks” though that have those little grippy things on the bottom and would serve the purpose of keeping your bare feet off the floor and give you a little traction !

      Good luck !

      • big dipper

        I second the Walmart workout pants/capris. They are amazing. The Danskin ones last forever and are super comfortable.

    • AnonInfinity

      Congrats on getting back to the gym!!

      For shoes — I would recommend going to a local running store and getting fitted. The stores here are not more expensive than the big box store like Academy Sports. The folks at the store will be able to analyze your foot and gait (since you are running/walking on the treadmill). If you are walking rather than running, no worries — they help folks who walk, too.

      Clothes — This depends on what you want to spend. I have lots of clothes from Target (Champion brand) that work really well and that are really cute. They’re not very expensive. Others love Lululemon, which is pricier. Many areas will also have brand-specific stores, like a Nike store, etc. I think everyone develops a preference for brand, and it just comes with trying different things. I love Nike bras and jackets, for example, but I don’t love their shorts.

      Yoga shoes — I’ve never worn shoes during yoga, and I’ve never seen anyone try to do this. You can take your own mat to the gym or yoga studio. If you do need to wear shoes, maybe those kind with the toes, like Vibram Five-Fingers, would work?

    • SF Bay Associate

      Go to a running store for recommendations on the shoes. They will hopefully have a lot more expertise than a generic sports store, and carry more brands. Your sweats and old tshirt are cotton, heavy, and allow for less freedom of movement, so it’s time for an upgrade. My favorite gym clothes are Under Armor. Don’t forget to get proper workout underwear. My favorite are Patagonia from REI.

      You aren’t supposed to wear shoes during yoga. I can’t think of any time I’ve seen a person do yoga in shoes, which are not allowed in studios to my knowledge. However, if you don’t want your feet bare at all, get some yoga socks like YogiToes – all the toes are separate and there are gripper dots on the sole to help keep you from slipping. I always slip when I do yoga, so YogiToes are essential for me.

    • Emily I

      I’m not sure any shoes would work for yoga, but if you bring your own mat (which I would definitely do), you’re the only person who will be standing on it and you can clean it often. Maybe just wear a pair of flip flops to kick off when you get your mat set up?

      Alternatively, my sister got a pair of yoga socks from Gaiam that she wears in lieu of a mat sometimes. I’m not sure how they would work in combination with a mat, though. They have little rubber grippers on the bottom, and those and the mat might be too much stickiness.

    • MissJackson

      If you’re running on the treadmill, I suggest going to a specialty running store to have them analyze your gait and fit you with appropriate shoes. Brand is less important than stability vs. neutral, etc. You can buy inserts for your high arches that will work in any brand (Superfeet or similar).

      I’ve never seen anyone wear shoes for yoga. You’ll bring your own mat, which you can clean as you see fit, and that’s primarily where your feet will be. You can wear flipflops into the studio and then set them aside so that you don’t have to walk anywhere else in the gym barefoot. But seriously, I don’t think you can wear shoes for yoga under any circumstances.

      As for gear, buy whatever makes you feel comfortable. Lots of people swear by lululemon. I really like Under Armour and Moving Comfort, but I have lots of different brands (many of which are much more economical, such as Reebok).

    • NOLA

      I do elliptical and treadmill and strength training. I always liked New Balance but switched to Ryka, on a recommendation from my stepmother, and I love them. I get them at DSW.

      For clothes, I wear Danskin cotton spandex bike shorts on the bottom (all but the gray, which shred after a lot of wear) and Champion sports bras and tanks on the top from Target.

      I don’t do yoga, so I can’t speak to that.

    • Nancy P

      I have to put in a plug for Athleta. I’m completely obsessed with their clothes. They’re definitely pricier than Target, but the quality is there, especially for tanks with built-in bras — they really lock and load you in. Also they often have stuff on sale, so I’ve gotten items for more reasonable prices (e.g. tanks for $30, pants for $40). Oh and their catalog inspires me to workout — all the models look so awesomely toned and strong and fit.

      • Mplsassociate

        Second on Athleta! Great tanks with built-in bras, which is hard to get right from the cheaper places in my experience. Target is good for running bras, tops and shorts, but definitely go to a running store and get fitted for shoes.

        I’m also a fan of Sierra Trading Post (a web-based discounter, http://www.sierratradingpost.com) for good deals on workout clothes. They also have shoes – once you know what you need and are replacing it!

    • Equity's Darling

      For yoga, I just leave my socks on until I get inside the yoga studio, and take them off when I’m on my (personal) mat, and I’m content with that. You really shouldn’t wear shoes into the studio, I can’t imagine places being cool with that…..but socks are 100% acceptable, I see others doing it. :)

      For clothes…lululemon is the s**t. Seriously. I adore the lulu.

    • OP here

      Thanks for all the recommendations! I’ve already found a running store near me and will be going over there for a fitting one day this week. I really appreciate the recs for the special yoga socks. Ever since living in the college dorms I’ve been totally skeeved about being barefoot anywhere I don’t personally clean surface. Socks and/or flip-flops will definitely be employed when I find a yoga studio I like. And for the record, I do know that shoes and yoga are a no-go =p

      • Bonnie

        There is such a thing as yoga socks that have a non-skid sole. I use yoga gloves made of the same fabric to help with my grip.

    • Bluejay

      No shoes in yoga studios. You will be told to take them off and it’s considered disrespectful to wear shoes inside the studio. You can wear socks, as others mentioned, so your bare feet don’t touch anything but your own mat. You’ll have to take the socks off when you begin your asana practice, so if you don’t want to be barefoot on a gym mat, bring your mat from home.

      For yoga or anything else, I really like UnderArmour’s heat gear tights and shorts. Target makes a good knockoff of UnderArmour with their C9 line, too. I know people like Lululemon and Lucy, but I can’t see paying $100 for pants that I wear while doing an activity that’s designed to help me overcome my ego. But that’s just me.

    • Shoes

      This year I bought Mizuno shoes for running and the difference from Nike/Adidas/New Balance is huge. They are a bit pricey, but I got mine on sale and they feel light yet supportive.

  8. Woods-comma-Elle

    Hurrah, the US is awake – I am in a closing meeting which started at 9am this morning, just waiting for other people to do things, and I needed some Corporette to keep me going.

    • Blue

      Elle, you aren’t the only one – I’ve been hitting the link since about midday, desperately waiting for some new corporettage.

    • Terry

      Heh! When I’m coming home super-late I think ‘Hurrah, the UK is awake’ because then I can listen to the BBC am programs on the radio.

  9. Whit

    Monday morning thread jack: I have a high school reunion coming up next month- the event is a casual supper. I’m envisioning some type of tunic and white pants but the split neck tunic neckline looks truly horrific on me (neck looks fat and shoulders look weirdly narrow). I’ve been searching for something with a boatneck but no luck so far– has anyone ri acros something similar? I’m open to other outfit suggestions but hoping for something that conceals my stomach and upper arms. I like the Tory Burch ones I have seen but don’t have the budget for that — and hers have the split neck issue.

    I could always wear today’s jacket as styled but reunion is in the south so too hot for tweed!

  10. 409

    What is it about this jacket that makes them style it without pants? All of the links show it with shorts or the bikini bottom. And the thing that surprises me the most about the “great jacket” is that it’s available only in small and x-small. Did people really buy the larger sizes?

  11. Short Timer

    How much responsibility should a person who is leaving have to train (temporary) successors? I am leaving my job within the next week or two and it just seems like management expects me to do detailed training. I have to finish up my open cases before I leave, so it’s not like I have a whole lot of time to devote to spending days on this. What do you all think is reasonable?

    • Diana Barry

      I think that finishing your open cases should take priority – who is going to do them if you leave without being done??? Have you asked the mgmt people about it?

    • Flamingo

      One thing to remember is that, even if you do “detailed training”, if you only have 2 weeks, the whole thing will seem like you’re speaking a new language. So, use your time wisely.

      One thing that helped me when I was in your shoes was to a) decide how many hours I was going to spend over the next 2 weeks on training and stick to that. Then, build a spreadsheet which for each project contained: Project title, main objective, top 3 contacts, last “step” achieved, next 3 to-dos, deadline, and a link to that project’s folder on our web server. The new hire and I reviewed this sheet together. I have been told by multiple people that this roadmap was more useful to the new hires than anything else. I’m not law, but maybe you could adapt this to each case?

  12. Legally Brunette

    Happy Monday ladies! Today is my birthday, and I’d love some ideas from the hive – what is something that you have done (either in your personal life or professionally) that has made your life happier and more fulfilling? I’d like to incorporate some of your ideas in the year ahead.

    And thanks to Kat and everyone for creating such a great community here! The advice I have received here has been invaluable.

    • Skippy pea

      Happy birthday! Hope you do something special.

      I will be looking for answers to your Other question too.

    • Two cents

      Happy birthday LB! Good question. Here are some things that make me happy/fulfilled:

      1) Have a small group of friends who you see regularly (I’m an extrovert and used to think that I needed 20 friends, but last year I lived in a city where I had 4 close friends who I saw every week and really loved it).

      2) Develop a mentoring relationship with a small child. I tutored a little girl every week last year and really enjoyed it.

    • SF Bay Associate

      Strength training. I never played sports in childhood, never went to the gym until the end of law school when I finally got on an elliptical. When I got tendonitis thanks to doc review, my physical therapist said I needed to do strength training once the inflammation went down to help prevent further injury. I got a personal trainer and now lift weights four days a week. It’s awesome. I feel better both physically and mentally, especially when I can lift 5 more pounds than last month.

      • NOLA

        Second this! I feel so much stronger, I stand up straighter, and it has helped my aching joints.

    • Associette

      Legally Brunette, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I try to “live my life.” I never say no to an invitation, and try to plan ahead by scheduling fun things. Going to new places, restaurants, and even traveling. For example, last year included a road trip to Philly and Washington, D.C. My H and I had a blast and spent barely anything. The goal is to avoid doing the same things over and over while your life just passes you by. Embrace being young and healthy, before it is gone.

      • Legally Brunette

        I love this – never say no to an invitation. Definitely something to keep in mind. Thanks!

    • May

      Happy birthday!
      Less is truly more; life’s just too precious to waste on the little things. Prioritise what you really value and just focus on those, and don’t sweat the small stuff.

      • Monday

        Same goes for people. To the extent you can, disengage from people who waste your time or discourage you in any way. Turn that time over to the people who have earned your love and trust.

        • Ada Doom Starkadder

          Heartily seconded. I have pruned the branches of my social network aggressively– no whiners, no braggarts, no users, and no backstabby people left. Only those who are true friends get any time whatsoever.

    • 40

      When I hit 40, I started doing something so fundamental that it is embarassing to admit it took me so long: I collect the mail every day after work, bring it inside, immediately toss any junk, put the rest in a basket on the counter, and pay bills from the basket every weekend. No more finding little stacks of mail on the guest bathroom floor or the coffee table or behind the toaster. No more electricity getting turned off because even though I have plenty of money to pay the bill, said bill is on the floor in my downstairs bathroom and I forgot it was there. You get the story.

      • Skippy pea

        Ha. I need to follow your example. So on the same page with the bills sitting on downstairs bathroom floor.

        • 40

          I interviewed a bunch of people I know about the mechanics of how they pay their bills (it ranged from paying each one the day it arrives, to doing it every other week, to preparing each envelope but not mailing it until a few days before it is due and writing the date to mail on the envelope, etc.) I decided that so long as I put all the bills in one place and go through them before I go to sleep Sunday night, that was enough structure to keep the lights on, but not so much structure that it would overwhelm me and go undone. It’s been working for 6 years now, so I must have found the right balance for me. The day I came home near midnight in the middle of a three-month trial to find my electricity had been turned off was the last straw…

          • Skippy pea

            Thanks. In spirit of full disclosure, it is Dh who does the bill pay. I am more stressed out by the Other mail. The coupons, the frequent flyer cards, that letter from bank informing of your rate increase next year etc……things that do not need to be paid but need to be kept around at least for a while.

    • nona

      Painted my apartment (with LL permission, of course). The painting was instigated by the need to keep my mind off a break up, but it’s nice to come home to a bit of color, rather than just off white cheap paint. It feels like a real grown-up home and it makes me happy to be there. And I’m going on my third year in this place, so that also makes it the longest I’ve lived in anyone place since leaving home to go to undergrad. :)

    • JessC

      One thing I’ve had to learn (and am still learning) is that you have to protect your personal life/time from work. Many corporettes here have high-stress and high-demand jobs that require alot of time and attention and can really consume your life. I’m not saying you should ignore your work, but you need to remember to unplug every now and then. Even if it’s just for an evening or a Saturday/Sunday, put work aside and have a little “me” time.

    • Jenny

      One thing I have been doing that is making me feel happier and more fulfilled is doing volunteer work that directly addresses some political issues that have been enraging me lately (women’s health stuff). Instead of being filled with impotent fury every time I read a related news story, I can think of the work that I’m doing and all the awesome volunteers I work with and know that things aren’t hopeless.

    • Bluejay

      Hired a cleaning lady. I cannot even express in words how much it fills me with joy and peace to think that I never have to vacuum again.

      • phillygirlruns

        +1 on hiring a cleaning lady. i struggled to an irrational extent with this decision – i felt like i was being lazy and/or failing at life by paying someone to do my chores – but the difference it’s made in my general well-being is remarkable.

        • Bluejay

          Me too, but I got over it after the very first time she came. She got the cat hair out of my rug, and I fell in love.

      • JessC

        Didn’t hire a cleaning lady (tiny apartment which isn’t terribly difficult for me to clean and I’m not a neat-freak), but I did start using a laundry service. Worth every penny. I love having a closet full of clean laundy, but seeing as I don’t have a washer and dryer in my unit (building has a small laundry room), it’s a total pain the butt. I drop off my laundy and pick it up washed and folded the next day. It’s wonderful.
        Though I will make darn certain that my next place has its own a washer and dryer…

    • anon

      Eating healthy lunches and embracing my own personal style help me feel good even when work is super blah.

      Mixing up the commute by riding my bike to work has been a great springtime change too.

      The last thing I will mention is being intentional about nurturing friendships, old and new. It takes time and patience and faith, but you’ll really add so much to your life in the process.

    • TCFKAG

      I started mentoring a teenage girl. Its tons of fun, gets me outside of my comfort zone (and into forever 21), and it’s for a “good cause” as well.

      Well worth one afternoon every couple of weeks.

    • Ada Doom Starkadder

      Happy Birthday, Legally Brunette!

      I often go to the library on weekends and pick an aisle at random and pick a book at random. It’s the Forrest Gump attitude to chocolates/life, but it’s much more nourishing to my brain. I’ve found some great books that way, as well as some hilarious clunkers. The clunkers make for great c*cktail party banter.

    • Hel-lo

      I reduced my drinking.

      I used to go to out with co-workers like 3 nights a week after work. I lived close to downtown so I could leave my car there and cab it in the next morning.

      But I recently decided to have one drink and stop. I’ve lost weight, my skin is better, I have more money, and I feel 100% better.

  13. Dragon v. Typing

    In follow up to yesterday’s post, does anyone really feel that dictation is better than typing for serious brief writing? I know everyone used to dictate like 20 years ago or something, and now everyone I know types (except for a few much older attorneys). Now Dragon seems to be catching on in some firms. Setting aside the technical issues, is dictating = to typing? As I write, I am constantly revising, cutting, pasting, researching, revising, and revising. I get into a zone and then I end up with a product a few hours later. Can the same be said of dictating? Is the same part of the brain being used, a better part, or a worse part?

    • Equity's Darling

      My firm really encourages us to learn how to dictate (I’m an articling student), because I believe the consensus is that it’s much faster for a first draft, and so it’s a great way to increase your realization ratio. I do it as frequently as I can, but I do find it to be harder, personally, to see where I’m going and where I’ve been, because I can’t actually SEE it. I find myself rewinding my little digital dictaphone to hear what I’ve said a billion times, and then forgetting my sentences halfway throught, etc. I don’t think that the things I dictate are as well thought out as the things I type, but perhaps that changes with experience?

      I’m generally a more visual person though, I learn better through reading and writing than through being told something, or just listening…maybe that has something to do with it? Also, we have people do our typing, so we don’t have dragon (though I know others that use it), but instead we have our digital dictaphones, and we submit the files via email to the document processing department (they are awesome).

      I’m curious what others have to say on this.

    • Diana Barry

      Weird. I am much faster typing than doing dragon or dictation. I read really fast and move text around, etc. etc.

      I found it took way more time when I had to use dragon (I had carpal tunnel a while back) bc the stupid software would NEVER recognize any of the legal words, and would often misrecognize words, so I had to go back and TYPE them bc I was sick of repeating the word. Urgh. It took forever and was really frustrating to boot.

    • MelD

      I was just talking about this with a friend today and we both agreed that neither of us were sure we could do well in environments with Dragon. I am a very visual person and really can’t organize my thoughts at all without seeing them. I think you have to be able to think in a fairly logical fashion, while I tend to write things down and reorganize later. In my current job, we also do briefs with a lot of information lifted from prior briefs, so the actual amount of changed content is minimal.

      • Dragon v. Typing

        These comments are very interesting to me because I, too, have learned over time that I am an extremely visual person. I think this is part of the reason why I didn’t do very well comparativley speaking in law school. It took me awhile to figure out how visual I actually am. People talking at me went right past me. I couldn’t learn from the BarBri course, and had to take Bar Passers because it is geared toward visual learning. But I hadn’t connected this up with the Dragon/dictation issue. So, I guess this places people like us at a distinct disadvantage in Dragon/dictation environments.

    • FlaLaw

      My firm is about half and half. I am with the visual people who need to see my thoughts to organize them. However, I can see why people advocate Dragon, because it lets you get all your thoughts at once. I just feel like if I did that, I would have to spend SO much time going back through to try to figure out what I meant and the best way to organize everything. I hate to be resistant to change, but I’d really like to stick to typing.

    • TackyMum

      When I first started to practise, back in the olden days, we all dictated. Of course, we all had our own secretaries. I found that dictating required me to be better organized and thoughtful. You quickly ramp up to producing some very good first drafts.

      I do like typing, because I can get my first draft together and edit to my heart’s content on something where I’m not certain just how it is going to lay out, but, if I had a choice, I would go back to dictating, because I think my time was more efficiently used.

  14. First Time Poster

    Not sure if this has been discussed before, but my law school loans were switched from access group to ACS for servicing last week. Does anyone have advice on how to deal with this company? So far I’m finding their customer service to be pretty inadequate. In an effort to pay off my loans, I’ve been making an additional payment at the beginning of each month to be applied to principal only (due date not to be advanced). I just called ACS this morning and they told me they can’t apply payments of principal only (and any additional payments will advance my due date). Has anyone else had this experience? Are there any ways to work around it? Thanks in advance!

    • Skippy pea

      Well crap! Mine were just turned over too. I was about to call them shortly.
      I don’t understand why the due date has to advance if we make advance payments? I usually round off the payment to the next 10.

    • Me too

      My loans were also converted. You can call them and have them permanently set your account to “do not advance” so you don’t have to call every time you pay an additional amount. I paid the balance of one of my loans last week without any trouble.

    • Batgirl

      I have ACS and have definitely made payments directly to the principal, but I think they were larger chunk payments (as opposed to monthly payments). Call and be persistent!

    • MissJackson

      My accounts were all converted a month or so ago as well.

      I had ACS for a prior loan (which I had paid off in full as of last year), so I have some long-term experience with them plus the transfer experience.

      The transfer was kind of ridiculous — I think that their customer service reps are completely overwhelmed and undertrained. Basically I don’t think you should believe anything they tell you! I was told that I had to re-sign up for auto bill pay by Rep #1, then Rep #2 told me that my auto bill pay from Access would be transferred (I think Rep #2 was right for what it’s worth, although I had already re-signed up by that point). They mucked up my interest rate (in my favor, though) and when I alerted them to the error, they failed to fix it. (I’m not brining it up again, eff that — they can reapply my payments and fix their own error if they ever figure it out).

      However, my long-term experience with ACS was actualy pretty okay. My prior loan with them was really small, so I made one big lump sum payment to pay it off rather than making an extra payment every month. I am pretty sure that they have to let you make an extra payment without advancing the due date. Based on my experience above, I would keep calling until you get a different (more competent) customer service rep who can permanently set your account to not advance due date.

    • Bonnie

      I hate ACS. You really have to stay on them. Since I had been paying ahead of schedule, they randomly chose to stop processing my auto payment because by their calculations I did not owe a payment for a couple years.

    • Litigatrix

      This exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago too! I spent a long time on the phone with ACS arguing and got nowhere. I have no advice, but I totally understand your frustration.

  15. Mer

    Any advice on how to ask someone to be your mentor in the least awkward way possible? TIA!

    • A to Z

      Just ask. I would be extremely flattered if someone asked me to be her mentor.

    • sadie

      I would say: “Would you be interested in going out for a mentoring conversation and coffee? I could use your advice on X career issue.” If that coffee date goes well, then you do it again a few months later, and then you have a mentor. It’s a way to handle it organically.

      Of course, if it’s someone with whom you already have this type of relationship, YMMV.

    • Ask

      I agree with “just ask.” Be prepared for the mentor to ask you what your goals are and what, specifically, he or she can do for you.

    • Bluejay

      “Hi Jane, I wanted some advice on X topic. I know you have a lot of experience with this, and I wondered if you’d be free to grab a coffee next week and chat?”

      Mentor relationships usually evolve organically, not by specifically asking someone to be a mentor (unless your firm requires you to have an official mentor, or something).

  16. Long-haired Corporette

    We’ve talked about long-hair and how professional it could be before but reading this article has me thinking about it again. I’m early into my career (early 20s) and have always had long hair. Currently my brunette hair has medium brown highlights and falls pin-straight. It’s about three inches below my bra strap, falling right at my natural waist.

    Do you really judge a woman based on her hairstyle? I’m more than competent in my job responsibilites and my hair is always neat and clean, just long. Because my hair is naturally straight, most days I just pull back the center portion of hair in the front and clip it in place. Think the hair you’d put up in a bump only flat.

    I love having long hair and like the author of the article linked below, don’t think I’ll ever cut it when I “reach a certain age.” It seems silly that this is a concern but with all the articles I’ve read on hair length for women, Corporette included, it’s something I think about. I won’t change my hair because of it but I would like to know what other Corporettes think about the issue. Ladies, your thoughts?

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/fashion/24Mirror.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=homepage&src=me

    • JessC

      I’m late 20s and have hair that falls an inch or two about my bra strap.
      I don’t think most people would judge you for having long hair. I think, however, one may get judged for having messy, unkempt hair (as in hair that looks like it hasn’t met a hair brush or shampoo in several days) or twirling/playing with your hair (looks juvenile).

      • Coalea

        When you say “bra strap” do you mean the band of your bra? I am having trouble envisioning something being “below” a bra strap…

        Not trying to be snarky – just trying to get a better mental picture.

          • Coalea

            Got it – thanks for clarifying.

            I also have brown, stick straight hair. I’ve had it as long as you (although not for many years), cropped, and every length in-between. I think 99 times out of 100, a shorter style is more flattering, especially for women with straight hair.

            I definitely notice and judge other people (both men and women) based on their hairstyles – among other factors, of course.

    • meara

      I admit I am completely judgey (thankfully I work from home so have less opportunity to be both judged and judgey!), and I usually think if you’ve got hair below approximately your brastrap, it’s probably too long. There are some few people where it still looks amazing, but it seems for most people, by the time it’s that long it’s sorely in need of a trim, a bit unkempt (more frizzy than wavy, for example), constantly shedding hairs, etc. I used to have waist-length hair in college, and while I’d sometimes love to have really long hair again, I have to remind myself that rarely did I do anything more fancy to it than braiding or a ponytail, and it’s not worth it just to have long hair for Halloween so I can braid it in a princess crown!

    • CA Atty

      I’m 30 now, and I have been growing out my hair for the past couple years. Got talked into a terrible chin-length cut in law school and just finally in the past year or so have been happy with its length again. Mine is right about at my bra strap. I get compliments all the time from people who saw the disaster of my last cut and have not had one negative comment. I’ve also just started a new job and have not been treated any differently than when I had short hair.

      I think if people judge your competency on the length of your hair they are probably tools who really do not actually have the power to affect your career. They’re either judgy because they wish they had the power or judgy because it makes them feel better to put someone else down.

      Agree a bit with Meara though, in that it still has to look nice! Get your ends trimmed and try not to leave stray hairs hanging about in professional situations. :-)

  17. Curious

    Random question: I recently applied for a position at a well-known and large organization and after two interviews, I emailed the recruiter to ask for an update. She replied back that I was not getting the original position, but that they really loved me and absolutely want me to be part of the org and were working on creating a new and better position for me. I asked for a timeline and she said she wasn’t sure– anywhere from a few days to a week, maybe? She also said that I could talk to the hiring manager herself if I wanted to. Thoughts on the likelihood of something like this panning out? Should I talk to the hiring manager herself for more details or just wait and see what happens?

    • Coalea

      I would recommend following up proactively with the hiring manager (assuming you are interested in whatever position they come up with for you).

      In my personal experience, recruiters might not always have all the info, so if you can get the details straight from the horse’s mouth, so much the better.

      • Curious

        Should I call? Or it less obtrusive to email? Any thoughts on what exactly to ask? Does it make a difference if the recruiter is not external, but a recruiter who works for this particular org?

        (sorry for the manic barrage of questions!)

    • NOLA

      I think I would talk to the hiring manager just to let him or her know that you are still interested in this potential new position (to show that it’s worth their while to pursue it). That said, I wouldn’t push on a timeline. These things take what time they take, especially in a large organization.

    • Bluejay

      I’d call or email the hiring manager, tell her/him about your conversation with the recruiter, and see if s/he can give you more details. Can’t hurt.

    • anonymous

      FWIW, something like this worked out for me, although there was no recruiter involved. And the final position was better and more tailored to my interests than the original position I interviewed for!

  18. A to Z

    For those who use Linked In, any comments, suggestions, favorite features, favorite uses?

    • FlaLaw

      I’m interested in this too. I just haven’t found a use for LinkedIn. Am I missing something? Also, I know several people who are now using facebook’s Branch Out. Anyone using this resource?

      • Plan B

        I use LI as a way to keep up with former colleagues – I’ve moved around a lot during my career, and unfortunately along the way I’ve lost contact with many people, some of whom I’ve found, or who have found me, on LI. I’ve also had recruiters contact me based on my LI profile.

        I can’t comment on Branch Out, but personally, I won’t ever use FB for anything work- or career-related. I’m not ‘friends’ with any current co-workers, and mainly use FB to keep up with my extended family. For me, FB is personal, LI is professional.

    • Former MidLevel

      Frankly, I mainly like LinkedIn because it is one place where I can always go to find recent contact info for people I know. I find it hard to keep track of people in legal practice because of frequent lateral moves – at least with LinkedIn, I can figure out where someone is and how to get a hold of him or her.

      • Cherly

        That’s one of my 2 reasons.

        #2 is a handy “in the cloud” method of keeping my own resume info! It is easier to look on LinkedIn than to find the last saved version of my resume doc from x years ago!

        • karenpadi

          Both of these.

          #3 is that it’s really easy to connect two people I know using LinkedIn. I just send a message to both in LinkedIn.

          #4 is to connect with people I haven’t spoken to in years. This weekend, I used LinkedIn to email someone to ask for a smallish favor even though I hadn’t spoken to him since 2009. I think it’s less surprising to get an out-of-nowhere email in LinkedIn than in a normal email inbox or a telephone call. Of course, I could have emailed him at work for this reason too but I was already in LinkedIn to look up his contact info.

    • F in LA

      I connected it to my Twitter so people can see recent content on my profile. (Caveat emptor, avoid tweeting about personal stuff – but I only tweet about work-relevant topics, anyway, b/c my Twitter is open to the world)

    • CKB

      I think a scooter is a great idea, however, I’d look for a 3 wheel scooter rather than the Razor scooter. My 3 ds got scooters for Christmas last year (youngest had just turned 5). Youngest got a 3 wheel scooter & it was great for him. He tried his big brothers’ Razor and the speed & balance was a little too much for him. Sorry I don’t have a link to the 3 wheel kind, mil bought them at Toys R Us, I believe.

      Water guns and nerf guns are always a huge hit at our house, although I’m not sure how your nephew’s parents feel about those. My youngest ds also LOVED Trios building blocks at that age. He’s 6 now & still loves to play with them.

    • Cherly

      As the mom of a 9 yr old boy, i suggest asking the boy’s parents about the scooter. That’s not really something I’d want someone to get for my son. Our street isn’t scooter-worthy and it would just be a fight with the child about when he could use it safely.

      I concur with CKB – Nerf guns are awesome.

    • anon

      FatBrainToys dot com have spy goggles that are a HUGE hit in our house (boys aged 3 and 5).

  20. Always a NYer

    How long will I be on the waitlist for Birchbox? Weeks, months? After reading all about it on here, I’ve decided to get it only to find out there’s a wait =( I’m fine waiting, just as long as I know how long that wait will be.

    • Coalea

      I was on the waitlist for a couple of weeks. After I signed up, it was another 1-2 weeks before I received my first box.

      I also signed up after reading about it on this site … and based on just one box, I am disappointed! When I signed up, I filled out a profile which I thought was so the site could tailor my samples to my specific needs. However, I received stuff that is not suited to me at all (e.g., hair oil for my fine, limp, oily hair? No thanks!). I’m giving them another chance and then cancelling my membership.

      • Ellie

        My boxes have been pretty hit or miss. Stick on nail polish? No thanks. But some boxes have been amazing– I actually love the hair oil. At first I thought about canceling, but I’ve been getting stuff I really like. I got hooked on Origins Checks & Balances face wash, and went into an Origins store to get more, and saw that the sample size I got was alone $10 in the store. So, definitely it has been overall worth it for me.

        • Barrister in the Bayou

          Ditto on the Origins Checks & Balances face wash! Love it.

      • PharmaGirl

        I cancelled after 3 months because it was a hugely frivolous waste of money for me. I prefer Sephora for my sample fix.

      • MelD

        I agree with Ellie that it is hit or miss- stick-on eyeliner? Seriously? I feel like it’s probably worth it if I get about 2 samples I use each month, as the samples tend to be about $8-10 each if bought separately.

        • Coalea

          $8-10? Really? Again, based on only one box, but my samples were teeny tiny (e.g., single use eyeshadow). I can’t imagine them costing that much.

          • AIMS

            I have a very positive experience. Usually every box has at least one something that I really like, plus I find that the sample size products are great for when I travel. I organize them by purpose and store in ziploc bags, and it makes packing such a convenience. Their sizes are also infinitely more generous than most places, and, unlike Sephora, they’re always fresh (lots of stuff in Sephore that you get with points tends to be a bit too close to the expiration date for me [e.g., mascara, etc.]) …

            This month, for instance, I got a full size essie nailpolish and a full size Tarte lip stick – I like both and that alone adds up to $30+ … Plus, I have tried lots of things I wouldn’t have otherwise thought to get, which I find to be the other big benefit.

            Honestly, I am always surprised to hear people say they don’t love it – on the whole, it has been a huge a net positive for me.

  21. Aurelie

    Confession: Until yesterday, I always purchased bras at Victoria’s Secret. I thought they fit well enough, and I didn’t know any better.

    Well, yesterday I decided I needed to purchase some new bras. I started at VS, but since I neither want nor need a bra that adds 8 trillion cup sizes, I ventured down to Nordstrom. I tried on a bunch of bras, but wasn’t having any luck. Finally, I tried on one last bra (Elle Macpherson Bare and Bold). It fit like it was made for me. Who knew that you could buy a bra that would actually hold the girls in place?! It is comfortable, fits well, looks great, and it was only $55. I bought it in all three colors! The staff at Nordstrom was very helpful. No more horrible VS for me!

    • NOLA

      I will buy bras at VS but only those styles that are not push-up and not heavily padded (and for me, demi because of my shape). Unfortunately, no Nordstrom here and neither Macy’s or Dillard’s has anything that will work for me.

    • phillygirlruns

      i did the same thing a few weeks ago, having bought nearly all of my bras from VS since high school. i’m a total convert now, at least in terms of bras. i do like the VS hanky panky knockoff undies, though.

    • Anon

      I have nothing that needs to be held in place. Instead I need the push up so that I don’t look like a 12 year old boy. Therefore, VS works wonders for me and who cares about the false advertizing? The only person who will see the real thing is my boyfriend.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      I was thrilled to find a 34DD at Target this past weekend. There was only one, but it was $12.99, in the shade of gray I had been searching for and comfortable. I’m sick of paying $40+ dollars for ugly bras, save for my 2 cute Betsy Johnson Nordstrom ones.
      They don’t seem to make cute in the big sizes.

      I am actually looking for a demi-cup push up one and they also don’t seem to make push up in the large sizes. They must assume everyone is trying to minimize them. I have a couple cute going out tank tops but the regular big bras show out the top of them. I want something with less coverage so I can wear a low cut top without it showing.

      • CA Atty

        FWIW, I had a bra (fitted at Nordies!) that I absolutely loved, 38FF, and I haven’t been able to find that size in the store again. I finally thought to google the brand and found the exact same bra (and even better pricing!) at herroom.com. (I’m pretty sure that’s it, my work computer won’t let me get to the site. Otherwise google Her Room and bras.) They have all kinds of styles, all kinds of sizes, great pricing, great sales, quick shipping, etc…I don’t think I’ll buy another bra in person! (Well, hopefully when I lose the weight I’ll have to get re-fitted, but other than that!)

        • Bluejay

          I’ve had bad experiences with returns from HerRoom. BareNecessities and FigLeaves are both great and have a better selection anyway.

  22. Anonymous NYer

    Does anyone have any tips for storing boots in limited space? My closet is pretty small, and, being the true Corporette I am, I have many pairs of boots (leather-type, not talking rain/snow). Also, I don’t mean storage like put away for the summer months, I mean just keeping them in the closet in an organized fashion.

    Right now they’re kind of in a big pile on the floor of my closet, but that makes me pretty sad. Also, I don’t have the boxes anymore, so any ideas involving the original shoe boxes are out. Any tips or tricks you’d recommend?

    • CMJNYC

      I put empty wine bottles in each boot so that they don’t fall over …doesn’t really save space, but keeps them organized.

      • Anonymous NYer

        Ooh nice. I have no shortage of empty wine bottles, so this idea might get implemented soon. Beats the mess of a pile they’re in right now.

    • Jenny

      I got some cheap boot trees from Amazon and have them lined up on the floor of my closet. The boot trees I got also have a hook for hanging if you have more space on the rod than on the floor for some reason.

    • Always a NYer

      Do you have under the bed storage capability? In college I’d have those long, thin plastic rolling bins that fit my boots prefectly and were out of the way until I wanted them.

    • Bluejay

      I put rolled up magazines in them (same idea as the wine bottles). Also, although you didn’t ask, I store them inside of my suitcases during the summer. I put my suitcases one inside another like matryoshka dolls and put my boots inside the smallest one.

  23. Anonymous NYer

    Also, I just want to thank everyone who posted about dress recommendations on Friday. My original question was where to find these magical dresses (on a budget) everyone seems to have that make them feel great and can be dressed up for dinner/drinks or just thrown on to run errands. I’ve been trying to grown-up-ify my wardrobe, and I felt I was missing this huge cornerstone.

    I had amazing luck shopping this weekend. I had good luck at H&M, which is a place I always forget about, and I had amazing luck at Kohls (of all places). I’m the kind of shopper who buys every possibility then takes them home to mull them over, then returns what doesn’t work. Between H&M, Kohls, Loft, and Old Navy I have 10 dresses hanging on the front of my closet right now staring back at me. On average, despite one ‘splurge’ dress ($68 – still incredibly reasonable), my new finds range from $15 – $35. I wanted these for more casual (but versatile) occasions, so this price point is perfect for me.

    Thanks again everyone! I’m excited for the weather to finally get warm (permanently) to wear some of my new finds!

    • Anonymous NYer

      I know that my price point may be below some of the readers on this site, but I also recall some posters asking for more budget friendly options for things. Let me know if any of you would like me to post some links!

      • Seattleite

        Um, haven’t you been paying attention? We ‘rettes ALWAYS want links.

        (Please and thank you.)

        • Anonymous NYer

          I just spent like 20 minutes getting all my links together – AND THE POST DISAPPEARED (angry ellen speak). I’ll work on it again in a few mins.

    • FlaLaw

      Wow, I can’t believe you found dresses at Loft for that reasonable. I am a recent Khols convert – after having a baby my budget is way down, and since I have to buy in sizes I really don’t want to stay in, I don’t want to spend a lot anyway. I have found several dresses at Khols that make me feel good and were super reasonable.

      • Anonymous NYer

        The Loft one was the ‘splurge’ – they’re having an ‘everything is 30% off’ sale – so I got a $98 dress for about $68. Super cute dress, not sure I have any occasions to justify it though. If you only buy things from Loft on sale, it’s not too bad. I’ve been disappointed with them lately though. Their shirts are now in the $50 range, and that’s just too much for me for the type of shirts they sell. I wait for sales.

        And seriously, I love Kohls. It takes some mental preparation to dig through the stuff sometimes, and the store is never organized logically the way I think it should be, but if you hunt, you will be rewarded!

        • CA Atty

          I’m a semi-recent convert as well. I went to one store with my mom and she was so negative about it that I just never went back. Then my SO (bargain hunter to shame all bargain hunters!) dragged me in and we found so many cute spring clothes! Some of it is low quality, but I’m wearing an outfit right now that is completely Kohls, black slacks for $32 with 30% off and a blue, green, yellow top for $6 (90% discount rack!) that has lasted me about 2 years. Plus, you can pretty much always get 15-30% off.

          P.S. I was told by a Kohls associate that your percentage discount is based on how much you shop. I don’t know that that’s true, since I seem to get the 30% discounts when I haven’t been there for a while, but they may be trying to “lure me back” or some such nonsense.

        • NDR

          I love Kohls. I usually order a bunch of stuff off the website (you can find coupon codes for them on retailmenot all the time, sometimes they “stack” and give you 2 discounts at once) and return whatever I don’t like/doesn’t fit. They accept online order returns in-store and are actually really lenient about receipts. I tend to have an easier time finding more professional clothes on the website, but it might just be that I can search on keywords instead of digging through the store.

      • Bluejay

        If you don’t already, I’d recommend applying for a Loft store card. They send out a ton of coupons for cardholders, and you can pay with your card and then immediately pay the balance off at the store. Loft’s non-sale prices are absurd vis-a-vis their quality, but I think the idea is that no one actually pays their prices.

  24. What A Monday!

    I can say at the end that “all’s well that ends well”, but Monday didn’t start out too well for me.

    I had to take my newly purchased car back to the shop for them to check on something. So, we (hubbie & I) raced around getting ready this morning …. had to get our son to school, gas in both cars, etc. So I could get to the dealership (40 mins from our house) and he could get me to work by 10 for a meeting with a VP.

    Everything went fine until we realized that I didn’t have my computer bag with me! I had set it to the side of the driveway, so DH could put it in his car (didn’t want to leave it in mine at the dealership). He forgot to grab it! When he said he didn’t have it, I was so hoping it was a late April Fools joke….. but it wasn’t. :-(

    So he had to drop me at work and drive (don’t want to know how fast) home to get it — hoping that (1) it wasn’t stolen or (2) the trash didn’t pick it up since it was by the curb!

    Luckily, he got home and found it there, in time to call me before my meeting with the VP started. I’d say my BP went from “stroke over heart attack” to normal in 30 seconds when he called. whew

    I hope everyone else’s Monday started out better!!

    • Miriam

      Well, your week can only get better! Hope your meeting went well, and I think you deserve a glass (or bottle) of wine tonight!

  25. TCFKAG

    Well after three days and 16 hours of solo-driving, I’m finally back home — safe and sound. Thanks to everyone for the tips for a fun drive, it wasn’t so bad. I listened to David Sedaris live from Carnegie Hall and almost drove off the rode laughing and also listened to a couple of this American Life podcasts. And of course sang very loudly and badly to Counting Crows, Indigo Girls, and Katy Perry (my musical tastes are weird).

    But seriously…too much driving for one weekend!

    • CA Atty

      Yeah, that’s a lot! I did 800 miles from Thursday afternoon to Sunday night, but I pretty much took it in smallish chunks. The longest was about 4.5 hours.

  26. Hair removal

    Has anyone used the at home laser “Silk’n Flash&Go Permanent Hair Removal” thing? It’s on sale today and the reviews on Sephora’s site seem to be positive, but I’m not sure if those can really be trusted, and for $250 I want to make sure it works.

    • AT

      I tried an iteration of it around 2 years ago and returned it. In my experience, it was kind of cumbersome to use and hard to make sure I was treating the whole area and not overlapping (since the head was larger than the bulb surface), and since I purchased it primarily for my bikini area, I wasn’t sure how effective it would be on areas that I couldn’t get “flat”. To be fair though, I only did two treatments, and when I bought it, it was maybe double that price (though I did use a family and friends code or something, and I think got 20% off), and I also HAD to stop using it (at least for a while) because I had a surgery that gave me some incision marks in the bikini area, so for me those factors led me to decide it was more trouble than it was worth. I’ve since gone back to shaving/waxing, and with the ingrown hair problems I’ve been having, I would consider trying it again. Sephora’s return policy is really great, so barring any terrible reviews, I’d say it can’t hurt to give it a try.

  27. Nonny

    OK, so on everyone’s recommendation I went and bought Game of Thrones (the first book) this weekend. Now I am on edge. How can I possibly work while Bran is lying there unconscious and the Lannisters are plotting death to everyone?

    It’s going to be a looooonnnngggg day at the office.

    • TCFKAG

      Nonny — there are currently five books, each over seven hundred pages long — and the series isn’t finished yet. If you are going to be on edge for the whole series, I think its going to be more like a long lifetime. :-P

      • Nonny

        Yikes, I guess I’d better get used to it! :-)

        Still, I’ll be much happier when I can resume reading tonight….

        • CA Atty

          One of my recent favorite quotes that right now for some reason I cannot find goes something like:

          “Nothing feels as good as knowing a great book is waiting for you at home.”

          I’ve just finished #3 and am waiting for #4 to come to me from the library!

    • LA anon

      I haven’t read the books but I’ve been completely sucked in by the show. Am I the only one that wonders how I can enjoy such a series? It’s fantasy but the themes are so dark and twisted yet I can’t stop watching. The Cersei and Jamie storyline actually freaks me out the most but I *loved* Daenerys and Drogo’s storyline.

      • Nonny

        Oh no, sounds dangerous….I already have enough trouble concentrating at work….

  28. Perfume Recommendations for the Office

    Lady, please, don’t work perfume to work. Yes, I know it’s unfair that some stranger on the internet is asking you to change your personal routine for her but you know what? It REALLY SUCKS when I walk into an empty elevator and a migraine starts thundering in my head bc the previous occupant left behind a signature fragrance. And this goes double for the people who commute via train – it’s serious torture. Even if you wear a really small amount that nobody can smell except whoever hugs you, that person who is sensitive/allergic to scents will sense it, even when they’re not hugging you. Perfume/cologne/scented oils all smell like headache to me.

    • amen, amen!

      thank you for this! Was shocked that no one said this in the weekend thread (or did they?).
      I am sorry to harsh your sexxy vibe, but perfume can trigger an asthma attack and make my life very unpleasant. Just. please. don’t.

      • Ada Doom Starkadder

        The real “winners” are the people who think that perfume is a good “shower substitute.” Ugh, the NYC subways in summer always have one or two of these. The combo of sweat & armpit odor + heavy perfume is truly nausea-inducing even for those of us who aren’t allergic.

    • Perfume is great

      Ladies, please dont think the world revolves around you and that everyone should do anything to help you. People who smell like smoke bother me in the elevator but I dont expect the world to stop smoking to please me. So dont expect me to stop wearing perfume because it may bother a small minority of the population.

      • good lord

        Agree. If I know someone I work with has an allergy I would give it up, but I’m not going to not wear it because a stranger somewhere in the world might be allergic

      • Miriam

        While I agree that people will still wear perfume anyway and we shouldn’t expect them not to, smoking is completely different. You are not addicted to your perfume, unless there is a new addiction that I am not aware of. Plus, being bothered by something is different than having a physical reaction due to an allergy.

        • LawyrChk

          There are plenty of people who are allergic to smoke. Just because you are addicted to something shouldn’t make it any less obtrusive to the rest of us.

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