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Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Floral Print Single Breasted Jacket

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. So: No, this isn't my usual thing. In fact, this is the kind of look that can go horribly wrong, in a comical socialite-on-Law-and-Order way. Still: I keep coming back to it! I like the mixture of the floral print and the “tough” chain detailing. The way the pieces of fabric are pieced together is also very nice — this is where the money goes when you buy a piece like this. It's $850 at Bloomingdale's. BASLER Floral Print Single Breasted Jacket Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)

Sales of note for 3/15/25:

  • Nordstrom – Spring sale, up to 50% off
  • Ann Taylor – 40% off everything + free shipping
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off sale
  • J.Crew – Extra 30% off women's styles + spring break styles on sale
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off 3 styles + 50% off clearance
  • M.M.LaFleur – Friends and family sale, 20% off with code; use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off 1 item + 30% off everything else (includes markdowns, already 25% off)

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

196 Comments

    1. I like it but NOT the red under the arms…it REMINDS me of when I have to much excercize and am SWEATING. FOOEY!

    2. I’m thinking maybe with jeans for more of a weekend look? I agree I don’t think I could pull it off at work with a straight face.

      1. This is the kind of jacket that I thought Janet Reno should wear. I am not kidding. She would dress so as not to be noticed especially before she was the AG. I thought she should wear black pants and fabulous jackets everyday.

  2. not a fan!

    Has anyone doing the CLEAN Cleanse? I’m getting married in a month and want to do a healthy cleanse before the weddign. I’ve heard that CLEAN is a good one. Any recommendations?

    1. I did a loose version of clean and really liked it. I eat gluten free lactose free now. I did a smoothie for breakfast, canned organic soup for lunch, and a regular dinner that seemed to fit into the approved lunches category. My boss also did it but he did it the official way and felt great on it.

      1. I did clean last year and lost a good 12 pounds, which is a lot for me, and felt good. I did get hungry at first, but it is huge to retrain your stomach to need less food. I still do the smoothie for breakfast and some of the other principles.

        My only problem with it was that you’re supposed to do your regular meal for lunch, but that just didn’t work for my lifestyle. So, I would eat liquid for breakfast and lunch, meaning you went longer without real food. But I made it work with some of the snacks he suggested (blueberries and walnuts, mostly).

        Also, I didn’t give up coffee. :) But I did give up Diet Coke, so that’s something.

    2. Just on a technical basis, I wouldn’t do it too close to the wedding. The last week or two before the wedding is stressful enough without also being hungry. Plus, you generally do the last pinning of your dress several weeks before the wedding. You don’t want to lose significant weight that close to the date, because your dress just won’t fit right.

      1. Ditto. I inadvertently lost weight after my dress was fitted, and although it was fine, I would have preferred that the dress actually fit instead of being a little loose.

      1. Hmm, the one I did didn’t use shakes. I did the one by Alejandro Jung, or something like that.

          1. Thanks everyone! I am going to do a modified version of CLEAN. I got the book and am just going to do it for a week. My second to last dress fitting is on Saturday and I don’t want to lose weight after the fitting. Glad to hear that everyone felt good and healthy. I want to lose 5 pounds but also want to feel healthier. I think I am relying on a couple of glasses of wine every night and need to get off of that (and coffee).

  3. I like this jacket in theory but, not sure I could pull it off in my office.

    TJ – My friend is having her first baby in September. I would like to get her something for herself, not the baby, for mother’s day. Any ideas? She wouldn’t get a pedicure or manicure. She already has a regular massage person. She wouldn’t like flowers. Maternity clothes gift card? TIA

    1. I would get her a GC to her massage person (if you know who it is) or a GC to a nice restaurant so she and her SO can go out.

    2. This is so nice! Ditto on the massage from her regular person (or get her a souped-up, more expensive massage from that person). I like the clothing gift card too.

      When I was pregnant, accessories were key. If you know her taste, a new/fun necklace, scarf, purse or earrings might be nice. You can wear that stuff regardless of how big your belly is!

      Reading and/or netflix — those were two things I was able to do while pregnant, without limitations. Giftcards, etc. might be nice.

      1. I am 7.5 mo. I would want a scarf or reading materials. Don’t feel comfortable enough to enjoy dinner/massage, hope to never go into maternity stores again, so gift cards would be a bummer.

    3. This sounds a bit weird, but if she’s breastfeeding, what about a gift card to a lingerie store to buy some pretty nursing bras? The ones by Elle McPherson are gorgeous but pricey, and it was so nice to feel a little bit pretty while still post-partum and out of shape.
      Otherwise, maybe a subscription to amazon mom or Netflix? I ordered so many things online in the first few weeks in order to not have to take a brand new baby to a store.

  4. I like this a lot as a statement piece, *except* for the chains. Yuck!

    I am tired of being pregnant. Argh! I am working at home today so I can sit in my sweatpants instead of struggling into one of the 2 pairs of work pants that fit me.

      1. I have ten more weeks and only 2.5 pairs of work pants left. Sigh. I’ve become the most boring person ever, but I refuse to buy more maternity stuff now.

          2. The one pair that fit but are kind of too short and I don’t really enjoy wearing them…

    2. Question- Diana Barry:

      I think you mentioned that you got great relief from B6 + unisom. Last night, I took 50 mg of B6 + a unisom, and for the first time in ages, I felt good when I woke up. The only issue is that I feel extremely groggy. Did you also have the grogginess? What did you do to cope?

      1. Hmm. I don’t remember that I felt any groggier than normal pregnancy tiredness. Maybe try taking it right after dinner instead? (First trimester is the worst for just feeling really beat + exhausted all the time)

        Also, I didn’t give up caffeine – I have a cup of the starbucks instant every day, which I think is 180 mg and the daily suggested limit is 250 mg, so after my coffee I would wake up a tiny bit anyway.

    3. right there with you. blah. i got more second-hand clothes over weekend- literally had nothing left could wear to work. some ugly dresses now. the other ones were too hot/short from belly ride up etc.
      only one pair of SWEATPANTS even fit me now:(

    4. Since there do seem to be a few pregnant ‘rettes around, I have 3 maternity dresses that I wore a grand total of two times in all – one from the gap suitable for work, and two printed ones from Boden more for the weekend. I’m pretty small, so they may be best for those 5-6 months along, but I’m happy to donate them to the group if anyone is interested.

      1. I am about 5 months along and just started looking for some maternity clothing. I had no idea Boden even had maternity line. I’m not sure of the sizing (I generally wear a 0-2 or XS/S) but if that works, I’d be interested in the dresses.

        1. Sure, sounds like we’re the same size, whats the best email to reach you at for your mailing address?

    5. I am only 3 months, so I haven’t begun to be tired of being pregnant, although I am waiting for that infamous “2nd trimester nergy burst” to kick in.

      I had no idea about the Boden stuff either.

      Also, does someone know how to search for old threads about maternity topics that were in an original non-maternity post? I seem to be clueless there.

    1. This might be one of the weirder things ever featured on here…and I’m including the stuff featured on April Fool’s day. I think you at least have to choose just one…make it a floral OR a highly structured jacket OR have chain link detailing. You can’t have all three. Or even two.

      1. Do you think male coworkers take female coworkers seriously when they wear stuff like this? I think you have to have a pretty strong reputation for your good work before you can pull off these kind of suits.

        Personally, I just can’t wear outfits that are this loud. If I wore this I feel like I’d be screaming for attention. Maybe others would be better at pulling it off?

        1. I think dressing like this can show confidence. Of course, your work has to be good, but that’s true whether you wear a black suit every day or dress more fun.

          I also think it matters whether you do it on a consistent basis. If you’re a black-suit-every-day person and then suddenly wear something like this, that might be a little shocking. You have to train them, you see. :)

        2. I can absolutely envision one of the top female partners in my firm wearing this. She’d add some chunky metal David Yurman pieces, a bright patent structured colored bag, and some sort of solid colored sheath dress with one of her pairs of Manolos. But you’re right CP, she’s a long-established a$$kicker, and known for wearing Fashionable clothing. I hope one day to be able to pull off a jacket like this at work, because that will mean 1) I now have that fabulous reputation and 2) I have other fancy things in my wardrobe to go with this fancy jacket.

          1. I understand the whole flamboyant power dressing concept for powerful women and I totally get behind it. I think it works and its my end goal in life. But this jacket kind of looks like a losing Austin Scarlett piece on Project Runway All-Stars. Its just a hot mess.

        3. As long as you project confidence, I don’t think anybody would judge you for wearing something this loud. I wear bright colors all the time (leopard print and red accessories today) but just don’t love the floral trend.

    2. I normally love floral prints but something about this is a wee bit too society matron for me, even with (or perhaps because of) the chain detailing. I can see how it could look cute, esp. with jeans, but I don’t think it’s for me.

      Shopping PSA: 6pm dot com has a ton of very heavily discounted Stuart Weitzman shoes today. First thing this morning, I bought a really cute pair for $29.99. FYI.

      1. AIMS, thanks for the PSA! I already had 2 pair of SW in my shopping bag, and now they are on their way to me :)

  6. P.S. – this is so far off topic but…. I’m having a baby today! And aside from meeting my baby, the second thing I’m looking forward to is wearing all my fabulous non-maternity work clothes again!! Can’t wait!

    2. Best of luck!!

      But also be kind to yourself and allow a reasonable amount of time before trying to get back into all those old work clothes!

      1. Thank you- very good advice. So I guess it’s frumpy tops and sweats for a little while longer….

    10. Congrats!!

      Be prepared to buy transition work clothes. I’m still ‘transitioning’ 17 months out. Boo to my fat *ss.

    15. Congratulations! Best wishes for a fast and easy delivery.
      And getting back into real clothes is so nice! Good luck but don’t beat yourself up if it takes some time, after all it took you 40 weeks to gain the weight, it won’t come off instantly.

    20. Congrats, CP! My first baby is 7 weeks old now and it’s pretty amazing. At 7 weeks, I’m still in the strange phase where my maternity clothes are all too big but I look pretty “off” in my pre-pregnancy clothes, so be prepared for a transitional wardrobe. Thank God it’s warm where I live – I’m living in stretchy skirts and dresses.

  7. Interesting to look at, but definitely not something I would wear. I am not enjoying the recent “floral trend” – especially on pants!

    However, thanks for posting – I like to look at all the variety and options on this site!

    1. I would rather wear florals on my top half than my bottom half. Floral pants are just … wrong … for my body.

  8. Just wanted to thank everyone for the Napa/Sonoma recommendations on the Open Thread! We’ve pulled everything into Google Docs, and are excited to start going through it!

  9. This jacket reminds me of a costume from GCB. In other words, I LOVE IT, but only because it’s so very over the top and kind of a mess.

    1. I don’t know why, but I am loving that show and will be sad if it goes away. The mother is hilarious to me.

      1. Love it too! Gigi is so incredibly fabulous. I want to be her when I grow up, except with a job.

  10. I don’t love this jacket, but I would love a scarf with a similar vibrant floral pattern. Has anyone seen a scarf with a white/cream background and bright florals (not pastel or muted)?

    1. Budget? I did a search on shop style and found some cute options, links to follow…I CAN’T RESIST shopping for others. Lol.

          2. That is really, really pretty. Like hang-it-on-a-wall-as-art pretty. Never heard of Johnston and Murphy – anyone care to give me a brief description?

            If you want to go really cheap, I found a cotton scarf (longer than wide) at Old Navy that has a cream background and floral print in darker brights, I think orange predominate. Women’s Lightweight Floral Print Scarf.

            I am kind of loving the lightweight scarf trend. Just having a light scarf around my neck makes more difference than I would expect in an overly air-conditioned room. Plus they are pretty!

          3. I think of Johnson & Murphy as a men’s shoe store. I think they have nice, classic men’s work shoes. I didn’t even realize they had women’s items at all.

          4. Agree with Supra – they make nice classic men’s work shoes. I sold them for a while and they were very well made.

      5. shop style? I need to learn about this if it helps you find floral scarves so easily . . .

        1. shopstyle [dot] com allows you to search many different clothing and accessories retailers at once. It’s like kayak [dot] com for clothes. For this I literally just went on there and searched “floral scarves” it took me like 3 minutes maybe. :-P

        1. I almost linked to that too above, but people have been chattering about some customer service issues with Asos on here in recent days and I was concerned about recommending them. But otherwise, that’s a really cute scarf! It would go with lots of things.

  11. I kind of love this. But then again, I love the animal-print peplum blouse/jacket that Kat featured about a month ago from Lord & Taylor (bought it, and it’s my favorite piece right now).

  12. i actually don’t completely hate this. the sleeves are weird, though – it looks like they don’t fit the model, but i’m guessing that’s intended to be something of a dolman effect. not obvious on this picture, but when you click through there’s a different angle that really shows it.

    1. What annoys me even more about the fit is since it only buttons in one place, when the model spreads her arms, it opens up in a way that makes it look more ridiculous than the above.

    2. No – the body of the jacket just doesn’t fit the model.

      Dolman is a whole other sleeve construction usually used when manufacturers cheap out on needing to set in sleeves. Dolman is also kind of the anti-thesis of what a structured jacket would have.

      2. If this were Ridiculously Photogenic Guy, my caption would be:

        RIDICULOUSLY PHOTOGENIC GUY WEARS FLORAL PRINT JACKET WITH TOUGH CHAIN DETAILING… MAKES ANNA WINTOUR SOB UNCONTROLLABLY WITH JOY.

      4. I wore my new jacket to work, and the chain link detailing got caught on my nude hose.

        #Firstworldproblems.

  15. Did anybody else do the Easter egg presents for the SO based on Easter Bunny’s suggestions? My hubs had to work yesterday, so I had him do an egg hunt when he got home. It was quite fun.

  16. TJ/vent:

    My husband currently sells first aid products for a large company (let’s call it X). X also has a uniform division. However, the first aid division and the uniform division are completely seperate – different buildings, different magangers, different regional VPs.

    Husband signed a noncompete for X. Now, he has been offered a position as a manager for company Y in their uniform division. Company Y has no first aid division.

    However, it looks like the entire offer is going to fall through because of this noncompete. Husband has worked for X for six years, meeting sales goal after sales goal and has never been promoted (actually not a single worker in his area has ever been promoted). Now he has an opportunity at a great job – which he as earned – with better pay and benefits, and he may not be able to take it.

    I am just at a loss to see how his noncompete can keep him from working in an entirely different division, when he has never had an special knowledge (or really any interaction) with this division. Ugh!

    *end rant*

    1. Get thee to a employment lawyer. Depending on the state, non-competes are enforceable to variable degrees. He may be able to negotiate a settlement.

      1. Did the hiring company actually say the noncompete was a problem? I used to work in biotech, we had a noncompete clause in our contracts, but a neighboring biotech company used to hire away workers from my company all the time. The noncompete did not interfere. It did get to a point, though, where our company called the other company and asked them to cool it on taking away employees for a little while.

        So I’d confirm that the hiring company is concerned about this, then I’d contact an employment lawyer. But I think if they want your husband badly enough they’ll find a way to hire him.

    2. He needs to see a good employment lawyer in your area ASAP. The laws governing noncompetes are different everywhere, but these kinds of agreemens generally are enforceable only to the extent necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the first employer. If he’s not competing in the business area where he worked for the first company, the agreement actually may not be enforceable with regard to the new job. However, this area of the law can be tricky, so he needs to get some solid advice.

      1. Yes, they vary greatly between states. You need to go see an attorney. One of the best things about California is how much the state hates noncompetes. By and large, as long as the employee doesn’t violate trade secrets protections, s/he can go work for a direct competitor, doing the same work as s/he was doing at the previous employer. That public policy is regarded as one of the fundamental bases for innovation in the state.

        1. Agreed. In many states, non-competes aren’t worth the paper that they are printed on. Go see an employment lawyer ASAP.

    3. Agreed about talking to an employment lawyer. There might be lots of options here that you/he may not have thought of yet.

    4. Thanks for the comments. I am definitely less fired up now. I’ll do a quick lexis search and see what our state’s policy is. You all are right though, in the end, we may have to lawyer (other than me) up.

      1. BNA and the ABA Labor & Employment Law Section have a book on Covenants Not to Compete (that might be the title) that consists of a state-by-state survey of the law in this area, which is very helpful. It’s probably not available online but I’m sure there would be a copy at your local law library. (Or in your firm’s library, if you have an employment practice section.)

        1. Covenants Not to Compete: A State-by-State Survey, I think it’s in its 7th or 8th ed. now; the edition I have (6th) was edited by Brian M. Malsberger.

  17. From time to time, people ask about fashion blogs. I stumbled across these this weekend and really like them, so thought I’d share:

    wwwDOTthe vivennefilesDOTblogspotDOTcom

    afemmeduncertainageDOTblogspotDOTcom

    unefemmeDOTnet

  19. For those who have moved from the suburbs to the big city, what were your biggest adjustments? 

    I’ve been living and working in the suburbs of a large southern city for 15 years and plan to move to Manhattan in 2013. I’m prepared for a faster pace of life and a higher cost of living. I’m curious about the day-to-day adjustments. I’m so used to taking my grocery/shopping bags inside from the garage that’s attached to my house, owning a washer and dryer, and driving to the mall/grocery store/big box store that’s around the corner from  wherever I happen to be.
    What changes should I expect in NYC?

    1. Well, you’ve hit three major changes right on the head. You’ll be buying only as many groceries as you can carry in your hands from the store (which will probably not be as large, clean and bright as you are used to) to your apartment; you will be washing your clothes in a laundry room in the basement of your building, or carrying them in a big laundry bag to the local laundry and dropping it off for wash-and-fold services; and you won’t be driving to the mall (what’s a mall?), grocery store, or big box store (what’s a big box store?) around the corner. In fact, if you’re smart, you won’t own a car at all.

      After adjusting to these minor inconveniences, however, you will also be delighted to discover that the subway is an efficient way of getting around; that without a car, you can afford to hail a cab or call a car service whenever you want, and can easily rent a car to escape the city on weekends; that you get a lot more exercise in your daily life just through all of the walking you do, and that walking around this city is the best way to explore its multitude of wonderful neighborhoods; that great restaurants, theaters, museums, boutiques and more are endless and everywhere; that you may get to know more neighbors here than you did in the suburbs; and that New Yorkers are actually quite friendly, even if they don’t say hello to everyone they pass on the street!

      Enjoy! You’ve got a great adventure ahead of you!

      1. If you are worried about occassionally needing a car, for bigger grocery runs or leaving the city, look into zipcar or a similar service. Low cost and much less hassle alternative to owning a car

    2. You may be surprised on laundry. A lot of condos have laundry in the units (I do). However it’s a teeny-tiny machine and a condenser drier, so if you had a big regular unit that takes some getting used to (mostly, laundry just takes longer). When I did not have laundry at home, I dropped it off at one of those wash and fold places, and then picked it up the next day, and that worked well. I did not really have the time to sit in a laundrymat every week, but would occasionally to wash my bedding, etc.

      I tend to grocery shop often to pick up fresh meat and veg for the meals I make for the next few days, and then combine that with a big trip every few weeks. My local grocery store delivers for a few dollars plus tipping the guy, so I do that for my big stock-up shops. I do not really shop at big box stores (I do when I visit my mom in the burbs!) but there is a Target near me. I only go there for specific items like Christmas lights.

      I tend to shop for clothes by going to certain areas of Manhattan – i.e. around Rockefeller Center there is an Anthropologie, Ann Taylor and Cole Haan and a few other stores that I shop in all located in that area. I also go to Bloomies and Macy’s occasionally if I’m in those neighborhoods or need specific things (bras, suits, etc.). However I was just saying to someone that I would like to rent a car and drive to NJ to go to an actual mall and try to get all my shopping done in one place, so obviously 15 years later I still cling to my suburban ways.

      Mostly, you will have to contend with lack of storage. I don’t really have a lot of stuff beyond my furniture. I also live in an old building with small closets, so I became an expert at putting together ikea cabinets to create more storage space.

      1. there are so many changes it’s hard to know where to begin. some good, some bad. cost will be huge difference on everything, for one.

      2. I have to say, the wash-and-fold places are the best things ever. (Okay, not as convenient as having laundry right in your apartment/house, but MUCH better than dragging it down four flights of stairs to the basement.) They’re not actually that much more expensive than the coin-operated machines, you don’t need quarters, and they fold the stuff much more neatly than I ever would.

    3. When I left NYC in 1992, I made a list called “to read immediately if I ever start thinking about moving back.” I just looked, and I can’t find it. The only two items I specifically recall being on the list were:

      1. Garbage strikes.
      2. Garbage strikes in August.

      As a general “how does life change every day” matter, consider how you will deal with the following:

      * When you leave your apartment in the morning, you have to carry everything you want all day. No more throwing it in the trunk of the car for later.
      * Groceries. You will long for a large, clean supermarket with wide aisles and regular-sized carts and abundant, fresh and only mildly overpriced produce. Also, products in any size other than “individual.” Also, carrying all those canned goods home? Right.
      * I always felt like taking a shower immediately after getting home from May to September. Lots of grit on the face.

      Lest everyone attack me for hating NYC, which I don’t, let me also add some things I love:

      * Being so close to the Met that I can visit a single painting for 30 minutes and then go about my day.
      * Having a favorite video store, take out and grocer on the same block so that the video guy will bring me all three because he knows me and knows I will tip him for it. (Yes, this one dates me, with the video.)

      1. I’m with you. Haha funny you made a list. For me was so ready to leave didn’t think I needed one, but would be funny to pull out decades later. It would be a longgg list despite the good things there too. Fresh air for one- every morning I breathe in Seattle’s salty breezes and appreciate it.

    4. Ditto what everyone else has said about laundry, carrying groceries, etc. There’s also FreshDirect, which is a grocery delivery service in NYC. I use it for the vast majority of my groceries, and then supplement as needed with a regular grocery store. I think the quality of produce and meat is better than what is at my local store.

      Also, not sure what type of building you’re planning on living in, but as a “day-to-day” adjustment, think about how you plan to get deliveries of packages. If you don’t have a doorman or someone else who can sign for a package, you’ll need to get that delivered to your office.

      Just a trick for living in a smaller space (not sure what you’re coming from): when you start looking for apartments, bring a measuring tape and take thorough measurements of the walls, closets, etc. (and do this with your furniture as well). This will allow you to sketch out a drawing of your apartment, including potential layouts for your existing furniture, that allows you to maximize your space and storage. And The Container Store’s Elfa system is a godsend. You can take your measurements to the store and they will help you design shelving systems (and install them, for a fee).

      Also, a lot of NYC apartments can fit a queen bed, but I can’t heard of many that can fit a king.

    5. These are awesome tips. Thanks for sharing everyone. I plan on selling my 1600sf, 3br townhouse (where my HOA fees pay for a private garbage company!) and renting a 2br apartment uptown (not sure which neighborhood yet). I have bookmarked this post for future reference. I’m so ready for a big life change.

      1. You’ll be fine! Welcome :)
        Don’t worry about carrying groceries – you can order heavy stuff from Fresh Direct and most supermarkets will deliver your groceries anyway (either free with a min or for a small 2-5$ fee). In fact, almost everything you can imagine can be delivered. Delies deliver. Laundry and dry cleaning, too. If you won’t have a car and miss the big megastore experience, there’s always zip car which lets you rent by the hour.

        1. I live and die by NYC’s delivery services. Anything can be delivered to you if you’re willing to pay for it.

          The one thing that still brings out my suburban brat is that sometimes I just want to get in my [nonexistent] car and go. Go anywhere – to the grocery store, to my friend’s house, to the movies. Hailing a taxi in the rain, or walking the X number of blocks to the subway and then waiting for the train and then perhaps transferring and then potentially facing service changes etc etc etc can seem like such a chore. Not having to drive is nice 95% of the time, but there are days and instances [ikea hauls, anyone?] where being able to start your car and go would be so very nice.

      2. If you end up in an apt. building where you can get packages delivered (doorman or building manager), Amazon Prime will pay for itself in a month! You can get a ton of stuff delivered that way where you’d otherwise have to go to a grocery store, drugstore or hardware store.

        And one of the huge pluses of living in a city is being able to get delivery rather than takeout/having to pick up stuff. And being able to walk just to the corner if you run out of something or otherwise have an immediate need — milk, coffee, Advil, TP, whatever — instead of having to get in the car and drive somewhere.

        1. Isn’t Amazon Prime in NYC generally 1-day shipping? I remember a lot of my 2-day packages arriving a day earlier when I was in NYC.

          1. Not sure — I’m actually in SF. We get some Prime shipments in the (expected) two days and a few in one.

  20. Speaking of blogs, anyone know any good blogs for moms of tweens? I need something like this for my stupid mom questions :)

    1. Chris, from notesfromthetrenches.com just started taking tween questions at alphamom.com. Also Carmen from momtothescreamingmasses and Mir from wouldacoulda.

  21. Threadjack: What do you think of the Ginny Rometty/Masters controversy? I know IBM will continue to sponsor the Masters, but I don’t think she should have attended. It’s fine with me if they want to adhere to their all-male membership, but she’s in the big leagues now and she could just have opted out and sent a deputy.

    1. I understand the argument that because she is a woman in a position of authority and power Rometty should’ve used this platform to “advance” woman’s rights and call out Augusta for not living in the 21st Century. However – I disagree. It is a private golf club. They are allowed to do whatever they want. Maybe you’ll all think I’m an embarrassment to my gender, but why should they admit women? The members of the club have a right to include/exclude anyone they want. An all male golf club doesn’t offend me anymore than an all female golf club, even if it is the most prestigious course in the U.S..

      1. What if they excluded African Americans? Or Jews? The idea that a private club can discriminate against women is beyond ridiculous to me.

        1. But they didn’t exclude a certain racial group or religious group, they are simply a club for men with just a few hundred members. I agree that excluding members based on a certain race or a certain religion should be less tolerable because its usually indicative of racism, intolerance, etc. However, I don’t understand how having an all male golf club equals “discrimination” against women. Men and women are biologically different. Just because they don’t allow women as members does not necessarily mean that they hate women or think women are inferior. I’m sure there are more like it around the country that exclude women, but they don’t get the publicity because they don’t host the Masters. As a woman who believes that women are just as smart and capable as men, I personally think that making a huge deal about not being admitted to a golf course makes us look like a whiny bunch of girls, which, if anything, takes the women’s equality movement in the opposite direction it should be going. (just generalizing here and playing devil’s advocate to an extent – not singling anyone out here).

          2. I don’t think biological difference makes much sense as an argument here: two members of a golf club are never obligated to play one another, so it’s not the same situation as having all-male or all-female sports leagues. The vast majority of clubs in this country have members of both sexes, but maintain separate male and female club records, and I’d bet that most rounds played are single-gender. The issue with Augusta isn’t about women playing men, it’s about women being admitted as members to the organization, a status that might NEVER result in a woman playing a single round against a man.

        2. I’m a black woman and I don’t find this argument convincing for the simple reason that men and women are separated in sports ALL THE TIME. They also couldn’t have one marathon for Jews and another for blacks. They couldn’t have a tennis tournament for blacks and one for whites. I’m not saying they are 100% right, but this analogy doesn’t really hold.

          1. But this isn’t about separate competitions – it’s about membership to the organization, not about men competing against women. In fact, the PGA doesn’t actually bar women from playing in its events, and a handful of women have done so (Michelle Wie, for example) although none have done particularly well.

      2. I agree up to a point. It’s up to her whether she wants to attend, and up to the club whether they want to admit women. However, I am disappointed in the PGA and USGA for holding a major tournament there to begin with. Both of golf’s governing bodies no longer hold events/tournaments at any clubs that do not allow african americans as members. Why is it ok for them to discriminate against women though?

        1. this. this is the real problem for me. the masters is one of the 4 biggest tournaments for the PGA. it shouldnt be. and by doing that and broadcasting on major networks, i also think it brings augusta out of the “private” realm and into the public. (think Con Law 1 in law school — the commerce clause in action)

      3. Yes, under the law, they have a right to do it, because they’re a private organization. Likewise, a private company (well, publicly held, but private-sector) has the right to vote with its sponsorship dollars against the continuation of such a policy, and I wish that IBM would.

        1. That’s pretty much how I feel. Yes, they have the right to exclude women, but others have a right to pull sponsorship. I wish IBM had done so.

          1. This. I would have cheered Ginny Rometty on if she had decided to pull sponsorship unless Augusta agreed to admit women.

            I am glad she attended. Sending a male deputy would have allowed the good ol’ boys to pretend that not allowing women was OK because “women don’t want to be here anyway.”

            I hold on to the hope that Ginny will be using IBM’s sponsorship money to put some major pressure on Augusta to admit women in the future because not doing so is an endorsement of sexism.

      4. No one questions their legal right to do so; the issue is the moral rightness of excluding women. While they may do whatever they want regarding membership, they don’t have a pass from being shamed for their sexism, especially as advertisers and sponsors pour money into the Masters each year. That said, I suspect Rometty didn’t make an issue of it because she hopes/expects to be invited, and making it an issue would make the invitation less likely. We’ll see.

        1. So any all mens or all womens organization is being sexist? I just don’t buy that. This particular course has a history of discrimination, and their no-women policy may be an extension of their white male elitist attitude – but I just don’t feel victimized or discriminated against – getting Augusta to admit women is not going to lead to more equal pay for women or help break gender stereotypes. I understand the above commentators who would prefer that corporations don’t support single-sex golf clubs – they can similarly choose not to support those corporations themselves.

          1. Do you not see a difference between historically marginalized groups and historically dominant groups? Why an all women golf club would be different from an all men golf club? Why the BET channel is different from a theoretical “WET” channel? I’m not a golfer or a sports fan and don’t really have an opinion on this issue, but it’s disingenuous to pretend that all single-sex entities are the same.

  22. I understand the argument that because she is a woman in a position of authority and power Rometty should’ve used this platform to “advance” woman’s rights and call out Augusta for not living in the 21st Century. However – I disagree. It is a private golf club. They are allowed to do whatever they want. Maybe you’ll all think I’m an embarrassment to my gender, but why should they admit women? The members of the club have a right to include/exclude anyone they want. An all male golf club doesn’t offend me anymore than an all female golf club, even if it is the most prestigious course in the U.S..

  23. I gave my notice at work today. I am both excited and nervous for the future. Butterflies galore right now!!!

    3. Congratulations – I gave mine last Friday – it’s so nervewracking!

      They’ve already posted my job, which makes me happy because the only thing I was regretting was leaving certain co-workers with extra work to cover for my absense. I hope they hire someone soon.

  24. Ladies, I did it! I turned in my doctoral exam!

    Now the waiting begins to see if I passed, but I survived the weekend and am confident in my work. Thank you so much for your advice, support and in general, good vibes! It helped immensely (as did consuming my weight in peanut butter eggs).

    1. Up high! Try to relax now. Some of my results came back way earlier than I expected, and others took forever, so go for Zen. (I had 4 comps over 4 testing periods.)

      FWIW, the only people I knew of who failed were those who were totally unprepared for anything, or who got a question very different from what they expected. I suspect that if you “feel confident in your work” that’s a really good sign.

  25. Baby/Pregnancy related TJ

    This may be a bad time to ask, since so many corporettes seem to be currently in the family way (congrats CP in Seattle and all others!), but do you ladies have any advice on keeping the baby fever at bay? DH and I are planning to start trying for a baby next April, but ever since we came up with that official target date a few weeks ago, I have had baby fever like whoa. I have a million good reasons to wait another year. Still, when I saw all my little nieces and nephews over easter… oh man, it’s like my ovaries just decided it’s time to get serious. I’m waiting for this phase to pass, but I am somewhat concerned that before it does, I might throw my BCPs in the trash in some sort of hormone-driven rage. For the record, I’m nowhere near the age where this sort of urgency is reasonable- I turn 28 in a few months.

    DH is no help. He wants like 10 babies and wants them all now.

    1. Welcome to Real Womanhood. Your urge to make babies will only get stronger as you age. My sex drive was crazy at 29. You are entering the female version of being an 18-year-old boy. I’m 31 now, and at least it’s slowed down enough for me to concentrate at work.

    2. Borrow a baby for a day and a night? That way you won’t just see them during a 2-hour well-behaved part of their day, but through the good and bad parts of their day. (And all kids have those!).
      One day of feeding, sleeping, night wakings, taking them out, entertaining them, enduring a little whining and so on, and you may decide that it’s too tiring and you’d like to enjoy your kid-free life a little longer.

  26. I am currently working at a mid sized firm in a major city. I’m taking the bar for another state in July and planning to move there eventually. A senior associate at my firm agree to serve as my bar reference on behalf of the firm. Unfortunately she’s out of the office and her mail was forwarded to a partner. The partner just came in my office with a letter from the bar examiner’s office, which he literally threw on my desk. He didn’t say anything about the letter, asked about a case and walked out of the office.

    I don’t work for this partner often. He’s one of the younger, nicer partners and I think this could be much worse. One partner in particular would have fired me on the spot for wanting to leave.

    How should I handle this? Obviously the cat is out of the bag now that I am planning a transition. Should I talk to the partner who received the mail about it or just wait and see if anyone brings it up? I’ve texted the senior associate to give her a heads up, but I’m worried this may blow up into me being confronted about my commitment to the firm.

    1. I guess it depends on the size of the firm but is there any chance that the partner who received the mail may think you are taking the bar because your current firm wants someone admitted in that state?

      1. No, unfortunately not. The second state is over 1,000 miles away and our firm has no practice group or dealings there. The second state is my home state and where my parents live. My best answer for any questions on why I am taking the bar is that in light of my father’s illness last year, I am looking to keep my options open for the future.

        2. If asked, just downplay it in this manner. It was not uncommon for several of my friends to take 2nd bars back in their home state especially while you are relatively fresh from the whole bar experience.

        3. I think that’s the smartest thing you can say. Your tone matters too because you can’t sound like you’re doing something wrong.

        4. This is the perfect answer. As someone said below, tone matters. And this is “bad” enough that people will feel sorry for you and so stop accusing you or talking to you about it, but it’s not your own health, so it won’t make anyone think that you can’t perform at your own firm and they should terminate you before you become deadwood.

      2. I was just going to say it is not uncommon for lawyers to seek bar membership in other states, even if they have no intention to move there.

    2. (1) Presumably, the partner actually read the letter, b/c otherwise he would have assumed the letter was to the snr associate, and not have handed the letter to you? If so, yuck?!?

      (2) Size of firm? Unfortunately, my experience is that attorneys love to gossip. Depending on how big your firm is, I imagine that the news will circulate rather quickly, and thereby establishing/confirming that you are not, in fact, taking the bar b/c someone in the firm asked you to.

      (3) However, I have also found that on the whole, we associates matter a lot less to the partners than we think we do. Most partners understand that associates leave. But of course, to protect themselves, you may find yourself getting less work. I guess this is a round-about way of saying you may have to prepare to transition sooner rather than later.

      1. So true. When I was in my first out of law school law job, my husband applied for a job w/ a major insurance company that also happened to be a firm client. They are 90% based out of NY but have a 10% local business. My husband was applying to be in the 10%. I spoke w/ a partner about his application because I thought partner might know something about the position. Partner thought husband was applying in NY, practically offered him a reference, and was thrilled for us even though that would mean I would be leaving the firm. I quickly corrected him and said “geez, you can’t get rid of me that easily” but made me realize that he would be far from heartbroken if I was moving away. To partners, associates are easily replaceable.

        1. Thanks, everyone. The partner just called me in and gave me a new case. So obviously there are no hard feelings and I’m not nearly as important as I had feared.:)

          I’m prepared with my response should anyone ask about it but I won’t offer the information. This may actually be a blessing as it easily explains why I will be totally unavailable for a week in July.

    3. Oh – this makes my blood run cold. In a “what you never imagined can go wrong CAN”!/ my worst nightmare sense.

      That said, the suggestion re: “potential family issues – keeping my options open” sounds perfect and unless there is a ton o’ gossip, should solve the problem. Also maybe a head’s up to the intended Sr. Partner so she can say to the other one “this is not the big deal your tacky reaction to Ms. No Name makes it into” wouldn’t be inappropriate. On second thought, maybe she should just stop at “this is not a big deal.” Geez – what a jerk for raining on your day like that.

  28. Now that is is spring I want to wear shorts and skirts but I hate the way my legs look!

    I have light hair and light skin but between my ankles and knees my legs are covered in tiny light pink spots. I am assuming this is the hair follical. It gives my skin on uneven tone and I can’t cover with with self tanner because it will just absorb it and I will have little brown spots instead. I have tried waxing but I don’t notice a difference. Is there anything I can do about this??

    1. Try a visit to a dermatologist. They gave me a prescription cream for something like this that I had on my arms. It may be perfectly normal and easily treatable.

  29. Search this site for “keratosis pilaris” and you will get a ton of results. I hope one helps you.

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