Weekend Open Thread: Talbots

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1. what’s everyone doing for the weekend? does it feel like fall yet to you or does it feel like there’s still time to get in late summer activities?

   1. Still too warm and humid where I am to feel truly like fall, but I am trying!

      I have some volunteering at a local farm festival, plus an Oktoberfest event, and bluegrass concert! In addition to my normal weekend stuff (riding my horses and preparing for another work week ).

   2. Greetings from a heat index of 108 degrees. I will be hiding inside with the ac on. Walking out the door is like walking into a blast oven.

      1. Same girl, same.

   3. It’s been blisteringly hot around here lately but today it’s only low 80s, which almost feels like fall. I’m reminded of the September 40 (!) years ago this week, when I went into the hospital on a blisteringly hot September 15 to have a baby, and by the time I was discharged four days later (after a c-section), fall was in the air.

      1. Oh, and what am I doing? Have tickets to a play at a small local theater tomorrow night and I also have a bunch of scholarship applications to read and score for a board I’m on. Also need to tackle Mount Laundry.

   4. My daughter is in elementary school but we went to the high school’s homecoming parade with friends tonight and will go to a 5k fundraiser for the schools on Sunday, along with virtually everyone we know. Our town is kind of like a less quirky Stars Hollow and I love these events when the whole community comes together.

      September has been brutally hot, but the heat is finally breaking and we’re getting some fall-like weather soon so I’m very excited for that.

   5. I am exhausted. I’ve been working on a deal and it’s just wiped me out. Internally leadership is on edge. Managing them and this deal plus the children starting school has been too much.

      I’m going to take myself to the mall tomorrow afternoon. It’s been 10 years since I last mooched around short hill mall. I’ll probably last an hour and leave!

      1. I hope you enjoy it! I used to take a day off during the week each year and go there just to shop and browse without a time pressure or specific need. I was there last weekend to do a return and the fall Bloomingdale’s displays are so cute! Hope you get to relax soon!

      2. We share a mall! Get yourself a treat from Liv Breads and enjoy!

2. I have a condo built in 1990 and the master bath has pink floors, pale pink tiling in the shower and on the wall of the separate tub, a pink toilet, two darker pink sinks and a plastic bathtub in the same shade, and the vanity is black and pink mottled stone-looking material. So, ugly room all around, but I need to change out just the pale pink tiling in the shower, shower floor and wall because a water leak damaged just that area and insurance will be covering that cost. For reasons, I don’t want to spend any more money on beautifying the space and I’m just replacing the tile and have to pick the tile and grout this weekend. I have considered either getting white subway tiles or maybe a larger format either pure white ceramic or white with more of a stone look (with some marbling or subtle lines) for the walls. And for shower floor, maybe medium gray or darker gray small squares or hexagons. Any advice or suggestions? I have to get the tiles from floor and decor and have a budget of less than $5 psf. Thank you.

   1. Don’t do faux stone it looks bad, you can see the print on the tile. I think white subway tile on the walls and grey penny tile for the floor both with a mid toned grey grout is the move.

      1. Yeah I’d do this. If you want to beautify the rest of the room later this is a perfect neutral palette that won’t lock you in to a too specific look.

   2. go dark green! moody. if it’s gonna be ugly at least have fun with it. just google it, you’ll see what i mean.

   3. I don’t think bright white tiles is going to look good with your other colours, unless your pink is very icy and cold. Creamish white and charcoal could work.

      Art Deco is the era of successful pink and black bathrooms, though, so if you want some inspiration, look for art deco pink bathrooms. You could do charcoal floor, pink tile to the same height as the vanity, a skinny charcoal border tile and off-white tile on the rest of the wall?

   4. I would look at the Bedrosians Cloe tile for the shower. It’s a bit more than your budget. The variability between the tiles, gets you that subtle feel you are looking for without going for a printed tile. If you think in the future you might want to do the tile wall by the bath tub, I’d also price that out to just buy the extra tile for it.

      1. +1 for Bedrosians Cloe tile. I just used it for a bathroom remodel and the subtle variability in tiles adds so much interest even though I chose a very neutral cream color.

   5. You have a lot going on and this is a great opportunity to inject some calm. White subway tile and white penny tile with dark grout.

   6. Thank you for everyone who responded so far. For the wall tiles and the floor tiles, should I go for the shiny version or the matte version? Also, should grout be lighter (because it gets darker over time) or dark so that it’s doesn’t show stuff?

      1. Shiny versus matte depends on the other finishes in the room. Too much shine can be overwhelming.

         I would also go with warm white. Get samples and look at them in situ before committing to anything.

         Dark grout looks very 15 years ago to me and shows any imperfections in tile layout. White looks classic but can be a bit more to clean (grout sealer is a must). A soft tan or gray grout can work if it harmonizes with other colors in the tile/room.

      2. Matte, otherwise it’s more of a public toilet look. Consider warmer white colors or off white, unless you’re going for an industrial look.

         The grout should be appropriate rather than trendy, unless the contrasting grout is something you love the look of.

      3. For the floor I vastly prefer matte as it is less slippery underfoot.

         Noticeably dark grout would add a look that’s dated from another era IMHO. I’d stick with a pale grey at the darkest, with white tile.

   7. Grey as a decorating trend is now very dated.

3. I know what we typically call cardio. My runner friends insist that sprinting is not cardio but strength exercise. I posed to them that I am so out of shape due to decades of desk work that maybe everything but walking is strength vs cardio for me. They laughed. But then stopped, like maybe? But for me, trying to get back in shape and build muscle in my 50s, that’s too good to be true, isn’t it?

   1. Nope, it’s very, very possible. Start slow, keep going, and make it fun (if you can). I don’t know if it matters if you focus on cardio or strength- either option will provide benefit.

   2. Are you thinking about aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise? I don’t think sprinting will replace weight bearing exercise, but I am not sure whether it can entirely replace aerobic cardio either.

   3. Sprinting is anaerobic cardio.

   4. Who cares?!? I like run and running is cardio. It’s also my mental health and I often meditate when I run.

      If you are that out of shape I would start with walking. I recommend the approach’Go slow and go far’. I was very unfit and walked first, then ran and now I’m learning strength training.

   5. for 50s+ really targeted HIIT is supposed to be good, but it’s like a 10 sec sprint and a 50 second rest. read dr. stacy sims on this (there’s a lot of baloney out there including her but at least i feel like she’s got some science background to bcak it up.)

      i think i’ve seen headlines calling it “japanese walking” if you do this as a walker. i tried to do it when i was swimming laps the last few times, kinda harder to get the mix right but if i sprint for 25yds then rest for 75 yds it feels like a good workout.

      1. This approach is supposed to have really good health outcomes (more of the benefits with fewer of the risks).

   6. What on earth? I would get an Apple watch, set the rings to get your steps in and then go from there.

      1. I don’t recommend the Apple Watch. The Garmin is like an oura ring and gives all the sleep and stress data plus tracks your activity. The battery lasts for 11 days on my watch and it’s held up well over the 3 years I’ve had it.

         My Apple Watch just didnt keep up and I was constantly charging it.

   7. I am also laughing a bit (not at you).

      Running made my legs very strong/toned and I almost never sprint unless I’m late for the bus.

      So I’m gonna say, yes running can make you stronger.

      Not the same as weight training (in fact they go beautifully together) but running is for sure strength building. Think of all the force you are putting on your legs.

4. I’m really surprised by the news out of Weil in the past week or two. I had heard rumblings of trouble (including their poorly planned counsel program) but still surprised that they could be merging with a competitor or lower tier firm. Are most large firms this vulnerable?

   1. I’m surprised that five of their partners are going to Cravath.

5. I feel like I have nothing to wear this fall. I’m a size larger than a year ago (limiting what still zips). I am starting a new leadership role at my job in October and I’d like to think less when getting dressed. I’d love some ideas that are current. I’m not sure if the weight is here to stay. If you had $500-600 to shop for me, what would you buy?

   1. What size are you? I could definitely give someone a wardrobe, lightly used or new, for that amount, depending on the size.

      1. 2-4

   2. I would go to a mall if you can and browse Ann Taylor and Nordstrom for some fall dresses/blazers that you can mix and match. I think dresses are more forgiving for weight fluctuations and you can change up the look with layers (thin turtleneck underneath some dresses with tights/boots for cooler weather, cardigan over it or a blazer, boots vs heels/flats)

   3. Go on the Ro website, get a cheap GLP-1 and by October zip up your old clothes. You’re welcome.

      1. Tr 0LL 😹

         1. The OP is concerned that her weight puts her up a size … to a size 2-4.

            We are all being trolled.

            1. Honestly, that’s not fair. Weight gain was just as much of a nuisance wardrobe-wise when I went from a size 2 to a size 6 and when I went from a 12 to a 14. In both cases it meant that the clothes I had were uncomfortable, and I had to spend money on new things. Whether OP needs a GLP-1 at her current weight is a different question, but let’s not just discount her experience because she is still in small sizes. Tight, uncomfy clothes are tight, uncomfy clothes at any size.

   4. Classic. Check Veronica Beard for styling ideas.

   5. 500-600 isn’t a ton of money, but I think you could do well with some basics, and then a few “third pieces” that take an outfit up a notch, like a couple of classic belts, a nice blazer, etc. Current shapes now are wider legs and more fitted on top. I like a wide leg pant and a fitted cardigan or shirt. I am doing fewer blouses, unless they are underneath something. I feel you can get these kinds of pieces at ann taylor, etc. in pretty classic colors currently.

   6. If your current pieces all still fit, would your wardrobe work for you? If so, I would make a list of what doesn’t zip and focus on replacing those items.

      My closet is mostly classics and nothing terribly trendy. When I changed sizes last year, I shopped for a gently used version of my new size in the exact same item on Poshmark, eBay, etc. I was able to replace all of my most-used pieces for a few hundred dollars total.

6. Moving son into college on Sunday and suddenly feel the urge to bake and send him with 2 dozen cookies. Anyone have a solid reliable recipe for that quantity for choc chip cookies? (Haven’t baked in years and only the standard dozen previously) Thanks!

   1. https://pin.it/4RP2ksG1z

   2. I posted a link, but Half Baked Harvest Brown Butter Malted Chocolate Chip cookies are the only thing I bake. A little extra effort than regular chocolate chip cookies but very worth it to me. Don’t forget to bang the pan

   3. The $250 Mrs. Fields recipe makes A LOT cookies. The recipe calls for blending all the oatmeal for oat flour, but I usually only blend half the oats and put the other half in as is for a sturdier cookie.

   4. Just double your normal recipe? But I’ve made a lot of chocolate chip cookie recipes and, unless they’re really big cookies, most recipes do make a couple dozen cookies or more, so just look for one for the kind of cookie you like and do the math to change the quantity if it’s really off what you want.

   5. Any standard recipe that uses a full bag of chocolate chips will make around 4 dozen.

      1. it depends on the size of the cookies. We normally get about 2 dozen but we like bigger cookies. You’d need the cookies to be awfully small to get 4 dozen from the standard recipe.

   6. I love the Doubletree recipe: https://stories.hilton.com/food-beverage/static-doubletree-reveals-cookie-recipe

   7. As someone that used to receive a lot of cookies in college, pick a recipe that still taste good after three or four days sitting in a cardboard box. They’re definitely lots of good ways to package them to keep their freshness, but some cookies lose their flavor after a day or two, even if they’re just sitting on the counter. I don’t have a cookie answer, but off the top of my head I would do something for my kids like magic bars.

   8. I don’t think your current recipe is a “standard” one if it only makes a single dozen cookies at a time.

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