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Updated: Oct 31, 2018 127 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Textured Peplum 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. Textured Peplum Jacket Ooh: we all know I love a white blazer (but really — go find one if you haven't already!), and this cute, collarless, textured number from the Limited looks great. I like the jewel neck, the tiny grosgrain ribbon around the waist, and the peplum and three-quarter sleeves (both of which, IMHO, keep it far away from lab coat territory). It was $128, but is marked to $64 today. Textured Peplum Jacket Here are two plus-size options. Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-4)

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Comments

  1. phrantic

    right off the bat, a couple of questions:
    1) have you ever had to switch from a “traditional” eating arrangement to a “grazing” style and made it work? I find I don’t have capacity or desire to eat large meals, but I get hungry often. I think that for the time being (I’m recovering from some endocrine issues), a grazing approach will work better for me. How have you made it work (especially at work)?

    2) Can someone explain how to “start” a capsule wardrobe? I am going to work on one for a business trip I have to take. I don’t have any intentions of culling my current wardrobe, but I want to make sure that I can have grown-up garanimals for both travel and for just throwing on in the morning when my brain doesn’t function.

    • CountC

      I don’t have any advice on (2), but in regard to (1), I pack lots and lots of little things to graze on throughout the day. So instead of packing one large lunch, I split it out into a few smaller containers and eat when I am hungry. I also pack LOTS of snack type items – fruit, nuts, protein bars, etc. I also drink a lot of water to ensure that my hunger is true hunger and not dehydration.

    • Monday

      1) I’ve always been a grazer, and find that it’s not a problem as long as I don’t have external pressures to eat one big meal. (When I do, I plan around that.) I bring whatever I’ll need for the day and just eat as I go. One benefit is that if I take a true “break” I can spend it walking around or on the phone instead of having to focus on getting and having a large meal. I leave food at the office too.

      2) For travel lately I’ve been picking a color scheme and packing a bunch of things that would all work in any combination. It takes away the stress of putting outfits together, and allows for variety when I need to re-wear things 2-3 times. I try to bring just one pair of shoes that would work with any of it as well.

    • Anon

      I graze b/c I am too lazy / tired to cook and don’t want a big meal anyway when I get home. Grazing can make you a bad eater though if you don’t watch your snacks: easy to load up on starches, without enough dairy, fruits, or veggies.

      I get around this by eating a gigantic and good-for-me-lunch (veggie burrito, heavy on the guac and cheese) and grazing in the evening.

      To start capsuling, empty your closet (maybe into another, onto a bed, or onto a rolling rack) and put things back it in when you wear them (or otherwise mentally identify “worn” v “unworn”). Or pretend you’re on the trip the week before you go so you can road-test items together and make any needed adjustments.

    • mascot

      Splitting a meal into several smaller servings might satisfy you more than eating each component of a meal separately. If my lunch is protein, green salad, and fruit, I’ll feel more satisfied if I get a little protein with a little side of fruit or salad at each feeding rather than just fruit or just the salad for a feeding.

    • SB

      What you refer to as “grazing eating arrangement” I refer to as “non-stop snacking throughout the day”

    • Idea

      I find, for capsule wardrobes, that Pinterest is a wonderful guide.
      I recently pitched about 4 garbage bags from my closet and was glad to find that what remained was mostly black and white, with my most flattering colors in addition to that. Very, very easy to mix and match black + white + 1 other color + complementary color and/or pattern (like a scarf or something).

    • Anon

      How many days is your business trip? Climate? Level of formality required for functions?

      • phrantic

        6-day trip to PACNW in late april; business /casual non-law (professional technical industry). I don’t own a suit, and have no need to wear one, if that helps describe the level of formality. I don’t think there are any “formal” functions, but I know that at least one skirt (probably a black pencil) will have to come with.

    • Anon

      Pack multiple smaller things so you can eat them when you want. Typical “lunch,” which I eat throughout the day: granola bar, trail mix, soup, crackers or chips, apple, one or two squares dark chocolate.

    • Zelda

      (1) I don’t constantly snack, but I’ll sometimes break up a larger meal into smaller portions and/or snacks. For example, I may have 8 ounces of green juice at 7, then Ezekiel toast with natural peanut butter at 9, fruit with a little plain Greek yogurt around 11, lunch at noon, then an afternoon snack (small salad, kind bar, etc) between 3 and 5 (depending on when I plan on eating dinner) and dinner between 6 and 8. One day this week I bought a Greek salad with chicken for lunch and had half and noon and the other half around 4. I try to have carbs (starch/fruit/veggies) with protein and/or fat with every meal/snack. Carbs provide a quick energy boost while protein/fat help you feel full longer.

      (2) I create capsule wardrobes when I pack, using a packing list. I start with a base color (usually black, but could also be navy, grey, tan, etc.) then add in a few accents colors. Everything I pack should easily mix and match with the base color (so I might pack grey shoes rather than tan if I’m doing a black base) and colors/patterns should coordinate with each other (“go” rather than match, as Stacey and Clinton would say).

      Since you’re fairly casual and already have a black pencil skirt, I would do something like this:
      -black pencil skirt
      -black or charcoal slacks
      -sheath dress that coordinates with blazer/cardigans
      -black or grey blazer
      -2 cardigans (1 neutral, 1 in a color or pattern)
      -blouses in coordinating colors/patterns
      -2 pairs of shoes (at least 1 black or grey, maybe another coordinating color)
      -1 coat (trench would probably be best)

      Add or subtract as necessary based on your anticipated events and level of formality. Dress can be mixed with blazer/cardigans, slacks/skirts can be worn with just a blouse or with blouse and blazer/cardigan. You can also add additional accessories like belts to mix things up.

    • Coach Laura

      I’ve stolen the idea that someone here posted. She said her go-to lunch was a mozzarella cheese (string cheese) stick, a handful almonds, hummus (I use the Sabra pre-packaged 2oz packages from Costco) and baby carrots. You can pack up multiple days of this at the beginning of the week – takes just a few minutes. Stash them in your fridge and then grab and go. When I have this for lunch I eat the cheese stick at 11, carrots and hummus at 1 and almonds at 3 or 4.

      • Marilla

        Those are all amazing snacks but I would be so hungry if that’s all I ate at work all day!

        • Anon

          Right? I was thinking that a small portion of cheese, a few almonds, and some hummus with a big pile of baby carrots would make a nice 4pm snack!

    • Must be Tuesday

      I never “had to” make the switch, but I found that I just did it naturally when I stopped working full time and went back to school. I would have a very light breakfast (toast or a banana or cereal) or just coffee and then snacks throughout the morning and early afternoon, usually pretzels, nuts, carrots sticks, apple slices, granola bars, or something like that. In the evening, I’d have 2 different “dinners,” the first right after I got home from class which was usually between 2-4 in the afternoon, and then one later when my partner got home from work. I’d eat normal dinner foods, but very small servings. The first “dinner” was usually left overs from earlier in the week, and the second “dinner” was frequently freshly made or delivered. The key was having the food readily available, and being very good at reading the signs of when I was hungry and when I was full. It was easy in school, because I could carry food with me in my backpack to class, and then I did most of my studying at home.

  2. Anonforthewknd

    For those who saw my post on the weekend thread, I ended up rejecting the offer from business unit B on Wednesday morning before knowing whether I would actually get one from business unit A. I got the offer from business unit A on Wednesday afternoon. I countered their offer with a 12.5% increase in salary and the accepted my counter offer this morning! They also stepped me up from widget counter II to widget counter III so that I have a good amount of room for merit increases before I cap out. And my health insurance waiting period got waived. WOO HOOO!!!

  3. NYC Visit

    So I’m going down to New York for a few days with my husband and am looking for some suggestions.

    If you had 3 days to show someone New York, where would you take them? One day I want to go to Brooklyn to visit family and show him the house I grew up in. Where else? Show or baseball game? Any really fabulous brunch places that are open on weekdays? Any amazing retro cocktail places (I somehow end up at either wine bars or dive bars-nowhere in between)?

    Background:We only live about 2 1/2 hours from the City and I lived there until elementary school, have family down there, and visit frequently. I can think of a million different things to do. My husband is very well traveled and has been all over the world, but has only been to NYC once (despite growing up within a 2 hour drive), for a 4 hour trip in high school.

    • Anon

      Hudson river ferry from Weehawken (or Staten Island ferry) or a circle line cruise? To me, there is just something magical about approaching NYC from the water. The city has a great maritime history (e.g., the old Cunard building) and coming from NY, you can see both the Intrepid and the Statue of Liberty. It always seems magical to me and I always bring visitors in or home that way (coming in at sunset is particularly pretty).

      The roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a snack bar and I think it’s a good way to look out over a very pretty view.

      • NYC Visit

        Oooo! I hadn’t thought about the Ferry. I am not interested in a tour bus or anything, but the Ferry is a perfect ‘here’s a scenic cruise but really it’s public transport’ thing to do.

    • Idea

      I think going with the being-a-kid-there theme is fun! Central Park (maybe the Zoo) to see all the movie places is fun, too.

      One day now-husband and I limited ourselves, to, like, $50/day (this was in 2000) and rode the subway to Coney Island and saw the minor league game there. That was a fun limit. If the sky’s the limit – go for the views – skyscrapers or the ferry or expensive stuff.

      • NYC Visit

        Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art could be fun! Budget-wise, we’re not quite sky’s the limit, but because we don’t have to buy plane tickets, we have a little more fun money to play with.

        I’ve realized that I tend to go to the same few restaurants with friends and tend to go eat at different family members’ homes. I’m excited to try some new, maybe more upscale or trendy places.

    • houston, we have a problem

      i just visited and had a lovely early evening at porch light. also, later drinks at the nomad. both were really fabulous. porch light is super new– so they are working out a bit of their menu still, but the drinks are on point!

    • NYNY

      I love showing people New York, but I try to tailor the events to their interests, energy, and time of year. When are you coming? Is your husband an arts guy, a sports guy, or something else? Indoorsy or outdoorsy? Budget?

      • NYC Visit

        We’re coming in April, so it will (hopefully) be spring-y. Budget is flexible, but not crazy. Here’s the kicker – he genuinely likes almost anything. We’re both very agreeable human beings who like to do things and have a good time doing almost anything. I’m appreciating the suggestions because I totally have all-you-can-eat buffet syndrome: I can think of a million things to do, but culling out the right ones is tough.

        He likes food and fun cocktails. He is probably not interested in waiting in line to go to the top of the Empire State building. He really enjoys just walking around and people watching, so we’re going to do plenty of that.

        • Scully

          Go to the Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State building. Shorter line, cheaper, and better views (you get to look at Empire State building, Central Park).

          • AIMS

            Agree that Top of the Rock is better unless you just really want to see the Empire State Building (some do).

          • Anon for this

            We did Top of the Rock the summer before last, because there was a package deal on tickets for that and MOMA. The views were spectacular but the lines were super-long and slow (on a weekday), can’t imagine Empire State being longer. I would skip the whole thing.

        • NYNY

          Go to Russ and Daughters Cafe for weekday breakfast/brunch. It’s amazing, and a perfect old NY/new NY balance. If it’s nice out, wander up through the East Village and head west to Washington Square Park, where there will always be fun people watching (seriously, the last time I brought out-of-towners there, we stumbled on a light-saber event!)

          The High Line is also great for people watching, and there are good bars, restaurants, and shopping all around it.

          Depending on where you’ll be in Brooklyn, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is a fun trek. Grimaldi’s pizza is great, but if the line is too long, there are lots of restaurants in DUMBO right along the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

          • AIMS

            If you go to the High Line, you can stop in Chelsea Market for breakfast or lunch. There’s a taco place inside (Los Tacos No. 1?) that has hands down the best tacos in the entire city.

            Another fun place to visit might be Eataly right by Madison Square Park- go to the roof garden and have a beer. It’s glassed-in in cold weather and the views are amazing.

            Besides the Met, the Natural History Museum is great (you could have burgers at Shake Shack near by or great brunch at Good Enough to Eat, served all day till 4 during the week). For something smaller, the Frick is one of my favorite places to visit and you can stroll through Central Park before/after.

          • NYNY

            True story: I used to live a block from Good Enough to Eat, and while walking my dog one Sunday, Bono asked for directions to the restaurant. Not 10 minutes later, I ran into him walking the other direction, so I asked if he had found it. He said something about never waiting in line for eggs.

            Don’t let that scare you, though. It was a Sunday in late spring and high brunch time, sometime between 11am and 1pm. There’s no line on a weekday.

        • tesyaa

          While the Empire State Building observation deck is a magnet for tourists, it might be more meaningful for locals who are familiar with the amazing geography of NYC (and with Robert Moses’ achievements/travesties, depending on your POV). I took my son there a few years ago and I enjoyed it at least as much as he did.

    • Pippit

      There are a couple of free apps that offer walking tours of different areas- if the weather is good, that could be a nice way to explore.

      • NYC Visit

        That might be fun, especially for parts of Brooklyn. I can also augment the stories by adding delightful tidbits like, ‘And here is where my sister got attacked by a swan, beginning my lifelong hatred of waterfowl.’

    • Anon in NYC

      For cocktails, try Little Branch, Employees Only, PDT (reservations are highly recommended), or the Dead Rabbit (in the financial district, so perhaps a bit too out of the way for most other things).

  4. N.C. anon

    Does anyone have experience with keratin treatments? Now that the seasons are changing, the humidity here is starting to do a number on my hair. I love my curly hair (2C), but am flirting with the idea of a keratin treatment to minimize hassle getting ready in the morning. Questions: Good or bad experiences with keratin? How annoying is it to grow out? Any tips for sticking it out with the humidity? (I already use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, dry my hair with a t-shirt instead of a towel, and use a leave-in curl cream.) TIA!

    • lsw

      I can’t help with keratin, but can I be nosy and ask which curl cream you use? Also I’m intrigued by keratin but haven’t tried it.

      • N.C. anon

        I can’t find the exact name of it by googling. My stylist recommended it, and it’s especially great in the winter. I think it’s Redken Fresh Curls (I also have a Moisture Control-type one too). I’ll try to remember to update on the weekend thread when I get home.

        I usually manage to figure out what to do with my hair in the spring and fall when the humidity changes, but I’m tired of the couple weeks of trial-and-error process in the transition.

        • lsw

          I agree! I feel like I finally figure out a product combo that works, and then suddenly it doesn’t again. I don’t know if this winter was especially bad for dryness or if it’s just me getting older and my hair getting drier…

    • Anon NC

      I have straight hair, but used keratin on my grays (coarse and frizzy and gravity defying). It works well on that even with humidity. Cannot imagine how it works if your hair is curly, esp. with the regrowth issues. It didn’t damage my hair, but it is very oily anyway.

    • Leopard is a neutral

      I’ve been doing keratin a 2-3 times a year for the last 3 years and love it! I’ve used different kinds and have liked some better than others. One – Pravana, I think, made my hair smell funny for 8 weeks. I like the traditional Brazilian Blow-out brand – you just need to accept that the 2-3 days after you get it, you look a bedraggled because it will last longer if you hold out washing for the full time they instruct. That being said, it is terrific in the NC humidity and as a bonus, I can dry my hair after a shower in 1/4 the time it usually takes. Also, it’s great for summer but I accept that it goes out a bit faster because of swimming in salt water/pool.

      • N.C. anon

        Have you tried growing it out at all? Does it eventually relax and curl again? I’m wondering if it’s something I could do to get through summer and then have my curls come back for fall?

        • Leopard is a neutral

          I have more wave than true curl but as it wears off, the wave starts showing up again at the same level it was pre-treatment. The wave starts showing up around the 3 month mark and is fully back in 5 months – that’s with washing it 2x/wk with special shampoo.

    • anon

      I have more c/wavy hair and can encourage it into pretty defined curls with the right treatment. Every day, I wash & condition, then scrunch about a pea-sized amount of Shea Moisture curl milk and a tiny drop of organiz light argan oil into my soaking-wet hair, flipped over my head, defining the curls & then wrapping loosely in an old t-shirt while I continue to get ready/dressed. I was using Catwalk Curls Rock, but it seems a little heavy now that it’s not super-winter anymore. I’ve switched to Garnier curl cream-gel (and I only use a tiny bit on nearly-dry hair). I haven’t been blow-drying (but when I do, it’s on the lowest setting, with a diffuser, and I’m basically blowing warm breath (it’s hardly windy) into my hair while I kind of massage it into coils/curls. But, I have been air-drying for the last few days, and it seems to be working better. I will sometimes refresh the curls as they fall through the day with john frieda beach waves or whatever it’s called (again).

      I have no experience with keratin, but this routine takes me less than 10 minutes or so. Do you get decent results if you air-dry with your curl cream?

      • N.C. anon

        I do air dry. I have had good results all winter, but I think the humidity in the air must just f with my hair for a few weeks until it adjusts or something. My stylist showed me a trick to twist my hair while it’s wet so it dries in ringlets. This works quite well actually, except I don’t always allow myself enough time in the morning to do it.

    • rosie

      I’ve done keratin treatments, but not to the point of super straight. If the stylist leaves it on for less time, the hair is less frizzy but still wavy with a little curl. For me, the regrowth with some kinds of treatments has been noticeable, so I imagine it would be really obvious if you went super straight. I once got a perm at Aveda with the curl pattern bigger than my natural curl pattern (was supposed to take away frizz), and that was ok, but not life changing or anything. Maybe I’ll do the perm again this summer, we will see.

    • Zelda

      My hair is way curlier than yours (3c? 4a?) but in the winter I use nothing but wash out conditioner as my curl cream. I learned this trick washing my hair at the gym, because I would slather on their conditioner as a styling cream after working out and would get perfect ringlets every time. Everything from Herbal Essence/Suave to Bliss works. The key is to use tons of conditioner (it dries clear) on wet hair and smooth it through in sections.

      Once the temperature picks up I add my hg gel, Ouidad climate control, which is the only thing I’ve found that can handle the humidity in both the South and my island home country. I don’t use tons, more like a serum than a traditional gel, but it works every time!

  6. SharePoint?

    Since there are some Excel power users on this site, I’m wondering if anyone is a SharePoint expert? Specifically, I’m trying to figure out if I can have people add an item to Issue Tracking by sending an Outlook email? Or does anyone have a good SharePoint forum? What I’ve found through web searches has either been too general or for programmers. TIA

  7. surgery q

    I’m scheduled to have surgery to correct a deviated septum and some other breathing issues in several months. I’m planning to take some time off to recover and I’m having a hard time figuring out how to tell the teams I work with without sounding like I’m having a cosmetic procedure. I know it’s no one’s business why I’m out, but my company’s culture is such that people will ask and are likely to speculate/gossip. Any advice on how to frame this?

    • tesyaa

      “Sinus surgery” ought to do it. My husband has had multiple sinus surgeries, and none of them has been for cosmetic purposes or had any cosmetic impact.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      Do you suspect your nose to look different after? If not, people will see that it was not cosmetic if you look the same. You could also just say “minor surgery” (I’m assuming its minor, I don’t know) without elaborating.

    • Anonymous

      I’m having minor surgery. I will be out. Hard stop. If people inquire, just say you don’t talk about medical procedures. The people who have actual embarrassing medical conditions/procedures will be grateful if someone stops this ‘need to know’ attitude.

    • Brunchaholic

      Something also to keep in mind- people very commonly mix up a deviated septum with a perforated septum (which is often times caused by cocaine use). It drives me nuts that people confuse the two (literally the meanings of the two words are self-explanatory, people), but I’ve shockingly seen *countless* people pretty distastefully infer cocaine usage when a deviated septum surgery is mentioned. I would personally avoid using the word “septum” at all costs to avoid the nosy (no pun intended) busy body from making completely unfounded assumptions.

      I like tesyaa’s suggestion of “sinus surgery.” I feel like it communicates the clinical nature of the procedure.

      • Anon

        Hahahaha we clearly know very different people :) I have never heard of this reaction to any type of septum/nasal surgery. People either assume 1) cosmetic reasons or 2) can’t breathe well b/c of nose structure reasons. I’ve never heard anyone jump to a cocaine-habit conclusion.

        • Anon

          You’re just not watching too much Vanderpump Rules on Bravo. (Yes, clearly I need to go anonymous to admit this. )

          • Wednesday

            Will you have a cast on your nose after or only internal stents (or nothing?)

            I don’t think anyone would assume it is cosmetic unless you come in with a cast on your nose and/or two black eyes (the hallmarks everyone knows of rhinoplasty!)

            In that case I would probably make it clear that it was *sinus surgery* (but be aware that everyone will assume that is code for rhinoplasty.. haha) but unless I was going into work with a nasal cast I would just say “minor surgery” and leave it at that.

  8. anonforthis

    Hoping to get feedback from a supervisory viewpoint–so posting here—but would love advice from moms too. I am newly pregnant and due in December. Later this summer I am starting a new position in my firm at an office in another city. We are smallish with only two offices, so I know my colleagues and new supervising attorney well and we frequently work together. Other than being in a different office, the new position will not entail much change for me in terms of practice area. When should I tell the firm I am pregnant? Typically, I would wait a long while. But I wonder if the fact I will be going on maternity leave 4 months after joining the new office should change my timeline? I suspect one of the other associates in that office will be on maternity leave around the same time as well.

    • mascot

      Congratulations. I’d keep your original timeline since it sounds like your responsibilities aren’t really going to change. Are there some duties of this other associate that your are supposed to assume? Will 8 weeks or whatever really change how those duties will be covered?

    • Ellen

      Yay! Fruegel Friday’s! I love Fruegel Friday’s and this fruegel peeoplum jacket, tho it is white and would very likely get Marinara stain’s on it VERY quickley with my eateing habit’s! FOOEY! Great Pick, Kat, at least for those of us in the HIVE that are more carful how they eat.

      As for the OP, tho I am NOT a mom yet (FOOEY), by my math, you will already be 5 month’s PREGENANT by the time you start the job. Guess what, if you’ve already been seen and hired (now), they sureley remember you as a much different person then you will be by the time you show up preggo — NOW don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to be 5 month’s pregnant, but it is NO suprize that you will sureley be showing (compared to what you were), and dependeing on your body shape, you could already start lookeing VERY different (and alot heftier then you could ever dream of — so you may not need to tell them you are pregenant b/c your body will tell that you are pregenant. Rosa is VERY svelte, so each time she get’s pregnant, she becomes as big as a HOUSE and there is no way of hideing that or telling peeople she just put on a few holiday pound’s that she now need’s to loose. PUT ANOTHER WAY, IT WILL BE OVIOUS YOU ARE PREGENANT. Yay!

      What is also important for you to keep in mind is that if one of the other associate’s will be on maternity leave at the same time, you should tell them SOONER rather then later. I know that I am the onley one in my office that is indespensible, so I realley can NOT be out more then 2 day’s without the whole place shutteing down, so I am very good about telling everyone when I am to take time off. Even when I have NO active file’s, I still have to get my billeings in, so the manageing partner does NOT let me take any time off near month end so that I can get in all of my hour’s, even if it is onley to bill my 625 hour monthley requirement. FOOEY b/c there are alot of time’s that I want to do something but I can’t. Even now, where we are MOVING, I must work from home on my wireless ROOTER to get all of my MARCH bills in so that Frank can send them out. The manageing partner won’t even hold a birthday party for me this year b/c my birthday is on SATURDAY, and I can NOT eat any CRUMBS cupcakes, he told me, until we get setteled into the new place at the end of next week. FOOEY!

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! But I am goeing to be 34 tomorrow with NO boyfreind and no prospect’s. DOUBEL FOOEY on that! Hopefully I will meet a guy when we go to 3rd Avenue. I hope so, but he has to be a guy that does MORE than just stare at me and grab my boobie’s and tuchus. I have had enough of that! TRIPEL FOOEY!

  9. BB

    Newbie homebuying question (’tis the season!): How does buying a parking spot in a condo building’s garage usually work? If they’re not MLS-listed, is it a private transaction? Can I go get financing for it as I would a mortgage for the apartment – if so, is this more difficult to do right after I get a mortgage to buy the actual apartment?

    • Carrie...

      I looked into this recently, as I was considering buying a condo from one owner, and a parking spot from another. Basically, you treat it just like you were buying a condo/house. Same lawyer requirements, financing like a mortgage etc.. and I was a little surprised that it was essentially doubling my closing costs (in my situation). No real savings by trying to do both at the same time. Although of course, you don’t have to pay for an inspection for a parking space!

      In my situation I was going to pay cash for the parking space, so financing wasn’t an issue.

    • CountC

      To add to Carrie’s comments, make sure you get the equivalent of a title search/survey done on the parking space. I have heard horror stories about someone buying a space and then it not being the space the seller actually owned and the buyer is SOL.

    • anonymous

      I’ll add that you should roll the parking space purchase into the home purchase if you can. We bought a condo (considered buying the parking space with it, but ultimately didn’t), and decided to buy the parking space (25K) later, but it turns out that it’s really hard to finance such a small amount like that. We would have had to pay cash, and I decided that it wasn’t work 25K out of my pocket. It definitely would have been worth it to me if I could have financed it though. I’m not sure if this is location dependent, but I would check into it.

    • BB

      Thanks for the info, everyone! Our preference is definitely to roll it into the home purchase somehow, especially since there’s no way we would have an extra $50K in cash lying around after the condo purchase. Actually, the preference is to find a place that has it included, but it’s good to know what I’m going to be dealing with if we find a perfect place that doesn’t have it included.

    • TO Lawyer

      When I bought my condo, there was a separate title for the parking space/storage but not an additional cost – it was rolled into the overall purchase but was three separate purchases.

      Talk to your realtor – this is probably pretty standard with condos.

  10. Anonforthis

    OK, I have a confession to make. I’m a closet smoker. I’ll sneak no more than 3 a day (often just 1 after work), when I think no one will see/smell me. Any others out there? You’d think quitting when I smoke so seldom and so little (I often abstain on the weekend and when with family/friends/coworkers), but I just can’t. And I can’t even say that it is a guilty pleasure because there is nothing pleasurable about it.

    Yes, I know smoking is bad and that it is important to quit. That’s not the purpose of this post. I’m just wondering if I’m alone in this.

    • Anonymous

      Since when is 3 a day smoking a little or seldom? You’re a smoker. Nothing closet about it. Guarantee everyone in your life knows.

      So, your question really amounts to, is anyone else a smoker?

      • nutella

        Haha yes, I thought the same thing. First, 3 a day makes you a smoker. Second, everyone knows.

      • gee

        I’m late but I disagree. 3 a day makes you a smoker to your doctor yes, but not to other smokers! People always want to sh*t on smokers, and they all have their reasons but I still think it’s rude.

    • espresso bean

      I can think of at least a dozen people I work with who have the same habit, so you are definitely not alone!

      • Idea

        +1 A co-worker I had was super-stressed out all the time. I think the secrecy added to her stress. I would complain to my roommate, I wish she’d just step out for a smoke break if it’s so relaxing! If it’s stressing her (you) out, just quit!

    • Anonymous

      My dad thought he was a closet smoker. I promise you, we all knew. His coworkers all knew. And now he has Stage 3 lung cancer. For the love of everything, STOP. You are smarter than this.

      • anonymous

        +1, especially since you admit that it’s not really pleasurable. I think you owe it to yourself.

      • Anonymous

        I will add that it seems to me that you want to quit, because you knew posting here would get these kind of responses. My dad would tell you to listen to that part of yourself, because he absolutely loathes himself now for knowing it was bad but justifying it as just a few or “I’ll quit tomorrow.”

    • Anonymous

      Everyone knows.

      And no, I smoked in the 90s, but I quit when I graduated college.

    • Me too

      I used to be but more on the social side. I’ve gradually cut down from my less than a pack/week habit to less than pack/month to 1-2 a month to now none. No one I worked with ever knew and I know that because we had conversations about it and it was pretty clear that they thought I was in the “no smoking” camp.

    • Marjorie

      I’m not a smoker, but my inclination would be to replace the ritual with another – – for example a coffee treat, a fancy tea, A baked good, etc. I think that approach may be more effective than totally eliminating an “indulgence break.” I would aim for something that takes you outside, or at least makes you move a bit, since I would guess that is a big part of the reason you have had trouble quitting so far. You could also try visiting a coworker or window shopping or something, but I suspect a tangible and immediate reward will be the best substitute crutch. And then you can work on replacing or eliminating that. But the first step is to stop the smoking.

    • Anon

      You’re not alone. I was doing the same thing until two days ago when a relative called to tell me he was in the hospital with COPD. Scared the crap out of me and I’m done. So far, so good.

    • Wildkitten

      I was reading (a study funded by Chantix) that if you start taking Chantix now it helps you quit, even if you haven’t set a quit date yet.

    • Anon

      everyone knows because everyone can smell the smoke on you for hours afterwards.

    • la vie en bleu

      My mom smoked my entire life, she just quit this winter. She’s 70. I am amazed and so proud of her. But she was way more than 3/day. Although something she did on the way to quitting was just take two puffs and put it out. She got down to doing just that a few times a day. And then finally felt ready to quit.

      But also I will say it is possible not everyone knows. We just found out a coworker was a smoker because someone saw him holding a pack. He has been sitting next to me for weeks and I didn’t smell anything, had no idea. And I thought I would always be able to tell.

    • Marise

      Replace smoking with increased exercise or take a class around the first time you would be smoking your cigarette. I promise, after a few weeks it will become just as addictive and you will look and feel fabulous. Take it from someone who smoked a pack a day for eight years and then quit.

    • Veronica Mars

      You might want to research vaping as an alternative before quitting altogether. I don’t know a lot about it, but my sister switched from smoking to vaping and seems healthier/happier now.

    • Closet smoker here

      I thought I was reading a post written by myself! I am also a closet smoker. I usually only have 1 or 2 per day, but like you, usually don’t have any on non-work days.

      I disagree with all of the comments that “everyone knows.” Maybe they’re right if you smoke in the middle of the work day. I only smoke after work hours, and I am 100% confident that people don’t suspect it. Why? Because the few times that people I work with have “caught” me, they’ve been shocked. So it really depends. Plus, I’d point out the faulty logic. Just because you “knew” a given person was a “closeted” smoker doesn’t mean you know who ALL of the closeted smokers are. Some of us are really good at hiding it! Dryer sheets are a great way to take out the smell.

      I’m going to quit in the next two years. I do take pleasure in smoking. I know it’s so unhealthy, and sometimes that worries me. I appreciate all of the tips people have left about getting through that quitting process!

      • Anonymous

        LOL at the idea that a dryer sheet can cover up the smell. Some people have an eh sense of smell so you’ll probably fool a fair amount of people, but there are plenty of people who can smell it a mile away.

        I hope you also take pleasure in telling your kids that you won’t be their for their graduations because your cigarettes were like, so awesome. The chemo and having your lung surgically removed is fun too. Ask me how I know.

        • Anonymous

          This post disappeared into the black hole without a chance to edit. Strike that first “their” in the first sentence of second paragraph for “there.”

      • OP

        Closet smoker OP checking back in. Like you, I only smoke after work, which is then followed by a shower or a change of clothes. I really don’t think anyone knows, but that wasn’t the point of my post. I was expecting the pile on. Honestly, I think it is harder to quit when you are a “closet smoker” because of the lack of accountability. But keeping it a secret is exhausting and just not worth it anymore. Thanks to those who chimed in with a similar experience.

        • Closet smoker here

          I agree with everything. I’m always curious for tips on how to keep smoking secret. I keep a thick sweater at work, which I wear after work hours to have my cigarettes. That works well — the smell never goes to my clothing.

      • MJ

        Um, we know. I had a roommate who was a closet smoker. FYI, when you “change your clothes” I smell all your smoky clothes when you do the laundry. Also smell you even if you were smoking outside.

        Listen, stress relief is stress relief. But you’re kidding yourself. Find a better way to relieve your stress.

        Granddaughter of three grandparent smokers who all died of cancer,
        MJ

  11. Skinny jeans?

    As I lose the postpartum weight, I’m looking for an inexpensive but flattering pair of skinny jeans. My maternity jeans don’t look good on me anymore but I’m not small enough to fit into my normal size jeans. Any recommendations? Are the Gap resolution true skinny jeans good?

    • Lady Tetra

      I swear by LOFT skinnies, and they have 40% off sales almost every other week.

    • ANP

      I had really good luck with Old Navy skinnies — the Sweetheart, I think — postpartum, since they come up a bit higher than usual but aren’t full-on high-waisted. Plus, no worry about breaking the bank.

    • Veronica Mars

      I love the Gap Always Skinny Jeans–they’re my go-to! They often have good sales, and/or you can get them on ebay for about $20-$25/pair.

  12. nutella

    Anyone want to do some fun shopping?

    Going with SO to his home to meet his parents and extended family for Easter. There will be church attendance on Sunday morning and it is a large midwestern city, but I think I am someone that is often more overdressed than everyone else, so I don’t want to come off as too showy. I’m thinking a pretty floral dress? Any other ideas? (If it matters, I’m also still in my 20s, so while I want to lean conservative, I don’t want to look frumpy or stiff.)

    • Moon Moon

      I think a floral dress plus either white or colored cardigan would be perfect for an Easter service in the midwest. You will see more people dressed up for Easter even in a more casual church. I would add the cardigan as I tend to think covering your arms/shoulders is appropriate in church, but different religions/churches differ on that, but I would err on the side of caution. I would choose the cardigan over a blazer or jacket for the exact reason of feeling “showy” or too businesslike/sharp with a blazer (though, I do have a white eyelet blazer that I might consider for this situation. Best of luck meeting the folks!

      • Terry

        Check the weather! Not sure where you’re going but the midwest has had some crazy weather swings recently. Not sure where you’re heading but the temperature may be in the 50s for a morning church service, even if the high for the day is in the 60s.

    • Annie

      Pretty floral dress would be perfect. The cardigan is great idea, not only to cover your shoulders, but also because I have memories of very very cold Easter mornings growing up in Michigan. Especially if it is a sunrise service in the garden. For the same reason, I recommend closed toed shoes instead of sandals.

      • Zelda

        +1 to floral dress with colored cardigan and closed toe shoes. That was pretty much my Easter uniform when I lived in the Midwest and I fit right in.

    • Meg Murry

      Pretty floral dress would be probably be good. Probably worth asking the SO if there are any traditions that happen after Easter services, just in case there is some kind of “and after lunch, we all play touch football!” tradition.
      At a minimum, I would make sure you are wearing shoes you can walk in, in case there is a post-lunch walk, and ask if his family is the type to want everyone to take their shoes off indoors.

  13. la vie en bleu

    There is major construction happening on the floor I am working on, but on the other side of the building. We can’t hear any construction noise, but several times a day the floor shakes under me. I am in earthquake country. For a split second I think it’s an earthquake. Every single time. This is so weird. ;o)

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