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Tuesday’s TPS Report: Side Ruched Dress

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. BOSS Black Side Ruched DressI really like this simple black ruched dress from BOSS Black — the faux wrap, blousy look to the ruching, and the slightly uneven hem all look just a bit more interesting than your boring wrap dress. Also: how do we feel about red heels with black tights? I'm intrigued. In any event, the dress is $295 at Bloomingdale's. BOSS Black Side Ruched Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)

Sales of note for 12.13

  • Nordstrom – Beauty deals on skincare including Charlotte Tilbury, Living Proof, Dyson, Shark Pro, and gift sets!
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off everything, including new arrivals (order via standard shipping for 12/23 expected delivery)
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 400+ styles starting at $19
  • J.Crew – Up to 60% off almost everything + free shipping (12/13 only)
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything and free shipping, no minimum
  • Macy's – $30 off every $150 beauty purchase on top brands
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
  • Talbots – 50% off entire purchase, and free shipping on $99+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

178 Comments

  1. I like the dress, but you can get the same or similar dress for far less money in jersey. I do love love love the red shoes/black tights combination. I now kind of which I wore it today — I am wearing black tights with black shoes, but my red shoes are not in my shoe drawer but are instead at home. Alas.

    1. I sort of agree, but I think there is a very wide range of quality in jersey. I can most certainly tell a difference in DVF, Pink Tartan, etc. and Target, and even Banana Republic.

        1. I’m always a bit amused that some retailers try to sell jersey dresses for $100+. *cough* Banana Republic *cough* biggest offender *cough*

    2. I can’t wear jersey (all the shapewear in the world doesn’t hide my belly and love handles) and so I really appreciate non-jersey dress options. Sometimes I feel like companies no longer make non-jersey dresses.

  2. I like this dress, especially the red heels with the black tights. But my OCD would need to have that hem evened out…

    1. I love the red heels with the black tights, too. I’m a sucker for red. I think I’m going to have to try this myself.

      Oh, and GG is getting worse and worse. Yesterday didn’t even have any clothes to admire. Just Blair with her dreads in the wedding dress and then sweats, Serena with her bumpit and bridesmaid dress, Chivy (Charlie/Ivy) in her cater/waiter outfit. Lily’s dress made her look fat. And Eleanor’s dress was a pretty color, but definitely a MOB dress.

      On the bright side, Wade on Hart of Dixie was shirtless again.

      1. Red is my favorite color, I have a wool coat is a dark red that I absolutely love. I also have a red purse, and red leather gloves that I’ll occasionally wear with my black coat.

        As for GG, I didn’t even watch yesterday. Blair’s hair really needs to meet a brush. The clothes do look like they’re getting better in the promo pics I saw for 5×15 (I think) and Chuck’s scarf from S1 is back. From what I read in the recap, Blair is really committed to this martyr act, even though everyone, including Georgie, is rooting for her and Chuck to be together. But no, she’s going to remain married to the prince.

        I watched Chalet Girl over the weekend for the sole purpose that Ed Westwick was shirtless and the movie wasn’t that bad. It was your typical rom-com but Ed’s British accent is really hot and I love his bone structure. Definitely a mindless way to kill 90 minutes, LOL!

        Heart of Dixie is a show I think I need to check out. Just how hot is Wade without his shirt? ;)

        1. Oh my god…Wade without his shirt is…oh my god. that is all. I love him.

          What is wrong with him though Bunkster? He is such an IDIOT.

          That boy, there is a screw loose up in there.

        2. Wade. Without shirt. Mental image too much to handle while sitting at desk at 10:09 a.m. on a Tuesday. My lord.

        3. Awww I love Wade!

          I feel like at the beginning the idea was for George to be the main love interest but he is just so dull and Wade is just lovely lovely lovely!

          Go Team Wade!

          1. Last night was the first time I actually liked George and Lemon together, which was good because I’ve always been on team Wade!!

      2. I watched this episode of GG kind of accidentally. (I was doing my nails, and didn’t feel like digging for the remote.) I’ve never watched before so I was highly amused/bewildered. I kind of didn’t get the Gossip Girl part of it, so I think I might have to spend some time googling the plot today! xoxo, MissJackson.

    2. I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet, but did anyone notice Real Charlie’s shoes last week? Nobody cater-waiters in six-inch platform pumps. Puh-leeze!

  3. I never would have thought of wearing red shoes with all black, but I totally love it. I’m definitely going to try this soon.

  4. Today is my 1-year anniversary at a job I hate and thought I’d only have for a few months. On the bright side, that’s a year that I have gotten through despite my daily urge to get up and walk out or just not ever come back from lunch… so, yay me?

    2. Congratulations! I am in a similar position but have not yet reached my 1-year mark. Counting down the days, though . . .

    3. I feel similarly. Feb 14 is my one year anniversary at a job that I don’t enjoy. The one positive aspect of this job is a terrific health insurance plan, so I tell myself that it’s worth staying here just for that benefit. As soon as I find something better, I’m gone.

      1. I’m in a similar situation – do you all have any advice for “making the best of a bad situation” type of thing? This position offers decent enough insurance, but i’m pretty healthy, the pay is “fine”, meaning it’s pretty standard but not great, and the work is boring and does not contribute to any personal growth or professional development. How do you all stay positive? I know, i know, lucky to have a job, but when your (my) generation grew up being told you can do whatever you want to blah blah, and your childhood dreams of being a paleontologist have lead to you being an administrative assistant….help?

        1. Spend too much time on Corporette. Have a fantasy life where Wade without his shirt hangs out at your desk giving you a pep talk every day.

          :-)

          1. Make a long-term plan for a transition to something you think you’ll like better and start doing steps to reach it (not one year- more like 3-7, slow and steady turtle). Take those steps as you can, at your own pace. Been there, did this, took years but far happier now!

            I love the red with black. Makes me miss nice shoes.. pregnant with toe injury = Trotters loafers day after day for me.

        2. I don’t know about staying positive, because I don’t feel very positive, but I try not to let this job stand in the way of my development. For example, I take time off to do any CLE I want, even if I don’t have the time accrued and have to take it unpaid. If I don’t, I feel like I will never become qualified to do anything but the menial, demoralizing job I already have. I also remind myself frequently that without this job, I wouldn’t be able to afford the CLEs or eating out or my house cleaners or anything else that contributes to my quality of life.

          And yeah, sitting on Corporette all day when I’m feeling sorry for myself helps too.

          1. I’m sorry, Totes and all others in this situation. This was me when I first started reading as well. Things got worse for me for a while, but then they got better.

  5. I like this a lot – this brand is on my list for when I have a lot of money to spend!!! ;)

  6. I like the red heels. I wear a lot of black and often have a different color shoe, but I’ve never gone so bold as red.

  7. I got a pair of red patent leather shoes to wear with a black dress for an office Christmas party once – I received tons of compliments. I’m not sure I’d take the look to daywear, though.

    1. I wear all black (or black with shades of grey) with red shoes often to work. I do it with slacks though, which is maybe a good place to start if you want to try it. I have never done it with a skirt, though i am intrigued.

    2. I’ve worn red mid-heeled patent leather pumps to work with black pants before and received tons of compliments. I generally don’t wear them with black skirts or dresses to the office, but they are perfect to jazz up an all-black ensemble during the holidays or to my husband’s work events.

    3. I have a pair of red leather (not patent) flats that I wear to the office with black, gray, or navy. My boss has complimented them a couple of times (and I believe it’s genuine, not a “Wow, those shoes are really…something” type of comment). I love them. My office isn’t as formal as some here, though – I only wear suits when I meet with clients – and I don’t wear the red shoes in front of clients.

  8. I feel vindicated by the love for red shoes with all black. I wore that yesterday – black dress, black tights, cranberry heels.

  11. Actually wearing black tights and red heels today. I’m also in a grey glen plaid dress today that has a red thread in the pattern.

    Love my red shoes. They make me happy whenever I wear them and they are surprisingly versatile.

    1. totally agree with how versatile red shoes are — i have 4 pair in various shades of red/cranberry/burgandy and materials.

    2. That sounds really pretty! I love plaid, but alas, somehow only have one shirt that’s work-appropriate. You’ve inspired me to make sure I pull it out this week, though :)

  12. Love this outfit! Agree with you all about the shoes. Great punch of color.

    Btw, I’ve been unwinding post-work by watching Season 1 episodes of Covert Affairs (finally getting around to an Xmas present I was given.)

    I am cringing because when I first started out in investment banking, years ago, I wore pantsuits exactly like the ones Annie Walker (Piper Perabo’s character) wears.

  13. I wish I could shout it from the rooftops — my morning sickness, extreme fatigue, day-long headaches, and depression due to all of the above is GONE! It was a long 5 weeks of struggling to get through each day, but I finally feel like myself again.

    1. Congratulations! Enjoy this stage of your pregnancy – the second trimester was by far the most enjoyable.
      I’m now counting down the days to my due date (30!) and am so ready to see my feet again!

      1. 38 days left for me! I look forward to being able to eat toast without getting heartburn!

        1. I’m full term today! I don’t want to inundate everyone with a list of everything I’m excited about (wine!!!), but I’ll just say that I also can’t wait to drink water without heartburn.

          1. Congrats all! I have 11 weeks left.

            BTW, are people taking tums or anything for heartburn? I just started getting that need-to-burp-but-can’t feeling (boo!).

          2. Once I figured out that Tums weren’t enough, my OB had me start taking Zantac each morning and night. I started with one Zantac 75 at a time, and eventually upped it to two pills morning and night (my heartburn seriously just wouldn’t quit). That eventually stopped it, but my doctor did offer to write a prescription for something if the Zantac wasn’t enough.

          3. I have cut out spicy food (boo) and anything carbonated. So far, Tums have been enough for me (fingers crossed)!

          4. Joining the countdown! Three weeks to go! So many things I’m excited about (besides meeting the baby :-) ): red wine, seeing my feet, wearing boots, gin & tonics, sushi, lox, raw cheese… I’m looking forward to a Feast of Forbidden Foods from the hospital bed.

            Definitely make the most of second trimester, Morning Sickness Gone. I thought I was having an easy pregnancy come second trimester, but I have been SOOOOOO exhausted and spacey since about 30 weeks.

    2. Congratulations! I am 7.5 weeks so I still have several weeks to go before I don’t want to 1) throw up and then 2) go to sleep. This is so much worse than with my first one! Enjoy the second tri– I felt completely bionic.

      1. WHOOT! I am very jealous- I am at 9 weeks and i am feeling so awful. nausea hits mostly at night, so I can take the rx my ob prescribed (which makes me TIRED!) but I am so so tired! I can’t sleep at night because I pee every 2 hours, so I am exhausted and irritable during the day. And its so early, no one knows (its our first, btw) they are just thinking I am crazy!!! And I just want to dye my hair. My grays are out of control (and I am a brunette!).

        Wow. just had to get that off my chest. I know it gets better… right?!?!?

  14. Anyone have experience weaning off of ADD meds? I am doing just that – after discussing the matter with my doctor – and need suggestions for how to function, especially at work! I am tired, unmotivated and my brain feels like it is disconnected. So far I’ve been throwing caffeine and lots of sleep at the problem.

    1. Are you as tempted as I am by caffeine powder? :)

      I read a book that suggested cutting sugar, food additives, and gluten, and then running as much as possible. It helps, sort of. Sugar is hard for me to minimize; gluten was easy. The running is non-negotiable–I’m awful if I don’t–but every day I struggle to just go do it. Even knowing that I’m going to feel much better after I do has yet to make it easier.

      1. Hadn’t heard of caffeine powder but now I’m definitely tempted.

        Exercise does help, but it’s a struggle for me too. And cutting out sugar would be scary! If you’re still reading this thread, was cutting/minimizing sugar worth it? (<—written with one hand while shoving Skittles into my mouth with the other hand)

        1. Yes, and I think largely because it makes me think so much more about what I’m drinking/eating. I would frequently just get through the day with a latte or four (and jelly beans were my supplemental drug of choice). I used to get in this cycle of just eating kid food and drinking a ton of espresso, and it started to feel absurd to me, like I was just pretending to be a grown up.

          I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I cut sugar as much as I perhaps should, because I still haven’t figured out how to be one of those awesomely productive people with perfect time management skills. :) I used to resent Adderall so intensely that I found it easier to cut sugar when I realized I was starting to depend on it to get through the day.

    2. I’m curious why you are going off the meds. What you describe doesn’t sound like withdrawal, it sounds like ADD which is why you are on the meds, I presume.

      1. TTC. My doctor originally suggested I just stop the meds once I’m pregnant, but several posts on this site made me realize that I could be dealing with a whole host of other problems at that time so I wanted to go off ahead of time to make it easier for myself. We agreed to revisit this approach if it ends up taking a long time for me to get preggers.

        1. I’m really interested in the answers to this question, as it is something hubs and I have been considering… and I don’t know how/if I could hold down a job without the ADD meds. Please re-post any interesting responses you receive, Another S

    1. I just got some fab red satin party shoes. I have no idea where I’ll wear them, but I just couldn’t resist!

      1. I couldn’t sleep last night… which meant at 4AM when the email came out I had first pick :)
        my new wallet and earrings are going to be FABULOUS!

        1. EMERGENCY: How do Kate Spade shirts fit? I am either a small or a mediu in various brands. I have a tiny rib cage but rather large b**bs.

          And I need to order these shirts before they sell out! Help!

    2. Ahhhh! I missed the email, but I just snagged the cobble hill travel leslie! So excited because that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!

      2. I’m really tempted by that bag. I just bought the smaller leslie bag for the same price.

        1. Thank you all for validating my extreme excitement over this bag! Can’t wait for it to get here!!

  16. Who just had to cancel a meeting with her boss because she has almost completely lost her voice and would only have made a fool of herself, and annoyed him intensely, amid Starbucks music? This lady right here. I was almost picturing one of those emergency reader e-mail posts: “Which Is More Professional: Cancelling by Email An Hour in Advance, or Whispering and Rasping to Manageing Partner?”

    So then I had to put all of it in a multi-paragraph email, including a bunch of stuff that was kind of sensitive, because there’s no time to spare. Luckily he seems understanding. We’ll see about the response though.

    1. Ugh, I hate stuff like that. I think people are understanding, though, that sometimes your health really does make XYZ job responsibilities unworkable, as long as you are typically on top of things and make sure to communicate everything clearly. For example, a couple of weeks ago I got the flu really badly, right before a work event that I was the no. 2 person for. I stressed and angsted, but realistically, I couldn’t stand up for more than 20 seconds at a time, so there was no possible way I could make it into the office. People were fine about it. Because really, it happens to us all at some point or another.

      1. Luckily, I was the one who called the meeting, and the time constraint is my issue rather than his. He was basically doing me a favor by meeting and does not mind that it’s cancelled. However, while the stakes are high for me, they are moderate for him too, hence the necessary email. He needed to be alerted to something.

  17. Ladies with digestive issues – have you ever had heartburn or indigestion that manifests itself as a feeling similar to heart palpitations? I’ve been feeling a fluttering in my chest periodically. I did talk to my doctor, and everything is fine heart-wise. It didn’t occur to me when I was at the doctor’s, but I do often get indigestion and sour stomach from acidic foods, and it seemed like the fluttering could possibly be esophageal rather than cardiac. Has anyone else had this issue?

    1. Generic “acid reducer” pills from the drugstore work for me. Sometimes the directions say to take 10 mg, but my doctor says it’s fine to take 20 mg (usually two of the pills).

    2. I’ve read about this and experienced something similarish. Its actually quite common for people to go in thinking they are having palpitations and in fact they are having acid reflux. If your heart has checked out as normal, that is probably the explanation.

      Are you taking some sort of heart burn medicine. I take a Prilosec OTC each morning (before eating anything) and it has really taken care of the problem. However, if you are doing this and the problem hasn’t gone away, you should be checked for an ulcer and possibly your bloodwork should also be checked for pancreatitis.

      So sayeth the girl with too many GI problems. But note, she does not have an MD, so don’t listen to her if someone with one of those disagrees with her!!

      1. I went to a dr and took the 14 day course of Prilosec for a similar issue. I think you’re only supposed to take it for 14 days every few months, though I’m not remembering why. You could first try modifying your diet to avoid the “bad foods,” then add in priolosec if you don’t want to try some at home remedies before going back to the doctor…

        1. My GI essentially has put me on a permanent course of Prilosec because I have an ulcer to prevent damage to the esophagus. But it is correct that as a general rule you should only take the 14 day course. :-)

      2. Thanks. I don’t currently take anything, but I should get Prilosec. I used it in about 8 years ago when I actually did have an ulcer and it worked great. I will pick some up today and start taking it to see if it helps.

        My doctor’s initial thought was that it was palpitations related to panic or anxiety (for which I already take meds), but I don’t think it is related to these conditions.

    3. I’ve had this (the palpitations) and get acid reflux a fair bit. I never made the connection before even though, thank you!

    4. I’ve had this, too. I currently take (as a suggestion from my doc) Zantac every morning and night. It helps tremendously and I definitely notice the days that I forget to take it.

      1. Thanks! I have never tried Zantac. I think I will pick up another 14-day course of Prilosec and see if that helps, but if not, I will discuss other options with my doctor.

  18. Yesterday I received an offer for the job I was hoping to get! They’ve asked me to name a salary and we’re slated to talk tomorrow morning about it. We’ve already discussed other benefits and I’m getting a package that I’m happy with, so now I just need to do two things – figure out the number for compensation, and make a list of “factors” that support why I’m asking for that number.

    For a very small firm they are offering me a lot in terms of flexibility and I am really happy with the benefits package. I know the numbers I’m shooting for and going to accept, but I’m looking for advice on the elegant, tactful way to bring forth points that support my number. Does anyone have tips – or links to helpful sites – on negotiating a salary with a small, private employer?

    1. AWESOME!! Congrats!

      Do you have any metric for what to compare the salary to? For example, when I moved from biglaw (nat’l firm) to small law (30 lawyers), I first took the percentage of hours (bc the required hours were lower) multiplied by my previous salary, and then put in a “quality of life” multiplier for how much less pay I was willing to accept given that the firm was a better QOL. I think that multiplier was something like 15 or 20%, so 15% less pay than what the straight hours comparison would indicate.

      This helped me get 25% more salary than what they were offering. So they offered X, I came back with 140% of X, and we settled on 125% of X. :)

  19. Lynnette responded to a post that I did yesterday (about picking up work from solo/small firms to do research and writing on an hourly basis) and asked how I handled the stress of the uneven and unpredictable work. I didn’t see it in time to respond, but I wanted to:

    The answer is, that ultimately, I didn’t handle the stress, and I decided that I had to jump ship and got a “real” job. Now, I certainly wouldn’t say that it can’t work for some, or even a lot of people, and maybe I could have made it work if I had focused on getting more side work like that, but I really found that doing that didn’t really fit with my goals (to become kick-ass in litigation and to be a breadwinner for my family). The poster that I had responded to mentioned that she has an infant at home and that she was looking for something with 40 hours a week, so I guessed that she probably had someone else with a regular paycheck so that might be less important to her. If you can lean on someone else when times are tighter, that makes it easier (and I could, but my goal was to not do that), but, even so, it’s a challege because you never know how much you’re going to be asked to do. Good luck to you!

    1. Thanks for the response! I’m frustrated because this position involves basically everything I was seeking to avoid in a job (no ownership of what I’m doing, weird hours, working from home, constantly “on call,” frequently having to cancel plans b/c of work) for very little money. At least if I were in BigLaw I wouldn’t also be broke all the time.

  20. red shoe/black outfit is a good look, I do it a lot. Also fun — opaque black tights with a slight texture/pattern and red shoes. Breaks up the all black a little.

  21. Threadjack for the DC Corporettes – I need your advice, please. I am traveling into DC this week. Landing at Reagan at 7:30ish in the morning, need to get to DuPont Circle as quickly as possible. Metro or cab? I will have minimal luggage, a small rolling bag and a briefcase, so I’m not worried about managing my luggage. I’ve used the Metro before when traveling to DC and generally prefer it to cabs, but wasn’t sure whether it would be crazy-busy that time of day. (Read: I do get slightly claustrophobic sometimes and don’t enjoy impersonating a sardine!) So, which would be quickest and/or least hassle? Thanks!

    1. It will be crazy busy at that time of day — and if I remember correctly (been a few years since I lived in DC) you’re going to have to make a couple of transfers. But there will also be pretty bad traffic probably from Reagan to Dupont in the cab. So it may be a pick your poison kind of situation.

      1. Just one transfer, at Gallery Place (if she takes the yellow/green line) or Metro Center (if the blue line), but both those stops can get crowded in the morning. I do think it’s better than street traffic though.

        1. Oh yeah — I was remembering the couple of times I got on the Blue line and then switched to the Yellow/green so I could get to Gallery Place more quickly. :-P Not a necessary transfer. Ignore me.

    2. Honestly, I don’t think there is a hassle-free way to get around DC \that time of the morning on a weekday. My vote would be Metro, since even though it will be packed, you more or less know what kind of timeline you’re working with (from scanning the trip planner, looks like it should be around 30 minutes). Cabbing through the traffic just conjures up a cornucopia of nightmare late-making scenarios for me, even though it’s not actually all that far. If you’re concerned about claustrophobia, though, the Metro during rush hour might not be for you.

    3. The only thing to be aware of about Metro is that the Dupont South metro entrance is currently closed so if you need to be on the south side of the circle, allow a few extra minutes to deal the increased crowds at the north entrance, with their (terribly set) signals and the walk across the circle.

    4. Try to get into one of the end cars (first or last). People always congregate like lemmings in the middle of the platform, so sometimes the end cars are a bit emptier.

      Of course, those are not good cars to be in if a couple of metros run into each other, but I hate crowds so much I consider it worth the (very small) risk.

        1. I think about it every time I get on a train, and I am the biggest fan ever of subways. Oh, DC Metro.

    5. I live in Dupont and I always take a cab from Reagan. It’s a 15 minute cab ride that costs under $20. So much less stressful than taking Metro.

      1. it won’t be 15 minutes at that hour. street traffic will be horrible, and will probably take much longer than the Metro. but the crowds on the Metro will also be horrible. Unfortunately it’s a ‘lesser of two evils’ situation. You just have to decide which is more important to you: time, or crowds?

    7. Thanks all! I am leaning toward the Metro, although I could have done without the reference to crashes and the safest car! :-)

  22. Can someone link back to the discussion from a week or so ago where they had a friend who wanted to rescind acceptance of a job because they got offered their dream job? I looked and couldn’t find it. TIA!

    Or, feel free to rehash such a situation here!

    1. I’m not sure about that link, but one of my best friends did this and couldn’t be happier. The firm that she rescinded the acceptance with seemed to be okay with the situation and was actually very nice to her.

    2. It was the TPS post Jan. 26 – Twist and Turn Boiled Jacket. One of the people who responded used the name “quitter” so search for that.

    3. My cousin did this…to Lehman Brothers, in its glory days. I’d say she dodged an incredibly large bullet, not to mention that she’d have been miserable there.

  23. Did anyone else watch Smash last night? I’m in love! It’s like they created a tv show specifically for me.

    1. I was also charmed by it, especially the two strong, successful, but still imperfect-like-normal-people leads in Debra Messing and Anjelica Houston. I’m cancelling cable this week, but hopefully Smash will be on Hulu.

      1. It should be on Hulu – NBC is pretty good about putting their stuff on there. In fact, I watch the Smash premiere a week ago because they had put it up early on Hulu. Or Hulu Plus. I don’t remember which.

        2. I watched it on Hulu (not Hulu plus) yesterday afternoon. Hopefully the rest will be up there as well. We just got an antenna, but I haven’t figured out a. which channel is which, or b. what time shows air here. So I’m mostly using the internet. Tried to watch Castle last night and it either airs an hour earlier here or our antenna doesn’t pick up ABC.

      2. NBC is good about posting full shows on their website, so hopefully it will be up there.

      3. I’m cancelling cable this week too — I turn it on for football season and turn it off after the Superbowl every year. Curious if that’s what you do too!

        1. Ha, that is exactly my plan! We’ve never done it before, but basically the only thing we can’t get on the internet is football. Since the superbowl’s over, we don’t need live TV again until August :). I love that someone else does this!

          1. Helpful hint: if anyone you know has dish/hbo, you can get those online & share the sn & password. Also, amazon prime (which I got for the shipping originally) has a lot of streaming available (currently watching the new seasons of Dr. Who!).
            We decided not to get cable when we moved into our new place in Nov and haven’t missed it since. ;-)

  24. I like red shoes with black, but this dress looks like the kind of thing I wore a LOT of in the late ’90s. My closet was wall-to-wall black jersey back in the day…

    Travel threadjack: Edinburgh/Glasgow/Scottish borders recommendations? Particularly for a bookish history nerd? I’m going in June.

    1. I really liked the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. I also really enjoyed wandering around the city and popping into old churches.

      Glasgow is very different; it has a much more modern feel.

      If you have a chance and like the countryside, go walk along part of Hadrian’s Walk (south of the area you are going, but not too far). A lot of the original Roman wall survives, and there are some neat excavations going on. Vindolanda is the one I went to I think – it is next to the Roman Army museum.

    3. My favorite thing in Edinburgh was the ghost tour. I loved it so much that I did 2 — one through the streets that ended in a spooky mausoleum and the other went through underground tunnels. They both focused on the history of the city so you’d know why each place was supposed to be creepy. The one through the streets had more of a paranormal angle, while the one through the underground tunnels had much more of a history focus, though that could have been because my friend and I were the only people on the tour that night.

    4. Excellent timing, and follow-up threadjack along very similar lines: Can anyone recommend a walking tour company in Scotland? I am thinking of the types of companies that “manage” long-distance walks – e.g. pick up your bags in the morning, drive them to where you are staying the next night, provide maps, etc. Has anyone done this with success in Scotland?

      1. Check out Mountain Travel Sobek. Haven’t taken a trip with them in Scotland, but have been very pleased with other adventures. Fantastic guides!

      2. Ooh, I’m actually going to be doing this for part of my trip (West Highland Way), so I’m interested to see the answers.

        1. Oh, cbackson, keep me posted on any research you do. I’m trying to plan something for August (sadly, not for myself) and need to find a good service provider, family-friendly.

      3. Summer could be very rainy there, so just think hard about how much you want to walk in constant drizzle to rain…may not be as awesome as you imagine.

        I really liked Glasgow and the surrounding countryside. The mausoleum in Glasgow is really cool. It’s a gritty city, but blooming as well. Lots of modern art and galleries and a lively restaurant scene.

        1. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so walking in constant drizzle is basically my modus operandi :).

      4. My mom and I did just such a trip a couple years ago in Wales. We used Contours — contours (dot) co (dot) uk — to organize our Glynwr’s Way trek and were quite pleased. The B&Bs were comfy (though occasionally Spartan) with friendly proprietors, and since the Way is a National Trail, it was well signed and the map/guide book was usually right on the mark. (We got lost once, when the path branched in three directions and the arrow marker was… ambiguous. We were just about ready to call for help when we finally saw a trail marker — three pastures up the hill.)

        We’re headed on another such trip this spring, this time to walk the Ridgeway, which is another British National Trail. Contours doesn’t offer that walk, so we’re going with Macs Adventure — macsadventure (dot) com. So far, our interactions with them have been great.

        1. Ah, excellent. I had been looking at Contours for the walking part of my trip. I’m pretty good at arranging stuff but didn’t want to schlep my own luggage.

        2. I had a friend who used Contours to walk Hadrian’s Wall. I think she would second this recommendation.

      5. My mom and I had a great experience this past summer in Scotland with the company Absolute Escapes. Not the fanciest B&Bs, but super reliable (we did the Great Glen Way walk, though I hear West Highland Way is far more beautiful if everyone’s game for the distance and elevation).

    5. Climb Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Expect it to be more painful than it looks (or perhaps I was just really out of shape). If you need a hotel, I stayed at the Travelodge Central Waterloo Place, which was a great location and price, and very nice for what we were paying (British Travelodgess being much nicer than American Travelodges, apparently, though they are quite basic.). The Castle was neat. I didn’t get to see as much of Edinburgh as I would have liked because I was there for a wedding and doing wedding-y things, but my BF went to the Scottish National Gallery one morning while I was busy and said it was worth stopping in.

      Edinburgh seemed pretty small, city-wise (perhaps because I had just come from London), and I kind of got the impression that a lot of tourists use it as sort of “home base” to explore the nearby areas (I wanted to go to Roslyn Chapel, for example, but didn’t get the chance. Some other people were taking day trips to St. Andrews, and I saw a lot of signs for other 1-or-2 day trips of nearby castles/other towns).

      1. Edinburgh is pretty small, but if you head around on foot, it does take time to do things. Te National Gallery has a fantastic location, and the Museum of Scotland is also great if you like that sort of thing. If you’re there on a Saturday, the food market at the foot of the castle is overpriced but worth visiting, for a nibble and for the location. I’d second some of the other advice – climb Arthur’s seat and wander round the Salsbury crags in general. It’s a truly fantastic walk from Arthur’s Seat up the Royal Mile to the Castle (or down from the castle – that’s the way I normally do it.) Both the Castle and Holyrood Palace are worth looking at – entrance is a bit pricey but generally worth it.

        The stroll down to the Dean Village and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art along the Water of Leith is also lovely, and completely unexpected in the middle of a city. (Don’t do this in the rain though!)

        It’s definitely worth going to St. Andrews for the day, or to Stirling (to see the castle). Rosslyn too, but not on a weekend! It’s also lovely a bit further south around the borders – for example Melrose is a really pretty town.

        They have “literary Edinburgh” tours, which are great if you’re interested. The ghost tours are definitely not my thing, but they do tend to get raves.

        Around Edinburgh, a trip to Cramond (fishing village and island) is nice. Poking around Leith is nice, and there are a few great restaurants down there. (Ed is pretty good for food in general.) If you like Georgian architecture, just wandering around in the New Town is nice.

        Oh, and if you like shopping, you’ve got most of the big stores that you’d have in London, but within about three streets of each other, minus most of the crowds. (Between Princess and Queen Street, including Rose and George St, you’ve got everything from Harvey Nicholls to Hobbs, Reiss, Jigsaw, Thomas Pink, White Company etc etc.) Far too many opportunities to spend away!

        It will rain, at least a bit, but the biggest Edinburgh problem is that it’s often too windy for an umbrella, so I’d go with some sort of waterproof (but breathable) coat. Let me know if you need more info – I can also recommend a couple of other hotels etc.

    6. I’m actually from Glasgow and Edinburgh so I have lots of thoughts.

      First, one of the cutest little towns between Glasgow and Edinburgh is Sterling, which is “William Wallace” country. You can easily take the train to Sterling from either Glasgow/Edinburgh, walk from the train station to the top of the castle and see some amazing views of the highlands. Lots of history at the castle in Sterling, so I would say its a can’t miss! If you rent a car, there are plenty of day-hikes or few-hour hikes within a few minutes of Sterling.

      If you actually want to see historic stuff/the highlands, then I would recommend skipping Glasgow and going on a tour of the highlands instead. Wild in Scotland does a great 3-day tour. Can’t miss places are Skye (the absolute best hiking in the world, in my opinion, and most amazing scenery), Glencoe (Obviously), Loch Ness, and some of the historic battlefields around Inverness/Aberdeen. You could easily cover all of these places in 2 days in a car.

      Glasgow is a very industrial city (Its where I lived for 10 years), and unless you are really into ship-building history or art deco, then I would say you are not missing much by skipping Glasgow.

      Feel free to contact me if you want more detailed recommendations in each city.

    7. Ooh, I live in Edinburgh! Unfortunately I haven’t done a ton of touristy stuff but it is a really great city, I think you’ll love it.

      If you want to do a highlands tour, do the Hairy Coo tour, it’s donation based and amazing.
      The literary pub crawl is supposed to be amazing.
      Definitely go up Arthur’s Seat or at least take the walk around Holyrood to Swan Lake.
      Parliament is actually really cool, and pending the referendum could be the capital of an independent Scotland.

      Definitely message me if you’d like any advice or more recs, dynia 1984 AT gmail DOT com.

  25. Thanks to whomever suggested Spark People last week. I’ve started using it and it’s great! Let’s hope this will help me peel off the 10 lbs that find my thighs so attractive–at least something does!

  26. Love red shoes. I think red accessories in general are supremely versatile. I have a bright red purse that goes great with so many things…

    Interesting that this should come up actually because I have been searching for a pair of red suede shoes for months now. I can picture them in my head exactly – the red is on the cranberry side, not too bright; heel is about 3 inches and chunky … and yet I can’t find them anywhere. If anyone has seen something along those lines, please post a link, otherwise I may just have to figure out a way to go into the shoe design business :)

    1. I like the red that Sofft shoes come in, it’s not too bright. And they do suede, and 2.5-3.5 inch chunky heels. And they are sooooo comfy. Don’t have one link, but i find them on different sale sites a lot.

  27. Ladies, I could use some advice. My husband and I both make pretty good money. We’re not wealthy — but we’re much, much better off than I was growing up (though I do have very high student loans). Growing up, my parents were both in very high education but not highly remunerative careers. This meant that I had everything I needed, but we did not have a ton of luxuries. Money was always kind of a background noise. Any special luxuries (like my kick *ss JNCO jeans) I bought myself with money I earned working.

    Fast forward 10 years to my adult life. A strange dynamic has developed. I buy the occasional luxury item, like my designer wedding shoes or my first ever designer purse last year, and get a great deal of emotional satisfaction from them. But when it comes to buying the necessary high-quality essentials, I delay and delay and avoid and have a great deal of guilt about spending money. On Saturday I actually said to my husband, I guess I need to buy new commuting shoes, these have holes in the bottom. Its not a huge deal, but when it rains my socks get wet. So, how do I get past this. How to I reframe this so I feel less guilt about spending good money on solid basics as I do about buying frivolity.

    Not sure if anyone else has this problem…but I thought I’d through it out there.

    TIA.

    1. Holy cr*p, the spelling and grammar in this was atrocious. Please try to see the meaning through the idiocy.

    2. I wonder if this is a kind of impostor syndrome, except more that you feel like an an adult impostor, like “I can’t possibly be the one making decisions about what necessities I can buy”, or “I can’t possibly have enough money to replace XYZ before it completely wears out”.

      FWIW, I have the same problem about bras. I don’t have enough (so have to wear them when they’re dirty) but delay getting new ones bc I don’t like to spend the $60.

      1. Oh man, I do this with bras too. I wear them until they’re falling apart just because that $60 price tag seems ridiculous (and I hate trying on bras).

    3. Would you feel better if you dedicated (beyond living expenses) a certain amount for debt repayment and a certain amount to savings (have it go automatically into a separate account each month/payperiod) and then consider what’s leftover to be free game to spend however you want?

      Also, as evidenced here, appearances do count, careerwise. Having attractive, well-fitting clothes in good shape will help your career. Do you want people paying attention to what you have to say or wondering why you wear shoes with holes in them? You might also try to find a level of quality you are comfortable with, and focus on keeping your wardrobe appropriate and in good repair. I find midlevel brands for shoes (AK Anne Klein, Clarks, Bandolino) and clothing (Limited, Loft) work well for me. It’s not a choice between shoes with holes and Kate Spade. Not that there’s anything wrong with Kate Spade.

    4. I used to have a similar mental block about buying nice clothes/shoes/etc. for myself. And I’m not talking luxury items; I’m talking maybe-I-should-just-go-to-Kohl’s kind of guilt. (Btw, this was before Kohl’s started doing designer collaborations.) For me, I had to recognize that having nice work clothes was an investment in myself that could help advance my career. In your example of commuter shoes, the thought process would be something like – do I want potential clients to see me with a hole in my shoe? Or with wet socks later? I don’t know if this helps, but I wish I could give you a hug (and take you shopping).

    5. I suggest re-framing this so it isn’t about you (since you’ll probably always feel a certain level of guilt about spending for you). Think of a dear friend or a cousin or sister or something. Would you want Dear Friend to walk around wearing shoes with holes and getting her socks wet? Dear Friend may not need a new designer purse, but she deserves to walk around with comfortably dry feet.

    6. I don’t know, but I’m in a similar situation. Grew up solidly middle class (gross income of $100-130,000 or so for a family of five) and had everything I needed, but nothing designer, no new cars for 16th birthday, no private colleges (or grad school money), etc. My husband grew up very wealthy and never really had to worry about not being able to afford anything. Now, we combined have an income of about $120,000 for just the two of us, in our mid-late twenties. He is a medical resident, going into a lucrative specialty, meaning that in 4 years or so when he is done residency, our income will be higher than that of pretty much all of my family members combined. We have no debt, because his parents paid off my student loans (in one lump sum check).

      I’m also in the same headspace about spending on luxury items as you are, and I find that my definition of luxury items is much different from my husband’s. I’m interested to see if/how other people have dealt with this.

      I think part of it will always be there, it’s just how your upbringing affects your attitude towards money. I don’t think it’s a bad thing overall, but sometimes I do make strange/crazy decisions because of unreasonable frugality.

      1. Oohhh…would his parents also like to pay off my student loans? I’m very nice. I’ll visit them in the nursing home and everything. ;-)

    7. Is it random things here and there, or is it the sort of thing you can budget for and say “OK, $100/mo to replace things that are wearing out” or whatever?

      My problem is I put off buying some things and then think “OMG why didn’t I get this earlier??”….but then other times I try to buy something “earlier”, when I first think I want it, and don’t end up using it nearly as much as I should. I need to find a happy medium!

      1. YES. I think this is part of my problem. I put it off until the thing has completely fallen apart and its an “emergency” and I need it right away. And when I buy something when its not an emergency, a lot of times its sort of a more weird non-basic.

    8. First of all, I completely sympathize with you.

      It might be helpful if you could re-frame it in your mind as saving money in the long run. When you don’t take care of yourself, it can get a lot more expensive in the long run. What if you stepped on a piece of broken glass, or a used needle or something in your holey shoes? A foot injury could be so much more expensive to deal with in terms of copays and time missed from work, and doctors visits. It can add up quickly– I got a tetanus booster that was $90 because it wasn’t something I “needed,” it was just 10 years since my last one so my insurance didn’t cover it. You can get some pretty nice commuting shoes for $90.

      I find myself in your situation from time to time, and there are two approaches I take, based on how much time I have to comparison shop. If I don’t have time, I just suck it up, bite the bullet, go and buy what I need, feel slightly ill, and get on with life.

      If I do have time to shop, I go to consignment stores and nicer thrift stores. I never buy anything that isn’t on sale, I get my shoes at Marshall’s (or 6pm dot com), and when I find something I like, I buy it in multiples when it goes on significant sale. At Christmas, I also ask for gift cards to places where I get most of my basics. That way it doesn’t feel like I’m spending my money when I get replacement cardigans or whatever.

    9. One clarification — I’m not walking around my office in work inappropriate clothes. I actually dress decently for the office. I’ve invested at least that much. Its more a mental thing really, I just get this almost crippling guilt about spending money on things like new black slacks for the office or button down shirts from Brooks Brothers or whatever. So I go into the store and try them on and then leave just feeling really down. I don’t know, its weird and hard to explain.

      I swear I don’t look like a hobo at the office.

      But its true…I really should go buy new shoes for my commute. :-)

      1. I don’t think anyone interpreted your post as suggesting you dress like a hobo – I certainly didn’t.

    10. I could have written this post — word for word — highly educated, but not high earning parents, worked hard and paid for “luxuries” (none of which would be considered luxuries by most of the people reading this blog — we’re talking about clothes from Express instead of JCP) myself growing up, actually wore through a pair of commuting shoes that I still haven’t replaced, but bought a new Kate Spade bag today that I really don’t need (just love) and last week I encountered a Herve Leger dress for $300 and “had to have it” (please do not ask me where on earth I think I’m going to wear it). My husband and I make well north of three times what my parents made at retirement — and probably about 8 times what they made while I was growing up.

      I “cheap out” on the most hilarious of things, but I’ll randomly splurge on other things.

      Anyway, I don’t have any amazing advice (clearly I’m in the same boat). But I think the fact that you’re even thinking about this issue is probably a huge step in the right direction. I’d suggest starting by promising to find yourself a new pair of commuter shoes in X amount of time (1 week? 2 weeks? whatever seems reasonable with your schedule) — order multiple pair from zappos or go shopping or whatever. Try on lots of different price ranges and then pick the one that you love best regardless of price. You can afford it. Then work on not feeling guilty. Repeat. Don’t go crazy — but every time you identify a true “need” try to resolve your need quickly, responsibly, and without guilt. I think eventually this will become a pattern. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself :)

      1. OMG MissJackson, we really are twins. I kind of want you to send me a link to that dress! ;-)

        Can I tell you that the one time I conned my father into buying me $50 Airwalk sneakers (because my mom was busy and couldn’t take me show shopping at payless) was one of the best days of my middle school existence. The story still gets told over family dinners occasionally. haha.

        1. Oh man! I had these great purple Airwalks that I bought myself — they were the most amazing. Love that you “conned” your dad! And that this story still gets told!

          Would totally send you the link to the HL (we could be actual twins!), but alas, it was an in-store random find!

          1. My airwalks were red, and shiny pleather. They were AWESOME. I would still wear them today if, you know, they still existed.

      2. I could have written this as well. For me, this is most obvious with my running/working out clothes. I run and workout a ton and could afford to get nicer stuff, but instead wear the same few Target items I love into the ground. Like, until the hems are coming unsewn and the elastic is shot in the briefs.

        My problem is that I hate to think of nice things getting worn out. I’d have a hard time getting a more expensive, quality pair of commuter shoes because even if I got lots of wear out of them, they would inevitably get dirty and scuffed and worn down. And somehow, for reasons I don’t know, this makes me sad. So I buy nice quality things when I know they’ll only come out for special occasions and therefore stay shiny and crisp and perfect forever.

      3. You are not alone! One thing that really helped me was reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. This is a book based off of a blog–I recommend reading the book because it’s better laid-out than the blog, which is kind of a mess.

        She talks about all kinds of things that make people happy and that interfere with your happiness. It’s different for everyone, but there’s a lot of discussion of why people buy teeny little bottles of something they use all the time, why they never use the “good china”, etc. I’m probably making it sound so terrible, but it seriously helped me rethink things I’ve been ridiculous about. Please read it! I am not a self-help person at all and I highly recommend it.

    11. Maybe reframing the issue would help. Think about buying good quality basics as a money saving strategy because that more expensive pair of shoes will last you longer, thus saving you money in the long term (esp. if you spend the extra couple of bucks on having it pre-treated by a cobbler).

      Also, just do it. Practice makes everything easier. I used to have the hardest time buying
      things I didn’t need right away — extra shampoo, pants I loved in multiples, paper towels, you name it. And sometimes I still have a hard time. But ultimately I save money if I buy toothpaste when it’s on sale as opposed to when I run out, so now when I see a good deal on something I know I will definitely use, I just get it. I still feel an ‘ugh’ feeling when I see that I spent $50 on random stuff at the drugstore, but then I feel super good about it when I don’t need to buy anything else for 6-8 months.

      I think, to some extent, what you’re going through, or some variation thereof, is common. My mom pointed out to me recently that while I will spend time hunting for a free shipping code to save a couple of dollars ordering a pair of pants I am throwing away hundreds in accrued interest by not paying off my student loans more aggressively (I have the money just sitting in a bank account, depreciating, but I have this weird fear of doing anything with it) and it’s true! Maybe in a way it helps me feel more secure to have the cash even if the student loans are going to be hanging over my head for years longer — I know that’s not actually smart and yet…

      1. I come from a very similar background and am currently making more money than i had growing up. I do the same thing with you, but with two bizzare, yet very distinct things: (1) blouses — i just couldnt see spending $75 or $100 bucks on a shirt; and (2) food — even though i love it and like eating out. Here is how i deal:

        W/r/t the shirts, one day i just did it — i spent $128 on a beautiful dark green silk top. After a closet consultant came over, there were a few pieces she said could “round out” my wardrobe. A green top was one of them. I found this one that I liked and just bought it. And I wear it. a lot. Since then, I’ve started spending more on tops that i really, really like and have been trying really hard to stop buying $20 tops that are just ok (which i was really just buying because it was 20 bucks.)

        w/r/t food, i still look at the prices (whether at the store or a restaurant), but it i really want something and its not a good price (store) or its expensive (restaurant) i tell myself “I dont work hard and make money to skimp on things i really need/want” and then i get it.

        In the end, feel like im still able to save quite a bit of money for my family and am responsible with my money because thats what i know, but i should still be able to ahve the things that i want and need, given that i can afford them.

    12. I get where you’re coming from, completely. I haven’t completely eradicated this way of thinking, but I’ve started doing something recently that seems to help. I’ve set up a monthly purchasing schedule. Otherwise, I skate by, making do until everything falls apart — usually all at once — and then I have a hard time parting with the money needed to buy the higher-quality stuff. And then the cycle continues …

      January, for example, is my month to buy boots and outerwear. Since good winter clothes can are way pricey, this helps me buy the good stuff without breaking the bank. In February, I plan to buy one full, complete work outfit for spring. Will I get the best prices? No, but I’m hoping a planned purchase will help me break my really bad habit of purchasing individual pieces in the middle of the season that don’t end up working together very well. By purchasing one or two base outfits now, I’m hoping I can supplement with individual sale items later on to create more looks. I’m betting my purchase for March will be shoes.

      I’ve also started keeping a running list of things I need or will soon (pants in gray and camel), things I’d like to have to make my wardrobe better (cute shells), and things that I shouldn’t buy at all because they tend to be my safety purchases (t-shirts and workout gear).

      My goal is to buy fewer items and splurge on quality. For a long time, I was all about quantity because, as you said, I didn’t grow up with luxuries and having a huge wardrobe felt like one. But it’s really not, if it’s full of random sale purchases that don’t actually work for my lifestyle.

      1. Midwest, can you share your monthly schedule? It would be helpful to know what is abundant (good selection, better prices) when during the year. Thanks.

    13. I think it would help to make a budget for your “big-ticket” expenditures. If you can afford to spend, say 5% of your income on high-quality essentials, set aside that amount per month. Then, when you need to make the purchases, you already have it funded, and you can feel assured you’re spending well within your means.

    14. I’m very much the same way. I have no problem spending money on eating out, entertainment, or trips, but I rarely shop for myself and have been known to drag my heels about buying a $40-50 dress from Target. It’s especially bizarre because if it’s a gift, I don’t think twice about going for quality. Example: for my sister’s 25th birthday, I got her a really chic Michael Kors wallet… and went to pay for it with the cheap denim change-purse style wallet I’d bought at Claire’s back in my waitressing days. I have since stepped up my game, but the wallet I use now is still straight-up Goodwill.

      I guess I just tell myself that the hesitancy is a good thing, considering all the areas I’m already comfortable spending money, but I have really pushed myself to gradually expand my comfort zone for spending on things like clothes. It was starting to feel like I wore the same few outfits to work all the time, so I had to convince myself that $80-100 is okay to spend on a work dress that I’ll wear regularly. Still haven’t broken into designer bags, but one step at a time!

        1. hahaha, omg I now know why my mom refuses to buy in bulk and always bought the tiniest bottles dishsoap, laundry detergent and the like.

        2. Holy crap, this is me to a T. Also grew up poor and lived poor until my late 20s. Except that I hoard things like 20 packs of toilet paper purchased long before the last pack runs out, because I might not have money to buy more when I need it.

        3. I really liked that article. I am good about upgrading public appearance things but bad about upgrading personal stuff. For example, I still sleep in old navy PJ pants I’ve had since 1999. I have tons of old tshirts that I just can’t part with. I have one or two organic soft shirts I love and end up sleeping in those over and over and over. I just need to junk the old pj stuff all at once into the trash and spend $100 or so on new PJ’s and organic tees. I would be so much happier and could probably get it all at Target.

          I’m also awful about throwing out and replacing old underwear.

          1. This, completely. One of my PJ tops is a four-year-old shirt from Target that looks like a rag because it’s so frayed and worn. It cost me probably $8, tops. And yet it feels somehow wasteful to replace it.

          2. Okay — if I’m expected to keep my pajamas wardrobe updated, then I’m completely scr*wed. That’s NEVER going to happen. :-)

          3. I am usually pretty good about upgrading public appearance things, but I do have a pair of Old Navy slacks that were handed down from my sister when she was going to throw them out and I was graduating from college. I am now a fourth year associate. I am guilty of still wearing these pants.

          4. I still sleep in Old Navy PJ pants and LS tees from 2000 or thereabouts. I love them. But honestly, they’re still in good shape! Honest . . . .

  28. Just wanted to share this site I just found. Design your own shoes!
    www dot milkandhoneyshoes dot com

    1. I have been really, really tempted to order from milk and honey, but have not done it yet. If you or anyone else has done it, I would love to hear a report.

  29. Ladies, where can I find a really good map of NYC online? I’m looking for something I can use to plan a trip I can do by foot.

    1. I would just use google maps. It does walking directions. And switching between map view and google earth view is useful.

    2. you mean aside from google? ;)

      seriously though, I want to put in a plug for Maplets, and iphone/ipad app. you pay for it once, and then you can download all sorts of their available maps to your phone. And you can access the maps even if you’re not connected to a network – it was great when I was traveling in Europe and wanted to look at the Paris Metro map, for example.

  30. Love the dress AND the red heels with black tights! Can’t afford the dress, but I’m stealing the idea.

  31. Any recommendations for a rolling briefcase/bag that can hold a small laptop as well as several large binders? My problem with most is that they look too masculine or that they have so much going on inside it’s hard to really fit much in there. I am a self-proclaimed bag snob so it must not be ugly but it must be very user friendly. Am I asking for too much?

  32. Has anyone bought Boss closed before?

    I like the dress but a bit concerned I wouldn’t fit in a S. I am 5′ and very petite.

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