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Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Turtleneck Tunic Sweater

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

This sweater is from Banana Republic’s new Conscious Luxury line, which is supposed to include more sustainably-produced items. This sweater, which is made from a more eco-friendly fiber, looks deliciously cozy but still office-appropriate.

I would style it with some gray ankle pants and a pair of oxfords, but you could just as easily wear it with a pair of comfy joggers for a WFH day.

The sweater is $109 and comes in regular sizes XXS–XXL and petite sizes XXS–L. It also comes in white and light taupe.

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Sales of note for 12.5

Sales of note for 12.5

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263 Comments

  1. Good morning! Can the Hive please help me come up with a few great gift ideas for my husband, who is about to start a lengthy driving commute? He enjoys D&D based podcasts and the occasional audiobook. Big coffee drinker (but we have plenty of travel mugs). The commute may not start until closer to the holidays, so these gifts would be for the holidays. Thank you!

    1. The first things that pop to mind are a trash can for the car (so romantic, I know) and extra pairs of sunglasses. If you don’t have one of those road-safety kits with flares, etc, get one of those. Jumper cables. Maybe a TripleA membership?

    2. Getting his car detailed. When I commuted 2 hours a day, my car inevitably looked grody all the time. Likewise, a monthly subscription at a car wash.

      If he does not have a seat warmer, there are plug-in seat warmers you can get.

    3. A subscription to Audible or one of the other audiobook streaming services. A subscription to spotify premium.

      A second set of sunglasses he can leave in the car. A second set of cords for the phone / whatever other gadgets he has to leave in the car.

      Airtag or tile so that he knows where his keys and/or wallet are and if he left them at the office.

      Gloves if it gets cold. Maybe that’s just my mother who still has driving gloves.

      1. IMO everyone with a long commute should wear driving gloves. The UV exposure is cumulative.

        1. Man I wish I’d thought of this, like, 40 years ago!

          Signed,

          My Hands Look Like The Crypt Keeper

          1. I have some fingerless Uv gloves for driving year round and I wish I’d found them sooner. My Asian BFF says I look like an old Asian lady so I just asked her why she didn’t tell me about them sooner.

    5. Some kind of coffee mug? I feel like a job with a daily lengthy driving commute almost sounds weird in this work of remote/hybrid work

    6. Do any of his podcasts have Patreon support options/ merch/ etc? That might be a nice present so he can feel like he’s supporting the podcasts he enjoys

    7. Oh, my parents got us one of those jumper sets so you don’t need another car. It also can charge phones in a pinch.

        1. Similarly, a portable air compressor/tire inflator that plugs into the car…..long commutes + low tire pressure lights do not mix! Make sure it’s one with a built in digital gauge. It could at least help him get to repair place in the event of an issue like a nail in his tire instead of having to change a flat on the side of the road.

    8. Skip the audible subscription and tell him to download Libby! Free audiobooks and ebooks through your local library.

      Other people will always have better gift ideas than me, so listen to the other commenters.

    9. I’d skip all the things he probably has, and get him a nice pair of driving moccasins – when I had a long commute, having slipper shoes for driving was key. I left them in the car so they were always there and welcome at the end of the day.

    10. I got my husband a sun shade (less applicable in winter) and also got him a new set of snow removal tools, including an ice-scraper mitt with the glove built in.

      If any of his roads are toll roads and he hasn’t yet signed up, you could sign him up and put money in a toll account for fast pass / ez whatever.

    13. When I had a long driving commute I appreciated my subscription to satellite radio. I also liked my cell phone holder with built in charger and made sure it was all set up correctly to sync with my car radio for making calls, etc.

    14. My husband has a longish commute and recently got a car-Alexa. He also has a car-blanket and pillow in case he wants to take a nap at lunch :) Install remote-start on his car. If it’s a long commute he’ll probably have to start early in the cold. Turnpike specific gift cards ? (literally the only Hardees in our state is also the only place for him to get coffee/breakfast on his drive)

    15. If he doesn’t have Apple CarPlay, that would be good. Not having to worry about cell phone speaker or headphones or dropping a phone is a miracle. Or a remote start if you’re in a cold climate.

      I love my air pump that runs from the cigar lighter.

      A full emergency kit including a solar/USB charging flash light, emergency blanket and first aid kit is very important. I have a headlamp in mine that is also USB rechargable and has been great for emergencies outside in the dark.

    16. For the driving experience, leather driving gloves, proper driving sunglasses or prescription glasses, phone holder/charger.

      For driving safety, a first aid kit, starter cable/battery/thingymybob specific to his car, warming blanket, hat extra socks and wellies (or suitable shoes, if he needs to leave car in bad conditions), water bottles, emergency food.

      For entertainment, try and see if he’d like some non-fiction audiobooks like Malcolm Gladwell or Tim Marshall. And for the sad, I’m exhausted drives, maybe a proper old-fashioned mix-tape style playlist?

      As a joke, one of those portable urinals.

  2. Which should I get to stay warm during WFH this winter–an electric heating pad or an electric blanket? I’ve never used either, so I don’t have a sense of which will be more practical/effective for keeping warm while sitting at my desk.

    1. My husband loves his Ororo heated vest. No cords, it warms your whole torso, and it doesn’t get tangled up in your chair like a blanket.

      1. My husband loves this, too. He uses it lots when meeting friends outdoors, in addition to when he is working in a chilly room.

        2. same! Can you owners of a heated thing say a bit more? How long have you had it and is the battery still going strong? How many hours does it keep you warm vs how many hours do you need to charge it? Are there other brands to consider?

    2. I have an electric throw and I sit on it and wrap it around my hips and legs and it keeps me warm in my very chilly sunroom.

    3. Depends on your chair style, but I’ve found that a blanket is very easily tangled in the swivel and lift mechanisms. Not only do I risk pitching over, but the grease gets all over the blanket.

    4. Both? I use them for different things. I sit on/with a heating pad all day long just for a cozy feeling in the AC or cool spring/fall. In the winter, we keep the heat down pretty cool (like, 62) and I sit under an electric blanket to sub for heating the whole house.

    6. Sitting on a heating pad right now. Sometimes I put it on my feet instead. Can’t be seen on zoom.

    7. For sitting in a chair at a desk, I use a heated pad. On the couch I’ve got my electric blanket. I think a blanket at the desk would be bulky, hard to work around, hard to quickly get into and out of the chair, etc.

  3. Re: Banana Republic prices

    I’ve always loved BR’s clothes, but found them pricey. They fit me well and surprisingly have pieces that work both in and out of the office. I’ve gotten dresses, jumpsuits that I’ve worn on a night out, a more stylish back to work outfit, etc – I don’t have much use for formal suits.

    I happened to move near a Banana Republic Factory. Idk exactly where that lands in the BR hierarchy, but they have a nice variety of pieces and sales of often 30-50% off. I’ve never noticed any issues with the clothing if it’s an outlet store, and the clothes are from this season. So if you have access to one (or their website) I would definitely check that out.

    1. I’ve been a fan of BR Factory for a while. I have so many dresses from them, all decent quality. I think their dresses, blouses, and cotton sweaters are as good or better than regular BR (will give BR the edge for wool). Their jeans seem pretty good too, although I haven’t bought a lot of pants from either Banana, their shapes don’t seem to work that great with my shape.

      Their stuff maybe is a bit more basic and not as fashion-y as BR, but they also tend to have more colors. I get very tired of BR’s tendency to offer things only in black, navy, beige, gray, or, when they want to get REALLY exciting, olive.

    2. I think BR Factory is ok but I’ve found the clothes to run shorter than their regular clothing.

    3. Mall brand outlets are just cheaper (price and quality) versions of the mall brand clothes, which I don’t find to be very high quality to begin with. Lots of fit issues and things don’t last long. I’ve trained myself now just to not buy much, because it always looks so much better than it really is and those clothes always end up in my donate/get rid of piles.

      1. Yes, I don’t like outlet shopping for this same reason. Might have been different years ago, but now they’re just cheaper quality versions of the originals. With Banana Republic, I just wait until the inevitable 40% off sale.

    4. I’ve had terrible luck with BR factory. Everything gets holes or wears thin within a season or two (six months). I have stopped shopping there because I love many cuts and styles there but everything has fallen apart or required alteration/repair, which then brings the cost up to a normal BR piece.

  4. Recommendations please for jewelers in the DC-MD-VA area who can restring pearls? TIA!

    1. I would actually recommend against going to a jeweler and instead suggest going to a bead shop. A bead shop will do a better job with the knotting, have the right thread, and likely be cheaper. No recommendations for a specific place though as I’m in a different location.

      1. I had very bad experience with this. The quality and expertise is not the same. I had to have mine redone by a second bead shop, assuming the first bad job was a fluke, and it was like quality at the second place. Bead shops are not meant for fine jewelry.

        1. I was going to specify ‘high end’ bead shop but I didn’t want to seem hoity toity. Shops that specialize in genuine faceted gemstone beads and other expensive fancy items like natural pearls will definitely have the skillset. Those are the types of beads that are hundreds of dollars a strand just in raw materials.

    2. I have used Robin Austin of Austin and Elkins in Old Town Alexandria. She does a beautiful job in all things jewelry – we bought our wedding jewelry from her and I’ve had three strands of pearls restrung, and clasps replaced.

    4. If you are willing to mail them to a restringing service, I highly recommend The Pearl Girls.

    5. I like Afram Jewelers for general jewelry repair. Might want to call ahead, as they are a small org.

  5. Anyone have experience with dealing with possible lead paint under wallpaper? 1960s house covered in wallpaper. Want to tear down the wallpaper before painting over it but would like to get a sense of what the experience was like (including finding painters who will do this properly).

    1. You can absolutely find painters to do this properly but it will be $$$$$ since they need to be trained in lead abatement, wear a respiratior and protective suit, use a HEPA vacuum etc. In my own house I did all the work myself because I have trust issues, but it’s really not that hard to do.

      1. Huh? It’s lead paint, not asbestos. Lead paint is bad because kids could eat it. If you’re not gonna eat the paint, you’ll be fine.

        2. Emphatically not true- aerosolized lead is also terrible for you. Lead is most toxic to growing brains so the kids eating paint chips thing is absolutely the most horrible, but lead is also not great for any brains. For example, scraping wallpaper with leaded paint behind and releasing broken down dust? Not something you could pay me to do without some very serious safety equipment.

        3. Lead is absolutely dangerous if it becomes friable, which is a risk when removing wallpaper.

        4. Our first house had been through lead paint abatement before we bought it and it was costly for the prior owners, and required extra time compared to a simple repaint job. The precautions described above are accurate based on what I saw in the documents the sellers provided to us about the abatement process. We wanted to make sure the lead paint had been appropriately handled and abated because we planned to have children (and did so while we were living in the house).

        5. If you are peeling wall paper off lead paint some of lead will absolutely become aerosolized and lead bioacumulates. Being safe is important, even if it’s not ‘cool’.

    2. You can carefully remove some of the wallpaper and use a test kit on the underlying paint. Lead paint was most often used on exteriors and on things like window trim, so you may have less of an issue than you might imagine.

      1. Late but our house is from the 50s and the only lead paint is on window trim (which we sealed with special lead sealing paint). So you should definitely test.

    3. If you are not sure it is lead paint you can hire a company to test for lead paint first, then get recommendations of lead removal/remediation painters from them. In MA this is commonly done.

      1. You can get a test kit at the hardware store pretty cheap. No need to pay pros just for testing.

  6. Help me! I’m pregnant with my third kid, back to doing an hour long commute to work in an office almost 5 days a week and feel like my food habits have spiraled completely out of control.

    I was so healthy when I was wfh – it was easier to get groceries because we were actually home enough to eat them! Now I’m reluctant to buy and throw away the 6$ pack of raspberries because I wasn’t actually around to eat them before they got mushy. It’s turning into too much takeout and pizza and not enough nutrition.

    Help me turn this around! I’m going to stock up on soups in the freezer and start making breakfast for dinner more because it’s healthy and quick. What other meals should I have in my back pocket? Recipes, Trader Joe’s freezer stuff, anything! Must be vegetarian but that’s the only restriction.

    Thank you thank you thank you for helping me get out of this rut

    1. I exclusively buy frozen berries now. Fresh berries are a nightmare of mush, mold, or bug eggs (that was fun!). Frozen are cheaper, last longer, and are cold and sweet enough to trick myself into thinking I’m having sorbet or something equally decadent.

      1. +1 Some fruits freeze very well: mango, peaches, blueberries. Others… not so much (strawberries have a major post-freeze texture problem, in my experience).

        1. Frozen strawberries can also be sour. I was shocked how gross the strawberry puree I made for my baby out of frozen strawberries tasted.

      2. I have had very good luck with berries from Costco. Blueberries last a couple of weeks if I give them a rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and let them dry before putting them back in the fridge. Grapes also last a couple of weeks. Raspberries are a little more fragile, but they last several days (I usually eat them all within 3 days).

    2. So I’m no longer a vegetarian but I eat vegetarian (working towards vegan) two days a week for religious reasons, and I depend heavily on soups. There are some very good vegetarian/vegan soups in How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian that are super filling and delicious. In particular, Spanish chickpea and almond soup and bread soup (which is a bean soup), both in HtCEV are great.

      Also, I make big batches of homemade hummus (SUPER easy) and eat that with tortillas and veggies. I top with homemade toasted chickpeas and toasted pine nuts to make it feel more filling and meal-like. Travels super well if you need lunch ideas!

      1. I am just being nosy here so feel free to ignore me, but what religion is in favor of a vegetarian diet on some days? I am sure there is context I am missing.

    3. Don’t do fresh berries unless it’s a special occasion. Frozen are actually the better choice.

      Trader Joe’s bagged salads with baked tofu (found in their produce section next to the normal tofu). Make your own pizza: TJ’s has pizza dough, pizza sauce, and you can add fresh mozz instead of the shredded and a lot of veggies.

      Get Cookie and Kate’s cookbook. She make-ahead smoothies (freeze, dump into blender, add milk), healthy quiche, make-ahead muffins, and dishes that do really well as leftovers.

      1. Yes! I love TJ’s bagged salads. They also have packs of shelled edamame in the same section. I get those (or precooked chicken which you wouldn’t want!) and portion them out for the week so all I have to do is grab a salad and a baggie of protein and run out. I also keep a big bowl and fork in a cabinet at the office so I don’t have to lug those in every day.

      1. +1. Bring raspberries (or other fruits) to work with you for breakfast / lunch / snack.

        1. +2 I have been known to eat the whole thing in the car on the way to work. Beats anything I could find to eat for breakfast once I’m there.

    5. Bring the fruit to work! We eat a ton of berries and blueberries last the longest. Canned soup, chili, store bean salad, and frozen TJ’s meals are all good and healthy office lunch options. Seapoint Farms Roasted Edamame, apples, wasa crackers, and cheese for work snacks. Sometimes I’ll put premade guac on wasa crackers too.

      The easiest and quickest 15 min pantry dinners I make are vodka pasta (lentil noodles, throw in frozen peas in the last minute, jar vodka sauce) and eggs on tortillas (on a cookie sheet in aluminum foil makes some rings around the tortillas out of canned black beans and shredded cheese, crack an egg inside the ring, and bake around 400F for 10 minutes or so until the yolk is set the way you like. Salsa & premade guac on top). Lasagnas aren’t bad to make if you use no-boil noodles – if you want something more hearty without doing extra work Paesana has a beyond meat bolognese you can layer in (I bought at whole foods). Assembly is quick even if it takes longer to bake. TJ’s frozen shakshuka starter (probably need 2-3) makes a quick dinner plus some naan.

      If I have random veggies around I’ll roast them on a cookie sheet and toss them with that Trader Joes’ frozen tricolor quinoa, maybe sprinkle on some cheese and canned chickpeas. My kids will not really eat that one though. I also do Ottlenghi’s mushroom and bulgar recipe from his Simple cookbook regularly. It’s not 10 minutes but it’s not too bad if you buy sliced mushrooms. Kids don’t love that either but will happily eat baked beans and toast.

    6. Congrats!

      Chili and loads of it made in the instant pot. Tastes even better the second day. Make a lot of pancakes and freeze it. Have you heard of budgetbytes? Her recipes are simple and great. Japanese curry (justonecookbook) is easy to make if you buy the cubed roux. It also stays VERY well for a few days.

    7. If it is just for you and you can throw money at the problem, look for meal prep companies in your area. I thought this was an “omg so extravagant” service but at least in my city $10/meal is a lot cheaper for lunch than pretty much all your other options (but not as cheap as the dreaded lean cuisine lunch… ugh). Most companies have a week sampler pack that you can try out (and freeze) what you don’t it. There are also services that will cover meals for the whole family. When I’m in a crunch (e.g., prepping for trial) it is just so convenient to just grab a meal even if it is not the most spectacular meal in the world. Other options in the throw money at the problem, we honestly eat a lot of a the prepared reheat meals from whole foods and central market – not perfect nutritionally but it is a protein, carb, veg with minimal effort. Also, try switching it up to mediterranean take out – most places have a chicken, rice, veg and salad combo that can cover a few meals (for yourself).

    8. The vegan chickpea masala salad in the premade fridge section at TJs is really good. It actually has a decent number of calories, but it’s healthy fat and protein and is very filling (a container ends up being 3 servings for me). I eat it as a sandwich on TJ’s whole wheat flatbread with lettuce from a bag. It’s better as a WFH meal since the flatbread is best toasted in the toaster oven, but it would definitely be doable at work too. I’m a big fan of those flatbreads (store in freezer so they don’t mold) as a base for quick healthy meals- I wrap up all kinds of veggies (salad or roasted veggies) with some kind of spread (pesto, hummus, bean dip, etc.) and my meal is ready in just a few minutes. I also like some of the frozen Indian meals at TJs (palak paneer, vegan tikka masala), the veggie gyoza, and the Dr. Praegers veggie burgers (veggie patties, not the kind that taste like meat). Not the biggest soup person, but I do make veggie chili (and always have a few cans around for quick meals, plus corn muffins in the freezer) and chana masala, neither of which take very long if you make them with canned beans/chickpeas.

    9. I always eat the raspberries right away so I don’t have this problem :) Other produce is not so lucky in my house.

    10. Do you cook dinner?

      When I was working in an office I put tomorrow’s lunch into a container before I brought the dinner food to the table.

      The other go-to for me was a salad with some protein. Since you’re vegetarian it’s a bit harder than adding a chicken breast but if you can find a place with lots of toppings I’m sure they’ll have beans and maybe even tofu.

      I had to tell myself to avoid cheese at lunch unless the office was ordering pizza (which was very occasional) and that alone helped me make better choices.

    11. Get yourself a hot logic as your own heating device to plug in at work. You can heat up leftovers easily and you don’t need to use the smelly microwave at work. One favorite lunch meal is to throw together in a heat proof container the Mexican frozen cauliflower rice at Trader Joes, cooked and diced up chicken breasts (also available at TJ’s) and some shredded cheddar cheese. I heat it in my hot logic and bring an avocado which I slice up and throw in after it is heated. It’s delicious and super low carb. Using my hot logic has saved me countless times from running to the store to get bad food. I also bring plain yogurt and a container of berries which I eat everyday (again low carb).

    12. Longtime vegetarian/mostly vegan here. I live mostly alone and don’t cook a ton these days, but here are some quick but healthy things to make:

      – Migas: scrambled eggs with corn, zucchini and/or other veggies, cheese and tortilla strips. (I make my own in a skillet to keep the fat down, but regular tortilla chips are good.) You can do this with tofu, too.

      – A one-dish meal of cannellini beans and veggies. Sautee some garlic and maybe large-dice onions, bell peppers and/or zucchini or whatever you have, then throw in a can or two of drained and rinsed beans. When the veggies are mostly cooked, add a bunch of baby spinach and some chopped fresh tomatoes if you have them, and cook until the spinach wilts. Drizzle with good olive oil; serve over rice or pasta or with good bread.

      – Fried rice: Super-fast with quick-cooking or even frozen rice. Sautee garlic and ginger (jarred is fine), chopped onion and whatever veggies you have, plus tofu, veg chik’n, edamame or some other protein, then throw in the rice. Season with soy sauce, liquid aminos, chili sauce, curry paste/sauce, etc.

      Trader Joe’s is GREAT for precut veggies. Precut kale is fast to cook, cubed squash or the squash/sweet potato combo is great (steamed or just microwaved, with lime olive oil and salt, it’s amazingly good), the cut red and gree cabbage is good for slaw or stir-fried (put it in the fried rice). Their Japanese fried rice is excellent; I have served it with baked tofu and some extra veggies, such as the kale sauteed and with a little soy sauce and sesame oil.

      I really like the Red Lentil Salsa Soup from the cookbook “The Vegan 8;” it’s quick (although not as fast as the recipe says, unless you use split red lentils) and very good, minimal prep. I add some pre-grated carrots for more nutrition. WaPo featured the recipe last year, do a search.

      Also, look into crockpot recipes that can cook all day. (WHY are there crockpot recipes that cook for only four hours?) Try this site for vegetarian slow cooker recipes. This recipe from another source is good and makes a large amount so there are leftovers for lunches, etc. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/36922/mushroom-lentil-barley-stew/. Cut the pepper WAY down, maybe to ¼ of what’s in the recipe. I use fresh onion and garlic, powdered, and add a pound of chopped baby carrots. I also prefer black lentils, but green ones are fine.

  7. A PSA for anyone looking for work pants. On a whim, I bought a pair of Relaxed Crop pull-on pants from the Nine West brand at Kohl’s, in a khaki/black houndstooth pattern. Well, they’re pretty freaking awesome and feel like work-appropriate sweatpants. I’d describe them as ponte, but they seem to have a more relaxed leg and aren’t as skin-tight as others I’ve tried. With the right shoes, they pass as completely appropriate for the office. I’m a size 12 with muscular legs and bought a large. I don’t think they’d be great for people with slim legs but since that’s not me, thought I’d pass along a recommendation for others who are slowly dying in constricting pants. :)

    1. Do you know what the inseam is? They look cute but worried they would be too short for me. I just can’t handle ankle pants in the winter.

      1. I’m 5’8″ and they hit about 2″ above the ankle on me. So yeah, definitely cropped. I also don’t love ankle pants in deep winter, but they’ll get me through this transitional time. Eventually, I’ll switch to wearing them with booties for more coverage.

    2. Thanks, I ordered some! You had me at “khaki/black houndstooth pattern,” LOL. I love black patterned pants because I wear a lot of solid black tops. I also ordered the black plaid print and the maroon color. I will report back once I receive.

  8. I inherited a St John vintage 90s mock title toe neck sweater with shoulder pads. This is the perfect thing for 2021 with my mom / barrel jeans, yes? Can’t imagine wearing it with my 2018 skinny jeans but it just might work now.

    1. Assuming you meant a mock turtleneck, absolutely! I’d probably remove the shoulder pads if possible. But sounds awesome.

    1. I used Dr. Aronsky at Kremer. It was 10+ years ago but I had no issues. He was and is still probably pretty popular.

    2. Not in Philly but did Lasik 5 years ago – truly best decision I ever made, besides choosing my husband ;) My advice is to ask for the Valium – they didn’t offer it to me, but I asked. There is no physical discomfort but it’s a freaky experience.

  10. Any reviews of Chief (the professional organization)? I was invited to interview and curious to hear anyone’s perspective who’s joined.

    1. if you can get your company to sponsor you i think it is definitely worth it, if you have to pay out of pocket perhaps less so, but it is still a wealth of resources and you get what you put into it. For example, they have a ton of community boards where members share information, but you need to actively read them. Members post for both professional and social reasons (e.g., job postings as well as local dinners/cocktail hours), some host ongoing workshops to learn about joining boards, others make intros for angel investing, others post their vacation homes at a discount. the core groups are interesting but I don’t think they meet frequently enough to foster any real relationships; it is good for being exposed to different mindsets/goals/approaches from various women that are in similar senior capacities that you often don’t get in “real life” but contrary to what the org markets, I don’t think the core group is the biggest benefit of membership, it is tapping into a network of successful women who are looking to build up other women.

      1. I did an initial interview with them several months ago but they were new to my city and they didn’t seem to be any discount on the initiation price because of that. I’m going to wait to look into it until it’s more established.

    2. A friend loves it, and it helped her triple her salary and land a c suite role.

    3. I’ve been a member for about six months. I was able to use my employer’s professional development fund to cover the cost of my membership, and I got a discount/scholarship for being a non-profit employee. I’m not sure if my org will cover my year two membership, but I hope they will! I have found the community groups on their online platform incredibly useful (in generating new donors for my org, new strategic partners, and new friends going through similar personal circumstances). The linkedin pod alone has catapulted my visibility on the platform. Our Core group facilitation has been mediocre, but the other women are great. I live in a city with a clubhouse, and while I haven’t used it much, I think I will in the future as the world reopens.

  11. Where can I get basic cotton or cotton blend leggings (like the kind that kids might wear under dresses, but in adult sizes) in navy and black? There are too many printed and $$$ ones out there and I just need basic ones hopefully for less than LLL prices.

      1. Yep. Sometimes they sell them in 3-packs or 4-packs of single or mixed colors. When those are available and eligible for discounts, I stock up.

        1. Looks like they are only $7 today for the mid-rise jersey leggings! In black and heathered gray. OP I hope you see this post

      2. second Old Navy. I got one each in black, dark gray, and navy for less than $10 each last year right before thanksgiving.

    3. Maggie’s organics is my favourite for this. Super high quality cotton leggings made with fair trade union labour.

    4. Uniqlo has them. They are not thick enough to be worn as pants outside but I absolutely love them and wear them almost daily inside my home.

  12. Who do you vent to when everyone around is just as exhausted as you are? I’m drowning in work, can’t sleep because of a new baby and stress/anxiety about work/finances/future, and I feel like I don’t have any way to let off steam. Husband is burnt out, friends and family have their own problems. Don’t have time for a therapist even if I wanted to use one just to complain about things. Normally I would just send texts for sympathy and wait for things to get better, but sharing my problems feels like it would just be adding to the net unhappiness that’s weighing everyone I know down, and I don’t have much hope that things will get better, or at least, not without a significant investment of time on my part that I simply don’t have. I can’t even enjoy time off because I know I’ll be even further behind when I get back.

    2. I have one friend who is in the same shoes as me re burn out, and I reach out to her because it helps remind ourselves that we aren’t in our boat alone. Beyond that, I stalk the Reddit threads, because it also helps me feel less alone.

    3. I have no idea, I’m in the same boat. Multiple ongoing diagnoses for mystery heath problems, job change chaos, sick family members. There’s no relief and no balls I can allow to drop.

    5. Put the baby in the stroller and walk.

      My dog is getting a whole lot of looooong walks these days.

      1. Oh, my dogs have heard it all. I would add that they are far more empathetic than most people in my world.

    6. I had a baby group to vent to. Sleep matters a lot though – can you get your spouse to give you one night alone to sleep? Wear earplugs. It helps so much

    7. I was extremely burnt out in the winter and I feel like myself now. I prioritized sleep over every other past time. I stopped nursing and did sleep training earlier than I would have otherwise. I pulled WAY back from work. My goal was “competent and not fired” instead of “amazing and getting a bonus.” I also stopped having long term plans, when normal I am working towards 5/10 year goals.

      I’m glad I focused on myself for months. I feel normal again! I am a better mother. I’m doing amazing at work.

      Also, if you recently had a baby, call or message your OBGYN office about PPD/PPA.

    8. I am in the same boat and that is precisely why I have been doing teletherapy for the past year! I literally just vent/complain to the guy. I started weekly and over time I had fewer things to complain about so now I do it bi-weekly.

  13. What new / newish iPhones are people liking now? My vintage 2017 one has such a degraded battery that it can’t be supported much longer and it is time to replace. I think I will miss the button at the bottom :(

    1. I bought last year’s new SE when it came out and it’s great – still has the button at the bottom although no headphone jack.

      1. +1

        I went from first gen SE to second gen and I’m very happy with it (and extremely happy with the price point)

    2. I have a mini from last year and love it. I got used to no home button in about 10 minutes and appreciate having both the plug in charging and touch charging options. It’s a lot smaller and lighter than my last phone (which was a plus) but feels like I have the same amount of screen real estate.

      1. I have the 12 mini too and I love it! My last phone was an iphone 6 though haha, so I wanted to keep the smaller phone.

    4. Whatever year you go for, the Pro is worth it for the better camera. (I jumped from 6 to 11 in 2019 and was amazed.)

      You’ll adjust to no-button life surprisingly fast.

    6. I have the 12 pro max mainly for the camera which is amazing. No regrets. The 2.5x lens is something I use ALL the one.

    7. You can replace the battery at home! ifixit sells kits. I’m still using my original SE, released around the time of iPhone 6.

    8. You can also take it to the Apple store for battery replacement. I had the battery replaced on my iPhone 7 a couple of months ago for $49.

    9. I actually replaced the battery in my old SE and held out for another 6 months until the camera broke. I strongly prefer the smaller form factor over the 12 mini which I now have. That said, other than size everything is better on the 12 mini.

      1. Actually, I’ve been considering going back to the SE since I still have it. Who needs a camera…I really miss the tiny size.

        1. Thank you for posting this. I was considering switching just earlier today, and I think I’ll hold off.

        2. You’re saying the original SE feels noticeably smaller than the 12 mini? (I too have an SE and have been debating whether to upgrade to the 13 mini to future proof. I love my SE.)

  14. NoVA ladies with thick hair with body – where do you get your hair cut? I feel like I haven’t had a good haircut since I moved here 8 years ago. (I’m near Old Town FWIW.)

    1. I’ve really liked the cuts and atmosphere at Salon DeZen on Fayette. I don’t have a set person there that I see all the time, so haven’t formed a tight bond specifically with anyone, but have had good results each time

  15. Reposting since I posted late yest

    Why is this a thing? How do I cope with this? I’m having minor hot flashes at night but no other symptoms other than irrational rage at…nothing. Staying drunk or on benzos doesn’t seem like a good option, but good grief I need something.

    Already adjusted thyroid meds, upped my antidepressant, am working on reducing chronic pain, fixing everything I can fix but ugh. I already hate dealing with emotions and this is just so hostile and negative when my life really is okay.

    What has worked for you? Does it get better?

    2. I have found 2 L Theanine in the morning really cuts down on the rage. Pop another one if you feel ragey during the day.

    3. Serenol (bee pollen), evening primrose supplements and a product called Perimenopause Support Supplement (contains black cohosh and other herbs) have helped me tremendously with my suddenly-rough periods, br*st tenderness, minor hot flashes and mood swings. I buy them all on Am*zon.

      People on here have implied I’m experiencing a placebo effect, but I don’t think so as I seriously doubted that these supplements would work, but tried them anyway out of desperation. Heck, even if it is a placebo, I guess that’s okay as long as it works!

    4. It gets better. I remember feeling SO ANGRY, at the drop of a hat, and about nothing. I also remember feeling really, really irritated with my partner, like, why am I even with you? It all passed and I love him more than ever now.

      I just rode it out and gave myself a break – I figure menopause is basically like going through puberty in reverse, and if teenage girls can be moody, so could I.

      I was fortunate to be able to spend time alone when I needed to (partnered, but not married, and no kids), which helped me. If it’s really bad, talk to your doctor about temporary hormone therapy or maybe look into psychology therapy, too.

    5. The less dairy and meat I consumed, the less I had perimenopausal symptoms. YMMV.

    6. So far in life, I have needed progesterone or this is how I feel. I assume when I hit perimenopause that I’ll need some kind of progesterone therapy.

  16. Reposting since I posted late yesterday. Thanks to those who did respond!

    Why is this a thing? How do I cope with this? I’m having minor hot flashes at night but no other symptoms other than irrational rage at…nothing. Staying drunk or on benzos doesn’t seem like a good option, but good grief I need something.

    Already adjusted thyroid meds, upped my antidepressant, am working on reducing chronic pain, fixing everything I can fix but ugh. I already hate dealing with emotions and this is just so hostile and negative when my life really is okay.

    What has worked for you? Does it get better?

    1. Source: I am 44
      – Decreasing caffeine
      – Decreasing alcohol, especially alcohol consumed at night (alcohol made my sleep worse, which then ratcheted up my irritability during the day)
      – Exercising more but at lower intensity – so taking a walk every day at lunch or after work hours, not adding more gym visits/exercise classes
      – YMMV on this but eating more soy, in the form of edamame and soy milk, helps me on my worst irritable days
      – Saying “no” more. This is probably the most important one. One of my friends (in her mid-50s) framed it like this: in your 40s you have so much more life experience and wisdom about what’s worth your time and what’s not. But continuing to say “yes” to things and being a people-pleaser puts you direct conflict with your own hard-won wisdom, and so that leads to a lot of stress, which with our shifting hormones gets manifested as anger. Following your wisdom and jettisoning the things in your life that you know are not adding value or enhancing your happiness decreases your irritation/rage a lot. Example, I decided that I did not want to stay on a nonprofit committee with a bunch of people I found to be hostile and nitpicky, and I quit the committee. It would have been really hard to do that in my thirties as I would have worried about “disappointing someone,” without realizing the most important person to avoid disappointing, in that situation, is myself. It may be time to look at what you’re still doing that you don’t like, and that you’ve never liked, and ditch it. Make more time and space for you so you can get exercise, sleep, do some deep breathing or meditation, etc.

        1. Yes, I love her take on it. She coped with her perimenopause better than I’m coping with mine.

  17. What are your favorite places to travel to in October? Getting married next year and will be delaying any real planning for a while (COVID restrictions, needing to save up), but are enjoying fantasizing about options. Looking for both international and domestic.

      1. I’m the Anon below and BH is where we got married! It was perfect and I have lots of vendor recs if anyone wants them.

    2. New England is beautiful that time of year. We got married in Maine in August but it’s gorgeous in October.

      1. +1 – The cape is great in the fall… but this year and last year, staffing at hotels/restaurants has been super challenging, so bear that in mind.

    3. Southern Italy or Greece (not sunbathing weather but lovely for sitting outside with wine etc).

      Would generally avoid the Caribbean (rainy season and stuff is closed). Aruba would be safe weather-wise but is a very commercial / mass-market vibe.

      1. Many parts of Mexico would probably be fine in October. But I tend to think October isn’t the right time for a tropical beach wedding. Maybe it’s just because I know a lot of professors and teachers but October is very much “off season” for weddings and if you have one then people assume it’s because you’re trying to take advantage of a destination that’s best visited in the fall. The Caribbean is lovely year round, and arguably worst in the fall, so it doesn’t go into that category.

        1. How funny. In New Orleans, October is one of the busiest months for weddings – probably because the weather is finally nice enough to not suffocate and it’s historically one of the drier months!

        2. Judging by Philly, late September & early October are absolutely the most popular wedding dates — you’re pretty safe to expect mild but nice weather.

          1. Right, but Philly is in the Northeast US so fall is a lovely time. You *could* have a wedding in the Caribbean in October, but I’m not sure why you would when winter, spring and summer are all nicer times to be in the Caribbean. Plus I thought a major reason to have a destination wedding in a tropical place was to let people escape crummy weather at home and October is lovely in most of the US.

          2. Oh – I read the OP’s post that she’s looking more for a honeymoon destination than the actual wedding. Agree a Caribbean wedding in October would be odd, as it’s the middle of hurricane -and therefore off- season.

    5. early or late October? I think October is a great time to go to Europe. Not for sitting at the beach per se, but not as hot for touristy stuff. i’ve never been, but i’ve heard japan is gorgeous in the fall. domestically, new england and then some south east areas like charleston are nice.

        1. Yeah I would be very careful with northern California in October. Fire season is no joke.

    7. Nova Scotia in early October can be divine. We got married there and took our honeymoon in Bar Harbour. Great combo but a honeymoon in Nova Scotia would also be lovely.

      For a totally different take – Maui – lovely anytime of the year, even rainy season.

    8. Meant to clarify – looking for honeymoon recs specifically, and our wedding date is Oct. 1st, so will be early October. Thanks everyone!

  18. I have to go to a wedding in late November, and I don’t know what to wear. I have gained a lot of weight and while I am an apple shape, all of my weight is in my belly. I look like I am late in a pregnancy, unfortunately. I don’t know how to dress this shape. I haven’t had to wear even work clothes in a long time (permanent WFH) so I am so overwhelmed as to how to dress this shape for the wedding. Does anyone have any recs for brands, stores or dress shapes that might look at least okay on this shape? I am probably a size 18 right now.

    2. I gained all my pandemic weight in my belly. I wore shift dresses to weddings recently with great success! From a thrift store so I can’t tell you the brand unfortunately.

    3. I’m a similar shape and a wrap dress with a v-neck and elbow length sleeves is my fave choice. Something with a fuller skirt rather than fitted.

      2. Ok, we all seem to recognize the importance of v-neck. Why is it such work to find them, other than in completely staid styles?

  19. I am so tired of people who are not doctors making unilateral decisions about my health. CVS refused to fill an electronically submitted script without the doctor calling them on the phone–I was paying out of pocket, insurance wasn’t an issue. They just decided on their own to question the necessity. Then my labwork wasn’t completed because the facility said the tests ordered were slightly overlapping in measurements, so they only did one of the two. You don’t get to decide that! I traveled two hours to see a specialist about this issue, but a twenty-something beeyotch phlebotomist thinks she knows better? Now I have to go back and give MORE blood. And what recourse do I have? This Monday morning quarterbacking is out of control.

    1. Not to discount your problem, which I completely agree is infuriating, but the other variation on this is CVS constantly trying to refill prescriptions that have no business getting refilled. We do mail order for all our regular prescriptions but sometimes have something that we only need once and can’t get through mail order and therefore have to do in person. Once we do, CVS WILL NOT stop calling us trying to refill the order, even when it’s for something completely completely inappropriate like my husband’s colonoscopy prep, which he won’t need again for another 10 years. We’ve done all the opt outs, and it won’t stop the calls (I’ve blocked them on my phone, but he hasn’t). The company is such a scam, but our insurance more or less forces us to use them…

      1. I feel so validated, thank you for sharing this! I think I’m going to switch to a new pharmacy.

        1. ETA: Hit reply too soon. I also have this problem, and it got so bad that I opened a Google voice number just for CVS. They were calling multiple times per day.

          1. They call multiple times a day, then they don’t call at all. I would find once every couple of days to be much more useful.

      2. Yes!! This is my current struggle – CVS is calling 10x a day and the automated system leaves me three-second voicemails that literally just say “this is CVS” and then hang up. I don’t need a damn refill and I didn’t ask for one.

    2. Let me guess you have a rare condition or constellation of conditions? I really wish our whole healthcare system would wrap its head around the fact that not every patient falls in the middle of the bell curve, whether in terms of what we have or how it’s going to need to be treated, and “evidence-based medicine” isn’t going to apply. Meanwhile people really think they can second guess actual experts!

    3. I hear you. I get really tired of insurance companies and pharmacies trying to negate the decisions my doctor and I have made after carefully weighing options and deciding on a course of action. I am not usually the “let me speak to your manager” person, but I had to do that one day at our Walgreens pharmacy when, after two phone calls from me and one from my doctor’s office, they still wouldn’t fill a prescription because “it’s not covered by your insurance.” Even though when the prescription was called in, and afterward, I told them I would be paying for it out of pocket (and it was a whopping $55, not something that cost thousands of dollars). I refused to leave the consultation window until the pharmacy tech got the pharmacist, and she agreed to fill the prescription and allow me to pay for it with my own money. I offered to go get cash from the ATM if that would make them feel better than me using my debit card. I don’t know how these people without medical degrees got empowered to decide that what a doctor has prescribed isn’t necessary for a patient, but I don’t like it.

    4. Yes, so frustrating. Making healthcare into an industry instead of a service only serves to line companies’ pockets and make it harder for people to get actual care.

      Can your doc have you get your blood drawn at a Quest lab or Labcorp or whatever the big chains are? Hopefully there’s one closer to you than 2 hours away! My endo does this and I’m usually in and out in under 15 minutes.

    5. I think it was Bill Maher who made a joke around the time that pharmacists weren’t filling birth control prescriptions (grrr …) to the effect of “the person playing doctor at CVS was the guy who was working in the photo lab last week” and honestly, I kind of think that way. Go through medical school if you want to play doctor. What interactions are they coming up with that couldn’t be caught via a computerized database of all the medications you are on?

      1. I mean, pharmacists do actually get a lot of training? IDK – I had a CVS pharmacist flag a major error on my pediatrician’s part one time so I was pretty happy to get that call (and switched pediatricians) but the person making the decisions about prescriptions at CVS is not a cashier.

      2. The interactions between medication prescribed by physicians on different systems/practices who do not share computer systems.

        I am not defending CVS ( I have had much better luck with Costco’s pharmacy, they do not call me 100x for a refill I did not requst, and the pricing is better) but a pharmacist caught an almost fatal drug interaction for my aunt for two different medications prescribed by different document in different offices so that really is a thing.

      3. PSA that pharmacist (bachelor or doctorate in pharmacy) is very different than a pharmacy tech (CPhT, often HS or AA level). Make sure you know which you’re talking to! A PharmD is 100% qualified to recommend overturning MD/DO orders based on side effects or interactions. CPhT….not so much.

  20. People who roast lots of veggies – what kind of sheet pans do you use? I’ve been using basic aluminum sheet pans with either aluminum foil or parchment paper on top to minimize clean up but this feels environmentally wasteful. I’m looking for something non-toxic and ideally easy(ish) to clean. If I roast directly on stainless steel pans, will they be impossible to clean? Do you use silicone mats? Can those mats go in the dishwasher? I’d love specific recommendations if you have something you love!

    1. Pampered Chef stoneware bar pan. Received it as a present; have used it weekly for the last few years and love it.

      1. Life hack: mini Brillo pads. No more disgusting, barely used, full-size Brillo pad rusting away.

    3. I use casserole dishes, not sheet pans. Easily scrubbed in the sink or put in the dishwasher.

        1. Pyrex works well for this! I use my Pyrex for roasting all the time.

          About silicone mats— I wash mine by hand, but I’m not sure if that’s required.

          1. +1 for Pyrex for roasting.

            I put my silicone mats in the dishwasher but I like the results of roasting veggies better in Pyrex and the cleanup is just as easy.

    4. I got silicone mats, but don’t like them. I put them in the dishwasher and they don’t get clean; washing them by hand is like wrestling a wet noodle. I either use parchment paper or nothing at all now.

    5. I have Nordicware ones, I’m not sure what they’re made of? I do use silicon mats because it makes cleanup easier, but my sheet pans have a decade’s worth of use and look like it and I just don’t care about having them look pristine. A friend visited once and was shocked that they looked dirty. They’re not dirty, I wash them of course, but at a certain point you’re not getting them back to shiny silver. I do put both the sheet pans and the silicon mats in the dishwasher, but I find the silicon mats easier to wash by hand. You really need some soap and attention to get them un-greasy.

    6. I roast directly on the pan and it’s fine, not even that hard to clean, though I tend to use a fair amount of oil on my veggies. I have a few different pans, but they all clean up fine. I do have silicone mats, but I only use those for baking, as I think they interfere a little with browning and wouldn’t be ideal for roasting veggies.

    7. I default to glass Pyrex or Anchorware baking dishes when possible because they are cheap and go in the dishwasher and I seem to have a million of them. But don’t beat yourself up about the parchment paper, it’s pretty environmentally friendly when compared to the environmental impact of the amount of hot water it takes to handwash a sheet pan.

      1. also, you can throw parchment into the compost or green bin (if you have one). If you can stop using tinfoil (which uses a ton of energy to produce), that is a really good step!

        1. That’s good to know. Because aluminum melts at such a low point I always assumed it was not so bad since we can recycle it here.

          1. If you are ready for the ugly reality of recycling, try to figure out how clean aluminum needs to be in your city recycling facility. Most places will recycle beverage cans, but not tinfoil with food residue on them. Just finding out is difficult in many places.

          2. our city says it has to be in clean balls of 2″ diameter, but I guess I’m not sure what “clean” is.

        2. I did not know parchment can go in the compost! I am learning all kinds of stuff today.

    8. I have half sheet and quarter sheet restaurant quality sheet pans and I roast them right on the pan. My pans are not pristine and I don’t need them to be. They get dark over time. A “well-loved” sheet pan is the sign of someone who cooks a lot.

      1. Agree with this, too. Also I put my sheet pans in the oven while it’s preheating and it makes the veggies even yummier (on the rare-ish occasions when I am up for the scrubbing).

    9. Nordic Ware naturals pans are the absolute best and never warp. We’ve slowly replaced all our bakeware with them.

      1. … and we wash these in the dishwasher, which will oxidize the finish but doesn’t affect their durability or performance at all. I find that foods don’t brown up as nicely on silicone mats as they do on the pan.

        1. OMG thank you for the thing about oxidization! I have to quarter sheets from Nordic Ware and put them in the dishwasher and now they’re dully and weird looking. Do you use anything on top like aluminum or parchment? Does it make the food taste weird?

          1. SAME. The oxidation feels weird on my fingers and I hate it. I now roast on silicone mats on the oxidized pans.

          2. I don’t. After the initial oxidation, I haven’t noticed any sort of issues. It doesn’t affect the taste in any way and AFAIK it’s perfectly safe, just not pretty!

    10. I have used USA Pan sheet pans for a long time and they work fine. We just spray the pans with cooking spray and lay the veggies on them. Our pans are carbonized at this point, but as Anon at 11:57 said, that’s the sign of a well-loved pan.

    11. We use siplat mats on sheet pans. They can go in the dishwasher but they flip around so it doesn’t clean them very well, and they are very easy to hand wash.

    12. I use a commercial steel half sheet (the ones with the little lip) with a Silpat. Both can be found at a commercial kitchen supply store.

    14. I roast right on the sheets, but I make sure to grease the pan as if you would with a cake so that there’s oil everywhere so that nothing has a chance to stick. Then the only thing you’re getting off in the dishwasher is oil and spices.

    15. Muji stainless steel.

      I find them very easy to clean, or rather, my dishwasher does. Handwash is also easy. Occasionally, something will be stuck after the machine has done it’s thing. Short soak with hot water and dish soap and a quick scrub = spotless.

  21. How are people making life decisions right now given that it still feels pretty unclear what work/like will look like next year because of the pandemic? Are you making decisions assuming that wfh will be a permanent thing? For example, are you buying a house outside the city and assuming you won’t be commuting into an office? Getting a dog assuming you’ll still be wfh for years? Are you waiting this out longer before making decisions?

    1. I see the pandemic as temporary and am not making major changes like you describe. I think employers, on average, will be more flexible, but that just means coming in a few days a week rather than every day and I still don’t want a massive commute even if it’s not daily. I also don’t want to give up the flexibility of changing jobs. While I think there’s more remote opportunity, it’s not going to be as robust as living in/near a major metro area where you can go into the office. I’m just enjoying a temporary respite from the grind and viewing this ad an extended snow day. We have a dog, and we’ve kept him in day care this whole time to make sure we have a spot in the future, plus socialization.

    2. i personally do not need to be making any of these decisions right now, but many friends in certain areas have been told their jobs will be forever remote, or wfh 3 days a week and are making housing/moving decisions accordingly

    3. My life is structured for the very long haul. My home is in a convenient location in a school district I love. I’ve picked everything else to be near my home (doctors, daycare, work, etc). So in the office or not, my life is essentially the same.

      I am trying to decide when to get a dog, but I think I would use doggy daycare a few days a week for socialization anyway. If the pandemic taught me anything, is that we need to get out the house sometime!

      1. I posted above, but we’ve sent our dog to day care every day since we got him, and he just loves it – it’s great for us because he’s happy, exercised, we don’t have to stress during the day and we can board him with the daycare when we go out of town. Highly recommend.

    4. Not making any changes. We liked living downtown before (dual walking commutes, ease of restaurant-hopping, enjoying the broad diversity of our neighborhood) and see no reason to take on the monster responsibilities of a bigger house, yard, 2nd car, and irritating commute (even if it’s only 3 days a week going forward) just so we could have more space to furnish…

    5. So many of my colleagues have bought in the burbs without WFH being permanent. We’re tentatively scheduled for January as return to work and I have a hunch that when that happens Pied a Terres will spike and the suburban market will drop.

    6. I’m currently WFH and so is husband, and we will return to offices eventually but for specific meetings and not a prescribed number of week days. We moved across town to a neighborhood that’s closer to our downtown (and his job), cheaper to buy more space but with worse school districts. One day we will return to an office or take a new job, and our new location ensures a short commute. Until that day, we prioritized our life outside of work: park nearby, cheaper COL, friends within blocks, magnet and charter school options galore, all the fun things to do in our city within 20 min. It’s a different take on those moving far away from a city’s core, but our city has a lot to offer outside of work and we want to stay close.

    7. I got a new permanently WFH job. My old job was dancing around the subject of whether we would be required to go back, and though I had been unhappy for a few years, this was the push I needed. We will not be moving because my elderly parents need us nearby, but the quality of life I’ve had during WFH was just too good to lose.

      We have talked about possibly living as digital nomads in the future, once my parents are no longer with us. We’re childfree and dogfree.

    8. I did not see my family for more than 1.5 years due to COVID restrictions/vaccine availability. I am in the US vs family in Canada. In that duration, I have realized that it is time for me to be back closer to the people who I love – young kids and older relatives will not be there in 5-10 years. I am actively searching for a role that will let me get back there without it being a financially terrible decision.

      Current role is still WFH and will likely be hybrid for the long-haul. Yet I see intense pressure from upper management for new hires to relocate to the local area.

    9. I am officially WFH forever. But I haven’t made any changes as a result. Our house is our forever house, we’re not moving. We already have a small dog. Kid is in daycare at my former office, but we’re just going to deal with the commute because there are less than 2 years left until she goes to Kindergarten and we love her school. Her K-3 school is a block from our house, so that will be convenient. Once our child is a bit older and in elementary school we anticipate spending a month or two every summer working remotely from different places (likely with a retired grandparent in tow to help with childcare). But that’s something we’ll play by ear at the time.

    10. I think WFH is here to stay, at least for anyone who is changing jobs. The job market is national now and all of the candidates we see expect not to relocate.

      1. I suspect you may be right for some jobs, but many, many others will not be that way.

    11. I was hoping to be able to relocate, but my company has already notified us that we have to be within a certain distance radius of the office, if we want to keep our jobs. With that said, I’m actively job hunting, but finding the opportunities scarce.

    12. In my area (finance) I’ve had jobs that could have been done fully remote for ten of the past 15 years. The only reason some jobs were butt in the seat were, to be frank, because of the old male contingent of top management with SAHWs and a fear of email. Literally there were some who never read email but had secretaries respond to everything. Or they were control freaks. Some of these jobs were for a top 3 bank where my boss was in Texas, my credit person in California and my marketing people all up and down the west coast and we were allowed to work from home as needed or 2-3 days a week.

      Now that most of the old male managers were forced to work at home for 12+ months, they cannot say that we can’t be as productive or more productive at home. Plus, the remaining pre-computer management males are now more progressive and the ones born before 1955 have retired. Again, my team is spread out all over the Western US: My boss works from home in a different state, my support team works four hours away from me and team-members are in Oregon and California. All of us are permanently WFH. Why be in the office if no one else is local? In my bank, I think WFH will be permanent for those without constant in-person customer contact or roles in actual branches. I will never go back to the office and will WFH until retirement.

  22. I bought a jar of preserved lemons for a recipe and have some left over. Any ideas for how to use them up?

    4. I posted a suggestion but also know that they really are preserved so they will keep for quite some time.

      1. I’ve seen this advice for lemons, and have tried in my dishwasher, but I hate the smell! Love fresh lemons, but dishwasher boiled ones, not so much, it turned out.

  23. I am talking to my boss today about wanting a promotion. I mentioned it during our review process at the beginning of the year. The company is in budget mode right now so I’m doing a check in at my request. Please send all the good thoughts!! I’ve worked so hard and taken on so much more responsibility. And the bump in pay would be incredible.

  24. Following up from yesterday – Loving the idea of Cape May. Any suggestions on where to stay?

    As a note, I love all the other ideas! So much so that… we’ve used them in the past! For example, Montreal and Quebec City? Our lovely baby moon! The Sagamore? Last year’s anniversary. Would endorse all of those!

  25. Anyone have a favorite way to keep a food journal on your phone (iOS if it matters)? I should not nor do I want to track calories. I don’t need to track fitness. I don’t want to use MyFitnessPal or anything like that. I just need something that is basically a fancy excel spreadsheet to list my foods (I am trying to identify problem foods, not lose weight). I want to be able to do it on my phone, since I have that with me all the time and want it to be super easy to use because I won’t use it otherwise. Knowing myself, having an app vs. a self-created spreadsheet would cause me to be more likely to use it. I’ve tried a little paper notebook – FAILED. I’ve tried something on my computer – FAILED. I really suck at this stuff.

    Any suggestions?!

    2. You could use a google form on your phone since filling in spreadsheet cells on mobile is a pain, and it will then push to a google sheet that you can look at on your computer?

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