This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I always like a good carafe for drinking — and I think this one is pretty enough it could be in your office for an occasional sip, or at your bedside.
It's 30 oz, which is more than enough (I think my current bedside carafe is somewhere between 18-20 oz). I like that the glass top also serves as a tumbler to drink from.
The pretty carafe is $39 at Amazon.
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Sales of note for 9.30.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Fall Cyber Monday sale, 40% off sitewide and $5 shipping
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
anon
Anybody here with camper experience? I need some help brainstorming.
For our big family trip this summer, we would really like to use our camper and then follow up with a stay in a hotel or short term rental. But the question is always what do we do with the camper during the latter part of our trip. Does anyone know of a place to park a camper short term – like are there RV storage places where you can park for a week or so? Or would hotels generally object to it being parked in their parking lot for that long? We are interested in going anywhere like Colorado, Utah, California, Wyoming, etc. And interested in any solution to this problem – any type of place to park, specific hotels, general categories of places to look into, etc.
go for it
I live in a high camping area and our local storage unit center does this. You may get zapped for a higher fee for the short term rental, but it is a more secure place than a hotel parking lot.
anon
any chance you want to tell me where you live or the name of the unit?
Anon8
I did a cross country road trip in 2021 in a camper van and stayed in hotels in some places where it was too hot/inconvenient to camp. The only issue we ran into was with that the roof was too tall for hotel parking garages, but in every case the hotel had alternate parking for oversize vehicles. We saw multiple RVs in the parking lots, even in relatively fancy hotels like the Wynn in Vegas. I’d call the hotel to ask, but as long as you make it clear no one is sleeping in the camper I don’t think you’ll have any trouble at all. For reference, we stayed in hotels in Dallas, Santa Fe, Flagstaff and Las Vegas.
Pep
A lot of storage companies (CubeSmart, PublicStorage, etc.) where you would rent a storage unit also have storage spaces for RVs, etc.
Anon
My husband and I used to alternate nights camping (tent camping) with hotel nights. Sometimes 1-2 nights camping and then 1 hotel night. Would that work for you?
Anon
We did something similar when we went to a wedding out of state. We didn’t want to get ready for the wedding in the camper so we booked a hotel for a few nights. We also booked a regular camper site at a camp ground near where the hotel was, so we just left the camper there while we stayed at the hotel. It is a cheap alternative since the per night cost for a campsite is probably cheaper than storing it at a storage unit.
Anom
Recommendations for where to buy first bra for 10 year old? I don’t want to rush her, but also want to give her the option. She’s just starting to show her n*ppl*s through her shirts. I think 5th grade is when girls start? (This is for my oldest daughter)
anon
If she’s showing through her shirt then it’s time to start, regardless of her age. A ten year old probably won’t feel comfortable bringing this up on her own so you should make the first move. No recommendation for specific stores but bring home a few different options (sports bra vs cami style, neutral vs fun colors, etc.) then let her choose. After she’s worn it and decides she likes the style then you can buy more and return the rejects.
Cat
+1, I was shy about needing more support and so my mom brought home a bunch of plain white sports bra type things for me – she even called them “underbras” to make it easier on me from wearing undershirts. I imagine now in the age of bral*tt*es that there’s way cuter options available!
Anon
Let her try options, but don’t return them after she has worn them. That is horrible.
anon
Of course not! I meant return the ones she immediately rejected and never wore.
Anon
I once ordered a bra and received an obviously well worn bra. It was so gross.
Anon
I don’t really get this standard? All people have n1pples. You can sometimes see my 4 year old’s through her shirt. It doesn’t mean she needs a bra.
Anon
It’s different when they’re developing breasts. They’re not just nipples, it’s more like a pointy little mound. The point is, girls are self-conscious, and if they want to wear something to cover it a little, there’s no harm in it. And it opens the door for a conversation about a real bra when the time comes.
It’s a totally normal thing for girls in this age group, you’ll just have to see when you get there.
Anon
Oh I’m not disagreeing that a 10 year old might need or want to wear a bra. I was a 10 year old girl myself once. I was responding to “If she’s showing through her shirt then it’s time to start, regardless of her age” and that doesn’t make sense to me because you can often see n1ps on men and pre-pubescent girls.
Anonymous
We started online with Bleuet. it has its own s$te. Very soft and comfy. She likes them. While she knows there are stores that sell them, we haven’t ever shopped in person. She’s been wearing them 1.5 years, we are on a bigger size. Between Covid at the time and my busy job, this has been a perfect solution.
Anonymous
I have a 9 y/o and she’s had a couple sports bras for about a year now that she wears when there is chafing- like under sports jerseys. She has her eye on some of the bralettes from Target.
If she needs actual support, maybe aerie?
Anon
Target has some tan / white / black cami type bralettes that are soft and stretchy and have a lining pad that you can easily remove if that is too much bulk. Hard to destroy in the wash and budget friendly. My kids started there and then moved on to Aerie. Aerie has 30″ band sizes, which we really needed (grownup included in that — we don’t grow ribcages in this family).
Anon
Aerie.
Anonymous
Target has a ton of options. Most girls at my daughter’s school started wearing bralettes/sports bras in 4th grade. I just bought a big stack at Target and let her try on and decide what she liked.
Anon
The b.tempt’d by wacoal bralette is a great option. It’s totally flat with no actual “cups”.
https://www.wacoal-america.com/bras/bralette/comfort-intended-bralette-910240
Anon
My daughter and all of her friends at that age wanted to wear stretchy sports bras that look like the top half of a fitted camisole. Those very basic sports bras with no cups. They sell girls sizes.
Anonymous
This. Target is a good place to try them on.
Ribena
Yes, I wore these – they were called ‘crop tops’ in the U.K. at that time
Anon
I found a similar bra to what my daughter wore. She also had some that had spaghetti straps. Target has tons and a pretty good search function.
https://www.target.com/p/girls-solid-2pk-ribbed-scoop-bra-art-class-gray/-/A-84306146?preselect=83945099#lnk=sametab
Annony
Target and Old Navy both have really soft “cami” type bras.
A
My daughter loves the racerback camis from m&s.also 10 yo.
Emma
Random question – this morning, we found that someone had lined up like 10 cans of beer in front of our front gate. Not just abandoned them, they were planted deep in the snow in a perfect straight line evenly spaced across where we walk out. I am a little weirded out by this – could someone be sending a message or marking our house in some way? Or just tidy street drinkers?
Cat
lol! I wonder if people were street drinking, put the cans in the snow to chill, and then were too drunk to remember where they hid them. Or were drunk and were all like “let’s plant Beer Seeds and see if they grow!” Any chance you have a video doorbell you could scope out??
Emma
Ha – unfortunately no video doorbell although we have been meaning to get one and I’m looking them up as we speak. It’s probably not a big deal, you’re right someone may have been using the snow as a cooler, it just felt very directly pointed at us and our house somehow. I have a dog and baby and maybe am paranoid that our neighbors secretly hate us!
Anon
In Canada you do this in the winter and call it the outside fridge.
Anne-on
Same here in MA, I have stuck many a bottle of wine/beer cans in the snow on our back patio. Works great for big gatherings when the fridge is already packed to bursting!
Emma
We live in Montreal :) My days of drinking outside are long gone (and I was never much of a drinker to start with) but yeah, it was probably that. The cans were all empty so I guess they were methodically putting them back as they drank them.
Cb
Ha! I have Montreal envy, I visited in September and it was such a delight. I work on nationalist politics, so it wouldn’t be a totally bizarre move but my parents would lose it (they moved from the US to Europe to be closer).
Emma
My parents live in Europe… I love Montreal but really wish it was closer (and currently wishing it was warmer, but such is life). If you’re ever back I’m a former poli sci major and politics nerd and would love to chat over coffee!
Anonymous
Just drunk people having fun.
Mrs. Jones
For sure.
Ellen
Ummm, in case you are not familiar with teenagers, when the drink, especially 10 cans of beer, their first order of business is NOT to go back to the grocery store to pick up the 5 cent deposit that they paid. Instead, it is to do something memorable with the 10 cans, even if they loose the 50 cents they put into the cans! And since your place was where they probably drank all 10 cans, before they left to urinate, my guess is that their big idea was to plant these cans “deep in the snow” as you describe, so that they will remain until Spring, or at least until the snow melts. They are surely telling their freinds that they drank 10 cans of beer and that the remnants of their extravaganza can be found outside of your front gate. Do not get concerned. If you have a teenage daughter, it is very likely that they are also planting those cans to impress her. My sister, Rosa was always “wooed” like this by the biggest losers at the school when she was in Junior High, but she was smart enough to ignore them b/c Ed was also interested in her and he was older and had much better prospects.
She is no in her mid 30’s and has 4 kids, Ed, and a great home in Chapaqua, so she landed well, even tho she never got a bachelor’s degree.
Anon
Full or empty? Worst case scenario, you have a little more in your recycle bin. Best case scenario, cold, free beer! Was it at least good beer?
This sounds exactly like the kind of thing my friends and I would do in our younger days. We were nerdy, silly drinkers and came up with all sorts of beer can/bottle placement designs, odd places to balance them, etc. I’m sure it was much more amusing to us than anyone else.
Emma
Haha – they were empty. Not a big deal to recycle, was just wondering why they picked our front gate specifically but realize I may be overthinking this.
anon
Totally. Just “kids” being silly and random. The kind of thing my brother would totally do.
Anon
One morning I found a pair of shoes at the bottom of my front steps. It was like someone had sat on the steps, taken their shoes off, and walked away. I never did figure it out. I put them out by the curb, and when no one claimed them after several days, I threw them out.
Sometimes we get a reminder that even though we live in our little individual boxes, we are still part of a greater community that includes all types of people!
Floss
Somebody on the morning thread mentioned floss, which reminded me of this question. I have managed to build a daily flossing habit over the years, and I really like the easy use of floss picks. After my latest crown, my dentist said I should only ever pull floss out to the side, which is not possible with floss picks, but can of course be done with regular floss. I wouldn’t mind ditching all the plastic, and I’ve tried a few times to floss the old fashioned way, but I feel like I need to contort my hands in weird ways to reach all the edges. Does it get easier with practice? Any other tips?
Anon
Have you tried SmartFloss or a similar floss that expands a little? I find it nicer to use than the super smooth kinds.
anon_needs_a_break
It definitely gets easier with practice, yes. I’ve been trying to step up my floss game too and honestly I found some helpful youtube videos. It’s kind of embarrassing that I needed this in my 40s but I swear no one ever really taught me?? There’s someone called Teeth Talk Girl who has some helpful stuff!
Also my friend swears by Coco Floss. I just use whatever I can buy at walgreens but he orders this online and is obsessed.
Floss
Same! It feels a bit embarrassing, but better late than never…
anon
I use the picks as a quick “first run” to get out the major stuff stuck between the teeth. I have really tight teeth (never had my wisdom teeth out) so I unfortunately have food stuck all the time. Literally takes like 10 seconds. I love the picks for a quick clean after eating. But my dentist still said I really need to use floss too to get between those areas where the teeth touch and the gum/tooth interface. So I use the Glide flosses meant for tight teeth. Honestly, you often need to try a few to see which work best for your teeth. And yes, my dentist told me the same thing about my crown…. only pull out the floss to the side which I have totally been forgetting to do so thanks for the reminder!!
But yeah it can be awkward if you have large fingers, have dexterity issues etc… So the dentist also really liked the water-pik as an alternative. Those were popular like back in the 1970s! A lot of folks with aging can’t manage flossing. I think I read that only 30% of people floss so whatever you are doing, it is better than most!
I’ve seen a lot of relatives lose teeth and have expensive dental work with aging so I am trying to be better. Dental work is expensive!
Anon
I’m a daily flossed! It is my annual New Year’s resolution and I’m now on my third year of it.
Break off a longer piece of floss. I like Glide, but my hygienist is always suggesting I could do better (I swear there is no pleasing her) and suggested that regular waxed cleans better, so I have switched to that with no issues.
You’ll get used to how you have to hold your hands to get those back teeth. And don’t forget to floss the backside of your farthest back molars!
When I’m not at home with my floss canister, I do like those little brushes for between the teeth. They’re much more effective and yet less stabby than floss picks. I get the thicker kind and reuse them. The super cheap drugstore brand ones are too bendy.
CLEARLY I could talk about flossing all day!
Anon
I use the Glide tape. Some of my molars are tight and while the dentist can get regular waxed floss in and out just fine, I end up with frayed bits stuck in there. Has to be something about the angle the dentist can reach at while keeping tension on the floss that I can’t do.
I have dental related anxiety/ptsd so maintaining a semi regular flossing routine is….something. My goal is to floss at least 3 times a week. No flossing one or two nights in a row when I’m ‘supposed to’ floss everynight is a nice kick start to an anxiety spiral for me so I give myself permission to not do it every day.
Teeth things and dentists are a bad time, but not going or doing the things at all make it all worse.
Anonymous
Yes! Good floss makes a huge difference! I use Glide floss, not tape, but it’s completely different than the cheap crap that gets caught!
Anon Pls
My bf is going through a rough patch professionally. He hasn’t been happy in his last two jobs largely due to boring work (he works in a lab) and poor management. He’s been applying to similar jobs to get out of the one he currently has, but is also thinking of going in a completely different direction career-wise and has been looking into cyber security coursework, among other things.
I’m out of depth in terms of advice other than being supportive. Any ‘rettes in the LA area have experience with a career counselor/coach? Any suggestions?
Anon
The people I know who are career coaches are people who couldn’t make it in real jobs. They’re the last people I would go to for advice.
I know that’s harsh and I apologize to any good career coaches reading this. I’ve yet to meet one, though…
wet.ink.sigs
Seconding this.
anon
Is he an industry scientist, that doesn’t think he wants to stick with hands-on lab work or work-up the management scientific ladder? That is a hard decision point, because it often means starting up a new career. Or maybe something tangentially related (meaning uses his scientific knowledge base) like teaching (high school?) or sales. I can’t imagine a career counselor being useful for this. If he went to grad school, he could try contacting someone there (faculty member he admired or career counselors in his department, if available), but they are often so academic focused that could be unhelpful. He could think back to anyone he went to school with who is doing ANYTHING that sounds interesting, and start having lunches to catch up, hear about their work, and just mention he is “thinking about a change”. Sometimes it is amazing how people have ideas you would never think of, or friends of friends that can become contacts.
But if it sounds like he is considering something completely different like cyber security which is a great field, he is obviously smart and I would encourage him to go for it!!! He can always start with a class on the side and see how it goes…
JD
If he’s a bench scientist, it’s fairly common to transition to a commercial role within the same company. If he’s in research, maybe he could try product dev roles/project management. Or go to a Field based role, applications or Sales. I’ve seen people go from product transfer positions into business development/marketing. Cyber security seems like a weird jump unless his background is tangentially related. There’s also a ton of business analyst positions.
He should try networking with people in other roles and figure out what jobs sound interesting.
Anon
Paint question for a busy house with clumsy kids and adults and a large fluffy dog that seems to like sleeping up against any wall section with a corner (WTF dog???). For ease of scrubbing, especially in hallways, what is best? Scrubbable flat? Maybe be like my cousin and just paint the whole house semi-gloss? I’d go flat myself, as I can touch up at will while talking to my very chatty sibling (it’s that or use the swiffer). I don’t even understand what eggshell does. We have enough accumulated dings that it is time to do some retouching and IDK that what is on our walls is scrubbable at all (windex sure does nothing).
Cat
The higher the gloss, the more washable by nature. In order:
Flat
Matte
Eggshell
Satin
Semi-gloss
High gloss
However, the higher the gloss, the shinier, and so I personally wouldn’t go any higher than eggshell. Painting walls semi-gloss sounds like a Lot of Look in the best case scenario, or worst case, like the Standard Issue Yellow-Cream that must have been applied with a trowel to every cinder block in every public school system I’ve ever attended.
Anon
I regularly hit up my ivory eggshell finish wall paint with a sponge and cleaner. Works just fine.
Anonymous
Scrubbable matte gives a good balance between cleanability and touch-up-ability.
Anonymous
Eggshell is probably the answer with possibly semi-gloss in bathrooms. I have that in my bathrooms and I don’t think it looks bad and is appropriate there. I would not want it in other rooms except possibly maybe the kitchen.
I have the same dog issue and use Behr wipes to wipe down the walls he has sullied. I use those or a regular sponge and water to clean other spots.
Anonymous
Try water, powdered tide and bleach – google gocleanco for relative amounts (very little tide and bleach) Safe to use on painted walls.
Trish
Benjamin Moore Eggshell. The best. It is not shiny like semi-gloss but you will be able to clean it.
Anon
For anyone with recent Bass Weejuns purchases, how do they run, size-wise? If I am an 8.5 in other shoes, 8.5 in them also? Stores near me don’t seem to carry (neither does zappos, which I rely on for sizing info), so will be ordering from the site.
Anon
Yes, they run true to size. The width is ideal for a thinner sock.
Anon
Biden isn’t my first choice for Dem pick in general, but I think it’s the reality that he is the natural front runner in 2024 if he chooses to run, and that the party would coalesce around him. All reporting in recent weeks indicates he will announce plans soon that he will run again. But now after the documents situation, I really hope he doesn’t. I think it will be too much of a liability, especially if the GOP puts someone besides DT forward. Curious what other Dems think after the documents news.
Anonymous
I think the document news is nonsense that changes nothing
dear reader
I think basically all it changes is that the Dems really now can’t effectively use documents against Trump. Even if the circumstances are differences, all I hear is static documents Trump static documents Biden.
Anon
I’m a D and think he needs to bow out of the next race. We’re going to get the documents thing crammed up every orifice otherwise. I know that there are distinguishing issues between this and that other documents thing that resulted in the execution of a search warrant, but there are too many dingbat voters for whom it is not going to matter because they cannot or will not think hard enough to distinguish between the two situations. I personally have positive feelings for Biden and have been fairly well pleased with the job he has done, but the reality is that he was a “not Trump” placeholder. Between his age and the documents thing I think we need someone else, but who?
Anon
Your last sentence is the problem. The logical step would be Harris as VP but she has been so dang quiet, I forget she’s there.
Anonymous
i agree i forget she’s there and yet my parents are in staunch agreement that she is EVIL and INCOMPETENT and needs to go (mom reads Drudge Report but voted for Biden)
Anon
Would you parents otherwise vote for a democrat though? If so, that’s really depressing. If not, it’s just expected.
Anon
I got to watch/hear her speak yesterday and she was great! I hope she’s not needed as much in the Senate and can be more visible in the coming year.
anonymous
Curious the basis on which you’re “fairly well pleased” with Biden? Just not DJT (with which I can sympathize!)?
dear reader
Not the Anon you’re replying to, but here you go –
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/two-years-bidens-record-accomplishments-rivals-obamas-rcna66767
If the pandemic hadn’t happened, I think Biden would be way more popular. He’s gotten a lot done. I think our foreign policy is competent and effective more often than not. But the last three years have been so hard and frustrating and confusing that I feel like everyone is just tired and nothing seems good, and I think the popularity of President’s correlates to overall mood of the country.
Anon
I really thought he’d be on TV at least weekly having little fireside chats to get people through. He just hasn’t seemed very visible, especially in comparison to what people are going through, and especially when it feels like he’s optimistic in a way that’s disconnected from what people are experiencing (forget the debate over how the pandemic is going; just think about housing, education, or healthcare access — no it’s not enough to keep celebrating the ACA, especially when unintended consequences like rural hospital consolidation and the problem of how much time it takes to fulfil the bureaucratic requirements continue unalleviated — nor is it enough to celebrate temporary access when people don’t know what will happen when it expires).
It’s not that I don’t appreciate some of what he’s done; it’s that so many of the crises are still happening. So I guess, yeah, everyone is tired and nothing seems good. I wish Ukraine would definitively defeat Russia, or that some billionaire philanthropist would open a new med school and start building the hospitals we clearly need, or… I can’t even think of what would feel truly encouraging when it comes to the climate or public education… Could we at least get some real police reform of the kind that results in “fewer people shot by cops”? It just feels like this was all a breather and not the beginning of needed change.
dear reader
That’s a good point. fireside chats would have been really smart. Moral boosters that weren’t meant for politicking, didn’t touch on policies, just were there to be with people. That was a lost opportunity.
Anonymous
This implies anyone would listen to a fireside chat. That’s not how people get info these days and, sadly, it would have had far more risk than reward. All it takes is one mistaken word or sound bite without context and that dominates the headlines. I don’t think any politician left or right would gain by going back to this.
It’s why I sort of weep for our modern times. Most of the public won’t t read long-form articles with nuance around issues. We’ve become a society of social media blurbs and 3 min. arguments/analysis from talking heads. We’ve created this monster of only listening to short, dramatic snippets.
anon
the things I like are the climate action in the Inflation reduction act, a lot of the Ukraine help, protecting gay marriage, student loan forgiveness (even if it was mostly symbolic, although there was a part about interest rates that may have real future impact)
Anon
I’m not the OP, but the way the administration has threaded the needle re: the war in Ukraine has been masterful. They have gotten infrastructure spending passed. Is it as much or exactly what I’d prefer? No, but that’s the way governing works. The administration is poking the edges of what it can do to ensure reproductive choice and seeing what sticks. They are being thoughtful and deliberate with investigations into January 6th in a way that, I hope, makes any eventual cases absolutely ironclad. Sometimes it feels like they’re running the clock out on Trump (he’s already old…), but I hold on to hope that it’s because they are making sure the case is 1000% solid.
Anon
What did you expect Biden to do that he hasn’t done? I’m confused because I think he’s been a good president.
anon
I think we need someone else, too, and I say this as someone who generally likes Biden and still thinks he was a placeholder candidate. His age is one of my concerns.
dear reader
I agree with all of this. I honestly did before the documents thing though too; while I like Biden and think he’s done a good job he’s too old for another term. We really need a Democratic candidate who is not lame, has some experience winning elections, with central left policies. I don’t think we’ll win in 2024 with a “well they are better than the other guy” – we need a charismatic candidate again.
Anon8
Agree completely with everything you said.
Anon
I think if Biden bows out, we lose the presidency. That’s just reality.
Anon
Yup.
Anon
I don’t think anyone’s going to care about that at all. Red herring.
Cat
at this point it feels like everyone will have documents problems. emails on the wrong server, docs stored at the wrong office, yawn.
Anon
This. The only thing that needs to come out of all this is document-control reform. If the existing rules in place are such that no one, no matter how well intentioned, can correctly comply, then the problem lies with the rules themselves.
Anon
You’d think they’d just cut it out at some point though!
Anon
They were at his home in his basement though, not just another office.
anon
I don’t think it’s safe to ever count on the electorate not caring about something. We can proceed at our own risk, but we shouldn’t pretend that there isn’t any risk just because it would be easier to pretend.
No Face
I don’t belong to a party so feel free to ignore, but I think the Dems should fully support Biden. He is a known quantity, inoffensive to a huge swatch of voters, and the Dems kept the Senate with him. Let him hold the course and give your next generation time to build national profiles.
Anon
+1
The only votes that really count at the end of the day are the middle votes, people who could lean either way. Hillary was unfortunately scarier than Trump for these people. I think we need safe.
Anon
But those exact middle voters are the ones who may lean against him because of the documents scandal. He may be the best of Dems have, but he’s now a lot less safe.
Anon
The document scandal was not why Hilary lost. People were sexist and blamed her emails. I’m sure this is supported by research, but it’s also something I see anecdotally in my own life. All the guys I know who were “never Hilary” but happy to support Biden still like Biden. They don’t care about the document scandal one bit. He’s a smiley white guy and they feel comfortable voting for him (especially vs Trump).
anon
Why is he “a lot” less safe? Not at all. Trump is still Trump. It just suggests that Biden can be as sloppy as Trump, so it waters down the impact of Trump’s Document scandal. I don’t think the middle voters are worried that Biden is probably selling documents to the Ukranians while Trump was selling them to the Russions… do you?
Anon
I figure it’s always hard to run against POTUS and win.
dear reader
Oh for sure, I will 100% support Biden if he runs. I just am not excited about it and I’m frustrated that we don’t have a better bench.
Anonymous
The reason we don’t have a better bench is that Biden, Pelosi, and the rest of that generation have been hanging on to power too long and didn’t intentionally support the development of leaders from Gen X. A huge part of Biden’s agenda should have been to set Harris up to win in 2024. Instead, the only visible tasks he gave her were no-win situations.
Seventh Sister
Totally agree (as a GenX) that there wasn’t much development of GenX political leaders by the Democratic party, and we are reaping the whirlwind on that decision. We’d be good, practical leaders! Related: I think that’s why a lot of us like Buttigieg even though he’s a Millennial.
That said, if our choices are Biden or another round with 45, there is no question in my mind. I will forever be mad at the “but her emails” crowd that spiked support for Hillary, and I cannot bring myself to care about the document issue.
Anon
I’m an older Gen X, and this has been true in my business life too. So many boomers in upper management position there wasn’t a lot of room for me, and now that they’re retiring they don’t have a bench.
Don’t get me started on the ambitions Millenials who think they’re next, forgetting that we exist.
Anon
I also don’t belong to a party and agree with this. At this point I don’t think there’s a great second option
I also think the GOP primary is going to be a complete circus and letting Biden just be calm and reasonable and not engage will probably play out well. Stick to the tried and true talking points. And for the love of all things holy start thinking about who your leaders will be in 2028 today. Actually yesterday.
theguvnah
This is an important point. Above all I think voters are tired of the drama. Life is hard enough and the appetite Trump capitalized on has waned, even among many Rs. A bruising D primary would keep us from benefiting from the R chaos and existential infighting they are experiencing. And it would be a shame to not benefit from their existential infighting (I mean, we have our own too but it’s nothing like theirs right now).
pugsnbourbon
I hope you’re right re: Republican infighting. DeSantis scares me more than Pence did.
Trish
I live in Florida and DeSantis is DANGEROUS.
Anon
Do not think for a minute that DeSantis represents any sort of return to the republican party before Trump. He is smart and mean, a dangerous combination. I never worried too much about Mike Pence. He’s enough of a politician to know that things that might fly at the state level in Indiana won’t at the national level. DeSantis is governor of a much bigger state, and even worse, doesn’t care.
Nesprin
I think that the respective document scandals for Biden and Trump are akin to gesturing with a knife and stabbing a guy. Neither is good, but one is egregiously bad.
That said, I’d vote for a potted plant over anyone the republicans would throw up.
Anon
I’d vote for throw-up over anyone the republicans would throw up.
Anon
It’s like the difference between a million and a billion. It’s absolutely enormous, but most people don’t have a feel for it.
Jennifer
insurance question
I will be obtaining umbrella insurance and am wondering if people prefer Geico/state farm/AAA or if folks have found them to be more or less comparable. also wondering about overall experiences with these companies in terms of satisfaction when they handle your claims. thank you.
anon
Typically, to get an umbrella policy you need to max out your first tier of coverage (car/house), because umbrella kicks in after that (so you have 750k on your auto for an accident, then 2 million on your umbrella for if the auto is exhausted). My umbrella policy is a small fraction of the other insurance policies. If you live in an area that gets weather (flood, etc.), I would go with the company that has the best coverage for natural disasters. Depending on where you live, the difference in home insurance policies will more than swallow up any umbrella costs.
Anon
I get my umbrella from RLI. You don’t have to buy umbrella from your primary insurer.
RLI makes it super easy.
USAA
If you qualify (you have ever served or you were ever a dependent of someone who ever served), please check out USAA. The coverage is excellent, the premiums are very reasonable and the service is terrific.
Anon
Unless something has changed at USAA, it is not that easy to qualify. When my husband was a toddler, his father was killed in action. USAA told my husband that he could not get insurance through them because his parent had not been insured with them.
Nesprin
USAA is great, but they can be hard with qualifying. You need the service member to have been a USAA member and to have had an insurance account with them to have it come down generations.
Anon
Right. Unfortunately, my husband’s father did not have insurance of any kind as a 24 year old fighting a war, and he could not buy insurance once he died serving the country. This means that my husband does not have access to USAA even though he grew up without a father who died fighting in the US Army. I cannot make this make sense.
Flats Only
We just added an umbrella policy to our home/life/auto package from State Farm, and adding the umbrella lowered the home owners insurance policy, so it’s worth starting with whichever company you’re using now, unless you hate them.
Anon
This carafe is beautiful but I know from personal experience I can’t have anything breakable on my bedside table!! I fling my hand out to grab my phone and everything goes flying.
Anon
My cat would knock this over whilst never breaking eye contact
anon
Right? I can’t even have a lamp on my side table because, The Cat.
Anon
My cat, who is still reminding me about that one time I gave him a sardine, nods in solidarity with your cat.
ArenKay
Thank you for the continued Sardine Cat updates (though I hope February brings you some relief).
Anon
I would spill it. I need the equivalent of a toddler’s sippy cup on my bedside table.
Anon
If you find a good one, let me know.
Is it Friday yet?
I use a Simple Modern tumbler with the straw – it doesn’t spill if you drink laying down in bed so it’s basically an adult sippy cup.
Anon
Just ordered, and they have a color that matches my bedroom. Thanks! Fingers crossed here.
Wheels
Nordlife.
Wheels
I have a toddlers sippy cup on my bedside table. Recommend it.
Vicky Austin
Ha, I’m the same! One misplaced scrabble for my chapstick in the dark and a whole pile of books and a Hydroflask slide to the ground.
Anon
It’s so beautiful that I’m tempted, and the color and style are perfect, but in terms of knocking it over? I’d give it a week, maybe two.
Anon for this
Somebody gave my husband a nice set like this and he keeps it on the bathroom counter filled with mouthwash. Just a thought if you really really want it but the bedside is too perilous.
Anonymous
How to set up a kids’ space when hosting a party? BF and I recently moved in together and we’re having people over for the first time – explicitly not a housewarming, it’s for his bday. We’re mostly unpacked but not fully set up at all. We don’t have kids but we don’t want to exclude kids. Most of our friends have a playroom or man cave with a TV and maybe gaming system, and that’s where the kids hang out during adult parties. We don’t have anything like that. We have a smallish formal sitting room that has a TV, but it has nicer and antique furniture so I’m not sure if that’s the best space. The other option is the big family room where everyone will be hanging out. Kids ages range from 2 to 14. Advice on how to set up a kid friendly space? This will all be much easier in nice weather when they can play outside!
Anon
Can you set up a tv in one of the bedrooms? You could give them the option of different movies and let them have a movie themed time with popcorn if you would allow food in a bedroom. And pile up a bunch of pillows and blankets for them to get comfy. I think this would work for grade school and older kids. The toddlers and younger will probably be with the adults – could you put crafts on a table for the toddlers?
Anon
Move the TV to a bedroom and put on a kids movie or show.
OP
Unfortunately that’s not an option either.
Anon
You’re coming across as pretty inflexible. If you want a space for the kids, you have to make room for them.
Anonymous
Lol ok boomer. You realize not everyone has a McMansion with endless empty bedrooms right? Like literally the question is, how do you welcome kids when you don’t have space for a designated kid room. That does not make OP “inflexible” it makes her a normal person.
Anon
OP certainly has a bedroom, boomer.
Anonymous
Really, you would set up kids in your master bedroom? It’ll be so hilarious when junior gets into the adult toy drawer, right?
Anonymous
You can make a zone in a bedroom where it’s possible to withdraw and sit and play on iPads (brought by parents, you provide wifi) or watch a movie. Sometimes kids prefer to hangout with the grownups, and sometimes not.
Nesprin
Move the TV to the den or a guest room, and have the party in the formal living room.
OP
I was considering this. The problem is, the formal living room is much smaller and won’t fit all the adults. Maybe a corner of the family room? Will kids sit on folding chairs? Or maybe pillows on the floor? Should I get bean bags? I really don’t interact with children at all but I want to welcome them!
anon
For the younger kids, make sure not to have things that can fall and maim in any area you’d expect them to be without close adult supervision. Generally, this involves strapping shelves, bureaus, and TVs to the wall.
If that’s too onerous, then I’d keep the kid activities where the grownups are expected to be. Maybe ask a friend to bring toys to share?
OP
Really good point, drives home why the bedrooms aren’t suitable at all. There’s no way we have time to bolt in/down all of the bookshelves and dressers and clear out all the boxes and spare mirrors and art and framed pictures we haven’t figured out what to do with. I think you’re right that a space where all the grownups are hanging out would be the best bet.
anon
Whatever you decide, please let the parents know that kids are welcome but your house isn’t set up for kids, so bring games, devices, whatever to keep them entertained. If you don’t want them in the TV room, I’d have everyone in the family room. Or let the older kids have run of the TV room (they’re unlikely to wreck your furniture) and have the younger ones close to their parents.
anon
Alternatively, our DINK friends just don’t host things unless everyone can be outdoors. I think it’s a bit extra, because none of us have tiny ones running around anymore, but it’s their house and I respect that they know their limits and what they’re willing to provide.
Anonymous
Have the party at a brewery.
Anonymous
Is the formal sitting room in view of the big family room? If it is, can you move some of your antique furniture -maybe into a bedroom- and make that area more kid friendly?
Otherwise you can let the older kids who can be trusted not to climb the walls or break things have the sitting room and the littles can stay with their parents in the family room…
Trixie
In my experience, and I have raised children and had many parties, kids don’t destroy things/furniture except for spilling food. I suggest putting the kids in the formal living room, and having any foods be easy to clean up, clear colors like apple juice, and art supplies like paper and washable markers. Coloring books, markers, a movie, and any toys the families want to bring. If there is a meal, have the kids eat in the kitchen. Move delicates like vases before the party, but it is unlikely that the kids will ruin the furniture, etc. Ask friends with kids for help and ideas. The younger children will likely want to be with their parents anyways. The older kids will want to watch a movie, play video games, and if you have older girls, an art project that does not include paints or such will be welcomed. (sorry for these stereotypes–usually falls out this way, but not always.)
Anonymous
The caraffe reminds me of the weird decor thing my grandparents had way back that all the littles kept wanting to touch.
I personally prefer reusable water bottles for the office, much more portable and doesn’t need a dedicated space.
Anon
Canadian ‘rettes, this question is for you…
Do you all feel there is a different culture in corporate Canada regarding “gifting up”? I’m in finance in the US and it’s 100% not a thing in my industry. It would get majorly side eyed. However, I was with a friend a few weeks ago who moved here from Canada mid-life and I found out she gives our C-suite a Christmas present every year. I was taken aback but she is more of a mentor to me so I felt like it was not my place to say anything. FWIF, these aren’t impersonal gifts like wine or a gift card, but personal gifts you’d get (or make…) for a family member. I’ve been wondering if maybe she just doesn’t realize it’s not appropriate in our work culture here because she is Canadian.
Emma
I’m in Canada and have worked in big law and various corporate environments. The only time I gifted up was when my manager had a baby and we contributed to a gift card (as we would for a fellow team member). I would not gift up otherwise, it would be super weird. I’m not aware of any cultural differences on this but it could be regional or industry specific.
Seafinch
Same. I think it does happen in certain places but is unusual. My husband got a crap load of home made baking, treats, and booze at Xmas in his last job. We’re both military and never saw that before so assumed it was the culture of that particular unit. He was a Chief of Staff and I felt like it was weird given his pretty extensive control over people’s careers…..but delicious for me!
Anon
No, in my experience that’s not a thing here.
Anonymous
Weird question – the front middle of my shin, right on the bone, has had rough skin for a while and lately at night has started being super sensitive/kind of aching but not really in pain, just Very Aware of the shin. It’s the weirdest thing. If I reach out to my doctor, what am I worried about? Bone cancer?
Smokey
It could be some kind of skin cancer. I’d start with your primary care physician or dermatologist.
Anon
I had my annual physical with a new, lovely PCP. I discussed with her how I’m struggling to lose weight, looking for advice other than “eat less, move more” (which I am working on). She suggested counting macros – not as a panacea, but as a way to jump start.
I’ve calorie counted in the past, which has helped. Has anyone had good experience with counting macros? Perhaps I do actually have too much fat in my diet (chocolate, cheese) and can pare back a bit.
TIA!
Clara
I like the lose it app, you have to pay to count macros but you could really focus much more on macros than calories. I definitely find it more fulfilling and just interesting to see.
LoseIt! App
I use the free version of the LoseIt! app, and it shows macronutrients for me every time I add to my food log and a summary of them for each day. I used Noom before this, and much prefer LoseIt! to Noom.
Anon
Trigger warning: weight loss
I’ve been using My Fitness Pal. It will track macros for you. I end up using it more for calorie counting, though I started with macros and ended up always having too much fat and not enough protein, which I found frustrating.
My doctor advised me to lose weight very very slowly, as that’s the only thing that even has a possibility of working in the long run. I have rapidly lost weight in the past, rapidly, and it always came back quickly when I stopped crash dieting, usually bringing a few friends along. Counting calories with a realistic target (I do 1600) has helped me go slowly and not feel deprived. But it’s not so much the calorie cap. I find just the accountability of logging everything I eat has helped enormously. As in, yes I would like some ice cream, but I don’t want to have to log it, so I mostly skip it. (but not always!)
I’ve lost about 10% of my body weight since September (I am plus sized, so that’s one size on me) and my doctor is calling that a win.
anon
This is a great success story! I have really struggled to track food without assigning judgment to it, whether it’s calories or macros. But I also know that I need some accountability.
Anon
I remember reading Bridget Jones when it first came out. She had eaten a box of chocolates and it was thousands of calories and she felt bad about it. One of her guy friends asked how many calories one was supposed to eat in a day, and she replied that she thought all calories were bad! I related to that so much at the time.
I have tried really hard to look at food objectively – ice cream is just ice cream and I can have it if I save room for it. But the tracking is what makes me usually not choose it, because I’d rather feel full on something that’s more like protein/healthy carbs/veggies. Most of the time.
Anonymous
Preface: I’ve never tried counting macros or calories.
There’s one trick I’ve learned to low key handle cravings that are related to boredom, stress or feelings.
I acknowledge out loud, or in my head, that my brain wants a snack. An actual: huh, my brain wants a snack.
And then I acknowledge why, and consider whether a snack would be useful for my body as well, or if any dopamine hit will do. Sometimes I have a omelette, sometimes some salt or water, or a walk, and sometimes I have chocolate.
Anon
I had to count macros because of blood sugar issues. I find it vastly less stressful than calorie counting. Eventually it became habitual and now if I track what I eat, my macros are the same proportion each day, but I don’t actually count any more.
Anonymous
The best app for tracking macros is mm+ because you can put in your own food, in grams. (It sounds like capitol D diet but I actually love it, less measuring cups to wash.) You’ll realize that a lot of listed calories are complete lies (tortillas, for example) because they subtract fiber calories.
With macros it basically comes to 1) hit your calories 2) then your protein 3) let carbs/fat fall where they may. It’s substantially different than the high protein diets because carbs are in no way villainized. (Right now my targets are 132g protein, 181 g carbs, and 46 g fat.)
Anonymous
How is that possible without eating processed protein powder? If I eat normally, like chicken or salmon and veg for dinner and a salad with homemade dressing for lunch, I end up with twice as many grams of fat as of protein. To get the same number of grams of protein and fat I have to cut out all oil, avocadoes, peanut butter, etc., eat egg whites instead of whole eggs and chicken breast instead of thighs, and consume only nonfat dairy.
Sgbert
My son is doing a semester abroad in Spain right now and my husband and I are visiting end of March for a long weekend. Any recommendations for a nice hotel in the city? I’m looking for no more than about $350 a night and prefer smaller, quirky boutique hotels but I’ll take any good recs. Thanks!
Anon
What city?
Sgbert
Sorry, completely forgot to add that it’s in Barcelona. Thanks for asking!
NYCer
We enjoyed our stay at the Grand Hotel Central near the Gothic Quarter. It might be slightly over your budget, but it’s in a great location, the rooms are quite nice and it has a rooftop with wonderful views.
Nesprin
Ask your son what’s in his neighborhood!
AIMS
This was a long time ago but I had a really good experience with the Roommate hotels in Spain. They’re reasonably priced and I think meet your “smaller, quirky boutique” criteria. Might be a bit bare bones (I was younger when I stayed there) but I thought they were clean, fun, comfortable and well located so maybe look up the ones in Barcelona to see if it would suit.