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Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Wei Organic Cotton Tie-Front Dress

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A woman wearing a green tie front dress and black heels

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

How pretty is this tie-front dress from Modern Citizen? The material is 95% organic cotton with 5% spandex, so it’s going to have just the right amount of stretch to be comfortable, but polished.

This olive green color is a gorgeous almost-neutral, but it also comes in navy and “pampas,” a really pretty ivory/khaki shade.

The dress is $142 at Modern Citizen and comes in sizes XS–1X.

For a wider size range, try this belted green dress from Eloquii; it's available in lucky sizes 14–28 and is $36.

Sales of note for 3/21/25:

  • Nordstrom – Spring sale, up to 50% off: Free People, AllSaints, AG, and more
  • Ann Taylor – 25% off suiting + 25% off tops & sweaters + extra 50% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – $39+ dresses & jumpsuits + up to 50% off everything else
  • J.Crew – 25% off select linen & cashmere + up to 50% off select styles + extra 40% off sale
  • J.Crew Factory – Friends & Family Sale: Extra 15% off your purchase + extra 50% off clearance + 50-60% off spring faves
  • M.M.LaFleur – Flash Sale: Get the Ultimate Jardigan for $198 on sale; use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Buy 1 get 1 50% off everything, includes markdowns

270 Comments

  1. Are we carrying MZ Wallace bags any more or is that a brand more from pre-COVID times? I’m starting to feel how heavy leather is and like a zip top but not sure what direction to go in. Large no-pocket sack? Or All The Pockets and lots of strap options?

    1. I still see plenty of MZ Wallace bags around, especially the little cross body pouches.

    2. I think the bags with lots of pockets they have is a bit more for my mom’s generation at this point (and was never cool to begin with, tbh) but the quilted giant tote they have is so practical and comfy that it bypasses trends.

      1. Is it just a giant sack inside? The bigger a bag is the more I appreciates some inside organization and maybe one outside pocket.

        1. yeah I’ve been struggling to find the right bag for me for years. I want a few inside pockets (at least one that zippers), an outside pocket, a zip top and ideally both a luggage sleeve and a key leash too. Trying to find one that has all of that, is big enough, isn’t leather (too heavy) or nylon / canvas (too casual) and isn’t like $500 is proving difficult! So, until then I’m just using a knockoff longchamp

          4. look at Lo & Sons – they have inside pockets, zip top, and a luggage sleeve… not sure about the rest.

      2. Ha I’m in my 30s and the bag you’re describing is my go-to bag for beer festivals (so many pockets, so much swag), outdoor events when it might rain (the bag is water resistant), and touristing (it packs flat-ish). I do wish it has slightly fewer pockets; I get overzealous when organizing and then I can’t remember where I put stuff.

    3. Someone on here recommended the brand Jack Gomme and I got a light linen bag with pockets that I love! Mine is more of a crossbody style but I think they have some tote options too.

    4. This is timely for me. I need a new weekend purse that is large enough for some kid stuff but not enormous and I was looking at the Crosby Everywhere Tote because it meets all the practical needs I have and I like how it looks. I don’t mind being not the most fashionable, but I’m trying to avoid looking really out dated (I’m thinking of the women I remember wearing 80s double breasted suits with big buttons and shoulder pads when I entered the work force in the early 2000s). Is the Crosby Everywhere Tote ok? Something else I should consider?

    5. maybe not trendy but I have a crossbody with pockets from MZW that has been invaluable traveling with my family. lightweight, enough pockets to keep the kids/my stuff separated… nice. I think it looks better than the crossbody Sportsac ones that are similar. although I just got a rothy’s crossbody that is super lightweight, but i wish it had more pockets.

    6. I still use Sutton for rain days when I don’t want to take the chance with my more expensive bags and for travel because it is light weight and holds everything. I think some of the Demeiller bags look quite nice.

  2. Does anyone have a carpet cleaning machine they recommend? Like the little green Bissel or similar? I’ve always just done Resolve + regular vacuum, but we’ve got some pet stains that are more stubborn. Thanks!

    1. We bought a Bissell Barkbath a couple of years ago. It is amazing for washing our dog (which is great because we don’t have a good place to wash him at home and he really loves mud) and it does a good job of spot cleaning the carpet. Might be worth looking at if you have a dog that needs regular baths.

    2. No. For pet stains I have successfully used enzyme cleansers and if that fails, I’ve hired out for Kobasan snow dry cleaning which was way, way better than regular carpet cleaning. I have never looked into getting my own carpet dry cleaning machine though.

    3. The Little Green is handy, but it’s not better for pet stains than a normal steam cleaner. It’s just more convenient for taking care of small stains and messes. That said, we own the Little Green for small messes and a larger Bissel carpet cleaner for doing full rooms or larger areas.

    4. I love my Little Green Machine.They’ve made some updates through the years. Still the best there is for quick spot removal without having to lug around anything big and awkward.

    6. I have the Bissell Little Green ProHeat. Note that it doesn’t heat the water, but if you use hot water it will keep the water at that temp. I use it for spot cleaning puke stains on the carpet from my cats.

      For cat pee, I spray the area with water first to “dissolve” it and absorb as much as I can with paper towels. Then clean the area with the Bissell and the final step is to spray an enzyme cleaner.

    7. I use the little green Bissell also and adore it, so much so that I gave it as gifts for Christmas last year. For pet issues, though, nothing has worked better than a product called My Pet Peed. I use it with an old wash cloth or with the Bissell (spraying the stain with MPP and using plain warm water in the Bissell), and it has gotten out vomit and diarrhea stains that Resolve alone, or the Bissell alone or with its regular cleaner, wouldn’t.

    8. I got the hoover clean slate because it came with a rubber brush head for shaggier carpets.

  3. I’m becoming a rosemary-hair-oil evangelist so I thought I should do it too –

    I have pretty fine hair and always have, and I do put oil in my hair regularly. Recently though I noticed that it seemed to be very thin along my part and freaked out, and bought some rosemary oil. I had seen recommendations for it both on Tiktok, of all places, and knew that it is generally recommended for hair loss, thickening hair etc

    I’ve been using it for a few weeks and its been amazing! My hair is noticeable thicker, less space around my scalp etc. I’ve been putting a few drops directly on my scalp and massaging it in. It does have a strong smell but I’ve been so impressed at how well its worked so I can deal with that.

    2. When do you use it? At night and wash out in morning? What brand?

      I took nutrafol on recommendation of dermatologist and was not impressed with the results. Did it for 9 months.

      1. Vegan Mia or Mielle, both seem to work. I’ve been putting it on either over night or just before I go to the gym. Hair oil in general has always worked but I do think putting it directly on my scalp + the rosemary made a difference.

    3. Aveda has a nice rosemary oil shampoo that I liked. Didn’t realize the rosemary might have been doing something!

    4. I’d also love to know more about what you use and if it is working. Genuinely not trying to stir the pot but yesterday’s discussion made me painfully self conscious about my hair which is thin and fragile and breaks a lot and so can look bad/straggly no matter how much I attend to it,

      1. I missed this discussion yesterday. Honestly our hair sounds similar. I find that a good haircut makes a lot of difference too. I put a few drops of the rosemary oil on my scalp and on the ends, massage it in, and then braid it. I take showers after the gym, not every morning, so how long I leave it in depends on that. It seems to be making a difference both for the actual hair loss on top and also my hair in gneeral. The other day a friend commented that my hair “looked good, looked curly” which only happens when its very well hydrated.

      2. If you aren’t aware of a medical cause for your hair’s issues, I’d at least ask a relevant doctor about that too (if it’s not obviously from overprocessing and heat styling I mean); there are so many treatable issues that can affect hair.

      3. I recommend Virtue’s healing oil for fine hair prone to breakage. Many oils are too heavy for my thin hair, and this one strikes the right balance. I also like their Recovery shampoo and conditioner and their leave-in conditioner. They hydrate without weighing down. They often run 30% off promos.

      4. I had slight hair thinning at temples and along my forehead hairline due to peri/aging and started using “Hers” which is minoxidil basically and it started working almost immediately–almost too well, I had to pluck out errant hairs that were growing a bit too low on the forehead! I got a bottle for about $12 just to try it out, which I think is a pretty fair price to give it a whirl.
        I also really recommend Hair Story’s texture powder–it’s very unique in that just a very small “puff” will give the hair volume and density and texture but it will feel lightweight and airy–almost like cotton candy in a way if that makes sense. I use a very small amount at roots and then follow up with dry shampoo in the mid-lengths on days when I don’t want to wash just yet.
        However: important note: I already have thick hair so YMMV!

    5. Does it help with dry scalp? Asking because I get tiny but visible flakes if I skip a day of washing, but since Head and Shoulders makes the flakes worse and leaves my hair looking fried, I wonder if it is dry scalp and not dandruff.

      1. I have had this issue and your dermatologist can prescribe a shampoo that helps and treats the scalp.

        1. Not trying to be obtuse, honestly asking here. I do not have a regular dermatologist and feel like this is not a medical issue that rises to the level of putting myself on a wait list (they are booking ridiculously far out in my area; even getting a worrisome mole looked at required an 8 month wait earlier this year) only to find out that something OTC could have easily done the trick in the meantime.

          1. Some of what derms recommend is OTC anyway (e.g. different varieties of Nizoral for different issues).

          2. Yes, that emphasizes my point! Why deal with it for however long it takes to ask a derm if someone has an OTC rec I can try in the meantime?

          3. You should try Nizarol, but there does actually seem to be a difference between the OTC version and the prescription version my derm prescribes. I have seborrheic dermatitis on my face and at my hairline and the OTC shampoos just seem to make things worse, I think because they also include fragrance and other things that irritate my sensitive skin. The prescription ketoconazole shampoo really helps, though. My PCP initially prescribed it, as it took a year to get an appointment with a dermatologist. PCPs are generally very good at covering the basics, you don’t need a specialist just to try the most obvious thing that might help, though it’s good to be able to follow up with them.

      2. There’s dry scalp, there’s seborrheic dermatitis, and there’s psoriasis.

        If the medicated drugstore stuff doesn’t help, a derm can help determine if you have psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, and will be able to get you Rx level treatments.

      3. You might be allergic to the sulfates found in a lot of shampoos. They’re what makes all the bubbles and foaming. They’re not necessary at all for actual cleaning. I used to use dandruff shampoos and still had terrible dandruff. Once I switched to something with sulfates –voila! Night and day, and no more snow.

    3. On fit — I find it true to size.

      On the shoes — I wear tights and boots of various kinds with this dress, depending on the destination — moto boots, suede boots with heels, flat boots, etc.

  5. What’s everyone reading these days? I am in need of some recommendations. any/all genres welcome!

    2. The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise was quite enjoyable. It’s a modern-day Thelma and Louise story, with a 21-year-old and an 84-year-old.

    3. The Thursday Murder Club series for light mysteries (setting is a retirement community in England)

      1. I didn’t love the first book, but stuck with the series and I think they keep getting better!

        1. I felt exactly the same way- didn’t love the first book, but kept reading and have really enjoyed the rest!

    4. Nonfiction: The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen, The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland, The Hungry Season by Lisa Hamilton, Class by Stephanie Land, Exit Interview by Kristi Coulter, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall, My Promised Land by Ari Shavit

      Fiction: In Memoriam by Alice Winn, Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, Happiness Falls by Angie Kim, The Fraud by Zadie Smith, The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff, Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park

      1. I’ll also second Hello Beautiful, Yellowface (and Babel), Romantic Comedy, I Have Some Questions for You, Tom Lake, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Olga Dies Dreaming

        1. We are definitely reading buddies. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming as well.
          I didn’t love Yellowface on first reading but then saw Rebecca Kuang give a talk and she was amazing and it really changed my perspective on the book.

      2. The last quarter or so of Birnam Wood was WILD, I did not expect it to go in that direction. The Vaster Wilds was well written but I’m tapped out on suffering in fiction at the moment.
        Tom Lake was fantastic, I also really enjoyed The Cloisters and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. In scifi/fantasy I enjoyed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The new Seanan McGuire October Daye book, and Bookshops and Bonedust was as cozy and low stakes as I needed (the prequel to Legends and Lattes).

        1. I admit to sort of hating the end of Birnam Wood (the very end), but decided that it wasn’t bad enough not to recommend the book overall.

        2. I am halfway through Birnam Wood and really struggling to finish it. The characters just feel like Characters, not people to me…I find it to be reminiscent of TC Boyle’s A Friend of the Earth (I would actually be shocked if the author wasn’t heavily influenced by that book), but prefer that book in tone bc it’s more clearly absurdist. Should I push through? Sounds like the end is less predictable?

          1. If you don’t like it halfway through, I’d probably quit. I do agree about A Friend of the Earth, though it’s probably been two decades since I read that book! I also recently read TC Boyle’s newest book, Blue Skies, which wasn’t one of my favorites, but is worth a read if you like climate fiction/satire.

    5. I just finished The Art Thief! It was soooo good. It’s a nonfiction book about a man who steals over 200 pieces of art from various museums in Europe. It’s fascinating and well written.

    6. I’ve been rationing myself on the Louise Penny novels, but just made a list for a friend’s husband so I’ll share it here.

      Some ideas

      Gorgeous family stories:
      Hello Beautiful
      Ann Napolitano

      Tom Lake
      Ann Patchett

      Satirical publishing:
      Yellowface
      R.F. Kuang

      Swedish Sally Rooney:
      The Trio
      Johanna Hedman

      Sarcastic romance:
      Romantic Comedy
      Curtis Sittenfeld

      True crime cross over:
      I Have Some Questions for You
      Rebecca Makkai

      Weirdly compelling videogame book:
      Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
      Gabrielle Zevin

      2. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Hello Beautiful are two recent favorites, highly recommend!

          1. Yes, we also hated Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow in our book club! However, a friend of ours who isn’t a reader loved it (and recommended it to us).

      3. +100 to Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow, Yellowface, and Hello Beautiful. TTT was probably my favorite book I read this year.

      4. Unless something sneaks in at the last minute, I Have Some Questions for You will be my favorite 2023 read. Rebecca Makkai is just a stunning writer and the plot is so compelling.

        Also second the recs for Tom Lake, Yellowface, Happiness Falls, and Romantic Comedy.
        I hated Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow but I seem to be very much in the minority.

    8. I recently finished and really enjoyed A Devil to Play which is basically a memoir of re-learning to play the French horn as an adult, and it was shockingly interesting to learn about the horn, mixed with a lot of self deprecating humor by the author.

      1. I wanted to like this book but couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I really disliked the narrator’s propensity to rain on anything nice or pleasant happening to anyone around her.

    10. Most recently, I read and loved “Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Canas–it’s about something sinister stalking the ranches of present-day Texas in the context of the Mexican-American War. I also liked “Hench” by Natalie Zina Walschots, about a woman who works as a temp for supervillains and ends up becoming a nemesis herself. On the nonfiction front, “Wavewalker” by Suzanne Heywood (memoir, great if you loved “Educated” or “The Glass Castle”), and “Gaza” by Norman Finkelstein.

    11. For lightweight fiction, I just finished book 2 of the Shady Hollow Mysteries by Juneau Black.
      For more serious fiction, I’m in the middle of The Aspern Papers and Other Stories by Henry James. It’s my first time reading Henry James and I’m pleasantly surprised by how fresh and humorous the writing is! Some of the content is a bit raunchy, though.

    12. For thriller/mystery my favorite authors are Riley Sager, Ruth Ware, Alice Feeney and Lisa Jewell. I’ve read most of Mary Kubica’s books, but my favorite from her is The Good Girl.

      The Kendra Donovan series from Julie McElwain. The main character is an FBI agent/profiler who travels back in time 100 years. Not the best description, but I find the series entertaining.

      Maise Dobbs series from Jacqueline Winspear. Along those lines, I recently discovered the Verity Kent series from Anna Lee Huber.

      Her Royal Spyness series from Rhys Bowen. It’s a fun cozy mystery series. The Cat in the Stacks series from Miranda James is another in the same genre.

      For fantasy, A Court of Thorns and Roses from Sarah J. Maas is pretty popular.

      Finally, I ready Fourth Wing from Rebecca Yarros. It’s not very well written and I rolled my eyes a lot while reading, but it was a quick easy read for when I was flying over the holidays.

      1. +1 to Fourth Wing being an easy but badly written distraction. I’m kind of baffled by all the adoration it has online. I like fantasty, romance, dragons, etc. so I thought this would be great but there are SO many better written options, I wanted to tell everyone to go pick up some Ilona Andrews books!

        1. I think Fourth Wing got popular from TikTok so maybe it’s younger people promoting it.

    13. I’m working my way through Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series and finding it surprisingly good. If you’re the reader ahead of me with the third in the series at my library, RETURN IT ALREADY. I need it.
      The latest novel from Jeannette Walls, Hang the Moon, was very good.
      Memoir: I’m Glad My Mother Died was amazing and weird even though I had no idea who the actress/author was before I read it.
      True Crime: If You Tell by Gregg Olsen about horrific child abuse and multiple murders. Hard to read (because of the subject matter, not the writing) but will make you think about the genetic component of what makes someone evil.

      1. I listened to the audio book of I’m Glad My Mother Died, read by the author, and it was fantastic.

      2. The Running Grave was the best book I’ve read this year (and I’ve read over 60 books, a good rate for me). LOVE the Cormoran Strike series.

      3. I really liked the last two Cormoran Strike books too. The first few were fine, but they’ve just gotten better and better.

        1. Ooh good to know. I’ve only read the first three, maybe I’ll read the next 4 now.

    14. Currently reading All Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng and enjoying it. I really liked her previous books.

    15. If you listen to audiobooks, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett but narrated by Tom Hanks is so good that I only want to listen to Tom Hanks-narrated books in the future.

    16. I recently enjoyed Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Riveting family saga with a bit of a murder mystery thrown in. Also for you mystery lovers, The Christmas Guest is a fun holiday-themed novella by Peter Swanson. Oh, and I loved The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak — post-cold-war U.S. vs. Russia spy hijinx.

    17. Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haight & Greg Lukianoff, The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk, Time to Think by Hannah Barnes

      and for lighter reading, Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer.

      1. I feel like I have the gist of Time to Think from interviews with her; is the full book worth a read?

        Also, you might like Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self if you haven’t already read it!

        2. Interesting, I will check it out! Thanks for the rec!

          I found digging into the details worthwhile for me, but I find the whole thing a trainwreck that I can’t look away from so ymmv.

    1. I live next to Oakland (Berkeley) and I think this is beyond absurd, especially for a public school system where the vast majority of all students never learn to read, write, or do math at grade level. Many are dealing with unimaginably challenging situations at home. They need good education and unbiased instruction, not to have propaganda shoved down their throats by activists. If I had a kid in Oakland public schools, I’d pull him or her out for the day.

      1. Let’s tie this in with another discussion;m: how much talented tutors can charge.

        If you’re rich AF, it’s a mild annoyance when your kid’s teachers do this. A few days of missed instruction, NBD. If it gets beyond that, hire a tutor with subject matter degrees from top universities and your kid is fine. It is a small hassle.

        Poor kids can’t afford this, literally and figuratively.

      2. Agreed. I would not be enthusiastic about this anywhere, but it’s especially galling in a district where most kids are not working at grade level.

        1. I’m sure it’s linked. Teachers who are motivated by activism aren’t as upset about how hard it is to teach reading, writing, and math in a school district as teachers who are want to focus on academics.

          1. Regardless of any opinion about this particular teach-in, this is a ridiculous and unsupported claim. First, being “motivated by activism” and being “motivated by academics” are not polar opposites. Second, “academics” isn’t an objective, un-ideological position in any way, even at the most elementary of levels. As a teacher, I so, so hate sneering, black-and-white claims like this one.

          2. As a teacher, do you not know any teachers who have made peace with the fact that a lot of their students won’t be learning much in the way of reading, writing, or math anyway (given the tremendous obstacles students and teachers alike are facing), and who have turned their focus on goals that feel more attainable (like being good people or good citizens or receiving mentorship from a trusted adult)? It’s easy to argue that those are actually more important than reading anyway. I don’t think it has to be an either/or, but people do frame it this way all the time.

          3. Do I know teachers who have “made peace” that their students won’t learn skills? No, I don’t. Do I know teachers who, having just given up on teaching academic skills, turn to skills that are ostensibly “more attainable,” like good ethics? No, I don’t. More broadly, it’s absurd to think that academic skills aren’t deeply and inextricably tied in to ideologies and politics and that teachers could ever choose, even if they thought they could.

            Again, there’s lots to address about this particular teach-in, which I do not agree with. But it’s so denigrating to suggest that teachers “give up” on skills teaching and think citizenship is an easier goal (which, in this contemporary moment, is not true for anyone, let alone kids).

      3. I live in Oakland, and this bothers me a great deal less than when activists shut down the freeway.

        Kids in challenging situations seeing educators stand up for oppressed communities doesn’t strike me as a horrible thing.

    3. i think this is completely inappropriate and if there wasn’t such a teacher shortage would want them all fired.

      1. I live in a southern CA district with a reasonably large population of Jewish and Muslim students. I’d be REALLY unhappy if this kind of teach-in happened in our district and I don’t think I’d be alone.

        My own children are the kind of entitled UMC WASPs that can miss a day of instruction, but missing even a day is crummy for struggling students.

    6. Not from the area, but I still have trouble understanding why it seems that the current Israeli leadership should get a blank check based on atrocities that happened to Jewish people in the past so they can commit their own atrocities against Palestinians today.

      1. This is ahistoric and no one has a “blank check.” And what does that have to do with the materials mentioned in the article??

      2. that strategy of the Israeli military to defeat a terrorist group is not what this post is about. the article said that one such teaching materials is “A coloring book for elementary students features a Palestinian character who says, “A group of bullies called Zionists wanted our land so they stole it by force and hurt many people.”” –> which if that is what is going to be presented, at least the other side should be presented as well. but also – why should this be discussed at the elementary school level at this time? isn’t there a curriculum to follow that presumably is not about Palestinians or Israelis, but other topics.

        1. Right – kids that age aren’t capable of comprehending what is going on, either in terms of brain development or having any sort of background to understand the current conflict.

    7. Teachers banding to promote only one side of a complex issue is horrifying. I’m a retired teacher and career-long union member.

  7. Ugh, I wish I didn’t have to work during December. I’m cold, I’m tired from a busy fall, and I’m over it. Trying to use this time to do some backlogged projects but I have no motivation.

    1. Realised today I’ve got 14 days til we leave for Christmas and my to do list is enormous, I’ve got 5 days in other cities between now and then, house guests, and a stupidly timed open house party. Surviving not thriving over here. Currently checking 300 essays for the use of AI while sitting on the bed with an electric blanket and some chocolate, and hating life.

      I’m making very granular to do lists so I can cross things off which seems to help. And I’ve got a work date/body doubling with a friend tomorrow.

    2. Was on a call with a European colleague whose last working day this year is Friday. I’m soooo jealous.

    3. I have not even thought about Xmas shopping yet and I don’t think anyone’s getting cards from me this year.

  8. Recommendations for how to spend evenings in Columbia, SC? Headed to DOJ training during the day next week and looking for some ways to spend a couple evenings solo. Restaurant recs welcome, as are any other fun items of note!

    1. I lived in the Five Points area of Columbia about ten years ago, so my recommendations might be outdated, but it was a fun, interesting, walkable part of the city with cute shops and restaurants. Here’s a link: https://fivepointscolumbia.com/#about
      Saludos has the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever eaten. Pawley’s Front Porch is great for burgers and a beer.
      Have a lovely visit!

    2. I echo Five Points! If there during the weekend, the farmers market on Main Street.

  9. I wanted to give a huge shout out to Sheryl Sandberg for using her strength and influence to call out Hamas’ use of rape as a weapon of war and overall sexual violence on October 7 when the UN had decided not to bother about it. The Biden administration is speculating that the reason that Hamas did not release more female hostages on schedule is because Hamas did not want them to share their stories with the media. Whatever your feelings on this war are, everyone should agree that targeting women with rape is unconscionable and should be condemned by every international body instead of shoved under the rug. I have new respect for Sandberg for speaking up, knowing she’d get called terrible names.

    1. Good for her — I resented being made to read her book as an associate (typical firm move: to benefit women, give them assigned reading and not something like an outing with clients). but she is good to use her power and voice to highlight this.

    4. I agree with Sandberg’s comments (obviously), but it’s disgusting that this requires any acknowledgment. Any civilized person should unambiguously denounce Hamas’ actions (including r*pe and gender-based violence). But unfortunately, too many “progressives” prioritize identity politics over basic humanity.

      1. So just curious. At what point are you going to stop trying to start fights here, given that most people have basically disengaged from this topic and aren’t taking the bait any more? Like, nice attempt to start an argument by making an inaccurate inflammatory statement, but surely you’ve noticed that these threads about Israel are getting maybe 4-5 replies these days? I don’t think what you’re trying to do here in fomenting outrage and conflict is working out quite like you planned.

        1. what is the point of your post? I am not the Anon at 11:11, but a different person, and if you don’t want to comment on something related to Israel you don’t have to. there are lots of topics brought up on here that I have nothing to say about and others that I do. I personally agree with the Anon at 11:11. It shouldn’t be that hard to denounce the actions of a terrorist group. The fact that it seems to be for so many people is kind of terrifying. Denouncing Hamas’ actions also does not mean one must agree with everything the Israeli government does, or that one does not care about the Palestinian people.

          1. +1. People need to remember that they can always collapse the thread. Always, always, always.

        2. At what point are you going to stop saying some variation of this exact comment in response to every post about Israel?

      1. but rolled over how? maybe i’m forgetting but it’s not like any of the path forward on this stuff is clear. is everyone in AI and social media rolling over on the rest of us? More so than the other corporate entities giving money to Trump and lobbyists and getting ridiculous laws passed that benefit the uber wealthy? yet we vilify her…

    6. The initial reports were bad but the stuff that’s been revealed recently has been nauseating. I know this is an unnuanced take, but my gut reaction is: once again, women bear the toll of wars made by men.

      See, e.g., the Rohingya, the Ukraine, and on and on and on.

      1. 100% agree. i saw a blow by blow of the 45-minute video they released and was sick to my stomach.

  10. I am making pastissio for the first time (husband/son tried it at a Greek fair and have been begging me to make it for months). Any favorite recipes, and what is a good substitute for Kasseri cheese (instacart tells me no grocery store has it..) – Italian Blend, Parmesan, Mozzarella??

    1. I’m of Greek heritage and make pastichio several times a year. I recommend the recipe from the frugal gourmet cookbook. It’s a good one, this looks like the recipe from some random person online: https://recipecircus.com/recipes/FantastiCook/ETHNIC/PASTITSIO_.html make sure to add enough cinnamon to the tomato sauce. That’s key for the taste. And you can substitute parmesan and even some not sharp cheddar for part of it without sacrificing taste. Have fun, it’s a fair amount of work.

    3. I would go to Whole Foods in person. Their cheese counter has a great deal more than what is listed on the website.

  11. Since tees to go under suits are a constant request here, I thought I’d recommend one that I got on Black Friday that’s looks good and is not expensive! The Lands End “Fine Gauge Crew Neck Short Sleeve Tee Sweater” is a nice fine knit sweater tee that would work great under a suit or I just wore with trousers by itself yesterday. They’re currently on sale for under $15. Full disclosure: I haven’t tried washing it yet, but plan to wash on delicate and line dry, as I find Lands End tends to not wear as well if you dry it. But you could also try a delicate dry if you wanted.

    2. Oooh thanks for the rec! I tried on a go to sweater tee this morning and it was uncomfortably tight so this is timely.

      How fitted are these tees? I find Lands End to be boxy and not as close-fitting as I’d like but maybe this is different…

      2. I think a good in-between. They’re not super tight, but it wasnt overly boxy either which their cotton tees usually are. I sized down one size, but it was accurate to their size chart (i.e. their 2X is supposed to fit 20-22W, but most stores would call that a 3X).

  12. I’ve got a pair of Birdies flats in the gold leather color that I’ve worn a handful of times, and the gold is already coming off the toes. This is obviously my fault — I’m hard on shoes and a clumsy walker. Is there anything I can do to make them more presentable? Like… gold nail polish or something? Eeek. They’re great shoes, and I’d be sad to relegate them to the back of my closet this early in our relationship!

    1. Even if you’re hard on your shoes or clumsy, I think it’s pretty pathetic that shoes look worn after only a handful of wears. ESPECIALLY at the price point of Birdies.

    2. maybe reach out to the company or take them to a cobbler (who might be able to treat them somehow so you don’t damage them further)? if not, maybe they’re office shoes…

    3. Cobblers have special paints/dyes for this. I’ve gone that direction for expensive shoes and for inexpensive shoes I matched with a paint pen then used polish to blend/seal

  13. Has anyone tried wonderskin lip stains? The ads look very tempting. Or, any other lip stain recs? I’m terrible at reapplying but could really use the color (shine and moisture are not too important).

    1. I really like my Sephora Collection lip stain, but that’s the only one I’ve ever used so I can’t compare it to others.

    2. I wore Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick to a wedding last month and I did not need to reapply the whole evening including through dinner and drinks! I followed user recommendations to prep with lip balm and wipe that off, then apply the lipstick in thin layers and blot as you go. Was so satisfied I just picked up a couple more colors.

    5. Believe it or not, I like Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor. It comes with a clear shiny gloss layer that I don’t bother with, but the color part lasts pretty much all day.

      1. This used to be my favorite, but my lips are drier these days than they used to be, and it’s definitely not moisturizing. I may go back to it when summer rolls around!

    7. there was a weekend open thread a while back with lip stains that looked like wine bottles — they’re actually pretty solid. long lasting, surprisingly pretty colors for something so cheap.

  14. I did the survey and a question asks about stores we might be avoiding. It mentions Amazon, fast fashion, and MLM but also Nordstrom. What’s the matter with Nordstom?

    1. lol, I had the same question! I will admit to giving the NAS a wide berth since it seems a lot is ‘made for sale’ house brand merch or the same stuff they’ve been saying is ‘new fall merch!’ for 6-7 years, but as a retailer in general?

    2. I find I don’t buy much clothing from Nordstrom because it’s either designer stuff I can’t afford or cheaply made clothes that don’t fit me well or last very long that are somehow still pretty pricey, but there’s not much in between. I’m not avoiding them for political reasons or anything, though.

    3. I have been avoiding Nordstrom lately because they no longer curate their merchandise well and shopping on line is not much better than shopping at Amazon, and because I worry about getting banned for excessive returns. And because they closed my local store.I also think there was a time when nearly every item featured here was from Nordstrom.

  15. I need to cut back on how many news subscriptions I’m paying for, but I don’t want to totally abandon paying for the news (I know I could get access to everything through the library for free, but I want to support journalism).

    I was just made aware that an Apple+ news subscription is in my budget and provides access to lots of sources that I enjoy, so I’m considering that. Am I able to access it on a PC? I do most of my news reading at work and we have Dells at work, so I need something that’s PC friendly.

    Or, do people have recommendations for other news aggregators? I need the Philadelphia Inquirer and the NYT and I would prefer to have the Economist, the Atlantic, and the WSJ. For fun reading, I like TIME, Nat Geo, Vanity Fair and Runner’s World. I get the Washington Post for free (I work in government). The only thing I really require is the Inquirer, the others are just nice to haves.

    1. Do you have a tablet? My library gets tons of papers (and magazines) through the Libby app and it’s a really nice reading experience.

      1. I do, but not for work. I use Libby a lot for books and magazines now (and use the library website to access other news sources) but still would like to find something I can read at work – reading news is related to my job but of course working for the government we don’t get subscriptions to news sources (other than WaPo which is free if you have a .gov email)

    3. I’m a total news junky too. I rotate my subscriptions to save money but it also makes sense to do so because there is a limit to how much I can read. Especially if the goal is to support journalism with your dollars, I don’t think a news aggregator would help. Much like Spotify, the content itself receives a much smaller portion of the money you are spending.

  16. So I tried a Lululemon sweatshirt (scuba oversized full zip) for my DD’s birthday – too cropped in the length. She doesn’t like the Athleta hoodies bc they have a high neck in the front. Other recommendations? She basically only wears an ON one from a few years ago. She wants it to be oversized in the body and longer but not too long in the sleeves. Teenagers are so picky! ;)

    1. my kids wear sports related ones- one from their sport tournament, my DD stole my 20+ year old college hoodie (size adult M fits my 11 year old exactly right and it melted my heart when she said it was like wearing “a hug from mom and dad” since we went to college together…tbh I think she just didn’t want to do laundry and was playing me but I’ll take it), and a giant sweatshirt from their fave sports team

    2. Brandy Melville? My 16 year old has some hoodies from a few years ago that have that fit. I’ll note: I don’t think the brand is cool for my daughter’s school anymore, but your daughter may not care if she’s currently happy wearing Old Navy.

      Aviator Nation may be an option, too. Again, for my 16 year old, the brand was very hot a few years ago and is not as sought out now— but you could show your daughter and see what she thinks. Pricing is comparable to Lululemon.

      Finally, I think people already recommended you look at Faherty. If you haven’t, check them out.

    3. Lulu just came out with a scuba oversized long version that might work better. Alo also has popular oversized sweatshirt options.

    4. Do you remember those pics of princess Diana in an oversized sweatshirt and bike shorts, worn with white socks and white trainers? That look is trending.

      Crew neck and oversized is what it’s all about now. No hoodies, not cropped.

      1. Sloppy Joe sweatshirts are what I see a lot on insta, and Princess Diana wore them!

  17. Canada Goose – worth the cost? I live in an area where it would get heavy use. Here’s the thing, I am tired of spending $300 + every few years after coat looks worn out. I wear black exclusively so do not get bored and my size has remained the same for the past 20+years. The brand has a lifetime warrantee so if it looks worn they will deal with that. Are there any other brands with lifetime warrantees?

    1. I wore my CG for about 7 winters before I retired it. In that time some of the seams had ripped and I also had to have the zipper repaired, and the colour (black) had faded and it just looked really worn. I’m in Canada and commute by public transit (lots of waiting in the cold for the bus) so I wore it daily in the winter. I did love it, but I have a cheaper coat now that works just as well. CG has also really raised their prices in the last few years.

          1. I wore CG for work in the actual Arctic (I am in the army) and I found it frequently too hot. I opted for the full length Stadium from Lands’ End and a decade later it looks brand new. Also insanely cheap.

          2. I just got a Land’s End down coat for about $100 and I looooove it. Already making winter so much more bearable.

    2. Worth the cost if you are looking for something warm and have a harsh winter. Like, worth it’s weight in gold for a Manitoba winter. At least for me, it really shines under 10F. You will, however, die of heat stroke trying to use it for a St. Louis winter.

    4. Yes, worth it if you’re in a cold climate. I had mine for years (in Eastern Canada) and it kept me warm all winter. Just don’t get the short one (you want the one that comes at least to mid-thigh so your bum is covered). Other (similarly pricy) Canadian brands to consider for parkas: Mackage, Kanuk, Quartz, Soia&Kyo. I have a Kanuk these days and it’s similar to CG in terms of warmth. I used to think it was nuts to spend that much on a jacket but it’s made a real difference in how much I enjoy the winter.

      1. 100% love my Mackage long coat. It’s so cozy! Worth the $$$$. I live in Chicago. However the jacket is currently at the dry cleaners in hopes of getting the zipper unstuck (my fault)…

    5. I got mine probably 10-11 years ago. I don’t wear it daily but it does get a lot of use. It looks brand new. I did get the beige which wouldn’t fade like a black coat so maybe that helps. No issues with seams or zippers.

    7. I will also say about my Canada Goose coat, the hood was the best hood I’ve ever had on a winter coat. It was big enough to fit over my head/hair and stay up, and the fur ruff really protected my face from wind. Hoods are always such a pain point for me so that was a huge plus.

    8. “lifetime” warranties or guarantees are usually the reasonably expected lifetime of the product, not your lifetime. So, I’d imagine that is maybe ~10 years or so. Also, most lifetime warranties don’t cover normal wear and tear and at some companies, they only apply to certain aspects of the product (like shoes will cover the sole but not the upper of the shoe, jackets might pertain only to the zipper and not the seams).

      1. Apparently Feetures socks have an actual lifetime warranty. It doesn’t cover unusual wear and tear (your dog eating it is one example) or loss.

        1. I am wearing a wool sock with a hole at the inside ankle as I write, thanks to my dog.

    9. I have practically live in my CG Shelburne w the black label. But my work requires me to travel to some very, very cold climates, and that’s what really makes it worth the price. Still looks new, got it in 2017. I never feel cold in this coat, even walking hours outside in below freezing temps. At one point I was out in -20 C / 0 F and doing just fine.

  18. Are Wunder Under leggings thicker than the Align leggings? I know everyone sings the praises of Aligns, but I found them so thin you can see every lump and bump.

  19. What’s your strategy for long flights where you have to look presentable at the end of it? Especially if you have long hair that could get oily during 12+ hrs of flying. This is for meeting lots of family members the moment you get off the plane, but also applies to work trips.

    2. Are family members really expecting you to look perfect after a long flight? Dry shampoo and put your hair up and don’t touch it.

    3. The only way I would look presentable after 12 hours of flying is to travel in first class. Otherwise, dry shampoo and stay hydrated. Maybe stop and wash your face and brush your teeth.

      1. +1 to first. But other tips, you will be able to go to a bathroom before seeing anyone when you get off the plane. Do not fly in what you plan to wear on landing (I fly in very comfortable sweats or even black PJs). No makeup on the plane either. Change clothes (carry them on) and the dry shampoo suggestion is good. I’ve also landed and fired up a curling iron to do my hair and done makeup in the bathroom.

    4. I wear knits so I don’t get wrinkled and apply mascara and lipstick after I land. My favorite travel outfit is a long sleeve black knit dress with scarf and sunglasses and flats. I look presentable enough for wherever I may need to go when I land whether casual or more dressy. I usually wear my hair up. Airplanes are so dry that getting greasy isn’t usually a problem.

    5. Showering immediately before going to the airport, choosing an arrival style that disguises any “long travel day” woes (like a pretty claw clip for a quick updo), wearing 0 makeup for the flight itself (just moisturizer) and doing a quick face in the airport on arrival, and having a disposable toothbrush for morning.

      1. You don’t need a disposable toothbrush. It’s not like a regular toothbrush is going to take up much room in your carry on.

        1. The Wisp ones let you brush your teeth in your plane seat without water. Amazing for long flights when the bathrooms are crowded.

          1. Oh hell no, if the person in the seat next to me started brushing their teeth I would barf!

    6. mini size of Moroccan Oil dry shampoo, wear my evening skincare on the plane, and doing my makeup right before landing.

    7. My hair would not get oily over that length of trip. Don’t put so much conditioner & leave in product f in it before the fligjt and keep it up in a clip or silk scrunchie and keep your hands out of it.

      I tend to bring along a little face wash and do my best with damp towels in the lab before landing. Some really basic skincare, focus on moisturizing , no makeup. Drink lots of water during the flight.

      Don’t forget compression socks!!

    8. I have faced the reality that there is no strategy to overcome it. Plane air hastens the onset of oiliness in my skin and hair and I end up as shiny as a mirror within a few hours. I simply cannot be seen or photographed until I’ve had a shower, especially for work. If you’re fortunate enough to have lounge shower access at your arrival airport, you can shower there. Otherwise, plane face is what we have to deal with.

    9. i know people who swear by evian spray when you get off the flight, but it’s never helped me

    10. I have very oily hair, but it helps a lot if I keep it away from my face and hands, so style your hair so that it will be out of your way while traveling (bun, braid, ponytail).

  20. My niece has asked for “kendra scott jewelry” with no other details for the holidays. She’s 11. What are Kids These Days wearing/wanting/liking?

        1. +1 and the fit for a bracelet meant for an adult to translate to an 11 year old’s wrist is a recipe for disappointment.

    3. They like the simple necklaces. I’d do that. The necklace is a collarbone length with one stone.

          2. That is the one they want, in iridescent druzy. Check whether your daughter prefers silver or gold-tone.

            Don’t get the Target version. Kids want the real thing, and the Target version gets poor reviews.

          3. Not the OP but thank you so much for this, ordered for my niece and plan to keep my status of miraculously in the know aunt!

  21. Thoughts on Monos backpacks? They look very nice online but I’ve never seen one IRL.

    1. I don’t know about the backpacks but I have been very happy with my Monos suitcases.

  22. I’m taking my parents to see the Radio City Christmas show in NYC later this month. Any recommendations for lunch, ideally within a 15minute walk? I hate touristy places, but my parents won’t be able to walk all too far and I know how crowded that area gets. And, nothing too out there in terms of types of food – they tend to like Italian or American.

    1. I’ve had lunch at Fig and Olive and Osteria del Bianco recently, both of which were good. Only a few blocks from Rockefeller Center. If you want within Rockefeller Center itself, Del Frisco Grille has tasty sandwiches; Bill Bar and Burger is fine as well but will probably be very crowded.

    2. Avra on 50 and 6 is good. It is Greek (ish) food, but it is directly across the street from Radio City. Quality Italian on 57 and 6 is also a fine option if they prefer Italian.

    3. La Bonne Soup is my usual midtown north go to for good food at not crazy prices – it’s classic French bistro stuff. Otherwise I’d check out the local Irish pubs, they’re not groundbreaking cuisine but Connolly’s and Long Acre were both reliable last time I was in the area.

    4. I just did this, but for dinner, and we went to Monterey. Everyone really liked it. They have lunch too.

  23. Thanks for the advice on migraine yesterday. I ended up going to urgent care after a Teledoc appointment- she wanted me to have a neuro assessment to rule out going to the ER. Urgent care gave me a shot of Toradol and I passed the balance tests so no ER. After care is 2 naproxen sodium every 12 hours for 72 hours total. I still have the headache but I feel much more like myself – less confused, less out of it.

    If you have a ‘Neurologist who specializes in headaches, how did you find them? Last time I was referred to a neurologist for migraine he was utterly uninterested. I really think I need more help. This has been scary.

    1. Glad to hear you went to urgent care. When you mentioned the continuing/reappearing headache in the same place I did wonder if there was something more serious going on.

    2. You can look at your local major medical center that has a med school etc.. and look at their Neurology doctors. Most major centers have a specialty clinic that treats just headache. Those are the best doctors. Some “general neurologists” treat headache too.

      Even better, go to this website

      https://headaches.org/resources/healthcare-provider-finder/

      And you can search by your state. The most experienced headache specialists
      will have the UCNS certification. But if you aren’t near a major city, you may have to take what you can get. Many of them are backed up, but get on the cancellation list and call regularly to get in sooner.

      There are a lot of new medicines available now, but you want an experienced neurologist to prescribe rather than a PCP if you can.

      If you tell me what major city you are near, I’ll tell you who I would see/recommend.

      Make sure you take naproxen with food. Protect the stomach…

    3. I have chronic m*graine and have never seen a headache specialist because I’ve never lived in a city with one. There are only ~700 in the whole US and they’re mostly in big cities at major medical centers. Most treatment is trial and error until you find the right medications that work for you, so a decent regular neurologist (or even a PCP) that actually listens to you should be enough to get you started on trying preventatives, especially if you do a little reading on sites like the American M*graine Foundation or M*graine Again so that you’re familiar with options of things you want to try. Even if you do live in a big city with a headache specialist, you’re still probably going to have to wait a while for an appointment and then spend a lot of time trying meds before your insurance will pay for the new, expensive ones, so you might as well try to start the process sooner with any doctor you can see now.

      1. That’s a way to look at most SCT cases, no? OTOH, this is sort of fundamental in what sorts of things count for being taxed on. Our 401Ks build up $ without owing a current income tax, but if Moore goes the other way, stuff like that may need new plumbing or laws or get a different treatment. It’s interesting from a history and language / definitional approach even if you don’t follow tax law or care about rich people. We all pay taxes, even if indirectly or as sales tax or buy goods subject to tariffs.

        1. Exactly. What if homeowners are taxed every year on the increase in value of their homes? Does that mean you have to pay for an annual appraisal at tax time? Imagine the nightmare of paying taxes on increases in value to your 401k, which could be wiped out the next year by a market swing.

          There is a reason we only tax income and not wealth.

          1. And then there is the nightmare of California real estate assessment, where new homeowners on less-expensive homes pay more than long-term residents in multi-million dollar homes. States are different, sometimes in bad ways.

  25. I bought small gifts ($5 mug plus hot cocoa packets and tea bags) for my coworkers and will give it to them next week. Would it be ok if I give one to my boss too? I know we aren’t supposed to gift up but it would be weird if I didn’t give her one, too. Her gift will be exactly the same as the others.

    4. I think the “don’t gift up” rule is better said as “no one should feel pressured/compelled to gift up,” i.e. there should be no office collection to buy the boss a gift or any feeling like you have to. But if you want to, go ahead!

    5. Where did you get the five dollar mugs? I’ve been looking for something at that price point TIA

  26. I need advice about replacing my Revlon One-Step, and I can’t find the information I’m seeking online.

    I have the original One-Step – two sides of the brush are wider than the other two sides.

    I now see that one can buy:
    * the one I have, v. 1
    * the one I have, v. 2 (don’t know the difference)
    * another type called the volumizer which has a round brush (not oval like mine)

    I need some guidance about which one to buy because the bristles on the short edges of my brush have worn down and are no longer catching hair. TIA.

    1. I’ve purchased from this seller several times and been happy with the quality: https://www.etsy.com/listing/274372144/long-arc-dangle-earrings-hook-open-hoop?click_key=968b26978ae03648ec796a12352938d2189383fb%3A274372144&click_sum=f588e624&ref=user_profile&pro=1&frs=1

      And then here’s a silver option: https://www.etsy.com/listing/89161347/925-sterling-silver-threader-earrings?click_key=c1c872a0709781255d7a705a5bb6aa35dcffa303%3A89161347&click_sum=387d5060&ref=user_profile&pro=1&frs=1

  28. Help me re-organize my purse stuff. I need glasses now, so most of my purses are now too small with I factor in my old wallet. If I go to glasses + iPhone + smaller wallet or card holder or stick-on pocket on the back of my phone, then all purses would work. What do you use? What is a good smaller wallet or card holder? I do still carry some cash and have some freebie stick-on pockets (so is there a nice one out there?). I may need a card holder at least b/c I always need a million cards (#momlife), such as for allergy shots and health insurance (perpetually needing to show it everwhere or send pictures), etc. I’d love to just have license and 1 credit card and maybe my AAA card, ,but my life isn’t like that since undergrad (and then: transit pass, apartment swipe card for front door, work swipe card). HELP!

      1. +1. I carry ID, 2 credit cards, insurance ID, and tr-nsit card. My work ID I store separately since I don’t carry my wallet around in the office.

        Loyalty cards are all in my Apple wallet and I’ve taken pictures of everything else (like AAA, library card, etc) and saved them to an album on my phone.

    2. i would look for one minimal keycard for your license, insurance, CC, and other stuff that stays tucked in your purse — and see if i could find a keychain-friendy ID that lets you corral the swipe cards, transit cases, etc. lots on amazon to get ideas from if you look up “keychain id card holder.”

  29. Just got diagnosed with gestational diabetes today at 27 weeks. Anyone else gone through this and willing to share their experience or any resources/tips? I’m meeting with a nutritionist tomorrow.

    1. Yes! I was diagnosed around 28 weeks and was able to control it with diet (no meds needed), but it took a lot of work. Had a healthy (and normal sized) baby at 39 weeks, despite warnings that he was measuring huge. Get the Lily Nichols book on gestational diabetes. I found that I had to go very low carb. Rice, oatmeal, cereal, pasta and bread were all out of the question for me – huge glucose spikes. I ate a lot of eggs, chicken, non-starchy vegetables, and nuts. I could also tolerate small amounts of pear and blueberries, but not apples or other berries. I missed fruit and sweets a lot. For a sweet treat, I mixed mashed banana, peanut butter and shredded coconut and froze in small portion cups. I learned to never eat “naked” carbs. If I had carbs, i had to pair them with protein and fiber.
      The finger pricking is annoying but you’ll get used to it. You’ll be less sensitive on the sides of your fingertip. If I were to do it again I would probably look into getting a continuous glucose monitor.
      And, after all this, the post-delivery pizza was sublime. :)

      1. My experience was the same as anon at 1:36pm. I controlled with diet and had a healthy baby. I had to eat low carb and needed to pair carbs with protein and fiber to keep my blood sugar from spiking. The nutritionist I met with after being diagnosed was very unhelpful as she outlined a diet filled with carbs, and I could not eat anywhere close to the amount of carbs the nutritionist outlined. You will find out what works for you with trial and error. My main difficulty ended up being keeping weight on because without eating a lot of carbs it was hard to get enough calories.

      2. Also, I randomly learned that jerusalem artichokes are good for controlling blood sugar. I started eating those instead of potatoes with whatever protein I was having, and I learned to like them.

    2. I had it with both my pregnancies. I was able to control it with diet and exercise (but that is just largely based on pure luck: plenty of friends watched their diet and exercised and still needed to take medication!) For me, I found it helpful to: (a) figure out what meals worked with my blood sugar and just do them on repeat so I didn’t need to think about it; and, (b) go for a 20 minute walk after every meal.

    4. I had it with both my pregnancies – first time, I controlled with diet and second time, I needed to add nightly doses of long-acting insulin. I found it really useful to figure out two breakfasts and three lunches that worked for me, and then I just chose between them each day. For dinners, I generally followed the idea that half my plate should be veg, 1/3 protein, and the remainder starch, which let me avoid directly counting carbs.

      I also struggled with some random days of really low sugars each pregnancy (weirdly, more with the first diet-controlled experience than with the second insulin-supported one). It was helpful to me to have a small bottle of SevenUp with me at all times to help bring those up before I felt awful.

      Like others said, I was surprised how quickly I got used to the fingerpricks as no big deal!

      My PCP has added A1C tracking to my annual bloodwork tracking and my optometrist does a diabetic eye exam, just to keep an eye on any tendencies that I might have toward the onset of prediabetes or Type II. So far, no concerns at all; it’s just something they both have wanted to watch. It’ll be worth asking your regular care providers after you’ve delivered whether anything similar will be appropriate for you in the years to come.

    5. I had it with my second geriatric pregnancy. I felt like a failure, but thought I would be able to be a “good GD” patient and control it with diet and exercise. Despite valient efforts, I couldn’t. So, then I felt like a failure again. Thank goodness for a fantastic MFM practitioner who told me using metformin or insulin wasn’t some sort of moral failure. I just have crappy placentas. That was true in my first pregnancy too even though I didn’t end up diagnosed with GD. Do what your doctor tells you and give yourself grace. There are some good GD Reddit communities. My baby was 5.5 pounds at birth and is a thriving toddler now. No issues, and my blood sugar returned to normal immediately post pregnancy.

  30. I have an extra pair of black leather booties, the extra pair is one I bought on sale in the warmer months but may not wear that much. The heel is not that high but I usually wear flat shoes, and Recently got another pair with a gentler heel. They are new and never worn.

    Is it worth trying to sell them on Facebook marketplace or similar sites or should I just keep both pairs? I know the marketplace is for used goods mainly.

    1. If it’s not something worth a lot of money, I don’t bother trying to sell, it’s too much hassle. Just donate.

    2. Depends on the brand. If they are a nice brand, consider selling on Poshmark. Otherwise, donate.

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