Commute: No. 21

Feb 28, 2018

“Run to the fire, don’t hide from it.” — Meg Whitman.

 

#RelationshipGoals. Being a two career couple requires a long-term plan.

Suit Up. This WHBM white pinstripe suit and bow-pocket CeCe suit are unique and still work appropriate.

Silence is Golden. Could you ever take a vow of silence? I’ve been thinking about going to a silent retreat for a bit, but I’m so chatty, I might make it a day.

Make a Deal. I just bought this $25 wrap dress at H&M and it is sublime. Also, this oatmeal chunky knit for casual days.

Looking Up at Zero. What I learned from paying off $120,000 in student loan debt.

Ooh La La. How incredible is this Lipsy appliqué corset? So gorgeous.

Keep It All Inside. Networking is so important, but for introverted people, it’s like torture.  Here are some tips for bridging the gap.

In the Bag. For feminine, vintage-y bags, this Visone tote is magic.  For her more modern little sister, this Guess crossbody is the thing.

Cocktail Hour. Is it time to rethink pairing work events and alcohol?

Nag. I can’t decide how I feel about mules. I adore these rose gold ones and these navy-printed ones, but are they actually wearable?  I’m not sure.

Thinking Longterm. How to find out what companies are in your mutual fund. 

Rainy Days. I need a waterproof jacket for spring.  This Barbour coat is top of the list.  I also like this emerald CK trench and this Athleta rain jacket.

 

What I’m Snacking On. RXBars. I got one in a swag bag and kind of fell in love. They’re everything I wish a Larabar was.

What I Bought. A laundry soap station. It’s kind of genius for organizing your washroom.

What Blew My Mind. How much these NYC buskers sound like the Beatles.

What I’m Making for Dinner. I hate Italian food, with one exception, Bolognese.

Are we over the shelfie?  Don’t get me wrong, this perfectly organized shelf is beautiful, but I’m kind of done with it.  Or maybe I’m just done with the pressure to have the perfectly curated trinkets and tchotchkes.  When I start buying books for the color of the cover and not the content, I think there’s a problem afoot.

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  1. Anna says:

    Wait, you don’t like Italian food? Like all Italian food? Also, are we talking Italian from Italy or Italian-American (red sauce, mounds of cheese, etc.). I have so many questions.

    • Belle says:

      I’m not really a fan of noodles. I have a deep dislike of red sauce. I never understood how anyone could think lasagna was delicious, as most of is just a bland vehicle for flavorless cheese. And most of it is really heavy.

      Lighter Italian options are fine. I’ve eaten some Italian food I liked. But if I’m looking for restaurants, I would rather cut my fingers off than eat Italian. I think it’s because it’s easier to hide mediocre/disappointing meals under a mound of cheese.

      • KATEL says:

        This makes me laugh out loud. Italian-Americans in the North East call red sauce “gravy” and it’s like a second religion. It’s their version of comfort food – but as you point the lighter fare is far tastier.

      • Mel says:

        Italian American weighing in here. I think you’ve had really bad Italian food prepared by people that don’t understand the flavor traditions. Gravy is a way of life, but you need to have the right kind. I’ve had bad lasagna, prepared by incredibly WASP-y people. My family makes the best kind though.

        • Belle says:

          I would believe that. Like I think it’s a situation where a real Grandma making a lasagna is making magic, most people aren’t. And I’d probably love it, but I’m still not going to voluntarily eat it on the regular.

    • Maria says:

      Another Italian food hater chiming in! Pizza is the only exception. Like Belle, I also find noodles, sauce, and soft cheeses bland and boring.

      • anna says:

        OK, so it sounds like you all are opposed to Italian-American cuisine. I can get that. I mean, I don’t understand how someone can not like pasta, and for me, more cheese the better, but I can understand how someone wouldn’t like that. I guess it’s like the difference between authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex. They’re two completely different cuisines, and real Italian food is way more diverse than pasta and red sauce and isn’t very cheese-heavy at all.

        • Belle says:

          This is not to say that there aren’t Italian meals I’ve had that were good, but if you tell me the menu at an event is Italian, I’m never thrilled.

        • Kelly says:

          Nice comparison. And totally get it. I once ordered tacos expecting Mexican and when they came out Tex-Mex I almost cried.

      • Charlotte says:

        Yes! Tomatoes make me nauseous, I avoid simple carbs like pasta, and dairy does my skin no favors, making most forms of Italian food a struggle!

  2. Kristen says:

    Love the #Relationshiopgoals article! My husband is a Partner at a law firm and I’m an Executive at a Manufacturing firm – trying to figure out balance between who takes care of what in the house and our toddler gets difficult when you throw in travel, deadlines and board meetings.

    **BTW love you site, its my little escape each day from the corporate world

    • Katharine says:

      Kristen, yes!! My husband and I are also juggling two careers and caring for a toddler. And while there is a lot of planning, there is no routine (except for the toddler’s schedule), because every day is an adjustment in terms of who takes care of what. I also really appreciate the emphasis on long term planning. You have to figure out not just your individual career paths, but how they can intersect in a way that allows you to BOTH support each other!

  3. Valerie says:

    I laughed out loud at your “shelfie” post. The other day I’ve visited the container store in Arlington and one of the display bookshelves had dozens of books on it with their cover spines reversed. My BF mentioned he had read about some silly trend of displaying books page-side out so that “the uniform color matched the room decor.”

    …that’s a new LOL for me, people buying books just to display the color of their inside pages.

    • anna says:

      The thought alone drives me bonkers. How would you ever find anything?!?!…Though I guess those kinds of people aren’t buying their books for reading.

  4. MOnica T says:

    As an introvert that sometimes appears to be an extrovert, I find networking makes sense when it’s something that I really care about. I can talk a lot about a topic I am excited about or interested in, and when I do it seems to make an impression. I don’t waste my energy on low-quality networking, and yes, I always spend my lunch alone.

    Also, on the dual-earner family, even when you think you have it down pat, bumps will come along. Whether it’s a sick child when both of you have an important project and somehow mom de facto get’s the short straw or something else. It is a balancing act and a challenge in the best of times.

  5. anna says:

    I love Rx bars. I found them when I did a Whole30 about 2 years ago, and they’ve been a staple in my diet ever since. I really like the kid ones, since sometimes the adult ones can be a little hard to choke down in one sitting.

  6. Lil says:

    So many interesting pieces today! All for the pro-introvert point of needing time to think and be creative sometimes. I’m often interrupted at work for no good reason. It doesn’t help my productivity. I try not to interrupt others unnecessarily. I sense some people think I’m too reserved but I certainly will converse when I need to for work or in social settings at work (marking a birthday, etc.). In short, introverts can be considerate, productive workers who should be valued. Extroversion in the form of popping into other people’s offices just because the extroverts feel like taking a chat break can be intrusive and even a bit thoughtless. As an aside, having an office door but being pressured not to close it isn’t helpful either. Maybe I need to work at home …

  7. Lil says:

    On Italian food, I made myself a huge vat (to eat all week) of off-brand pasta that turned out mushy. But good pasta with a nice sauce I find delectable. Tomato sauce can be fresh and flavorful. Real parmigiano is nutty, buttery, etc. It can vary so much from steam table lasagna to grandma’s carefully made gnocchi.

  8. Katharine says:

    I don’t understand that kind of shelfie — literally do not understand — because if your shelves look like that, where are your books?! I do not have room for curated bookshelves because they are all full of things to read. Maybe if I had more walls and more shelves? Maybe this is a thing for people with actual houses who have many more bookshelves than books? Maybe I’m just a book hoarder in an apartment… So many questions.

  9. Caitlin says:

    I can understand a like, bar cart shelfie, and certainly if you have a side table go for a lamp/vase/etc. that is aesthetically pleasing…. but the bookcase is a sacred place.

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