Ask Me Anything: April 2024, Pt. II
Apr 30, 2024
The Instagram story asking for submissions yielded so many good ones that I had to write a part two. Or part deux, for all you 90s kids who remember these movies.
How long will you use the same bag for work?
Until it falls apart or I find something better. I’ve had the same Lo & Sons bag since 2019. It’s still in incredible shape despite the fact that it has been tossed around planes, shoved in desk drawers, and hauled up stairs, while overly full hundreds of times. Highly recommend.
Where to buy maternity wear?
Most of my pregnancy attire came from three places: H&M, Old Navy, and Seraphine.
Other than that, I sized up some Spanx pants until I could no longer stand it. And found a lot of gently used Seraphine pieces or high-price denim on Thredup. Don’t be afraid to snap up second hand maternity wear. Pregnancy is such a short phase of life and so ever-changing the clothes are usually very gently used.
What’s your favorite item on your closet/makeup bag/desk right now?
Closet. This Veronica Beard baseball tee in grey. It’s the best t-shirt I’ve ever owned. I know it’s spendy, but the cost per wear is low. I also own it in the stripe.
Makeup Bag. This NYX eyebrow pencil, which is the best drugstore product I’ve ever used. Big fan.
Desk. Either this fantastic retinol hand creme or the best pens. I feel like I rediscover both every time I use them.
What are you looking forward to?
Right now, fajita leftovers for lunch. Longer term, I can’t wait to have a tea party with Sloane. She’s not quite there yet, because we’re still working on sitting still, but soon. Soon.
How often do you wash your dyed hair? About to start for grays, but will it always look greasy?
I wash mine every other day, sometimes every day. I like fresh hair. So I also add this glossing conditioner to freshen it a bit once or twice per week. If my roots get unruly, I use this spray. It takes a while to get the hang of using it, but once you master the technique, it’s great.
My daughter is 22 and in politics, what advice would you give her?
Working in politics and government can be a great career, but it can also burn you out. Set healthy boundaries between work and home life (make it known you don’t look at e-mail after a certain time, let your boss know if it’s a real emergency, he/she will have to text or call/take a vacation and real days off/don’t read political stuff on Saturday). And if, at some point, you start to feel like you need a different job, get one. You can still care about your nation, your state, your community and be a private citizen.
{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}
Any tips on what to do with a bag once it is worn out? I have a L&S Pearl that is going on 8 years old and the strap is looking a little rough and the body of the bag has a ton of scratches. This doesn’t seem super repairable but I loathe the idea of tossing something still usable.
I was amazed at what the cobbler was able to do for my husband’s leather briefcase that was in really rough shape after 10 years of nearly nonstop airplane travel. If you have a cobbler, I’d at least ask if your bag can be spruced up to a standard that works for you.
There are leather recyclers who will take bags.
That NYX pencil is the best, I’ve been using it for years on my overplucked brows!
Thank you for answering my question about hair dye and washing! I’ve never dyed my hair before (and was hoping to hold out another couple years before starting), but the grays have been coming in fast since the arrival of my son.
Would welcome any tips from other commenters about how to care for dyed hair, product recommendations, etc. – I’m nervous about the cost and that it will look super obvious, even though I trust my long time stylist.
How obvious it is will be determined by how different the dye is from your hair color. I have light brown hair, it was blonde when I was younger. (This feels weird to say, but I’ve realized that I think I’ve got Taylor Swift’s natural hair color.) Not that I’m greying, I do half highlights to add in more blonde and mask the grey. You can still see grey, it’s just softened. It grows out really well, especially as blonde and grey are so close in color. If you have dark hair and are dying greys dark, it will take more upkeep.
The Lo & Sons O.G. 2 is 20% off today!
I dyed for a few years but then there were too many roots. Those sprays work great, but they made my scalp itch like mad! It was a constant drain on my mental battery: when could I dye again, could I withstand the itching a few more weeks… It took about 12 mos to grow out – mos 4-7 were the worst but then it was over and now I love my grey!
Your advice to the young woman working in politics is spot on and what I wish received when I started working in government…almost her entire lifetime ago. And it’s the same advice I give to anyone who asks.
In the long run, setting and sustaining healthy boundaries is crucial. As is knowing when to walk away.
Thank you, Abra!
AMEN. This could not be more true – esp. the part about when to walk away or redirect your skills and career goals. It’s absolutely true that you can care about the political future of the country and world and not have to stay in politics directly. Lots of other ways to affect change.
What size laptop does the L&S OG2 bag fit? Their website says only up to 13.25″ for the Large. Is that accurate?
Is that Veronica Beard t-shirt sheer/see through?
No.