Welcome to a New Year. ?Even thought it’s been cold (15-below at my house, 50-below at my Mom’s) and not everything in early 2024 has gone according to plan, 2024 still feels much better than 2023. ?So I’m excited to dive back into the reader mailbag with questions from Instagram followers. Let’s hit it!
How do you feel about cropped wide leg jeans/pants? ?What shoes to wear?
I like them, but they work on my body. ?Your mileage may vary depending on how you are built. ?I bought these Paige Leenah jeans last year, and I now own the darker color as well (currently on sale). ?They haven’t arrived yet, but I also bought these Mango jeans in a similar style and a cool ecru color.
As for shoes, in the warm weather they are the perfect jean for sandals. ?I also like them with a sporty sneaker. ?In the cold weather, I’ve actually been wearing them with my Loeffler tall boots — the look works; I’m as surprised as anyone.
Some influencers have been styling them with ankle boots, as well. ?On my body, I prefer the clean line of the tall boot, instead of flashing my ankles and breaking up the leg line. ?Plus, that flesh is real pale in January and I am not getting a spray tan to wear shoes.
How can I figure out an engagement ring?style if I don’t wear much jewelry?
The only way to do it is to go to a jewelry store and try things on. ?I recommend going alone, on a weekday, when things will be peaceful. ?Just tell the salesperson that your partner is planning to propose and you want to give him some more direction on finger size (def. get sized while you’re there) and style. They’ll be more than happy to help.
This is a really exciting and hopeful thing, but it doesn’t need to be a complete surprise. ?I recommend telling your partner the metal color you want (white, yellow, rose) and the diamond styles you like best. ?I also recommend telling them what you hate. ?If the idea of an East-West setting or multiple stones gives you heartburn, say something. ?You’ll be wearing this ring for the rest of your marriage, it’s important that you like it.
Favorite work travel outfit. ?What should I wear on the plane to a conference?
I have really embraced the chic, loungewear sets. ?They’re warm, cozy and washable. ?You can also style them to look effortlessly chic. ?So if you get spotted in the hotel lobby, you’re the cool girl who has it all together in your fashion-forward soft pants.
Abercrombie has some adorable sets right now. ?I like these waffle-knit top with a mock-neckline. ?This cozy rib-knit set is also great. ?Just layer them under a duster-length cardigan, like this sumptuous beauty from Anthropologie. ?Add a cool girl sneaker and gold hoops, and you’re done.
New job. How do I celebrate and treat myself?
One of the great things about a new job is that freshness — you’re not weighed down by old projects, old mistakes, relationships that have soured, etc. ?You get a fresh beginning. ?I find that you can keep that fresh feeling going with a couple of spa days. ?I took myself for a massage and pedicure at the end of my first month of work, and it made the start to my second month amazing.
Also, one of my girlfriends buys herself a trip for her six month work anniversary at a new gig. ?Last year, she started at a new firm and went to Vancouver for a long weekend alone. ?She said the trips give her time to reflect on what has gone right at the new job and what can be done better. ?It’s like a mental reset that lets her recalibrate her focus.
About to start IVF prep, any must haves?
My Amazon storefront has an entire IVF section that has everything that I actually used?to make trying to conceive simpler. ?The must-haves from the list are the Pain Cakes and the shot blocker. ?I couldn’t have made it through stims without them because I hate needles and the injections get harder the longer it goes on.
lso, had I known this website existed, my time doing IVF would have been so much easier. ?Dr. Lucky Sekhon gives no-bulls**t advice and provides a lot of the basic information that I was missing. ?Had I had these tools, I would have had a better idea of what to expect and what to ask at my appointments.
New mom here: Any recs for eye creams that make me look at least half awake?
I had dark under-eye circles before Sloane. ?Now, they are positively Fester Addams.
I’ve found that what helped me the most wasn’t a cream, it was these patches from Topical. ?They really work, and you know I do not say that lightly. ?I buy them in bulk every time Sephora does a 20% off sale.
For a cream, I use this Versed Retinoid Eye Balm, which I can buy at Target. ?It’s super hydrating, which is all I’m look for. ?Any latent darkness is taken care of (to whatever extent possible) by my under-eye corrector, which I use even if I’m not wearing makeup.
Have tried dating in IRL, apps, and matchmaking for years. Time to ask friends to be setup?
I mean, why not? ?If your nearest and dearest have suggestions, give them a try. ?Yes, this comes with its own set of complications, but in 2024, any level of pre-vetting is welcome.
Also, one of my girlfriends (who was a serial dater in search of a longterm, stable relationship) found that taking a dating break really helped. ?She met her current wife after taking three months off from dating. ?She found that it gave her time to think about what was really important to her, strengthen her friendships and hobbies, and feel more confident about dating, instead of demoralized by a string of short-term relationships that didn’t fulfill her. ?It might be worth a shot.
Breast pump recs?
I didn’t breast feed, so I didn’t pump. ?So I’m going to leave this here, so that women who did can drop their favorites in the comments.
If you’re formula-feeding, I recommend this Baby Brezza device. ?It’s a Keurig for baby formula, and we would have been lost without it. ?The newborn months would have been 6x harder if I had needed to warm bottles at 3:00AM. ?We also fed this formula. ?And we used these amazing Smilo bottles that prevent colic, but without six pieces that you need to wash after every use.
How are you doing Post-COVID?
For those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram, I was felled by COVID on December 14th. ?I had made an appointment to get the vaccine, and then missed it. ?Made another, missed it. ?And just generally wasn’t taking getting the updated vaccine to protect from Omicron and other variants seriously. ?And boy, did I pay for that decision.
I spent 8-days in quarantine separated from my family.. ?I could barely function days 1-4 thanks to an incredible run of gastrointestinal distress. ?I was so exhausted and foggy that I couldn’t work. ?And while I am over a month removed from my COVID diagnosis, I am still tired, coughing, and my senses of taste and smell are maybe 60%.
All of this is to say, if you’ve been meaning to get the vaccine and you’re putting it off because life is busy and there’s not a good time — this is the time. ?Don’t earn your immunity the hard way like I did.
That’s it for this month. ?If you didn’t see your question, I saved a few to answer on Instagram and a few to do as longer style posts next week, stay tuned.
