It’s been a long, cold week filled with much snow. So let’s get straight to the bullets!
* Every time I hear a Rhianna song – any Rhianna song at all – I get the Shy Ronnie chorus stuck in my head.
* Tomorrow I get to attend a fancy holiday party! I am going to wear a fancy dress and some high heels and maybe even some makeup. I have yet to decide whether I will wear stockings. The dress is short, and it will be cold outside, so it seems that stocking are A Good Idea… And yet, I will be wearing peep-toe shoes (which are NOT up for negotiation), and I think it might be some sort of fashion faux pas to wear stockings with peep-toes. Am I wrong? Has the “no stockings with peep-toe shoes” rule gone the way of “no white pants after Labor Day”? (Although I still refrain from wearing white pants after Labor Day, or before Labor Day, to be absolutely honest with you. White pants + generous thighs = giant inescapable microscope on the part of me I least want people to look at.)
* There is something wrong with our local Macy’s. First of all, it’s a stand-alone Macy’s, which is odd to me. In my experience, a Macy’s is usually one of the anchor stores in a mall. But that’s not the main problem. The main problem is that the Macy’s employs approximately four people.
I went there twice last weekend. Once, on the way to dinner at a friend’s house. We wanted to pick up a little hostess gift. We got to the Macy’s about 40 minutes before we had to be at dinner. Our friend’s house was 10 minutes away. (This is beginning to sound like a horrible nightmare of a math problem.) We grabbed a cute package of Frango mints after poking around for five minutes and realized we still had tons of time. So I moseyed into the shoe section where I spotted a cute pair of boots I wanted to try on. I stood there for about three minutes without seeing a single shoe salesperson, so we scrapped that idea and headed immediately to the cashier. If you’re keeping track, that means we had 22 whole minutes to buy the mints and leave.
First of all, we wandered around for about 5 minutes before we found a sales counter that actually had a person at it.
(Let me remind you: This was a Saturday evening two weeks after Thanksgiving.)
Then we found a cashier who was helping one person. Apparently, someone was in line behind that person. Her pile of costume jewelry was holding her place. Which was fine with me β I know the holidays make people crazy, and I can be patient when necessary. My husband, on the other hand, sometimes has a hard time. (Which is weird, because he is INCREDIBLY patient with me. But lines or bad traffic get to him really quickly.) Turns out that these two customers each took FOREVER. My husband even scouted out the rest of the store to see if he could find us an alternate sales counter. He could not.
We got out of there 5 minutes late. As in, it took us 22 minutes to make one tiny purchase.
The next day, we went back so I could try on the boots. There were about 40,000 women in the tiny shoe area and just two people to do all the running and ringing up. It took me 15 minutes to wait in line to have the shoe salesman look at the boots I wanted to try on, and then go in the back to get them. He got so confused, poor guy, that he brought back only two of the three pairs I wanted to try on⦠And one of them in the size of the girl behind me in line. (I let her try them on while I tried on the other pair.)
It was a mess.
I wonder if that Macy’s just can’t afford to hire enough holiday employees? Or if a bunch of the employees were in the back eating birthday cake? Or if it’s just a really bad combination of slow and/or new employees and excess numbers of customers.
All I have to say is I have renewed appreciation for Zappos.
* I found a Giant Dead Spider and a Tiny Dead Spider in the guest bathtub. I now get creeped out every time I go into the guest bathroom, because the tub is apparently some sort of Final Resting Ground for arachnids. And that is creepy.
* The other day, my husband bought some chestnuts and roasted them in the oven. They are too mealy for my taste. But it felt very festive just to be near them while they were roasting. I suppose it would have been MORE festive if they’d involved some sort of open fire. More festive and also more fire alarm-y.
* Speaking of not-actually-festive things, our apartment complex put up a lovely “happy holidays” notice in all the hallways and stairwells. When you first spot it, you think, “How nice of the administration to get into the holiday spirit!” Until you read it. And then you find out that it is a strongly-worded note forbidding live Christmas trees. After all, live trees are the primary cause of fires in December. Then it ends with asking us to spy on our neighbors and report them if they buy a real tree.
Listen, I am all for Fire Safety. Really, I am. And I am all for requiring that renters buy fake trees. It’s for the Good of the Many, people! But isn’t there a better and less fear mongering sort of way to do it?
* When my husband started residency, he got three white coats. Long white coats, which differentiate the Real Doctors from the Medical Students.Β That is one white coat per year, if you’re counting.
Here we are, not yet halfway through the second year of residency, and my husband’s second white coat just bit the dust. His pen exploded in the pocket.
In case you don’t know, Giant Blue Ink Stain + White Coat = Noticeable Problem.
Note to self: Do not use Shout Spray on a Giant Ink Stain.
Second Note to Self: Do not dunk the Now Enormously Huge Yet Slightly Diluted Ink Stain in water.
Third Note to Self: Do not try to Oxy out the Now Astronomically Monstrous Ink Stain That Is Still Spreading and Threatening to Eat Your Face and just throw it away while you’re still alive.
The other white coat is serviceable, but is missing all of its buttons.
* Here’s where I admit to you that I do not know how to sew on a button. While I know this makes a small part of my mother (jokingly) think she failed me as a parent, it has really not hindered my progress as a human in the least. One time a button fell off my coat in college. I was able to get one of the guys who lived upstairs from my dorm room to sew it back on for me.
I guess what I’m saying is, if you can’t teach your kids to sew, at least teach them how to persuade an Econ major into sewing for them. That’s got to be a skill of equal value.
* Facebook felt the need to remind me that my wedding anniversary to “[Husband’s Name Here]” is coming up.
It makes me deeply sad to think that this probably HELPS people remember their anniversaries.
* That said, it’s our anniversary!!! We plan to celebrate by going out to a steak dinner. Because nothing says “I will love you for all eternity” like stuffing yourself silly with meat, amIright?
We’ve been together for so long that it kind of surprises me that we’ve only been married two years. Why, we’re still newlyweds!
The newness of “being married” has worn off, for the most part. But every once in a while, I am struck with wonderment that I am bonded to my husband for life.
It’s a pretty crazy thing, that we found each other. Crazy and wonderful.
* * *
What’s up with you today, Internet?
I have to give you a HUMONGOUS thank you for introducing me to Shy Ronnie – I don’t know how I’ve never seen it before – F’ing hysterical!!!
As far as the peep toes with tights – APPARENTLY it is currently acceptable but I believe the rule of thumb is to keep the look as monochromatic as possible. For example – black peep toe shoes should be worn with an opaque pair of black tights so it looks like your leg is, well, one continuous leg.
That’s about it for my knowledge of fashion….I don’t get out much!
Have fun at your party!!!
They make stockings for wearing with peep toe shoes. Google open toe hosiery.
I had NO IDEA such a thing existed! Man, I should have asked you guys about this before because I now have no time to seek out some of this magical hosiery.
Happy Anniversary! I think you can wear tights with peep toe shoes – I would wear similar color if possible. And our Macy’s is terrible too – I avoid it at all costs. It’s not like Macy’s is in certain parts of the country – it’s like a cheap department store and terrible sales associates! Sad.
oh, and I have not been to any of the interviews with him. I met him in Atlanta, but the spouses were not invited to the social until the day of and I had already made plans with a friend. I am going this weekend to Chapel Hill, but I already know several of the residents’ wives because he did an away rotation there. It should be interesting though – it’s just a social, not a dinner, so we shall see!
Happy anniversary to you and your husband!
Also, I don’t know how to sew on a button either, and this makes my favorite coat unwearable π¦ Also also, speaking of white doctor coats, I have a white “boyfriend cardigan” that I cannot wear, because every time I put it on I feel like I’m wearing a lab coat. π¦ π¦
I have a million things i want to respond to! Bullet points:
*As a girl living in NYC, I can categorically say that it is ok to wear tights w/ peep toes. But make sure it’s opaque tights and not stockings.
*I would never tell on my neighbors! What a jerk-y thing to put on the walls during the holiday season. I’m okay w/ a friendly reminder but not a jerk-y one.
*My husband is still a 4th year soooo, we’ve been rocking the same white coat for almost 4 years. We’ve been lucky as far as not having any major mishaps but really, that collar is gross. And, he doesn’t wear it everyday. Next year, I imagine this will be a major issue for us! Don’t we feel like they should wear something like a “Red like the color of dried blood” coat instead of a “white” coat??
*My best law school friend doesn’t know how to sew a button either. We trade favors from time to time and my button sewing skilz (yes, that’s with a z) come in handy in those trades!
*HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Happy Anniversary!!!
You can not wear hose with peep toes. End of story. Those kind people telling you it is acceptable are just being kind.
(I kind of think peep toes are a summer only kind of thing, but I think that my own personal neurosis…)
Hahahahahaha! Thanks for telling it like it is.
So I recently did some research on the peep-toe tights issue myself- supposedly it is perfectly acceptable in the winter as long as you make an effort to tuck/hide the toe seam underneath your foot. I actually like the look. :0) Happy Anniversary!!!
That is why I do not go to physical stores to buy things. Online shopping is there for a reason. π
Also? I think tights are acceptable with peep toes (as long as they are opaque) but since I own all of one dress and no peep toes, don’t trust me on that.
Happy anniversary!
If you can cook a Thanksgiving dinner, you will be able to figure out how to sew on a button. I have faith in you. Or just find someone else to do it. π
Your faith in my skillz is much appreciated and yet so very, very unfounded in reality.
I think some people wear tights with peep toe shoes, so you’ll probably be fine. I wouldn’t do it myself though, but maybe it’s a Minnesota thing since NGS and I agree on this.
It is weird that the guest bathtub is the cool place for spiders to die.
My Macy’s always has tons of employees, so I’m not sure what the deal is with your store. I am like your husband though in that not being able to find an employee and having to wait 22 minutes would drive me crazy!
There was a post about stockings and peep toes the other day. The consensus was that it’s ok. http://blog.jaclynday.com/post/2135634536/holiday-party-outfit-question-is-it-ok-to-wear
and a picture of peep toes with stockings:
http://blog.jaclynday.com/post/2135389070/holiday-cheer
I’m supposed to be going to my work Christmas party on Friday, but I’m home sick again from work today so I don’t know if it’s going to happen. Fingers are crossed though.
Also, button sewing is super easy. I’m sure there’s a youtube how to. Or you can bring it to the dry cleaners. They’ll put them on for you :p
NO. WAY. The DRY CLEANER will sew buttons on?!?! That would be awesome.
YES! A a few years ago I popped out like 4 out of 6 buttons on my winter coat and ran out of spares (I can sew on one or two buttons at a time no prob). I brought the coat to the dry cleaner and they removed the remaining buttons, picked out 6 buttons that were somewhat similar to what I had before, and sewed them all back on for me.
Hey there! First time reader, first time commenter here. π The ladies are right…regular (flesh-toned) hoisery with peep toes are no-nos, but there are special stockings with the toes out for peep toed shoes (I think the ones I have are even made by Leggs…so you don’t have to go to a department store or get too fancy to find them.) BUT! Opaque tights with peep toes are all the rage for winter! They also don’t have to match (you can go colorful or just plain black with non-black shoes). I say get some tights and rock those peep toe shoes!
Also, Happy Anniversary (you blessed woman, you…being married to a resident AND trying to get the stains out of his white coat? I salute you!)
Welcome!
And, alas, it was not I who tried to do anything with the white coat. I merely watched unhelpfully.
Glad to know the stockings are drugstore available. Maybe I’ll venture out to find some!
Regarding the ink stain, try hairspray next time. It’s a trick my mom taught me in middle school, and putting hairspray (any brand) on ink (of any type) has saved many pairs of my husband’s khakis.
Genius!
But that would require me buying some hairspray I suppose…
Haha. My husband kept a tiny bottle of cheap hairspray with his laundry supples beore we got married. We still keep the cheap stuff because I’d rather not waste mine.
Aww, happy anniversary! I love your bullet posts. And I also don’t understand why Macy’s doesn’t have enough employees.
Ok, you had me dying laughing at:
*Rihanna- that skit was beyond hilarious. It seems like her songs are played non stop on every station now.
* Macy’s- there is nothing worse than waiting forever to make a purchase. I think it is ridiculous upper management still have not figured out that they will lose a purchase if they have poor customer service.
*Happy Holidays warning- what a nice way to sprinkle sugar on top of nasty.
One last thing…happy anniversary darling!! Enjoy an old classic. I still love this group. Share with hubby. LOL!
LOVE! Thank you! I haven’t heard that song in years.
” Because nothing says βI will love you for all eternityβ like stuffing yourself silly with meat, amIright?”
So…many…jokes….
Buttons are about the easiest thing in the world to sew. Seriously, try it. You cannot screw it up. Even I can do it and I can’t do anything.
Do we shop at the same Macys? Seriously.
White coat vs. pen stains. Poor guy only has 1 white coat right now that needs to last him another 1.5 years. And it’s already had 2 pen explosions. I’ve tried scrubbing the damn stain for HOURS. Shout/bleach….asdlkfja;sjfals so frustrated!!!
So if you find any remedies I would be enternally grateful!
AND, Happy Anniversary!! I wish you and your hubby all the happiness, love and patience (cause we all know we need it) in the world!
Regarding the peep toes/tights debate, I just saw a super chic girl this morning wearing an awesome pencil skirt, black opaque tights and black high-heeled Mary Jane peep toes and she looked BALLER. Also, I have been to many a winter wedding where stylish ladies bust out sheer black hose and wear them with satin peep toes and I think they look great. Nude hose with peep toes or sandals? Attrosh.
When I was a wee child, the rumor was that hairspray would remove ink from clothing. I tried it; no dice. Then someone told me that hairspray, which now trumpets “NO ALCOHOL!!,” used to have alcohol in it, and that ALCOHOL is what takes out ink.
SO, when my (late) mother-in-law was visiting, and got ink on a shirt, I soaked the stain in rubbing alcohol. The ink melted out, and for 5 minutes she could not complain that I was not a good daughter-in-law.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
I have no idea about the peep toe, shoes business. I am the worst at those kinds of decisions.
Have fun at your Christmas party though… I have zero parties to go to. Kinda depressing!! lol… S has one on Friday that I wish I was joining him at.
My Husband got two white coats for three years. They actually wash the coats at the hospital. Do they do that at yours? Maybe they can get the stains out.
Anyway one day my husband came home and ripped his coat off so fast that two buttons popped off and tore huge holes in the coat. But you can’t see the holes when the coat is buttoned so I roughly sewed them up. And sewing a button is not hard, you can do it!
Happy anniversary yesterday!
Perhaps it’s too late to help, but as the wife of a 3rd year, I too wash those nasty coats. Take a q-tip and dip it in bleach. Dab the area and hit it with a hair dryer on a hot setting. Then wash it and dry it. That should help.
Lucky for me he got 3 to start and one new one each year since then…of course this just means I have 5 nasty white coats in my wash….
I can’t really sew a button either. I’ve tried, but my mom never showed me how. My stepmom made me feel stupid when she showed me.