Issues - Corporette.com https://corporette.com/category/lifestyle/issues/ A work fashion blog offering fashion, lifestyle, and career advice for overachieving chicks Mon, 22 Jan 2024 03:29:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/corporette-favicon-150x150.png Issues - Corporette.com https://corporette.com/category/lifestyle/issues/ 32 32 The Hunt: Sleek but Walkable Boots for Work https://corporette.com/sleek-but-walkable-boots-for-work/ https://corporette.com/sleek-but-walkable-boots-for-work/#comments Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:07:26 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=162603

Boot trends are all over the map right now, so we went on a hunt for a sleek but walkable boot with a classic style...

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collage of 3 sleek but walkable boots for 2024

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Boot trends are all over the map right now, so we went on a hunt for a sleek but walkable boot that has a classic style — something that will hopefully last you for more than a year or two!

Readers, which are your favorite styles of boots to wear right now? If you’ve recently bought any sleek but walkable boots, do tell… In general, what are your favorite commuting shoes for work?

{related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}

Our Latest Favorite Sleek but Walkable Boots for Work

Our favorite sleek but walkable boots for 2024 include the following… also check out comfort brands like Naot, Paul Green, and Dansko.

What Type of Boots Should You Wear to the Office in 2024?

Are Lug-Sole Boots Appropriate for the Office?

This is an open question, as trends are changing so quickly. Lug boots are very popular right now, but not necessarily appropriate for all offices because they tend to have a chunky, casual style.

(I would put other lug-soled shoes, such as loafers, in a different category because they have a more academic look, whereas lug-soled boots can sometimes look a bit moto/combat-boot inspired.)

If you ARE on the hunt for lug-sole boots for the office, we’re fans of these ones from Blondo, Sam Edelman, Marc Fisher LTD, and Vionic; on the pricier side we’d go for the Prada ones Gwyneth Paltrow wore to her trial. Know your office, though!

Are Knee-High Boots Trendy For Office Looks?

I think knee-high boots are coming back in style because there are a ton out there right now — you often see them styled with midi skirts (and not with skinny pants). The most current styles have a slightly Western heel and a wider, looser shaft, but the classic styles (tighter shaft, stacked or skinny heel) are all still around as well.

If your budget is tight, note that you can definitely wear knee-high boots underneath dress pants — with all the wide-leg pants to wear to work that are out there right now it shouldn’t be a problem to get them to fit. It’s just a question of whether it’s as comfortable as a boot with a shorter shaft.

(Psst: We just shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants.)

As of 2024, knee-high boots with a heel may be making a comeback — some of the best-looking options include these from J.Crew, Everlane, Veronica Beard and Stuart Weitzman. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to try the style, check out these boots at Loft, or these boots at Amazon, both under $100.

(If you want knee-high boots for your commute, some of our old favorites from Sam Edelman, La Canadienne, and Sofft are still around.)

Are Chelsea Boots Trendy for Work Outfits?

While I was hunting, I mostly wanted boots with a higher shaft, instead of a Chelsea boot, because I feel like they look a little dated — particularly the ones with a V cutout on the sides of the boot. Still, if you love this boot style, it is definitely still out there! Some longstanding favorites out there if you prefer a shorter boot. For example, these Marc Fisher LTD boots have been reader favorites for years, and these Tory Burch Chelsea boots look great. If you’d prefer a weatherproof shoe for work, these Chelsea boots from Blondo look nice, and Naturalizer has a lot of nice options.

Are Kitten-Heeled Boots A Trend Right Now?

Kitten-heeled boots can can look really nice with flared, straight, and wide-leg pant styles. They’re not yet at the mass market trend stage, but you can find a lot of expensive shoe brands and trendy shoe brands with kitten-heeled options.

Our latest favorite affordable kitten-heeled boots in 2024 include those from Madewell, J.Crew, and Dolce Vita; for more expensive brands check The Row and Totême. (These AGL ones are a bit high, but might also fit if you’re on the hunt.)

Are Sock Boots Still Trendy for Work Outfits?

There are still a TON of sock boots out there right now — but due to the lack of support, in my experience they’re often not the best for lots of walking.

Still, if you really want a sock boot, check out Everlane’s Glove bootNordstrom also has a bunch, including these highly rated Eileen Fisher sock booties.

Sleek But Walkable Boots for Work in 2024: Our Picks

With all that said, I think these mid-shaft booties are a good mix between classic and trendy. There are lots of higher-heeled styles out there, but if you’re hunting for low, walkable boots that are a bit sleek, we’ve got you!

Our favorites of 2024 include the following…

Madewell

Darcy Boot from Madewell - sleek but walkable

Madewell’s Darcy Boots are among the most affordable in today’s roundup. They’re $198 full price, but there’s a sale on top of a sale today. I like the almond toe and the stacked heel (2.25″ high), along with the MWL Cloudlift Lite padding. Nice! (You can get them at Nordstrom, as well as Madewell.com.)

Another affordable option (although I’m not in love with the stitching) are these boots from Nordstrom’s house brand, marked to $79.

Ecco

Classic 35 Bootie from Ecco - sleek but walkable

If you’re hunting for a boot from a “comfort shoe brand,” these ones from Ecco look nice and boast “cushy, anatomical construction.” They’re $199 full price (but some colors are marked down), and you can find them at Nordstrom or Amazon.

Want more sleek but walkable boots from comfort brands? Check out Naot, Paul Green, and Dansko.

Sam Edelman

Bronson Boot from Sam Edelman - sleek but walkable

Can one DO a roundup of shoes for work and not mention Sam Edelman? The brand is affordable, has serious cushioning, and some of their shoes (such as this classic pump or this loafer) have been reader favorites for years.

These Bronson boots look great, and they’re selling fast — some colors are down to lucky sizes. You can find them at Nordstrom and Zappos.

J.Crew

Piper Boots from J.Crew - sleek but walkable

I really like J.Crew’s kitten-heeled boots, but these Western-inspired Piper Boots look a bit better for walking around. They’re available in suede as well as leather, and are a pull-on style. They’re $278 full price, but with select colors on sale.

Everlane

City Boot from Everlane - sleek but walkable

These City Boots are bestsellers at Everlane, and I like the “architectural style, featuring a modern square toe” — I like their minimal vibe. They’re $275 in sizes 5-11.

Aquatalia

sleek but walkable boot for 2024 from aquatalia

Aquatalia always makes great waterproof boots — if you want the classic boot that’s a good investment, these pictured boots look great. I like the squared toe and block frame, as well as the full-length side zip. The boot is available in black and navy, as well as taupe for sizes 5-11.

Another nice option from Aquatalia: their bestselling boot, the Ulyssa.

Other Great Boots For Your Commute

Weatherproof Boots

Hunting for weatherproof shoes for work? As of 2024, these are some of our favorites — also check out waterproof sneakers like Allbirds.

Knee-High Leather Weatherproof Boots

As of 2024, these are some of our latest favorite weatherproof knee-high boots for work…

Other Great Commuting Shoes for Work: Work Sneakers

2024 Update: Some of our latest favorite sneakers for work outfits include the following — see the full post for all the details!

white sneaker with beige lining around the sole

The Overall Best Work Sneakers

Cole Haan Grand Pro Topspin

white work sneaker with beige details and sturdy construction

The Best Fancy Work Sneakers (Mid-Range)

Tory Burch Ladybug

slip-on white sneaker to wear with work outfits

The Best Comfort Sneakers for the Office

Vionic Zinah

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

Stock photo via Pexels/MART PRODUCTION.

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What Personal Finance Tasks to Do ASAP at the Beginning of the Year https://corporette.com/personal-finance-tasks-to-do-in-a-new-year/ https://corporette.com/personal-finance-tasks-to-do-in-a-new-year/#comments Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=142055

Curious if you should readjust your retirement contributions? We're rounding up some financial tasks to consider in the new year.

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A clear jar labeled "retirement," surrounded by coins

At the beginning of each year, we like to remind readers of several important financial housekeeping tasks — plus new tax rules, and current forecasts for rates and more. Even if your New Year’s resolutions have nothing to do with personal finance, these are key things to consider in January and beyond.

Here are a few special notes for 2024 to help you plan:

1. Student loan forgiveness: In 2023, President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness was ruled too far-reaching by the Supreme Court. While the original plan would have affected 90% of federal student loan borrowers, CNBC reported on Jan. 2 that the new forgiveness plan will only reach a small percentage of them, between 4 million and 10 million. If all goes well, relief would likely to go into affect on July 1, 2025, but the administration may be able to move things more quickly.

For those who need them, CNN rounded up the best private student loans for 2024, based on interest rates, repayment terms, and more, with a top pick of Discover Bank. In 2023, CBS News reviewed the pros and cons of private loans.

2. Mortgage rates: Expect mortgage rates to decrease in 2024 — but not right away. As NerdWallet noted on Jan. 2, the general expectation is that the Fed will cut short-term interest rates in the spring, after several months of (predicted) considerably slowed inflation. At the end of 2023, Money.com reported that experts expect rates to be 6.8% on average for 2024 and 6.5% by the end of the year.

3. The housing market: Money.com also shared that “Realtor.com expects the typical monthly purchase cost for the median priced home listing to drop slightly from this year’s $2,240 to $2,200, amounting to about 35% of the average U.S. household income. Demand will probably remain low, and inventory will still be limited as would-be sellers hold back.” (Meanwhile, rental prices probably won’t change much.)

4. CD rates: On Jan. 2, Bankrate forecast that 2024 will be a good one for CD investors. Even if the Fed cuts the key benchmark rate (expected to be 4.6% by the end of 2024, as PBS NewsHour reported at the end of last year), high yields are likely. That said, the NYT [gift link] said on Dec. 29 that these may be the best CD rates we’ll see for a while… so there’s that.

5. Series I savings bonds: The current rate is 5.27%, including a fixed rate of 1.30%, for I bonds issued November 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. In case you’re not familiar, these bonds earn interest monthly, and interest is compounded semiannually; you’ll earn both a fixed rate of interest and a rate that changes with inflation.

You can redeem your I bond after 12 months (or keep it in there as it earns interest for up to 30 years). If you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, however, you lose the last 3 months of interest.

6. Miscellaneous: This CNBC story includes details on new rules that cover workplace emergency accounts called pension-linked emergency savings accounts (PLESAs), emergency withdrawals from 401(k)s without a 10% tax penalty (with a special rule for victims of domestic abuse), and more.

Personal Finance Tasks to Do ASAP in a New Year

1. Review 401(k) Limits: The 2024 limit on 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans, as well as the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan, is $23,000 — up from $22,500 in 2023. For people aged 50 and over, the catch-up contribution limit stays at $7,500.

If you’re making regular contributions from your paycheck, make sure you’ve adjusted your chosen amount accordingly if you want to max out your 401(k). It’s best to do this at the beginning of the year so you only have to do it once — if you do it in the middle of the year, you’re either not maxing it out or you’ll have to change your contribution again next January.

{related: where to save (when you don’t know what you’re saving for)}

2. Review IRA Limits: The IRS limit on annual contributions to an IRA increased to $7,000 from $6,500. For people aged 50 and over, the catch-up contribution limit of $1,000 from 2023 will remain the same this year.

{related: not sure what to do first/next in your personal finance journey? here’s our money roadmap}

3. Reassess your debt: If your mortgage or (private) student loan payments changed recently, figure out how you can round the required amount UP to an even number, and make the change accordingly (paying the extra toward principal). Do what you can — every little bit helps with principal (this calculator from Bankrate helps you see how much), and knowing that a memorable round number is coming out of your bank account helps you to know if your balance is sufficient.

{related: how to decide when to pay down debt — and when to save}

For example, if your mortgage payment is now $3,218, you could pay

  • an extra $282 toward principal each month (total = $3,500 each month)
  • an extra $82 toward principal each month (total = $3,300 each month)
  • an extra $782 toward principal each month (total = $4,000 each month)
  • or an extra $32 toward principal each month (total = $3,250 each month)

4. If you have a 529 plan, reassess your automatic contributions. Each state occasionally changes the amount you can give to get a state income tax deduction; if you want to max it out, then assess.

A new perk for families: You can now roll unused 529 funds into a Roth IRA for your child without tax penalty. CNN has all the fine print; for example, 529 plan contributions and earnings from the last five years can’t be transferred to a Roth.

{related: the 411 on using 529s to go back to school}

5. Reassess your subscriptions and other repeating payments to make sure you’re not paying money for services you’re not using — and review any new prices. The New York Times [gift link] recently listed what you’ll pay for the major streaming services in 2024, including the price hikes from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. *grumble*

6. Automate what you can: Consider setting up automatic investing, or automatic saving to amortize big expenses. Kat has a small amount of money automatically moved from checking to her online savings accounts to help her save for multiple financial goals, like her emergency fund, vacation fund and predictable large bills (term insurance, accounting advice, etc.).

What personal finance tasks would YOU do ASAP in a new year, readers? What have you done already this year; what has this list inspired you to do?

{related: what was the best financial decision you made last year? (2018 discussion)}

Stock photo via 123rf.com/serezniy.

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Personal Money Snapshot: Corporette Edition https://corporette.com/personal-money-snapshot/ https://corporette.com/personal-money-snapshot/#comments Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:48:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=90704

Ever wanted to submit your money snapshot but haven't yet? We'd love it if you'd share your details!

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graphic with dollar bills in background; text reads Corporette - The Money Snapshot -

I know everyone (including me) loves to read those money diaries on sites like Refinery29, and I’ve been meaning to create a “personal money snapshot” series to feature readers who are willing to share a summary of their financial situation. We now have a Google form (similar to the form we have for the CorporetteMoms Week in the Life of a Working Mom posts), and I would love to a) open it up for participants, b) get your feedback (too long?), and c) note that everything is possible for change. (The nice thing about Google forms is that we can edit questions, which is not always the case with surveys and things.)

Click here if you’d like to see the form and/or submit responses! You can also see a PDF of the questions if you want to review them ahead of time. See others in the Personal Money Snapshot series here.

Notes on the Personal Money Snapshot Form:

1. The reason we ask for your email address: It would be much, much better if we could have your email address so that Kate or I could ask follow-up questions for clarity — sometimes not everything is obvious from an outside perspective. THAT SAID, there are a lot of personal questions on the form, so I understand if you don’t want to share your address. I can’t quite figure out how to make that question optional, though, so just put something obviously fake and we’ll deal. (If you DO trust us with your email address, thank you very much! We will keep your info safe pursuant to the Corporette Privacy Policy — and I promise to never ever hit you up for a loan if you’re loaded.)

2. The general nature of the questions (and why it looks longer than it is): I’ve been observing reader comments and discussions on money for a long time, and I think the usual “what I spend in a week” summary isn’t necessarily illuminating or educational. That’s why the questions on the form are pretty wide-ranging — and it may seem long when you first look at it, but that’s because I’m not expecting EVERYONE to have something to say in EVERY category. (I’m assuming readers will have a lot to say in one or two of the sections and less in others.)

I also believe that people have “quadrants of knowledge” when it comes to personal finance. Maybe you know everything about country club fees, which markets are awesome for second homes, and which ostrich bag is REALLY worth the $10,000. That’s awesome, and we want to hear from you! We also want to hear from people who are in six figures of debt, flirting with bankruptcy, and/or living paycheck to paycheck (yes, even if you have a high income and are living paycheck to paycheck). We also want to hear from the FIRE people who are putting away $100K of their $120K income, and people who had their lives wildly shifted (for good or bad) by something like inheritance (hopefully good) or crazy medical bills (probably bad). 

3. Big Picture questions: There are a few questions I want everyone to answer because I think they generally inform the reading of responses. One question asks specifically what your net worth was when you started working since I think there’s a huge difference in what your personal finance journey looks like if your net worth at 25 or whatever is -$260,000 (in debt) vs. $5,000 vs. $150,000. Another question asks, “Is there anything else we should know about you from a “Big Picture” perspective up front, for context, as it relates to your net worth, expenses, or debt?” I included that to delve into situations that we wouldn’t know to ask about but certainly affect your money situation, e.g., “had to be life-flighted to the hospital and had $100K in medical bills,” or “private schools are not optional for my family because I don’t believe my kids will get a fair shake in public school” or “all of our home-related finances are super high because my in-laws live with us and we pay for everything.” 

Like I said, it’s pretty wide ranging and hopefully not TOO… asky. If there are specific questions that are offensive to people or otherwise problematic, I’d love to know which ones in particular. If people think there need to be specific questions added to any part of it, we’d love to hear those too.

Here’s a quick question for discussion today, though: what are your favorite resources to learn about money? What’s your favorite podcast, book, blog, or other resource?

Psst: here’s our last discussion on the best personal finance books for beginners, as well as my “money roadmap,” or what my own personal finance journey has looked like. 

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What Is Your Holiday Spending for Gifts and Tips? https://corporette.com/holiday-spending-gifts-tips/ https://corporette.com/holiday-spending-gifts-tips/#comments Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:46:03 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=161756

What does your holiday spending for gifts and tips look like this year, readers? Are there special food items you only buy for the holidays (or special wine or liquor)? (And how are you keeping track of it all?)

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a collection of wrapped gifts in different wrapping paper and with different bows; the topmost gift has some cranberries near the bow

What does your holiday spending for gifts and tips look like this year, readers? Are there special food items you only buy for the holidays (or special wine or liquor)? (And how are you keeping track of it all?) Let’s discuss…

Psst… here are all of our tips on holiday business etiquette!

For my $.02…

My 2023 Holiday Spending for Gifts and Tips

For gifts, I don’t know why but I roughly have a “$150 minimum” in my mind for parents, siblings, and in-laws. I can go above that if I want to, but in my mind I’m done if I’m somewhere in the $150 range. For the kids it can be tricky, both because we spend willy nilly on them throughout the year, plus both sets of grandparents are extraordinarily generous… so I may be the only mother on the planet who isn’t overly concerned with buying gifts for the kids.

(And when I do give them presents, they tend to be kind of abstract — for example, my 12-year-old is getting a budget to redecorate his room as his big present…)

Holiday Spending on Tips

For tips, life is a lot less complicated than it was years ago with a law firm secretary and so forth. I get the major teachers gift cards, and our cleaning professional’s gift will be the same amount as one of her regular visits… and a few other people will get a family holiday card with a small gift card inside.

(Here was our last big discussion on holiday tips…)

Special Holiday Food

We don’t have a huge outlay on food or drink because, well, my parents are still doing a lot of it, but my mother will often buy filet mignon and lobster for Christmas Eve and a ham for Christmas Day, and they usually have the liquor cabinet well stocked for their guests.

How I Keep Track of Holiday Spending

In terms of how to keep TRACK of it all… well, I’m still perfecting my system. I tend to buy for people starting in October, if not earlier, so keeping track of what I’ve bought for whom (and where I am in my random $150 scale) can be tricky for me.

This year I started a Word doc that lists each major family member and then (for each member):

General present ideas:

2023 Xmas Gifts:

2023 Stocking Stuffers:

2023 Birthday:

So, hopefully I can keep track of what I’ve got on tap for this holiday season, as well as keep a running list of what I’ve gotten them in previous years, both to generate new ideas and make sure I don’t buy things I’ve already given them.

(We’ll see, of course… I actually started the Word doc in 2021 and then totally forgot about it…)

Readers, how about you — what does your holiday spending for gifts and tips look like this year?

Stock photo via Stencil.

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The Best Women’s Pajamas to Give as Holiday Gifts https://corporette.com/the-best-womens-pajamas-to-give-as-holiday-gifts/ https://corporette.com/the-best-womens-pajamas-to-give-as-holiday-gifts/#comments Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=161394

Looking to gift some pajamas this holiday season? Look no further!

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A woman wearing a pink camisole, sitting on a bed in front of a window

Pajamas make the perfect holiday gift for so many reasons. First off, it’s wintertime, so people are drawn to soft, cozy things. Pajamas are typically a “safe” gift for those who are hard to buy for, and a lot of people don’t frequently buy pajamas for themselves, so high-quality PJs can be a little treat. Plus, pajamas are available in a wide price range as well as both basic solid colors and fun or classic prints!

So, have we sold you on pajamas as gifts yet?! (A lot of those factors apply to throw blankets as well, btw.)

We haven’t rounded up women’s pajamas in a couple of years, so we’re due for an update! These are some of the best brands and styles for friends, relatives, and the other important women in your life.

What are your favorite PJs to wear and to give as gifts, holiday or otherwise?

The Best Women’s Pajamas to Give as Holiday Gifts

Soma

A woman wearing a maroon pajama set with a white star print on the pants

We’ve mentioned Soma’s Cool Nights line several times over the years, and it’s still going strong. These pajamas are great for women dealing with hot flashes, or anyone who sleeps hot.

You can choose from among shirt & pant sets (like the one pictured), pajama separates, sleepshirts, nightgowns, and more. The soft, easy-care fabric is designed to be cool to the touch and to not stick to your skin. *shudder*

In addition to Cool Nights, the company sells all sorts of pajama styles in waffle knits, satin, and so on. Here are their holiday styles.

The pictured set, a bestseller, is on sale for $29–$39 in six solid/print combos in sizes XS–XXL (some colorways are lucky sizes only). The pants have an elastic waist and POCKETS, and the set is machine washable, tumble dry.

Ordering deadline for Christmas: A customer service rep told us on 12/13, “Currently, there are no such dates on Soma” — so double-check the arrival date when you order. (Find stores here.)

Lake Pajamas

A woman wearing a light-blue striped pajama set

Lake Pajamas calls itself “a sleepwear phenomenon” and in addition to women’s pajamas (including maternity!), they carry men’s, kids’, baby, and “mom & mini” styles, and even have a bridal shop for the bride, groom, and bridesmaids.

Lake’s size range for women’s pajamas is XXS–XXL, and the fabrics available are pima cotton, “DreamKnit” (a silky 95% modal, 5% spandex), flannel, and poplin.

The pictured PJs are one of the brand’s bestsellers, the DreamKnit kimino pajama set, $138. The top has a belt and interior tie, and the pants are wide-leg with an elastic waist. This set is available in five colorways — five striped and one solid — and is machine wash, dry flat.

Besides this pajama set style, Lake offers other PJ pant sets as well as short sets, separates, and nightgowns. Check out their holiday shop and gift guide.

Ordering deadline for Christmas: Order by 12/18, 12/19, or 12/20, to have gifts arrive on 12/22 — with standard, 2-day, and overnight shipping, respectively. The brand’s pretty gift boxes are $10 each.

Printfresh

A woman wearing a tiger-print nightgown

If you’re looking to gift sustainable styles this holiday season, Printfresh could be for you. The brand’s striking prints, which are “inspired by plants, animals, and home décor,” start out as paintings and are then hand-screen-printed or embroidered on 100% organic cotton in India (sustainable details here).

Printfresh’s pajama, loungewear, and other clothing styles are available in organic cotton and viscose in an inclusive size range that includes plus (up to 6X) and petites, as well as kids’ and matching family sets. The brand makes other clothing too, such as T-shirts and dresses, as well as accessories and home items.

Check out Printfresh’s holiday shop, gift picks, and gift bundles! (By the way, an exclusive collection of pajamas and wallpaper is available at Anthropologie.)

The pictured bestselling pintuck nightgown (in the “Bagheera” print) is made from organic cotton poplin and has POCKETS. It’s available in XXS–6X for $138 and is machine wash, tumble dry.

Ordering deadline to arrive for Christmas: Order by 12/15 for delivery by 12/24 with standard shipping.

Moonlight

A woman wearing red-and-white striped pajamas

Moonlight, a Nordstrom house brand of pajamas, currently offers a few dozen women’s pajama styles in regular and plus sizes up to 4X. Their pant sets, short sets, nightshirts, and nightgowns are made from a machine-washable Tencel modal / spandex blend — and some are now on sale!

The pictured pajama set includes a button-front top with some classic contrast piping and drawstring-waist pants, and like all of the Moonlight line, it’s machine wash, tumble dry. This style is available in regular and plus sizes in the pictured Barbados stripe as well as leopard print, a geometric print (which honestly kind of hurts to look at), and three very different florals.

This set is $75 full price, but the leopard and the green floral are on sale for $37.50.

Note: Some of the Moonlight line’s pieces are labeled “Moonlight Eco.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a description online of how they’re different. Both are made mostly from Tencel modal, which is sustainably produced, and while some Moonlight Eco pieces are classified as “Sustainable Style,” some aren’t. What seems to (maybe) be the case is that Moonlight styles contain at least 30% sustainably sourced materials, while Moonlight Eco ones have at least 50%. (We contacted Nordstrom customer service, but they were unable to provide more info.)

Ordering deadline to arrive for Christmas: Order by 8 a.m. ET on 12/18 with free standard shipping, or by noon on 12/19 with 2-day shipping, for gifts to arrive by 12/25.

Readers, do tell! What are your favorite PJs, both styles and brands? Have you tried any of the brands above?

Image via Pexels

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What Are the Best Food-Related Gifts? https://corporette.com/best-food-related-gifts/ https://corporette.com/best-food-related-gifts/#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:18:56 +0000 https://corporette.com/?p=160762

What do you think are the best food-related gifts, whether a subscription, a delivery via Goldbelly, or a meal delivery service like Blue Apron?

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fruitcake in a silver tin sits on white pedestal
Fruitcake from The Nuns of New Skete (via Goldbelly)

What do you think are the best food-related gifts, whether a subscription, a delivery from Goldbelly, or a meal delivery service like Blue Apron? What gifts have you received and loved, and which food-related gifts have you given? Let’s discuss…

I think there are three main things to talk about here: 1) food-related subscriptions that you gift (or receive), 2) holiday-related food gifts like Harry & David, and then 3) food gifts in general, whether through a delivery service like Goldbelly, a gift card for a service like Blue Apron, or even just a homemade treat for someone…

Readers, what are your thoughts?

The Best Food-Related Gifts

The Best Food Subscriptions

As I mentioned when we talked about the best of-the-month-club subscriptions a few years ago, we’ve both given and received a lot of food-related subscriptions over the years… Without a doubt, the big hit among my in-laws was the Rancho Gordo Bean Club subscription. (Huge hat tip to the readers here!) That, of course, is because it really suits their personalities and their lifestyle…

We’ve had a lot of hit-or-miss success with fruit of the month, beer of the month, nut of the month type things… The wide variety that’s sent each month isn’t always the recipient’s favorite, which means they’re then kind of stuck with it. We also got salsa of the month for a while, which was tasty, but we just don’t eat salsa that often, so the jars would pile up.

Two that we’ve bought for ourselves that I would recommend for possible gifts include Universal Yums and Shaker & Spoon.

Universal Yums is a monthly collection of junk food from a particular country, so you learn a bit about the country and get to taste some of the more unusual treats. We did it during the pandemic and enjoyed it, but the boxes piled up because we were trying to all be present to try the treats and share opinions.

Shaker & Spoon is another one we did during the pandemic — it’s a really pricey subscription, so best for a very good friend! They send you the non-alcoholic ingredients to make 3-4 unique little cocktails each month. You have to buy the liquor yourself (although they always have fun suggestions!), but most cocktails were delicious and unusual. Some, though, weren’t to our taste — for example, they kept sending drinks involving coffee, which I’ll only drink during the day, and we just don’t do a lot of day drinking.

(I had my eye on the Murray’s Cheese Club subscription for my MIL, but then she went mostly vegan… so, no cheese subscription for her.

The Best Holiday-Related Food Gifts

We’ve given and received a lot of these with some far-flung family members… I have yet to find one I really like. I feel like Harry & David can be annoying if you don’t like the kind of fruit sent (I’m not a big fan of pears or oranges), and the little chocolate collections or sausage things just seem a bit like extra calories during an already calorie-filled season.

We’ve received some unusual versions of this, like the year someone sent us 14 candy-coated apples, all decorated in festive frosting. Taste-wise, they weren’t as big of a hit, but they were absolutely gorgeous to look at. They were individually wrapped, so we wound up giving a lot of them away to the kids’ teachers.

Other Food-Related Gifts

There may be four subcategories here: Goldbelly deliveries, foods you make yourself like mason jars of hot chocolate or homemade granola, gift cards to restaurants, and gift cards to services like Blue Apron or HomeChef.

Goldbelly and Other Food Deliveries as Gifts

In terms of Goldbelly deliveries — I’d also include Zingerman’s here, maybe — we’ve had a lot of tasty donuts and cakes from specialty bakeries across the country. It always feels like the price is crazy, but they’re always enjoyed and special. (I would distinguish this from a Harry & David kind of gift because you can’t choose a generic sampling of fruit and nuts…)

(My mom is a big fan of fruitcake, so the picture at the top is one of the Goldbelly offerings we’ve tried and really liked — Brandied Fruitcake, by The Nuns of New Skete for $55.95.)

Homemade Food-Related Gifts

I don’t make any food-related gifts myself, but I feel like the readers have shared some great ideas recently… You can also find great ideas from Real Simple, Taste of Home, and a bunch of other spots. Maybe this is me, but I feel like the key to this gift is that the recipient gets to choose when to enjoy it — in other words. it’s largely shelf-stable and can be used or made after the holidays.

Gift Cards to Restaurants

We have started giving these to some friends and family, trying to support independent, local businesses … but it can be tricky if you don’t know the restaurant yourself, or if the restaurant closes before the recipient can use the gift. (If the restaurant itself doesn’t sell gift cards, you may be able to find them through Open Table or Restaurant.com.)

Because I have family there, I know that in Cleveland you can buy a coupon book for independent restaurants — but I can’t find any other cities that do this. (Readers, if you do, shout ’em out in the comments!)

Obviously it’s really easy to find gift cards to big chains, and you can often find them for a slightly discounted price at stores like Costco…

Gift Cards for Meal Delivery Services

As far as gift cards to meal delivery services like Blue Apron or HomeChef, we’ve had mixed success. In general these can be tricky gifts to give because you’re basically signing someone up to cook dinner, but if you know your audience this can be great. The best one everyone loved was Purple Carrot, which had some delicious, inventive vegan meals (including some recipes I’m still making).

Readers, what are your thoughts — what are your favorite food-related gifts to give?

Stock photo via Stencil.

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