One Quick Rave & One Rant
I had intended to put together an outfit post for today. But yesterday my Pilates session was “extra” 💪and I was just too wiped out to pose and shoot photos. 😆
Found: Flattering Utility Pants
If you’ve been looking for a pair of lightweight casual pants that aren’t denim, allow me to recommend these. I was very impressed when I tried them on. They’re slim not snug, flattering and comfortable. This Camel color is warm; the other colors seem to be cool-ish. These could be great inclusion in a travel wardrobe.
Available in Regular, Tall and Petite lengths. Regular and Tall sizes from 0-20, Petite from 0-18. In the Petite, they seem to run TTS.
Elsewhere, J.Crew is having a Leap Year promotion, 29% off a whole bunch of items (including new arrivals) with code FEB29
Wash Your Hands, People…
Yesterday morning I was listening to a story on NPR about how there’s been a run on face masks due to the coronavirus. The thing is, most face masks won’t protect you from most viruses. And some officials worry that there will be mask shortages where they’re needed most, for hospitals and health-care workers.
So skip the face mask (unless you’re experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection, in which case wearing a mask can help protect others). But washing your hands is probably the most effective step you can take to reduce your chances of getting sick. I’ve been trying to cultivate the habit of washing my hands every time I come home from being out in the world. Soap up and sing “row row row your boat” or “Happy Birthday” twice through while you scrub, before rinsing.
I always have to apply hand lotion after washing, and have been going through it like crazy. 😆
Bon weekend!
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Excellent advice! Wash your hands and don’t touch your face!
I love those pants! And, the sage and camel are my colors. Now to try them on and see how they fit. Thanks for this, Susan.
Nice pants and nice color but here is my rant. I can guarantee that quite a number of us won’t look like the model. Her legs are 10 feet long and her hips are probably a 00. These pants are quite tight and will show lumps and bumps unless you size up at least one size. I have a nice hourglass fairly flat tummy size 10-12 figure now. I’ve tried these on. I wish they would show clothes based on some sense of reality.
Good reminder Susan….wash your hands…Seek medical attention at the first sign of illness.
Some of us have a figure like the model. That is my reality.
Hi Jan, I’m 5’1″ and have muscular legs and think they work well for me. I agree that not every style suits every woman, and agree that it would be nice to see models of different sizes, shapes and ages.
Not all people can afford medical attention; certainly not in the US.
There are some websites that do show different sized models wearing the same clothing. Everlane comes to mind. Also, when you look at jeans on the Madewell site, you can choose what size you want to see a model wearing. I always read the description carefully and also read the reviews. Sometimes you can filter the reviews based on size, height or weight.
My husband went through cancer recently and the hand washing instructions were very important. Wash also after you unload the groceries-think how many people touched those items-after you load the washing machine and clean your steering wheel in the car and use hand sanitizer when you get in the car. I quit shopping at Chico’s, not because I dislike their clothes, they changed the pants cuts and sizes and I do not have the time for a marathon try on session to find pants that fit right now.
Yes to the pants and hand wash advice, heard the same story on npr. I too wash my hands as soon as I come home, so far feeling well all season. I’ve cancelled plans though with friends who’ve been sick. Stay well everyone!
Chances are that the virus carrier is contagious before symptoms appear, so canceling plans with sick friends won’t completely protect you.
Yes to washing hands, especially when you arrive home after an outing. Also, when I get library books, I clean the book covers with an antibacterial wipe as soon as I get them inside my house.
Yes to washing hands and not touching face and I would also add: no more greeting with kisses on the mouth! Yes, some of my friends still try to do that. They’re vaguely offended when I turn my face but jeez. And cough and sneeze into your shoulder/arm area or tissue. And then wash your hands! ok my rant is over.
I’ve also been wiping down my purse and I’m careful where I set it – no longer on counters of any kind, including my desk. I wipe down the bottom and probably should wipe the handles, as well. It goes without saying to wipe down my purse and laptop keyboard.
A well fitting NP5 fsce mask can help prevent the transmission of Covid, along with thorough hand washing. Cheap paper masks, mostly ineffective. The best way of preventing illness from spreading – stay home if you are sick.
I have the ankle version of those pants in black and I love them! I did size up – my waist is my limiting factor – and I think they are quite flattering to my not so perfect figure.
The kind of respirator masks that hospital personnel use are not available at your local CVS, and they have to be individually fit tested yearly to be useful. Even ordinary, surgical masks have been unavailable for a month or more, online and in-store in my part of Los Angeles–trust me, I have looked and looked. We have some paper masks which my husband wore when he was going through chemo-radiation earlier this year. I’m saving those for him. Accompanied by surface cleaning and diligent hand washing, if worn religiously while caring for a sick person, disposable paper masks will provide you some protection. Yes, everyone should stay home if they are sick, but so many Americans get no sick time from their employers, especially in the lowest paid jobs, that unless the government gets tough, they’ll show up regardless if their symptoms are mild, thinking they only have a cold. They can’t afford to miss work days. Even Americans who have sick time usually don’t make use of it.
We’re debating whether or not to use our opera tickets this weekend. The Dorothy Chandler is stuffy, regardless of the weather outside. Except, we’ve already missed so many this season…
The slacks look very attractive and Chico’s carries size 20 Tall–oh happy day!
Is that the Queen Elizabeth opera? Sounds fascinating.
That’s an excellent point about people working while sick because they can’t afford not to. (As someone who worked at jobs without paid sick time in my 20’s and early 30’s, I get it.) And people without insurance or with crappy insurance will avoid getting medical attention until they’re severely ill, which is why we ALL should want everyone to have affordable health care! /soapbox
Brava! So happy to hear that from a person more prosperous than eternal freelancer me.
If the government gets tough, those poor workers will also be malnourished, which only contributes to contagion.
I make sure I wiggle my rings out of position and soap/rinse underneath them.
Cargo pants are all over this Spring. I prefer them a bit droopy in the crotch with wider legs and slightly cropped, like the old Army pants from the surplus store of my youth. In the Spring shopping I’ve done so far, mostly from my laptop, I have seen them all over. I would bet there will be a cut for every body. As someone with tennis player thighs I’m looking for the pocket top-stitching to be low contrast so I don’t put horizontal lines across my power center 🙂
Better to remove them. Ideally with a little ceramic etc dish to protect them I also have “surgical” scrub brushes from a company here called Lee Valley, for gardeners, craftsperson, cooks. A friend bought me a set; I’m due to renew it
Yes, to the removal of rings. As a retired nurse (hospital trained under the old martinet Matron system), we were not allowed to wear any jewellery, including rings, wrist watches when at work as they were barriers to ineffective hand washing. Nowadays, it is acrylic nails, which often harbour staph and other bacteria under them. Beware of the doctor or nurse who is laden in jewellery and fake nails and long hair flopping all over the place.
Remember how we couldn’t even wear nail polish and hair had to be UP off your neck? The only wedding band you could wear was solid with no filigree. I miss those days where you could always tell a nurse by the all white she wore, although some here may disagree.
I also miss the days when a nurse wore white. Not a dress, but pants and top. White let you know who the nurses were. When I was in the hospital with knee replacement, by the time I could tell who was a nurse and who was a tech, luckily, it was time to go home. I would also have appreciated larger print and picture on their badges, and badges worn with picture and name showing.
Susan,
Great advice and right now we can’t hear it enough.
My question is not as serious. What is your favorite hand cream? Like a lot of us I’m washing my hands much more. That and living in Chicago leads to so much dryness.
Thanks!
I use everything from Jergens to Aesop. I think I have one in every room of the house!
I also really like Eucerin. There are many formulations from heavy to light, and many are fragrance-free,
Agree, hand washing is key.
I thought this article was helpful
https://kottke.org/20/02/map-of-areas-most-often-missing-during-handwashing
Have a great “once every four years” day!
Suz from Vancouver
great link, Suz!
I work in public health and loved your hand washing and masks are for health care workers and sick people.
Thanks so much for posting that – people can’t hear it enough.
Kiehls Hand Salve or if bargain hunting, Trader Joe’s at $5/tube.
I have read several times that the most germ ridden places are the gas pump and the ATM pad… just fyi. And, I now always fill up gas on my way home: then I can wash hands right away. Am actually considering lightweight gloves for gym and othr activities!
You mean the thing at the automatic cashpoint Wouldn’t be a bad ideas to have banks install a pump of that. I don’t drive so that is not an issue.
Grocery cart handles and elevator buttons, washroom door handles…This time of year I keep my gloves on. Carry small bottles of hand sanitizer with you to use if no soap and water available. Most important, wash your hands before eating or touching your face, mouth, picking your nose, inserting contacts etc. Mouth, nose, eyes are all entry ways into the body for a virus.
In addition to washing your hands, nourish your body well, get lots of sleep, fresh air and anti stress activity. This helps the immune system stay strong, Stay well and turn away from the hysteria if you find yourself perseverating or becoming anxious to the point of not participating in your daily round or avoiding people in general. As a clinician I am front line and healthy patients are already voicing their ( mostly unfounded) fears. The hysteria on social media is just increasing the unnecessary frenzy.
Stay calm, clean you hands well and carry on.
As an aside most have not been trained in the proper usage of the N95 mask, there is a method.. Healthy people don’t need masks in public, just common sense.
And yes, in our healthcare system frontline workers have mandatory testing/training for masks every two years. I have never had to put one on as often as I have over the past weeks, oh not for Covid19…just our friend the good old influenza bug. Flu shots ladies? More folks in North America dying of that bad boy than Covid19.
If Covid 19 takes hold, the death rate is between 2 – 3%, over twice that of the flu, for which there is an annual vaccination. Unfortunately, many people are not sensible and have poor public hygiene habits – lack of hand washing, sneezing and coughing all over the place, going out and about when sick.
Not to mention spitting in public, a disgusting habit that needs to stop.
A resounding YES to hand washing when you get in the door before you touch anything….I learned that from my Veterinarian years ago when I had a dog with health issues. The other important thing is to leave your street shoes at the door and have huge shoes or slippers to wear in your living space….you have no idea what nasty things are on your shoes!
Spellmesser!!! House shoes not huge shoes
Spellmesser!!! House shoes not huge shoes
But you probably figured that out
Great pants. Did you know only 31% of men wash their hands in the bathroom? More than twice as many women do. I’m starting to see the problem here…
Oh dear, that is a problem. And often urinals are filthy. I remember a website rating public toilets for cleanliness, accessibility and general presentation, in different cities.
Here are the “prep” fingernail and hand-washing brushes: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/personal-care/nail-brushes/10259-the-worlds-kindest-nail-brush Lee Valley is a Canadian chain; these brushes are made in the US and there must be US retailers that carry them as well.
Yes to the handwashing, but it sure is drying. Mask were sold out everywhere by mid-January where I live, in automotive and hardware stores alike. People who need to care for sick family members will be out of luck when this thing breaks: caring for your relative is a guarantee of getting sick yourself. Put your own health and safety first, and the health of your own household, or show compassion for a dicknparent and grandparent: the modern “Sophie’s Choice”. No masks!
Thank you for talking about this, as it is weighing deeply on me.
“Sick”.
I understand that alcohol will kill the Covid-19 virus. So an idea is to get some isopropril alcohol and two spray bottles; one large and one small purse size (which you can find at art supply stores). The big one will take care of things at home, and the little one while on-the-go. This combined with hand washing, hand sanitizer & wipes, staying away from crowds and being careful what you touch when out and about should help, but it’s certainly not a guarantee of safety, so please all do be sensible. I’ve been wiping down market basket handles along with the car’s steering wheel with those wipes for a couple of years now and no colds or flu for me… Best wishes for all of us!
I need to do some reading to find out if this corona virus is killed by hydrogen peroxide. i am thinking of using that to spray on door handles and faucets and kitchen use due to the fire risk of alcohol in a spray form. They Lysol wipes that many people use for surfaces have a scent that makes me sneeze and cough
It surprises me how many people don’t believe that this corona virus, which shows signs already of how quickly and widely it is spreading, is much more dangerous than the flu. I don’t plan on using paper money or coins until things are back to normal unless I absolutely must.