May 2 randoms - return to office themed

[rubytue]

Our office opens back up this week. I go in tomorrow, and totally have first day jitters. I’ve been in for a few hours here and there, but now… all day. 

edit: 
Seriously, I’m trying to figure out what to wear, what to bring, what will I forget. Which shoes? Can I wear heels all day anymore? I’m going to have to do makeup again. 

[StrawberryBlondie]

I think I'm supposed to go into the office Wednesday for a meeting.

I bought myself a new laptop bag to try to hype myself up about it.

[breezy8407]

I've been in the office 3 days a week for a while now, and have had to buy new shoes and clothes. Our office seems to have trended more casual, so more fashion sneakers, jeans, etc. I am happy about it. I have almost zero tolerance for the raised heel/wedge type shoes I wore pre-pandemic so I've bought more slip on type flat heeled shoes instead.

On the flip side, I went to a mall this weekend looking for a dress for a funeral and wow, I hate shopping in person so much. The selection is dismal and what is there is way too casual. I won't have time to order anything online, so I am going with dress pants and a jacket I already have.

[eponinepontmercy]

I'm back in the office two days a week, starting today. We were back for a few weeks in the fall, but I haven't been here since around Christmas.


Most of my work pants are too big, but if I'm only going to be here two days, how many do I really need?

[msmerymac]

I’ve been voluntarily going to my company headquarters once every week or two - I’ll be going in on Wednesday. I’m glad to have the opportunity to wear more of my “work clothes” which tend to be dresses (swing, a-line) and flats so far, sometimes with a cardigan or something.

But yeah, it involves getting up an hour earlier than I’m used to these days, actually packing up a bag and lunch, and sometimes more makeup and hair styling than I’m used to (although I’m client-facing on zoom anyway, so I always need to look presentable).

[rubytue]

May 2, 2022 8:34:06 GMT -5 breezy8407 said:

I've been in the office 3 days a week for a while now, and have had to buy new shoes and clothes. Our office seems to have trended more casual, so more fashion sneakers, jeans, etc. I am happy about it. I have almost zero tolerance for the raised heel/wedge type shoes I wore pre-pandemic so I've bought more slip on type flat heeled shoes instead.

Yeah, my office has been super casual for awhile. Even in before times, I was wearing jeans most days. But, still a nice top and nice shoes, and dark jeans. That said, in 2019, I was going through cancer treatments. So, although I remember wearing jeans to the office, was it really me wearing jeans or was I pulling the cancer, don’t give a shit card. And I’m not sure. I do know that I have up the “dress for the job you want” thing a few years before that. Maybe 2016, when I didn’t get my 4th promotion attempt. 

[minzy]

May 2, 2022 8:02:53 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Our office opens back up this week. I go in tomorrow, and totally have first day jitters. I’ve been in for a few hours here and there, but now… all day. 

Same! It totally doesn’t matter, but I feel like I’m prepping for the first day of school, haha. I’m sure I’ll sleep terribly tonight, and I planned my outfit over the weekend. I’m going to hit my roots tonight and run some clear polish over my nails today, and just hope for the best. 🤣 Good luck out there tomorrow!

[tiki]

It's my half-birthday and I'm thinking of buying myself something small just because. Would love suggestions!

[eponinepontmercy]

May 2, 2022 9:20:25 GMT -5 tiki said:

It's my half-birthday and I'm thinking of buying myself something small just because. Would love suggestions!

www.etsy.com/listing/664788788/dinosaur-coffee-decalsvinyl-decalkids?ref=yr_purchases


I bought this for the wall with my coffee mug racks.  I've also bought a bunch of cute Star Wars/ Marvel/ dinosaur decals and magnets for my car.

Just some random things that make me happy.

[moreace01]

Our office has been open for awhile, but no one goes. I went once and it was a ghost town. I also started during the pandemic so don't entirely know what it's like - but it's three full floors with 1500 people. When I went, there was like 20 people total there. It's also in a no man's land which isn't easily accessible by public trans and has no restaurants nearby. So like, what's the point in going... It's too much hassle.


Side note - I am desperately trying to find a pair of black pants, wide leg and a bit slouchy, not cropped, not dry-clean only, but nice. Willing to spend up to $250. Somehow, this is more difficult than it needs to be. Everything that looks good to me is on back order till end of May or June.

[wildrice]

I have such a love/hate relationship with office days. I generally do like being there, but the whole routine around it sucks. Getting up earlier, bringing a bunch of stuff with me, packing food and a water bottle, etc. My new job is in a weird location, too, where there is really nowhere nearby to get food and since it's downtown, driving somewhere to pick something up would mean dealing with parking. I usually bring a lunch anyway, but "usually" is no longer a thing since I work from home most of the time, so when I do go in I feel like it's extra work to have to figure out something packable.

I was back 5 days a week in my old job, so I bought a bunch of clothes. Then I changed employers and I'm only in maybe 4-5 days a month now. I have way too many things to wear.

[bears]

May 2, 2022 9:13:51 GMT -5 minzy said:

May 2, 2022 8:02:53 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Our office opens back up this week. I go in tomorrow, and totally have first day jitters. I’ve been in for a few hours here and there, but now… all day. 

Same! It totally doesn’t matter, but I feel like I’m prepping for the first day of school, haha. I’m sure I’ll sleep terribly tonight, and I planned my outfit over the weekend. I’m going to hit my roots tonight and run some clear polish over my nails today, and just hope for the best. 🤣 Good luck out there tomorrow!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I went in on Friday to set up my desk and that calmed me a bit. No idea what I'm going to wear tomorrow, though. Seriously concerned about my dog being lonely (who am I kidding, she'll stick to her routine of sleeping all day).

[msmerymac]

May 2, 2022 10:14:36 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Our office has been open for awhile, but no one goes. I went once and it was a ghost town. I also started during the pandemic so don't entirely know what it's like - but it's three full floors with 1500 people. When I went, there was like 20 people total there. It's also in a no man's land which isn't easily accessible by public trans and has no restaurants nearby. So like, what's the point in going... It's too much hassle.


Side note - I am desperately trying to find a pair of black pants, wide leg and a bit slouchy, not cropped, not dry-clean only, but nice. Willing to spend up to $250. Somehow, this is more difficult than it needs to be. Everything that looks good to me is on back order till end of May or June.

That's totally like my husband's office. He went on Friday because a few people were going in and he wanted to do lunch with them. He said there were 6 people from his department/company total. 

My company is about 120 employees and we get maybe 5-15 people in the office on office days (Tuesday and Wednesday), depending on what's going on (training, client meetings). 

[holly116]

May 2, 2022 10:14:36 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Our office has been open for awhile, but no one goes. I went once and it was a ghost town. I also started during the pandemic so don't entirely know what it's like - but it's three full floors with 1500 people. When I went, there was like 20 people total there. It's also in a no man's land which isn't easily accessible by public trans and has no restaurants nearby. So like, what's the point in going... It's too much hassle.


Side note - I am desperately trying to find a pair of black pants, wide leg and a bit slouchy, not cropped, not dry-clean only, but nice. Willing to spend up to $250. Somehow, this is more difficult than it needs to be. Everything that looks good to me is on back order till end of May or June.

I bought these pants from Loft in two colors.  They're really flattering and comfortable www.loft.com/button-pocket-trouser-pants/580140?skuId=32435443&defaultColor=2222&catid=catl000014&selectedColor=2222 

[holly116]

I think the key for optional WFH is to set up days where everyone is in. In pre-pandemic times, I worked for a company that allowed WFH two days a week, but our team was in the office every Wednesday. It worked, if we had a meeting that made more sense in person, or a lunch etc, it was always scheduled on Wednesdays.

I just switched teams internally and my prior group is WFH 3 days a week right now and it seems that whatever two days I was in the office, no one was really there. My new team is optional WFH on Mondays and Thursdays, everyones in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. I prefer to be in the office anyway, but I really prefer it with set days.

[fluffycookie]

I went in last week for a meeting. As of right now I think I'll be going in once a month or as needed if I need something. Everytime I have been in there the office is a ghost town.

[pumpkincat]

We're theoretically supposed to go in 2-3 days/week. Every day during Board of Director meetings (every 6 weeks or so).

Non-BoD weeks I've been going in 2 days. They provide lunch MWF, so I go in M/W and leave around 2pm to avoid traffic home. It's been a good mix for me of in-office/facetime and.... PJs and WFH.

[foundmylazybum]

May 2, 2022 9:20:25 GMT -5 tiki said:

It's my half-birthday and I'm thinking of buying myself something small just because. Would love suggestions!

What do you like and what is your budget as something "small?" I consider myself to very good a "personal" shopping lol.

[madDawg228]

I've been back to work 5x/week since the end of February, for no damn good reason. I literally sit in my cubicle in front of my monitors all day, except when I go to the bathroom or breakroom. Meetings are still virtual.

I keep going back and forth on getting a new job, but haven't done more than browse LinkedIn every few days. I'm worried about losing my seniority and sick time I've accrued. That first 90-ish days of not having PTO available for most new roles is making me the most cautious. But if I could have 2-3 days WFH again, it would probably be worth it. I also still mask indoors, and am worried if that would hurt my chances with any interviews (if they were to be in-person).

[tiki]

May 2, 2022 12:00:56 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

What do you like and what is your budget as something "small?" I consider myself to very good a "personal" shopping lol.

I purposefully left out budget - I think originally I was thinking under $30, but I'd bend the rules for a particularly good suggestion!  I'm the household shopper, so I am usually buying things like toilet paper, socks, groceries etc.  For this I'd love something fun, clever, or slightly luxurious that would not normally make the shopping list. Maybe an amazing soap, skin care item, a small craft kit, seeds or an interesting houseplant? 

[rubytue]

Speaking of virtual meetings while in the office (madDawg228), here is something I’m currently struggling with. All me meetings are virtual, but frequently with some portion back in the office. We work in a cube environment. I’ve noticed that someone will be on my meeting, and then someone walks into their cube. And they attend to to person standing in front of them. It gets even worse when it’s a supervisor or manager, which keeps happening (one manager in particular, who is a demanding jerk). But i don’t think this would happen if people were in a conference room meeting. I think it’s going to be just one of those things we struggle with going forward. There are some obvious solutions, but mostly, I’m just throwing it out there to see if other have seen this?

[mskitkat]

On return to office clothing, my boss has taken to telling people the dress code for anything in person (ie: jeans are acceptable or not). It is hilarious to me.

I also need a whole new wardrobe as I put on quite a bit of weight. Im feeling like I want to go bright summer dresses.

[msmerymac]

May 2, 2022 13:13:48 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Speaking of virtual meetings while in the office (madDawg228 ), here is something I’m currently struggling with. All me meetings are virtual, but frequently with some portion back in the office. We work in a cube environment. I’ve noticed that someone will be on my meeting, and then someone walks into their cube. And they attend to to person standing in front of them. It gets even worse when it’s a supervisor or manager, which keeps happening (one manager in particular, who is a demanding jerk). But i don’t think this would happen if people were in a conference room meeting. I think it’s going to be just one of those things we struggle with going forward. There are some obvious solutions, but mostly, I’m just throwing it out there to see if other have seen this?

Is the concern that it's interrupting the participant, that it's distracting for those on the zoom, or both?

[Susie]

I've been in the office 5 days/week since July 2020, but H is still mostly WFH.  His current position requires 1 day per 10 day pay period in the office.  In about 2 weeks he's moving to a new agency and position which requires 7/10 days per pay period in the office.  This is going to be a big adjustment for all of us, going from him going into the office 2 days/month, to mostly in-office.  I am super not looking forward to the surly bear he's going to be while adjusting to his new morning routine.

I, however, am really looking forward to the opposite.  For the first time in *waves hands* all this, I am going to be able to WFH on Mons/Fris.  My office only requires 3 core days/week in person (Tues-Thurs) but I have had no WFH time in all of this, other than under the duress conditions of actual lockdowns from March-June 2020.  H and I share an office, and he's an ALJ on hearings all day.  We can't WFH in the same room.  That has resolved in his favor, with me commuting full time, for @/routine/geography related reasons.  But now, after almost 2 years, I will finally be able to take advantage of our office's WFH Mondays/Fridays.  I'm pretty psyched.

[1confused1]

May 2, 2022 12:38:12 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I've been back to work 5x/week since the end of February, for no damn good reason. I literally sit in my cubicle in front of my monitors all day, except when I go to the bathroom or breakroom. Meetings are still virtual.

I keep going back and forth on getting a new job, but haven't done more than browse LinkedIn every few days.

This is my situation exactly, but I have been back full time since August. I’ve stopped complaining about it and just deal with the reality of it, but I really miss working from home.

In regards to what to wear, our office went super casual since we have been back (I work in facilities so it wasn’t super fancy prior to the pandemic). I wear jeans, hoodies and tennis shoes most days.

[ny96]

May 2, 2022 12:53:37 GMT -5 tiki said:

May 2, 2022 12:00:56 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

What do you like and what is your budget as something "small?" I consider myself to very good a "personal" shopping lol.

I purposefully left out budget - I think originally I was thinking under $30, but I'd bend the rules for a particularly good suggestion!  I'm the household shopper, so I am usually buying things like toilet paper, socks, groceries etc.  For this I'd love something fun, clever, or slightly luxurious that would not normally make the shopping list. Maybe an amazing soap, skin care item, a small craft kit, seeds or an interesting houseplant? 

Fun cookbook and specialty ingredient for one of the recipes inside?

[RoxMonster]

My company is encouraging everyone to come back in some fashion beginning in May. I think my team is coming in one day a week on Tuesdays for the foreseeable future, maybe potentially going to two days/week at some point. I went in Friday to set up my desk (I just started this job in Feb) and though I was not in for long, already missed my comfortable desk chair at home, my better lighting at home, etc. It was really nice to meet people in person, but I am such a homebody that I really love WFH.

We have our quarterly planning in person this Wed/Thurs and I already picked out my outfits for that.

[tacokick]

May 2, 2022 10:15:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have such a love/hate relationship with office days. I generally do like being there, but the whole routine around it sucks. Getting up earlier, bringing a bunch of stuff with me, packing food and a water bottle, etc. My new job is in a weird location, too, where there is really nowhere nearby to get food and since it's downtown, driving somewhere to pick something up would mean dealing with parking. I usually bring a lunch anyway, but "usually" is no longer a thing since I work from home most of the time, so when I do go in I feel like it's extra work to have to figure out something packable.

I was back 5 days a week in my old job, so I bought a bunch of clothes. Then I changed employers and I'm only in maybe 4-5 days a month now. I have way too many things to wear.

Are you close enough to walk to Pitamore? That’s my husband’s go-to for his weekly in-office days. I think his office is single handedly keeping that place afloat.

[wanderlustmom]

I own my own business so I went back in person June of 2020 with masks. I'm a therapist and a lot of therapists prefer virtual still now. I really like working in the office. We stopped wearing masks unless the client requests it last summer. So it was one year of in person masked therapy.  

My husband hadn't worked from home before the pandemic and he really likes it. They are supposed to go back twice a week in person but a lot don't go in often--including him. He has a long commute. Others with a shorter commute have been going in more often--but few now go in every day. He said his ideal is once every week or two

[foundmylazybum]

tiki

tea-o-graphy.com/

This wasn't on your list, but if you enjoy teas, I highly recommend checking out this shop. They are based in Taos, and make small batch teas.

The chais are different, and the Sandia Rose as well as the sage mint herbal are so different and special.


www.shopterrain.com/categories/fresh-foliage-and-succulents

I think that terrain has a neat selection of plants and pots/combo online.


Personally, one of my favorite self gifts are house plants and pots. I go to a local store, and the experience is so awesome. I always go by myself and pick out exactly what I like.

www.asucculentday.com/

This is where I go, but of course it's in my town but you might have some place similar near you.

bronwenjewelry.com/

I love the jewelry from this maker. They have a lot of variety, it's woman owned and has an active, natural take to it, but is still pretty.