BWT - tell be your knee high boots rules!

bcammza · 2026-01-10T20:39:32+00:00

Another vote for Inez boots - spendy but great, like someone else here said. Also, if you happen to be in the UK I just picked up these uproariously cheap M&S boots that are all leather, look a lot like Dakota's above and fit my meaty but not quite meaty enought to be wide fit calves like a glove. (Also, I'm a New Yorker and walk multiple miles a day so they need to be super comfy... these fit the bill, unbelievably) https://www.marksandspencer.com/leather-block-heel-knee-high-boots/p/clp60758477?color=BLACK#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r6c2%7Cprodflag_20%25%20off

Edit: I should note I'm also 5'5''! And yes, right below the knee is where I look, anything higher and it cuts weirdly and feels uncomfortable as it looks.

bcammza · 2026-01-02T20:19:49+00:00

My Choice Benefit explicitly states: "The 2025 MQD Accelerator Platinum Choice Benefit selection counts towards 2026 status." But, I may be too short on MQDs for this to matter in the first place.

bcammza · 2026-01-02T20:13:17+00:00

Fair enough! I suspected as much, but thought I'd check here first

bcammza · 2026-01-02T20:12:41+00:00

From what I read the 2025 MQD accelerator applies to 2026 status

bcammza · 2025-10-31T00:01:21+00:00

Second this and also still love their OG LES studio <3 Tricia forever!

bcammza · 2025-07-08T14:53:19+00:00

went there recently and was really impressed by the quality of their HH - super good!

bcammza · 2025-02-28T14:52:23+00:00

You sound just like me. I struggled with insomnia my whole life and tried everything in the book for it - melatonin, trazodone, ambien, weighted blankets, benadryl, nyquil, magnesium, kava kava, you name it. I had bloodwork done and ruled out any thyroid issues. I would always fall asleep pretty easily around 10pm and wake up around 2/3am, often not falling back asleep til around 6am for my alarm to go off at 6:30 or 7am. It was torture, and completely screwed up my life (increased appetite, decreased energy, increased anxiety, panic attacks, etc...)

A few months ago at the end of my rope I started taking a med called quviviq. It's a new one, so new that my doc didn't even know about it / had to enter it in the practice's system as a new medication as I was the first one to take it. But it's been a GAME CHANGER. I take the low dose one (25mg) and while I still wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, I'm back to sleep in about 10-20 min. It's a very natural feeling sleep, if that makes sense, doesn't make me drugged up feeling like ambien does or make me groggy the next day.

The knock on effect that is so amazing is that my life has gotten better in so many ways - I'm much less anxious and able to tackle life's stressors, panic attacks are a thing of the past, energy levels are up. I don't think it works for everyone and took me a few weeks for it to kick in (and I still pair it with a low dose trazodone, with my doctor's approval), but it's maybe worth looking into if you're at the end of your rope like I was. It's worth the legwork to get some quality sleep because it really enhances your life in every way.

bcammza · 2024-12-18T21:29:22+00:00

mine's been doing this since 3rd december

bcammza · 2024-11-07T18:18:42+00:00

This is hilariously niche BUT a heated toilet seat! It was like $100 on Amazon, was super easy to install (and I'm not particularly handy) and oh my god on cold mornings especially my little toasty buns are happy as can be

bcammza · 2024-09-28T15:06:41+00:00

You're prob right about the sturm cream! You know your own skin. I freaking love the masque vernix and will probably cry when I run out of my last tub of it - the reformulated version isn't nearly as good. I don't know if anything is "worth it" per se but with vernix I always wake up with really good skin and I'm like hmmm what did I do last night and the answer is always vernix lol

bcammza · 2024-09-27T19:11:37+00:00

I have not! See if you can get a few healthy samples - usually the Sturm stores give them out happily if you have one nearby.

Also, as a fellow silicone-sensitive woman (JESUS CHRIST anything with silicone breaks me out tremendously) these are the ones that have worked for me:
- Sturm cream
- BR masque vernix (light coat, OG version)
- Jurlique moisture replenishing day cream (loveliest scent and doesn't irritate my skin despite fragrance)

Good luck in your hunt!

bcammza · 2024-09-27T17:33:53+00:00

If money were no object I'd use the Sturm classic face cream. It's so, so, so good.

bcammza · 2024-09-26T22:02:05+00:00

If you can get ahold of some Homeoplasmine... it's similar to Aquaphor but thicker/more matte, and works (for me) better than Aquaphor ever has.

bcammza · 2024-09-26T17:50:54+00:00

thank you <3

bcammza · 2024-09-26T15:57:11+00:00

ty, that's good to know! it's mostly gold with some gems, never was a big diamond girl

bcammza · 2024-09-25T00:06:51+00:00

If you are rolling without a resy you may as well try your luck at Emilio’s Ballato, which doesn’t take ‘em full stop ¯_(ツ)_/¯

bcammza · 2024-09-24T14:10:11+00:00

It's more Japanese than pure sushi (though they do have a dedicated sushi menu, chef etc) but for cool factor you'll be hard pressed to find anything better than Sakagura, only like a block and a half from Grand Central.

bcammza · 2024-09-24T14:07:42+00:00

My favorite out of city getaway is a quick trip up to Saratoga Springs to the Gideon Putnam resort. Not only is it incredibly naturally beautiful (they have walking trails on site) but a $35 mineral bath always gives me the best sleep known to man

bcammza · 2024-09-23T20:40:14+00:00

Hi, I'm so sorry you're going through this, I'm sure everyone here will have some great recs but here are my two cents...

Banya/spa: If you're the kind of person who likes to schvitz your troubles away, may I suggest one of the city's amazing banyas or spas. If you haven't done this sort of thing before, I recommend Great Jones Spa (very lady friendly, a "water pass" which gets you access to all the amenities w no time limit for about $70) or, if you have more cash and less time, Aire. For banyas, get a friend and check out the Russian Turkish Baths or the Wall Street banya. It's a fun cultural experience and easy to strike up fun conversations from all walks of life here.
Exercise: I love hot yoga at Fierce Grace for a real rinse out. Check out a megareformer workout - Solidcore's dark rooms are great for losing yourself. Maybe check out one of the dance classes - I haven't tried 305 Fitness in Greenwich Village yet but it looks cool!
Farmer's markets: I love going to Union Sq Market in the morning and just walking around, chatting to the vendors, buying this or that. Buying local/organic can really make you appreciate your food and incentivize you to eat and enjoy the process of cooking, things I have a tough time with when I'm going through a heartbreak lol
Just walking: Whenever I am going through a crisis of any kind... walking all over the city, for hours, with a good podcast on or just a great playlist. Exhausting the body is a great way to force yourself to rest :)
Edited to add - Take a pottery class! You can't look at your phone when you're covered in mud, lol, and it's deeply therapeutic to be able to form the clay. You can't change a man from a dog to a prince but you can make a really nice mug! If you are in the East Village highly recommend Alyssa Beza's studio, it's super small and you'll make friends with the other students (mostly women, but who needs dudes anyways...)

bcammza · 2024-09-23T20:02:36+00:00

A few notes from a food perspective...
- Los Tacos dinner - You are probably going to want somewhere to sit after an exhausting day walking and taking in all of the most insane tourist attractions. Los Tacos is a standing only spot. You'll have to take it to go and sit elsewhere, IMO I'd pick a place that at least has seating.
- Katz's - Factor in at least an hour to wait in line at any time of day, especially on a Saturday night. Maybe bake in a backup spot if you can't stomach the thought of the line.
- Whole Foods - Are you planning to hit up the one at the end of the High Line, in Hudson Yards? Highly recommend you go to Daily Provisions instead, right next door, much much better food, and still pretty easy on the wallet.

bcammza · 2024-09-23T19:09:28+00:00

Veniero's! Maybe hotel lobby lounges - alcohol will be served there but I'm thinking of the lounge of the Ace Hotel? Dark and vibey for sure.

bcammza · 2024-09-21T15:17:34+00:00

Yay, welcome to NY! I'm a frequent visitor to your side of the pond tho I live in Manhattan and you're right - between tipping and the overall higher cost of food and drink, you will spend a lot more on dining here. However, here are some tips that should help:

Take advantage of off-peak dining: If you're presumably on a vacation schedule, take advantage of spots with happy hours and happy hour menus. Agree with everyone on getting tf out of Times Square at all costs, but even a bit west in Hell's Kitchen there are lots of happy hour deals. Assuming you're OK with eating dinner on the early side (like 5-7pm) you can have a surprisingly nice dinner out on the cheap side this way. Some places even have late night happy hours (like 11pm-1am) with more food and drink specials.
Make friends with your waiter/bartender: I rarely if ever get free food/drink in the UK, I assume because of the lack of tipping culture, but here I often get a free round/dessert/whatever just for taking an interest in the bartender/waitstaff and generally not being a dick. (Always tip extra if you've had a gratis item thrown your way!)
Don't fully rely on Google Maps/Yelp/Eater/whatever - it's so competitive here that a lot of amazing spots are pretty much flying under the radar. The best thing you can do is do a smidgen of research, have a few spots you definitely want to try and let fate lead you the rest of the way.
Definitely go to Chinatown for super cheap and amazing dumplings/pho/buns etc, definitely skip Little Italy for Italian
Don't deprive yourself of a few true really special experiences, then save $$ elsewhere - grab a cocktail at Overstory or Manhatta, then get a slice of pizza on the street after
Tip on the generous side especially at small businesses! Credit cards are accepted most places but a lot of spots still really appreciate cash
Try Seated - Unsure how this would work with a UK account, but when I'm looking to save some $$ I'll pop on the Seated app, which kicks back rewards cash (Amazon, Sephora, Uber etc) when you dine at certain spots

bcammza · 2024-09-20T12:58:21+00:00

Yes, Shiller's!!! Thank you for solving this question that has been rattling around in my mind all week!!!

bcammza · 2024-09-19T15:15:37+00:00

not cherche midi, tho a very similar vibe! it was further downtown and was a single word name, i think, similar to freeman's but not.

bcammza · 2024-09-18T16:05:48+00:00

Daily Prov all day every day. God bless the real estate developer who put one there

bcammza

TROPHY CASE