This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sales of note for 8.30.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 20% off
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lands’ End – 40% off sitewide; 50% off backpacks, 40% off kids’ apparel
- Loft – Summer sale, 30% off new arrivals; up to 50% off much more
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- Zappos – 28,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – 50% off everything
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 40% off everything
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; extra 50% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 50-60% off; 50% off pants for the family
- Target – 20% off select clothing for all; up to 50% off home; up to 30% off select nursery furniture; up to 30% off kitchen & dining
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Daycare says
Following on from the discussion earlier in the week RE daycare waitlists, I just got notified that there will be a spot for my child in six months. We just started with a nanny we like, but in principle appreciate the socialization and other benefits of daycare and like this place in particular. A few questions
1) how soon would we need to notify our current the full time nanny. I don’t want to leave her in a lurch but also don’t want her to leave before Sept when this transition will likely take place
2) has anyone regretted moving from a nanny to daycare and how much more will my life suck? I’m not looking forward to the extra illnesses, rushing for pick up (or hiring a babysitter to do the pick ups), extra hassle in the morning. But on the other hand, like the socialization, enrichment, structure, etc that daycare promises. The cost will be a bit less but it’s not significant. Also, my child will be 13M if/when he starts
Thanks!
Meg Murry says
How long have you been on the waitlist? If you want to push this down the road, could you ask how hard it is to get a spot at 18 months when the kid to staff ratio goes up and put yourself on the list for that?
NewMomAnon says
My kiddo is 13 months old, and loves daycare (loves loves loves). That being said, if I had the money to pay for a nanny, I would do it in a heart beat. They can get socialization through programs at the library, baby music classes, baby swim classes, the playground, baby yoga, etc, but the peace of mind to know that you don’t have to wake up a kid to rush them off to daycare in the morning, or worry about pickup times, would be AMAZING. Which is just to say, I would probably keep the nanny, try to set up some sort of schedule of child activities for the nanny to do with baby, and skip the daycare center.
But that may be a function of the “grass is always greener” mentality working moms seem to share…
(former) preg 3L says
While I agree with NewMomAnon, all of these additional activities for the baby to get socialization with a nanny might add up to make the cost of a nanny + socialization activities significantly greater than daycare. Just something to consider. My daughter is in daycare and LOVES it as well. (FWIW, I think one aspect of daycare that cannot — or can be extremely difficult to — be duplicated at home is learning to eat whatever is on your plate – “you get what you get and you don’t get upset.”)
ETA: I think you need to give your nanny 3-4 weeks’ notice and hope that she doesn’t leave you in a lurch, or don’t give her that much notice and just pay her the difference (e.g., give her one week’s notice and 3 weeks’ pay). You could also consider having her overlap – the first week at daycare will be a transition for the baby, so you’ll definitely still need the nanny that week, and possibly the second week just to make sure things go well.
FVNC says
I don’t have experience with a nanny, but as to the “how much will my life suck” question: at 13 months, the daycare requirements should be pretty minimal, in terms of what you have to provide. You’ll just have to get into the habit of gathering lunch, bibs, etc. each night so that you’re not scrambling in the morning. The daycare routine is so, so much easier with a 12+ month old toddler than for an infant.
CPA Lady says
And I have an infant and think the daycare routine is a breeze– and I do it 100% by myself every morning because my husband has a weird work schedule. All I have to do is bring a few bottles and the baby to daycare each day. She has a cubby for diapers and wipes and a drawer for outfit changes that I only have refill periodically. I shower and get stuff ready at night, so all I have do in the morning is wake up, nurse my daughter, get us both dressed, and out the door. The whole process takes under an hour and isn’t crazy or stressful, though that may change as she gets older.
FWIW, as far as illnesses go, my pediatrician said kids either get sick constantly when they first start daycare or when they first start school if they don’t go to daycare. I’d much rather have a sick baby than a kid missing a bunch of school.
Maddie Ross says
FWIW, I never had to scramble for any of the things that FVNC mentions once my daughter was 12+ months. They provided lunch, milk, sippies, etc. All I had to bring were diapers (every couple of weeks) and a clean sheet and blanket each week. It was/is super easy.
FVNC says
Good point — daycares differ in what they provide. Mine would provide milk, but we give kiddo organic so I supply it. I have to provide lunch, which seems to not be the norm (even in my area), and sippy cups on a daily basis; diapers and wipes periodically. Before 12 months, I had to provide on a daily basis: premade bottles (BM or formula), sheet, bibs, and snacks/purees. I’m happy to be done with that!
Ciao, pues says
It hadn’t occurred to me that some daycares provide all the stuff we send daily. We send: breakfast, lunch, snack, milk, diapers, bottle, sippy, spoon. And lately Tylenol. It is a bit of a mad dash in the morning, plus we have to wash all that stuff in the evening to send again the next day. Now I know the grass is / seems greener!
stc says
Wow, I feel lucky! As a baby, we just did diapers/wipes and bm/formula. As a toddler, we only need to bring diapers and wipes. They do everything else, which really is great.
Carrie M says
If you do decide to make the switch to daycare, could you offer to your nanny that you help find a family to hire her in September? That way, you have some control / say in ensuring that she doesn’t leave sooner? I get emails all the time on my neighborhood parent listserv to the effect of: My family’s fabulous nanny will be available in September, she does XYZ and my kids love her, so we want to help find her a wonderful family for her next job, please contact me for details.
Spirograph says
We switched from nanny to daycare at that age for all the reasons you mentioned. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: it was an annoying adjustment to go from handing baby to the nanny while I finished getting ready and leaving to having to get myself and the baby dressed, fed, and out the door with everything we needed for the day. But once we figured out a routine, it was no big deal. My son loves daycare, and he’s gotten much less clingy and shy in the last 8 months since he started (though part of that is just normal development, I’m sure). I’d let your nanny know your timeline a few months out, but make it clear you’d like her to stay til sept and will help her find a new family to work for by recommending her among friends and neighbors.
Anonyc says
I’d probably let her know in mid-July–that way she can be looking when families are looking for September-start nannies, taking into account that folks are often out of town in the July/August time period (so things might be a little slower than normal). I’d ask her if she would stay until the transition in September and let her know you’ll help spam all your parent friends/listservs with her recommendation (if she wants to continue nannying). At the very least you should give two weeks notice, but that feels insufficient to me.
Daycare says
Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the thoughts and apologize for the duplicate posts – was having spam issues/disappearing posts this morning
Daycare says
Following the discussion from earlier in the week on daycare wait lists, I just found out my child would get a spot in 6 months when he is 13M. In the meantime, we have started with a full time nanny we like. A few questions:
1) if we accept the spot at what point do we notify the nanny. I want her to have ample time to plan but don’t want to be left in a lurch or have any resentment in the meantime
2) has anyone regretted moving to daycare? It’s a bit cheaper but not much. Mostly we are looking for the socialization, enrichment and structure. I know it will be more difficult from a sickness and getting out of the house in the morning perspective. I also may have to hire a babysitter to help with pick ups.
Anything else I should consider? I need to put down a deposit by Monday (was really hoping to hangout on the wait list a few more months before having to decide)
Daycare says
Spamtest123
NewMomAnon says
I was thinking how boring this shoe looked, and then realized that I have a drawer full of cute heels in my office but have worn the same worn-out pair of cheap Aerosole flats nearly every day for the last four months. *facepalm*
Maybe my resolution for 2015 should be to up my game at work.
MomAnon4This says
Or to clean out your shoe drawer.
Also – past 4 months = winter for most of us. Give yourself some slack. You’re all right.
Pogo says
Ugh, yes. I have this ancient pair of Calvin Klevin flats that are just so comfy I always reach for them. I think the only way for me to stop wearing them is to hide them from myself or get rid of them…
JJ says
Funny, this year I decided to “down” my shoe game because my feet just always hurt. So I’ve (happily) been almost exclusively in flats while my pretty heels stay at home.
(former) preg 3L says
Kat, really really annoyed about the video + sound ads. (The one I just heard was for Verizon)
Tunnel says
+1. AND I CAN’T TURN THEM OFF!!
PregAnon says
This is so much nonsense. I ADORE my job, but there is another attorney in the building that just seems to be out to get me. We’re in house at a big corporation, and I don’t report to her, but she has a slightly “senior” title. She’s decided I do report to her, despite admonitions from our GC that I don’t. Well, I’ve been REALLY “morning sick” this week, so I went ahead and told work, since I’m going to want to work from home a day or two, eventually. HR was awesome, our CEO was awesome, and the other attorney was nice for a minute.
Yesterday I went home at 4pm because I couldn’t stop throwing up. As soon as I left the building, this attorney started DEMANDING that I respond to her emails immediately, and asking me questions about my files that she doesn’t work on. An internal client had emailed me and copied her, just because usually the internal clients send us both everything. I saw the email and determined that it was NOT an emergency and it could wait until the next day, but this attorney absolutely demanded that I handle it last night. Her emails went on until after 6pm. I’m typically in the office at 7:30/7:45 and eat lunch at my desk, so it isn’t like I rolled in at 9 and left at 4.
I let HR know, and he is not happy. But I don’t want him intervening quite yet. We have a “planning session” at 10am this morning, and I’m going to request that I be given autonomy, remind her that I am a professional that’s been doing this for almost 9 years (to her 11, big deal), and that I’ve got it handled. She’d be the first to know if I didn’t, our internal clients are a little high maintenance! Other than that, I don’t much know what to do. Anytime I am sick, or have a doctor’s appointment, I am “punished” by this woman. Constant emails and instant messages, like she is trying to “keep tabs” on me. It is just insane.
Just needed to vent. It’s all I can do to not just throw up on her.
Carrie M says
That sounds awful! So sorry, PregAnon!! Good luck with the planning session – let us know how it turns out!
Maddie Ross says
Has it always been like this, or is this relatively new (or exacerbated) behavior once you announced your pregnancy? I think I would handle it differently depending. If it’s the latter, I personally had a few people act out a bit towards me once it came out I was expecting (I managed to hide it until like 22 weeks for this very reason). I think the best thing you can do, besides estalish clear autonomy in your situation, is make every showing that you can that you have your files covered now AND that you are establishing a contingency and coverage plan while you are out that does not fall all on this woman. I think she may be freaking out that she is going to have to pick up your slack and acting passive/agressively as a result. IMO at least.
Ciao, pues says
If it is new/ exacerbated since announcing it could also be se*x / pregnancy discrimination.
Tunnel says
Let HR intervene. No reason not to put her in her place early. So frustrating.
PregAnon says
It has been going on for some time. All fully documented with HR. We’ve both been here for 2 years, here about 2 months less than I, and while we started out as a team, she has slowly been creeping in on me, trying to dominate everything I touch. It is being noticed around the office…many have come to me and said they aren’t comfortable working with her because she is seen as playing a political game. She jumps in the middle of my work whenever it seems like she can grab some fanfare or visibility for herself. Announcing that I am pregnant seems to have made it 100% worse.
PregAnon says
Planning session went over like a lead balloon. I asked for autonomy, and she basically said “but that person emailed you twice!” And I said, “yeah, and I called her and it wasn’t urgent.” I kept stating “I need autonomy in a certain area, I don’t jump in the middle of your files, I’d like the same courtesy” and she referenced ONE phone call I missed (while I was on PTO, and she was supposed to be covering for me, first time that’s happened in TWO YEARS), and kept saying “but we have to be a team, and there are things you need to get better at!”
I kept reiterating that that was fine, and we could discuss those things, but I do need some autonomy. She pretty much just walked off when her phone rang. Maybe it is time to start job hunting.
JJ says
Is your GC aware of how unreasonable your coworker is? It sounds like other people in the business are.
PregAnon says
Yes. And lucky me, he just resigned. HR does totally support me, though. Unfortunately, to “up stream” internal clients, she plays the game well. I’m going to have to be very strategic about this.
New DC Mom says
My 5 month old daughter has really dry skin – red, chapped cheeks – and the doctor recommended using baby Aquaphor by Eucerine. I have been using it and it has been working, but I would really love a more natural solution. I have tried coconut oil, but that has not been effective. So, first, am I being ridiculous? (If the Aquaphor is working, why not keep using it.) If not ridiculous, does anyone have any recommendations for natural alternatives?
(sorry for the repost from the previous post)
anon in nyc says
I’ve had good luck with Honest Co healing balm…similar to Aquaphor but less chemical…
CC says
I have tried a ton of different products, including Aquaphor, and the best I’ve found is Burts Bees original baby lotion. It is 99% natural according to the label. It works wonders and is less sticky and absorbs better than the Aquaphor in my opinion.
Jdubs says
I have been using this in place of Aquaphor. http://www.amazon.com/Alba-Botanica-Un-Petroleum-Multi-Purpose-Jelly/dp/B000OO7546
Jdubs says
I haven’t tried it myself, but I know by people who swear by VT EMU oil for they children’s eczema. I keep meaning to buy some to try. https://www.vtemu.com/
K. says
Second this on the unpetroleum! My 6 month old has super dry skin and scalp and this helps a ton!
mascot says
You could also try lanolin although it can be harder to rub in. My experience is that Aquaphor works best (and fastest) for my child’s chapped face. I use coconut oil the rest of the time and don’t sweat the small amount of intermittent Aquaphor.
I’m skeptical of a lot of “all-natural” marketing. Somehow those products still have long ingredients lists, but with a few plant names listed among the synthetics. For whatever reason, the Burts Bees stuff made my kid break out in rashes.
KJ says
I’m pretty crunchy in general, but I don’t sweat Aquaphor either. I haven’t found anything else that works as well for me or my baby, and I haven’t seen anything to convince me that’s it’s harmful. Plus, I totally trust Paula on these things: http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/emollients/mineral-oil
Jen says
We used Cereve. My little one had a chapped spot from like, 4-9 months. My mother and MIL kept ninnying that it was some kind of allergy/rash/plague and it drove me b.a.n.a.n.a.s. I was so glad when it went away because they finally let it go! ;) (we went to the doc for it, then the doc looked at it at every regular checkup, and it was JUST DRY SKIN—I printed out the notes from the dr’s visit to share!).
Annie says
FYI – Big maternity sale at Oldnavy . com today!
Cot sheet for daycare says
Any recs for a cot sheet for daycare? The cots look to be smaller than crib size. TIA!
mascot says
We used the Urban Infant Tot Cot for a while. It was nice because it was an all in one.
Now we just use a crib size fitted jersey sheet and a fleece blanket. In my experience, the fitted sheets wrap around pretty well so even if loose they still work. And they don’t unmake the cots everyday. They just stack them/bag them.
BethC says
Mini crib sheet might work!