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.
This trompe l’oeil fleece shacket will keep your child warm and stylish through spring.
This washed denim–look shacket is made from a cozy, recycled cotton–blend, fleece fabric. It hits right below the waist and has a collared neckline, two front pockets, and a button-front closure for easy layering.
Wear it under a winter puffer now and as outerwear later.
Art Class’ washed fleece shacket is available at Target for $20. It comes in two colors, blue and peach orange, and sizes XS–XXL.
Sales of note for 5.5.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase (ends 5/12); $50 off your $200+ purchase (ends 5/5)
- Banana Republic Factory – Spend your StyleCash with 40-60% off everything, or take an extra 20% off purchase (ends 5/6)
- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles and up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Shirts & tees starting at $24.50; extra 30% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – 40% off full-price styles & extra 15% off; extra 55% off sale styles
- Nordstrom: Nordy Club members earn 3X the points on beauty; 30% off selected shoes
- Talbots – 40% off one item & and 30% off everything else; $50 off $200 (all end 5/5)
- Zappos – 27,000+ 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 – 40% off everything & extra 20% off select styles with code
- Hanna Andersson – Friends & Family Sale: 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Crewcuts – tk; extra 30% off sale styles; kids’ styles starting at $14.50
- Old Navy – Up to 75% off clearance
- Target – 20% off women’s clothing & shoes; up to 50% off kitchen & dining; 20% off jewelry & hair accessories; up to $100 off select Apple products; up to 40% off home & patio; BOGO 50% off adult & YA books
Bored says
I’m having a slow period at work and am trying to use this time to get ahead on life tasks before I (hopefully) get busy again. What are a some things you’d try to do? So far I have:
– finished gathering all of the tax info our preparer needs
– scheduled dentist appointments for myself and child
– exercising more often
– working on renewing my passport
– coordinating summer travel plans
– cleaning out/organizing various closets and cabinets
– scheduling time to see friends
My child is still in daycare, so we don’t have any school related tasks to do. I’m also working on clearing out the backlog of books I want to read.
Anon says
That sounds similar to my list for these periods.
Maybe take the opportunity to cook more at home if you often rely too much on takeout/freezer stuff (<— it’s me).
Shopping for summer clothes for kids?
Our public schools always need volunteers even if you don’t have a kid in the school. I helped 1st graders with reading when my own kid was still a toddler and it was really rewarding.
AwayEmily says
Filling your freezer with lunch/breakfast stuff for kid lunches! I like having frozen mini muffins, pancakes, meatballs.
Anon says
On the passport, I just spent months “working on renewing” mine, but it actually took all of 10 min to fill out the form and write the check. The hardest part was taking the photo; plan to go to Staples or CVS on a specific day next week, fill out the paperwork the next day, and then bring to the post office the following day. Done! It was a relief to have it off my plate so I encourage you to just do it
CCLA says
Reporting back from mailing our passport renewals in earlier this month and we already received one back, with the other approved and supposedly en route! Less than two weeks from mailing to receipt for one. We paid for expedited but still, I think last year expedited was taking over a month. So if anyone is looking for the right time to renew, highly recommend doing it now.
anon says
Yep, we haven’t paid for expediated and it’s been taking under 3 weeks from mailing to receipt.
Anon says
Yep, the processing times are really fast right now.
DLC says
More for me than for life admin, but if I have the ability to fit it into my schedule, I sign up to take an art class at our local community college when I have slower/flexible periods at work.
Taxes is a big one for me this time of year too.
Anon says
God, I wish I had a nonbillable job so I could do these things on slow days! I like the summer travel plans item and would also use some time to explore options for future hypothetical trips (or research things like how the new Yosemite summer reservation process works).
Anon says
I think it’s pretty straightforward, you just book a reservation in advance here for the first day you want to enter the park: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745
They’re still available for basically every day this summer.
Reservations are valid for 7 consecutive days. If you have a national park pass, it covers your entry fee, but you still need a reservation.
Bored says
I do have a billable job. The problem is the billables aren’t available at the moment! I’m trying to free up more capacity for my future self to bill more when the market picks up again.
Vicky Austin says
Digital organizing!
Photos/memory books/photo storage
Cleaning out screenshots and bookmarks you saved “for later” (for me this usually involves typing up recipes I wanted to save from random places so I can actually put them in my recipe manager app)
Cleaning out personal email accounts and unsubscribing from junk
Collecting your passwords in whatever single space makes sense
Another project I want to do when I have time is catalog all the books we own and use the Book Catalogue app to organize them on various “shelves” in the house.
Anonymous says
I’m the poster who asked for support yesterday re: husband who had major surgery. Thank you all so much. I read through everything and it was exactly the boost I needed. One day at a time. This will all be a distant memory someday and most importantly, I’ll get to grow old with my husband because he had this life-saving surgery.
Betsy says
I’ve been thinking about you since you posted yesterday! One day this will be a distant memory but also a proud memory of your resilience through an unimaginably hard time. Sending you and your family all the best vibes as you get through this.
Investing advice says
I have 10K I’d like to invest in an index fund. There are lots of options out there. Any recs? Also, for backdoor Roths, do you handle the mechanics yourself or have a planner do this for you? TIA!
Boston Legal Eagle says
S&P 500 index fund at any of the major brokerage firms. At Vanguard, ours is Total Stock Market Index Admiral. I’d want to ask someone in the know for backdoor Roths, just to make sure I’m not messing something up.
Anon says
Just venting- I’m meeting a friend for coffee. She suggested 10am at this particular coffee place and then at 9:59 she texts me that she’s leaving her kid’s school now. I’m already here. Why suggest 10 if there is no way you’ll be there then
Anon says
As the often late party, please give her some grace! I’m sure she didn’t want to be late to meet you! And it isn’t like you have to sit at the coffee shop fuming! You don’t have your kids with you right? Do you have to be somewhere urgently? Use the time to call a friend, enjoy a coffee in peace, read a book on your kindle or phone, make a to-do list, call back the house maintenence person you’ve been meaning to call, make a doctor’s appointment, buy that birthday present, etc. Try reframing your frustration as found time and either be productive or do something you enjoy.
Colorado says
Only someone who is always late could make this the person waiting’s fault for not “reframing it”
Anon says
Yup. Being late is rude, full stop.
NYCer says
Ehh I think OP is justified in being annoyed. I realize that sometimes things come up un expectedly, but in general, I find it very rude to be late.
Anonymous says
As mom of multiple kids, yeah I actually do have somewhere to be urgently basically every minute of the day. If we say 10 and you arrive at 10:15, or 10:30, as my chronically late friend often does, I still have to leave at 11 because someone else is watching my kids and or I have other sh8t that has to get done today. You’re cheating both yourself and me out of our quality time by being late. I have accepted that you’re always going to be late and this I just the price of entry for hanging with you but please don’t try to turn it around that I’m the one with no perspective.
Anonymous says
She suggested 10 because she expected to be able to be there then. Obviously whatever she was doing at the school took longer than expected (volunteering at an event that ran late or meeting with a teacher who was late for the meeting etc).
Unless this is a regular issue, I’d give her a little grace. And if it is a regular issue, talk to her about it.
Anon says
Yes, but there are very few situations where she could not say to the other party at 9:40 something like “I apologize, but in order to continue our conversation I am going to be late for my next engagement. Let me take a moment to text that person so they aren’t waiting on me.” Send the text, and then continue on with what she’s doing.
Anon says
Maybe she thought she’d make it by 10?
Anon says
+1 yeah I can’t imagine she’s normally leaving her kid’s school at 9:59 (what school starts that late?) so presumably some sort of urgent situation came up. I like punctuality and am normally on time myself, but would give some grace in this situation.
Boston Legal Eagle says
In this day and age of cell phones, it’s so easy to text a little earlier when you’re running late, or your ETA. I don’t mind if people are late (especially parents – I am often late now), but I like some notice ahead of time.
anon says
When should I expect that observant women will notice I’m pregnant? This is #2, but the first time I was WFH.
Anon says
I don’t think there’s a universal answer to this. It depends on both the pregnant woman and the observer. I often notice pregnancies in the first trimester because of changes to the face and breasts. But hopefully people who notice that early will be polite enough to say anything. I think by 12-14 weeks you may start getting some comments from people if you haven’t disclosed, especially with a second pregnancy.
Anon says
If you’re normally a slim person, I think observant women will notice by 12-14 weeks when you start looking thicker and your boobs grow. All but the most obtuse will probably suspect by 18-20 weeks.
Anonymous says
As a super observant person, I will notice/suspect at like 8-10 weeks.
When will I say anything that indicates that I even remotely suspect that you might be pregnant? Only after you specifically share with me (or another third party, say you tell a mutual colleague) that you are pregnant.
Anon says
In addition to the body changes mentioned above, observant people may notice some sudden dietary restrictions (I got good at handling the alcohol thing, but my boss once ordered sushi for the team, and everyone knew I loved sushi, and my colleague noticed me picking at a few cucumber rolls) and if you’re struggling with nausea. I think women who have been pregnant before are more likely to notice, but there’s generally a tacit code not to say anything.
Anon says
yeah, I think dietary changes are noticeable for a lot of people. My sister in law correctly guessed I was pregnant when she noticed me drinking decaf coffee. (I actually switched to decaf a few months before I got pregnant because I didn’t want to be dealing with caffeine withdrawal at the same as first trimester side effects, but she didn’t know that).
Clementine says
Lol – shout out to one of my old bosses who thought she had kept it under wraps. She commented to one of the younger, male, childless staffers that she wasn’t shocked that the parents in the office could tell but was really surprised that the younger males in the office weren’t surprised by her announcement.
…he had to break it to her that busting through the office shouting ‘I KNOW SOMEBODY HAS TUNA IN HERE AND WE NEED TO CLEAN THE TRASH CAN NOW’ and literally breaking into conference rooms to interrogate people, followed by putting a series of escalating in ridiculousness things about what could not be heated in the microwave, her personally hiding the office toaster, and her berating someone for wearing a scented hairspray were all things that he assumed meant she was either pregnant or had fully gone off the edge.
Anonymous says
Really depends on your body, how your body reacts to this pregnancy, how you usually dress, etc. i noticed for one of my coworkers who typically wore pencil skirts at like 6 weeks (maybe she was very bloated?), and another who had always dressed in extremely voluminous clothing I didn’t even suspect before she announced at 16 weeks. If you are very nauseated people may notice that . I had to bow out of a very important all day site visit at 7 weeks because I was vomiting right and left and wouldn’t have been able to find places to vomit and you can bet the senior attorney had a suspicion. I ended up announcing very early for that reason.
Anonymous says
People will notice it in your face by 8 weeks.
Anonymous says
Yesterday my rising second grader asked to go to summer camp. I have no idea where to start looking (and I realize it may already be too late). Any suggestions? We’re in Houston. We could do sleepaway or day camp. I have no interest in sending him to a religious camp.
Anonymous says
I’d start with daycamp. In most big cities the zoo/aquarium/botanical gardens have options as well as the universities. Depends on his interests – does he want to go to space camp or nature camp etc
Boston Legal Eagle says
He’s probably too young for sleepaway camp. Check your town’s site for their summer camps (note that ours filled up in less than 5 min this year, so beware!) YMCA should have something too. Ask around to other parents. I don’t know if an interest specific one is really necessary at this age – mostly, they just need to run around and hopefully spend lots of time outside/swimming.
Anonymous says
My second grader is doing a “sampler” sleepaway through Girl Scouts. It’s 2 nights/3 days and about an hour away.
My oldest has been doing 2 weeks at sleepaway since 2nd grade but this kiddo isn’t as ready.
CCLA says
Do you need to be affiliated with GS to do this? My 7yo has expressed interest in sleep away and this sounds like it would be a great gateway.
Anon says
You typically need to be a registered Girl Scout, but you can join GS just to have access to summer camp and not actually be part of a troop.
My 1st graders are also doing a 2 night/3 day overnight GS camp this summer–hopefully this goes well and we can do a week next year!
Anon says
Maybe it varies by council. In our council, you definitely do not have to be a registered Girl Scout to attend camp, and they specifically encourage us to do outreach about camp to friends who aren’t in Girl Scouts.
Anon says
It may depend how popular camps are in your area. Our local Girl Scout camps fill up instantly in a lottery. They preference current girl scouts in our council in the lottery, so you basically have no chance of getting a spot unless you’re a girl scout AND a member of our local council. If there were extra spots a non-GS could theoretically get a spot, but that doesn’t happen given the demand.
Anon says
Ah yeah, that makes sense. Our council has problems filling camps, hence the outreach to girls who aren’t members.
Anon says
Interesting, they don’t have to pay the $25 membership fee on top of the camp fee?
Anon says
Nope! Everyone is welcome. You’ll just pay slightly higher fees and may get some recruitment emails from Girl Scouts.
Anonymous says
At least near me you have to be a brownie for sleep away, which is 2nd grade. You don’t have to be a Girl Scout but you pay a $50 reg fee on top of the camp fees. It covers insurance type things.
There are Girl Scouts-y Activities but honestly my kid is in troop Beverly Hills and I’m not sure she knows the Girl Scout promise or code or whatever…and it’s fine!
Anon says
I just looked at the fees and it looks like it’s $50 more per week for non-members. So it would be more economical to join, even if you’re only doing one week of camp. But you don’t have to, and I don’t believe the higher camp fee includes membership.
Anon says
Oops, meant to be a reply to the poster at 6:49
Anon says
He’s not too young for sleepaway camp. Rising 2nd grade is when many of them start. But unless he’s a super independent kid and is begging to go to sleepaway camp, I’d hold off and just do day camp. I think going to sleepaway camp that young is hard for many kids, and they have so many years to go to sleepaway camp once they’ve aged out of day camps, so I don’t see any need to rush it unless it’s something the kid specifically wants.
I bet there are basically infinite day camp options in a big city like Houston. In my much smaller city, we have full-time camps through the local university, Y and parks & rec, plus lots of half day camps related to various special interests (zoo, art, theater, dance, swimming, martial arts, etc.) In a bigger city, it’s more common to have aftercare for these types of camps. Just ask him what he’s interested in and pick some weeks to sign him up.
Anon says
What does your kid usually do in the summer? Are you home? Idk where in town you are as we are also in Houston, but the JCC has great camps (don’t need to be Jewish), the zoo and the museums all have camps, kidventure is a popular day camp, st marks has a day camp, city of Bellaire has a day camp. Ask your local friends
Anon says
The Houston Space Center has camps. It’s not the “official” Space Camp but looks pretty cool. I’m not local and am considering coming from out of town for it.
Boston Legal Eagle says
After a fake snow day earlier this week where both kids were home, my younger one is now being sent home from daycare for possible pink eye. February is my busiest month at work, and we’re also dealing with other life stuff with my older kid and job hunting and dog training, etc. etc. Just feels like a lot right now. Yes, I’m in therapy. Hope everyone has a happy long weekend.
Anon says
Ugh that’s a lot. Hope things get better, and therapy helps in the meantime. <3
It's not a long weekend for us. Kids were supposed to have the day off school on Monday but it ended up being a makeup day for a January snow day. DH & I were always supposed to be at work.
Anonymous says
Pink eye clears up pretty quickly once treated. I’m in the same boat: I almost posted yesterday. I was out of town last week, returned Sunday and I’m pretty sure I gave everyone the flu. So I was already behind work a week (my fault) and then I spent this whole week taking care of sick people, so now I’m even more behind, and my oldest is off today and Monday. I’m trying not to panic. Everyone is on the mend though so I’m thankful for that. I really hope we can get outside this weekend.