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AGL is known for their flats, but I’m really liking this simple wedge pump, on sale for the next month or so as part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It’s available in sizes 4.5-13, in black and a smokey brown, for $229 — after the sale it’ll go back up to $360. AGL Attilio Giusti Leombruni ‘Bar’ Wedge Pump
Psst: I rounded up my favorite workwear picks of the Nordstrom sale yesterday at Corporette; I’m going to try to do shoes and bags today, so stay tuned! One more kid-friendly find: I’ve never seen a new model of the Babyjogger’s City Mini go on sale (and it feels like older models are pretty firm on their prices also unless you’re buying used). This nice navy is now $185, but after the sale it’ll be $250.
(L-4)
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ 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 – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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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?
Carrie M says
I put these wedges on my list of items to consider (which is getting way too long). Anyone have them?
I’m also really interested in getting a hooded coat to wear in rainy fall weather. I think a hooded trench or quilted coat is probably my best bet….nice enough to wear to work, but still washable and easy for weekends. The North Face Laney trench looks awesome, but I think it’s too casual for my office. Any thoughts or recs?
Philanthropy Girl says
I must be deep down the mommy rabbit hole. I saw “wedge pump” and immediately wondered what sort of changes had been made to the Medela line that would result in a product with “wedge” in the name. It sounded painful.
In other news, very cute shoes.
Please pass the coffee. And maybe sign me up for a mommy-only shopping trip.
quailison says
Haha I thought this too! Though maybe this is a non-painful idea – a pump that doubles as a doorstop wedge to keep your door shut while pumping?
AEK says
Or an attachment that wedges the bottles into place on a table or something so you can pump hands free without the bustier?
DC Mom says
haha awesome!
FVNC says
Thoughts on an appropriate amount to pay a babysitter who will be watching our kiddo for an evening, after kiddo goes to sleep?
This is the first time someone other than family will be watching kiddo, so I’m not sure what’s reasonable. Babysitter is a neighborhood college student; we’re in a small rural town. I’m thinking $25 for ~2.5 hours? Hopefully she won’t have to do anything other than sit on our couch and watch TV, so it should be an easy job for her. I’ll ask what her rate is, but I’d like to get a ballpark for what is reasonable. Thanks!
mascot says
I’ve paid $10-15/hr depending on the sitter. Usually we start at about$10/hr, but I add in a tip and ask if they have any drink/snack preferences. If it is regular sitter, we also give them a tip at the holidays. Good sitters are hard to find and I want them to accept my jobs first.
Carrie M says
As a mom who hates overpaying, that sounds reasonable to me. As a former babysitter, that sounds a little low (I was paid $10/hr when I babysat 10+ years ago as a college student, but in a big city). So I’d say anywhere between $10-$15 would probably be about right.
In House Lobbyist says
I would pay start with $10 especially if the kid will jsut be sleeping. I usually round up for a tip as well. I am paying $10/hr this week for a high school student to basically play with and keep a 2 year old alive while my stay at home husband paints our house. My 5 year old has only been home an hour or two each day or I would have probably paid her more. My college babysitter gets $11/hr. And I try to have snacks available and tell them to eat anything. And I do Christmas gifts as well to anyone that has been a babysitter for that year that I want to keep a relationship with. I am in a large Southern city by the way.
Sarabeth says
We have a similar situation – midsized city in a LCOL region, and a college student. She asked $8/hr, we pay her $10 because she’s great and we want to make sure she keeps coming!
quailison says
FWIW I love that stroller – the babyjogger City Mini. Sturdy, light, travels well, fits in our tiny car, folds up and unfolds with one hand (done it holding wiggly baby). I’d snap that up!
TBK says
We have the double and have been pretty happy with it. But I’d note that although it’s listed on the Nordstrom site as a jogging stroller, it isn’t actually (despite the brand name). It’s a regular around town, long walks, going to the zoo, etc. stroller.
EB0220 says
Since I got back to it late last night – thanks to all of you who weighed in on my guardian/trustee question yesterday. I was surprised that there wasn’t anyone who jumped out at me immediately as being a best bet, which made me sad and worried. But after talking it over with my husband, I think we have a plan. Whew! Really appreciate that you all shared your experiences.
Thoughts says
I just added thoughts this morning, but wanted to highlight a few things that jumped out at us as we went through the process: (1) consider naming contingent guardians/trustees; (2) consider naming different individuals as the trustee and guardians to keep two trusted individuals looking out for the kids in a collaborative process [note that this really depends on the individuals available to you, as splitting the money/custody has its own set of issues, as the trustee has the incentive to keep a bigger pot of money to manage/whereas the person who has the kids day to day probably would favor using more funds to make life smoother, so YMMV]; and (3) the process made us take a hard look at our insurance portfolio. We ended up taking out supplemental policies, as we believe setting up the kids financially will help offset the logistical challenges our guardians would face in taking on two additional kids.
EB0220 says
Yes, I saw your comments this morning. Thank you! We were already planning an insurance review, and this is one more reason to do so!
DC Mom says
Can we talk about baby meals? What are your best meals and recipes for babies?
My baby is 10 months and is a happy little eater. We have been doing baby-led table foods and I feel like I am in a food rut where I keep giving her the same 5 things. Her favorites have been hummus and pita, Trader Joe’s ravioli, quesadillas with black beans and avocado, and yogurt with crackers. I love making these because they are easy and I know she likes them, but feel like I should branch out more. What are your/your kids’ favorites?
Thoughts says
Last night, I sauteed zucchini strips (just use a veg peeler) with garlic and chives and a bit of olive oil, tossed with whole wheat pasta, and roasted cherry tomatoes (broil for 10 minutes). My 2 year old, 9 month old, and husband all ate it, so win? Sauteeing made everything mashable enough for the little one to eat. I added parm cheese to the adults’ and toddler’s bowls.
Other fan favorites:
– shredded chicken with lime and pepper (boil chicken breasts with two lime halves until it shreds and tears easily);
– veggies with thyme and rosemary (microwave frozen veggie medley with water, then add a bit of olive oil and spice);
– peaches and blackberries (again, just buy frozen for ease; then microwave to easy to eat consistency);
– Avocado;
– Oatmeal and all the fruits (we split this for breakfast a bunch);
– Quinoa – cook and then puree in Cuisinart – if there isn’t much water, we can ball it up for him to eat little balls – usually with blueberries.
JEB says
I’m impressed by the variety of real food at 10 months. I can’t get my 7.5 month old to eat anything. She’s just not interested.
Katarina says
My son was not into food of any kind until 9 months, at which point he started eating almost everything. Of course that did not last…
Thoughts says
Same. My now 2 year old ate everything. Now he’s insanely picky. Insanely. My 9 month old just started wanting to try everything, but I know it’s – like everything – just a phase.
Bloom says
We also have a ten month old. Favorites include fruit of any kind (bananas are especially easy), shredded chicken, cheese, cottage cheese, ground meat, frozen veggies that steam in the microwave, whole wheat toast with jam, grilled cheese, scrambled eggs (I use whites and yolks although I know some don’t until 1 year). All cut into small pieces of course. He will pretty much try anything at this point. I will feed him whatever we are eating if we are organized enough to have dinner ready when he eats (rare). JEB, I wouldn’t lose hope, I feel like he went from no interest in feeding himself to inhaling anything we put on his highchair tray sometime between 8 and 9 months.
tk says
– meatballs
– applesauce
– frozen whole grain waffles
– hard boiled eggs
– artichoke hearts (he’s fancy)
– mini pumpkin ‘cupcakes’ (pumpkin pie filling, no sugar)
Momata says
String cheese cut into rounds with each round cut in half (these are as much choking hazards as hot dogs), hard boiled or scrambled egg, meatballs, peas, steamed/roasted carrots cut up, roasted butternut squash/sweet potato, cottage cheese.
Anon says
I know this is one of those things that will vary on the person, but I am hating life as a litigator right now and want out, possibly of the law altogether. I know at least some of this is not wanting the stress and unpredictability of litigation and trials now that I have an infant, but some of it is also just that although I have done well thus far, I have NEVER enjoyed it. That said, I am a junior partner and my salary is more than my husband’s so it’s not something I can just walk away from. I know I don’t want to do this, but I don’t know what I want to do and reading a million books that tell me to look within myself, etc, is not helping me to figure it out! Looking for success stories from those who made the leap law to something else, what you went to, if you’re happier, and if the pay is at all comparable. (Also, FWIW I do general litigation on the plaintiff’s side in a small city, so I don’t have a niche specialization or a client that I could target for an in house position).
AEK says
I moved out of (biglaw) litigation but into another law position (career law clerk), with a stop in city government in between. It improved my quality of life 1000% even though the pay is definitely less (but adequate, with good benefits), and I sometimes chafe at not being a “real lawyer” anymore. Worth. It. (My baby is 6 months old now, and I don’t think I could have survived leave & back to work at my firm job. Super kudos to the rock-star mamas who do it.) I don’t miss the pressures of litigation, particularly opposing counsel jerks and discovery BS.
Have you considered government work? Perhaps local or municipal? (Fed pays better but might not be an option in your small city). I’ll leave non-law suggestions to others. Good luck; I know how stressful your situation can be when you have that ambivalence in addition to the inherent litigation demands.
NavyLawyer says
I second the government work. If federal gov’t, try a regional office so you actually negotiate deals (instead of write policy at HQ). I am at a regional federal office and love it. I seldom work long hours, and the negotiations are seldom acrimonious. Most supervisors practice work-life balance. Gov’t employers love, yet seldom see, applicants with litigation experience, probably due to the pay cut! General litigation experience is a big asset in most gov’t attorney offices
New Mom says
Was curious what sort of regional government offices you recommend checking out? I am always searching usajobs but only see child protection services or us attorneys offices! Wondering if there are sources I am missing!
Thoughts says
I’m allll over this thread today.
I walked away from BigLaw litigation after identifying what I didn’t like about it. I did not like unpredictability of scheduling, and I realized that I prefer a more collaborative process to find solutions. I hated being adversarial for no good reason, or playing games with discovery. I loved the analytical side of deconstructing cases and authority, but hated the actual research/writing process. My favorite cases involved smart opposing counsel, and after a great oral argument, we could shake hands, and await a well-reasoned opinion from a judge. I hated dealing with opposing counsel who thought being a good litigator meant stonewalling the opposition. After I wasted too many days away from my kids on stupid motions to compel, and dealt with fewer reasonable attorneys, it was time to call it.
I ended up in house at an advocacy organization. I really enjoy it. I found that litigating business contracts helped me issue-spot, and I have found that I actually really enjoy handling contracts for the organization. Negotiating with other parties satisfies my need for collaborative negotiation with third parties. When the org is involved in litigation, I still get to read motions and help craft the arguments, but I’m not in the weeds with opposing counsel. My hours are set (I’m not racing to meet deadlines – that’s on outside counsel). Also, b/c we are advocacy oriented, most of our litigation is to challenge legislation, so it’s not like I”m dealing with bet-the-company issues, which would be stressful for other reasons.
If I had been more experienced, I think I would have looked at mediation, or possibly a career law clerk. It really helped to figure out what I liked and did not like about litigation. That said, I was so burned out at the end that I applied for a few different non-law jobs. I’m glad I landed where I did. If you can, take some vacation time, and get out of the grind to remember what you do like about the job.
fdd says
are you me?
Anon says
I went from litigation (criminal defense) to a large private firm doing transactional work (which I hated on an epic level) and then to an in-house position (that didn’t require a JD, but I still didn’t take a pay cut). I wanted out of the law because I thought I hated it, but I really just hated the position I was in at the time. I started applying for every single JD preferred or legal related job I could find. I am actually an attorney now at my current position (due to some restructuring, I ended up with the title back). I’m still doing attorney work, but I love it, mainly because the work is different (more interesting) than what I was doing before, I have regular hours, and my coworkers are a billion times better.
AlsoAnon says
Also wondering if you’re me in a different location and practice area.
I like my work from a big picture point of view, but I hate the unpredictability and the never-ending stress and demand for perfection in everything, even when it will have absolutely no impact on anything.
I just realized that the in house option may really not be better, since those stresses are still there. I’m at a loss of what to do, so I’ll be keeping an eye out on this thread.
DC Mom says
Reading with interest – DH is a biglaw litigator and likes the work but hates the schedule. I hate it too!
We can almost never plan a vacation or any family trip because we never know when he will be needed. The worst part is that I don’t think it gets better with seniority, he is often pulling all-nighters alongside partners. Now that we have a baby, this lifestyle is just not sustainable.
KC says
Ladies. I am a long-time reader and infrequent poster. While I am not a mom, I have enjoyed the well-balanced and thoughtful discussions over here and would like to ask your advice. I recently finished graduate school and am starting to interview for jobs in a new location. When I started graduate school (part-time), I was also working full-time. I knew that I could not ultimately work full-time at my previous position and attend graduate school but I also wanted to finish out a multiyear project that was nearly complete. I chose to leave my job (I was ready to leave and really wanted to see the project through to the end) and the plan was to take a few months off to search for a new less intense job more related to my interests and catch up on school. Unfortunately, my husband became extremely ill soon after I left my previous position and we spent the next eight months trying to find a diagnosis and treatment. In the meanwhile, he continued working on a limited basis (for insurance), and I acted as his caregiver/healthcare manager while attending school. His condition is managed and he’s back at work full-time but he’s exhausted from everyday life. Early this year, his parent had a medical emergency, which meant another two months in the hospital and a continued recovery. We are planning to leave our major metro area for a smaller city with good jobs and a lower cost of living, near the recovering parent. We hope the move will allow us to start to enjoy, rather than just survive our life. We also think it would be more conducive (financially and emotionally) to having a child in the future.
My question is how to answer interview questions about the “gap” in my resume and if graduate school was full-time or part-time. So far, I have responded “it was a part-time program, which worked out well as I had the flexibility to continue with school while simultaneously responding to several critical family health situations.” I would love your thoughts on ways to respond to this type of question. I absolutely learned a lot from these situations including finding an inner strength I didn’t know I possessed but I am having trouble articulating a response.
Anon says
I think I would state that I was also acting as a primary caregiver to a family member going through a serious medical condition (no details above and beyond that).
Ease says
Yes agree. Also, practice tone when you say it. I had a similar situation, and during a mock interview, received feedback that my general tone/demeanor changed when saying it. I worked hard to provide a very balanced, even-toned response that did not give details or give away the emotion surrounding the situation.
tk says
If you’re able to keep it light and straight-forward, candor about these things in an interview can be a good thing. Maybe, “I started graduate school fulling intending to keep working full time, unfortuantely several back to back family medical emergencies took up an inordinate amount of time. Thankfully everyone is on the mend now and I’m ready to put that degree to good use.”
Vacation says
We are taking my almost four month old on vacation at the end of this month. We will be staying at a large resort with a pool. We will let her go head and splash in the pool for a few minutes if she likes it, but I dont know what to put her in when we’re just sitting out by the pool. I was thinking of maybe a small baby swing, but that doesn’t sound outdoor appropriate. Especially when it might get wet. Any suggestions? Maybe a mesh infant shower seat? She can’t sit up on her own for long periods yet. And I’d ideally like her to nap with us by the pool…fingers crossed!
Also, what should I do with her in between any time in the water? Dry her completely every time? Does that mean I should have multiple swim suits so I can put something dry on her each time?
Momata says
How about a few towels on top of each other (for cushiness) laid out in the shade, or even under a little portable sunshade? Then she can roll around, play with toys, etc. Or, if your resort is providing a pack n play, bring that down to the pool. Not sure why she would need to be in a swing or seat.
Carrie M says
Fun! That’s a good age to travel with!
Bathing suits are a pain to take on and off. So my rec for that would be two pieces, so it’s easy for you to change her out of her swim diaper into a dry diaper and shorts, and then she can keep the wet top on. Don’t let her sit in the wet diaper – definitely a recipe for rash.
For by the pool, I think a portable swing or the FP infant-to-toddler rocker (or something similar) would be great. You’ll have the infant car seat too, so you could do that in a pinch (plus it has the sun visor). We also brought a stroller that reclined so I could wheel her around outside, and then park her by the pool if she fell asleep (also great because it had the sun shade).
fdd says
pack n play or just a lot of towels if your child isn’t yet rolling — my 4 month old doesn’t roll, but wouldn’t be content to just sit in something for very long.
hoola hoopa says
We never bring anything. Baby is on lap or on towels. But you could bring a travel swing or bouncer. I picked up one off CL with my first and have more than gotten my money’s worth over the three kiddos. The cover is washable and it’s nice to have something small and inexpensive to drag outside etc.
I just put babies in swim diapers (the cloth kind), not a swimsuit. So between splash breaks, I swap out for a real diaper and lay the swim diaper in the sun. It’s usually dry by the time baby is ready to go back – and if it’s still damp, it’s not hard to get back on (and they’ll be in the water anyway… so no worries if it’s a bit wet, too).
I also recommend a sized-up rash guard.