Family Friday: Farm Animals Wooden-Peg Sound Puzzle
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My youngest is almost two and starting to play with puzzles. Although he is not ready for the thousand-piece monstrosity my extended family assembles during the holidays, this simple wooden peg puzzle from Melissa & Doug is perfect for him.
This puzzle features brightly colored farm animals and eight easy to grip pieces. It also features something universally appealing to toddlers — it plays animal sounds when the pieces are placed in the right spot. My son can’t say “cow” or “sheep” yet, but he can “moo” and “baa” along.
This puzzle is $10.99 and available at Target and Amazon.
Sales of note for 1/16:
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
- AllSaints – now up to 60% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code — readers love this blazer, these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
- DeMellier – Sale now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
- Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off — reader favorites include their scoop tee, Dream Pant, ReNew Transit backpack, silk blouses and oversized blazers! New markdowns just added
- Hannah Andersson – Up to 30% off all pajamas;
- J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything
- L.K. Bennett – Archive sale, almost everything 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Tag sale for a limited time — jardigans and dresses $200, pants $150, tops $95, T-shirts $50
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 50% off + extra 20% off, sale on sale, plus free shipping on $150+
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?
Have a three hour layover at O’Hare next week with a six year old. We will have plenty of time to kill. He would probably be fine with watching the iPad and eating McDonalds but I would prefer something more interesting. Any child friendly recommendations?
Anyone read any good chapter books to their preschoolers lately? Looking to stock up on some books before we go on vacation, ideally things that will occupy both the 5.5yo and the 3.5yo (so far the biggest mutual hit is the Sophie Mouse series). The only hard no is Magic Treehouse.
A relative who is gluten-free by choice (no medical indication, so cross-contamination is not a concern) is arriving tomorrow and for some reason I’m blanking on menu choices. We will be hosting several large family get-togethers that include finicky toddlers, ravenous teens, and adult picky eaters. (Seriously, how does one survive to adulthood without eating beans or vegetables or sauces? Grrr.) Ideas for easily feeding a crowd with foods that are naturally GF or can be made GF by eliminating one component (e.g., burger bun)? I don’t want to do GF pasta, etc. because that stuff makes me sick, and I don’t want to cook separate meals. My only ideas so far are tacos on corn tortillas and grilled chicken with a variety of sides for dinner, and baked oatmeal for breakfast.
Andddd school called because the 7 month old is throwing up and has slight loose motions. Of course my first thought is “Oh no, my baby!!!” and my second one is…grumph.
How do you get over your fears surrounding parenting? I’m 34 and married to a great guy. He would love to start a family. After many years of inner turmoil, I’ve decided I would like children, too. But I am just too scared to take the plunge! I’m not worried about my life changing — I welcome that, as my life now feels uninspiring and stagnant (and despite being a professional with a fine job, my career isn’t all that important to me). I’m terrified the baby will have a medical issue and I won’t be equipped to handle it. Among my parents friends, this doesn’t seem to be a top concern; there is this idea that I would rise to the occasion. But what if I can’t? Or what if I develop terrible feelings of resentment or guilt? I’m afraid of failing a child who doesn’t even exist yet! Did anyone else have similar fears?
Second car poster from the other day. I appreciate everyone’s suggestions! But most of those options seem super tight for two rear facing car seats?! One person did mention it and that has to be true, but perhaps that’s how it goes if you get a sedan. I test drove the Santa Fe and liked it enough but the engine is kind of a drag, as compared to our van at least. I guess I need to prioritize if I enjoy the van but dread trying to park it in a tight city garage for work so need to just choose a new car based on the parking issues.
I had kids late. I seemed to bounceback from that just fine (second kid was born just before I turned 40). But then it seems I am promptly sliding into perimenopause and it is kicking my butt. Often just really tired (in a way that having two small kids close in age and working FT was fine). No way to really fire up on all cylinders at 9pm any more. And the baby weight went away with nursing, but if I just look at a donut, I either gain wait, bloat, etc. I’ve crept up in size without even trying. I just feel like I can’t catch a break in life — things should be getting easier, and yet they aren’t.
Any Northern NJ moms able to share what the going nanny rate is in the region? (1 toddler, full-time). We just moved and are striking out with daycare options. Short Hills/Summit/Chatham region.
They have these in stock at my Aldi this week. For little fingers, the red pins on these are quite small to grip.