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.
Need a bag on a budget? Target is one of my favorite places for fun and stylish bags like this one that won’t break the bank.
Instead of natural cane, this tote is made from woven plastic, so no worries if it gets a little wet. The large size and open top make it perfect for summer outings to the beach, farmers market, or picnicking. Add a zippered pouch or two so little things don’t get lost.
This tote is $35 at Target and is available with yellow, black, or brown trim.
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
Anon says
What are your best strategies for bringing older (elementary aged, no strollers) kids to a largish amusement park? What to bring, how to prep, etc. Outside food is not allowed. Weather may be iffy (cool in the morning, chance of rain). Don’t want to carry too much, but want to have what we need (ponchos, long sleeves). Want to ride some big rides, though one kid may skip those (he’s old enough to hang by himself a little.)
Anonymous says
It’s a fun day out not battle command? Hats, sunscreen, a weather appropriate outer layer, a small back pack and comfy shoes.
Anon says
Bring one backpack with sunscreen, water if allowed, and a light sweatshirt or windbreaker for each person. I don’t think you need much at all! We did Legoland with three kids including a baby and put all our stuff into a backpack. Are you allowed to go out to your car? Maybe stash an extra set of clothes there in case it downpours
Anonymous says
We did a medium sized amusement park with 2 kids (6 & 9) a few weeks ago. Bring water bottles (reusable for filling up in the park, if possible) and see if “small snacks” are allowed. The park we went to didn’t allow meals, but we brought in apples and popcorn packs. We brought one backpack between the two adults and would trade off for rides, but the backpack was also small enough to be left in the “personal items” bins. If yours doesn’t happen to fit, I’d personally rent a locker. We knew the kids wouldn’t last all day and generally followed their lead for what they wanted to do most. We ate from vendors on the fly (hot dogs, ice cream), not at a sit down restaurant, but your family may want to take a load off. Ultimately, I think our best decision was being relaxed about what we ended up seeing. Oh, and save souvenir shopping for last! Our kids were whiny all day asking for toys.
GCA says
Just common sense stuff really: clothing for the weather, sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes.
Will it be crowded? Consider really bright neon t-shirts. Kids should have your phone number memorized.
Spirograph says
This. And as soon as you walk in the park, remind the kids of the ground rules for not getting lost:
1. If you end up riding separately on a coaster, wait at the exit until the group is back together.
2. If you get separated, stay put for 5-10 min, then ask a staff member for help. (Point out employee uniforms)
Anonymous says
I wrote my phone number on their arm in Sharpie.
Anonymous says
Yes. all of my kids know my phone number. But until they did I wrote it on their arm.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Do you have two adults there (or one adult per child) – if so, divide and conquer works well for us for two kids who are into different things at the park. We also usually just bring one backpack with waters, sunscreen and light jackets. Also useful as storage for the random things they buy/win. If it’s an amusement and water park, we usually leave the bag with towels and swim suits in the lockers.
Anonymous says
One adult carries a backpack with water bottles, sunscreen, and ponchos or raincoats. Valuables go in a very small fanny pack that is compatible with ride safety harnesses. Wear athletic shorts in a performance fabric that dries quickly and waterproof sport sandals like Tevas or Chacos that are comfortable for walking. Squishing around in wet sneakers and denim shorts after a rain shower or a log ride is miserable.
anon says
Assuming you’re doing something like Six Flags – a belt bag (that I wore as a fanny pack) was great and could go on most rides. Then have a backpack with ponchos, coats, water, etc that you toss into the cubbies that most rides have.
I feel like the benefit of elementary is you can be more chill right? Can buy what you need at the park and not be in meltdown city because you forgot the pink waterbottle.
I’d get familiar with the map/park layout and know what rides are everyone’s must-do, so you can prioritize and hit those.
Also like the 1-2-3-rule- 3 rides you want to do, 2 attractions/shows/characters and 1 meal/snack (funnel cake, soft serve, lemonade in a souvenir cup). Then fill in the day from there.
Let the kids know expectations ahead of time too – can they get souvenirs? A t-shirt? No gift shop at all. Usually helps mine.
Anonymous says
all 3 of my kids are in elem. One carries her lululemon belt bag. One carries a cinch-bag. My kindergartener carries nothing. I have a small backpack with sunscreen and water to which we clip hats if they are not being worn. We could throw a towel in there if needed.
More Sleep Would Be Nice says
My Ker…doesn’t like school. He’s doing fine with all the standard markers – schoolwork, friends, behavior, etc….he just doesn’t like anything except recess, aftercare, and getting picked up (his words). He’s increasingly unhappy to go in the mornings (lots of crying until things settle down at breakfast), and not looking forward to 1st grade when asked.
When we’ve spoken, he’s told me he doesn’t like his teacher, doesn’t like the learning, etc. He’s asked why his old preschool, where he did TK, doesn’t have 1st grade because he wishes he can go back because there are more toys.
He’s very strong/ahead of the pack academically for now but not to the point where I think he is bored or blowing through the work, so I can’t say it’s not a challenging environment. We’ve also tested him for GT, and like his Mom, he meets all except one domain so doesn’t qualify – we will try again in 1st when grades are a factor for GT and see if that qualifies him for 2nd and above.
The transition from preschool/daycare to K wasn’t an easy one for him, but he found his groove after a few months, and now it feels almost like the beginning of the school year! Not sure if this is because it’s nearing the end of the school year in our region (DH thinks its likely him being over it at the end of the year) or something else.
DH and I agreed to keep an eye on it in 1st and re-assess anything if needed. I’m trying not to push my BUT I LOVED LEARNING AT SCHOOL WHY DONT YOU? attitude on him. Any advice or experience welcome, especially from parents of elementary aged kids/older kids!
Anonymous says
It’s the end of the year and he’s worn out. Just be a sympathetic ear and make sure he has fun over the summer.
Anon says
+1
Also I don’t know if this is the case for you too but homework has really ramped up in the last month or two, and that’s been hard for my K-er.
octagon says
This is almost certainly at play, at least in part. My 3rd grader has, since spring break, seemed down on school and honestly it seems like they are leaning into more fun stuff and less learning overall, so not sure what the deal is. Talking with other parents it seems like all the kids are basically having a large version of restraint collapse at the end of the year, plus maybe some anxiety about the transition to summer even if they are looking forward to it.
I’ve struggled with trying to honestly assess whether my kid, who loves learning in general, is thriving in school vs going through the motions. It’s helped to remember that he’s not going to click with every teacher, and also that teachers are tired as the year-end nears as well. Also, those happy times we remember fondly about loving school? We are cherry-picking our memories. If you go a little deeper, you will probably also remember staring at the walls, or dealing with a kid who annoyed you, or doing some busy-work that seemed totally pointless. Those smaller details fade with time for us but our kids are still very much in the moments.
OP says
I thought about this a lot – yes I can say now “I loved school growing up!”, but examining it deeper, there were a lot of years that I was miserable – classmates teasing, friend stuff, etc.
Anon says
+1 our schools start late July/very early August and kids are just done by spring break. I don’t think much learning happens in the fourth quarter.
GCA says
Aww, buddy! Have you spoken to his teacher lately, or other K parents from his class? It could be everyone feeling over the school year (just a few more weeks! – although I would wonder about that because kindergartners don’t necessarily have the best grasp of time passing). It could be something else going on in the classroom that he isn’t sharing or has forgotten about – one year, we discovered at the very end of the school year that there was a student in my son’s class with significant behavioral challenges, and we found out only because close family friends whose kid was in the same class had mentioned it in passing.
Anon says
My kindergartner and her class have a count down to the last day. They’re super aware the end of the year is very close.
anon says
My kid was like this. She picked up the academic stuff really quickly, so probably could have learned everything she needed to learn in 15 minutes a day, but instead she spent many hours sitting at a desk when all she wanted to do was play, pretend and run around. She hated school and we had a lot of refusal. I can’t tell you that kindergarten got easier, but it did get better in 1st grade with maturity and more difficult content that she found more engaging, and was much better in 2nd.
If you son can read well, that’s been a savior for my daughter. She started bringing her own chapter books and would read when she was bored and waiting for others to finish. We also started getting her exercise and playground time before school and that helped, too.
OP says
He reads at close to a 2nd grade level (for now), so this is a good point. I’ll take GCA’s advice and ping his teacher and a parent or two, and then I’ll see if we can do something supplementary like you mentioned.
In 1st grade he’ll have 2 main teachers (vs. 1) and I think it’ll be a lot more brand new material, so I can see his case being similar to your daughter.
Anon says
Do they do any differentiation? My K’s class has several reading groups so there are kids reading chapter books and kids still struggling with the “Cat sat on Pat” books.
Anonymous says
I’ll just add that reading at school really isn’t about differentiation for my daughter, but escapism. She told me she doesn’t want to be at school, but when she is reading a book she is able to travel somewhere else and not be bored.
She’s in 5th grade now and reads a couple of hundred pages of her novel each day at school, while still finishing her classwork and homework with near perfect scores. No additional differentiation is available, so that’s where we are. Hopefully she gets more to do next year in middle school.
Anonymous says
This was me and it makes me sad just to read this :(.
Anonymous says
Yeh unfortunately kindergarten used to be a lot more fun30 years ago. There was a LOT more time for centers/play/rest than modern day kindergarten. FWIW we actually homeschool and even my one kid is ready to be done for the year (and this is common with her friends too!). I think it’s just everyone getting ready for summer.
anon says
yep, we go back and forth with various kids between a homeschool-friendly private school and full homeschool, and my school-attending kids are so done… thankfully school pivots at this point in the year to preparing for the spring festival (theater, music, games, sports) so they are not doing much deskwork anymore, but even so I have been letting my kindergartener stay home regularly… she’s getting about two days a week of school which is about right for her (ordinarily she would go three days a week).
Anonymous says
Couple thoughts:
1) talk to the teacher, see what he’s like in school. Some of this might just be end of year complaining, but it might not be.
2) he may grow out of it- one of mine hated school for two years.
3) he may never like school. My 3rd grader tells anyone who asks that her favorite subject is dismissal, followed by lunch, then recess, then gym. She’s a smart kid and a good student, but she just DNGAF about school.
Anon says
It sounds there’s more going on with OP’s kid, but agree it’s completely normal for a kid – even a bright, academically inclined one – to say their favorite subjects are recess, lunch, gym, art , etc. They’re kids, it’s normally for them to want to play with their friends.
Anon says
I think smart kids and good students often dislike school the most since it holds them back and wastes their time more.
Anon says
How soon did you start showing? It’s not my first pregnancy, but it’s the first that’s made it past 10 weeks. I’m 10w5d now and debating constantly whether this is bloat (I think it is…) or if there’s a bump.
Anon says
Bloating is showing, imo. Everyone knew I was pregnant at 8-9 weeks, but it wasn’t my uterus (which is still in your pelvis at that point).
Anon says
With my first I did get a little puffy during first trimester but didn’t really show until second trimester…and even looking at pictures of me at 20 weeks it was barely apparent. By my fourth, I showed sooner but still didn’t have a real bump until early second trimester, but then the bump grew more quickly. If you are short or petite you may show sooner.
busybee says
With my first, I was thick from 8-20 weeks but no real bump till then. I was still being given wine menus at restaurants at 20 weeks. It was obvious to people who knew me that I had gained weight though, especially in my face
With my twins, a clear bump at 8 weeks, no lie
What’s weird is that my body was the same pre pregnancy in both cases, but I showed at very different times.
TheElms says
Hoping for the best for you with this pregnancy! With my first, somewhere between 10 and 12 weeks my pants were definitely all too tight consistently (as opposed to between 6 and 10 weeks where I felt it came and went a bit more like traditional bloat) but I didn’t have a bump until around 18-20 weeks. I was just thicker through the middle a bit between 10 weeks and 20 weeks.
Anonymous says
It shows in your face instantly.
Anon says
I have no torso, and naturally skew thick waisted, so with both pregnancies I think I showed on the earlier side, I want to say 10-12 weeks.
Congratulations <3
Anonymous says
I was thin with my first and had a bump at 10 weeks, clearly showing to co-workers by 13 weeks. My second had a lot of bloat and I looked 20 weeks when I was like 14 weeks.
Anon says
Thanks all! I’m petite and started pregnancy overweight – maybe that’s impacting things. Sadly my pants were tight in the thighs and calves too even though the number on the scale hasn’t changed yet. Time to size up.
Anon says
Shopping Rec:
I’ll be bringing my baby to a visitation soon and I’m stumbling on finding an appropriate outfit for him. Baby boy options are already so limited. Everything I’m finding is either really Summer themed and casual, has sharks or dinosaurs on it, or looks super uncomfortable (ex. denim). His outfit doesn’t need to be super formal (Grandma was not catholic). I’m sure my extended family is not going to be judging his outfit much. My son is also pretty large for his age. He’s almost 6 months and is filling out 9 month outfits in length and width.
For reference, I normally buy his clothes at Target because it’s convenient. Has anyone seen anything cute lately that fits the bill or have any recommendations?
Anon says
I don’t know what you mean by a visitation
Anonymous says
+1 this word is confusing. Visitation implies you’re taking him to see his biological family. Do you mean a wake? Or sometimes I’ve heard it called a viewing?
Anon says
OP – Oh I can see the confusion now. In our area (Northern Midwest) often times the funeral home calls viewings/or a wake a visitation.
Anonymous says
Where we live, visitation = viewing at the funeral home the day before the funeral service.
anon says
agree, in MN/IA/SD “visitation” is what happens the day before the funeral.
Anon says
+1 – No idea what this meant! I googled this and it defined it as visiting someone in jail, which I don’t think OP meant ;)
anon says
Sorry for your loss.
H&M usually has neutral/ darker baby clothes. I would just go with gray pants and a plain onesie or a long pant jumper.
https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.1226728002.html
TheElms says
Primary has baby polo rompers in navy. That seems appropriate to me if its warm where you are. If not they have elastic waist chinos which you could put with any solid darker onsie / shirt you have.
https://www.primary.com/products/baby-pique-polo-shorite?variant=41536246546491&color=dark-navy&size=6-12&utm_content=Baby+pique+polo+shortie&utm_source=googlepaid&utm_medium=ads&utm_campaign=PerformanceMax_BabyPromo&utm_term=FREE20&gclid=CjwKCAjw88yxBhBWEiwA7cm6pT1TYYY6p9YpiLF_ooYDpQZsHVEHfnO4QKnfb374lWwBxkhyYRBT9xoC2yUQAvD_BwE
Anon says
The Gap? Little Planet? Or try some of those “sad beige clothing for sad beige children” brands.
Anonymous says
how old? <4ish months, just put him in a dark colored sleeper with feet. 6-10 months: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.1227649002.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw88yxBhBWEiwA7cm6pflt0gDDon_WLKJ76wbcEESK3aMNo865Pk-ux_IaAhnDN4RFWCHdIhoCDiMQAvD_BwE
A little older- like, walking around, i'd try for pants + a shirt if it's a catholic thing.
https://www.carters.com/carters-baby-boy-one-pieces/194133472152.html?cm_mmc=pla.car.us.visitation.Carters+-+US+-+Shopping+-+PMAX+-+Baby+-+Boy.71700000105635151…google..pmax&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw88yxBhBWEiwA7cm6petVz8bnFIN1twbW-GqYkPEEWF2i61zBrq0h5KxCvuTrpwk4EHS5bBoChPUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Anonymous says
Have you checked Jacadi or somewhere like that? I don’t think you need something dark colored so much as you need something nicer looking.
Anon says
https://www.target.com/p/carter-39-s-just-one-you-174-baby-boys-39-seersucker-top-38-bottom-set-blue-white-9m/-/A-90149580
This minus the hat? Or this one
https://www.target.com/p/carter-39-s-just-one-you-174-baby-boys-39-3pc-top-38-bottom-set-navy-blue-white-9m/-/A-90149587
I’m sorry for your loss
anon says
Sorry for your loss. I wouldn’t worry too much, and would prioritize comfort. That said, my son had a onesie with a “tie” applique and it was so dang cute. Googling shows a lot of them on etsy. Or, if you want to buy something formal try resale since you probably will only use it once! Again though, I wouldn’t feel obligated to put a baby in something uncomfortable or expensive for a one day thing.
anon says
Hope & Henry is where we get dressy outfits for our baby. They’re inexpensive and washable and look nice without being over the top and fussy. Target sells some of their line but I just order from the website. The baby stuff is TTS so I would buy 9 month based on how you describe your child.
Cb says
My son is watching Pokemon, and the voices are so high pitched, I feel like the neighbourhood dogs are howling.
What is your least favourite kid show?
Anonymous says
100% pokemon.
Anon says
Blippi
Anon says
That guy is so creepy. He has no credentials in children’s education and a checkered history.
Anon says
Yes! And he does weird things on the show like chase after buses in the street and litter.
Anonymous says
Bluey. I imagine my daughter sitting in a therapist’s office 30 years from now blaming all her troubles on the fact that she was not raised by Bandit and Chilli.
Anon says
Haha I feel this one! My husband is Bandit in human form and the show definitely reinforces my guilt about the fact that I’m not.
Anonymous says
You don’t need to be Bandit. Aim for Chili, join the games sometimes when it suits you, but with a little more boundary enforcement. Bandit is great, but his flaw is he says yes to his kids too often sometimes.
GCA says
Paw Patrol hands down. (Paws down?)
Anon says
Paw Patrol has the DUMBEST plots. They don’t hold together in the least. Plus all the adults are inept. We went through our phase with my olders, but it’s more or less banned for the younger one
Spirograph says
My kids have outgrown paw patrol, thank goodness, but all of this.
(Although, I do kind of love Chickoletta.)
anon says
Their books stink too. I’ve found bad typos/grammar errors and it annoys me.
Anon says
Yeah I’ve never really seen the show (my kids watched, I just never paid attention) but the Paw Patrol books are uniquely terrible compared to pretty much every other book based on a show/movie. Terrible grammar and incoherent, mind-numbingly boring plots. I read a lot of both Peppa and Daniel books and while they’re not great literature they were way more tolerable.
anon says
I am so troubled by Paw Patrol. Where are Ryder’s parents? Doesn’t anyone in Adventure Bay object to the fact that all of their emergency services have been outsourced to talking puppies?
An.On. says
Lellobee, which is the worse version of Bebefinn, which itself is the worse version of Cocomelon, which already is pretty annoying.
Lydia says
hahahaha YES. although there are also some really weird terrible but fascinating knockoffs on youtube that get deeply weird (we fell into them looking for stupid little potty training songs)…like some that I think are Russian? also, I think Baby JoyJoy is even worse than Lellowee.
An.On. says
My in-laws haven’t found that one yet, thank goodness
Anon says
Fancy Nancy
TheElms says
I also detest the Fancy Nancy books.
anon says
Cocomelon
Anon says
Big Tree City, which is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
anon says
Peppa Pig and Daniel Tiger. Would love to see a cage match between the two and see who wins. I think Peppa might take it.
Anon says
Really? I love both of these haha!
Anonymous says
I’m 6 weeks pregnant and haven’t told people yet, and my friend just invited me to a concert that will be happening in 4 months (that normally I’d be happy to attend). What should I tell her? Google says pregnant people should avoid loud concerts, and it also just sounds like it’d be exhausting to be standing around for 2-3 hours so I’d prefer to skip.
Anonymous says
I went to a Taylor Swift concert at 8 months pregnant and it was really fun. Fine if you want to skip for other reasons, but Google probably says pregnant people should stay indoors wrapped in a bubble for nine months too, so I wouldn’t take that as gospel.
Anon says
I wouldn’t avoid a concert just because I’m pregnant but I understand avoiding one of you think you’ll be uncomfortable.
If you don’t want to go I’d just say that you have a conflict and aren’t sure if you can go, so she should go ahead and get tickets without you
Anon says
Yeah I went to concerts pregnant. My high risk OB was fine with it.
Anon says
I’d be noncommittal until the time is closer. I don’t think it sounds fun at that stage either (first trimester fatigue is influencing me), but I know plenty of pregnant women who do go to concerts and enjoy them.
Anon says
I don’t think loud concerts are an issue. I did go to a concert in August when I was very pregnant and felt like I was going to die because it was so hot. I was beyond miserable and went looking for the first aid tent, never made it there, and ended up icing myself down with the help of some very nice people and ice from their cooler. It wasn’t great.
I’d just say that the date doesn’t work for you, but thanks for thinking of you.
Cerulean says
I would go unless it were the tail end of pregnancy, when i just wanted to put my feet up when I had downtime. My husband was concerned about sound when I was near some power tools, but my OB said she would only be concerned if it were a regular thing, like working in a loud environment. I felt great for the middle part of pregnancy, and concerts will be harder to go to for a bit when you have a little one!
Anon says
I would not have thought twice about attending a concert at 4-5 months pregnant.
Anonymous says
Is it a stadium concert where you can get seats vs be on the floor? Then you can sit if you need to.
Anonymous says
If you don’t want to go just say “thanks but not for me this time”
Anonymous says
I went to a concert at a big stadium at 7 months pregnant. There was a lightning storm and we all had to stand (yes stand) in the baking hot hallways for nearly two hours until the storm passed. Getting home was a nightmare, because public transit had stopped by the time the concert ended and the line for Uber involved thousands of people. All of which to say… maybe skip it.
anon says
I’m the one who posted about the miserable concert experience above. I think heat is the #1 thing to consider for a summer or early fall concert. Overheating can hit you very hard when you are pregnant. I’d put access to bathrooms and a place to sit at #2 and #3. How loud the concert will be doesn’t even make the list.
anon says
Huh?? You can definitely go to concerts pregnant! I attended many over 3 pregnancies. You likely won’t be exhausted at 4-5 months and honestly you should go while it’s easy (read: you don’t have a baby!) if you like the artist + friend.
Let me say it again, go while it’s easy. Maybe you sit for more songs than normal or take bathroom breaks more frequently? But unless you’re going to be in a pit at the warped tour you’re fine.
Anonymous says
The noise and heat would have made me barf, so it’s a no from me.
Momofthree says
If you want to skip, you can just tell her it sounds awesome, normally you’d be happy to go, but you’ve already made other plans (even if those plans are choosing to lounge in your air conditioned couch :)
Anon says
I went to blink 182 8 weeks and ugh. Brutal. I was not feeling well, the place smelled of weed and everyone was drinking. No bueno. I would have loved it otherwise.
We did Zac Brown at 8 months and we had front row of section seats and it was amazinggg. I could sit and still see. Def smelled like weed and lots of drinking but cared a whole lot less. So good.
Go if you want. Don’t go if you don’t want. Just consider the standing/sitting dynamic. That’s the only thing I can think of that I planned for for the second concert that I wish I had for #1 (admittedly we got the tix pre pregnancy).