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This is a pretty maternity dress available at Amazon. I really like the longer cap-sleeve style and the longer length hemline — exactly the style I wanted while I was pregnant. I also really like the higher neck. My favorite part is that the material says that it is stretchy, and the way it fits over the belly section to be gathered on the side by an oversized bow. This dress comes in 36 different patterns, so you’re bound to find one that catches your eye. The pattern shown is my favorite and is $34.99 in all sizes and eligible for Prime and free returns. (The other patterns are $19.99 and up.) Cap-Sleeve Maternity Dress with Adjustable Side Tie PinkBlush has an option in plus sizes. Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines. This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here.Thank you so much for your support!Sales of note for 3.28.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
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- Nordstrom: Give $150 in gift cards, earn a $25 promo card (ends 3/31)
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- Zappos – 37,000+ 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 entire site
- Hanna Andersson – 30% off all swim; up to 30% off HannaJams
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off sitewide; 50% off select swim; 50% off kids’ styles
- Old Navy – 50% off Easter deals
- Target – 20% off Easter styles for all; up to 30% off kitchen & dining; BOGO 50% off shoes & slippers for the family;
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anonanonanon says
I’m sure it will be slow today, so I might repost tomorrow, but what tips have you learned from commenters here that you’ve implemented and found to be game-changers, or that you now share with others? A few of mine below:
-When I was TTC my second, someone mentioned putting aside some money for every negative pregnancy test to save up for something fun, like a trip to visit a friend across the country. I did with the goal that at 12 months I would take the trip. I conceived after 9 and had a nice chunk of cash for nice maternity clothes.
-The “Balance is a crock sleep is for the weak” book often recommended here had a tip that was helpful for me- every now and then I throw a cooler with some ice packs in it in my trunk and take a “lunch break” (which I rarely ever do) to do some quick grocery shopping. I also occasionally “take lunch” for other kid-related errands (picking up the school supplies I ordered from Target, buying new baseball cleats, etc.)
Cb says
Good question – I think the idea that all feelings are okay, all behaviours are not has been most influential on my thinking as a parent.
And at a purely practical level, the idea of buying a single style of socks and prepping kid’s clothes for the week.
I also appreciate reading stories and strategies from parents of older kids.
H13 says
I am a big fan of the “all feeling are ok, all behaviors are not” idea too. Also, having my kids sleep in the next day’s clothes.
Anon says
Join a buy nothing group to be able to quickly get rid of all the outgrown items. Our house was getting filled up much quicker than we could empty it before I joined our group. The buy nothing members come and pick up things from my porch – so much easier than planning a Goodwill trip with an infant. And the additional feeling that it’s going to the neighborhood is a good one.
Read a parenting book before giving birth. I’m not talking “what to expect”. I’m talking sleep training, positive reinforcement etc. There was zero time to do this with an infant or a toddler. Yes, you will forget some stuff but the philosophy will remain. And for goodness sakes, have your spouse read it too!
Find unwinding strategies that take five minutes or less. For me it’s playing one of the lumosity style games or having a very quick chat with a friend or a family member. I would literally call and say “tell me a story, I have a five minute break from the baby” and everyone got used to it and would save stories for me. It’s crazy how isolating the first few weeks can be and even hearing benign watercooler gossip really helped.
Before you have the baby, make a list of non-drinking places with “happy hour” – many cafes and bakeries will sell their pastries for half off at 2pm before closing. It’s such a treat to get out of the house but also you’re not earning money on mat leave so any savings help. And it’s fun to explore new places.
Start thinking about how you will fit in exercise after going back to work. So many moms give up exercise upon returning from leave and this is just terrible for your physical and mental health. You don’t start getting exercise as part of playing with the child until they are around 1.5-2 and then it ramps up fast. You don’t want to be out of shape when they’re asking you to chase them around the park!
One item that was a surprise to me is that children don’t understand time until they’re like 6. They do start to understand time spans around 4. Until then, everything in the past is yesterday and everything in the future is tomorrow. It’s worth reading about this in advance so you can understand your child’s perspective on life better. “After this bed” is a phrase in common usage in our house.
Don’t stop learning for yourself. We spend so much time learning about kids and hanging out with them, it’s hard to focus on industry trends and new technologies. You don’t want to be looking for a new job to move closer to that amazing elementary school just to realize all your wider industry knowledge and skills are from pre-baby years. America doesn’t recognize this excuse.
Anonymous says
Oh my gosh I love the time tip!! My 2.5 year old refers to everything as “yesterday” in the past and this makes so much sense nkw
FVNC says
The most valuable tip for me has been the reminder not to keep score with my spouse re: childcare and housework, and that “fair” does not always mean “equal” (and changes/shifts over time!). Also, all the sleep tips and general validation/sanity checks. Invaluable.
Irish Midori says
Buy a roomba.
Anon says
Good morning! Can anyone recommend a good front door mat? I’d rather it was functional instead of cute. We live near a sandy beach and have wood floors- thanks!
Jocelyn says
Best mat is the LL Bean waterhog mat, it’s stupid expensive BUT I have had mine for 6 years and it still looks brand new . They are basically indestructible and they keep all the salt, dirt and crud off of our wood floors. I think LL Bean is even having a Columbus day sale so you should be able to get some $$ off too.
Anon says
This x 1000
Ms B says
Cosign. We have three; highly recommend. Buy one to try; then stock up when they do their Black Friday/pre-winter holiday flash special.
AwayEmily says
YES agree, these things are amazing and I also love that you can get them in pretty much any size so it can fit in oddly shaped entryways.
Case of the Mondays says
I like this dress–just ordered it in teal plaid! I think it will be cute with black tights and a black blazer for fall. Feeling more and more whale-like, so cute clothes are a pick-me-up.
Anonymous says
I lived in dresses like this when I was pregnant. Motherhood Maternity had a similar style at that time that came in a handful of patterns, and I bought them all!
anon says
They sell these dresses on Zulily all the time btw
Pogo says
I love the idea of these, but bc of price point my guess is they’re not the nicest fabric. I suppose if you’re only wearing them for <9mos its ok though!
Brightening Serum says
Long story short, I’m probably going to need to switch to Cetaphil on my face for the winter. It’s the only moisturizer that cuts it during the dry season for me. But I feel like it also makes my face dull, so I want to use it in conjunction with a brightening serum or oil or something. Any recommendations? Budget is $35ish. Thanks!
Anonymous says
Have you tried the Secret Sauce moisturizer by IT Cosmetics?
Cb says
I’ve been using a cleansing balm and it makes such a difference on my dry skin. Mine is a small British brand but I think you can find more and more of them.
Anonanonanon says
Have you considered a facial oil? I’m a huge fan of the marula oil from drunk elephant. It only takes a little bit- I’ve been using one from their “the littles” kit for literal months now. I mix it with the vitamin C serum for daytime. I find applying it alone is a little too oily, but a tiny pump with a serum works wonders. You could try their “NightBright Duo” (AHA/BHA nighttime treatment and a thing of the oil) or their “out of office” kit (the oil, a lip balm, and a liquid bronzer) which is relatively inexpensive.
FWIW I was using Cetaphil for a bit and my face has never looked duller.
Snow Boots? says
Any recommendations for toddler snow boots? Last year we got Bogs which were great, but just exploring my options. (And groaning a bit at spending $50 on snow boots for a 2 year old.) Also, how is it winter already – so glad I don’t live in North Dakota right now.
So Anon says
When my kids were younger, I always went with the snow boots from Target. They were much cheaper than Bogs, were nice and light, and handled our winters well (northern New England).
JTM says
We live in Minnesota, so lots of snow for several months, and we had great success with the Cat & Jack snow boots from Target last year. Looks like they just hit the website so they are probably just hitting stores too.
anon says
Was coming to post a similar question, with a slight twist: we live in Texas. So mostly kiddo (21 mos, baby shoe size 4) needs shoes that can handle wet days but aren’t too unwieldy to wear inside at daycare all day. We use natives in the summer, but those aren’t great once it cools off. Also, PSA: do not leave Natives in a hot car…they shrink :/.
AwayEmily says
The “waterproof yet comfy toddler shoe” is a holy grail shoe that I have never found…instead I usually just leave an extra pair of shoes at daycare so if one pair gets wet he can change into those.
Anonymous says
Have you tried waterproof hiking shoes?
Anonymous says
We do a pair of Keen sneakers a lot in the winter. They might be a bit much in Texas, though. In the Midwest they work well for being warmer and more waterproof than regular sneakers.
Cb says
Yep, agreed. I just leave a few pairs of shoes at nursery and they swap them when he gets wet. He has a pair of wellies there for excursions or serious puddle jumping.
anon says
For those who are still following, we landed on the Ugg Kristjan Chukka Sneaker. Not entirely waterproof but we’ll spray them with Scotchguard. Looks (slightly) outrank functionality on in our case because it’s two aunties (me and my sis) buying for our niece :). We enjoy keeping her in very cute shoes!
Anon says
We like the Cat and Jack toddler ones from Target. The Valmai ones this year look most similar to what we got last year. Kiddo was in a 7 last year; I just ordered her a 10 for this year. They are $30 and worked great for our mid-atlantic occasionally snowy climate. She also wears her totes cirrus rain boots all season long.
So Anon says
Court date is tomorrow for my ex’s motion to reduce child support. Ugh. Even though I have been in court more times than I can count on a professional basis, going to court on personal stuff is totally different. I am taking the whole day off tomorrow, because when I try and work after these things is when I tend to make careless errors. And because I am taking tomorrow off, I need to work today. My mom is taking my kids on a grand adventure today, and I really wish I could be there too, which just adds to the anger/resentment soup towards the ex.
Anonymous says
Good luck!
Irish Midori says
I’m so sorry. Sending you good vibes!
Butter says
I am hitting the second tri and am running out of clothes to wear on the weekends. A few things are happening at once – my stomach is expanding, the temps are dropping and it is COLD, and I’m losing any desire to wear tight/constricting/non-stretchy fabrics on any part of my legs or waist, including jeans. So far that has left me with Lou & Grey signature sweats, but I could probably use a few more options, ideally not leggings. Any recs?
Anon says
Sweater dresses.
anon says
I think yoga pants are your answer, except you said no leggings. High rise lululemons stretch well but are still snug-ish. Unfortunately, they are $$$ but they are so stretchy you can probably wear them well past delivery and maybe even when you get close to your pre-preg size.
DLC says
When I was pregnant, I lived in my NoGa stretch pant from Duluth trading company. They’re like yoga pants- they aren’t maternity pants, but they have a high waisted, wide waistband that accommodates growing bellies. I feel like they are a little sturdier than yoga pants too, so casual but not “I just came from the gym” looking.
https://www.duluthtrading.com/womens-noga-stretch-pants-15771.html?cgid=womens-bottoms&dwvar_15771_color=CYE#start=5&cgid=womens-bottoms
NYCer says
Have you tried maternity jeans with the side panels (not over the stomach)? Those were my absolute go-tos. Incredibly comfortable. I wore them from about 19-20 weeks until the day before giving birth.
rosie says
Joggers? I ordered a pair from @m@zon for about $20 but they have not arrived yet so cannot recommend anything specific. Also looked like Old Navy had some. You said no leggings, but I do love the terry-lined Pea in a Pod leggings I have, either with a tunic or I’m fine with thick leggings as pants in pregnancy (sorry not sorry).
Anonymous says
I wore and loved maternity overalls from H&M from the second trimester through the end of pregnancy. I got a huge amount of positive feedback, actually felt pretty cute (YMMV w/r/t your personal style, of course), and found them really really comfortable, even when I just wanted to shoot my maternity jeans into outer space.
Anone says
I am looking for ideas on how to protect my parents’ assets from my parents. A bit of background for context:
My parents are in their late-50’s. I am in my mid-30’s. Between my parents, only my father works, and it is uncertain for how much longer he will be able to do so. Despite earning millions of dollars over his successful career as a lawyer, my parents’ net worth is less than $200k. I doubt I will ever fully understand how that is possible, but severe alcoholism is undoubtedly the primary factor. My mother has spending problems of her own, and is unable to exert the necessary control over their finances or my father. We had modest success cleaning things up a few years ago with strict budgeting, but after my father regressed again and ran up more spending and debt, they are back to square one.
My goal: setting up a legal/financial structure that safeguards their assets from them, as well as from potential future creditors. I realize that the preferable course would be to treat the alcoholism, but that (1) is out of my control, and (2) is unlikely if decades of treatment, rehab, therapy, and some jail time has not done the trick. I am in damage-control mode, and can only hope to shield some money so that my mother’s financial future is not forfeited as well. They each realize something drastic needs to be done, and are on board for whatever the solution must be.
My initial thought was to set up a spendthrift trust that I would manage for them as beneficiaries. His paychecks would be deposited into the trust account, and the trust would disburse set monthly amounts to them to pay bills and living expenses. Excess money would go to pay off their house and invest in their IRAs. Does this seem like the beginning of feasible solution?
Please let me know if you’ve been through anything similar and have ideas. Many thanks.
Anonymous says
Go see a good trusts and estates attorney with elder law expertise together. This raises complicated legal, tax, and Medicare issues and is well beyond being something you can do yourself with google.
anon says
This. EVEN IF you are an attorney. You need a specialist. I’d say a very high-quality elder law attorney (many focus solely on Medicaid planning, which is not necessarily the best idea at this point IMO) or an estate planning attorney with a bit of experience in the elder law arena (many do, though some don’t).
Source: am an estate-planning attorney and have seen my fair share of disasters created by non-specialist lawyers.
Anon says
This.
Anon says
How do you dress your kids for daycare when it will be 40 at their morning stroller walk and 65 at afternoon playground time? I don’t know why I’m finding this so challenging, but I guess it’s been a really long time (since college, really) that I had to dress for the weather, since I’m so used to commuting by car and spending all day in a climate-controlled office. And I feel like you need to dress quite a bit more warmly for a 40 degree stroller walk than for playing outside in 40 degrees, since you’re just sitting there and not running around.
Em says
Pants with a long-sleeve shirt, and send them with a zip-up jacket and coat (with thin gloves). Ask the daycare to put them in the gloves and coat for the walk, and then the zip-up jacket (if necessary) for the afternoon.
Anonymous says
Fleece jacket and hat, or two fleece jackets if it’s windy or truly 40. Then they may not wear any jacket at afternoon playtime.
Cb says
I do a light puffer which comes off and on at nursery. Also, I have a cozy toes on the stroller when it’s really cold.
Pogo says
Kiddo wears pants, t-shirt, zip-up cardigan + fleece jacket. I then layer a blanket over him in the stroller. He will not wear gloves yet (hoping when it’s actually frigid he will relent). Most times when I pick him up he is wearing the cardigan but not the jacket.
anon says
On days like this, I sometimes pack two jackets: a light puffer for the morning, and a fleece for the afternoon. Pants and long-sleeve shirt underneath everything. Hat and mittens stay in the cubby.