Accessory Tuesday: Catalina Deluxe Weekender Bag

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.

A gray weekender bag

I’ve had my eye on this weekender from bag expert Lo & Sons for ages. It’s on my holiday wish list, so I hope to unwrap it soon!

This bag has every feature you could imagine — a bottom pocket with a removable padded insert for shoes (or anything else you want separated), a back panel sleeve for suitcase handles, and padded messenger strap. When not in use, it folds flat for easy storage. And, it’s made from either recycled plastic buttons or sustainable canvas (for the same price).

Most colors of the small Catalina Deluxe are on sale for $129 (40% off!). The large is on sale for $135.

Sales of note for 2/7:

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy’s – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+
161 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

yesterday my 4 year old went to change into a princess dress while I was cleaning up dinner and when I reminded her to put her clothes in the hamper she informed me “princesses don’t touch dirty clothes.” i could barely stop myself from laughing

My 2-year-old has the memory of an elephant, unfortunately. I tried to do a toy purge a couple weeks ago, and she started tearing apart her room this past weekend, demanding to know where her giraffe went. She was looking for Sophie, which she hasn’t been interested in in almost a year. Facepalm.

One of my twins keeps taking his pjs and diaper off in the morning. He’s 21 months: he’s been doing it for a couple of weeks now. I don’t really care about the stripping but he’s started peeing in his crib and it’s gross and I don’t have time to wash all his bedding every single day. I tried switching to pull-ups but that didn’t help. I honestly think it’s a sensory thing. What do I do? Start potty training? Take him to the bathroom in the morning? Tape his pjs on? I’m at a loss here.

I’d love to get your insight on my situation! Early on in the pandemic, our family moved several hours away to be close to my parents. We just weren’t able to handle childcare with the daycare closures etc. For the first year, my parents did the vast majority of our childcare (no easy feat). Then they helped out a bit for a few months (occasional daycare drop-offs, weekend babysitting, etc.) However, for the past six months, they have done essentially zero to help us (they see us socially but do not “help” if that makes sense). I completely understand that this is their prerogative. Unfortunately, we can’t seem to make things work without this extra help from my parents. We have a 6 yo in public school and a 1 yo in daycare. We both travel quite a bit for work (plus I have to commute to a city several hours a way once per week). I’m curious what others have done to make things work. I know we could hire more help but I’m a bit at a loss with what I should be asking them to do. Would nanny rather than daycare be better? I’m even starting to consider staying at home and wondering what factors to consider on that front. Any and all advice is appreciated!!!

AITA? My kid has always had a hard time standing still in one place. He likely has undiagnosed sensory issues, which I’m working to get him into an OT for more testing. His second grade teacher leads a daily activity where the kids have to stand up and do hand motions while they are repeating phonic lessons. The activity lasts about 5 minutes. My kid has reported to me several times that it is difficult for him to stand up during the entire exercise, so I asked his teacher if he can have a wobble seat during the activity. I just got off the phone with the teacher, and it’s pretty clear she thinks IATA.

From her perspective, the science of this activity says that standing up is better than sitting because it engages the brain differently. She confirmed that kid kind of slumps against his desk and does not participate. My suggestion is that they try a wobble seat for a week, and see if he does a better job with hand motions and repeating the words. She is ‘very concerned’ that he cannot stand up in one spot for 6 minutes, but agreed to try the wobble seat – likely to get me off the phone. She has not reported (and did not report today) any other disruptive behavior in the classroom (he is a pretty shy/quiet kid overall). My husband also thinks that he should just be able to stand up and learning to do things you don’t want to do is part of growing up. I think he is legitimately struggling with standing up, and if he engages better with the other parts of the activity (hand motions and verbalizing) while on a wobbly seat, isn’t that a better outcome than slumping against the desk and zoning out?

For context, this is the first time I have asked any teachers for an accommodation for my kids — and I am on year 5 of kids being in public schools. My family are all educators, and I really try not to overstep teachers in the classroom.

Does anyone else have family that doesn’t follow through on what they say they’re going to do?

My parents are lovely people who live a hour away. They constantly are making and then cancelling plans at the last minute. I try so hard not to count on them coming when they say they will and not to tell the kids ahead of time, etc. But it’s hard in a tough stage of life with little kids to have someone offer help, say they’re coming, and then … maybe come or maybe not. They always have a reason (or list of reasons) that they use to justify their last minute change of plans. And I always tell myself I don’t know what they’re going to do and I just have to be flexible and not ever count on them. But man, I am so jealous of people who have reliable support systems. They have local grandkids who they show up for much more reliably, which adds to the sting.

This is a recurring problem that I have mostly learned to shrug off with moderate annoyance. But I’m having a tough week of solo parenting little kids with some other challenges making everything even harder than normal. I needed them to show up, like they offered to do and said they were going to do. And instead I get a list of excuses and “we know you need help, and I just feel so bad but….” And I just .. can’t.

Reading the NYT article this morning about couples who stayed married but the wife moved out to have her own space and independence and…. wow, is that resonating with parts of me. I wish I didn’t live in a VHCOL area and could easily afford to do that. I love my husband but I miss the person I was before becoming a wife and a mother and am not really sure how to find her again.

I share custody of my elementary aged daughter. This morning she tested positive for covid while at her dad’s house. It sounds like he’s making her wear a mask in the house. This makes me irrationally upset. I want to bring her back to my house immediately and take the hit if I get covid, but my partner’s immune compromised mom’s birthday is this weekend and THE ONLY THING SHE WANTS is for her 3 children to come over for dinner, so I need to do my best to keep my partner healthy. Tell me making a kid wear a mask at home isn’t going to traumatize her??

Does anyone have recs for long shorts for young boys with a small waist that will cover most of their legs? My four-year-old refuses to wear pants, which normally in SoCal would be fine, but it’s been particularly cold this winter thus far. I’m thinking back to my teens in the 90s when guys would wear super baggy cargo shorts that almost reached their calves. He wears a 4T or XS in boys. Thanks in advance!

This is one of those, “Would you say something?”/ “As as parent would you want to know?” questions…
My ten year old moved school this year. The main reason her old school wasn’t a good fit was because there was one boy (T) who was constantly calling her stupid and getting the other kids in the class to do likewise. This was in a magnet program, so the kids had been together since kindergarten and she wouldn’t have been able to move to a different classroom in that same school. We had brought this up with the teacher and the teacher’s response was: “Maybe we will have a lesson during our socio-emotional unit about being kind to fellow classmates.” The teacher also didn’t move my child to another table and kept her sitting at a table where she was constantly being referred to as “stupid” (Teacher’s philosophy was that kids who were more advanced would help those who were struggling. It didn’t work.) My kid tried not to make it about T, saying that T’s parents put a lot of pressure on him to do well in school and that T frequently freaks out when he’s doesn’t have the best grades in the class, saying his parents will be angry with him. So my kid didn’t want T to get in anymore trouble. Anyhow, we pulled our kid out of the magnet program into our home district school and she is much happier. She said she thought she was stupid but at her new school she just realized that she really wasn’t.
So now, T’s mother is the room parent of the old school, and she’s been emailing about holiday gifts for the teachers. I do need to tell her to take us off her mailing list, but… I’m debating whether or not to tell her that her son is the reason my child was miserable and left the program. On the one hand I don’t know what it would accomplish other than getting it off my chest because I am genuinely angry about this. On the other – do people/ parents want to know when their kids are being mean? Or is this water under the bridge/stay out of it kind of situation?
Thoughts?

Need tips for helping a nearly 5 year old emotions around classmates and friends. My daughter was recently at the playground and saw a friend from school (girl A). My kid asked A if she wanted to play and A just ignored her. My kid kept asking and then tears, so many tears. She also broke down and told me that another classmate, B (boy) “ignores” her and B said he isn’t coming to her birthday party

I have seen her play well with A before. B I don’t know all that well. And I have seen my daughter herself shun another boy C because he is no longer in her after school program

I have expressed empathy that it is hard etc, given hugs, but I’m not sure I’m really empowering her to deal with these things. I also ordered some books on being kind, brave and strong. I worry she’s been the mean girl or acted out, and is getting avoided, honestly – she and A seem competitive with each other. Any other advice for helping through this stage?

I definitely did not just add a task I’ve already completed to my to do list to make it look more impressive. How’s your day going?

Has anyone managed to hold onto “big” hobbies (e.g., running marathons, competitive master’s swimming) after having kids? If so, what worked for you in terms of structuring your routine and schedule and trading off with your partner (if you have one)? I’m finding that I’m struggling to find the time to make the plans that are needed to support my hobby, which is leading to empty weekends where I had a chance to make something happen, but didn’t. Tips welcome.

tips for handling the influx of toys/stuff from the holidays? Hanukkah starts on Sunday and I realized my kids will each be receiving 2-4 gifts per night, which is just so much stuff! Do you let your kids open all at once? do you try to grab stuff and put it aside for a future rainy day?

I don’t know if I’m looking for advice, or just need to gripe, but I am absolutely dreading spending Christmas Day with my DH’s extended family. Once you factor in all the adults and kids, it’s 30 people crammed into his aunt’s house. And they are all very, very loud people who think they’re hilarious, and it’s even worse after everyone starts drinking and playing card games. My young teen has told me, several times, how uncomfortable he is when we spend holidays with this group. And I am too, to be honest. I’ve been part of this family for 20 years and still struggle to find conversational topics with these relatives.

The only way to get away from the fray is to take a walk outside; there is no place to hide. DH doesn’t love this gathering, but I think he feels obligated to do it, plus my MIL puts pressure on him to maintain relationships with this side of the family now that his dad has passed. MIL is pretty undemanding so he listens. On the bright side, at least I’m not taking little kids here anymore, which was its own kind of hell. But it really is deeply un-fun and I feel like I have to suck it up because we alternate Christmas Day between his family and mine and so that’s already a compromise to not do it every year. I think one reason why my dander is up because I feel like his aunt wants us all there so she can have this storybook big-family gathering. It’s hard to explain, but I feel like we’re props.

I’ve thought about taking separate cars, even though it’s 45 minutes away, so DS and I can leave after 3-4 hours and DH can stay longer if he wants. It would raise eyebrows but I’m not sure that I care. Any other ideas on how to make this less awful.