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When I want to buy something trendy that I know will go out of style in a season or two, I always check the youthful/inexpensive/teen brands at the department stores. This season, I’ve been tempted by the “teddy bear” coats I’ve been seeing everywhere. They look so comfortable, and even though my first reaction was “Huh?” they’ve grown on me. Some versions of this trend still make me scratch my head, but I like this one from Kensie. It’s super fluffy and has a wide lapel and hidden closures. I wouldn’t wear it with professional pants as it is styled here, but I think it would look cute with a dark wash pair of jeans. It’s $128 (regular sizes)/$168 (plus sizes) at Nordstrom. Faux Shearling Coat 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 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
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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?
FVNC says
Inspired by the recent comments about using “ok to wake” clocks for young toddlers, I am going to purchase one for my ever-earlier-rising 20 month old (thanks, time change!). Does anyone have the more expensive Hatch or Little Hippo clocks, rather than the basic $20 Mirari and similar models? Just trying to determine if the extra $30-40 is worth it. Thanks!
Hoodie recommendation? says
We have OK to Wake clocks for both our 10 – month old and our 2.5 year old…we started with both when they were around 5 months old. They work fine, and for both kids it took them about a week to catch on. Sometimes I do wish I had the remote capacity so I could switch the clock to turn green later if it seemed like the kids were sleeping in, but realistically my kids sleep in like four days out of the entire year so probably not worth it for us.
These clocks are game-changers. good luck!
AwayEmily says
oops that was me. this new website is too good at remembering your other names! (also thanks for the hoodie recommendations the other day — I am ordering one of the lou and gray ones and also a zella one to try!).
KW says
Wait, you got your 5 month old(s) to use an ok to wake clock?? That’s incredible. How? Teach me your ways!
Anonymous says
Yeah that seems so advanced! I’m sure my 10 month old could not understand an OK to wake clock.
AwayEmily says
My babies are definitely not advanced (they are very very average) — I think it just works via classical conditioning (Pavlov’s dogs)
Week one: I would set it for a few minutes after the baby’s normal wakeup time (so, some ungodly hour like 4:50am). Then I would come in the SECOND after it turned green (like, literally I would crouch outside looking at the crack under the door to see a tiny sliver of green light) and make a big deal of YAY IT IS MORNING.
Week two: the same thing, but set it for ~10 minutes later.
Week three: ~20 minutes later.
Etc etc
so, they learn to associate “green light” with “parent comes to get me” and don’t cry. At least, that is what happened with my kids. This is not to say they necessarily go back to sleep if they wake up before the clock turns green. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they just chill in their crib. But they do not scream, which is all I can really ask for.
HighLiteMama says
Old reader (10+ years), new [Mama] name.
Piggybacking on this question. I have been putting off ordering the OK to wake clock for my 8 month old because I don’t understand how the lights work.
For instance, blue screen lights at night are bad. Light bulbs above 25 watts after bedtime are bad. Or so I’ve read.
Are the displays on this clock OK??
mascot says
The blue light issue comes more from device screens is what I’ve understood. So I wouldn’t stress unless your kid is watching tv right before bed or playing on their phone (which isn’t an issue for a baby).
We’ve had varying nightlights in our child’s room since birth and it doesn’t seem to affect his sleep. Our OKtoWake clock wasn’t that bright and had a yellow face at night to act as a nightlight.
HighLiteMama says
Good to hear, thanks!
AwayEmily says
The clock is totally dark until it turns green in the morning. Or rather, I think you CAN use it as a nightlight, but the default is just that it emits zero light until the wakeup time, at which point it turns green. We’ve never used ours as a nightlight.
HighLiteMama says
Thanks! Grandparents have been asking what to get for Christmas. Sounds like we have a winner!
CHL says
We have My Tot Clock and it is a blue light at night which has never bothered our kids and is a low-level night light. It can be dimmed to 5 settings or totally turned off. My understanding that it’s not the same kind of “blue light” like a screen is but I am not an expert.
FVNC says
Thanks, all. We have the basic clock for our now 5 yr old, which I think we started using when she was around 3, and still works great. The toddler already has a white noise machine, so maybe we’ll just stick with the basic one for him, too. Thanks for the inputs!
FYI says
Was talking to a friend about this yesterday: she uses a programmable lightbulb. The advantage is that parents can control it from their phones, which means they can play with the timing a little bit.
Anonymous says
Our basic cheap-o solution is an old school plug timer and a spare desk lamp. You can also use a string of Christmas lights.
Anon says
I have the Hatch clock (which we also use as a white noise machine) and a 7 month old. She’s probably too little to understand the simpler OK to wake clocks, but she gets the Hatch clock I think because the noise changes as well as the light. Also the app is awesome – if we need to change the wake up time we can do it super easily so overall the setup is a lot more programmable than the cheaper clocks. That said, with a 20 month old who has better understanding of everything, you may be OK with the cheaper one.
Anon says
I have the Hatch too. Do you have the sound switch off at the same time the light changes or do you have it switch to a different sound? Where in the room do you have it?
Anon says
At night I have it set with no light and just white noise. Then at wakeup I have it set up to switch to green light and the bird noise at the same time. I guess that means it’s set up as more of an alarm clock than an OK to wake clock, but she’s generally awake and just chilling before it switches anyway. It’s about a foot from her crib, and she’s fascinated by it when the magic bird noises are on (doesn’t care about it at all when the white noise is on).
FVNC says
Thanks, this is helpful. The programing on our cheaper ok to wake clock is confusing, but after using it for 2+ years I think I’ve finally got it down. The ability to change settings remotely is appealing, though…hmm.
AnotherAnon says
Two of my cousins had babies in the past few weeks and I’d like to send them each a little care package. What would you send or enjoy receiving? I was thinking along the lines of granola bars and maybe a water bottle? We’re not super close so I’m struggling to think of things that aren’t too personal preference based.
H13 says
Face wipes, lip balm, snacks, mini lotions are all good.
Annie says
Yes, fancy semi healthy snacks – trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit etc.
AwayEmily says
Agreed on snacks. I received a gift package from mouth-dot-com after mine was born and it was awesome — interesting and delicious stuff.
AnotherAnon says
Thank you for the specific rec! I’m kind of at a loss as to what I would buy them myself so I’ll try this!
DLC says
I really appreciated getting a fresh fruit basket after my kid was born. Everyone was bringing us casseroles and freezer meals and I was getting tired of reheated food, so when my friend sent an assorted fruit basket it was amazing.
Anon says
My friend will be giving birth in a couple of weeks. I shopped the black friday sale. I will give a three pair pack organic cotton festive socks, Kiehl’s lip balm, body lotion and face masque. It is less than $50 total.
I am most excited about the gift for the baby, I am knitting an over sized merino wool baby blanket (which will be done today). Cannot wait to see her with the new baby.
H13 says
Sleep regression. 21 months. Hard to put down for bed, up multiple times at night, early wakings, etc. Too tired to write complete sentences.
Help! CIO? Extinction vs. checks? Ride it out?
Anonymous says
Does she/he sleep with a favorite stuffed animal? Our 21 month old has a much easier time falling back asleep after middle of the night wakeups when she can snuggle her bear. Also, is the bedroom warm enough? We have more sleep issues when she’s cold.
Other than that much commiseration! Can you alternate wakeups with your partner?
H13 says
He is way into his lovey and will throw it out of the crib while crying, unfortunately. The temperature issue is something I thought about last night as I was trying to sleep next to his crib. I was legit cold. I’ll work on that tonight.
My husband gets irrationally angry when our kids have sleep issues. I would almost rather deal with the baby than with him. At least for a few more nights. But I have to be guaranteed naps this weekend.
Thank you for the input!
GCA says
“My husband gets irrationally angry when our kids have sleep issues. I would almost rather deal with the baby than with him. ” – are we married to the same man? Mine is very hands-on, shoulders his share of parenting and household responsibilities…except he handles sleep deprivation far worse than I do. He will get up with the baby. But he will also be a grumpy bear in the morning.
Could kiddo be teething or perhaps getting sick? How long has it been going on? Definitely try Advil!
Pogo says
OMG are our husbands all the same dude? lol.
Also, I have a lovey-chucker as well. I don’t understand their logic – the ONE thing that makes you happy and you pitch it out of your crib when angry?
For an older kid, I go in once to see if there is an actual issue that I can assist with – I will retrieve a lovey once. I will tuck back in under blankeys. I will rub your back and turn your panda back on. And then I’m out. Going back in multiple times results in more crying.
My exception is of course if there is an actual reason for the waking, such as being cold or sick. Then I cave and let him come sleep in our bed.
H13 says
Why?! Why do they get so angry? I get how frustrating and awful it is, but anger does not help.
No signs of illness (so far). I am debating between checks and full extinction now. I think one check is reasonable. We’ve always done extinction but have never had to sleep train at this age.
We traveled over Thanksgiving but things seemed ok. It has been maybe about 5 days? I hate this sleep stuff.
AwayEmily says
Blech I’m sorry. Any chances it’s tooth-related? Maybe try some Tylenol or Advil before bed and see if those nights are any better.
H13 says
Worth a shot! I keep trying to see if his two-year molars have started but it is hard to peek in there. I’m so tired I forgot Tylenol was an option. Oy.
Anonymous says
Advil works better for teething for us. Def try!
Anon in NYC says
Run through all of the usual checklists (temp, teething, illnesses, etc.) and if it’s none of those things, my recommendation would be a weighted blanket. We got one when my daughter was around that age and going through a hellish period of sleep and it had immediate positive benefits.
H13 says
Fascinating! I didn’t know you could use them with little ones.
Anonymous says
Definitely check the temperature – we had the issue a few weeks ago when I remembered duh, I need to switch her to fleece pajamas and a fleece wearable blanket (she’s 20 months and the HALO blankets have large enough sizes). If not, I vote sleep training with checks.
anon for this says
Since this is a place full of lawyers who are moms, thought I’d ask if any of you have suggestions for language in a living will about pregnancy. I understand no one can give legal advice.
I would want to be kept alive if my baby was viable, but otherwise not. Does that make sense? For purposes of not bumming myself out too much I refuse to research this, but I would be scared of getting in a car accident at 14 weeks pregnant and then having some kind of drama about whether to keep me alive for the baby to be born – I feel like this actually happened to some woman whose parents and husband disagreed?
But if this were to happen at 37 weeks, my answer is different. Has anybody else thought about this? I will ask my actual lawyer, too, but wanted to see what the hive has done.
Mama Llama says
I think this is the kind of thing where it’s not possible to spell out every possible scenario, and it’s better to designate a trusted decision-maker and discuss your values and wishes with them.
Mama Llama says
This is not legal advice, obviously. You should consult a wills and estate attorney for legal advice.
Anon says
Ask your lawyer. In Texas, we use “Directives to Physicians.” They are explicitly (by state law) not effective when you are pregnant–regardless of pregnancy stage. I agree with Mama Llama that designating a trusted medical agent would be a big piece of this and something you should do regardless. The other really helpful thing to do–that no one wants to do–is to talk to your family. Talk to your husband, but also talk to your parents. It’s even more helpful if everyone is in the same room during that super fun conversation. Then memorialize the wishes you expressed in writing via formal documents (the order can be switched, obviously, but the point is to talk about it and to put it in legally-enforceable writing).
Anonymous says
IANAL but my lawyer said we didn’t need to spell these kinds of things out. We just needed to designate a medical decision maker (in my case my husband) and communicate our wishes to that person.
NYCer says
This.
(From a T&E lawyer)
Anon says
Also an estate planning lawyer–it depends on the state. Most docs I know and many attorneys STRONGLY suggest a medical power of attorney AND a directive/living will. You don’t need to spell everything out (at all) but if you have strong feelings about anything, put it in writing.
Anon says
I am not a T&E lawyer, but I just drafted my own medical power of attorney and advance directive, and I did not totally follow this approach. I felt like it would put too much pressure on my husband to not have strict guidelines about what to do in certain extreme circumstances. For example, I said it would be up to my husband whether to keep me on life support if I were in a vegetative state for up X amount of time, but I was not to be left of life support for longer than X. I just know my husband would agonize over whether to pull the plug and at least this gives him an out if he can’t ever decide to do it on his own.
MNF says
+1 I’m a T&E lawyer and I always suggest putting things in writing – you should designate a decision maker (whatever that is called in your state) and fill out whatever forms your state requires for end of life decision making. In my state your decision maker can make end of life decisions without any specific instructions needed. However, I always suggest a separate living will to spell it out because I think it can give your decision maker peace of mind to see a document in which you wrote out your specific wishes and signed your name. If this is not a thing in your state (again see a lawyer), I think it’s still a good idea, even if it’s not legally binding. Your partner may be so overwhelmed by the circumstances they can’t remember the specifics of what you said on the subject.
Frustrated says
Slight Rant here:
I am usually the coordinator for tasks outside the norm (thanks, emotional labor!) – and in the past have basically done RSVP + gifts + whatever to parties. We recently had an invite to a party at [place husband doesn’t like], and I asked him to look at the invite, determine whether to go, and RSVP.
He decided we should go and RSVP (it was at a headcount kind of place), so he made a group text with me and the other parent. Later that night I saw the invite in the trash.
A family member unexpectedly died so I was out of the state and across the country when the party happened the next weekend. When I get back he says: I didn’t take toddler to the party because 1) I didn’t know when it was, 2) I didn’t have a way to contact the parents. Then asks me if I know how to get in touch with them to apologize.
I don’t care if my kid went to this party or not. I’m just so ridiculously frustrated that he didn’t think back to a week ago and say “hey I RSVPd, I still have that text message, I can ask for information”. Or even just not saying anything to me and leaving a “sorry!” note in the other kid’s cubby at daycare! ARGH!
Anon says
I deem that behavior rant worthy. Dude–use your brain and figure it out!
Anonymous says
Wait, he’d initiated a group text with them but he claimed he didn’t know how to contact them? I’d be livid!
AwayEmily says
Mine never bothers adding people to his contact list even when they are on group texts, and then is like “oh can you text them I don’t have their number.” C’mon, dude.
H13 says
My husband would totally do something like this. So frustrating. I’m sorry.
SF says
I have one son who is 23 months. In the last two weeks, he’s gone from sweet, quiet and cuddly to loud, demanding, insisting on always being held, difficult to put to sleep, etc etc. Is this just the transition to 2s? Are there any coping strategies? I’m having a hard time finding joy in this kind of parenting. It’s very difficult to start and end my days with a little guy who seems unhappy all the time. My husband is helpful but my son is very velcroed to me right now.
fwiw, we both work full time, and the kiddo is in daycare from 9-530. He’s been in daycare for about four months (nanny-share before that).
Anon says
I’m sorry – I think it starts at different points, but both my kids definitely had phases like this! Actually I’d say three was worse so you may have some more sweet and quiet time left. But toddlers become loud and demanding generally. But also a lot of fun!
Mama Llama says
I read somewhere that toddlers have hormones going crazy similar to teenagers. It really explains a lot. Good luck! Read How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen, Happiest Toddler on the Block, or 1-2-3 Magic if you feel like you need some ideas on how to manage.
Anonymous says
This is probably a stupid question, but how do you get a convertible car seat through the airport when you’re traveling solo? I used to do the infant seat + stroller combo, but she’s outgrown that. I’ll be pushing her in an umbrella stroller. Are there ways to attach the carseat to your back?
Mama Llama says
There are indeed carseat bags with backpack straps.
Mama Llama says
Likes this: https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/britax-car-seat-travel-bag/1018444879?keyword=car-seat-bag
Patty Mayonnaise says
We got one of these gadgets that basically turn a convertible carseat into a kind of stroller for a recent trip and it was awesome! https://gogobabyz.com We strapped our son into his seat and rolled him around the airport – it made travel so much easier! (We also have a travel bag for the carseat that turns into a backpack, which we used once we got on the plane, but we were able to leave the gadget attached.
Anonymous says
We had one of these too and like it. I think a folding luggage cart – like the L -shaped kind – and a bungee might work too.
Anonymous says
I saw a couple of these at the airport recently and was mesmerized. So smart.
RNMP says
There are other contraptions to attach the seat to the stroller but I liked the “J.L. Childress Ultimate Backpack Padded Car Seat Travel Bag, Black” on Amazon to carry around and having my hands free.
Anonymous says
We’ve used both a carseat cart and a cheap gate-check bag with straps. Both are useful for different scenarios.
RR says
Yes, there are backpacks for convertible carseats, or rolling cases. There’s actually a stroller thing that you attach to the carseat and use the carseat as the stroller (may be easier to carry the folded umbrella stroller).
Anonymous says
I took up a collection for one of my kid’s daycare teachers for the holiday. I have $720. There are two teachers and two floaters for which this money is going’s. My plan was $350 a teacher and $50 per floater, but one family opted out.
Do I do $300 per teacher, $50 per floater and maybe buy a small gift (chocolate etc) to go with the gifts with the last $20? Buy a token plant or whatever for the office staff? Do $325 per teacher and $35 per floater? $325 per teacher, $25 per floater and the gift idea above?
I don’t want to poll the group because it will be 947295 emails and I’m just gonna throw out ansuggestion but I can’t decide :-).
We are doing cash because in my unscientific poll of 3 teachers (not this center), that is what they want.
Anonymous says
I would do $300 per teacher and $60 per floater – that is, split the $20 between the two lowest gifts.
H13 says
Can I just say, that is an amazing collection of generous parents? I am a room parent and have been so saddened by the lack of generosity from parents. I know everyone’s situation is different but this is one of the priciest centers in town and I regularly get $15-30 per family to cover three teachers and floaters.
CPA Lady says
Wow, that’s horrifying. Maybe they don’t realize the teachers are probably making close to minimum wage?
Anonymous says
FWIW I threw the number out there- $80 per family in a class of 10 kids. I was worried it was low as I always did $50 per teacher but when I emailed I said “or whatever feels right for your family.” One person chipped in $100, one did $60.
MNF says
+1 I’m a T&E lawyer and I always suggest putting things in writing – you should designate a decision maker (whatever that is called in your state) and fill out whatever forms your state requires for end of life decision making. In my state your decision maker can make end of life decisions without any specific instructions needed. However, I always suggest a separate living will to spell it out because I think it can give your decision maker peace of mind to see a document in which you wrote out your specific wishes and signed your name. If this is not a thing in your state (again see a lawyer), I think it’s still a good idea, even if it’s not legally binding. Your partner may be so overwhelmed by the circumstances they can’t remember the specifics of what you said on the subject.