Budget Thursday: Floral Vented Pencil Skirt
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The colors in this skirt are so fun! They’re kind of neon-y, but the conservative length and cut of the skirt keep it from being too fun for a buttoned-up office. (It also comes in an understated black/white polka dot.) I like the way it’s styled with a white top, but I would probably do a crisp, collared, white button-up instead. Maybe even a fun belt. (Side note — how is everyone feeling about fashion belts nowadays?) Note that the description says it has a “saucy back vent.” I don’t know if that means there’s a high slit in the back or if it was just a copywriter trying to spice it up. Just a warning to check the view from the back before wearing. It’s only $16.97 at Nordstrom Rack. Philosophy Apparel Floral Vented Pencil Skirt
Macy’s has two options in plus sizes.
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Sales of note for 5/19/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Lots of markdowns on AGL (50%!), Weitzman, Tumi, Frank & Eileen, Zella, Natori, Cole Haan, Boss, Theory, Reiss (coats), Vince, Eileen Fisher, Spanx, and Frame (denim and silk blouses)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off summer-ready styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Eloquii – 50-60% off select styles
- J.Crew – 60% off sale, and 40% off packing picks (prices as marked)
- J.Crew Factory – New arrivals, plus up to 60% off everything plus extra 50% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Daily flash sales, and lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off. 5/19’s flash sale: Jardigans down to $175-$209, dresses down to $150, blazers down to $250
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 30% off dresses, skirts, shoes, and accessories
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?
Hoping it’s not too late in the day. When pumping in the office, did any of you put a little sign outside your door to let people know that you are not to be disturbed (and possibly that you can be reached by email or a phone call?) If so, what exactly did you use for such a sign, and what did it say? I have an office with a frosted glass door (but some unfortunately un-frosted parts on top!), and I want to avoid people trying to peer in to understand whether I’m available or not when my door is closed.
Someone had posted recently about concerns with her toddler and speech. I mentioned then that we were going to have an Early Invention screening soon with my son who sounded similar at 21 months. We just had it this morning, and learned that he doesn’t qualify for services as he is still within the normal range. I feel really good about that – it was really reassuring for me. We learned the scope of normal is REALLY wide. I mean, we knew it was wide, but it’s wide. Our friend’s kid who is only a few days younger than hours is using 2-4 word sentences. My kid knows about 15 words total, uses less than a dozen consistently, and doesn’t speak in sentences at all. And we’re both normal.
I don’t know if the other mom is a regular reader, but wanted to let you know that I found some relief after the screening. They also provided us with some suggestions for working on his communication. All in all it was a great experience and really took a load off my mind.
My kids go to daycare and preschool half days. My preschooler does the majority of her playdates after school (we pick both kids up, parent picks kid up from our house sometime before dinner).
I’d like to do a couple playdates for my 2 y/o, but her daycare is a mixed bag of full and part time kids, so I don’t know who would be available for a “weekday” play date. For those of you with ~2 y/os in daycare, (a) do you have any interest in playdates? And (b) what would work best? Meeting up at a playground on a weekend morning? How should i reach out? (C) I assume these are all supervised playdates, so would it be weird if I invited you & your kid to my house on a weekend, even though my husband and our other kids would likely be there too?
It’s like my kids part time preschoo
My baby’s daycare is right by my husband’s work, so he mostly does drop offs and pick ups. My office is in the opposite direction, but I will get in there about once a week. I have a good relationship with the teachers, but I feel left out.
While I would like a daycare closer to home, I’m not fond of the one down the street and the daycare we’re at is really great, so switching centers isn’t the answer here. Someone just tell me the positives of not having to do pick ups and drop offs every day to make me feel better.
At what age did you start reading books without illustrations to your kids? I’ve been reading chapters of Betsy Tacy to my 3-year old as she falls asleep (after more age appropriate fare) but I’m pretty sure it goes right over her head. I’m mostly doing it because I like to read it! Is this completely pointless? Anything else you’d recommend? I actually read it once the light’s off so it’s just words on my kindle…
All of a sudden at 26 months we’re getting a lot of “I can’t do it” whines — even when the “it” is something very basic, like putting on shoes or putting a book away. Is this a normal thing or something to be concerned about?
I think we’ve covered this in the past, but I’d love to hear again anyone’s tips on how to become more efficient to free up time when you have kids. Work has become really busy recently and I have been struggling to keep up on cooking, cleaning, and actually being present with my kid. Ways I’ve saved time include:
1) run-commuting home from work (takes about the same time as the bus and I get a workout in);
2) using Fresh Direct for groceries and buying pre-cut (or cubed or spiralized or what have you) produce; and
3) putting my toddler’s high chair in the kitchen while he eats dinner so I can cook or do dishes during.
My DH is very helpful but because his job is even busier he’s not quite an equal partner for household stuff – the split is about 40/60, maybe 30/70 sometimes. We do split child care evenly though.
Any other tips?
So we were talking the other day about childcare costs – and today our daycare sent out the revised (and by revised, I mean they’re sticky downwards) tuition fees for the coming school year. Which, with an infant and a preschooler, nudges us up to more than 50% of household take-home. DH cannot graduate soon enough.
If your kid is in a belted high back booster…how do you get them to strap themselves in without making the seatbelt always retract and lock? We just switched my kid and every time she buckles in, she pulls the seatbelt out so far that it “locks” and then the next time she gets in, it’s impossible for her to buckle.
Tricycle recommendations for a 2 year old for this summer? Are tricycles still the thing to look for? I see a lot of 3-in-1, 4-in-1 type things being advertised. I’d rather not spend a ton, but this may end up being a grandma gift so it doesn’t need to be the cheapest option. Thanks!
Putting myself out there with this one. My 4.5 year old has started getting “incident reports” from her preschool. She’d been doing well all year, but in the past three weeks we’ve gotten four bad reports. The first was something about her laying on another kid during circle time and refusing to get up when she was asked. Another was something about hanging onto another kid’s coat during recess, refusing to let go and it escalating to her hair getting stepped on and pulled out somehow. Last week there was one where she punched the kid who had pulled out her hair the previous day. Yesterday she threw pea gravel in the face of a different kid who took her sidewalk chalk and wouldn’t give it back. She then ignored three teachers who tried to intervene and it took a fourth teacher to convince her to cooperate and go to the director’s office for a time out. Really not good. If this was your kid, how would you respond? We’ve been talking to her about the incidents and appropriate responses, as well as taking away TV time, but I’m not sure that it’s helping in the moment.
As background, she’s the youngest in her class with a late summer birthday and she has always struggled with getting out what she wants to say, especially when in stressful situations. She is generally not able to explain to a teacher what the other kid did to make her mad, so you never hear her side of the story. At the most, she will roar in anger. I suspect that a lot of these incidence relates to her getting frustrated with “losing” verbal negotiations with other more verbal kids, combined with her super strong personality. Regardless of the reason, she still can’t be hurting kids. I have no idea if there are mean girl or other dynamics going on that have triggered these new problems because she can’t tell me. Her teachers haven’t observed anything.
She has been assessed by a speech therapist and there were a few red flags noted in her report related to language processing, but she’s miles from qualifying for services. She can tell long, complex stories and is easily understood. She mainly struggles with communicating when stressed and relaying what happened in certain circumstances. She’s far ahead in pretty much every other developmental category other than speech.
Arg, it was one thing when she was struggling with this at 2, but she’s 4.5 and it is far less socially acceptable. Suggestions?
Don’t know if this is helpful, I bought our “dream” double stroller for sale on Craigslist (in great shape). I was then able to sell it AT A PROFIT (!) about 4 years later when we were done using a double and ready to go back to single-only. All of this is to say that you might be able to recoup some of your costs. Plus, I think it’s totally worth it to have a great stroller — you’ll use it a ton and it’s not worth having a crummy one.
What’s the age separation and do you need to fling it into a car regularly?
If not needing to put in a car: double BOB revolution. Best stroller ever. Mine are 20 months apart and gigantic and we really needed side by side.
If putting in a car: city mini double is what my friends swear by.
For daycare pickups: when the baby gets head stability, put in an umbrella stroller and have older child walk in and get checked into his/her room first.
I’m 14w pregnant and my female boss (w kids) won’t stop commenting on it. We’ve had a series of very early meetings this week and every time I show up (early), she gasps like I’ve done the impossible. She keeps telling me how tired I look (I don’t – I’m making an effort to look great). She commented to my coworker that they should carry me up the stairs. I had a couple tired weeks in my first trimester but it didn’t impact work.
On a major call with like 50 important people, we were assigning projects. These are all due within the next 2-3 months. I volunteered for one, and she said (in front of all), “you’ll just have to make sure it’s done before November” (my due date). Yeah, duh. It’s due in June. My due date was completely irrelevant. Am I being over sensitive? I guess she’s just trying to be nice/sympathetic but if she were a man I would have gone to HR by now.
I’ve responded to the sick/tired comments with things like: “I’m pregnant, not dying.” “Actually I feel great.” “I’m perfectly able bodied.” “I’m not tired at all.” Etc. Do I need to be somehow more explicit?
I’m pregnant with my second, and I’m going to need a double stroller. I went with a very budget-friendly option when I was choosing my single stroller because I’m wired that way but also because there are a lot more single stroller options so I felt like I was still getting all the function I needed. I’ve looked at the double stroller options, decided on the UPPAbaby Vista, and found a used one in great condition but I’m still balking at the price. Tell me it’s a great stroller and totally worth it? Or tell me what budget-friendly double stroller you chose and still love?