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Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ 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 – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
AwayEmily says
Sending a complaint into the void…and I will preface this by saying it is my fault for not checking the specs beforehand. But here goes — a few weeks ago, TWO of my kids’ lunchboxes broke on the same day (both different plastic Bentos, both were 2+ years old). I took this as a sign that maybe it was finally time to invest in the Planetbox ones that everyone is always raving about. I held my nose and spent $130 (!!!) on two lunchboxes that promised to last forever. They finally arrived and it turns out they do not fit in standard insulated lunchboxes. You have to buy SPECIALLY SIZED Planetbox-branded insulated lunchboxes. I am so deeply annoyed at this — what a clearly deliberate way to eke more money out of us. And while again, I should have checked, you’d think they could alert you explicitly. I have had four different types of (plastic) bento boxes and ALL of them have fit in standard insulated lunchboxes. It did not occur to me that Planetbox would design theirs just an INCH WIDER. Anyway, I am returning them, because I refuse to spend $90 per lunch kit (and that’s even before you buy their special ice packs), and plus I’m irritated at this company now.
Anon says
I’m annoyed on your behalf! This is a very “Apple” kind of move and I hate it so much.
DLC says
Why is lunch so hard? I feel like it takes up waaaay to much of my mental energy, especially in the morning.
Anon says
That would make me really annoyed too.
anon says
In case you’re in the market for metal lunch containers, I love our lunchbots. They’re so sturdy and dishwasher safe. I bought them ages ago and they’re still going strong.
Anon says
I also love our lunchbots! But also didn’t realize there was a “standard size” insulated lunchbox (though I seem to recall reading something on Wirecutter about the insulated cover) so may be operating in a different lunch world than you and definitely can’t speak to whether these fit into what you’re looking for.
Anon says
that is annoying. not that you asked, but we’re on our 3rd year with the munchkin bento boxes, they are plastic, but come with metal silverware.
AwayEmily says
This is one of the ones we had that broke! I love it too, though. It lasted 2 years, but with literal daily use (for summer camp, too).
Anon says
I’ve been very happy with a $25 Andmoon bento lunch box.
Anonymous says
The Sistema containers have been good for us. Plastic, but dishwasher safe. Easy to open.
DLC says
We have these- they’ve lasted four years now and we almost always stick them in the dishwasher.
Anonymous says
Looking for any solidarity/thoughts. My husband had a major surgery and is finally out of the hospital and home recovering. He can’t help at all with the kids for the foreseeable future, so I can’t travel, work late, etc. I have the kids in full time care, but it’s still a lot. Mostly work has been understanding, it’s really more pressure I’m putting on myself and frustration that I will be doing 100% of the kid stuff for an indeterminate period of time. If I didn’t have kids, this would be a bummer, but I’d mostly be living my normal life and providing emotional support to my husband. With the kids, I feel like I am fried to a crisp and can’t do it all. I already exhausted my family leave while he was hospitalized and I wanted to be by his side. I have onboarded a new nanny to help in evenings, as soon as my in-laws (who somehow are more work than help) leave I’ll bring her on to help in the evenings and weekends. Would love some hope that it gets better from anyone who has been here.
Anonymous says
I think having the nanny will help a lot. Make sure you take time just for yourself. When do the in-laws leave? That would fry me to a crisp.
Vicky Austin says
“Fry me to a crisp” is so evocative, I will be stealing.
Anonymous says
I think you’re totally justified in having feelings about being primary kid caregiver. What helps me is telling myself this is just a phase. I also think a nanny will help immensely, as will your in-laws leaving. I’d encourage you to enlist the nanny’s help as much as you possibly can: would she run errands for you? Pick up groceries? Sweep the floor after dinner? You don’t ask, you don’t get. Also just lean out at work as much as you can. They will get through temporarily. I’m sorry. I know this is hard.
Anonymous says
+1 – having the in-laws leave and settling in to your new normal with the nanny’s help is going to make this feel a lot more manageable. And you may find your husband can do at least a few things, like reading to the kids from his bed. Also, hopefully this is as sick/incapacitated as he will be for this entire recovery, right? He may be able to do a bit more as time goes by. The worst may be behind you already – you are probably emotionally fried from the hospital stay and the shock of all of this, but that does lessen over time. When my husband had a stroke 5 years ago I was completely overwhelmed at first trying to figure out how to do everything myself, but it became more manageable quickly.
OP says
thanks – that’s the kind of positive story I’m looking for! He can potentially start doing some stuff w/ the kids, but even reading books is tough because his entire abdomen is in pain – he cant have the kids on his lap or accidentally be kicked by them. He did build Legos with our older son for a bit last light, but when the that highly ADHD kiddo ran away and started harassing his little brother, it wasn’t like he could chase after him and redirect.
Anon says
this is A LOT. so many hugs. i’m sure you have been, but continue to lean on your village. it sounds like maybe this was unplanned, but has someone set up a meal train for you? even non local friends can be included and send things like gift cards. also, pb & j is a perfectly acceptable dinner. how old are your kids? i realize this probably sounds impossible, but if there is any way to even carve out two hours for you a week – with extra nanny hours, or a friend watching the kids/play dates for the kids. any ideas how long the recovery might be?
Anon says
I could have written this. My husband’s surgery was last month, after several months of lead-up when I took over handling 100% household and kid things, and it’s been so exhausting and stressful. After the first three weeks of recovery things were looking up and then last week involved an ER visit for our toddler, two days staying at home caring for her, and then a debilitating migraine for two of the three days I was actually able to be at the office where I would just lie on the floor in between appointments, so I’ve spent basically all this week just playing catch up. I have a solo practice so FMLA isn’t an option. For the worst days, my mantra was “This is a day I will not have to re-live” and I know every day gets us closer to a normal two-parent household. I’m neglecting my husband’s emotional needs, and it feels crappy but I am in survival mode and I can’t take inane conversation starters about the rock’n’roll hall of fame inductees right now. And I try to count my blessings: we only have one (pretty healthy) kid, we have family who helps us out, we are not in financial need, and this is not permanent.
I’ve posted before when I’ve hit low points and people were so kind and I remember one commenter telling me that they remember being in my shoes and things will get better. But oh my god, last week I probably watched Encanto alone at least five times from beginning to end. So much TV, so much ordering out. Whatever it takes.
OP says
thank you for this!! this is what I needed to hear. Literally down the migraine, omg. Last night I finally just went to lay down with an ice pack on my head even tho the toddler hadn’t fallen asleep yet. I figured if he wandered out of his room again the inlaws would just have to deal with him, and they did.
Anonymous says
How old are the kids? When my husband had a big surgery last year, mine really had to step up…but they were old enough that they could. My then 8 year old essentially put my then 4 year old to bed many nights while i dealt with our very difficult 6 year old. My 6 year old took on jobs around the house. We put an Alexa dot in every room so when I went out DH could still “supervise” from whichever floor he was laying on. I called in lots of playdate favors for my preschooler and 6 year old on weekends, bummed rides from friends for my 6 and 8 year olds’ activities, etc.
This is not helpful advice if your kids are toddlers; if that is the case I am really sorry and lean hard into the nanny.
OP says
6 and 3. The 6yo is generally being really helpful, especially with night wakings/early wakings w/ the little one, and getting out the door in the morning. But evening he has major restraint collapse and they feed off each other – that’s why we usually separate them to be able to get everyone asleep before 9. I feel like all I’m doing is yelling constantly.
Anonymous says
I posted above about when my husband had a stroke, and I think my son was also 6 at the time (I only have 1 kid; much easier). Anyway, you have probably realized this but some of the behavior issues you may be seeing may also be the kids dealing with what is going on emotionally. I really noticed this at bedtime with my son – he would really fall apart, much more so than usual, when we were in the most stressful period. I eventually learned my son was afraid he could “catch” a stroke from seeing his dad in the hospital, for example. Poor kid! Not that this makes your life any easier–just the opposite of course–but throwing it out there in case it is helpful.
Anon says
Solidarity. My husband has the flu. He is normally a competent and supportive spouse and father but he turns into such a baby when he’s sick. He is legitimately sick so I’m cutting him some slack, but I’ve been handling everything (Including taking care of him) for a week and I’m so tired. Definitely get help where you can and book a spa weekend for yourself in the future.
Anon says
I’m so sorry you are going through this. We went through something somewhat similar with 7-8 outpatient surgeries over a 2+ year period that meant my husband couldn’t sit or help with our small children for a week or two afterward. It also meant I had to do his (invasive) wound care daily – including the night after I gave birth. It was exhausting and emotionally taxing (for both of us!), and it was also during COVID, so we were trying to limit external exposure. I farmed out everything else I could though – meals, laundry, lawn care and still had our cleaners come. I also worked from home and sent the kids to daycare despite the covid risk. Ultimately, we made it through it (although now have regular travel for elder care), and our marriage is stronger for it.
My advice would be to outsource as much as you can, get a sitter for a few hours on the weekend so you can relax and make time for yourself. Consider taking a personal leave of absence from work or asking to work remotely to eliminate the burden of commuting.
You’ve got this.
OP says
thank you for another positive story – my husband has been amazing w/ doing his own wound care, he really just needs help wrapping his PICC line for showering and that’s it. I was prepared to help more and had all the nurses teach me, you are a rockstar for doing it.
thank you for the reminder to outsource all we can, and that this wont last forever. this is really what I was looking to hear.
anon says
Can your husband help with admin stuff? Grocery orders, online signups, etc?
Anon says
Yes! Or have one kid in bed with him to read or play a game together while you get the other to bed? Or even could you set up the one for dinner and a movie in bed with him while you take the other one out for a walk or quick trip to library or McDonalds drive through? My guess is they are both trying to get your attention and that’s part of why they are so amped up.
Anonymous says
This! Not the same but sometimes my DH is totally wiped because his job can be physical/long hours/lots of walking. So one kid will just lay with him while he’s on the couch on his phone. It’s not the most quality time (DH puts in lots of quality time) but it fills both their cups
Betsy says
We did not have kids in the mix, but my husband had an injury that left him on complete bedrest for a month and a half. Even without kids it was awful and I was completely fried taking care of him. It was also pretty tough on our relationship – that caretaking dynamic is hard! Long term we came out of it so much stronger, but it took a little while and lots of individual therapy. Just focus on getting through the individual days, try not to think about the big picture. You’ll get there!
Anonymous says
My husband was deployed all last year. I did NOT have full time care for kids so it was all mommy all the time! I made it through without a mental health crisis. What helped – 3hrs of babysitter a week so I could run errands. House cleaner, and I had about 2hrs/week they were both in care that I used for taking a walk or getting my nails done (no errands). My kids were just old enough (3 and 5) that they had to adjust to playing by themselves/with each other after dinner so I could do all the cleanup. It was about a 2-3 week adjustment of me saying “I can’t play because Daddy is gone so I have to cleanup”. I would get takeout or delivery as needed and paper plates. You can do it!
anon says
I had a different spin, where this past January my 9-year-old son had surgery that left him unable to attend school for 2 months, so he was home with me where I work fully remote. My husband has a fully in-person job, so I was primary caregiver juggling his care with my work. My manager was supportive, but I also needed to actually do work. The nice thing about the timing is that when I had my 2023 end of year review, no one even remembered my drop in availability. So if anything, I think you probably timed it at the best time of year, and hopefully by the summer, it will all be a distant memory!
February Vacation says
We live in Massachusetts and our plans to go to Maine to play in the snow have been cancelled due to lack of snow. Any ideas for fun things to do with a 7-year-old and 2-year-old in New England or NY, willing to do daytrips to different states and/or overnights.
anon says
You could do snow tubing / skiing / sledding at a ski resort in NH or VT. The 7 yo is big enough to ski. You could trade off hanging with the 2 yo.
Anon says
go eat ice cream in VT
Anon says
+1 I think Burlington with a day trip to Ben and Jerry’s HQ would be super fun.
Anonymous says
Go to NYC and take them to see Aladdin. We are going south for break but that’s what I’d be doing if we were local.
If the 7 year old is a girl, hit the American Girl doll store.
Great Wolf lodge (which will be an everloving zoo) or Red Jacket up in North Conway NH. NH ice castles if they are still open. Or honestly, a hotel locally with a pool for an overnight.
Anon says
Not OP but doing Aladdin and the American Girl doll store in NYC is our Passover break plan!
DLC says
Pastime Pinball in Manchester, VT! You pay an admission fee and then can play all day on machines, some of them from the 1950s.
We stopped with our kids a few years ago while on a roadtrip when my kids were 2.5, 5, and 10 and they had an amazing time. Even the 2.5 year old really got into playing.
Anon says
anyone have a recommendation for reusable straws for kids that they like, ideally shorter ones for a kid sized cup. somehow we’ve lost the ones that came with our cup. i know links are hard to share here so a specific name (or link) would be great.
CCLA says
The ones my kids adore most were an impulse purchase from the grocery store, so I don’t have a link, but they are small and bent at the top. Short is key as you have gathered. We also have some GoSili brand ones that have held up well; I took a pair of scissors to several of them to shorten to accommodate smoothies in kid sized cups.
Cb says
Reunited with my 6 year old who has spent a week at camp grandma papa. He’s had an absolute blast, has eaten like a princeling, wasn’t homesick at all, and they gave up on the dream wee we’d been doing (because it was too cruel to wake him…) and he’s been accident free all week.
My husband and I had a really nice week – feel reconnected and tackled some projects.
Anon says
Yay!
Anonymous says
So glad it went well!
Momofthree says
Random question – I have a colleague based in Europe who’s having his first child & I was going to send a gift. I’ve got my typical go-tos I like to send, but is there anything that European parents want that’s hard to get in Europe? Totally recognize the answer may be no but was curious.
Anonymous says
I would just do an American based book. Like the first Knuffle Bunny set in NYC (in translation – Amazon for the applicable country should have it). Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What do you see by Eric Carle is only North American animals so that in translation would be cute as well.
Vicky Austin says
That’s a cute idea! We have a few books bought at national/state parks with legends from local folklore or similar that could be fun to send.
Car seat question says
For those who turned a kid from rear-facing to forward-facing before they hit the seat max for rear-facing – how did you make that decision?
Context: I intended to wait until she hit the max, but our oldest child (turned 3 in October and at her 3 year checkup was 42 inches, 40lbs, has definitely grown since then) seems so crammed rear-facing (like I feel like I’m shoehorning her in there and folding her in half to get her in the seat!) that it seems absurd to keep going like this. But…safety? Parenting is hard sometimes.
Anon says
First of all, check your car seat manual. A bunch of seats have a 40 lb weight limit for rear-facing so she may not even be able to safely rear face.
We turned our tall kid shortly after she turned 3 because she hit the weight limit. Some friends were aghast we didn’t buy a seat with a bigger weight limit, but truthfully it was never really something I stressed about. There are diminishing returns for rear-facing safety as they get older. It’s really important to have an 18 month old rear-facing, but the marginal increased safety for a 3 year old is not that significant.
Anon says
How high does your car seat go for weight and (more likely) height? It sounds like she might be hitting the limits or close to it.
Car seat question says
Rear facing – 50 lbs and 49 inches
Forward facing – 65 lbs and 49 inches (yes, height is same for both)
It’s the Nuna Exec
Anon says
so my kids were around your kid’s age when we turned them. i would’ve kept on going longer, but our nanny has a smaller car than ours and it was better if it was flipped around. i was just traveling with my 3 college besties – 1 is a pediatrician and the others are also doctors. They all have/had young kids and have all turned their kids around 2/2.5. Obviously staying rear facing for as long as possible is ideal, but it is not like your. kid is 1 and you want to turn her around
Anon says
We don’t drive much because we live in NYC, but we turned my daughter around at 2.5 because she HATED rear facing, and it started making driving with her extremely unpleasant.
Anon2 says
Just confirming that you have a seat that RF to 50 lbs? Most top out at 40 lbs, so if you have one of those she’s already beyond the limit.
I turned all my kids around at 3-3.5. They are still VERY safe FF at that age, even though they may be marginally safer RF. One of my kids got car sick a lot. One needed to move seat position in the car because of a new baby and it’s easier for me to reach him FF. And all were within a few lbs of 40lbs so I didn’t want to miss it (keeping them in over the limit would be much more dangerous than FF!)
I will say that dangling legs FF can be uncomfortable, and so your child may be more comfortable RF even if it doesn’t look it. But IMO, you should feel free to FF now if it’s no longer working well for either you or her
Anon says
This. When I turned my kid FF, she said it was less comfortable than being RF. Of course it may still make sense for you to turn your child now, but it likely isn’t necessary for comfort.
Car seat question says
Confirmed, but I appreciate you asking. It’s 50lbs for rear facing (the Nuna exec), 49 inches.
Anonymous says
We turned at 3. I know that the Swedes mandate to 4 and have zero accidents deaths etc but we don’t drive a lot and the wet snow boots on the seats when RF were driving me nuts.
2-3 is apparently really key for spinal cord damage if FF so that’s why turning at 1 or 2 is bad I think? You can search it – there’s some kind of spinal thing that firms up in that age range .
DLC says
Does your kid complain about it? That was kind of our barometer when our kids were in the “could do it, but not yet maxed out” phase.
Anon says
Agree! If your kid is not complaining of being squished I wouldn’t give their discomfort more thought. It’s natural and comfortable for them to sit criss cross applesauce.
CCLA says
I thought we’d hold out until 4 but flipped one around 3.5 when it was getting really difficult to fit her in rear facing, and the other just two weeks shy of her third bday – we had a 20 hour road trip and decided it would be a much easier trip with her FF. As long as possible is of course the safest, though the closer you get to four the relative returns are diminishing IIRC.
Anonymous says
We have smaller cars, and keeping my 3.25-yo RF meant that the front passenger seat would have to be scooted forward quite a bit. Seemed that the marginal increase in safety for keeping kiddo RF was outweighed by the risk to the front passenger from airbag injuries.
anon says
We turned ours at 3.5 because it was covid times, so we were doing long drives to visit family instead of flying, and it was just way easier if they had room for coloring books and such on their laps. But also, my kids are now 6 and still well within the weight limit for RF in the Nuna (approaching the height limit), so waiting to max out a seat wouldn’t have made sense for us.
Anonymous says
3 or 3.5. My kids are tall and heavy and it was getting unwieldy to load them in rear facing. Our ped was fine with it
Anon says
We turned at 4.5 because we were having a 3rd and needed to move my son to the third row. He still has not hit 50 lbs, so if you’re waiting to hit the actual limit of an extended rear facing seat it might be awhile.
Anon says
I just had my anatomy scan for my fourth baby, and it is a confirmed GIRL, after three boys! I’m so happy and still may not believe it until birth. I know gender is a construct blah blah, but my boys are very rowdy and loud and into sports and all your stereotypes of boys. And while we obviously wanted a fourth either way, I was hoping (so was my middle son, hard!).
Anyway, it’s felt like a pipe dream for so long (I’m that child who played with dolls til I was 14 and always envisioned many daughters), so just shouting out my excitement today! (And all the caveats that yes my boys are great and I wouldn’t change them.)
Vicky Austin says
Awww, yay!
Anonymous says
I have 3 girls. They are really fun! I was convinced my first was a boy, and when she wasn’t I freaked out- I was not mentally prepared to be a mom to a girl! Then we had another. And a third. What’s funny is DH is the BEST girl-dad.
OP says
That’s how I felt when my oldest was a boy (we kept it a surprise until birth — and I learned I need to be able to process my feelings ahead of time, so we found out earlier for the rest lol). I’m the oldest of three girls, no brothers, so it was almost incomprehensible that I would have boys! They have certainly broken me out of my comfort zone, in a good way.
I’ve always had the feeling someone was missing from our family, and now I can envision us as complete. Much to my husband’s relief, because four is his HARD line.
Three girls is so fun! My sisters are my best friends to this day. And all our kids are growing up together and are as close as siblings; even though we are a couple hours apart, we make the effort to get together frequently.
Vicky Austin says
Saluting you as another oldest of three girls who’s had a boy!
AnonOP says
How do you distinguish between normal 4 year old obsessions and autistic behavior?
My almost 4 year old is obsessed with Star Wars and can really only talk with other people about Star Wars. At home he talks about other things but with people outside our family it’s.. just… Star Wars. Like our neighbor asked him how he celebrated Valentine’s Day at preschool, and he straight up ignored her question which is basically how he interacts with adults — cannot be bothered. But if I suggest he tell her about something from Star Wars, he will happily chatter on. He has a bit of a speech delay too so maybe it’s a way to make himself understood? I will talk with our pediatrician for medical advice, just curious about other’s personal experience.
Anonymous says
This sounds pretty normal? He’s not so chatty with adult he doesn’t know well which seems normal. Vague questions like ‘how did you celebrate’ are hard for a 4 year old. I bet if he was asked ‘did you have a Valentine’s party’ he would have said yes or no.
AnonOP says
To clarify this is a close friend/neighbor who often comes over for dinner, reads with him, plays, etc. He knows her well.
Anon says
It’s still totally normal.
Anon says
This seems like completely normal 4 year old behavior. Very few 4 year olds can make “normal” conversation with adults they don’t know well, and even with adults they do know very well it’s totally normal for them to prefer to talk about their own interests vs boring (to them) adult questions.
Anon says
I don’t think Star Wars is an uncommon obsession among boys right now. If he were obsessed with math and telling strangers multiplication facts maybe that would trigger more flags. How is he with peers? That’s often more telling than interactions with adults
Anonymous says
This. Ran into a 3yo at the park who was telling me square numbers and multiplication facts but couldn’t communicate otherwise.
Anonymous says
From a mom of an autistic kid, gently: all kids are weird in their own ways, NT kids and autistic alike. So without more behaviors that are harmful or disruptive, this sort of thing doesn’t seem to warrant evaluation (in my non-medical opinion — totally ask your pediatrician too!).
Momofthree says
This sounds a lot like my boys at that age. I would say its something to note, but not take action yet. All kids are on a spectrum of neurodiversity (at least I think that’s the language we’re using now & it makes sense to me). The question is whether the neurodiversity is affecting their ability to function & whether it necessitates intervention.
At 4, assuming no other safety issues/ major functioning challenges, it seems maybe a little quirky but absolutely not something I would take action on. My six year old is currently obsessed with Pokemon & dinosaurs & would prefer to talk about nothing else.
AnonOP says
Thanks for these comments folks! Appreciate the gut check.
DLC says
Can anyone share favorite vegetarian or vegan dinner ideas or recipes, or even a weekly meal plan if your family is vegetarian or vegan? Bonus points for being able to be made or prepped ahead of time and for not being super heavy on cheese. For a variety of reasons, we’re trying to eat less meat, but I don’t feel as inspired when I sit down to do my weekly meal planning. We eat a lot of stir fries (with noodles or with rice), curries, soups, tacos or burritos or nachos, salads (grain or pasta salad too), tofu dishes.
Or maybe I’m being unrealistic about how varied our dinners look on a monthly basis? Sometimes when I look at the week, it seems like a good mix of meals, but then across the month, it feels like “Didn’t we *just* eat that?”
Anon says
Are eggs ok? We eat a loooot of eggs.
Redux says
Shakshuka! Family favorite. We also love a loaded sandwich of roasted sweet potato, cucumbers, sprouts, feta, yogurt sauce on a nice bread.
DLC says
Eggs! I had forgotten about eggs! We should do that more.
Lily says
I like Weekday Vegetarians and Easy Low Cal Vegan Eats cookbooks. This week we’re doing a tofu in spicy peanut sauce with roasted broccoli (seriously delicious), refried black bean and pickled onion tostadas, and a white bean soup with crusty bread. Of course, we also do our fair share of simple spaghetti dinners (I try to use whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta when possible for more fiber/protein), ravioli, quesadillas (with black beans always), veggie burgers, etc.
Spirograph says
I have a few vegetarian favorites from Plated back in the day that I keep in regular rotation. Especially if you pre-chop, most of these come together in <30 min
Zucchini bibimbap
Ginger-miso quinoa bowl (with roasted sweet potatoes + fried egg)
Falafel-spiced chickpeas with eggplant and naan
Shakshouka / italian-style baked eggs
We also eat a lot of bean-based texmex, and crockpot daal / curries, but it sounds like you have that locked down.
As far as monthly variety, though…I don't worry about that too much. We have a pasta, some kind of soup, and some kind of texmex every week. I try to make one "interesting" meal a week, but it doesn't always happen. Life is busy.
anon says
you have a pretty comprehensive list!
I’d add sheet pan dinner: chickpeas, potatoes/sweet potatoes, broccoli, whatever else you have to roast. toss all with olive oil, salt, and cumin before roasting (if you like). serve w pita, hummus, maybe cucumbers
Anon says
My kids can be picky, so we don’t get a ton of variety at the moment. Here are some of our regulars:
– sweet potato and black bean tacos or bowls
– veggie burgers with roasted veg
– pizza with roasted cauliflower on top
– baked beans and whole grain toast, mostly for the kids
– mujadara
– breakfast for dinner
– pasta – https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2017/03/14/fusilli-roasted-cauliflower-with-capers
– more pasta – https://heyitsmaya.com/home/2020/4/5/fusilli-pasta-with-tomatoes-burrata-and-mint
– tofu and rice bowl similar to this: https://runningonrealfood.com/peanut-tofu-bowl/
– tofu, but usually with gai lan and no spicy stuff: https://www.dinneralovestory.com/crispy-tofu-with-ginger-and-whatever/
– curry like this one: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019911-cauliflower-cashew-pea-and-coconut-curry
Anonymous says
We eat vegetarian at home. For weekday dinners, we do a pasta night, taco night, stir fry night, pizza/flatbread (either takeout or homemade, if homemade it usually uses TJ’s dough), and veggie burgers/sandwiches that aren’t PB&J. The schedule depends on my work schedule, but we do one of those options each weeknight. (My spouse handles weekend dinners, and he can somehow conjure dinner out of thin air – usually breakfast foods or soup with homemade bread.)
For pasta: Smitten Kitchen’s skillet ravioli, skillet baked ziti from Alexandra’s Kitchen, and an old recipe that involves tortellini, sauteed peppers and onions, and (veggie) sausage in jarred sauce (I just wing it now). Occasionally I have time to make a bunch of vegetarian meatballs.
For stir fry: Peanut sauce, teriyaki sauce, Nora Cooks sesame tofu, the shortcut korma from Bon Appetit, or Hetty McKinnon’s sheet pan crispy noodles with tofu.
Taco night: Post Punk Kitchen ancho lentil tacos, sweet potato and black bean tacos (sometimes vegetarian refried beans), in the fall we’ll do winter squash instead of sweet potato
Veggie burgers: Every couple weekends I make a huge batch and freeze them. We like the beet burgers from Post Punk Kitchen (we get a ton of fall beets from our CSA) and Cookie & Kate’s Favorite Veggie burgers.
Other sandwich ideas: grilled cheese with fancy cheese and/or fruit or veggies inside, falafel in pita (TJ’s frozen falafel)
DLC says
Ooh! I just got a tom of beets too! I’ll have to check that out.
Anon says
Please send me all your good vibes. DH is going through a major depression/mid-life crisis. He doesn’t have any close friends/family on his side he feels like he can talk to, so I feel like I’m it while also being seen as the source of some of his unhappiness/depression (along with career, having no friends, being disappointed by family, etc. – everything sucks/he’s the giver/everyone takes is the mentality now)
I do not want to divorce/separate on my end for many reasons, so please be kind – asking just for good vibes right now.
Vicky Austin says
All the good vibes.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Good vibes sent and also get him to therapy, asap. He needs an outlet for his frustrations, that’s not you, right now (and it’s not fair to you).
Anon says
+1