Makeup & Beauty Monday: Gel Couture Brilliant Brocades Collection
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Over the past few months, I’ve let my nail care slide. In the Before Times, I often did my own nails between monthly salon appointments. Unlike with makeup, which has to be reapplied every day, I felt that a manicure was an efficient way to feel put-together since I only had to do it about once a week.
I almost always used Essie’s Gel Couture — it lasted longer than regular polish (I usually got about a week with a touch-up here or there) and didn’t need a base coat. Essie also paired its lovely, rich colors with fun, catchy names.
Essie’s new Brilliant Brocades Collection might convince me to start doing my nails again — there are six lovely, winter-friendly colors ranging from the neutral High Sewciety to the nearly black Embossed Lady (pictured). Perhaps looking at my freshly painted nails while I type will be the mid-winter boost I need.
The collection is available at Ulta for $11.50. Other colors are available at many other retailers including Target for $11.49 and CVS for $12.50.
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ 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 – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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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?
What have you all been doing to pass the time on the weekends, particularly those in cold areas? Past winters have been tough enough, with trying to figure out how to entertain two small kids when it’s freezing outside, but at least we had some indoor options (even just strolling Target for an hour). Now, our options are outside somewhere or in our house, pretty much. We try to get the kids out at least in the mornings, but they often complain about being too cold (it felt like 5 yesterday… so I get it). We have tons of toys indoors, but they still need a lot of active attention from us. And frankly, it’s boring for us. Just sourcing some ideas, or at least commiseration.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/well/family/egg-donor-complications.html?action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage
Did anyone else read this op-Ed on a woman who donated her eggs, 10 years later had a lack of uterine fluids while pregnant, and connects the two? It gave me a rage headache. There’s zero scientific evidence for this, no reason why there would be, and it should never have been published.
My parents are moving to my city soon and have asked if they can watch my 3 year old at their place one day a week so they can spend more time with her (she currently goes to daycare full time). I’m inclined to do it, but would appreciate any advice on what I should be thinking about or potential pitfalls. My kid loves school but also adores her grandparents, so I think she’d be delighted with the 80-20 arrangement. She understands that different days have different routines so I don’t think there would be any problem with having one “grandma day” as long as we keep it consistent. I trust my parents completely, and we generally see eye-to-eye on most parenting stuff. I think they will be a bit more indulgent in some ways (e.g., more sweets) but I’m not concerned about that because it’s only once a week. My parents are vaccinated and will be part of our bubble either way, so I don’t think covid is a factor. Anything I’m overlooking? Any reason not to do this?
I have a friend who does this with her 3 year old and it works great. I know it definitely involves more baking/sweets and new toys, but my friend makes the toys live at grandma’s house. They typically do the same day of the week, but if there is something special happening at school they might switch the day or skip a week. It sounds like you have an open relationship with your parents so can you say something like let’s try it and see how it goes?
Best travel potty? I would like something that we could use in the car to potentially skip public restrooms if need be, but also be used at home and/or Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I’m optimistically thinking that the After Times will coincide with potty training to some degree.
Well, our kids are going back to elementary school for 1/2 day hybrid next week and the teachers are back in the school today for training and setting up. I walked by on my morning walk (not on purpose but just happened to be the time they’re all coming in) and the building was lit up again and full of teachers wearing masks and hauling posters and other stuff around and I just started to cry. This should be an interesting couple weeks for all of us.
My 3 year old informed me she wants a “penguin chair” for her upcoming birthday. I cannot find such a thing. Any brilliant ideas for other penguin-themed things I could get her? We have a ton of books about penguins already. I thought of PJs but am having a hard time finding something I like. She wears kids’ sizes, not toddler sizes, which makes it harder to find adorable animal-themed clothing.
On the other ideas, my 34 year old self has flannel penguin sheets that are delightful! And my 3 year old still plays with her penguins muchkin slide bath toy.
Realizing that every body is different, I’m going to ask this question anyways. I am mid-30s, two kids, my youngest is a year and a half. In the last five months, I lost about ten pounds that I held onto from the last baby, and am discovering that I now have some loose skin around my belly button. For those who have done similarly–does this go away, or is it a permanent fixture now?
Reposting since I posted this late Friday – thanks to those of you who have already responded!
Does anyone have experience with therapy for themselves to help work through the nuances of having a special needs child? I just found out my five month old daughter has some issues with her vision and may possibly be blind, and I think talking to a professional would be helpful. Specific recs would be great – I’m in LA but would prefer virtual sessions, so location is irrelevant – but also would love to hear about other’s experience with this.
Tooth brushing – what’s a good tooth brush for a 2 year old? Also, how do y’all handle the night time routine with tooth brushing? We’re good with the morning routine but it seems to all fall apart at bedtime. Thanks!
For folks who have household help beyond childcare and a typical housecleaner every few weeks, when did you reach your breaking point and decide that you needed help and it was worth the cost? It feels like DH and I are working so much right now, but it also kind of feels like neither of us has big enough jobs to require what I would consider housekeeping help. But I just feel like we have nothing left to give. What solutions have others found to this problem? How much do people pay for help, and how does that compare to your income?
I’m starting to check out winter sales for snow gear for next year, especially snow bibs. What brands have you found that are great quality and warm? My oldest is out of toddler sizes and everything is suddenly much more expensive