Organizing Thursday: Hanging Toiletry Case
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Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine’s Day!):
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase — and extra 60% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + 15% off (readers love their suiting as well as their silky shirts like this one)
- Boden – 15% off new season styles
- Eloquii – 300+ styles $25 and up
- J.Crew – 40% of your purchase – prices as marked
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site and storewide + extra 50% off clearance
- Rothy’s – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Flash sale ending soon – markdowns starting from $15, extra 70% off all other markdowns (final sale)
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?
Has anyone had success negotiating a flexible or alternative work schedule as part of a new job at a new company? Trying to decide on the feasibility of requesting it at a new position.
Which would you see as the most appropriate book/series for 2nd graders (girls and boys): Elephant and Piggie, I Survived, Magic Tree House or Who would win?
I’m looking for books to pass out as a party favor. DS is really into Percy Jackson books (so is not being helpful), but they’re too expensive.
So, second pregnancy, second gestational diabetes diagnosis. This time I’m close to a TJ’s, but not as close (work or home) to an awesome salad place. Any recommendations for easy easy meals? DH will take care of cooking when he’s home, but I solo parent the todder half the week and need ideas on how to feed myself with minimal effort. Also cheap easy heat-in-microwave work options would be nice.
Plan so far is stocking up on zucchini spirals to sub in usual pasta dishes, riced cauliflower and mashed cauliflower to sub for rice and potatoes/starch with other meals generally, but I’d like recommendations on tasty frozen or minimal assembly required meals.
My go-to gestational diabetes breakfast is egg whites, avocado, black beans and salsa, so trying to stay away from those types of meals. TIA!
Just had my 2 yo’s Wellness visit and based on an eye test, they recommended seeing a pediatric ophthalmologist for potential astigmatism. This isn’t a shock since I have terrible vision and have since I was like 5, but I was just hoping she’d be lucky. Anyone have experience with this? Or recs for a great dr. In dc area? TIA!
Talk to me about “generous” PTO and other benefits. I feel like every employer I have ever worked for has claimed to offer “generous benefits” but as sort of a throwaway promise without actually being pegged to any standard of generosity. My current job gives terrible salaries but legitimately generous PTO (6 weeks paid, plus a week between xmas and NY). I don’t actually know if our healthcare and 401k benefit are “generous.” Help add some data points? Here are mine:
PTO (sick and vacay together): 6 weeks, plus the office is closed for a week between xmas and NYE, so 7 weeks total. Generous, right?
401k: employer contributes 5% (of my terrible salary, so the raw number here is low)
Health: 20% coinsurance, $35 co-pay, $1250 family deductible, out of pocket max is $6250, in-network only. This seems terrible to me, so we get coverage from my husband’s job.
Random, not-mom related topic: We received a Save The Date for a good friend’s out of state wedding, but no invitation. The wedding is in roughly 6 weeks. No one else in our friend group who received a Save The Date has received their invitation either. The bride lives out of state, and I’m probably the closest to her out of anyone in our friend group. Is there a polite way to check in and ask about our invitation? I’d like to support my friend in the event the wedding is no longer happening; I don’t want her to feel embarrassed or judged in any way.
Anyone have or seen them in the mink or the flax color? I have a pair in the black honeycomb, which I love and wear all the time (in the flat – the round toe). Trying to decide on a second pair. I have what I would call a “cognac” pair of cole haan loafers that I wear with stuff where black would look too harsh or off (e.g., blue-grey and ivory polka dotted silk blouse with jeans and an ivory sweater today), and there doesn’t seem to be an equivalent brown in the rothy’s, so trying to decide if the mink or flax would be a better bet.
I tried Nordstrom Trunk Club for the first time. I’ve been using RTR for “fun” outfits but really needed to upgrade my weekend staples for errands etc. I haven’t received my trunk yet, but so far I really like the experience compared to other services.
I got to actually chat with a stylist online, not just fill out a questionnaire. I got to say if there were specific things I wanted (I wanted a denim jacket, some thin gold necklaces for layering, etc.). Then they put together a trunk that has A LOT of things in it, and unlike a lot of other services you get to review the items before it is shipped. I said no to a few things with explanations, and checked that I was OK with her tossing a few more things in before sending. It’s on the way now, and it looks like I will have A LOT of things to try on. I like that she sent multiple options for things I was looking for rather than just one.
The only negative is the price points are a bit above what I was hoping for. For example, some 300 dollar rag and bone pants when I described that I wanted clothes for errands and taking kids to sports practices. But we will see!
I’m not sure if I’m hoping for commiseration or advice, maybe a little of both.
I’m on a committee at work, and while I’m not the chair I find myself the driver of scheduling meetings and setting agendas, in addition to the financial tasks I willingly took on. The chair keeps pushing these tasks back on me, and I’m getting annoyed. Leaving the committee would look bad, and that’s not a route I’m willing to take right now. I’m getting flashbacks to high school group projects where I was the only one putting in the effort to get things done.
I suppose I just need to get over it, but I’m having a hard time with it.
i have almost one year old twins. for the first 6 months of their life my ppa/ppd was so bad i really didn’t get to enjoy them. now they are about to be one and i feel like i’ve missed out on all the fun. after reading this board, no one seems to like parenting their toddlers. previously good sleepers seem to stop sleeping, the tantrums begin and seem to take years to end. please tell me there is something good about the toddler years? is there anything i can do to prepare for them?
What factors influenced your decision regarding who to appoint as guardians in a will?
Husband and I are trying to decide among our siblings, all of whom are wonderful people who would love our children as their own. Only one and spouse live in our area and could feasibly keep kids in same schools, with friends, etc. But they are probably the most different from us in terms of values and interests– not in a bad or unsafe way, just different– like they are religious and we aren’t, they like to hunt/fish/camp, they party/ socialize more. I’m just wondering what other factors we should consider. Money is not a factor for us.
My parents both passed when I was young, but the second one wasn’t until I was over 18 and out of the house, so I wasn’t raised by appointed guardians. I think this decision weighs on me because of that experience.
I feel like the newborn swaddle market has really exploded. We just used Aden and Anais blankets for our last when they were really small and then transferred to the halo velcro swaddles after that. Anyone have new favorites?
I see Eva Chen loves Olliworld, the NYMag strategist likes the Sleepea… want to make sure we’re not missing out on something that would make our lives easier!
Happy Almost Friday! DH and I are taking our 2.5 daughter to Disney and to visit family in Orlando. We are leaving on Tuesday. We will be staying at a Disney property for 3 nights and going to the parks for 2 days. Any Disney-goers have tips and tricks to share? The best rids for little ones? The best snacks to pack? Thanks in advance!!!
Move to a Planned Community? – Emily S.
Hive, I’d like some advice. DH is making noise about moving to a planned community that’s under construction near our house. Community will have walking trails, a playground, and pool; a mix of town-homes and single family homes on smaller lots. Our current house (5 years old, 3 stories, big backyard) is on the nicest street in the neighborhood, but the surrounding streets have turned over and fringe neighborhoods are showing their age (50’s era tract housing that are not universally maintained.) No sidewalks, trails, amenities, etc. in our current hood — DH thinks it lacks community, and as our kids are 4 and 2, wants them to have safe places to learn to ride bikes, playmates, etc. (Same school district.) Also, our home has increased in value by about $100k and if the surrounding neighborhoods are starting to dip, we’d like to get out with the equity. We could comfortably afford moving and the new mortgage, HOA, etc. Any of you made a similar move? Is it worth it? Is now a good time, before kids get older?
Thanks for the What’s Wrong, Little Pookie rec. I’ve been reading it to him all week and he’s joining in, so hopefully it’s sinking in a bit. He’s started telling me when he’s hungry, tired, and sometimes sad.