Splurge or Save Thursday: Large Canvas Tote Bag
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The Woolrich x Target collection is perfectly suited for fall. Their roomy canvas tote bag is an excellent sidekick for fall adventures.
Unlike all the free tote bags I have floating around my house, this bag is made from sturdy cotton fabric and features pockets inside and out. It also has double carrying handles, a shoulder strap, and a removable carabiner. Use it for farmers market hauls, kids’ sports, and more.
This canvas tote bag is $40.
Sales of note for 9/23/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off tops and sweaters
- Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 15% off
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles with code
- J.Crew – Extra 30% off sale styles, plus up to 50% off layers they love
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything + extra 60% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Nordstrom – Fall savings event! Also get 15% off select beauty items and 6x points on beauty.
- Talbots – Anniversary event! 25% off entire purchase, plus fresh fall classics from $34.50
Trying to figure out the guest list for my soon-to-be-8 year old’s upcoming birthday. We have to invite all the girls in her class (there are only 7 and she is friends with 5, we obviously can’t exclude just 2). In the past we’ve invited the whole class and I like being as inclusive as possible, but she no longer has any close male friends and it’s really becoming too much to invite 20+ classmates because she has 12-15 non-classmate close friends (all girls) she wants to invite as well. So drawing the line at just the girls in the class makes the most sense even though I don’t particularly love the idea of breaking it down by gender.
I have a couple friendly acquaintances who have sons in my daughter’s grade but not in her current class. One of the boys used to be a close friend of hers but they’ve drifted significantly this year. We’ve historically exchanged birthday invites with these families and they invited us to their sons’ fall birthday parties this year. Is it ok to not invite them to my daughter’s party? I know I’m probably overthinking, but I always feel awkward about not being reciprocal about birthday invites, especially because her party is not small. I don’t want hurt feelings but also can’t imagine either of these boys really wants to be the only boy at a party with 20 girls. I guess if they both came there would at least be 2 of them but it still feels kind of weird.
Indulge a new mama. I’m still on maternity leave in January when it will be cold, grey, and quite likely icy. I’d like to go somewhere for a week with my 3 month old where I can sit outside on a deck looking at nature and where it is easy and pleasant enough for long walks outside. I don’t need it to be warm, just like 50s during the day would be enough. Would costal Carolinas work?
I know variations of this theme have been discussed multiple times, I just haven’t stumbled on the right search terms to find those threads. My kid has a friend who’s been having a rough time for a while with lots of attitude and being mean toward authority figures and friends. I’m friendly with the mom. Mom is at least somewhat aware and I think is trying to address it, but likely not fully aware of the extent and placing some blame on other kids. Is the usual recommendation that I keep my mouth shut (meaning not say anything to the mom regarding things my kid has told me) and just try to create a bit of distance, reiterate to my kid that “friend” is not being a good friend and making poor choices, etc.?
For those of you who don’t allow screen time on a regular basis, do you always make an exception for long flights, sometimes, or never?
Any recommendations for a solo holiday trip with kids? Ages are 6 and 9. I like to travel somewhere warm between Christmas and New Years, but husband has a Giant Work Thing that launches Jan 1. I still want to be warm though!
I’ve been reading more physical magazines as a way to lower my social media consumption. I’ve been impressed by the articles in Vogue. They often have escapist-type topics, but are surprisingly wise and thoughtful. The writing is better than what I usually consume too. Do you read magazines? What do you find enjoyable and surprisingly good?
If your kids use loops, do you buy the loops tether or are the generic ones ok? £20 for a piece of silicone seems steep.
I don’t shop at Target but I love this bag’s “rustic” features.
In what ways have you become your mother?
(I ask as I wash yet another empty glass salsa jar to use for storing soup because I am too frugal/cheap to buy actual tupperware-style food storage)
Advice please. I am strongly considering scaling back significantly at work (law). I don’t want to provide every detail here, but the practice is just my boss and I, and I’ve been here for years. Boss is nearing retirement. Clients are institutional, so any I leave would be pretty permanent, but I think I could still get another job/start my own practice down the road. I am proud of the mission of my work and planned to take over the work from my boss when he retires eventually, but it is just taking a toll. The workload is just too much, and I’m frankly burned out on the stress of three kids and both working jobs that make every kid sick day a stressful scramble because I’m worried about the next deadline. DH likes his job, finances would allow any of these options depending on how many current childcare costs are eliminated. 3 kids, 1 toddler 2 elementary school kids. So, I’m considering talking to boss about: A) dropping one part of our workload (about 1/4 of current workload). The other 3/4 would likely make up a lot of that “lost” business because I’d have more time to be more responsive to that part of the business. B) dropping most clients and trying to work it out so I can keep just a few small clients. I’d like to keep a toe in the door. In this situation, I’d pull most childcare. C) step away completely. D) phase out, starting with A. Concerned with logistics and/or losing my nerve to make a big enough change to give our family the breathing room I really want here. On the other hand, I’m risk-adverse and it would give me time to feel things out. What would you consider? I’ve been at this job for so long and I’m definitely emotionally tied to it, so I want to make sure I’m not missing a consideration I should be taking into account.