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This dress may not look like much, but Corporette readers have sung its praises for years. I own one myself (I’ll always remember that I was wearing it when we told my parents we were promoting Jack to big brother), and it’s very easy to wash and dry — and did I mention it has pockets? Target currently has them on sale — they were $28 but are now marked to $21. The dress is available in 5 colors, with lucky sizes sprinkled from XXS-XXL among the colors. Merona® Women’s Ponte Elbow Sleeve Dress w/Pockets
Psst: this dress is almost sold out, but I was really pleased with the thickness of the fabric and cut of the dress when it came the other day — and it’s machine washable.
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
- 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?
KJ says
DC-area Moms, I want to put in a plug for Baby Proofing Montgomery for child-proofing services. I felt kind of guilty spending money on something that could be done ourselves for less money, but after having it done I feel like it was money very well spent. My husband and I aren’t handy, so what took their installer 6 hours to complete would have taken us….infinity + a divorce, I think? Anyway, the guy did a great job, it was less money than I thought it would be, baby is safe, marriage is intact, and I never had to touch a drill. Win all around!
Spirograph says
What services did this include? We did most of it ourselves, but I really, really want the TV and dressers anchored to the wall (especially now that toddler is a mobile, climbing phase) and if I hear DH say “oh yeah, I’ll do that this weekend” one more time, I’m going to lose it.
Kat G says
We had something similar in Brooklyn — I forget the name but can look it up if anyone’s interested. After my husband spent 2 hours one Saturday morning installing something incorrectly I figured it was worth whatever price it cost. It was particularly awesome because the fellow had knew about all sorts of gadgets and stuff so we didn’t have to research or figure it out — all of our kitchen cabinets are locked with magnets, for example, when I probably would have looked for the hideous plastic things my parents had on all of our cabinets growing up.
(former) preg 3L says
I am super interested! Who did you use?
Kat G says
Baby bodyguards… http://www.babybodyguards.com.
Nonny says
We have the magnet thingies as well. They work great – the trick though is consistently keeping the unlocking magnets in the same place! :-)
Meg Murry says
And away from the kids – I’ve heard stories of kids that got ahold of the magnets and thought it was great fun that the magnets put purple blotches on the TVs and computer monitors – that happened to be permanent. Not sure if modern TVs still have this problem, but either way, use caution.
mascot says
We had magnets in the kitchen. They were awesome. We had to train ourselves to put the keys back on the range hood or on the top of the fridge, neither of which the baby could reach. But after a few days, that became second nature.
KJ says
They will do basically anything you can think of. They anchored our TV, but determined that the dressers were not a tip risk.
Anon says
This dress would be a great option for hiding early pregnancy or as early maternity wear. If it’s part of the regular rotation it wouldn’t draw attention as a ‘maternity dress’.
Watermelon says
Is this dress good for nursing?
Maddie Ross says
I have several of these dresses. They were awesome for hiding pregnancy in the beginning and worked for me up until I was nearly 8 months with #1. They are terrible for nursing though. Little give in the neckline, so you would have to take off completely.
Watermelon says
Thank you!
Nonny says
Thanks to everyone for your ideas about sleep training yesterday. I decided to try the Sleep Lady’s techniques as per In House Counsel’s recommendation and bought the book at lunch. We did the first night last night….at my daughter’s first wake-up it took her 1 1/2 hours to go back to sleep. The next time it took 1 hr – but she slept until 5:45am in her own crib. I am hoping for less than an hour tonight. Fingers crossed!
Also, thanks for the kick in the pants about getting my SO to take care of wakings even if our daughter’s crying does not wake him. You were right. I got him to do the second waking last night and think I will put him on early morning duty on a consistent basis.
In House Counsel says
Glad to provide the rec — I seriously was at my wits end before I stumbled upon that book. It worked the best of the different techniques I’d tried and I liked that it was somewhere between the CIO and no-cry methods. Here’s to improving sleeping patterns and finally getting to sleep through the night again as a mom:)
MNF - Baby Shower Help? says
Wow – love this dress. Glad I came over from the regular page to ask this TJ Question!
TJ – I’m invited to a million baby showers this fall (okay 3) and have never been to one before. I don’t have a baby, don’t know about babies (I’m the one asking – can 3 year olds talk yet?), and thus am not sure what to buy for a shower. If this varies by region, I’m in the northeast but not a major metropolitan area. I would usually spend ~$75 for a wedding shower present and ~$150 for a wedding present. What do I buy and how much do I spend?
Erin says
$ depends on how close you are to the person, but $50-$75 would be reasonable. Registry is your best bet for a gift. If they don’t do a registry (but most people do), buy an inexpensive cute baby item (outfit, toy, whatever – go to the baby department at Target and ask one of the 7 zillion moms there for advice if you need help) and pair it with a $50 Target or Amazon gift card.
Erin says
Someone mentioned below – books. This is a perfect thing to pair with a gift card. Get a classic. They might get 5 copies if it’s a common one but just include a gift receipt.
pockets says
If they have a registry, buy off the registry. If no registry, then something that is v-e-r-y easy to return (store within easy walking/driving distance or can stick it in a box to return). This may vary, but I wouldn’t buy clothing (unless they registered for it). I returned basically every single clothing item I got that I could return, and have two huge bags of clothing that I couldn’t return to donate. I appreciate the thought of course but I could have used something more useful, or a credit to buy something more useful.
I think $30-$50 is appropriate.
KJ says
Get something off the registry in your price range. If the moms you know are anything like me and the moms I know, they spent a lot of time and research effort putting together the registry, and that really is what they want – even the less “fun” items like bottles or something. If there isn’t a registry just get some combination of clothes, blankets, and burp cloths.
As for price range, I usually spend more if I’m closer to the family, probably $50 on average. (In DC, for reference.)
In House Lobbyist says
My favorite baby gifts were the ones that I would not buy myself but wanted – like monogrammed burp cloths or bibs or baby blanket. I got a great one from Pottery Barn that you might look into. Baby books, especially board books thst do something are good for when baby gets a little older. I also liked classic toys – wooden cars, blocks – even babies can chew on them and they can still be used for older toddlers. Aiden and anisely anything are great – thr swaddling blankets or burp cloths. Target and Amazon both sell them. Clothes in general are hard because babies grow so fast and it’s sometimes hard to predict what size/season to buy.
Spirograph says
I love the Aiden & Anais swaddle blankets so much I bought them for all my friends having babies. Also +1 to board books, or baby “books” made out of fabric with interesting textures, or that crinkles.
You really can’t go wrong with registry items, or something cute like a blanket or outfit (with gift receipt) + gift card. I agree with FWIW’s price ranges below.
If you buy non-registry clothes, don’t get anything smaller than a 3 month size. I appreciated the moms-who-know-better that got me bigger clothes rather than adding to the millions of newborn outfits that were outgrown in no time flat.
Erin says
I had the opposite problem. Everyone knew the “only buy larger clothes” advice so we got literally ONE newborn outfit. My baby was (to start anyway) average size and fit newborn clothes for about a month, and I ended up buying newborn clothes myself.
Lyssa says
I agree with that, but, for bigger clothes, try to make them seasonally neutral – i.e., long-sleeved lightweight shirts and such. My baby was born in December, and we got a bunch of deep winter-type of stuff that fit him at six months (in June), but by then it was too late to return, and by cold weather, he’d outgrown them.
Nonny says
Don’t buy clothes, unless you buy clothes sized for 6 months or older. Everyone buys baby clothes for new babies (they’re so cute!) but honestly, they don’t need that much and the real need comes later when they start growing out of everything at once.
The recommendation for Aden & Anais bamboo blankets is a good one – they are so soft. They were my favourites and even now we still use them when my 9-month-old needs just a light blanket.
I strongly support buying things off the parents’ register if they have one – the more practical, the better. People love buying fun things for new babies, but it’s the practical things that parents really need and that can cumulatively end up costing a lot.
hoola hoopa says
If there’s a registry, use it. If there’s not, gift card to amazon, target, or babiesrus (+ optional board book – I recommend Brown Bear Brown Bear, In My Nest, or anything by Sandra Boynton).
I generally spend a similar amount as a wedding shower gift, but for me that’s usually ~$30-50.
Nonny says
Sandra Boynton – my new favourite book is, “Goodnight, Little Pookie”. I especially like the last page where Pookie says, “Goodnight, little Mommy”. :-) Breaks my heart. We borrowed it from the library and now I want to buy it.
hoola hoopa says
Buy it! It’s one of her best. We completely wore it out. I also had Pookie say good night to the child, which they loved.
Moo, Baa, Lalala is probably my favorite. I think it’s hilarious. My kids probably laugh the hardest at Blue Hat Green Hat, which does a nice job of sneakily teaching colors, articles of clothing, and body parts.
JJ says
The boxed sets of hers are gold. Both my kids still love them. Our favorite was probably Horns To Toes And In Between, which taught body parts. The Going To Bed Book is our nighttime ritual.
MNF says
Thanks all! I’ll definitely stick to the registry and probably target a bunch of smaller useful-looking items. I’m glad people had different opinions on buying clothes, wouldn’t have thought about the pros and cons mentioned — too fraught for me!
FWIW says
I live in a small/medium Northeast city and go to a LOT of baby showers (particularly in the past year or so) although I don’t have kids. I generally throw in $10 to the ‘from all of us’ gift card for a coworker I kinda know, $25-50 gift off the registry for a friend/cousin and buy something around $100 off the registry for a sibling or best friend (Pack ‘n’ play or Ergobaby) plus a handmade gift (baby quilt).
Where I live, a couple things off the registry that total $30-50 is great. I actually enjoy baby showers, especially ’cause my friend group tends to do fun, relaxed co-ed showers with booze served.
eh230 says
Anyone have tips for night potty training? DS1 is 4.5 and has been daytime potty trained since around 3 or so. I keep thinking it will just happen for night, but it hasn’t yet. Some mornings he wakes up dry, and some mornings he wets through the pull-up. I have a one year old who still gets up between 5-6 for a bottle, so I really don’t want to have to set an alarm for the middle of the night to take the older one to the bathroom.
anon says
Just wait. Nighttime is purely about physical readiness (vs daytime which is physical readiness plus will/desire). It’s not even considered a problem/issue by doctors until age 6 for girls and 7 for boys. If you get that far your pediatrician will have ideas.
mascot says
+1. You can’t force this one. In addition to taking him to the bathroom before he goes to bed, does he go again a few hours later? We take our son (4) to the bathroom right before we go to bed, so 10-11 pm. We keep the lights off and just sit him down. He’s reliably dry at night 90% I’d say. We also really worked with him on going right when he wakes up and telling him he can get out of bed to go potty anytime. I think sometimes he was wetting while still half-asleep in the early morning
hoola hoopa says
+1
Try eliminating beverages after 2 hrs before bedtime and making a bathroom trip part of the bedtime routine. But mostly, just wait it out.
RR says
There’s no such thing as night training. Let it go until he’s waking up dry on his own. My daughter was night trained at 4; her twin brother is still in overnight pullups at 6.
eh230 says
Thanks, everyone. We definitely have a routine of him going to the bathroom right before bed and right after he wakes up. I have taken him a couple of times before I go to bed, and that does seem to help, so I may start trying that again. Glad to know that it is mostly just waiting it out!