Splurge or Save Thursday: Metro Travel Umbrella

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I always bought the cheapest umbrellas figuring when (not “if”) I lost them, oh well.

I bought my husband this compact travel-sized umbrella from Blunt as a practical, yet gift-worthy birthday present — I liked it so much I’ve actually used it more than him.

With 39 inches of coverage, you’ll stay dry without bumping into everyone else on the sidewalk. It opens with a push of a button and is built to last — Blunt’s umbrellas are wind-tested in winds up to 115 km/hour. No more throwaway umbrellas for me!

Blunt’s Metro umbrella is $89 and comes in 10 colors.

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)
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Gift ideas for a 6 year old boy? He’s into Harry Potter, Star Wars, chess (we have No Stress Chess), books – loves reading.

I’m getting him a weather station thing to see the forecast because he asks every night and he asked his grandparents for a fitbit (he has an older sister so he knows about this stuff!) Was thinking of a Harry Potter lego set although in general he’s not huge on legos. Maybe a juggling kit – or is that too advanced? Anything that’s been a big hit with your kids?

I’m in my early 30s and a mother of one. Am I too old for a cartilage piercing? I am not generally cool or trendy but I have always wanted one. Will I look silly?

The pulmonologist said one of my twins is very susceptible to colds (side note: it’s super weird for your kid to get sick when it’s 111 degrees outside). I’m putting him in Montessori in September with his brothers – any tips to help keep him from getting sick constantly? That sounds like such a dumb question. He’s on maintenance medication. My oldest has been at this Montessori four years now: he never gets sick but I think he just has a better immune system. My little sickie eats pretty well; I’ve got him on fish oil and vitamins in addition to his maintenance meds. Last winter was a miserable 5 months of illness ending in hospitalization, so I’m not eager to relive that experience. Is this just my life until he’s 3 or 4?

What would you do? Our nanny has been out sick for over two weeks. He is legitimately ill, but he’s exceeded our generous sick leave allowance, is now in time without pay, and doesn’t seem to be recovering. I have three interviews for a replacement lined up. AITA if I let nanny go with severance and hire someone who is actually going to show up?

We are potty training in partnership with our daycare. They asked if it’s ok to throw away our kid’s soiled clothes rather than putting them in a bag for us, since apparently our kid’s poops are softer than they’re used to. I guess this is OK, but it’s a little annoying and feels wasteful to have to buy a ton of pants. Thoughts?

Kicking myself for not buying the Magna Tiles during Amazon Prime Day

Any recs on kitchen table chairs? Standard table height and no fabric upholstery.
The table is espresso colored but the pleather upholstered chairs it came with are starting to crack and peel badly.
With a toddler and two dogs there is no way we will keep fabric chairs clean.

The “last minute dinner” thread made me laugh. Most of those suggestions (and similar ones when someone asks for quick and easy meals) are our standard dinner fare. Brinner, pasta night, something on the grill, Mexican night, something on a bun.

When our first kid was born one of my friends, who loves to cook, brought me a container of homemade spaghetti sauce and a box of pasta “for a quick dinner.” My dude, you know what’s faster? Sauce from a jar that heats up in a minute. Prego is delicious. I have never had a shred of interest in making my own sauce.

Any tips for sudden and severe separation anxiety in a 4.5 year old? She’s never had any issues with school drop off, or really any problems separating from us in general but all of a sudden she’s crying hysterically every day at school drop off. She even cried last weekend going on a sleepover to my parents, which is something she does all the time and loves. It’s especially bad when separating from my husband, who is the primary/preferred parent but it happens with me too especially at school. Our daycare teachers suggested a 3 week business trip my husband took back in May was the root of the issue, but he’s been back over a month and it seems to be getting worse, not better.

Any advice? Is this just a phase we have to get through? It was so sad this morning at school drop off. Her two besties were so excited to see her and were saying “(name), come play with us!” and she was sobbing and clutching my leg while wailing “mommyyyyyyy don’t leave meeeeee.” :/