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Something on your mind? Chat about it here. But first…
Pictured above:
- For pregnant mamas: It’s debatable whether maxi dresses are work appropriate, but IMHO if there’s any time you can get away with them, it’s during your pregnancy. This bright, happy cobalt dress looks great — high V, thick straps, and a tie to help with fit — and it’s only $30 at ASOS. ASOS Maternity Exclusive Maxi Dress With V Neck
- For everyone: I’m swooning over this cotton terry jacket, which looks like that rare bird that can go with you to both work and the playground (and then the washing machine). It’s part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (see my top workwear picks here) — it’s currently marked $180, but will go up to $275 after the sale ends on August 4. James Perse Notch Collar Jacket (Nordstrom Exclusive)
- For the mama to kiddos under 45 lbs: the ERGObaby carrier is on a good sale (gray only) as part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. We have and like the Boba 3G, but all of my friends adore the ERGObaby. As part of the sale it is currently marked at $79, but it will go back to $120 after the sale ends. It carries babies from 4 months old to 45 lbs. ERGObaby ‘Original – Starburst’ Baby Carrier (Nordstrom Exclusive)
- For everyone (particularly pregnant/nursing mamas, as a big necklace is one of my favorite ways to draw attention towards the face): I like this happy, unusual carved bead necklace from Kenneth Jay Lane. It was $495, but is now marked to $198 at The Outnet. Kenneth Jay Lane Carved bead and crystal necklace
- For everyone: I’ve been hearing about this gloss for years and finally got some (I got the VERY light colored 101 Nude Provocateur, from the “Rebel Nudes” line). It’s a really unusual product in that it lives up to its name — it stains your lips a slight color, but keeps a glossy appearance — somehow without making your lips sticky. I like that I can kiss my boys without leaving marks, and that I can leave the house on a windy day without having hair-in-lipgloss issues. It’s $35, available at spots like Nordstrom and Sephora. (I’ve only just gotten the drugstore dupe, L’oreal Caresse Wet Shine Lip Stain (made by the same company), and the color of Stubborn Plum is a bit too pink for me to recommend, but the products are VERY similar in feel. The YSL iteration has TONS of colors, though, and you can try before you buy — so it may be worth the $35.) Yves Saint Laurent ‘Rebel Nudes’ Glossy Stain — Mamas, do you have any favorite lip products? Did your picks change after having kids?
- Do you think maxis are work-appropriate (while pregnant) in most business casual offices? Can they be saved with a blazer for a casual day in a more conservative office?
- Which are your favorite lip products when you’re around your kids?
- Random C-Moms Q for you: do you think the Open Thread should go up on Fridays — or Mondays? When do you have more time/want to talk? (Or, some other day?)
- FINALLY: Please don’t forget to take the reader survey, up and running now (and edited slightly after some reader feedback). Some notes from the current survey answers — if this doesn’t sound like you, please take the survey so you’ll be represented!
- Most of you are between 25-34
- with small kids (the vast majority under 2)
- who work mostly outside the home, full-time
- 25% of you have a household income of $200-$299K, and almost 25% of you make $100-$150K personally
- 65% of you have JDs (welcome, lawyas!)
- surprisingly (to me), 35% of you say your fashion choices didn’t change after having kids
- most of you are budget shoppers for your kids
- 80% of you answered that you “never or rarely” comment on Corporette (welcome, lurkers!)
- It looks like the top things you think are “very important” for this blog to cover are: work/life balance, parenting, household management, sales/deals, business casual fashion, and career/job advice
anon says
Personally, I’ve totally given up wearing necklaces since I had my baby. First of all, I’m so rushed in the morning I barely have time to brush my teeth much less accessorize. Second, I’m pumping so I’m taking my shirt on and off three times a day, and I don’t want to deal with a necklace. I can’t wait till I’m done pumping and getting dressed becomes a little less complicated!
MamaDee says
Even then, your toddler kid will grab at your necklace! It never ends ;)
hoola hoopa says
I agree with Kat on the statement necklaces. It’s such an easy way to make a simple outfit look put together. I have a nearly zero maintenance morning routine now, but it’s something I can do. I particularly like them for late pregnancy and post-partum, when I’m usually limited to a couple of outfits that still fit. Changing a necklace makes them feel new.
I take them off the second I walk into the house.
FVNC says
Me too! Accessories now are limited to pearl studs and a small diamond solitaire on a very sturdy chain. I am looking forward to the day when I can dress without taking pumping into account. I’m down to two sessions per day from three, and am hoping to be down to one in a couple weeks and eliminate entirely within the next month. Baby will be 10 mos by then, my supply is lessening anyway, and after six months of pumping 90 min per day, I’m over it!
Katarina says
Yeah, I wear necklaces much less often since having a baby, not more often. I did wear a lot of necklaces while pregnant, though.
Diana Barry says
I always wear necklaces to work but take them off immediately when I get home. No necklaces on the weekends, though!
hoola hoopa says
Granted I work in a casual office, but maxi dresses were faux pas last summer and are everywhere this summer. After seeing a half dozen colleagues wearing a maxi, I started wearing one my mine (good quality fabric, black) and get a ton of complements from other women in the office.
I still feel like I’m wearing the skirt version of pajamas to work… but I’ll take it on hot days or meeting-less days when I really do wish I could wear pajamas.
Shay-La says
I don’t see maxi dresses everywhere, but I’m still wearing mine on the really hot and humid days. Just as Kat said, there’s no better time to get away with it than when you’re pregnant. My office is definitely more conservative, so I dress it up with a nice cardigan (doesn’t really seem like blazer material) and nice accessories.
hoola hoopa says
I think a Monday open thread would make sense, since the moms area seems to be basically one weekly open thread.
If it will be a post-a-day soon, I’d keep it on Friday for consistency with the main area.
AEK says
I also like the idea of Monday open thread since content is isn’t posted daily— so we can keep it going throughout the week if people post questions.
Meg Murry says
I agree with Mondays as open thread as well, especially since the Open Thread on the main site is Fridays. Somehow, a Friday open thread seems like it should only be for the weekend, even if that’s not the intention.
(former) preg 3L says
+1 for Mondays!
Spirograph says
I agree, Mondays would be great if there’s only one post/week.
EB0220 says
Yes, I like the Monday idea as well. My Fridays are always so crazy that I never get to this thread until Monday, anyway.
Anonk says
Anyone have a favorite brand of washable nursing pads? Just ordered some bamboobies or whatever from nordstrom but they haven’t arrived yet
anon eagle says
http://www.amazon.com/TL-Care-Organic-Nursing-Natural/dp/B002MN3JY2
Bought 2 packs of these and they work great. When feeding the baby on 1 side, I shove a whole dishtowel/rag/blanket/burp cloth into my bra on the other side to mop up the runoff. A washable nursing pad isn’t enough.
R says
I love bamboobies! Never showed under anything but the thinnest tshirt. I wait for the website to run the freebie sale, and have one sent to every address I can think of, to stock up. (And I’ve bought two weeks worth of overnights. )
Meg Murry says
On the Ergobaby rec- I bought one from a friend, and unless they changed the design in the past few years (mine would be 7 years old now since that’s how old her oldest was), I didn’t like how short the front was. I had a toddler Patapum for my first that since it was designed for a toddler had a much higher “pouch”. Also, the infant insert part for the Ergo was annoying and made it pretty much unusable for an infant for me. Overall, I’d look at reviews for other brands besides Ergo to see if there is one that can either be used well with younger kids or older kids – I feel like the Ergo’s usability range is really only from 6 months – 1 year, which isn’t much time for me.
Assistant Prof says
I will just chime in to say that the Ergo baby carrier was the most indispensable piece of baby equipment we owned. We used a fleece pouch until ~ 4 mo, then once our babes had head control, the Ergo was awesome. My husband and I both quickly learned how to back carry without help, and I would carry my son while cooking, cleaning, etc, and then for mid-day naps while walking the dog or shopping until he was literally 4 years old. Perfect for hiking and travel as well. We didn’t own a stroller at all until he was one and we wanted a jog stroller. I agree that the Ergo is not great for very young infants (where slings and pouches excel), but it was worth its weight in gold for our family.
EB0220 says
I loved our Ergo but I agree that the back panel is very short. I didn’t realize how precarious it was with my 1.5 year old until I tried another type of carrier! The Boba 4G seems to be a good option that will last from newborn through toddler phase, due to a cool infant insert and much taller back panel for the older kids. I haven’t tried it personally, though. I am trying woven wraps with my second baby (coming soon) but will certainly keep using the Ergo – it’s awesome for air travel.
FYI says
I stopped taking the survey because it presupposes that you are already in the parenting phase. I have no kids and I’m not pregnant, but I plan to be a working mom in the future.
I’m probably not the only child free lurker!
Not a Mom says
I am not a mom and never plan to be, but I check out this s!te out of curiosity.
dhl says
Career advice, please: I’ve been in litigation for about 4 years. There are parts of my job that I really enjoy – intellectual challenge, I am good at what I do, etc.- but the hours and travel (up to 60% a week, no overnights but 3-4 hour drives each way are common) have been difficult to coordinate around daycare and breastfeeding my 5-month old.
I may have an opportunity to move into a less exciting but very stable government position. For those of you that have made the switch, do you miss being in the courtroom? Is the trade-off of a [potentially] less exciting career in favor of more time / stability worth it? If I jump ship now, am I correct that litigation isn’t something I could easily return to in the future? TIA.
anonmom says
I’ve never worked at a firm, so I can’t compare the two experiences. But I do have a stable government position and a baby. Part of my job involves litigation in administrative fora, and I find that isn’t boring to me. It satisfies my appetite for adversarial work, but I rarely work more than 45 hours a week. Now that I have a baby, I can’t imagine doing anything else. So I think it really depends on the duties of the government position in question.
anon2 says
I recently made the switch to a position with the fed gov’t doing something similar to what anonmom does for the same reasons (and also because being up for partnership with 2 young kids, including a newborn, at a large firm in this economy seemed like a bad career and life decision). The agency I joined regulates the industry in the area of litigation I practiced in, so it seemed like a good way to take a step back for a few years and ramp back up once my kids are older if I want to. It’s early, but the pace is so dramatically different – I somewhat thrived under the stress of a big firm litigation job, and I’m having trouble motivating without piles and piles of work to get through every day. And I’m finding it a litte boring. I’m curious what others have to say on this switch. I think in DC, where I live, switching between gov’t and firms in a regulated litigation practice area isn’t uncommon, but it might be in other cities. My plan is to keep up my contacts at the firm I was at in case I ever do want to go back; I was very well liked there, and I think could have made a run for it, but they are making so few equity partners and there were no other paths (counsel is VERY rare), and I really didn’t feel like I could put in the hours needed at this point in my life.
Also, FWIW, the long hours and balancing generally got a LOT easier for me once we were past the pumping/baby stage and into the more independant toddler stage (especially because our day care provides food once the kids are in the toddler room – hooray for no more packing lunches). But the day care drop off headaches with the unpredictible travel never did, and were a big reason why I switched.