CorporetteMoms

Updated: May 30, 2023 94 Comments · by

Accessory Tuesday: Straw Woven Box Clutch

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Black Straw Woven Box Clutch

Summer weddings on the horizon? Here’s a cute clutch that won’t break the bank.

This structured, woven box clutch has a kiss lock closure and smooth interior lining. This polished clutch seems surprisingly roomy — it looks like it could hold a phone, wallet, and some makeup with room to spare. It has a removable silver chain strap to keep your hands free for another glass of champagne.

Olga Berg’s Cece Straw Women Box Clutch is $80 at Nordstrom and comes in black, white, natural, or blush.

Sales of note for 9.10.24

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

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

About Ann

Ann is a working mom, a longtime reader of Corporette and CorporetteMoms, and has been writing our morning fashion advice for working moms since November 2020! She has a daughter (born winter 2014) and a son (born fall 2019) and is a public interest lawyer in Washington, D.C.

Comments

  1. Anon says

    Advice needed. I have a 4.5yo and 2.5yo, and love them completely. I need advice though about becoming more patient with them, especially when we are hanging out at the house, particularly when I also need to get things done (making their meals, laundry, etc). When I try to incorporate the kidsin the tasks, I can feel myself becoming frustrated and don’t think it is a particularly great teaching or rewarding time for them. When we are out of the house (playing outside, activities) or reading together, it is great. The kids are not quite able to play independently or together without lots of mediation from us, and often want to be attached to me (particularly the younger one) whatever we are doing in the house.
    How do you go from the mentality of “must be efficient & accomplish tasks” to a more patient, kid-focused mindset? I need to change my attitude!

  2. Anon says

    How much would you expect to spend on a party for 40 people, including catering, venue, decorations, and a fun activity? I’m looking at 1k plus, and wondering if that’s completely spendthrift? Small town PNW, for reference.

    • Anonymous says

      40 people for 1000$ would be only $25 per person. That doesn’t seem enough to cover food, activity, and venue.

    • Anonymous says

      For a meal or just snacks? What do you mean by catering? I could maybe host a party with grocery store appetizers in my subdivision’s clubhouse party room for $1,000. The party I gave in late 2019 for 50 people with dinner and drinks but no activities or music (at my parents’ country club so the facility fee was waived) was around $3,500.

    • Anon says

      What kind of party? For a kids birthday party that includes parents in the headcount that budget feels high to me. For a catered sit-down dinner for 40 adults at a wedding-type venue, it’s too low. In between, it might be right. This all depends hugely on what kind of venue and what kind of food you want. I don’t think there is one right answer.

    • OP says

      It’s actually an adult milestone birthday with a handful of kids in the headcount. I’m planning a full meal but buffet style with a fair amount of grocery deli food to supplement hot mains. Sounds like this is just what things cost, and the disapproving boomers just haven’t/wouldn’t have such a party.

      • Anonymous says

        Yeah, ignore the boomers. If you can throw an adult party for 40 with a full meal for $1,000 you are getting a real bargain. I am the one who posted about the country club party above. It was for my husband’s milestone birthday and I was so glad I managed to get the extended family and far-flung friends together, especially since COVID hit right afterwards and we didn’t see many of these people for at least two years. Totally worth it.

      • Anonymous says

        Are the people who are complaining about the cost being asked to chip in? If you’re paying, they can shut their mouths about the cost, show up, and thank you for the lovely party.

    • Anonymous says

      That’s low in my area. If you are talking a private room at a restaurant then it’s drinks & meals pp (no venue). If it’s at home, then it’s catered and $25pp is low. If you rent a space and bring in food then more.

      Could you do it for $1k? Yep! And I have! But it was much more home cooked/store bought and home prepared, a DIY style bar (eg no bartender), no outside music/entertainment. And that’s fine and people will love it. It’s just not the same type of event as the others I listed above.

      • OP says

        That’s usually more my style but I’m trying to pull off a surprise party this time, which seriously impairs my DIY opportunities!

        • Anonymous says

          Ahh! I read your comments and agree you are being reasonable. Present it back as $pp and I think it will make sense. You can’t get really get Panera for less than $20pp if you have drinks and a cookie.

  3. Lovey Update says

    A really wonderful update on the missing lovey from last week [I posted that I was feeling some very deep feelings of guilt/loss after we thought my daughter lost her beloved lovey at my parent’s farm – and in working through the feelings, it became clear that I was really processing through feelings related to my older son’s significant health issues]. Anyway – with help from the group, and not wanting to lose the whole holiday weekend searching for it, I officially declared it “lost” and reached out to a counselor who helped me initially after my son’s diagnosis.

    Well, dang it, if we didn’t find the lovey on Friday morning, just as we were about to leave for my parent’s house. It wasn’t even at their house — it was at our house!! It was in a location that we have been in daily since it first went missing over a month ago, and that both my husband and I had searched several times over the last month. We all cried some happy tears – but the relief was no where near as acute as the grief I had been feeling — just underscoring how much it was never about the lovey :) That said, every time I saw her with it this weekend, it brought me immense happiness. Thanks to this group for a being a safe place to put my feelings.

  4. Anonymous says

    I’m suuuuper on the fence about whether to try for kid #2. My kid will be 4 in August, DH and I are 35. One of my BFFs just announced her pregnancy #2 and it may be what pushes me to go for it. Not sure if I’m looking for advice, just expressing my extreme indecision!

    • Anon says

      I was so tempted to have another when my best friend announced #2 (our firsts are almost the exact same age) – I actually told DH I wanted to try but he sensibly said let’s wait a bit and see if you still want one – and now I’m soooo glad I didn’t. It wasn’t right for our family.

      • Anon says

        I agree with waiting. I’ve gotten a bit too caught up in that “oh this sounds so fun, I want to do it too” mindset (after my BFF had her first baby and now again that she’s pregnant with her second), but it’s important to parse out your real feelings and consider whether it’s a true desire to have another child. Of course easier said than done, but do wait a bit until the news of BFF’s pregnancy has sunk in.

    • AwayEmily says

      You can always wait and see!! And not sure if this is a consideration, but wanted to put in my two cents that big age gaps can be awesome — I had two under two, and then a third when my older ones were 4 and 6 and I much preferred the bigger spacing! The big kids are old enough to be self-sufficient, they are a huge help with the baby, and I had enough time to recover that I could truly appreciate the baby stage. So glad we waited.

    • Anon says

      I can completely relate to your feelings. I’m currently expecting kid #2. My oldest is going to be 4 in the Fall. It seems like she’s the last kid in her class to have a sibling. Most of her classmates in school already have younger siblings or are in process of having kiddo #3.
      What helped me better understand my take on it was two things. 1) I had an early pregnancy loss before this pregnancy, which helped solidify for me that another kid was truly wanted deep down. 2) When I thing long long term, I just picture myself having two kids. (Not picturing what friends, family, etc. are doing)
      But the devils advocate in me that is always looking at situations from both angles sees a lot of pros and cons. Sometimes I miss this is the last Summer as a family of 3. This pregnancy has also been a lot tougher on my than my first pregnancy. I also feel like it’s the absolute worst year at work to be going out on maternity leave. So even if you ultimately do decide to go for it and get pregnant, I wouldn’t expect all of these feelings to magically go away.
      I agree with other poster, to keep thinking about it and talking with DH on the subject sounds like an excellent plan.

      • Anon says

        My only is 6 and still has classmates getting siblings for the first time, so I don’t think 4 years is a strange age gap. Maybe a bit larger than average but by no means bad! And there are lots of advantages to having a more independent older kid as Away Emily noted.

        • Anonymous says

          I know a few families with a sibling age gap of more like 8 years and it really looks like the easiest and most fun way to have two kids. This obviously works better if you start young, though.

          • Anon says

            DH and I joke about having a second when our only gets to middle school. It would probably be biologically impossible by then (I’ll be mid-40s) but if we had started younger I can see the appeal. Much easier financially too!

        • Anonymous says

          Growing up we knew tons of families with kids 4 grades apart (my family was one). I see the same pattern in my kids’ friends, tons of families with grade gaps of 3-5 year (preK and 3rd, preK and 4th etc)

    • Anonymous says

      My position is that if you are indecisive it’s a sign you don’t want another kid, at least not right now. I was one and done and my husband wanted another just to hedge against later regret. I stood firm and am SO glad I did.

    • TheElms says

      I was super on the fence as was my husband but we decided to go for it. I didn’t hear this perspective out there much, but for us it has been very hard. We definitely fell in the camp of 0-1 not being that big of a deal (after the first 2 months) but 1-2 has just been so, so hard and continues to be pretty hard on a daily basis and we are 15 months in. I love my little one fiercely in a way I don’t think I felt about my big one at this stage. My little one is just the happiest toddler. My big kid is reaching all these neat big kid milestones which are so wonderful to watch. But the daily grind with two is hard for me and DH. We are both physically exhausted much of the time because both of our kids are very high energy and its just go, go, go. It has taken a big toll on my job performance (so many sicknesses for the kids and for us and lingering Covid childcare issues, and just more logistics for two in a way that I didn’t anticipate). My family generally feels pretty stretched to the limit at all times, which is an uncomfortable feeling to have continuously for months on end. I’m pretty sure I will find the little kid years the hardest, so I’m not too worried for the long term, but its also daunting to think there are probably another really tough 2-3 years ahead. I still think it was the right decision to have a second and I can’t imagine life without her now, but I am surprised, and little sad, that I’m not finding it easier.

      • Boston Legal Eagle says

        Hang in there. You really are in the toughest stretch, at least in the little years with two. Mine are 7 and 4.5 now and it’s still not easy, but I’m finding myself with pockets of time and thinking about space for hobbies (I bought a bike!) and even pets (we might get a dog!) I was not in this headspace a few years ago.

        OP, no right answer here, of course. I’m a happy only child with two kids close in age. My kids have very different personalities, so having two has forced me to truly let go of any ideas I had that I can control them and how they turn out. But that’s also hard because they have such different needs and parenting styles have to be different. A bigger age gap might necessitate this anyway though.

        • Anon says

          I have an only but let go of any idea I can control how she turns out a loooong time ago 😉 I think this is more about your personality and parenting style than number of kids. My best friend has 3 and still gives herself a lot of credit (too much imo) for the positive aspects of their behavior.

      • anon says

        So much this….our 2nd came in December 2019…so 3 months shy of COVID and dang if it wasn’t the hardest transition. We now have a 3rd and the first year of having 3 was actually not terrible, but it has gotten harder as the baby is now mobile.

    • Anon says

      i have twins, which is probably a good thing bc im super indecisive and i wasn’t sure if i wanted 1 or 2, but in terms of the age spacing, if i’d had one kid at a time, i really liked the idea of a 4 year+ age gap. Seems to be less jealousy and less competition and I think the siblings can still be close and you can kind of enjoy each kid a bit as an only. Given my age when we had our twins, that spacing probably would’ve been out of the cards for us, but I would say don’t feel like you need to have number 2 right now if you decide you even want number 2.

    • govtattymom says

      I was similarly on the fence about kid # 2 but the decision was made for us with a surprise pandemic baby! There is a 5 year age gap between the kids. I absolutely adore both of the kiddos but it has been a tough transition. Self-care has suffered tremendously. When I had only one kiddo, I had time for meeting up with friends, pure bare classes, doing my makeup before each workday, etc. Now it feels like I am barely able to make time for the essential stuff. Not being able to do things I enjoy does have a negative impact on my mood. On the positive side, I have two amazing kiddos and truly love spending time with both of them. I would say to go for it if you have a longing for it (and hopefully you have a village)!

    • Anonymous says

      Life with 2 is very different than life with 1. Both are great, you just need to know what you want.

  5. So Anon says

    I gave notice last week and am looking forward to starting my new job in a few weeks! I thought I would share a few key gems from recent conversations with my boss for posterity: “I set you up to take this role.” “We would never promote you to that high of a level.” “I am so upset. I just got you promoted and had plans to expose you to leadership.” “I am extremely disappointed in your timeframe given the significant matters that you handle.” For the record, it was the standard amount of notice. I am so done and doing my best not to actively roll my eyes in meetings with her.

    • Anonymous says

      One of my direct reports just quit because management above me is a giant disaster and I heard all of these things about her from my boss. Just a sign of a toxic culture. Good thing you are out.

    • Anne-on says

      Good for you! Ignore the comments and focus on the new job! I also hope you have a bit of time off in between to relax and get yourself ready for the new role.

    • More Sleep Would Be Nice says

      I feel like I can imagine my boss saying all of this. A great reminder why I’m looking, even if things feel “ok” right now.

      SO EXCITED FOR YOU! Congratulations, again.

  6. Scilady says

    Need some shopping help!
    I have extended family pictures at the end of the month – my parents, my sister’s family, my family. My daughters are wearing this from Target (Girls’ Flutter Sleeve Dress Cat & Jack)

    https://www.target.com/p/girls–39–flutter-sleeve-dress—cat—38–jack–8482–green-s/-/A-86730752.

    I was trying to find something either dark green or a brighter pink (or even navy – my favorite). I normally wear a size 14 and I’d love to wear my normal bra with this. Photos will likely be on the beach. Links appreciated. And ideas for what my husband should wear.

  7. Anonz says

    I’m feeling very apathetic/unmotivated about a demanding job I have that I really generally love. It’s not without it’s flaws, but I do like it a whole lot. The market is really tough right now, so everyone is feeling a bit down but I’m lacking a lot of motivation at the moment. I’m also 16 weeks pregnant. It could just be the pregnancy making what’s already tough feel worse, right? I miss my old go-getter self, who seems to be on hiatus. Ugh.

    • Anon says

      The pregnancy for sure is a factor! When pregnant with my kids, I remember a lot of staring at my monitor because I was so tired from pregnancy insomnia and being sick. Definitely did not put in my best work during those times.

    • Anon says

      For me it was 1000% pregnancy. Especially with my first pregnancy- I didn’t so much have fatigue as a very glaring apathy. Currently pregnant with #2 and it’s definitely more fatigue this time around, but I definitely had a clear uptick in motivation- maybe around week 20?

  8. Anon says

    Our town has a pool. I have a 2.5 year old and 6 month old. I work part time so can take them to the pool on most days after 3:30. However, I have never taken my kids to the pool alone or with my husband. Is this even feasible? I’d have to baby wear 6 month old and watch the toddler like a hawk. They have a kiddie pool but he can’t swim.

    Should we wait one more year for the pool membership? Or can I take both kids without hating it?

    • Anon says

      by kiddie pool do you mean a pool where the water is like a foot deep? is 2.5 year old potty trained? i think it is doable to take the kids solo, but a lot of work and definitely doable with your husband. kids might be just as happy with a kiddie pool in the backyard, but it depends on how much you like the getting out of the house/socialization with other adults part

    • Anonymous says

      I vote wait. Buy a water table for your backyard. My kids are 4 and 6 and both fairly good swimmers and it is just gotten to the point where I am having fun at the pool with them and not constantly stressed making sure they are safe, taking one potty, etc. Also I’ve found little kids can’t last that long in the pool anyway- maybe an hour max before they get cold, even on hot days.

    • Tea/Coffee says

      I would weigh it against how much the membership costs. Things that aren’t possible or fun might be great by the end of the summer and vice versa. If it’s at all a stretch, I would wait.
      If it’s financially NBD I would do it. Baby in a sling (get one made with quick draining / waterproof material) and plan to spend time in the baby pool. You might only spend an hour at the pool at a time… but that time will get longer as the kids get older and the oldest is probably only a couple years away from swim lessons.
      Do you have friends with similarly-aged kids who could meet you?
      Is the baby pool shaded at all? If not… I would wait or find a different option.
      I took both kids to the pool solo regularly and it was NOT restful at all, but was fun and good for all of us. Bonus, pool time made my kids very tired and willing to drop right off to sleep :-)

    • Anon says

      I solo parent quite a bit and did this often with kids about the ages of yours. Take them once with your DH so you get a sense of the dynamics you need to watch for – does your youngest happily splash in the zero depth part, or does she crawl all over? Does your toddler do a good job staying near you, or is she a runner? Etc. Assuming you feel like you can handle their level of activity, take a bunch of snacks and sunscreen and go. Have DH meet you there with dinner for the kids, divide up the rinse off/ shower portion in the locker rooms, and put them to bed when you get home.

      If you can’t handle it, no worries. Get a kiddie pool, splash pad, or water table. Set it up in the yard, on a deck, or even over a bunch of towels on the kitchen floor with windows open. The pool will still be fun next year.

    • Anonymous says

      Does the pool offer swim lessons? If so you could drop the 2.5 year old at a swim lesson, hang out in the kiddie pool with the 6 month old, and then leave.

      Also, can you get a day pass or two or go with a friend to try it out?

    • TheElms says

      These were about the ages of my kids last summer (4 months and just 3). It was definitely manageable with me and my husband and we enjoyed it enough to make it worthwhile to go every weekend. The 3 year old LOVED it and that was a big part of the motivation. We started in the toddler pool, which is fenced with a gate, and is only 1 foot to 18 inches deep and had water fountains to figure out what worked. I’d sit on the edge with the baby and toddler would splash about with my husband or on her own. By the end of the summer we had moved to the big pool which had a large shallow section (2ft to 3.5 ft deep) that my 3 year old could mostly stand in and one of us would go in with her and the other one hung out with the baby (baby found the water too cold and was not a fan – we think at 15 months she is going to be much more into it this summer). We brought the stroller for the baby and sometimes the baby napped and whoever was with the baby also got a nap or to read a book, which was nice. I went on my own towards the end of the summer and we stayed in the toddler pool area because someone had to be in the water actively supervising the 3 year old in the shallow end. Its definitely exhausting on your own but I think doable, especially if baby will hang out in the stroller for a bit.

    • GCA says

      I’d wait a year. At those ages it would be more stressful than fun. Instead, a splash pad or water table would be more fun for a toddler and a baby. In fact, the last time I had a 2yo (pools closed, pandemic DIY survival everything), popping them in the bathtub or setting up a big shallow plastic tub with measuring cups and spoons were the biggest hits!

    • Anonie says

      Absolutely not. You would have to have eyes on them, and have them within arms’ reach, at all times. Kids those ages can drown in a bathtub, let alone a pool (even a baby pool). If you were going with your husband, fine, but by yourself, no way. There will be plenty of time for you to enjoy the pool with your kids when they’re 3 and up. And when they’re finally that age, you’ll look back at taking them to the pool at these ages and ask yourself, What was I thinking?? (Sauce: me.)

    • Anonymous says

      Wait. Also check to see if toddler can wear a bubble/puddle jumper. In our town pool they are not allowed.
      You hold your kid, they swim where they can stand, they swim, or they don’t go in.

      • Anonymous says

        That’s wild! Our city pool has life jackets available for non swimmers. Parent needs to stay at arms length but I never would have been comfortable taking my twins swimming on their own without life jackets.

        • Anon says

          I think some places allow life jackets but not puddle jumpers so maybe that’s what she meant? Puddle jumpers are seen as less safe I think.

        • Anonymous says

          I mean your kids have to be swimming independently. Which 98% if 3 year olds I’ve ever met are not.

  9. Anonymous says

    here’s a low stakes question. when is the best time to schedule pregnancy photos? I’m normally very low key and don’t have many photos of myself- I feel like this is a regret as we didn’t get professional wedding photos and I wish I had nicer ones of myself when I was younger! I’m 35 and expecting our first (11 weeks) and wondering when to schedule the most flattering pregnancy photos with a bump before I feel really uncomfortable. I’m just getting over feeling terrible in the first trimester and am admittedly self conscious about my weight, and self conscious about weight gain (I won’t try to diet, baby’s health is most important) but being photographed that way in the future. I’m about a size 10.

    • Lily says

      I’d say late second/early third trimester because you’ll have a clear bump but won’t be at your largest or most swollen (lol). Maybe 28 weeks?

    • anonchicago says

      I was told 32 weeks to get the ideal “basketball” shaped belly and before you’re too large to be comfortable. We did it around 33 weeks and it turned out well.

      A friend of mine who is one and done said she regretted not having pregnancy photos done because she’ll never look that way again and it’s a nice memory of her creating her son. Now a few months postpartum and coming to terms with the body changes, I totally agree and I’m so glad we did the photos.

      FWIW, I was an 8 pre pregnancy and a solid 10 now. I was really insecure about my pregnancy body and the photographer did a great job highlighting the belly and putting us in flattering photos.

    • Anon says

      Your photog will have a recommendation but 28-32 weeks is probably the sweet spot IMO. Clearly pregnant with a baby not a burrito, but minimizes the risk of being uncomfortable or missing the photos because you delivered early.

    • Anon says

      I had photos taken at 28 weeks, per photographer’s recommendation. I really treasure those photos. I had a bump but I wasn’t as uncomfortable as later in pregnancy. Also, one tip, I sought out a family photographer that also does newborn photos, general family photos, etc. as well. I found maternity photos were the perfect chance to kind of test drive out that photographer. She offered a package where we were able to roll right into newborn photos, 6 month photos, etc. with our kiddo.

  10. Clementine says

    You guys basically solved my game of musical bedrooms last week, so I’m back to ask opinions on furniture.

    Short term plan is 3 year old and baby in big upstairs bedroom #1, au pair in most private upstairs bedroom #2, parents in primary bedroom, 7 year old in small downstairs bedroom/office, playroom and office in the basement.

    3 year old has a good bed and dresser. She will eventually be in her own room. 7 and baby will share for at least a few years. I have cheap, stackable ikea beds and a dresser which has seen better days. Right now I’m using a bookshelf for the baby’s clothes.

    Would you choose: high lofted bed/dresser/desk/storage combo for 7 and keep the baby in his crib with old dresser as long as possible then decide

    Plan on 2 twin beds and end of bed dressers – buying both dressers now and using with current beds.

    Low lofted bed(s) with lots of storage but possibly not a desk.

    Some other option, possibly including putting one kid in a full bed.

    • Anon says

      so i think i’ve decided that with many of these things, go with cheap temporary option (as long as it’s safe) because things might always change. this is my mentality as i order beda for my 5 year old twins who currently share a room, but might not want to in a few years. also – when did this trend of so many kids getting full size beds start? growing up i had 1 friend with a full size bed. now, i think most of my friends’ kids have full size beds

      • Clementine says

        Okay, that makes sense. I think the easiest and cheapest is getting another dresser or two and sticking with our current beds.

    • Anonymous says

      I missed the

      Anytime I’ve had young kids on another floor it has not gone well. At 7 they still wake up from nightmares etc which means they need to navigate going up two flights of stairs or you need to traipse down two flights of stairs vs just waking up for a quick cuddle.

      I’d do Ikea Kura bunk bed in the big upstairs room. Get the ikea crib with the drawers underneath to store the baby’s stuff. I have a tall dresser inside the closet of my twins room so there is no need for a dresser in the main area of the room. Two shelves above for bins for off season clothes.

      Then I’d add a reading nook or ikea Micke desks in the bedroom/office for more individual quiet play space. Just have bedrooms for sleep.

      • Clementine says

        Thank you! We decided not to have all 3 kids in one room. Kiddo is a solid sleeper so I’m not concerned with having him downstairs.

        We have an ikea crib which we’ll keep Bebe in until he climbs out, otherwise a crib with a dresser would be great.

    • Anonymous says

      I am not a fan of loft beds after having one in college. They make the room dark, invite clutter, and discourage changing sheets and daily bed-making. If there’s room, I’d do two twins with dressers. If space is an issue, bunk bed and two dressers.

      • Clementine says

        Thanks! Yeah, we could probably fit 2 full sized beds if we wanted. Two twins is roomy.

    • Anonymous says

      Put 3’s current bed and dresser in the downstairs bedroom. Matching twins and dressers in the shared room.

  11. anonchicago says

    Hosting my daughter’s baby naming in a few weeks and looking for input on the menu and activities. I’m not Jewish but my husband is, we had a Jewish wedding, and we’re raising our daughter Jewish. That said, I’ve never been to a naming and neither has my Catholic family that will be in attendance.

    This will be the first time both sets of families are in the same place since our wedding, and the first time anyone’s visited us except our parents (we moved states in 2021 and bought a house last year). With that in mind, I want to be a good hostess and want things to go well. We’re expecting about 20 folks including local friends.

    Menu:
    Catered bagel and lox platter including some vegetables and tuna salad
    Salad bowl – have a few options from Wegmans but will be gluten free
    Fruit bowl
    Kugel – making my MIL’s recipe, whom DD is named after
    Cake or cupcakes – according to DH, you typically don’t have cake at a naming but I want some sort of fun dessert
    Unsweet tea, LaCroix, hot tea, coffee, Diet Coke

    We’re having lunch first then the ceremony due to the Rabbi’s schedule. Planning to have a family member on each side give a reading but leaving the rest of the program up to the Rabbi.

    Thoughts?

    • Anon says

      Seems good to me! I’m impressed you’re doing this. DH and I are both (culturally) Jewish and had a Jewish wedding but opted out of naming ceremonies mainly because hosting with a brand new baby was incredibly daunting.

      • anonchicago says

        Well, she isn’t brand new ;). She’ll be 6 months by the time of the ceremony.

        We didn’t want many people around her when she was newborn and fragile plus I didn’t want the stress of hosting so soon. I believe my SIL waited a few months for hers, and given vaccines and everything going around with kids now no one has pushed back on us waiting awhile.

        • Anon says

          Oh that’s good! 6 months is much more reasonable than a few weeks old. Glad your family was understanding.

      • Anon says

        you don’t have to do a baby naming right away (unless orthodox). we had one when our twins were 6 months. someone else i know did 9 months. to the OP I think that all sounds great and a cake or cupcakes is totally fine! only thing I’d maybe add to the menu is orange juice, but not needed. you could think about waiting for the dessert until after the ceremony. We did ours at a synagogue, but my sister did one for my niece at our parents’ home and they also wrote and read a little thing about why they chose the baby’s name. there aren’t really rules with a baby naming. you could have a table set up with some pics of your kiddo and notecards or something for people to write the baby a note, but that is absolutely not required. you don’t really need activities per se, but having something like that might give people something to do if they are awkward at making conversation. i’d use paper or plastic plates and cutlery to make your life easier, set up some extra chairs or whtaever so people can sit and watch the baby lay down or roll over or do whatever the baby is up to these days.

        • Anonymous says

          Yes, definitely hold dessert until after the ceremony to encourage people to stay and mingle.

    • Anonymous says

      It’s totally optional, but one thing I noticed at a Jewish baby naming ceremony recently was a lot of alcohol! There was brandy and wine and I was surprised by how people were getting into it considering it was during the day.

    • Anonymous says

      Are people going to be hanging out for a long time, assuming you’re cool with that? I would have some kind of cheese & crackers situation with fruit in the fridge, ready to go. It can also be nice to have an easily snackable sweet, like a cookie platter, to put on the table if people linger. This also feels like a good occasion for sparkling rose, but maybe that’s just me!

    • Anon says

      With the caveat that I haven’t been to a baby naming ceremony, as your Catholic relative I’d be surprised by a lack of alcohol. Family events for my Catholic family always have at least wine and beer, no matter the time of day.

      I’ve been to quite a few religious or cultural events with my Jewish friends (but none have kids yet) and there never seems to be a lack of alcohol there either!

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