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This merino wool sweater jacket looks really nice for work and comes in eight colors (two of which are on sale). It’s a great look for situations where a blazer feels too structured but you still want the formality of having some kind of topper. It’s pretty highly rated (with almost 100 reviews), and merino wool always feels warm. This can even make a great in-between-weather jacket when you don’t quite need your winter coat yet. The jacket is machine washable and available in misses, petite, woman, and woman petite sizes. It’s $73-$169, depending on color and size type. Merino Wool Basket-Weave Sweater Jacket
(L-all)
Sales of note for 11.28.23…
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
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- J.Crew – Up to 50% off almost everything; up to 50% off suiting & chinos; up to 40% off cashmere; extra 50% off sale styles
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- Stuart Weitzman – Extra 25% off full-price and sale styles with code
- Talbots – 50% off all markdowns and 30% off entire site — readers love this cashmere boatneck and this cashmere cardigan, as well as their sweater blazers in general
- Zappos – 29,000+ sale items (for women)! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
- Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
- ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
- Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
- Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
- Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
- Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Stroller says
Someone asked yesterday about a stroller for twins plus toddler singleton. I recommend the Bugaboo Donkey if you can afford it. It takes two car seats and has stroller seats that can face forward or be rearfacing. The option to have one rearfacing and one forward facing is great when you have a toddler that wants to look forward but a baby that gets upset if they can’t see you. Rearfacing both stroller seats is also great when you want to avoid the attention that twins attract. Much easier to block strangers from touching your babies without asking (yes this is a thing that happens to twins a lot). The Donkey can also be used as a single stroller which will be handy when you are pregnant with twins and can’t carry the two year old.
I also recommend getting two carriers – a Manduca (similar to an Ergo but built in infant insert) and a toddler sized Lenny Lamb or Tula for the two year old.
This way you can have both babies in the carseats with the stroller and when the toddler gets tired, you can put them up in a back carry in the Tula. Or if the toddler is in the stroller, you can carry a baby in the Manduca on your front.
If you can’t afford the Bugaboo Donkey, Stroll- Air Duo is about half the price or less but has all the same options. For reference, I went with the Duo but if I had my time back, I’d get a Donkey. But if budget is tight, the Duo is a great alternative.
PinkKeyboard says
Thanks! My Mom offered to buy a stroller, but I’d feel greedy asking her to buy a Donkey. I’ve been looking at the Bumbleride Indie Twin because we do a lot of off road walking/mild hiking. My 16 month old isn’t walking yet (yes, I have the laziest child ever) so I’m worried about having her walk a lot of the time.
Stroller says
Indie Twin is great but I don’t think it takes two car seats (though you can get a snap n go double for that). I’d take a look at the Stroll-Air Duo – makes it so much easier to keep people out of the babies faces.
Also, join your local twins/triplets group – they will be a great source for gear advice in terms of what you can get locally or meet ups for moms of multiples.
Anon says
Lucie’s List has a section for twins + toddler.
http://www.lucieslist.com/best-stroller-for-3-babies/
Anonymous says
I have a bit of a love affair with learning about strollers. Valve baby offers a double stroller with something they call a “joey seat” for a toddler. Older versions it was called a tri-mode but Valco has just re-released all of their strollers (in Canada at least) so name may have changed. Valco has the option of air tires which it sounds like you would like. There is a group on Facebook called “Strollerqueen Strollerswap” where members are super knowledgable- you may also be able to score one second hand on the group.
Anonymous says
Valco not valve
PhilanthropyGirl says
This jacket in the Black Current might be my new favorite thing. Alas, it is not in the budget today!
Edna Mazur says
Yesterday the cashier in the gas station looked at me and said “it looks like someone is pregnant”. I’m nine weeks into my third pregnancy, I haven’t told anyone but our parents yet. My pre-pregnancy jeans fit. WTF lady, uncool.
Still picking says
Seriously? I just don’t get people. I was at a party last night and hesitated to say something to a woman who is 26 weeks!!
ChiLaw says
Whyyyy is it so hard to just NOT talk about people’s bodies? When I was 4 months or so I went to a Halloween party and my costume included a baggy t-shirt and pregnancy jeans. All the people I met *for the first time that night* (after my friend introduced me as pregnant, idek) were like, “wow, you look so great, i never would have thought you were pregnant!” Maybe I have gained 50 pounds in the past 4 months, you would have no idea! I didn’t used to have a poochy belly and by then I did, and just like, UGH don’t talk about it, please.
(I have also def been complimented when not pregnant. “This is ChiLaw, she just got married last summer, and now…” “NOPE JUST FAT.”)
Closet Redux says
I am super pregnant and still annoyed by people talking about my body. My coworker had a whole conversation with me yesterday while looking at my belly instead of my face and this morning I ran into my coworker who always looks me up and down as soon as I walk in anywhere. They’re both women. Can we just please treat me like a human person and not just a pregnant belly?
Also it makes me realize that this is probably how women with big b00bs feel ALL THE TIME.
Anon says
This was one area where I was sooooo grateful for resting b*tch face and being very unapproachable. The only people who commented on me being pregnant up until I was 40 weeks were an 85 year old man and a 7 year old girl. No one ever tried to touch my stomach without my permission at any time. Forty weeks seemed to be the cut off for that benefit though and EVERYONE started commenting. My husband’s favorite thing to do when someone made a comment about me being pregnant was to say “Uh she isn’t pregnant” with a dead pan look, at which point they panicked and got visibly uncomfortable. He thought it was hilarious, and I didn’t stop him because they deserved to be super uncomfortable for being rude.
Anonymous says
OMG I LOVE YOUR HUSBAND. That’s awesome.
Half baked says
LOVVVEEEEE THIS
Anon says
Raising my hand from the anonymous lurker to say – I still have 8 weeks to go and was just asked if I’m due “any day”!
Good times.
Emmy See says
“Why do you say that?” Neutral face. Fixed eye contact. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Still picking says
Favorite xmas books for little ones? Looking for more religious (story of Jesus) and more festive (santa, etc). We’ve got some of the older kid ones from when I was little, but want some for our toddler. I love how Christmas is becoming so much more exciting for me know that I have a little one – I haven’t been this giddy about the holidays since I was 10!
PhilanthropyGirl says
My 2 YO adores A Pussycat’s Christmas by Margaret Wise Brown and On Christmas Eve by Margaret Wise Brown – and so do I. We also started reading Tomie dePaola’s The Legend of the Poinsettia this year – we haven’t read it thirty thousand times like the other two, but he enjoys it.
For very little people, the board book Who Is Coming To Our House (Slate/Wolff) was extremely popular with my son last Christmas and fits the religious bill.
This is more advent calendar than Christmas book, but we use Donkey in the Living Room as an abbreviated advent calendar – each day is a short reading about one piece of the nativity with a wooden cut out figure. Kiddo can open the figure and hear the reading and set up his own nativity.
PhilanthropyGirl says
In moderation, probably for saying pu**ycat
Our favorites thus far this year have been: A Pu**ycat’s Christmas and On Christmas Eve, both by Margaret Wise Brown. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola is also becoming a favorite.
Who is Coming to Our House (Slate/Wolff) was very popular last year from a religious aspect.
I also like to suggest Donkey in the Living Room as a type of advent calendar with little readings and an age appropriate nativity.
Still deciding on a name says
Thank you! The advent calendar sounds cool!
CPA Lady says
I really like “Jingle Bells” the little golden book by Kathleen Daly. It is the stories of a bunch of animals taking a sleigh ride and finding and helping Santa. The illustrations are really cute too.
Anonymous says
I really like the Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda. It looks like it may be out of print but there are several other Christmas books by him available. It is a pop up book, so a little delicate (we keep ours on a high shelf so it can only be read with grown up supervision).
Finding Friends says
Advise needed! DH and I relocated from a (non-US) large city to a working-class industrial town 5 months ago when DS was born, for DH´s job. My mat leave is another 10 months, and then I´ll start working mostly remotely for my previous/ current employer.
Overall, this was the right decision for our family (more quality time together, exciting opportunity for DH, I was ready to take a real break from my 80+ hour job, non-bubble environment for DS to grow up etc.) But…
How does one find friends outside of work as an adult?
Our “old” circle of friends lives 2+ hours away. I´ve already joined several mommy-and-me classes, but so far I haven´t “clicked” with anyone (not even close). Mainly because the other moms are significantly younger than me (40 vs. early/ mid twenties). DH does not want to mingle job & personal life by introducing me to his colleagues and their families. Understandable, as the main purpose of his job is to cut costs. The local service clubs are either male only, or invite potential members only if recommended by current members, of which I know none. My professional organization does not have a chapter in our new hometown, nor is there potential to start one. I´m on the wait list for a sports club membership. The church volunteer group consists of (lovely) elderly ladies who lunch. We are on the wait list for daycare with a spot available no earlier than May/June, have no room for an au-pair and no money for a nanny. So going back to work earlier is not feasible.
I´m desperately lonely and at my wit´s end. What am I missing? Should I just let time run its course?
Also, how do I approach someone who might be a potential friend? I´m super anxious about approaching people socially due to a bad case of mean-girl-mobbing in high school. To me, it feels weird to just say Hey, as we both have xyz in common, why don´t we do lunch/ have a play date for the LO…? Would this script seem stalker-y (to my ears, it does)? And what if we do not have anything in common, but the person might be a “good fit”?
PhilanthropyGirl says
Ouch – you pretty much hit my go-tos as well.
What about your local library? I know our (small town) library offers book clubs, special interest clubs, lecture series, etc… that provide a potential for meeting people. Since our town is small the main offerings are during the day, but I would imagine in a larger community there would be things in the evenings that might give you an outlet for connecting with like-minded individuals.
Are you interested in volunteer board work? Consider approaching your local community foundation – they often have a list of nonprofits in search of board members that might allow you to make some connections.
Maybe chat with your church’s minister to see if there are other women in a similar situation? I would think women in similar situations to yours also aren’t on the volunteer committee and may be looking for a social group that meets outside of daytime hours? Does your church have a nursery or children’s ministry you can volunteer with on Sunday mornings to allow you to meet other moms in your congregation?
And I don’t think your invitation script seems stalker-ish to me. If you’ve met in xyz context where it’s clear you have common interests, it seems super normal to simply say “I’m new to the community and I’d love to meet for coffee and discuss XYZ”
Good luck – that’s hard. We’re moving 7 hours from our community at the end of the year and I fear this type of isolation for both me and my spouse.
CHJ says
Making mom friends is always hard, and your situation sounds extra hard with the town demographics and being new to town! I’m also a shy, socially awkward person, but I’ve just forced myself to be bold about asking people for playdates. I joke that I am asking women for their numbers, but it’s totally true! I would keep doing classes, going to playgrounds, etc., and if you meet someone that you like, ask them if they want to meet up at a playground another time. And ask for their number so you can text them next time you’re going to be at a playground. It’s totally awkward at first, but I think it helps to recognize that everyone feels awkward and everyone wants mom friends, so there’s no harm in being the friendly, bold one who breaks the ice. And you can text them something simple like “I’m heading to the playground with DD at 4ish – want to meet us?”
CHJ says
Also, check out meetup.com and see if there is anything going on in your area. I’m not sure of its geographical spread, but I’ve met some fellow dog-owner friends that way!
FVNC says
I have taken a similar approach. I moved to a new town about four months ago where I know no one, and am just at the phase where I’m initiating playdates after trading numbers with a couple moms I’ve met on the playground or at daycare.
My go-to trick for keeping the conversation going and having a reason for trading contact info is to ask for recommendations. For example, “Would you mind emailing me that babysitter list you mentioned? Here’s my phone #, if you text me, I’ll respond with my email.” And then I’ll follow up with a thanks, and maybe let them know I was able to use whatever was recommended. We also invited my daughter’s entire daycare class to her birthday, as a way to meet parents, and did something similar for Halloween trick or treating. It has definitely felt a bit awkward/forced especially compared to some of the easy friendships I made in my old town, but it’s progress (I hope!).
Best of luck!
EB0220 says
This is why I had a big daycare birthday party for my 4 year old this year. It was worth $300 to me to make sure I had the contact info for all the daycare parents.
Anonymous says
Maternity leave can be so isolating, even when you are not in a new place. It’s easier said than done, but I would recommend inviting people for play dates. About half the time, it is awkward, but hey, at least it is a conversation with an adult person! I almost never did the inviting due to being similarly anxious, but I wish I had put myself out there more! It doesn’t sound stalker-y — and the worst that can happen is them saying they are unavailable, or you having an awkward play date. I was often on the younger side as a mom in my 20’s in Manhattan, but I usually didn’t feel a disconnect because of age. Just having babies the same age automatically means you have a ton in common.
Also, maybe ask your husband to get over himself re the not wanting to mix personal with work thing? Some of our most enjoyable social connections over the past few years, as we’ve moved around, have been through my husband’s work. But yeah, if his main job is to cut costs, then maybe not so fun…
RDC says
That sounds really tough. Is there a local “mom’s” club you could join? Even if you don’t click with the other moms it would give you an excuse to get out of the house for playgroups. I was pleasantly surprised to meet a lot of working moms through my group and have made a couple friends that way.
The hospital where I gave birth also organized some mommy and me classes and support groups, so that might be another place to check?
Meg Murry says
Oh yeah, that’s a good thought. Our local hospital had a breastfeeding support group, so if you are BF perhaps you could look into that? It often turned to an option to have coffee after the meeting, etc. Or perhaps there is a La Leche League chapter in your area?
Anonymous says
Agree! Join a local moms group if you have one in your area. Or honestly go hang out at the park and strike up a conversation. I know it’s awkward, but it’s awkward for everyone! And I’m guessing all of the mins you meet would also love to make friends!
The hard part I think is finding people you would be friends with even if you both didn’t have kids. That takes some trial and error. But once you find your people, it makes life much easier.
Closet Redux says
I recently joined a group called Hike It Baby, a national affiliation of local chapters of parents and kids who meet up to get outside. At least in my chapter, it runs the gambit from meet-ups at a park, to stroller friendly or toddler paced trail walks, to more legit hikes with kids in hiking packs. I am not in any way a hiker, but it seemed like a great way to meet new people and new places since I’m new in town, too.
Anonymous says
This is such a great group! I was going to recommend HIB as well.
Meg Murry says
Are there any people at your church that seem like they might be a good fit for a friend for you, even if it isn’t a 100% match? Perhaps a SAHM with older kids might be closer in age/life stage vs the younger moms with newborns, or maybe one or two of the lovely older church ladies would like to be like honorary grandmas for your kid.
Since you will be working from home (even though it is a ways off) – is there a co-working space in your town or the next town?
I know you said no money for a nanny, but could you afford a babysitter (perhaps college aged?) for a couple hours a week so you could go do something like a yoga or other exercise class? That would at least get you some adult interaction, even if it doesn’t yield a potential BFF.
Does your church (or one nearby) have a MOPS group? It officially stands for “mothers of pre-schoolers” but it’s meant for parents of infants through elementary school.
Also, if you want to drop a more vague hint you could also try mentioning that you and your kiddo usually do X on Y day – like “have you ever been to storytime at XYZ library? We usually go to the Tuesday morning one.”
Anon in NOVA says
Please don’t assume that because you’re 40 people in their 20s don’t want to hang out with you. I had a coworker (now a dear friend) that always assumes this about herself and it drives me insane. If you have children the same age, you’re in similar places in life in a lot of ways. She did a lot of cool stuff before having her kid (working/traveling internationally, etc.) that I didn’t get to do and I love to hear about it!
I had the opposite problem (being in my 20s when women around me were in their 40s) when my son was a baby, and I later heard from some of them that they were assuming I didn’t want to hang out with them because of the age difference. I was dying for a local friend! so please don’t let that stop you.
I agree with Meg Murry’s comment, offering a concrete plan to meet up again is nice. (such as her “we like to go to xyz story time, we’d love for you to join us!”) Then, if things go well, you have the opportunity to ask if they want to grab a coffee, head to the playground, etc. afterwards.
This is all so much easier said than done. I was never great at it. Good luck and hang in there!
pockets says
My daughter’s day care class is having a “Thanksgiving Feast” on Monday. It’s a cute idea but the execution seems off to me. There is a list of things for parents to bring in, and on the list is several items that I’m assuming a parent will cook at home (chicken, mashed potatoes) and one item that I, and many other people, do not eat for religious reasons (roast pork). I have reservations on this. I don’t think it’s OK to have my daughter eat something prepared in the kitchen of someone I don’t know and haven’t met (I don’t think that person is lacing the potatoes with arsenic, but who knows about cleanliness, etc.). I think serving roast pork is pretty insensitive, especially when you live in a religiously diverse place. The director is supposed to call me back. Should I let this go or should I tell her my concerns? How should I phrase it?
Lurker says
I agree that the roast pork is insensitive but your daughter’s class is likely full of kids with restrictions for a variety of reasons. I bet there will be kids who can’t eat the potatoes because of butter and kids that can’t eat the bread because of gluten. Your child probably won’t be the only one skipping one of the options. Since there will be other meats on her plate, no one will even notice so I don’t see it as all that exclusionary.
On cleanliness, that is a different strokes situation. Some people really worry about that stuff, others don’t. I generally don’t worry about it but I’m so far from a germaphobe. Remember, everyone cooking will have a child eating the dish. They will want it safe for their child too. It’s pretty hard to mess up string beans or carrots.
Anonymous says
I agree with this. I might mention the pork thing as kind of an fyi for the future (and I think it is a little funny of them not to have considered it…), but in my view, this is probably something that is part of life when you have any kind of dietary restriction. As for food prepared at home, unless you have a particular reason to be worried about a compromised immune system or something, my perspective is that this is also part of life. She’s going to eat a lot of food prepared by others as she grows up at all kinds of gatherings, and it’s hard to imagine policing all of it.
Closet Redux says
+1. I would say something about the pork and let the rest go unless your child has a compromised immune system.
pockets says
No, I completely agree that I can’t force my dietary restriction on other people. But my daughter is 2.5 so she’s not going to understand that she can’t eat something because her religion doesn’t allow it. I think it’s unfair to put the onus on me to explain that to her instead of just saying that no pork products should be brought in.
I also may be overly sensitive on this, but it’s really hard being a religious minority. I don’t think people who aren’t religious minorities can really get it. This time of year you’re inundated with Christmas stuff and it’s hard when you’re a kid and it’s hard to explain to your kids why we don’t sing Jingle Bells, why we don’t watch Christmas-themed shows, why there’s no Santa coming to visit us. I live in NYC and I still meet people who are surprised I don’t celebrate Christmas. It’s like the fact that all titles end in “man” – congressman, fireman, businessman, etc. As a woman, you either have to accept that these titles explicitly do not include your gender, or you have to use awkward work-arounds to make yourself feel included.
Stroller says
Not what you asked but I thought I’d add in case it helps.
My best friend is Sikh and they talk to their kids about how every family is different. Some families have one mom or dad, some families have two, some families live together all the time and some families live in difference houses, some families go to church and some go to Gurdawar (sp?). Then they focus on the great things about what they do celebrate. This explanation is why I also used with my oldest when I had to explain why mommy had two babies in her belly but my best friend only had one.
If it makes you feel better – almost every major religion has some kind of festival/celebration in the winter period so I try to focus on that commonality as well.
Anonymous says
Jingle Bells is not a religious or even Christmas song. It’s about going on a date and crashing a sleigh into a snow bank. I mean, it may not be appropriate for preschoolers because it’s about going on a date and being irresponsible, but it’s not a Christmas song.
I do think it’s pretty ridiculous about the pork though (since when is pork roast Thanksgiving-y?) especially in NYC.
Anonymous says
As the parent of a child with egg and dairy allergies, these kind of events are impossible to control for everyone’s dietary needs. As long as the selection is sufficient such that my child can eat a couple things (usually the ones I’ve provided), that’s reasonable in my view.
I’d remind the coordinator to ensure that all dishes are clearly labelled so kids can make appropriate choices and have separate serving spoons and leave it at that.
Anonymous says
This. I would remind the coordinator to ensure no cross-contamination of any of the foods and remind the teachers/servers of your child’s dietary restrictions, and leave it at that. Honestly, unless you are in a religious-affiliated school (and I did in fact go to a Jewish preschool, so there were a number of restrictions placed on snack foods that were brought in, etc.), asking the school to completely not serve a certain item is unlikely to work. Schools are already so limited by actual allergies which could kill or seriously injury a child that while I totally and completely understand the issue with pork, it just seems easier to allow but avoid.
In House Lobbyist says
That sounds overboard for little ones. Our preschool does a “Friendship salad” and kids bring in a fruit. I was happy to drop off 2 whole oranges today. The teacher prepares it.
Another BigLaw Parent says
More anecdata in case it’s useful: A lot of DD’s daycare classmates are Hindu and vegetarian. When there are potlucks with meat, the parents and teachers know which kids are not supposed to eat meat. We just don’t put meat on those kids plates and keep the kids from sharing it. I don’t think they take the time to explain each time the reason why so-and-so doesn’t eat chicken, they just say no chicken for so-and-so. For dealing with this particular party, maybe just treat it like any other dietary restriction without having to explain to your daughter why she doesn’t eat pork yet? That seems to be the approach in our center for the 3 and under crowd.
In House Lobbyist says
My kindergartener has take 18 small gifts to school to be put in a decorated cereal box in lieu of any gifts for the holidays. Anyone have any ideas? I’m thinking play doh or silly putty. I’m already dreading all the plastic junk that is going to come home from this right before Christmas. What would you want your kids to bring home in this situation?
Anon in NYC says
Bubbles. Sidewalk Chalk.
CHJ says
+1. Also crayons – we got some recently in a goodie bag that were dinosaur-themed (with dinosaur colors). Those were very cute.
Anonymous says
Good ideas. Stickers and/or temporary tattoos?
NewMomAnon says
Small boxes of crayons, boxes of band-aids, pocket-size packets of tissues, lip balm. At least someone will use those.
Anonymous says
matchbox cars? That might be too expensive. Bouncy balls?
NewMomAnon says
This reminds me – glow sticks are often a hit. Plus, disposable! Target also has their dollar bins and sometimes has little “memory” games or sheets or stickers.
Anon says
Target usually has favor bags of mini-notebooks, esp holiday themed ones. Add stickers or crayons or even a small pencil, and you’re set. Consumable but not plastic crap.
I love the boxes of band-aids idea. My kids are obsessed with character bandaids and ask for them ALL THE TIME. I’m pretty sure Target has some in the dollar spot around each holiday, I might steal that idea this year.
ChiLaw says
In the goody-bag section of Target I got some light up bouncy balls (but like, tennis ball sized, not choking-hazard sized) to give away at the Trunk or Treat — they were a big hit.
Anon in NOVA says
I’m so confused about the cereal box thing. why in a decorated cereal box?? Why do they have to add that extra layer of difficulty? (they being the school, not you)
NewMomAnon says
If the 18 toys all fit in the cereal box, then all of the gifts that child gets will also fit in a cereal box? But agree, that’s an unnecessary layer of difficulty. It could just as easily have been a brown paper bag.
OOO, but Kix cereal comes in really big boxes, so maybe that would help.
Anon in NOVA says
PS If you really want to avoid the extra errand (if Target would be an extra errand for you) there’s always oriental trading dot com. I’m sure they have winter-themed pencils or something you could order.
PhilanthropyGirl says
+1 Oriental Trading has all manner of this type of thing. Balls, stickers, pencils, notepads, and so on.
Jlg says
Fun socks or shoelaces (look for bulk packs on Amazon).
Frozen Peach says
It may be too late in the day, but we’re planning to give our daughter a huge chest of dress up clothes for Xmas. Can anyone recommend a nice, sturdy, not hideous or plastic chest for such things? I’m planning to go thrifting and find the sparkliest, tackiest prom dresses, etc. for her to have fun with. I really don’t want something that is obviously a “kid” chest, with the ABCs or her name on it in pink puff paint.
Anon in NYC says
Check out KidKraft.
Anon says
We’re doing the same gift for our kids, and looking for the same kind of chest. Please post again tomorrow. I’m interested in the responses.
NewMomAnon says
I went looking for something like that and didn’t find anything that was big enough, much less reasonably priced (which may not matter for you). Someone did a cool Ikea hack, but it required a saw, soo…no. Basically, it was a box you could use for shoes, etc. with two sides that came up and a cross beam that you could use for hangers. And just now I went looking for it and instead found a really nice set up from Wayfair that I totally would have bought. Sheesh.
I ended up using pegboard from Home Depot and hooks from Amazon to make my own dress up display. I’m renting my apartment, so I used super strong Velcro to attach the pegboard to the front of an unused bookshelf, but you could easily screw it to a strip of wood that is screwed to the wall instead. The other nice thing about pegboard is that you can get little cups that hook into the pegboard and different sized hooks for hats, dresses, etc.
NewMomAnon says
The dress up chest I really liked was on Craftiness is Not Optional, but again…no sawing in my house:
http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2010/05/dress-up-storage.html
Spirograph says
Land of Nod has some cute chests. Honestly, though, I’d just get a big woven basket or hamper.
Also, I had a similar dress up box growing up, and am going to make one for my daughter’s birthday… I’m glad others do the same thing. I mentioned it to SIL once and she looked at me like I had six heads for considering “dirty” thrift store stuff appropriate for my kids to dress up in.
PhilanthropyGirl says
I had great success looking in repurposed furniture shops, furniture consignment and antique shops – you can often find pretty reasonable prices on solid wood items like this.