Accessory Tuesday: The Boat and Tote
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I love a designer bag as much as anyone, but sometimes you just need a sturdy bag to carry your farmers market haul or pool gear.
L.L.Bean’s Boat and Tote is a classic for good reason — crafted from heavyweight canvas, it carries loads that would make your free tote bag balk. It features reinforced handles, a double-layer base, and a flat bottom so you can load it up to your heart’s content — up to 500 pounds! This bag is also still made in Maine, so you can literally carry those vacation vibes with you year-round.
The Boat and Tote is $24.95 to $39.95 depending on the size. It comes in small to extra-large, five handle colors, and regular and long options. You can even monogram it for an additional fee.
Sales of note for 1/16:
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
- AllSaints – now up to 60% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code — readers love this blazer, these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
- DeMellier – Sale now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
- Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off — reader favorites include their scoop tee, Dream Pant, ReNew Transit backpack, silk blouses and oversized blazers! New markdowns just added
- Hannah Andersson – Up to 30% off all pajamas;
- J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything
- L.K. Bennett – Archive sale, almost everything 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Tag sale for a limited time — jardigans and dresses $200, pants $150, tops $95, T-shirts $50
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 50% off + extra 20% off, sale on sale, plus free shipping on $150+
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?
Fascinating article in the WSJ this morning about holding two full-time jobs: https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-people-who-work-from-home-have-a-secret-they-have-two-jobs-11628866529
Is it nuts to say I’m jealous of jobs where people log only “three to 10 hours of actual work a week”?
Signed, someone who bills 2000 hours a year in consulting
Has anyone tried Mother Oxford (supposedly stain-resistant button downs)? The ads are everywhere and my defenses are weakened by my inability to wear anything white these days!
I’m reeling from learning yesterday that there has apparently been infidelity in our closest couple friends’ relationship. I’m still shocked by this revelation (made over text) and want to support my friend, but not sure how to best do that. I don’t have many details yet; she’s said that she wants to talk to me about it but has gone radio silent and I don’t want to push too hard. Do I let her take the lead? Check in and see how she’s doing this morning? I’ve noticed her DH (also my friend, but he’s the one who strayed) hadn’t seemed himself for a while, but both DH and I assumed he was dealing with work and life stress. I am hoping beyond hope that this is a terrible moment in an otherwise solid relationship, but obviously nothing will ever quite be the same.
Looking for a cute sign for my kids’ first day of school. We’re starting kindergarten next week, and I feel like I have the chance to do something fun, but would also need it to arrive before Monday! The black and white letterboard is a classic, but any other fun ideas?
Aw, hopefully he snaps out of it soon. I’m kind of impressed by that squirrel though – how did that happen??? Squirrel was like stone cold sitting in a tree, waiting for the perfect moment to drop one on him and cackling?
DH is annoying the crap out of me. Last night he was complaining about toddler’s whining and baby’s crying being like “nails on a chalkboard” (to be fair he caveated it by saying “it’s not their fault”, but really dude?) and then proceeded to aggressively clean up the kitchen while mumbling, which fine whatever. This AM he was complaining about everything – the squirrel that pooped on his shirt, toddler’s hands still having peanut butter, and came home and literally screamed at his computer. Just venting and looking for empathy….no I do not plan on divorcing him, thanks.
The Boat and Tote is my prefered pool bag. However, learn from my mistakes and buy one with a dark-colored base! If I had to do it over, I’d get black, navy, or red.
The suffering in Afghanistan is really impacting me today. I have donated to Women for Afghan Women, but it is also prompting me to revisit my commitment to service in general and thought I’d solicit experiences – has anyone successfully undertaken volunteer or service projects as a family? or ‘adopted’ a cause as a family? how are folks getting their kids interested in service / philanthropy? (This question is not meant to be limited to Afghanistan or refugee issues, I mean service in general).
I have a petty rant that only you guys understand. I just cannot with my SAHM friends complaining about the early morning back-to-school routine. That’s life, year-round, for many of us. And we’re still out the door earlier on school days because the elementary school starts at 9:00 but work starts at 8:00. /end rant
Hi all – I posted on the main board yesterday afternoon and was hoping to get some additional responses here. Does anyone have ideas from either kids or elder relatives for some kind of way to call 911 without a cell phone or landline? I may just need to get a VOI phone from those responses, but wondering if you smart moms know of some kind of device I can pay for and mount on the wall? Thanks!
my 3 year old twins start preschool tomorrow and i am feeling totally unprepared both logistically and emotionally. they’ve been home with a nanny who will still be with us, but my twins seem so so so confused about what exactly is going to happen tomorrow and i can’t say i blame them. we are going today to meet their teachers today (which for some reason is scheduled in the middle of nap time, so hoping it is not a total disaster) and then tomorrow we decided to have our nanny drop them off since parents can’t go in anyway and she will be the one who does it most days. their behavior has been out of whack the past two weeks and i wonder if this is why. any tips to help them with the transition?
Almost every night the past couple of weeks I have been able to fall asleep within a reasonable time but am jolted awake about an hour later very restless. I don’t drink coffee past noon or eat a lot of sugar late in the day. I exercise almost daily. I’m not great about limiting screentime before bed, but it hasn’t been an issue before. Life has been the usual level of stressful; nothing crazy but not serene.
I tapered off of Zoloft a couple of months ago and don’t want to go back on medication for low level anxiety which is a constant in my life. Melatonin gives me wild dreams.
Any other tips for better sleep or guided meditations I could follow?