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This washable silk blouse from Talbots looks promising — I like the four colors it comes in, the pintucks in the front, the roll sleeves, and the half-placket. I also love that it’s on sale: it was $99, but is now marked to $55. It’s available in regular, petite, plus, and plus-size petite sizes. Washable Silk Pintuck Blouse
(L-2)
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
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
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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?
POSITA says
Didn’t you just feature this item a couple of weeks ago?
POSITA says
http://corporettemoms.com/talbots-washable-silk-pintuck-blouse/
POSITA says
May 9th
sfg says
Another pumping question – if you pumped at work, how long were your sessions and how did you settle on that length of time? Right now I usually pump for 15 minutes/session, but thinking I should increase this for going back (2 weeks from today, yikes). But the 15 minutes doesn’t have a basis – I probably read it somewhere else on the internet.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences.
Meg Murry says
I blocked off 30 minutes in my calendar, but a typical session was probably 20 minutes of the pump actually running, plus a few minutes to unpack and repack. When I was in a rush I cut it down to 15 or less, but I tried to stick to 20 in general.
KJ says
This was my experience as well. I blocked off 30 minutes per session (3x per day), but usually pumped for about 20.
RDC says
Same – 30 minutes / 20 minutes actual pumping, 3x per day.
In House Counsel says
I’m currently pumping (been back for about 2 months) and I block off 30 mins twice a day and generally pump for 20-22 mins per session.
Spirograph says
My building has a shared lactation room and I don’t have an office… People reserve 30 minute blocks, but I just pump to 5oz per side, or until I feel like the trickle of milk I’m still getting isn’t worth the extra time. 10-15 minutes, longer if I’m reading a good book. Depending on how long I have to wait for the elevator, I’m usually back at my desk within 20 minutes.
anonymama says
This. I think you can start at 15 min, and adjust to longer or shorter depending on how much milk you get and how much milk your baby needs.
Meg Murry says
5 oz per side in 10-15 minutes? Can I just say – super jealous, because 5 oz total in 20 minutes would be one of my most productive sessions ever.
Even if the milk stopped flowing for me at 15 min, my LC encouraged me to keep pumping up to 20 min, as long as it wasn’t painful b/c sometimes I would have a second letdown and it would sent the “demand” signal to make more milk next time.
AEK says
+1 to super jealous. Wow!
Katarina says
I either pumped until the milk slowed to a trickle, or until I got a second let down, but I did not time it.
Carrie M says
I think how often and how long will depend on how much you produce and how much you need. I pumped for 20ish minutes, 3x/day when I first started back. Later, I often cut out a pump or did a very short one. And then once I hit real supply troubles, I added back in a pump and even tried to power pump if I could. If you’re getting what you need from 15 minute pumps, I’d stick with them!
Two things I tried to keep in mind: according to my LC, pump sessions beyond about 20 minutes aren’t very productive (though I noticed I often had a let down at minute 22, so I would stop after that if I could commit that much time). And, even if you can only squeeze in a 5 minute pump, it’s worth it because it reminds your body that milk is being demanded.
Good luck!
FWIW says
So I need some new shirts for summer. I’m 9 weeks right now and am looking for something I can use to hide it now, but still be comfortable. I also don’t want to flaunt my, um, ‘expanding assets’.
Any suggestions? I figure whatever I get now would make sense to wear post-partum as well. Any tips as to what worked well for you?
Mommy Monster says
I bought some lightweight peasant tops from Target and LOFT – the Target one in a size up and the LOFT one in a regular rather than a petite, but still in my normal size. At 29 weeks, they still fit and and look on-trend, supplement my previous pregnancy’s wardrobe, and will fit postpartum for nursing. I also really like the Plieone mixed media shirt from Nordstrom, which I’d bought before I was pregnant/planning and still wear regularly.
This just might be my figure, but since I’m short-waisted and normally pretty endowed, I find that tops with belts intended to fit between my two bumps and my one bump make me look like a bunch of bumps, so I prefer these shirts that flow over all of it and are high-necked enough not to reveal cleavage.
FWIW says
I’m going to steal your idea and think both ‘longer’ and ‘larger’. Normally, I get a regular length in shirts, but I’m on the cusp of needing talls, so I’m going to get talls.
Thank you!
Preg in VA says
I picked up a few drapey Pleione tops from N-strom and N-strom Rack. I really like them– comfy, priced right (some are on sale at Nstrom right now) and I can wear the ones that are long in the back with sturdy leggings as well as with jeans. Their faux-wrap blouse has a snap that, when undone, would make for easy nursing, I’m hoping.
FWIW says
Just ordered one on sale. Thank you!
Rosie says
Tunic-style are perfect for pregnancy. I didn’t have any before I got pregnant, and now I have several. They’re great with work pants, or leggings, or jeggings/skinny jeans on biz casual days. Then can also be belted above your bump for extra cuteness when you get around to showing it off.
Congrats, BTW!
And you didn’t ask, but the sooner you wear maternity pants the better for comfort. I was in them about as early as you. Gap has some great ones that just have wide elastic waist bands where the normal waistband is (“demi band” on the site) and they got me through most of my pregnancy. If your local mall has a Gap Body, they often have a rack in the very back of the store for maternity styles of normal Gap clothes.
FWIW says
Thanks! I’m still fitting into all of my clothes without issues, I’m just realizing that I will still be in that awkward ‘I don’t need maternity clothes’ place all summer, but I need something different than the fitted dresses and scoop neck knit tops I usually wear.
I also haven’t bought clothes in several months while TTC and feel like I need a few items to freshen up my wardrobe.
Carrie M says
I liked Loft and Old Navy for non-maternity shirts when I was hiding a bump. Both had looser fits and long options, so I was able to wear them pretty far into my pregnancy. I sized up sometimes, though some of the Loft stuff is already crazy baggy. When I returned to work, I could still wear them, but kept them tucked into skirts or pants for a crisper look.
FWIW says
Awesome. I’m going to check them both out on Friday afternoon!
(And then reward myself with a soft pretzel, which is probably the first food item that has sounded appealing in 3 weeks.)
anon says
Longer was definitely the key for me — I outgrew tops in length long before I outgrew them in girth, and nothing highlighted a barely-there bump like not being covered by my top.
I Quit says
Having a day. Toddler has been having epic meltdowns every morning about wearing a diaper and clothing. Today I wasted about 30 minutes trying to get her in a diaper and in clothes. When the nanny arrived, she was hysterical crying, half wearing a diaper, strapped into her booster seat tossing cheerios on the floor. She had some red marks on her side from where I tried to hold her as I carried her kicking and screaming from her room to the kitchen, which the nanny asked about. So now in addition to thinking I am some scatterbrain who cannot manage her own child, she probably also thinks I beat her. Who by the way, happily put on a diaper and clothes and sat to have her hair styled by the nanny. Oh, and the baby is kind of marked up because he banged into something while I was trying to cajole toddler into clothing and was freaking out because toddler was screaming all morning. My nerves are all a mess. And work is not going much better. I know there are good days and bad days, but lately I feel like I am having only bad ones.
POSITA says
Toddler can be real a**holes. Hope your day gets better!
Maddie Ross says
Hugs. Mine had a meltdown in the airport this weekend and I’m pretty sure we were a step away from having security intervene. I agree with POSITA – toddlers can be real a-holes. It’s a good thing they’re cute.
anonyc says
Fist bump in solidarity. Also this: http://www.reasonsmysoniscrying.com/
NewMomAnon says
Yes, toddlers are a**holes! Said by the woman sporting a fat lip after daughter used her noggin as a weapon to avoid a diaper change.
Pigpen's Mama says
Yikes! Hope it’s gotten better! I just have the one baby — I don’t know how those of you with more than one, especially with more than one under the age of 4, manage to get out the door everyday (either alone or with the littles).
I Quit says
Thanks for the affirmation, it was needed and really helped!
Rosie says
I’m 37 weeks pregnant. Sleep has never really been easy this entire pregnancy. I finally made the decision that hubby and I should try sleeping in different rooms, so as not to disturb each other. I am eager to try it for the purpose of getting more sleep, but I’m sad we won’t be in the same bed. :( I like cuddling with him!
KJ says
I’m pretty sure I would be divorced right now if we didn’t have a guest bedroom for when one of us is sick or snoring or just restless. You can cuddle at the beginning of the night and then go to separate beds. Enjoy the sleep!
Pigpen's Mama says
Every time I think clothing for baby girls couldn’t get more disturbing/tacky, something else lowers the bar.
The offender this time?
A toddler-sized Juicy Couture bikini with “Juicy” across the tushie. Shudder.
D. Meagle says
Perhaps it is just a warning? My daughter poops about four times a day, so chances are often good that her tush is juicy. Or is that not what they mean?
Spirograph says
*snort!*
My daughter is still young enough that the options are strictly cute and not inappropriate. I just hope all the family members who like to buy clothes for her have the good sense to steer clear of things like this. Looking at you, MIL.
Nonny says
So I have a potty training question for the more experienced moms.
My almost-17-month-old LO is telling me now (unprompted, with reasonable accuracy) when she does a pee or a poo in her diaper, and will also tell us when she wants her diaper changed. She is also quite observant and likes coming into the bathroom when I or my SO use the toilet.
I wasn’t expecting to start potty training this early but I am starting to think these are the “signs” you are supposed to look for when determining whether a child is ready. But on the other hand, I have also heard from parents who tried to train too early and just ended up frustrated, and whose toddlers were frustrated as well.
For those of you who have gone through this before, do you think I am seeing signs of readiness? Do you think it would be worthwhile getting a potty to just see what happens? This is totally new territory for me….
NewMomAnon says
So I am not an experienced mom, but my kiddo started being really interested in the toilet a few months ago and I bought a potty. Kiddo promptly lost interest in the toilet and now uses the removable basin from the potty as a vessel to transport and store toys. I’d say go ahead and get the potty, but let your kiddo lead the way at this age. If she wants to try it, or if you suggest it and she seems interested, go with it. If she wants to use it to store her toy cars, I wouldn’t push it.
Anonymous says
+1. My son was very interested in the potty around 18-20 months and so we got one and he would sit on it, but he never did anything until he was almost 3 and we had to train him because preschool required it.
Meg Murry says
At that age, it is far less that the kid is trained to “hold it” or tell you when they need to go, and far more likely that you can train them to go most of the time on the potty if you put them there every 45 minutes -1 hour. That is how my youngest was “trained” by 2 – he was completely unreliable to tell us when he had to go, but he would go when daycare set him on the toilet. It meant we didn’t have to by diapers anymore, and they were willing to put up with taking him to the toilet every hour (they were the ones that suggested it and did the bulk of the training), so we went with it.
You could also do an in-between of putting her on the potty when she wakes up, before nap, after nap and before bath or bed and making a HUGE deal if she actually goes, but not ditching the diapers yet.
I’d recommend potty seat on big potty + stepstool over little potty, because then you don’t have to worry about emptying the gross little potty.
anonyc says
Also had this with my kids–interest in potties/bathroom functions start, we get excited, install training potty and buy cute undies, work on sitting there when the mood is right..and then a big fat nothing. I have known parents who really went for earlier potty training successfully, but they were SAHMs and it seems incredibly labor intensive. Like, carting a portable potty around at all times and obsessively quizzing the kid, “DO YOU NEED TO POTTY?!?!?” <<pass for me. We talked to the ped at whatever checkup coincided with the interest/lack of interest, and were told by different peds to just roll with whatever the kid is into. So we did.
It gets frustrating at some point when you're changing a 2.5 yr old and you know (*know*) that they could totally potty train that instant if they wanted to. OTOH, I was more afraid of getting into some sort of crazy potty power struggle with stubborn toddlers and then veering into a dark place (stress, anger, withholding, blockage), so we basically chilled. (Always nice when the path of least resistance seems like the correct one to be on.) Eventually my kids' teachers told us they thought the kid was ready, and for both that was all they needed–it was this basically overnight thing: diapers to undies because their teacher said so. We had very little by way of accidents or anything like that–a nice S curve experience.
tl;dr–sure, get a potty (bjorn is my fav) and let the kid dork around with it, but keep your expectations low.