Weekend Open Thread
This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
I’m still ho-hum about crossbody bags for work, but most of my other objections (mostly arising from my dislike of crossbody straps as a busty woman) are wearing down because a lightweight crossbody bag is SO great for running errands on the weekend (and GREAT for being with little kids for those moments out and about when you don’t need the full Mary Poppins-like diaper bag). This slate gray Tumi one, available at Nordstrom’s big summer sale (see our workwear picks here) is lovely if you like a sedate, wear-with-everything kind of bag. It was $195, but is now marked to $117 in the sale. ‘Voyageur – Capri’ Crossbody Bag
This post contains affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
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?
I just posted on the main page, apologies for the double post but I’m really hoping for advice –
My husband switched from Lexapro to Zoloft yesterday, and has been short and at times cruel to me today. We were in the car and I was on Facebook – saw a particularly brutal headline on the Rohiynga crisis, and quietly said “Oh my God,” automatically. I didn’t even expect I’d necessarily be heard, with two toddlers in the back. A few seconds later he says, “What?” And I said, “So have you heard about what’s going on with the Rohyingas,” and his response was a terse “I don’t know what that is.” I was taken aback and just said, “Okay, I’m thinking you don’t want to know? Don’t want to elaborate with that tone.” And he said, angrily, “Just – why do you have to be such a downer all the time?” And it was like a punch to the gut. During the primaries, he told me he was tired of hearing about Trump, etc, and I’ve made it a point just not to talk about politics around him, or be “activist”-y, or whatever. (For the record, we’re in the same party, and he’s fine with handling the kids when I volunteer, about every two months or so.) Today we were at the zoo, for goodness sakes, and I kept it light, and just usually do. So I was quiet, and a few minutes later when he asked about picking up food that we ordered – it would be a while and we were almost home – I gave some innocuous suggestion, and he rolled his eyes and said that won’t work. And I said, “What do you want from me right now?” and started freaking crying, which I didn’t want in front of the kids, and he snapped, “I just want you to be normal!”
That was some hours ago and he hasn’t apologized since. I told him I thought the zoloft was affecting him, and he again rolled his eyes and asked me why I “always” blame our fights on his antidepressants. He brought up some mild work irritations I’ve had lately and said “Maybe you’re just difficult to work with.” Which was also a huge WTF, bc I’m legitimately pretty easy to get along with – the irritations have had nothing to do with interpersonal stuff. And now, he’s outside drinking a beer and I can’t imagine it’s good for this initiation stage of the drug.
My point is – I really, really despise him right now. And could use some advice. Thank you so much.
Thank you! Yes, so encouraging. The way you describe it, it doesn’t even sound that far off!
Oh my gosh you are literally in the thick of it right now. This is such a hard time – even with all the privilege you mention – the sleep deprivation and the physical demands are so, so hard.
It ABSOLUTELY gets easier! When little one turns 2 you’ll be living the dream and have enough rest to enjoy it.
Mine are 8 & 6…if we hadn’t had another baby recently I would be living on easy street at home. Starting around 4 & 2 they got easier – 5 & 3 was the perfect year – 6 & 4 was pretty awesome too. Now they are almost BUT NOT YET too cool for mom. And boy was it easier..I re subscribed to NYT and actually got to read it while my coffee was hot, DH and I could enjoy time alone and then time alone together because kids were asleep for 12 hours straight. Ahh it was awesome! (We reset everything w the baby!)
Anyway – I hope this is encouraging to you. Yes yes yes it gets better and easier. Hang in there!!
Can I get some wisdom and reassurance from moms of older kids? (Like, 5+ years.) I need you to tell me that it gets less exhausting. I really need this right now.
I have a 3.5 year old and an eight month old. Nothing is wrong. I’m so lucky to have them, I adore them, they delight me, I miss them when I’m away from them. But also, I’ve been exhausted for 3.5 years. And with a baby, there is no relief in sight.
I have a wonderful, involved husband. I outsource as much as possible (housecleaning, meal delivery). I have a supportive boss and workplace. I get occasional help from family. I can’t think of anything more I can DO to ease the difficulty of this phase of parenthood.
I just really need moral support. I need to know that I will one day sleep well again. (Yep, both kids are sleep trained – but baby still wakes for one feed per night and both kids are up early.). That I will one day exercise again (without sacrificing sleep). That I will one day spend time alone with my husband again. That I will one day see friends occasionally, or read a book, or even (gasp) pursue a hobby or interest.
As I write this, I’m judging myself for being whiny. I know I’m lucky. So, so lucky to have the life I do. But I am also just burned out.
The other day I was at the store with the baby and a woman admired his cuteness and we got to chatting. She has teens and repeated the old saying “It goes so fast!” “That’s what everyone says…” I responded. She must have seen how tired I looked because she immediately said, “It gets so much easier. It really does.”
She’s right, right? It gets easier, right? I know it will never be EASY, but it at least gets less hard? Right?
I LOVE this bag! I’ve had one for a while now and it holds so much more than it looks without becoming weighed down or misshapen. There are a ton of pockets too so a place for everything. It really has become one of my favorite go to casual bags for when I need to be handsfree.
I don’t know if something like this has been addressed on Corporette or Corporette Moms, maybe during Harvey?
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My family decided to evacuate from the Tampa area this week. My husband and I are teleworking from a hotel room… along with our 3 year old and our dog. We’re hoping for the best but I know I need to prepare for the worst. The best case scenario – we go back home and our lives go right back to normal after over a week of preparing and travel. I’m trying to figure out what to do in other scenarios –
— what if my house is without power/internet for more than a week? what if it’s completely destroyed? I telework full time so going to the office is not an option. I think if I could find a secure office space I could work from there, but telework from, say, Starbucks is not an option
— what if I’m teleworking from a hotel – what are my childcare options (drop in care maybe? how do I find this?)
Yes I know, be thankful we evacuated and we’re safe, etc. But I’m also trying to brace myself for needing a lot of money for repairs (and needing to stay employed so that I can have some money for said repairs). The path of the storm has changed significantly since we left home and I’m just trying to prepare myself mentally.
Don’t you hate when you wear what you’re convinced is a very cute outfit, and no one notices?!? haha.
I’m wearing what I thought was a cute maternity outfit today, but all anyone has said is “you look tired and weak” or “you look like you feel like sh**”. Granted, I’m pregnant, vomiting, and have a cold, but still, I TRIED! COMMENT ON THE EFFORT!