Corporette.com

Updated: Dec 9, 2021 72 Comments · by

Gift Idea: Gourmet Fruit Spreads

Coffee Break |

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

nine jams and jellies in jars

If you missed out on Bonne Maman’s popular jam advent calendar, never fear — you can still send the jam-lovers in your life an assortment of their most popular flavors. This selection of 30 mini jars features five of each: apricot, orange, cherry, honey, grape, and blueberry.

For economical host or hostess gifts, divide up the set and wrap the jars beautifully with some fresh baked breakfast goodies for the morning after.

This set of Bonne Maman jams is $39.95 at Amazon (an authorized Bonne Maman retailer).

P.S. If you need something with faster shipping, try this strawberry/cherry/apricot set ($22.99), which is eligible for Prime.

Sales of note for 10.10.24

  • Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
  • Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
  • Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
  • Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
  • White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles

Sales of note for 10.10.24

  • Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
  • Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
  • Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
  • Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
  • White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Ann

Ann is a working mom, a longtime reader of Corporette and CorporetteMoms, and has been writing our morning fashion advice on CorporetteMoms since November 2020! She is a public interest lawyer in Washington, D.C.

Comments

  1. In-House in Houston

    Does anyone else who has the Kitchenaid stand mix have issues with it leaking oil? Apparently it’s a thing – and mine is doing it. I looked at YouTube and there’s a process to fix it that apparently I can do myself, but I know I’ll either never do it or mess it up. And to send it back to Kitchenaid is really expensive. I think what happened is that I hadn’t used mine in a while (probably over a year) and then the next time I used it I kneaded something for 5 minutes straight and apparently that was too long. I’m tempted to donate this one and just get another one, but it seems very wasteful. Any thoughts? Or has anyone had this happen and had it successfully repaired? TIA!!

    • Anon

      If the youtube video is clear but you just don’t want to do it, can you ask a handy friend (or hire a handyman) to follow the instructions? Or take it to a local appliance repair shop?

      • Anonymous

        +1 if it’s as easy a fix as it seems you should be able to easily hire someone local.

    • NotInstaFamous

      This happened to me 2-3 years ago and I contacted KitchenAid and they just sent me a new one! Are they not doing that any more?

    • Anon

      I had a different problem with my kitchen aid and my engineer husband pulled it apart and replaced some parts. It wasn’t too hard, and he looked at videos for help. I contemplated exchanging for a new model until I learned the new models aren’t as robust. Depending on when you bought yours, that might be a factor for you too.

    • Anon

      I wiped the oil, washed whatever I could and tried again and it was fine. Look for a vacuum cleaner repair place in your area — mine fixes these mixers as well.

    • BeenThatGuy

      Sadly, I hope that’s COVID related and not due to gun violence. Extra sad that my mind first went to gun violence.

      • Anon

        In my city, there is a lockdown type just for police activity in the area (vs something going on inside of the school). Some schools are in areas with daytime crime and shootings, so they don’t want kids out on the playground when there is police activity that may result in bullets flying.

  3. Anon

    I have wool pants hemmed for flats. Would it be cute to wear shorter pants (BR Logan wool suiting pants) with heels? I feel like pants are just shorter these days, so maybe? Heels live at work, so I’d be commuting in said flats. I feel like I need to practice heels a bit and carpeted workplace seems ideal, at least for a few hours.

    • MagicUnicorn

      I think pulling this off depends on how wide the pant leg is. Skinnier cuts look more current with a variety of heel heights, while wide leg pants have a higher risk of just plain looking too short.

      But I am perhaps not the best judge of these things, as my current fashion style is basically IDGAF as long as it fits comfortably and is clean.

      • Anon

        That’s a good point re leg taper. I had thought with heels the pants need to be 1″ above the ground (so as not to drag), so up around the ankle, unless ankle pants, might look off or very dated. OTOH, I cannot figure out denim now — waists are so high that I feel like some of the older men I see with pant belted up under their armpits (it seems).

    • Cat

      your pants need to be the perfect width and length to look like intentional “cropped wide leg w heels” as opposed to “I am clueless about pants” IMHO.

      • Anon

        If you’ve got a visual (or even an insta to follow), I feel like I am at the “remedial wearing of pants and shoes” stage of the pandemic.

        • HW

          Same. I need a class or something to remind me how to wear shoes with anything other than leggings.

  4. BeenThatGuy

    I’m all about gifting consumables but the thought of receiving jams/jellies will always remind me of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

    • Flats Only

      And the little jars are great for salad dressing, etc. if you pack your lunches. I’ve been washing mine in the dishwasher and they’re lasted for years.

  6. Lily

    Fashion help please. I’m a mid-30s mom of two kids under 3, and I work from home three days a week/in the office two days. My at home and weekend uniform is lulu or athleta leggings (3/4 or full length depending on the season), a tunic-length sweatshirt or T-shirt and keds or vejas or vans. And every year I have the same issue of COLD ANKLES. What footwear would go with my leggings and look reasonably current but allow me to wear socks that cover my ankles??? On rainy or snowy days I’m set because I can wear rain or snow boots. But I don’t think leather boots (whether tall or short) look good with athleisure Any thoughts appreciated!

    • Anonymous

      I like clog boots with leggings, or Ugg-style slipper boots for a very casual look. I also wear my (probably outdated but I love them and don’t care) Frye harness boots or cowboy boots with leggings.

    • Anonymous

      I proudly wear my shearling Birks with socks and leggings for school pickup, coffee runs, etc.

    • ALT

      High top sneakers? I have some Rag & Bone ones that I wear with athleisure and they keep my ankles warm!

      • Anon

        I am an old, and in my head, this look is so Jennifer Beals in Flashdance era. I think for me, it falls into the “cannot wear a trend the second time around.”

    • Anonymous

      I have the same uniform and am in the same life stage. My answer is Uggs – not the most current but so warm and comfortable. And I know others rocking the mom of young kids uniform still stick with theirs. I also have high-top allbirds that go over my ankle and are a bit trendier I guess. ;)

    • Anon

      I hate that I know this, but high-top golden gooses? Or Chuck Taylors for 1/10th of the price? I am seeing high-top air force ones now b/c I think that the cold ankle thing is driving footwear north now that pants are all cropped.

    • No Face

      I am wearing Cole Haan zerogrand lace up boots that go above my ankle, with noticeable socks that go over the bottom of my leggings. My exact shoes aren’t on the Cole Hann website, so I don’t have a name to give you.

    • PolyD

      Combat boots! And, I don’t understand why you couldn’t ear leather boots with athleisure (I’m assuming leggings). I mean, I wouldn’t wear pumps but boots should work.

    • Anon

      If you’re wearing full length leggings, why can’t you just wear normal socks and sneakers? Maybe this is just because I’m short, but I usually buy petite lengths and they still completely cover my ankles. I guess you can see a little bit of the socks over the tops of my shoes, but not very much. I deliberately buy joggers in both petite and regular lengths so that I can wear shorter ones with ankle socks in the summer and longer ones with regular socks in the winter. I usually just wear them at home, so I’m wearing slippers not shoes, but I wore them to a PT appointment recently with sneakers and they seemed fine- my sneakers came pretty much up to the bottom of my pants.

    • Anon

      I wear Bean boots with very thick socks and I always start the winter intending to change when I get to my office and never do, because I don’t want to give up the warmth.

    • AIMS

      I remember staying at a fancy hotel in Europe in my early 20s and getting these little jars with my room service and hoarding them to take home in my luggage. Something about mini sizes is just irresistible (I also have a total weakness for those tiny Tobasco bottles).

      • Anonymous

        I love the tiny Heinz ketchup bottles too! Back when I used to travel I would bring home the little condiment jars from room service for my daughter if I had space in my 3/1/1. They always delighted her.

      • anne-on

        My son still remembers when I brought him home the salt and pepper shakers from Virgin atlantic (mini airplanes!) they were plastic and a piece of paper noted that they were meant to be ‘knicked’. Mini versions of things are just so much more fun!

        • Anon

          Cost Plus World Market is great for this, at least in areas where there are tourists—all the mini sizes! I have put together gift baskets several times and these have received rave reviews.

    • BB

      Where’s the rhubarb preserves?! Okay, to be fair, I’ve only seen that once in a fancy hotel in Asia, but I ate it EVERY DAY.

    • Equestrian Attorney

      Mirabelle is my absolute fave, followed by peach and apricot, but I also like the orange! And I reuse the jars for all kinds of things – back in my office working days, I would use them for soup at lunch and overnight oats for breakfast.

      • Cb

        Mirabelle is my favourite as well, followed by apricot and then peach, but Mirabelle is harder to find. I got fresh mirabelles at the farmers market this autumn and they were incredible.

    • Anon

      I am totally a jar hoarder and love jars with pretty shapes and labels that remove easily.

    • LaurenB

      I like Bonne Maman plenty, but I can’t really see them as a special gift when they are available in every grocery store right next to the Smuckers.

  8. No red flags

    Just caught up with the red flags in a relationship post. I have been seeing a guy and he vapes. Normally I would say no to smokers even for a date. With him we were introduced by a mutual friend and were friends for a slightly over a year before getting romantically involved. Despite the smoking I am glad I gave him a chance. We come from similar family backgrounds, and share similar values. And this is someone I actually wish I met when I was much younger. But still I feel unsure…For me the hesitation comes from being terribly disappointed and hurt in my longterm relationship that ended years ago. I have also been going through a really tough time in other areas of my life, job loss etc. So discussing the future is something I haven’t really wanted to do. We are both 41, he was also in a relationship that ended disastrously years ago. (The relationship with his ex girl friend ended) but they coparent their 12 year old daughter.
    I have been wondering for those over 40 how did you know someone was right for you in terms of long term commitment? What questions did you ask yourself? What did you discuss with your partner? I ask this because I am always second guessing myself having grown up seeing a lot of dysfunction in my extended family. Afraid to repeat negative patterns.

    • Anon

      How long have you been dating? How serious are things now – have you met his daughter? Are you exclusive at this stage? Are you spending the holidays together?

      I think the stage you are at factors in as well as how comfortable you are with where things stand and what you might envision changing. Would you be happy keeping separate households, or to you does a longer commitment mean living together or even marriage? How financially compatible are you?

      The fact that you are asking yourself these questions is a great sign you are being thoughtful and careful about establishing a healthy relationship.

    • Anonymous

      For me, it was different than past relationships because I not only found him incredibly funny and smart, etc. but he checked the box in deeper ways that I saw as important if we were going to grow old together. We had similar values around work, views of the world, how to spend free time, how to resolve conflict, etc. He also is incredibly responsible and the sort of person I’d want in my fox hole so to speak. If you get ill, will he be the type likely to take care of you? If he lost his job, will he rally or feel sorry for himself? Will he expect you to take on day to day household burdens more than him? Is he generally selfless or selfish? At 70 will the vaping bother you? A lot of people are great to date and make good boyfriends. Few make great life partners IMHO. In some ways, it’s almost like moving past assessing whether this person makes you happy romantically and thinking through the more mundane: How would I feel about him as a long-term roommate? What would a typical day likely be like at 70?

  9. Anonymous

    My office moved floors and I can’t find my tweezers. I definitely felt some chin whiskers today while mindlessly gazing outside. I am probably going to go buy another tweezers at Walgreens as an excuse to get outside a few minutes (clearly the whiskers are part of me and co workers who cared would’ve already seen them). This is my Monday.

    • pugsnbourbon

      A few weeks ago I couldn’t find my bathroom tweezers so I had to get my purse tweezers. Then I left my purse tweezers in the bathroom so I’m at work with a spiky chin hair and no tweezers! Tonight I will forget to return the purse tweezers again. Repeat for the next six weeks.

    • No Problem

      I have chin whiskers too and I can promise you that no one can see them unless they are within about 6 inches of your face and staring at your chin in good light. It also drives me nuts when I can feel them (and I always tweeze them ASAP), but I promise no one else can see them :)

    • Senior Attorney

      My favorite is my car tweezers. The light in the car is the best.

    • Carrie

      Two words for you – Tinkle razors! I get them in packs, and leave one in all bags/bathrooms etc..

  10. Anon

    Hello, we are apparently (hopefully) on track for a wet winter here in the Bay Area and I have realized my casual raincoat isn’t actually keeping me dry. When is as commuting to work I used a canvas trench and umbrella, but for home life, walking my dog, getting groceries, etc, the umbrella isn’t really working and I need a hooded coat that actually repels water. What’s your favorite? Needs to be available in plus sizes. My current one is Land’s End and my entire back got wet through it last night.

  11. Senior Attorney

    Y’all, I just re-read Station Eleven over the weekend, ahead of the HBO version. It’s SO GOOD. This time I cried at the end.

    Srsly, HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

    • Anon

      I’m the person who posted about the show and I ended up doing the same thing. I first read it before the pandemic, so it landed differently this time, but it’s still great!

    • anne-on

      If you haven’t already, try reading Song for a New Day – similar feel (pandemic, though more like covid than the black death) and then what it was like living in/through/after the pandemic told through intertwining points of view. Not quite AS good but still very very good!

    • PolyD

      I read it years ago and loved it, but these days, I don’t know if I could revisit it.

    • anon

      +1. I read Station Eleven for the first time in September, and it was one of my favorite books this year.

    • Anonymous

      I tried reading it before the pandemic, and I couldn’t make it past the part where it was foreshadowed that a child would be one of the first victims.

Back to Top

About

Work with Corporette®

Serious Stuff

work fashion blog press mentions