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• The Wall Street Journal [gift link] talked to dermatologists and facialists about the skincare treatments celebs use before big events.
• Popular Science reported on new analysis from mathematicians at Northwestern confirming the common observation that fashion trends frequently resurface every 20 years or so.
• Vogue wondered whether the girlboss is making a comeback.
• Harvard Business Review looked at accent bias at work.
• The 19th explained how the women leading the farmworker movement won’t let it be defined by the sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez.
• The Wall Street Journal [gift link] shared a quiz about minimizing taxes on your investments.
• NPR shared four post-workout essentials to boost performance and prevent injury.
• Your Laugh of the Week comes from The Hard Times, with “Tesla Hides Drive Mode Behind Subscription Paywall.”

Noteworthy Threadjacks This Week…

On CorporetteMoms Recently…

Are you a mom or mom-to-be? Don’t miss this week’s news update at CorporetteMoms. 

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Experience the elegance of the season at Dublin’s only five-star urban resort. InterContinental Dublin invites you to celebrate the arrival of spring with curated Easter Breaks and Spring Stays designed for effortless relaxation. Nestled in the heart of leafy Ballsbridge, our resort offers a tranquil escape just moments from the city center. Whether you are taking advantage of our exclusive Spring Sale or planning a memorable family gathering over the Easter weekend, you’ll find the perfect balance of sophisticated luxury and warm Irish hospitality in our spacious guestrooms and sun-drenched gardens.

Spring has arrived in Dublin, bringing longer days, lighter evenings, and the perfect opportunity to plan a well-deserved escape. Set within tranquil gardens just moments from the city, our five-star urban resort invites you to slow down and recharge.

SPRING SALE

Enjoy 20% off our Room Only rate when you book directly with us before 23rd March, for stays up to 26th April.

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A little more daylight. A little more time. A little more space to unwind.

The InterContinental Escape

Enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast, a €50 dining credit, full access to our pool and wellness facilities, and late check-out.

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Celebrate Easter with a memorable family escape including a special Easter welcome, breakfast for all, and a magical garden egg hunt for little ones.

Available for stays from 28th March to 11th April 2026.

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For any questions/feedback regarding the above mentioned products/brands,
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Spring dressing for little ones is one of my favorite things with soft colors, playful prints, and pieces that feel just as sweet for everyday as they do for special moments. I rounded up a few favorites that feel perfect for the season ahead, from adorable matching sets to easy pieces they can run around in all day.

One standout this season is Hunter Bell, which just launched the cutest mommy-and-me sets. Their new prints are bright, cheerful, and perfect for spring events, and I especially love the idea of matching skirts or dresses with your little one. It’s such a sweet way to dress for brunches, birthdays, or family photos without it feeling too over-the-top.

Along with those, I included some other spring favorites. Classic Mary Janes, playful hair accessories, pretty swimwear for warmer days, and a few easy pieces that feel comfortable but still special for the season.

Get ready for an action-packed season with the newest arrivals and unbeatable deals at Smyths Toys Superstores. Whether you’re looking to dominate the backyard with the high-performance Titan Crawler RC Truck or searching for the perfect seasonal gift like the Limited Edition Our Generation Easter Doll, this collection has something for every explorer and dreamer. With “magic of spring” offers across outdoor play, collectibles, and creative sets, it’s the perfect time to find this year’s favorite toys at great value.

Remote Control Titan Crawler Truck 1:8 Scale

Get ready to conquer rough terrain with the Remote Control Titan Crawler Truck.

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Our Generation Limited Edition Easter Doll Blossom

Celebrate the magic of spring with this limited edition doll.

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For any questions/feedback regarding the above mentioned products/brands,
please do contact us anytime by clicking here

Gift Ideas for New Couples

The early months of a relationship come with a particular kind of pressure when occasions arise. Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries measured in weeks rather than years. You want to give something that matters without overshooting, something that says you pay attention without suggesting you have already mapped out the next decade together.

New couples occupy an odd space. They know enough about each other to rule out generic options but not always enough to land on something with certainty. A gift given too early in a relationship carries weight it might not deserve. One given with too little thought can signal indifference. The balance sits somewhere in the middle, where intention meets restraint.

Most people spend between $50 and $200 on gifts for people they care about, according to data from The Knot 2024 Real Guests Study. The average sits around $150. But the number matters less than the reasoning behind the choice. A $40 item selected with precision can outperform a $300 one grabbed in haste.

When Presence Becomes the Present

Some people express affection through words, others through time spent together, and a smaller group through the objects they give. For new couples still learning how the other person receives care, gift giving as a love language can reveal more about compatibility than months of conversation. A well-chosen item shows attention to detail, memory of passing comments, and a willingness to act on small observations.

The Knot 2024 Real Guests Study found that nearly half of wedding attendees give off-registry gifts, a sign that many people value personal meaning over practicality. Scratch-off date night cards, custom star maps, and personalized songs from services like Uncommon Goods rank among popular choices for couples who prefer gifts that carry a story rather than a price tag.

Personalized Items That Reference Specific Moments

Engraved wine glasses with initials and a date work when the date means something to both people. A first meeting, a first trip, the night one of you finally admitted you were terrible at pool but kept playing anyway. The specificity is the point.

Custom star map light boxes show the exact arrangement of stars on a particular night. These appeal to couples who remember dates well and assign meaning to them. The object itself becomes a record of a moment that would otherwise exist only in memory.

Personalized songs take longer to arrive. Services like Uncommon Goods connect couples with musicians who write original pieces based on submitted stories. The songs run between 1 and 3 minutes. You provide the details, and someone else turns them into something you can play back.

Gifts That Create Future Plans

Scratch-off date night cards come in sets, often around 40 cards, with context clues about budget and timing for each activity. They remove the friction of deciding what to do on a given evening. You scratch one off, read it, and follow through. The cards turn planning into a small game.

Cooking classes for two require both people to show up and participate. The gift becomes a scheduled event rather than an object that sits on a shelf. Many couples respond well to this because it gives them a story to tell afterward.

Concert tickets, weekend trips, or reservations at restaurants with long wait times all fall into this category. The gift points forward instead of backward.

Practical Items With a Personal Touch

Not every gift needs to feel sentimental. Some couples appreciate things they will use regularly, especially if those things happen to be well-made.

Premium bedding sets and luxury linen tablecloths show up frequently on wish lists. These are items people want but rarely buy for themselves. A good set of sheets lasts years. The same applies to quality kitchen tools, ceramic dishware, or a solid cast iron pan.

Brick oven pizza dishware sets allow home cooks to replicate restaurant-style pizza at home. If one or both people in the couple cook often, items like this get used.

Small Gestures That Land Well

A handwritten letter paired with a small, inexpensive item often carries more weight than something elaborate. The letter provides context. The object provides something tangible to hold.

A book you read and thought they might like, with a note inside the cover explaining why. A jar filled with folded slips of paper, each listing something you appreciate about them. A framed photo from a day you both remember.

These gestures work best when they reference private knowledge, things only you would know to include.

Timing and Delivery

When you give a gift matters almost as much as what you give. Something presented on a random Tuesday can feel more personal than something handed over on a holiday when gifts are expected. The unexpectedness adds meaning.

Wrapping matters too. A gift placed in a box with a ribbon suggests effort. One handed over in a plastic bag suggests the opposite.

If you give something that requires assembly or setup, offer to do it together. The process of setting it up can become part of the memory attached to it.

When You Don’t Know What to Give

Ask. New couples sometimes avoid asking directly because they worry it will spoil the surprise. It rarely does. A question like “Is there anything you’ve been wanting but haven’t gotten around to buying?” can yield useful information without giving away your plan.

Alternatively, pay attention over the course of several weeks. People mention things they want in passing. They pause on certain items when browsing. They talk about things they used to have but lost. These small clues add up.

A gift chosen after observation feels different from one chosen at random. The recipient can usually tell which is which.

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.

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

My hunt for crisp, white shirts for the summer continues apace. Today, I’m really liking this poplin popover from J.Crew Factory. It has 2% elastane for just a hint of stretch, which I appreciate for something that I’m wearing to the office.

I would wear this with a midi skirt and flats for a casual Friday in the summer. 

The top is $39.50 at J.Crew Factory and comes in sizes XXS-3X. It also comes in a blue stripe and denim. 

Sales of note for 3/6:

• Nordstrom has a big beauty sale afoot, including lots of products that don’t normally go on sale. Reader favorites include this tinted balm, this other tinted balm, this concealer, and this exfoliating serum. (OK, this classic tinted balm also!)
• Ann Taylor – $40 off pants, $50 off jackets, 30% off tops and sweaters, and 40% off accessories — plus extra 50% off all sale
• Banana Republic Factory – 40% off + extra 20% off
• Bloomingdale’s – Beauty & Fragrance Promo: Take 15% off almost all $150+ purchases! (ends 3/8)
• Boden – 15% off new styles with code
• Brooklinen – Friends & Family sale, enjoy 20% off sitewide and up to 50% off select bundles (ends 3/18)
• Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance + 25% off select jewelry
• Dermstore – Beauty Refresh sale, up to 20% off! Brands in the sale include Elta MD, Sunday Riley, and Augustinus Bader — and there’s a ton of HSA/FSA eligible things too. They also have some nice “best of Dermstore” kits, including a sunscreen selection!
• Elie Tahari – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
• Evereve – Spring sale!
• Express – $75 off $200, BOGO 50% off sitewide, and $25+ dresses
• J.Crew – 40% off spring-ready styles + extra 30% off all sale styles with code
• J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything + extra 50% off clearance
• Lo & Sons – End of winter sale, up to 50% off — reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
• M.Gemi – Friends & Family sale early access with code FF2025
• M.M.LaFleur – Wear to Work Bundle, buy 2 items get 15% off; buy 3 items get 20% off (you can also try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off)
• Nordstrom – 4,000 new markdowns for women! Cardmembers get a $20 note for every $200 you spend (ends 3/8)
• Ruti – 20% off Core Collection
• Saks OFF5TH – Liquidation sale, up to 80% off! Everything final sale.
• Soma – $30 bra event, save up to 60%
• Talbots – 25% off entire purchase, plus free shipping on $150+