Organizing Thursday: Clearly Fresh Bags
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My son loves berries, but I hate how they go bad and get moldy so quickly. A few years ago, I found out about Clearly Fresh bags, and they’ve made a big difference in how much food we throw out. I’ll try to avoid sounding like an infomercial here, but these bags make fruit last much longer — at least twice as long. Strawberries, for example, used to only last a few days before getting moldy, and now they last at least a week! The special “BreatheWay membrane” in the center of the bag makes the difference. Clearly Fresh bags are recyclable (except for that membrane — just cut it out), so you don’t have to feel too guilty about using a few more plastic bags each week. (You’re not supposed to wash them and reuse them because apparently it messes up how the membrane works.) They’re not cheap — $8.98 for 20 bags — but berries are so expensive (for example) that I know we’re saving money on that side. Clearly Fresh Bags
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Sales of note for 5/4/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Select clothes, shoes & more up to 50% off
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including new arrivals (ends 5/4) + extra 15% off $200
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% everything + extra 25% off
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off all sale + $19 & up spring steals
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off must-have styles + up to extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 70% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off one regular-price item + 30% off everything else
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?
Thank you so much to everyone for the advice on my daughter’s milk allergy! I’m going to do the dairy free thing for the next 5 months until I stop the breastfeeding.
My son had a milk sensitivity based on blood in the stool (not allergy). I already was dealing with low supply but I cut milk and nursed as much as I could (otherwise, he drank alimentum which is pricey but was amazing). I eventually gave up nursing due to low supply and he was exclusively formula-fed. Around 10 months, we tried milk and he was fine with it. We gradually increased how much he drank and by a year, we were out of Alimentum and he was happy with milk.
Like someone else said, some babies cannot digest milk protein. It has nothing to do with allergies and small amounts of milk will not help (it will only cause more damage). But 99% of babies grow out of it. My son is 18 months now and can have everything without issue.
I posted this on Corporette, but thought I’d try cross-posting on the mom’s site. I’m coordinating the implementation of a paid parental leave policy at my 20+ person firm and am curious to see what benefits are available to others at their firms. Would appreciate your thoughts on who the policy applies to (birthing parent/primary caregiver v. both parents), the length of the paid leave, and any distinction in the benefit between staff and attorneys and birthing parent/primary caregiver v. non-birthing parent/non-primary caregiver, if any. Thanks!
For AwayEmily:
Preach. I searched high and low for a non-maternity nursing top like you describe here. I LOVE the “luxe long sleeve nursing top” from Udderly Hot Mama (awful company name, I know). It’s soft, stretchy, non-maternity, and covers the bottom. Mine have worn like iron (I went back+ bought a second one). It’s not a traditional tunic shape, but really flattering, for me at least. Good luck!
This is by no means a novel complaint but it is SO IRRITATING how many combination maternity/nursing clothes are out there. I do not understand this! “The ability to accommodate a giant stomach” and “the ability to free your breasts” are two totally different things — why combine them?? I have been looking for a nursing tunic — something fairly casual and long-sleeved that I can wear with leggings that also covers my butt/crotch. But all my searches take me to maternity/nursing clothes that also have room for a giant bump. I’m now a week postpartum, and while I am still very far away from being willing to wear anything form-fitting, I am also no longer shaped like a pregnant person. I think a maternity top would look very strange.
Anyway, if people have recommendations for a casual nursing tunic type thing (this is for wearing around a cold house, with leggings) then I’m all ears. Something like the below (which is sadly not available in my size).
http://www.apeainthepod.com/pull-down-nursing-top/001-82659-000-001.html?dwvar_001-82659-000-001_color=006-82659-23&cgid=nursing-tops#start=1
When my kid had blood in the diaper (basically since birth but we started really worrying around 3 weeks), I eliminated dairy…then soy…and all the derivatives. Nothing worked and I lost a ton of weight (in a bad way. I was just too frustrated to eat sometimes!).
Baby was still bleeding. we put her on Nutramigen for 2 weeks, cold turkey, no breast milk. Instant change. I pumped and saved the milk those two weeks. After the 2 week period, I slowly reintroduced breast milk (still dairy/soy free) and the blood stayed away! Diapers were normal! She went back to 100% breast milk in about a week of transitioning.
Around 4 months, I accidentally drank a giant protein shake that was like, 100% whey protein. No blood! I called ped who said go forth and slowly reintroduce soy then dairy. No blood!
And I was super glad I saved 2 weeks worth of breast milk because she used it all. You could also pump and dump during that time if you are less crazy.
Agree that it is probably time to seek out a reproductive specialist. The initial testing involves some blood work for you, a test to check your ovarian reserve which in my experience was done at my doctor’s office and an HSG, which involves dye being injected and an xray that I had to have done somewhere else. People told me the HSG might be a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn’t for me. DH also had some blood work and had to give a sperm sample. The testing involves some scheduling but can usually be completed within a month. One thing to note is that most insurance plans will cover all the diagnostic testing even if they do not cover the treatment.
Depending on what the problem is (in my case it was unexplained infertility and we honestly likely would’ve gotten pregnant if we’d kept trying for longer, but we were impatient) the treatment will vary. Clomid is most helpful for people who do not regularly release eggs because it stimulates to release additional eggs. We did clomid + IUI and got very lucky because it worked on the first try. I have a friend with a low ovarian reserve and so clomid did not make sense for her. Instead they went straight to IVF to maximize her chances. The treatment will vary depending on the underlying issue (if there is one)
Has anyone had any experience with a milk allergy diagnosis in a newborn? My daughter is 5 weeks today and has had some blood in her diaper. The doc said it is a milk allergy and I need to cut all dairy from diet entirely if we want to continue breastfeeding (which she encouraged). I’ve actually done the no-dairy thing in the past so I have a sense of the complete lifestyle change that it is. I’m exhausted already and starting a new diet right now is causing me major stress. Any tips and past experience with this would be greatly appreciated!
Above for the no brainer vacay. Darn phone!
I’ve heard great things about San Diego with kids. Zoo, Legoland, beach (the right time of the year). I’ve done some Google searches and saw some cool looking resorts and hotels. But we are waiting for our child to get a little older.
Disney if you’re not Type A about making the most of it and getting all the experiences. Just show up at the park and ride some rides and see some characters. Easier said than done, I know.
A cruise that leaves from the US? Still international probably, but air travel would be much easier. We had to get our child a passport for an upcoming vacation and expedited it at the end of Dec. We had it within 2.5 weeks.
Can anyone talk to me about getting a counseling referral for your kid? I have a DS in elementary school that has been struggling for several years with impulse control and attention-seeking behaviors. Some of these behaviors are really negative — like using mean words when he’s frustrated and “going positive” hasn’t worked. He’s been on a school behavioral plan for most of that time, and his teachers have been great at trying to help him, but clearly something isn’t working. He can tell us exactly what he needs to do, but actually following through in the moment is a problem for him. He’s told us that, too. It’s not just at school, either. It happens at home and in his before/aftercare program.
I know him to be extremely outgoing, bright, and strong-willed. He’s working above grade level in several areas, but his social/behavioral skills have consistently been marked as below grade average. He’s also sweet and empathetic and thank goodness his teachers/principal believe he’s a good kid who struggles with self-control. But he’s had enough issues for a long enough time that I’m concerned. I’ve been pushing DH for close to a year to pursue outside help, but DH has been super resistant until I finally got the school counselor to say yes, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to meet with your pediatrician and figure out some options.
I’m torn between feeling relieved that maybe we can figure out what the heck this is, because I don’t think it’s just immaturity. But I’m also scared what this means for DS and our family in general. I also think we may need to reevaluate his before/after school situation because I think he needs more one-on-one time with us … but no clue how that’s going to work.
I submerge my berries (and all fruit and veggies) in a diluted vinegar bath when I get them home (and then rinse them). They stay fresh in the refrigerator for over a week. No special gear required.
Tell me about an easy, no-brainer vacation idea in the US. I’m planning a three family vacation, with kids from 8 to 9 months. We’re open to anywhere in the US, some easy activities, no logistics planning (like driving to activities), and no cooking. Does this even exist?
I’m so sorry and I know how hard it is. I went through it too my experienced was great but I jumped right to an RE. There was no referral required. My first appointment was just a chat. They asked about my history, my cycles, what I had been tracking, etc. Similar to you I was OPK but not seeing a peak. I also had 35+ day cycles. I had also purchased the Ava fertility tracking bracelet and I liked it. Mostly I liked the data and the temping without needing to do it with a thermometer.
We left our first appointment with the plan to call the office on the first day of my next period to come in for blood draw testing on day 3. That would give them the info for my egg reserve etc.
I also had a friend that had his exact same experience. She did this and got pregnant using clomid and IUI on her first try.
My period never started. I went in on cycle day 42 for bloodwork and all of my levels looked within normal range. Pregnancy test was negative. Cycle day 50 I went back in, still no period and they did another blood test and I was pregnant! I’m now almost 21 weeks. We tried for 9 months before we went in. I wish I would have gone in sooner.
Good luck!
My son and I both got the flu, and are now dealing with secondary infections (antibiotics for everyone!). On top of feeling run down and exhausted I was just notified that I didn’t get a big internal promotion which I was heavily championed for by my boss and internal sponsors. I am so, so disappointed and upset on top of feeling ashamed that I ‘wasn’t good enough’ (even though there were some heavy politics in play as to why it went to someone else). I’m taking a much needed sick day tomorrow, but any other advice on how to dust myself off and refocus?