Accessory Tuesday: Carson Backpack
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When I started commuting, it did not take me long to realize I could no longer carry everything on one shoulder. I needed a bag that could fit files, occasionally my laptop, and all the junk I carry around with me (Kindle, pens, extra battery packs, water bottle, etc.) but still looked structured and professional enough for court. I also knew I wanted to invest in a bag that would last a long time. Enter Tumi. They no longer sell the one I ended up getting, but this one is close. I also love that this version has a “quick-access phone pocket,” because the biggest issue I have when carrying a backpack is where to put my phone. (Side note, women’s pants should all have FUNCTIONAL pockets, IMHO.) Using a backpack has saved my shoulders during my commute, and I can’t imagine ever returning to a shoulder bag. This bag is $375 at Amazon and is also available at Tumi, which has a couple more color options). Carson Backpack
Amazon has a more affordable option from Knomo that is $179.
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Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine’s Day!):
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase — and extra 60% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + 15% off (readers love their suiting as well as their silky shirts like this one)
- Boden – 15% off new season styles
- Eloquii – 300+ styles $25 and up
- J.Crew – 40% of your purchase – prices as marked
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site and storewide + extra 50% off clearance
- Rothy’s – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Flash sale ending soon – markdowns starting from $15, extra 70% off all other markdowns (final sale)
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?
So funny, I bought this backpack a few weeks ago as a new job present! I love when something I own and would recommend end up as a pick here :)
flying first time this weekend solo with baby and i’m very nervous. any tips for diaper changes in the tiny plane bathroom? what do i do if i have to go to the bathroom? or do i just not drink any liquid all day to make sure that doesn’t happen. also – do you need the original birth certificate, copy of birth certificate or does a photo on a phone suffice? flying southwest if that matters
Travel question – I am flying with three kids this Saturday on Southwest. Last time we did this, our plane had rows of 2, so we just sat in one row. Would you do 2 and 2 (with the windows open), 2 and 2 (back to back) or 3 and 1, with the aisle in between? My oldest is almost ten and will be fine as long as nothing goes wrong, and can probably handle his own air mask etc., but I’d still like to be able to reach him.
Where do you buys kids’ gloves? I need snow gloves for my 4-year-old, and this is a shopping weak spot for me. Nothing too fancy — we live in the DC area, so some snow, but we don’t ski or anything.
Solo parents with 2+ children, do you eat dinner with your kids? I really want and used to before baby but find it so incredibly challenging since baby was born, but can’t figure out why I am having such a hard time.
Fed Up by Gemma Hartley: Curious whether anyone has read this new book about women and emotional labor? I saw it recommended in Real Simple.
I don’t know what I’m looking for – I guess I just need to vent. DH and I have been fighting a lot, basically starting since our kid arrived (kid is 20 months). I know I have plenty of share in the blame, but couples therapy is not working (therapist basically said we have no problems, which makes me feel even worse for thinking we have problems). I’m just kind of at a loss and ready to throw in the towel. Anything work for you when you’ve felt like that? Every time DH tries to pick a fight I just shut down. He’s a lawyer so I’m kind of sick of arguing with him because his response always feels like “well your argument isn’t valid because X.”
The luggage idea above triggered a christmas idea for me! My almost four year old loves luggage and I want to get her a bag for christmas for flying. Something with wheels. Any recommendations? I think she’d like pb kids bags but wasn’t sure which size to get. Or just get her a rolly from Target?
Does anyone have a recommendation for a clock radio for a 5-year old? I want to get something for her to play her own music, but I am oddly baffled by what. Are CDs still a thing? Or do we get her an mp3 player and a clock radio that it can plug into. Or with bluetooth? I feel like an old. Please help!
This past weekend DH and I tried gardening for the first time in quite some time. Embarrassed to admit, but it was probably like 8 months – we have 4 month old twins and i was so huge during pregnancy and had some risk factors so it wasn’t recommended towards the end. I delivered via c-section. It was so so painful and honestly didn’t really work. Is this normal? Will it just take a few tries for it to work well again?
My mother is driving me insane with her parenting advice. The last set of comments have just sent me over the edge. She picked my daughter from school the other day and went with her to movie night at school, and daughter tantrumed a bunch, but it sounds like it was mostly related to how my mother handled the tantrums (e.g., giving in, telling her stop crying, shaming her for tantrums). She told me about this and told me my daughter needs to see a psychologist and that if I don’t get this addressed asap and that my daughter was the “worst behaved kid in the school” and I need to find a way to stop the tantrums or she would “end up a drug addict.”
Today she sent me a text that I need to find a way to pull out my daughter from after school because she “hangs out with all the bad kids” (i.e., kids whose moms work!) and that the after school program is “only trouble.” I am not a huge fan of the after school program and my daughter does say she wants to be picked up at carpool, but she is doing activities at school half the time anyways and she hangs out with her friends there. She probably spends 10 hours in it a week. But her comments make me wonder if I should lean out and find a way to be able to pick up my daughter from school. I love what I do and find it super meaningful, I am damn good at what I do, and make good money, so I hate the idea of giving that up, but of course would if it meant a lot for my daughters wellbeing. I try to be the best parent I can be when not at work, and think I am doing a ton better than my parents did.
This is all especially frustrating because I have few memories of spending time with my parents as a kid. I was picked up by other relatives /sitters from school, never ate dinner with them, and spent my weekends watching TV. I never felt like I could talk about my feelings with my parents, and I like to think that I am doing better for my kids.
How do I respond to her comments and deal with my mother? A part of me is just like cut her off but my kids love her and she can be somewhat helpful at times with childcare (though not super helpful), and she is my mother after all.
Will my kid be ok if she is in an afterschool program and only spending 3ish hours a day with parents on weekdays? Are tantrums in preschool normal? Are there any working moms with older kids? Are your kids doing well? What do you guys do for afterschool? Maybe I should look into nannies.
I’m going back to work tomorrow after maternity leave, and to add to it I woke up with a cold. We have extended family obligations all weekend that I can’t get out of, which is fine but just bad timing. I don’t like my job, and I’m not ready to leave my baby. I just want to cry and hide and not go back.
I’m whining, I know, and in the grand scheme of things these are not *real* problems. But sigh.
I feel like I’m constantly on the hunt for a bag that will hold my pumping accoutrements. Some people here recommended the OMG or OG, which I’m considering, but I really want a backpack because I carry home like 30 ounces a day. I’m willing to shell out some bucks, but most of the higher-end backpacks I’ve seen are fairly shallow and I need 6 inches deep minimum, preferably 7 or 8. Anyone have experience with the Hanover or other decently work-appropriate backpacks? I want something with some structure. I know I could find some deeper travel backpacks, but I’m hoping to find the unicorn that’s big enough but still okay for work.
Inspired by the above, I realize I need to update my kid movies wishlist for Christmas. Any good recommendations for a 5 and 3 year old? (We do a family movie night each Friday, so something that isn’t horrible for adults to watch would be a bonus!)
I need sleep help! I feel like we have sleep trained our 15 month old 10 ten times already. Every time he gets sick, we’re out of town, a grandparent visits, the time changes, we have to do it again. He usually does well and can put himself to sleep without crying by day 2 or 3. This time he’s throwing us a curve ball. He starts to go down around 7:30pm and is asleep by 8pm, but then wakes up screaming at 11pm. We tried to sleep train at 11 last night, by going in to say good night at 3min, 5min, 7min and on and on. He screamed for an hour. There were times where he settled down and I thought he would go to sleep, but then he would perk up and scream louder. After an hour of it we gave up and I nursed him to sleep in my bed. I can’t hang anymore. How should we handle the 11pm wake up?