Everyone Thursday: Convertible Backpack
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I mentioned my favorite backpack for babywearing yesterday, and linked to this gorgeous but slightly splurgey backpack on Corporette a week or two ago, so I thought I’d mention this much more affordable (but also convertible) backpack today, here. Whether you’re babywearing, prefer to use a backpack with kids so your hands are free, or are trying to get more exercise in by commuting to work by foot or bike — there are a tons of reasons why backpacks are great for moms, and we’re lucky that it’s a trend right now there are a zillion styles to choose from. I’m still drooling over the one from Bendel’s, but a commenter mentioned this one as a similar look, and for $55 I think it’s great. It’s available at Nordstrom in chambray and emerald ($27, final sale) at Sole Society. Sole Society ‘Reed’ Convertible Backpack
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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?
We are probably going to start TTC in about a year from now, so I realize this question may seem a little premature to some of you. It’s about moving with kids.
Right now we live in a city that we moved to so that I could attend school, and it’s a city we like. No family here, or nearby. I’d call our current city a 7/10 on our “if we could live anywhere” scale. However, there are many other US cities that would be 8, 9, or 10s for us. I’ve always imagined myself moving around quite a bit into my mid-30s (we’re late 20s), and while DH isn’t as gung-ho about that as I am, he could get on board. There are several cities that I would still like to live in, at some point. The thought of staying in one city (and even moreso our current city) for 20+ years just isn’t that appealing to me.
However, I remember the kids that moved to my town from another city in elementary or middle school, and I remember feeling bad for them, assuming they felt like an “other”.
Some complicating factors: I’m mostly likely going to be getting the next level of education in my field in 2-3 years from now, and there isn’t currently a program in our state (much less city) that has the specialty degree I am leaning toward. So, we might end up moving anyways, potentially to a temporary city for school (not one we would want to live in permanently). By the time of that program, we would hopefully have already had the kid. We also would like to buy a house in the next few years (would like to buy one while kid is still young), but of course wouldn’t want to buy one we would be in less than 5ish years.
So, I guess what I’m asking is– how much of a big deal is it to move your kids? At what age does it really start affecting them (missing friends, possibly having education transfer issues)? Does anyone else have this wanderlust I can’t seem to shake?
I’ve never tried the harness and I always do the car seat because my kid is used to be strapped down in his car seat for long periods of time, sometimes really long (road trips), and I think he’s more likely to accept it in his car seat than in some new, less restrictive contraption.
Question for those who have traveled with older toddlers. My son is 3.5 and we’re going down to Disney in FL in a month. I’m leaning towards doing the cares harness for the plane itself and gate checking our car seat (I’ve heard too many horror stories of car rental places not having car seats even if you reserve them). We’re also going to gate check our umbrella stroller. Am I crazy for not putting my older toddler in his car seat in the plane? I think he’s going to be too wriggly and it’ll just be a total PITA. Any advice welcome!
I’m planning to call the pediatrician about this, but has anyone weaned their child to whole milk before 1 year? I have a work conference the week before my child’s first birthday. I’d like to be done pumping by then – or at least only pumping at night. My question is whether anyone has experienced supplementing pumped milk with whole milk around 11 months, as I’d prefer not to rely as heavily on formula during the transition. Also, any transition tips? Do you just start dropping bottles, and adding whole milk? My child does great with solids, but still drinks between 25 and 30 ounces a day (he’ll be 11 months next week).
Daycare advice needed! A few weeks ago, I noticed that one of the floater teachers was watching YouTube videos on an iPad with the toddlers in my daughter’s classroom. I mentioned it to the head of the center, and she said that it was not acceptable and that there was no screen time allowed in toddler classes. She said she would talk with the teacher.
Last night, I picked up my daughter and the same teacher was sitting on the floor with a video going on the iPad again. To be fair, it was a video of a book that the kids love, not just random YouTube videos. But I would much rather that she actually read the book to the kids.
I’m also struggling because I just don’t trust this teacher very much and I can’t put my finger on why. She isn’t a native English speaker, and I wonder if I’m just struggling to connect with her? I haven’t felt like that with any of the other teachers at this center.
I’m sure these are useful, but I can’t get past my own (totally personal and unreasonable) hang-up that these remind me of the mini-backpacks that were all the rage in the 90s and maybe early 2000s. Too many negative memories.