This story appears in the April 2025 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
As a patent attorney with Maschoff Brennan, Victoria Tomoko Carrington balances the scales of law and motherhood with the help of a few local products and the support of her professional network. Though it’s not easy — “Being a mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever done; way harder than law school, passing the Utah State Bar or being an attorney,” she says — it’s the most rewarding journey she’s undertaken. With nearly a year under her belt as a working mom, Carrington offers this advice: Talk about your life outside of work while you’re at work. “As women, we take it on ourselves to be the best employee, attend all the events, mentor others and volunteer at daycare or our child’s school,” she continues. “I hope we can normalize the fact that some days are better than others. I’m also not doing this perfectly, and you shouldn’t feel pressure to do it perfectly, either.”
Kizik Milan Shoes
“If you are still reaching down to tie your shoes while pregnant, bless your heart. This pair of shoes was the first thing I bought myself when I found out I was expecting, and I love having them around postpartum so I don’t have to bend down to put on my shoes while carrying a baby.”
Owala FreeSip Water Bottle
“I love this design because the straw/mouthpiece is covered — perfect for throwing into a diaper bag for on-the-go hydration without having to worry about spills.”
Cozy Earth Bamboo Stretch-Knit Pajama Set
“This pajama set is made of a cooling fabric (for staying comfortable when you’re nine months pregnant), is nursing-friendly (with buttons that can be easily undone when you only have one hand), and has pockets (to put your phone in during those 3 a.m. nursing sessions).”
Sadie B Athlete Shampoo
“I experienced a lot of morning sickness during my pregnancy and ended up throwing out all of my shower products because I couldn’t handle the scents. This vanilla mint shampoo is the only one that didn’t make me nauseous. Plus, it is sold at Target — one of my favorite places to get in some indoor walking while pregnant during the hot summer months.”
Thread Lip Balm Holder
“Newly postpartum, I could never remember where I left my lip balm or have the energy to dig it out of a purse while running on two-hour stints of sleep. I keep this one attached to my keys.”
Copper Pearl Baby Bandana Bibs
“We have tried so many bibs and keep coming back to these ones. Not only do they look great, but they are shaped with enough fabric near the shoulders that they’re big enough to actually keep spit up off baby’s outfit.”
The Baby Cubby
“We were able to try out a bunch of strollers on their testing path (turf, cobblestone, brick), and they even let us take the strollers out to the parking lot to try out whether or not the strollers would actually fit in our car’s small trunk. There’s also a Baby Cubby app!”
