The fabulous converting bag!

Now that Connor is a bit older and I don't necessarily need to bring everything including the kitchen sink with me on our short outings I've found myself wanting to carry around a smaller diaper bag. Usually the most that we need on a short trip is a few diapers, some wipes, a bib, and a few snacks and we are really good to go. Though there is still no replacement for my regular diaper bag on longer outings or weekend trips using my small one for those short trips is really a relief on my shoulders.

The Madeline diaper bag over at Lychee Line is the perfect answer for moms that want something that looks more like a purse than a diaper bag. Its really does not even remotely look like a diaper bag and I cannot tell you how many compliments I've gotten on my "cute purse" lately. Its actually so cute in fact that I carry it around with me even on the days that Connor is at his grandparents. My favorite feature is the removable divider that Velcros into the purse dividing it in half. I use my divider to divide the bag for one half my stuff and one half Connor's stuff. Though we had to trim a little of our extras we easily fit both the essentials from the diaper bag and a majority of the things from my purse into the Madeline bag. In the end I ended up fitting about five diapers, a small case of wipes, two small bottles of creams, a sippy cup, two small snack containers, a bib, and an extra onesie on Connor's side and my wallet, cell phone, digital camera, checkbook, digital video recorder, and my medication bottle on the other side, plus whatever misc nonsense I have on any particular day. Minus the toys and extra medications we normally carry around and a spare bottle we really ended up fitting everything from our big diaper bag and most from my purse, all in a bag that no one would ever suspect is a diaper bag.

The Madeline bag comes in four color choices chocolate, black, key lime, and raspberry all lined in matching prints which also show up on the pocket in the front. The bag itself is made of a buttery soft faux leather. I actually didn't even realize it was faux until I reread the description, heh, believe me no one else will either. And of course if you really want to be one of those girls that has it all, there are matching baby blankets available for each bag.

Lychee Line's baby blankets have the most stunningly gorgeous borders followed by a solid color fleece blanket. If your looking to get away from loud novelty prints, or those awful character prints they are an oasis of beautiful simplicity. We have one of the vanilla key lime blankets here and there is something just comforting about that soft plush white followed by a chunky patterned key lime border. The border is made from the same green patterned fabric from the inside of the key lime Madeline bag, which is the very thing that attracted me to the bag in the first place! At only $30 a blanket I'd dare to say there is few if any other options in that price range even remotely as nice. I'm still just blown away by that pricing alone.

Lychee Line's diaper bags, blankets, and of course their original line of handbags are all available for sale directly from their website.

I have a Vanilla Key Lime baby blanket to give away to one lucky reader!

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out Lychee Line's product line and tell me which handbag or diaper bag is your favorite and a little bit about how you'd use it.
  
• No "i want to win" stuff without a little effort (and I do mean little!)
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
• For an extra entry :
• Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
• Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
• One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
• This contest will end July 31st at midnight!

A must for fathers day!

The first thing that comes to mind for a father's day present may not be a diaper bag, but if you saw the bags at DadGear you may just change your mind!

Connor's dad on more than one occasion has complained about having to carry around our either super cutsie or very girlie diaper bags around. For a long time I appeased him by changing out my girlie diaper bag for a toddler backpack which was not quiet as embarrassing for him to lug around, but it still was awfully "cute".

When I saw the diaper bags at DadGear I knew I had to get him one for fathers day. The Dadgear bag is not only super cool but its one of the most functional diaper bags I have had the honor of trying out. For all the guys out there.. you could even claim that this bag is "tricked out" as I'd guess to say that this diaper bag will have more cool features than your wife's diaper bag in most cases. DadGear offers a HUGE selection of designs, colors, and bag types. I decided to go with a skull and crossbones messenger bag but you could go with a courier bag, backpack, or even the smaller sports bag model. There is also the very non traditional diaper vest which would be great for dad's on the go.

What I really want to talk about is the many features the DadGear messenger bag offers. The first and most obvious thing you will notice about the bag when you open it is the super cool wipes case. There is actually a wipes cased built into the bag itself which allows you to access wipes from outside of the bag. I am still so tickled by this design I have to show every poor stranger that walks past me that will listen. Another great feature that I had always complained about with diaper bags but up till now never found a bag that really fit the bill, once your child is past the bottle stage and into sippy cups they just do not fit into those bottle compartments in diaper bags and you always end up with a leaning sippy cup in the bottom of your bag. The Dadgear bag has a very generously sized bottle compartments that not only fit bottles just perfectly fine, but my handle less sippy cups also fit neatly inside as well. You can also access the bottles or sippy cups without having to open the bag itself, which is a neat feature. There are also stroller straps built into the bag itself which is fairly rare in a bag in this price range. If you would like to see a more detailed tour of the DadGear messenger just check out the online demo.

Once I actually got to use it a few times I have to admit I was pretty jealous, and ended up getting a DadGear all my own. I now own the razor flames messenger as well!! Though if you love your hubbie/boyfriends DadGear and want a girlie one all your own there is DaisyGear as well just for the ladies which come in much more girlie styles.

Ironically enough more people have asked about my DadGear in public than any of my other bags, even before they know its a diaper bag. It's also one of the only baby products I have reviewed that have gotten the attention of my guy friends, many of which either want one for their laptops or plan on getting one for their kids/future kids.

DadGear and DaisyGear bags are available directly from their website.

Amy Michelle's brand new diaper bag line!

Ive been dying to get my hands on an Amy Michelle Diaper bag since last fall when I saw the Azalea in another e retailers site and fell in love with it's features.

Usually I am a die hard messenger bag or classic tote style diaper bag fan.. Minus the features for the most part all of my diaper bags are of similar design until now.

The Street Baby Totes at Amy Michelle are brand new! Built with being affordable in mind, they are built to fill the needs of every mom! Not that saying being affordable means giving up features, at least not in this line of diaper bag! The very first thing I noticed when I opened the package on my new Rodeo Drive chocolate diaper bag was the amount of pockets on the outside of the bag. I usually keep my personal items when possible on the outside for easy access and this bag features on very large zippered section on the outside with a key clip and a cell phone pouch inside so you won't have to dig for either, especially with a crabby teething baby! There are also two bottle pouches on the outside of the bag and two inside the bag! So you are all set for a long day or a day trip! Inside the bag the first thing you will notice is the bright turquoise blue lining, its so pretty at first I was a bit distracted but I did notice and even did a little happy dance that there is a pacifier clip right at the top of the inside of the bag. Honestly I hate pacifiers but Connor has been teething so awfully lately that they have become a necessity regardless of how I feel about them and nothing is worst than trying to find a lost pacifier in a bag especially in the middle of a full blown toddler breakdown. There is also a huge zippered pouch on the inside as well as some smaller organizer pouches. The biggest thing thats diffrent about this bag vrs my regular messenger style diaper bags is the depth of the bag.. this bag is almost twice as deep as my regular diaper bag which is great for toys and books.

The Street Baby Totes line at Amy Michelle offers some a host of features that are very unusual to find in diaper bags of the same price range. Like most of the bags in Amy Michelle's line this bag converts from a regular shoulder bag to a backpack quite easily. The most exciting feature to us though was the built in stroller attachments. I don't think I have ever seen the in another diaper bag under $80 and let me tell you its a thousand times easier to attach a diaper bag to a stroller with them instead of draping the bag over the handles. Last of all the changing pad is on the back side of the diaper bag in an outside pouch, I can't tell you how often I wished more diaper bags companies did this as its really inconvenient to dig through your diaper bag or try to get it back inside the diaper bag once your done. I actually took the changing pads out of two of my diaper bags as they went inside the bag and I could never seem to get them back in once I got them out. I resorted to using a cloth changing pad which is much smaller but sometimes a bit hard to find inside a bag that is crammed to the top with junk.

For $65 including free shipping.. you get all the same features you would see on a bag in the $120-150 price range. Thats a deal anyway you look at it.

Amy Michelle's diaper bags are available directly on her website!

The perfect diaper bag for the ladies that want it all and then some.

I am always talking about what I want in a diaper bag.. and for once I don't have much to add when it comes to the Rowdy Boardwalk Bowler.

The first and most obvious feature that caught my eye is the totally separate and detachable purse that his cleverly hidden under the front flap of the diaper bag. I am always trying to drag along my purse, diaper bag, sling, and baby and needless to say I am always out of arms. With this diaper bag your purse is built right into the diaper bag itself, and to use it all you have to do is unhook two little hooks. If thats not cool enough look how cute that little purse is. I am actually totally happy to take the purse with me and leave the diaper bag on days I don't have Connor in tow.


The Rowdy Boardwalk Bowler bag is actually fairly large which is GREAT now that Connor is moving into the toddler faze. Even with all of Connor's junk stuffed inside for once I don't feel as if I had to take something out of the bottom of the bag I wouldn't be able to get everything back into the bag. Even with its very generous size I do not feel like I am carrying a satchel either, the nice shape actually makes this bag feel smaller when its on your arm. Its a bit wider than my other diaper bags so really the only downfall to that is it doesnt fit as flat against the stroller if you hang it over the handles as some of my other bags, but for an everyday diaper bag I usually end up taking my sling instead of my stroller anyways. As a travel diaper bag, so far I have yet to find anything better. This bag with that little detachable purse would be HEAVEN on a long plane ride as you could virtually get anything you needed in there and only have to take one bag instead of hauling your diaper bag and purse around.

Style wise I really love the leather exterior and the rope handles actually add a lot of character to the bag. I certainly get a lot of questions about mine when I'm in public. I only wish that Rowdy made more canvas options as though I am a huge leather fan it would be nice to have the variety of color and texture options that cloth allows over leather.

Want one of your own? You can buy them directly from Rowdy as well as they are available on Amazon!

Diaper Bag Review : The Lily Tote by Bumble Bags

The Buzz Collection is a new line of diaper bags from Bumble Bags.

If you are familuar with the Bumble line you can recognize them anywhere for their floral, paisley and almost vintage inspired patterns.. classic, elegant, and timeless.

The Buzz collection, is a whole new shoe for the line of Bumble Bags. Much more modern, streamline, and but with just a touch of Bumble's signature style mixed in. They even worked in their prints on the changing pad!

The Lily tote has some unique features compared to other diaper bags, including a mesh pocket on the inside that is removable so you no longer need to fumble through your diaper bag to find all of your diaper changing goodies. Just pull out the mesh compartment and your good to go. Though I absolutely LOVE this feature if your like me and like to cram your diaper bag FULL of junk its occasionally a bit hard to remove and put back for me as I tend to over fill the bag itself. When you don't attempt to put everything (including the kitchen sink) in your bag, however, it works great and is a huge time saver.

Honestly though my FAVORITE part about this bag is the built in stroller clips. Just drop the shoulder strap down inside the bag and pull out the two stroller clips and hook them on and your in business. Its soo quick and simple those days at the mall.. (ok spring is coming and there is nothing I like to do better on a pretty day than go to the outdoor malls and walk around).

Though this bag appears smaller than it is its very generously sized at 13 1/4"L x 14"H x 5 1/2"W and believe me it will hold a lot of stuff!! The entire bag is waterproof (inside and out) and stain resistant so don't worry about those leaky bottles. Call me a sucker, but I LOVE bottle pockets and this bag features both exterior (on both sides) and two interior bottle pockets. I still have yet to figure out what my fascination with bottle pockets is... but I always find a use for them and in this case I keep my two clean bottles on the outside and the dirty ones on the inside.. its actually quite handy.

Priced at $70 The Lily Tote is the most reasonable bag in the Bumble Bag line.. which for mom's on a budget is a HUGE plus!

Want one?
Visit Bumble Bag's store locater to find a store near you that sells their bags!

Diaper Bag Review : Zospehine Bags

I am a sucker for a messenger bag, be it a diaper bag or just a tote. I'm sure it has a lot to do with how practical they are as well as comfortable. Unfortunately in the realm of diaper bags its very difficult to find a messenger bag that super girlie, or super fru fru. I have a boy so I try at all costs to avoid flowers and/or cutsie winnie the pooh prints when it comes to diaper bags or well anything involving Connor. Zosephine bags are none of the above, and the best part is they do not look like diaper bags at all!

I absolutely LOVE the little window of fabric on the plain background, its such a great little touch, and it makes the bags look ultra modern but still lots of fun. The outside of the bag holds no clues to an onlooker that its actually a diaper bag which leaves you open to using this bag after your baby is well past diapers and bottles. I love this bag so much that I actually use mine to carry my books and supplies to school. Ironically I have had quite of comments on my great bag and all of them are surprised when I reveal its actually a diaper bag.

The inside of the bag has two side pouches for your bottles, a zipper pouch for your small stuff (cell phone, keys, wallet) and a divided side so you can separate diapers and diapering supplies from the rest of your stuff. Though its a bit more narrow than a standard diaper bag it easily holds a small stack of diapers + creams, two bottles, a change of clothes, your snack containers, food container, the changing pad, and a blanket. All the necessities. As a school bag I can get two college sized textbooks, two large notebooks, my huge calculators (two of them), and my folders. Its perfect for the days I have three classes. It would make a perfectly sized laptop bag as well!

Speaking of books, the Zosephine bag has an unusual strap that comes out of the back of the bag vs. the sides. This makes carrying the bag SUPER comfortable even if your carrying a heavy load. My books are not light and my old messenger bag hurt my shoulder awfully. I can happily tell you that not only did the Zosephine bag hold up well to the weight of my bags but my shoulder never was happier, and on the weekend I just take the books out and we go back to diaper duty. The inside of the bag is totally waterproof which works well for baby and school.

I have to admit my favorite part of the bag (if you haven't guessed already) is its ability to be used well after your past the baby stage. Especially when your investing in a nice diaper bag its good to know you will be able to put it to work years after its original job is done.

Want one? The Zosephine diaper bag is available on their web page.