Diaper bags revisited

Current diaper bag.
Fantastic, durable construction, as you can see.

After last month's post on the oh-so-fashionable diaper bag, I decided to do a little research into a modern purse-like baby carry-all. First, here's a picture of my current bag (luckily, with Cavan potty-trained, I haven't had to carry it recently). Notice the completely ripped and frayed seam from carrying the damn thing by the handle. Seriously, if you can't make a bag to withstand the weight of its contents when carried by the handle, don't charge me $70 for the bag (stupid piece of poo!) As we all know, I am cheap, and I didn't want to spend another wad of cash for another diaper bag, but I really don't think this one will survive another child.

Searching on Amazon, here is what I found for the price I'm willing to part with. If  $70 buys a piece of poo messenger-style bag, maybe $150 will get me something that will actually live through two years of abuse without completely disintegrating. Timi and Leslie bags seem pretty fashionable, cost the right price, and boast high customer ratings. Here are the choices (see photos at the bottom of page).

The Annette. Five stars. Comes in pewter, black or red. (Leaning toward black, but the red could be cool too.) This is the front runner.

The Hannah. Four starts. Comes in pewter or black. Nice hardware details. BUT, the few negative reviews of the bag suggest the seams easily tear. I could take my chances based on the bulk of the 5-star ratings, or avoid this choice due to my major complaint with my current bag.

The Marilyn II. Five stars. Definitely black, as far as the color choices. It has a shinier look about it  and seems to be more structured than the other two, which are a bit "floppier" in style and fabric. I'm not sure I like the two pseudo pocket clip details on the front...hmmm.

Any votes from my readers? I know ya'll are experts in diaper bags. OR, do you have a brand/bag that you love or hate. Let me know! I'm in the market.

The Annette

The Hannah

The Marilyn II

Diaper bag vs. purse

A purse is a symbol of womanhood. A tool that provides support for female sexiness and success—touch-up make-up, mini-mirror, wallet (with money or credit) for purely pleasurable and social shopping trips that result in the year's chicest styles. It carries all the necessities that women need and men can somehow make-do without.

That being said, I was never much of a purse-toter; rather, a stick-my-money-and-driver's-license-in-my-pocket kind of girl. But now I find myself envious of all the cute designer (or knock-off) bags I see other women carrying. This is because I've had my fill of lugging the diaper bag with countless articles of clothing, food products, toys, and cleaning agents to quell a two-year-old's impulsive desires or accidents.

The diaper bag does absolutely nothing for illuminating womanly assets. You could be dressed to the nines, in 4-inch stilletos with hair freshly blown out, but the 25-pound polyester lump flopping against your hip, sippy sloshing, just screams "Look out, there's a mom, not a woman." Wait a second, where are you going in heels and make-up...with your two-year-old? (Thus necessitating the use of the diaper bag?) Oh yeah, no toddler tonight, it's date night! But you can no longer locate anything resembling an actual purse, so even a night on the town (or just an adults-only trip to Applebee's) utilizes the DB. You just now throw your compact, mints, and lip gloss on top of the travel wipes (which really come in handy for cleaning up after buffalo wings). It's a good thing you're married because de-tangling your wallet from the elastic leg hole of a diaper—in front of the waiter and nearby patrons—probably wouldn't result in any action later in the evening if this was a real date, if ya know what I mean.

I love my mommy title and believe it is the best part of being a woman. But every woman (occassionally) needs to feel attractive—to both her hubby and the world. Thus, I am looking forward to carrying a purse again—specifically the beautiful Coach bag I received from my sis as a matron of honor gift last year. I'm looking forward to looking good at first glance and then revealing that yes, I am a mom. And I guess I'll be looking forward to this for a long time because just as Cavan is approaching the no-more-diapers-or-sippy stage, I will be birthing another little pee-pot, eating machine. And no, I will not be investing in a couture diaper bag because in life, practicality is more important than vanity (and a sour-milk smelling Louis Vuitton with a cheerio-crumb covered interior just says you're an idiot.) Hopefully I will be using my Coach bag before it becomes vintage!