My bag would be lightweight like the Fluerville re-run Hanna. It would also be similarly sized to the Hana as well as the Skip Hop Studio and sadly discontinued City Chic. After much measuring and estimating - my ideal bag would be 16 x 10-12 x 6. This sized bag is wide enough to access everything, not too deep to lose everything, and not longer than the bars of my stroller. It would not be overly bulky, but would allow me to carry the essentials for lets say 2 kids and myself with the stroller basket having kid toys in it.
My perfect bag doesn't have insulated compartments. I don't reheat things for Saphira, and fortunately we didn't have to bother with bottles, but frankly I don't want the weight.
In appearance, I also like the Hana in that it is nondescript. It doesn't look too much like a bag, or too much like a fancy purse. Still, I love the idea of the purse bag - the going out to dinner and having a nice bag that is your diaper bag and purse - just like the well organized and super heavy Amymichelle bags.
My bag would come with stroller clips/ties, have good organization pockets, and have a wee clip that could be fastened to your belt loop, or an Ergo strap, to keep it anchored, but not have to switch to a backpack mode as that just looks stupid. If I wanted a backpack, I'd get a backpack. This clip is vital. If you have a bag on your shoulder and you bend forward, the bag flies forward. It doesn't matter the size of the bag, small or large gravity pulls it forward. And if you happen to have a small child in the path of the flying bag . . . . . . Well lets just say I can't imagine why such a clip hasn't been invented yet.
My bag would cost $30, $40 max and would still be quality enough to hold up to sand, crumbs, water, and being banged around. One reason I don't want to buy a bag online is that despite what seem to be very positive designs of the Hana and Studio bags - there also seem to be a goodly number of reviewers who had problem with quality - and well, I can't really return it can I? The cheaper bags, the k-mart, wal-mart variety may work - my ideal may even be out there - but they don't really have reviewers and video bag tours do they? This would be my only bag. I've never liked switching things from bag to bag - the only time I might want something else is when we fly - and then I will just want something Big (cram that 10k in!) - so it would need to be functional and sturdy for everyday use.
I thought about a messenger style bag - it would be handy for Alister to be willing to carry a bag, but when I thought realistically about how often he would need to carry the bag, and if the bag was small and compact, he wouldn't need to carry it anyway. I'm also unconvinced about the organization of the messenger bag. I think I'd really like to see it. Plus, I just want to feel a bit more feminine so an elegant bag is more up my line.
So for now, I found a really cheap bag at the rinok and am making some hack changes to see if I can make it do some of the things I want. Granted, it is a bit smaller than my ideal, but I only have one kid and think I can make it work. Trial run this Sunday - which is the ultimate test since I have to be prepared for a 9:30 - 3pm absence from the house and from any amenities. We'll see.
7 comments:
Happen to like my lands end bag. Isn't anything fancy but I really like it. Plus I got it in bright fire engine red!
Thanks for the tip - it does look nice and the dimensions are close - see what I mean though - you try to do a search on diaper bag reviews and you mostly end up with a lot of expensive designers when a better, cheaper, more practical one is hiding in the google code! I just rediscovered Land's end a few weeks ago finding some super cheap snowpants for Saphira - I've known of their good reputation forever - but just never shopped there really before!
HI, Sarah. I'm in Kyiv also and I don't think we've met, (this post has nothing to do with baby diaper bags..sorry). Could I trouble you for some canning help, since you seem to be experienced here? I googled canning in Ukraine and came up with your blog. I loved the pics of the canning tools. Well, I'm trying to can tomato sauce and all my American instructions (Canning for dummies) don't seem to apply to the Soviet tools.
I figured out how to use the crank thing, but the lid then popped off when boiling, as the AMerican way requires the filled jars to be immersed completely. How do you actually boil the jars? Upside down? rightside up? I'm going to ask a babushka today at work however I thought I would post to you as well since you have this wonderful blog!
Many thanks
Karin
Hi Karin - I gave up with the old jars the next year, they seem to be selling the screw tops and jars all over and so you can reuse the jars you buy and just buy new lids each year. I couldn't find the Kazakhstan key here and with the Ukrainian one I kept getting leaks. With the old system you can't cover the jars with water you boil it, so you crank the lid on put it in water about an inch from the top, boil as needed and then they take them out, wrap them in a blanket and turn it upside down, letting it rest 24 hours. Hope this helps!
thanks a lot. I'll try it. didn't know the ukrainian key was faulty. this will be an adventure! I went to Auchan and found the jars and bought both types of lids, screw tops and flat. the screw top lids I bought were too small for the jars - I'll look for better screw top lids and try both methods.
I'm canning tomato sauce so that's hopefully low risk. every August, I used to freeze it, but took to making ice cream and frozen yogurt so have less room in my freezer ; - )
if you're interested in making plain yogurt, there's a culture starting product now available called yogurt vivo www.zakvaski.com
thanks for the advice. cheers
Karin
I am currently doing the large purse/backpack combo. I hope it will work in Kyiv. I have a Miche bag. One benefit is that you can buy different outer shells so it can change a bit without having to move the stuff from the inside. I have the "big bag".
I'm getting a new shell before we leave.
Btw, your Ergo arrived and is on it's way.
@ Karin - They Ukrainian key seems to work fine for most Ukrainians. I personally had some jars spoils, fail to seal and know other Americans who had the same problem. The screw tops are now readily available and just SO much easier - so I decided I was better off sticking to those and some USA canning jars that got passed to me from others. Thanks for the tip about the job - not sure I have time to manage it at the moment - but will keep it in mind for a few years down the road!
@ Dawn - Interesting concept - You'll definitely fit in with the city moms here!
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