The Diaper Bag Dilemma

I'm obsessed lately with finding the perfect diaper bag, which is requiring hours and hours of perusing online till all hours of the night.

Here are my top ten requirements:

1. Must be a normal bag, not an actual diaper bag so that I can wear it out with or without babies. 

2. Must be high quality so that it will last forever (100% genuine leather). 

3. It has to wear well (100% genuine leather usually wears well). 

4. It has to be able to stand on its own (in other words, little feet at the bottom of the bag and nothing that slouches). 

5. It has to be roomy, preferably with some compartments. 

6. But it can't be too big that it dwarfs my short stature. 

7. It has to have handles for carrying on my arm and also a detachable cross body strap.

8. It has to look luxe. 

9. It has to be a neutral color but not white.

10. It has to cost $120 or less.

I wasn't sure these requirements were possible until shopping this past weekend when I saw this bag of my dreams which started this whole obsession in the first place. At the time I saw the bag it was 30% off its original price, with an additional 30% off for that day making it come to a grand total of $136 - only $16 over budget!

I passed it up only because I was sure I could find something better.  Thanks to eBay, I did find almost the exact bag a little cheaper on eBay (also here). 

Because of all my research, I learned which brands to look for that offer genuine leather products for the best prices. If you're in the market for a quality bag, I suggest running searched for these brands:

1. Fossil

2. Sak

3. Calvin Klein

4. Emma & Fox

5. Antonio Melani

6. Vince Camuto

7. Tiganello

8. J.Crew

9. Zara

10. OrYANY

Not even sure where to run your online searches? Try these stores:

1. Neiman Marcus Last Call

2. Off Fifth Saks Fifth Avenue

3. Overstock.com

4. T.J. Maxx

5. Marshalls

6. Shopstyle.com

7. eBay

8. J.Crew

9. Zara

10. 6pm.com

Check out these eBay steals that meet most, if not all of my top ten requirements:

Cole Haan off eBay starting bid at $29.99!

This Kate Spade bag also looks like it meets my specifications and it's going for as low as $85:

Here is a J.Crew bag that almost fits my specifications for only $100!

Or how about this DKNY beauty up for bid, right now at $6!

I found this one and almost bought it for $96.99, but was too late and lost the bid. I'm hoping to maybe snag it the next time around.

This B. Makowsky satchel is only $79.99. Maybe this is the one for me.

Caveat for eBay shopping - be sure to choose in the advanced search option "US only" products so you don't get duped by a foreign company copying a brand and lying about its authenticity. Also, be careful to look thoroughly at the pictures of the item presented, as well as read the descriptions thoroughly. Many of these bags are being sold at such a low cost due to a missing part or defect.

Many bags meet so many of my requirements, but there's only one thing missing - a detachable strap. I found these great  detachable leather straps that I could buy if my dream bag has everything but the missing strap.

What are your dream diaper bag requirements? Any suggestions on where to find one?

Early Maternity Dressing Tips

Early pregnancy can be difficult to dress. You don't fit into maternity clothes, you don't look pregnant, but you can't fit into your regular clothes. Here are my top ten tips:

 

1. Try a Belly Band 

 

Belly bands aren't always the answer, but they certainly help. I find that the belly bands can be uncomfortable because I'm constantly tugging at my pants, trying to keep them just perfect under the band. But there have been times that the band has been a lifesaver when I can't grab anything else, and I'm desperate to wear a particular item in my closet that fits everywhere but my waist.

 

 

2. Use the hair tie trick

 

All you do is take a hair tie and loop it around the button and then through the button hole. Love this trick and have used it with all three pregnancies.

 

 

3. Define your waist

 

Sometimes all you need is a little waist definition to remind you that early pregnancy curves are just as beautiful as your former leaner body. Belts are a fun way to define your waist, but choosing tops and dresses with empire seams can be flattering too.

 

 

 

4. Wear your skirts high waisted

 

Skirts that formerly fit on your lower waist or hip can now be worn on or above your waist (you can hide the high waist by not tucking in your shirt). Pencil skirts look exceptionally flattering on curves.

 

 

5. Layer with structured jackets

 

When your bump is so tiny, sometimes all you need is a jacket and no one will ever know that you've gained a few pounds.

 

 

6. Emphasize the one size fits all

 

Beauty and accessories will never be too big or too small, so pay attention to those items in your closet or on your vanity that will stay with you throughout, before, and after your pregnancy. Do your hair a little extra special. Add an extra touch of eyeliner. And stock up on cute jewelry, scarves, belts, bags, and shoes.

 

 

 

7. Save different sizes of clothing for early pregnancy and postpartum

 

I keep a pair of jeans two sizes bigger than my normal size for early pregnancy and postpartum because in both of those stages wearing maternity clothes is awkward. In early pregnancy, your belly is just not quite big enough, and it messes with your psyche if you're still in maternity clothes postpartum.

 

 

8. Thrift!

 

Don't spend too much money on clothes you might only wear once, for only one month (convertible dress below thrifted for $5). Try Goodwill, consignment shops, garage sales, clothing swaps, and eBay.

 

 

9. Be inspired

 

Here are some great maternity blogs with fabulous pictures and dressing tips:

 

www.mychicbump.com

www.bumpitupstyle.com

http://soonmaternity.blogspot.com

http://diymaternity.com

http://treschicmama.com

 

I'm sure I'll come across more to add to this list soon - but this is what I'm drawing inspiration from so far.

 

10. Be yourself

 

Just because you aren't the same size and don't quite look pregnant yet doesn't mean you have to lose your sense of style and desire to look great. Don't give up!

 

 

Feel free to leave a comment with any tips you've learned yourself. I'm always looking for new ideas and inspiration.

 

Outfit Post: More on Maternity Wear

I'm so excited about this top I just found at Target for only $4! It has a shaper underneath, so it gives my back and belly so much support...as well as smoothes out my now popped out belly button. It isn't maternity, and I got a small, so I don't know how long it will last, but it will work through my second trimester at least, I'm guessing...which is great!

And here's a shot of the belly band again so you can see how it hides unbuttoned pants. I love the fact that I don't have to wear maternity pants yet, although I know my time is coming soon!

And here's another shot of my baby, because I'm still so excited about him/her!

Top - Target - $4

Jeans - Banana Republic - $8

Clogs - Colin Stuart (thrifted) - $4

Earrings (not shown) - gifted

Silly bands...just because I have an almost 4 yr old who wanted me to wear them for him.

Maternity related post

Hi Ladies, Missi here. I'm finishing up my third month of pregnancy and finding all my pants (and tops) becoming a bit more snug and very uncomfortable.
I purchased a "Belly Band" at Target for $16 and I've started to wear it this week. I LOVE it! If your preggers and interested in purchasing something to help you transition from normal clothes to maternity (or continue wearing your normal clothes while pregnant) consider picking one of these up. It's just a big piece of elastic that you put over the waist band of skirts/pants/shorts and it keeps them up even when they are unbuttoned and even unzipped!
So far I'm loving this little piece of material and hoping that it will end up saving me money as well as allow me to continue wearing some of my favorite jeans during pregnancy.

I also found this cool site that lets you get the belly bands in all sorts of colors and designs.