Hellobee Boards

I have a 31 organizing utility tote. You can only see it in person if you go to a 31 party or know someone who sells 31 stuff. But I love it. Its big, easy to clean, and lots of outside pockets for easy access.

My Mom bought me a Coach diaper bag (it will be my shower gift, so she is holding onto it for now, but I actually picked it). It is patent leather, so super easy to wipe off, and looks like it has plenty of room (I am CDing so I need a little extra space). In shopping around since, it seems to me like the "boutique" baby stores had the best selection of good quality diaper bags. When I was at BRU their diaper bags struck me as being not very good quality. I also went in with the thought that I wouldn't pick a diaper bag that I didn't match my normal style, so my options were more limited (no cutesy diaper bags for me).

@pastemoo: Yep, smaller local/higher end baby/maternity stores.

@pastemoo: I wouldn't know either! I just know from growing up here and/or by word of mouth. Here's the like to the PPB store locator: http://www.petunia.com/store/locator. Maybe yu'll find a new shopping gem

@pastemoo: I found 31 because my mom had a party, and then other friends had parties because they all loved it so much. Maybe you can have a party!

http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/find-consultant

We registered for a Skip Hop and my everyday bag is a Longchamp that I figured I could just toss things in for shorter outings. However, the past two weekends have been shower weekends for me and I've ended up with 4 diaper bags! 2 Kalencoms in different sizes, a big tote (more like a weekender bag), and a smaller bag that my husband won't mind carrying when he has the baby. And I find I like them all better than the one I registered for! Thank goodness for those who became moms before me

I also went to local baby boutiques to check out diaper bags. A Pea in the Pod also carries a limited selection.

My Petunia Picklbottom handmedown is beautiful and big, looks great on the stroller but is too floppy. We have a lassig messenger bag that I splurged on (Amazon) but it's not washable and I'm too lazy to handwash it. We just moved to a toddler backpack (lassig) and LO is only 13 months old so my advice is to not spend too much unless you have money to burn.
Oh and I get the fact that you want to go 'real shopping'. This was the only item I wanted to choose myself and buy pre-pregnancy, we ended up going online for variety of selection.

@pastemoo: the mini backpack I got can hold our bento lunchbox upright at the bottom. It fits the same stuff as a diapr bag but in a compact manner. My husband still prefers the diaper bag because it drapes across his chest and the diaper bag not heavy and bulky for him because he is a tall guy. I just want something light and handy. We won't have her wear the backpack (except for a little photo shoot!) for quite awhile but it's so easy to see everything at a glance. I'm a minimalist. It holds bento box, a diaper, wipe, cloth, baby legs, onesie, bib, hand sanitizer, snack and sippee so it's just right for me.

@looch: I was just talking about that with someone tonight...the reason why women shop for purses all the time is that we are in search for the elusive perfect bag. We can love our bags but it's never really completely perfect for all times, everywhere.

I just bought the most amazing Coach diaper bag at the Coach Outlet today!! Pale grey patent leather with only a very faint repeating C pattern, and with short straps plus a long strap!! On sale for $185, including tax (price tag said $450 although I know Coach Outlet stuff is diff than regular department store stuff)

The kicker? I don't have a baby nor am I pregnant, haha! I've been on the hunt for a huge tote that can hold my MacBook, work binder and my lunch, all while looking stylish. This diaper bag totally fit the bill in every way, and it doesn't look like a diaper bag at all... I just have to remove the changing pad