A Weekender

When we go away for a weekend Greg and Nate are packed well, 1 bag each, all the necessities tucked away. Me, not so much. I have the right suitcase for flying, I have great purses (way too many I'm afraid) but for weekend trips when we drive, I'm a mess. Years ago I got one of those monogrammed boat and tote bags with a zippered top, which is great but way too small. I end up overstuffing it and not being able to close it and then packing other bags (usually the reusable totes I should leave just for groceries). It's a sad state of affairs and drives Greg CRAZY! Particularly because on our road trip from CA to Chicago he had to shlep my million bags from the car into motels every night.

Today we are going to Cleveland for the long weekend to visit Greg's grandmother, and I finally did it - I bought myself a proper weekend bag. I don't know what I was waiting for, it wasn't expensive, and it's not like it's purchasing something to last forever, in the end it was such an easy decision and I'm happy. I got a Lesportsac weekender bag, that was on sale at Shopbop. The one I got was a black quilted pattern, but they have other colors on sale that might be easier to use - with a big black bag things can disappear on the bottom, never to be found until you unpack completely and turn the bag over and shake it out.

I like this one -

There are other patterns available.

The 'non-diaper bag' diaper bag

I have been using canvas bags as purses of late because I always have the baby's stuff with me, and while I wear him in the ergo, I don't want to carry a diaper bag. I choose canvas or cloth because I don't want the added weight of a leather bag or to sweat on the leather under my arm. So...I spied this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag and actually think it could be the perfect "mom" bag - while looking fresh and stylish.




In order to use a bag like this as a diaper bag, I either use a diaper clutch type of thing or use something amazingly convenient but bad for the environment - I take gallon ziploc bags and place one disposable changing pad and one diaper in each bag (I learned this trick for flying - then you have a bag to throw the dirty diaper away in), then toss a small package of wipes into the bag, an extra outfit (I take a footie just cuz it's easiest to carry and doesn't require thinking about a multi-piece outfit) and my nursing cover and I'm ready to anywhere. If your kid spits up a lot, just add a burp cloth. It's so easy, I go all over town like this - Nate in the Ergo and me with just a slightly oversized canvas bag. Have kid, will travel!