Giveaway: Lily Jade diaper bag of your choice
I have never been a backpack person. Well, not since high school. And even then, it was one strap thrown over one shoulder; not exactly the way backpacks were intended to be worn. Before high school, I used one of those rubber straps that clicked around your books so you could hold them all together as one massive unit, like only the COOLEST elementary kids did. Now, I believe kids take their books to school in rolling bags of luggage. Whoever thought the ability to carry your books without wheels would date a person? But here we are.
I tend to think of backpacks as something kindergarteners carry, so I was a little surprised when Lily Jade, a company I love for their fashion forward diaper bags, suggested I try one.
Lily Jade diaper bags come in leather and solid colors, appealing to a grown woman’s aesthetic as opposed to a five-month-old. That means no large quilted floral patterns or lamb motifs, thank you very much. But the best part is the ‘baby bag organizer insert‘ which comes in every bag. The insert has pockets for every baby need imaginable and is completely removable. This means, you can use your diaper bag on the weekends when you are running around with the kids and then remove the insert when you go to work, creating just a regular bag.
The bag they were attempting to sell me on is their convertible Madeline bag. Which converts from a shoulder strap to a cross body to a backpack.
“I don’t use backpacks, ” I told them. In fact, I have a long standing argument/joke with my husband who I think looks like a total idiot when he walks to work with his Jansport knapsack.
“What are you? FIVE???”
“What’s wrong my knapsack?”
“You are wearing a suit, for one. Get a messenger bag or something. GEEZ.”
I also used to make fun of my old work partner who was stylish in every other way imaginable except when she put her coat and backpack on at the end of the day.
“What is with that thing? It does not go with your five inch heels.”
She said she had back issues and it was her only option. “You should really wear one too, you know. After awhile your shoulders are going to make you pay for what you’ve done to them.”
Yes, I’ve rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck a few times from lugging around a laptop in a tote exclusively on my right shoulder for the past few years, but I try my best to ignore any permanent damage.
Recently, I have noticed backpacks seem to be making a comeback and started to think maybe I’m the old fuddy duddy in all of this. So, I agreed to give the Madeline a try. I figured, since it’s a convertible, if I didn’t like it, I could always convert it back into the regular shoulder bag and still get some good use out of it.
I chose to test out the backpack on our hardest kid shuttling day— which is Wednesday. That’s the day Harlow and Mazzy’s schedules converge in such a way that one person CAN take care of all pick-ups and drop-offs, but ONLY if things run EXACTLY as planned. There is no room for mistakes.
Here’s the rundown.
Harlow must be dropped off at school on the East Side at 2:30pm, leaving her stroller there. Then I have to walk a few blocks to the bus and cross over to the West Side to pick Mazzy up from school between 3-3:15pm. Then we have to catch the 3:30pm crosstown bus back over to the East Side, in order to make it to Mazzy’s 4:15pm ballet class on time. I change Mazzy into her ballet clothes and leave when class starts. Then I have to walk back up to Harlow’s school for pick-up at 4:30pm, put her in the stroller and walk back to Mazzy’s dance class which ends at 5pm. Then I take them both home.
It’s a monster of an afternoon, with no break in transport whatsoever but I’d be lying if I said I do it every Wednesday. Usually, our nanny Ruth does it while I’m at work or we split the kids up between us. On some occasions, when Ruth is sick or off for the day, I handle the whole thing alone. Like this past Wednesday, when Ruth had an afternoon doctor’s appointment.
I came home from work, put on my Madeline backpack and took off for that afternoon’s escapades in my most comfortable shoes at about 2:15pm, walking Harlow to school in her stroller.
Drop-off went smoothly, and I have to say, once I lost the stroller, the backpack made me feel all sorts of FREE. I am so used to having a huge heavy tote bag over one arm and the backpack made me feel like I could run a marathon if necessary. Or flee a mugger. Or whatever. I have never felt so “on-the-go” in my life.
I walked to the bus stop, took the bus to Mazzy’s school, picked up Mazzy (who refused to put on her coat), caught the bus going back in the other direction, got off and started the walk to dance class.
On the walk from the bus to ballet, the backpack became a little bit of a problem because Mazzy kept asking me for different snacks, taking a bite and then rejecting them, with just enough time for me to put both backpack straps back on and then have to take the whole thing off again.
This is me trying to sell her on airplane pretzels, after she had already rejected goldfish, a kid’s Clif Bar and a bag of almonds.
Backpacks, I discovered, are not ideal for walking with small children who are constantly demanding things from your bag.
Luckily, the Madeline also has a shoulder handle which I could easily convert back and forth to in these instances.
Changing Mazzy for dance is probably my least favorite part since she acts like a two-year-old and totally forgets how to put on her own clothes.
Meanwhile, I’m in a rush because I know I have to pick up Harlow before she’s left there by herself with a bunch of preschool teachers that feel bad for her after all the other kids have filed out. I walked extra fast and got there exactly at the right time and no one was the wiser.
This is Harlow holding onto her new obsession for dear life— an empty tin of mints.
Then Harlow and I walked to pick up Mazzy from dance and we all headed home together.
The big difference I see between a backpack and a shoulder bag, is it’s really not much effort to carry a backpack, whereas a shoulder bag (while definitely more convenient to get stuff in and out) is always a constant weight and annoyance.
All in all, I would totally carry the backpack again and really liked the sportiness of it. But maybe I would convert the extra strap to a cross body during walks with Hangry Indecisive Mazzy.
Hangry Indecisive Mazzy is the worst Mazzy, by the way.
If you would like to win a Lily Jade Madeline shoulder bag/cross body/backpack for yourself or any other Lily Jade bag of your choice, I’m giving one away in the comment section below!
Giveaway rules:
1) Visit Lily Jade on Facebook (feel free to “follow” while you’re there!) and leave a comment below talking about your busiest child shuttling day.
2) For a second entry, follow Lily Jade on Instagram and leave a second comment saying you did so.
3) For a third entry, follow Lily Jade on Twitter, tweet the following and leave a third comment saying you did so.
I just entered to win a @lilyjadeco diaper bag from @mommyshorts! http://bit.ly/1MKI0EE
Discount Code:
All Lily Jade bags are currently on sale and you can use the code MOMSHORTS for free leather care + free shipping on every purchase (make sure you add leather care to your cart before checkout)! Shop for a bag here.
One winner will be announced on April 17th.
Good luck!
WINNER UPDATE:
And the winner is… Cindy B. whose busiest day consists of school, bringing her little one to see Nana, errands, the school pickup, a trip to the library, a return to the house for a snack, and then baseball practice… Phew!
Congrats! Please contact abby@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
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I don’t have a busiest shuttling day yet!! We just found out we are pregnant!! Due December 4th! I have been a nanny to two children before and shuttling to preschool, library activities, and swim lessons all in one day is exhausting!!
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram!! I’m @elleandoliver
I follow Lily Jade on Twitter and sent the tweet!! I’m @elleandoliver
Everyday is different over here! I have an 18 month old & a baby on the way. We’re just starting to get into classes & different activities & I’m nervous how I’m going to add a baby into all the mix. This bag would help me a ton!
I follow on Instagram @mamaazaye
I visited Lily Jade’s facebook page. My busiest days are still to come. I am pregnant with twins and have a three year old. In August my toddler is starting preschool and I am sure the mornings where we have to get him to school with two little babies will be very interesting.
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram.
4 year old and 6 month old here and Mondays and Wednesday’s are our busy days. Preschool drop off, get mama a work out, home for baby’s nap, housework,and pick up.
I follow on instagram!%
I already followed Lily Jade on Facebook! 🙂 my baby won’t be here for around 5 more weeks so I don’t have much experience with shuttling around. I do have 2 preteen siblings with very busy sports, music lesson, dance class etc schedules and sometimes I don’t know how my mom pulls it all off! She has to keep a big calendar on her fridge just so they don’t forget who has what each day.
I have followed Lily Jade on Instagram for quite a while! I’d love to have one of their diaper bags!
My busiest days Tuesday and Thursday. I work out in the early mornings before my son wakes up. Then I leave for school while dad does the morning routine and they go to the gym together. Then they come back to the house for naptime and I return from school after. Then have some kiddos come over so I can nanny and we all go to the park. Two adults, three kids, and one dog. Then we get back home make dinner and typically are in for the night then.
Followed on Instagram!
I followed on Twitter and tweeted! My account is @aprilnovak
I forgot to say in the other comment that my instagram is @aprilproveaux
Many busy days to come, but don’t have any stories yet. Our first is due in August!
Already following on facebook and instagram
I follow Lily Jade on Facebook and Instagram (Sophisticatedsarah). Left a comment! Thank you!
**they are the coolest bags**
So my kids (3yo, 2yo and 6mo) don’t have anywhere to go – yet. Meaning no school or regular classes. But my daughter will start preschool next fall and I’m sure getting her there with the other two kids will be interesting!
And I’m with you on the backpacks – I used to lug around my laptop from the train station to the office in chic and uncomfortable laptop bags. But a backpack – the horror! But since having kids I’ve been known to do many things I never thought I would do – like wearing flat shoes outside of a gym. So who knows, I might have to give it a try.
My busy days are wednesdays with playdates and zoo visits until dinner, when I get to kiss my hubby on his way in and my way out the door to youth group.
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram!
Busiest pick up days are Tue/Thur! Have to get from work, to home, to the baseball field, to Jui Jitsu training, between 5-7 pm.
Followed on insta!
Everyday is busy for me, but if I had to pick just one I’d say Tuesdays. I am a mother of 3 kids (ages 1,3 &5) and I am pretty much a solo parent since my husband works out of state. He is home for about 6 days a month. I chose to go back to college this semester which makes me feel a bit crazy,but I am determined to finish. My girls, my two oldest, go to Preschool Tuesday-Thursday and I have classes on Tuesday & Thursdays. So Tuesday is always busy getting up and getting the girls all ready for school, lunches made, getting my son ready, fedding them breakfast before dropping the girls off. Then my son and I come home so I can finish getting ready for school, finishing any work I may not have, then I get all his things ready and drop him off to my mom while I go to class. After I pick him up we try to get some grocery shopping done just in time to drop groceries off and go pick up the girls from school. We have a couple hours to change, eat a snack and then we take the girls to gymnastics class. Afterwards we have dinner and wind down from the day. Bathe the kids and get then to bed. I then get everything ready for the next day.
I visited and already follow Lily a jade on Facebook. My busy days haven’t quite started yet as we’re still awaiting arrival of the little time hoarder:) But, so far, my busiest day was after our doc appointment around 3 months, we called, skyped, what’s app’d (not a word, I know), and texted all our friends and family about the blessed news. We don’t FB or Instagram pics, just out of personal preference.
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram @copilotwife.
Following Lily Jade on Instagram!
I tweeted via @copilotwife
Following Lily Jade on Twitter – @shpresime
And tweeted – forgot to mention that. https://twitter.com/shpresime/status/584378644274876416
Following Lily Jade on Instagram – @sxspencer
Following Lily Jade on Twitter, @xsusanpx
https://mobile.twitter.com/xSusanPx/status/584380131478806528
Following Instagram.
Everyday is busy for me. I have a six year old, a four year old, and a one year old. I would love to win a new bag!
We live in a rural area, so the once a week grocery run is usually an all day affair. This will be changing when my oldest turns 3 this summer and we start soccer, dance, and music! I’m holding my breath to see what it’s like getting organized and managing this!
I tweeted about this giveaway (and awesome review)
Wednesdays. It’s our ‘funnest’ day, but also the busiest. A fitness class for me, after school program for one kid, while I entertain the other, and then both of them off to dance class. It’s a lot of coordinating, and making sure there are lots of snacks on hand. We don’t get home until 8pm, at which point I make a really quick/light dinner. By this time, I’m super ready for bed.
I followed Lily Jade on Facebook and commented with my busiest day- Mondays! We leave the house at 7:30am after herding cats to get out the door. Drive an hour without traffic. Drop the kids off at their respective skills. Get done grocery shopping, shipping, returns, and transport the kids from school to their church activities. Then pick up at 9pm and another hour drive home. And don’t get me started on getting them to do their piano, flute practice and homework. Yeesh. Anyway, my back hurts every day because I have a 1year old I wear in a front pack and any shoulder bags just throw the weight off, so I’d love a Lily jade backpack 🙂
Our busiest day is any day we travel in to town. My husband is a camp director in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It’s an amazing but remote lifestyle. We live 30 minutes into the mountains and 45 minutes from anywhere for groceries, etc. So, when baby girl and I go into town we make it a day for all of our errands. I cloth diaper so we need lots of room to be prepared for our day. I would LOVE a lily Jade bag bc honestly, I think they are gorgeous and look chic while being functional. In a lifestyle where chocos and hiking boots rule, a feminine handbag/diaper bag is very welcome! I hope you pick me! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I follow lily Jade on instagram
I also follow Lily Jade on facebook
our busiest day is tuesday. we have a few things we get to do in town and its all so fun to get out of the house for a bit but it can be stressful to squeeze in that run first thing
I follow LJ on IG
I tweeted! thank you so much for the chance to win
Well I don’t have a busy “day” of the week so to speak. But I do go across town to take my daughter to class 3 days a week. Two of the classes I don’t participate in, so I have to find things to do with my time or drive home, just to go right back 😉
I Follow on Instagram!
I tweeted https://twitter.com/alysia_murillo/status/584472610051760128
My busiest day is my town errand day. Would love this bag for that. Even though I do not have children to run around with it still makes for a busy day and this bag would make it so much easier.
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram.
I follow on twitter.
3yo and newborn. Every day I leave the house is a busy, chaotic day!
My busiest days are when I drop two kids off at school, run errands with another, pick up from preschool and then later the older one, run to dance or swimming lessons and then meetings in the evening! All my days are busy though and I would LOVE a madeline bag! Thanks for the chance to win!
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram
I tweeted and followed Lily Jade
Wednesdays were my busiest day until 2 weeks ago. I wake up at 6am to get myself and my girls ready and drop them off at school by 8am. Then I head back to school at 10:50 to pick up my junior kindergartener. Then it’s lunch and rest until I have to convince my 4 year old it’s time to get ready to head back to school at 1:30pm. At 2pm we’re back at school for early release day where I volunteered in an after school program (destination imagination!) for 1st graders. I drop off my 4 year old in her weekly class in the gym and walk over to the 1st grade room to pick up my daughter and 8 other 1st graders who I attempt to get to focus for 2 hours before their parents all come and pick them up at 4:30pm. I collect my 4 year old from the gym, we head home to do homework, dinner, bath, and bed.
I followed Lily Jade on instagram. (Ar least I think I did. I only speak fb fluently, instagram and twitter are foreign)
My busiest day happens to be the weekends. My husband is working on advanced certification for his job so he spends all day Saturday and Sunday studying/working which leaves me to entertain and schlep our daughter around. We have soccer games, birthday parties, ferocity shopping, target errands, spring cleaning and the usual lunch, nap, dinner, bath, bed routine. Did j mention I’m 35 weeks pregnant? I could use a good diaper bag and a really long nap.
I follow lily jade on Instagram.
I follow Lily Jade on FB as Rust Hawk – and my busiest day included one to one school, the other to mothers day out, lunch and working at one school, pick up one from mother’s day out, groceries and errands then pick the other one up. After a while it seems less hectic.
I follow Lily Jade on instagram as rusthawk1.
I follow Lily Jade on twitter and tweeted – https://twitter.com/rusthawk/status/584735259771674624
The various days our granddaughter stays with us are the busiest since we both pick her up and take her back to our son’s workplace.
I’m anti-overscheduling, so I don’t have any crazy kid shuttling stories. We do live within walking distance of a lot of things, however (pediatrician, library, 4 playgrounds, etc), so a lovely backpack to replace the old tote I use when we’re out and about would be great!
Following on Instagram!
I have a 19 month old daughter, so with one kid it’s really not TOO much of a hassle to go anywhere. The biggest struggle I have is for some reason on Sundays when we’re getting ready for church, she eats her breakfast as slow as possible, runs from me when I try to change her, and picks up every single rock she sees outside (there are literally millions of pebbles outside my house). This is while I struggle with car keys, her bear (which God forbid she not have, yet I carry everywhere), my purse, a diaper bag, and my coffee.
I followed on instagram.
Followed Lily Jade on instagram
Mondays I pack everything for daycare for my two girls and bring my pump in to work. At the end of the day I commute back an hour to pick up my dog the go get both girls at daycare…back home for dinner and tubs all before the hubby gets home.
Followed lily jade on Instagram
Our busiest days are Monday’s or Wednesdays! I have to be up and out of the house by 6:20am to bring my
Youngest to daycare, prepare all my oldests school stuff, make lunches and get him to parents house for them to bring him to school. Then I go to work for 7:15a Rush after work back go get my oldest from school at 3 and my youngest from daycare at 3:30 and then home get them all set for soccer practice or bmx practice depending on the season’!
My busiest days are when hubby is away and I have to do everything from wake up to bedtime and work full time. Oh and the toilet breaks or the garage door gets mangled. True story bro.
Mondays! Everything for the week must be all ready by the time I leave at 6:45 am! DS rarely takes a nap at daycare on Mondays which makes Monday nights particularly hard. I’m tired just think about it.
I also liked on instagram!
Saturdays! Between activities, errands, and groceries it feels like there’s no downtime! Love the idea of a backpack that doesn’t have the diaper bag look 🙂
As a homeschooling mom, any day I leave the house is busy, since all the errand-running and shopping is done with 4 boys in tow ☺
Followed on Instagram too!
Every weekday, I have to take the baby to my Mother in laws on one side of town then drive all the way past my house to get to work, I then go to an internship, after working for 7 hours, for another 4 hours and then drive to the southern part of town to get baby and back North to get home to meet the hubby, doing any errands along the way.
I followed on Instagram!
Following on insta gram! Also thanks for the post, because as a Floridian , I was a little confused as to how New Yorkers do it without cars!
Our busiest day is usually Tuesday where my 4 year old has preschool from 9-11, we drop off, go home so the 2 year old can nap that whole time, pick up at 11, rush home for a snack and change the 4 year old for gymnastics at 1145, then it’s finally home for lunch and naps again.
My busiest day shuttling kiddos is probably during the summer when I take the oldest to summer school, run the younger to speech therapy, go pick up the older one, get everyone lunch, take the oldest to volunteer and then the park/play group with the younger one….all while doing laundry and chores around the house!
2nd entry- I followed Lily Jade on instagram
I follow Lily Jade on Instagram (eco baby mama drama)
Follower and tweeted!
https://twitter.com/EcoBabyMamaDram/status/584911992982347776
I follow on Instagram!
On Mondays I have to drop off my son at preschool at 9:15, head over to my part time job at the Y with my daughter by 9:30, off at 11 and back to pick up my son by 11:15!
Our busiest days are Thursdays – baseball 5:15-7:15pm, then cub scouts 7-8pm. We leave baseball early and arrive at cub scouts late. The two younger siblings eat dinner (picnic style) at the game; older brother eats in the car.
Our busiest days are everyday! I’m a bus driver so I get up at 4am Monday thru Friday. Also I am a single mom so that means getting my sleekly toddler out the door by 6, and dressed. With enough toys and snacks to keep her occupied. I really would love to try this bag at my left shoulder is in its last leg with my heavy purse.
I follow on Instagram!
3 boys 5 and under military mama with not enough hands. Try avaryone ill in the house at the same time and a holiday to prepare for…… nah, that wouldn’t happen to anyone…. except me! LOL! okay. This is the time when prayer comes in to play. Yes– that is the best thing I can say. Yes honey I can get this, yes sweetie I can wipe that Yes dear I will bring those….. if I stay as positive as possible then it all seems so much more manageable. As soon as I grumble, it all goes downhill from there.
https://twitter.com/JenniferOra/status/584979102102323200
The craziest day is when I work from 9am-8pm and have to drop my son off at daycare on the other side of town before I start. If there’s traffic or a dropoff meltdown, I have no hope!
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, especially since my daughters are currently at two different day cares (we got the call unexpectedly to adopt #2 and wait lists for centers in our area are horrible). It’s a rush to get to work as early as possible so I can leave as early as possible to swing by and get baby girl and then pick up big girl. Then it’s home to get dinner ready, etc.
Friday: Leave home at 4:45, drive som to the karate class in our town that starts at 5, drive daughter to musical theater in the town 10 minutes away (starts at 5:30), drive back to pick up son while daughter is in class, drive back to the other town again to pick up the daughter at 6:30. Eat in the car and drive daughter to her basketball class that starts at 7pm. Pick her up at 8 pm.
Followed Lily Jade on Instagram!!
I have 2 very active toddler boys – everyday is a shuttling day! Shuttling away from getting into this mess over here where they will find another mess to make! Don’t get me started on trips to Target where sitting in the cart is just not an option!!
Follow on instagram!
https://twitter.com/bronnevik/status/585066825546735616
Most of my week days are busy shuttle days between a teen and a toddler. My teen keeps me busier with getting him to voice, piano, dance, and theater rehearsals but my two year old is most often in tow. Wednesdays are usually the most hectic right now with piano, dance and rehearsals being that day.
2nd entry….following Lily Jade on instagram.
I follow them on Instagram and have been dying to get my hands on one of these bags!