My Toddler (Not) Diaper Bag

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I have talked before about the importance of having a good diaper bag in your life... I liked our first diaper bag (i.e. my fifth limb) just fine; but, I have to admit, I was more than a little anxious to retire it as Sam became a little easier to transport and a little less needy...

For a while, I experimented with different sized purses etc. to fit our needs; but, in the end, I settled on a cute over-sized clutch that can easily be carried inside another bag or on its own depending on the circumstances. 

Does anyone care what the transition away from traditional diaper bag has looked like in my life?  No?  Well, you may want to skip this one then. ;)

I found this cute red bag at Target (duh!) for about $20 around a month ago. It is technically a wristlet (or Merona Guava Berry Pouch, if you really want to get technical) and has a little detachable wrist strap.  It is big enough to fit most of the essentials, but also small enough to fit inside my regular purse.  It comes in a few other colors too (I think), but I really liked the red.  I also felt like this bag would work for other occasions when the diaper-bag stage of life passes (it does, right?) one day.  Win win.

I have it jam packed with two diapers, a small hard-cover wipes container, snacks (of course), band-aids and medicine, anti-bacterial gel, and some little foam books that fit perfectly in the front pocket (underneath those buckles).  I admit that this sucker is pretty full when it's all loaded up, and I keep some other necessities (like sunscreen, an extra pacifier, and Shout wipes) and plenty more diapers and toys in my car just in case - but, it really is the perfect size for what I need most often.

Now, I definitely carry a BIG purse, but the whole thing fits nicely in there with my wallet, planner, coupon file, re-usable bag, hairbrush, and sunglasses. As a result, when I go out, I feel more like a stylish mom than a frumpy mom (Or, at least when it comes to my bag choice) these days.

When I'm going to work, I usually just leave the pouch at home or in my car.  Other times, when I am running somewhere quickly, I squish my wallet inside it and carry only the pouch.  And, when Jeff has Sam by himself, he can easily just throw it in another more "man-friendly' bag (is there such a thing)?  Soon, I'm hoping to get Sam his own little book-bag so he can be responsible for carrying it himself.  #teachemyoung

So, there you have it.  It's an exciting life I live.

How did you transition away from a regular diaper bag? When?  What do you keep in your (not) diaper bag?

Happy Thursday!