One of the major accessories every new parent needs is a good diaper bag. If you remember, when we had Arri we splurged a little for a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag. It wasn’t cheap, but looking back I think it was totally worth it. I am a huge fan of Petunia Pickle Bottom, and think that most of their bag designs are pretty nice, but they have completely outdone themselves with their new Journey Packs. This beautiful bag is made of felt, and has a classic style that will always look great. Looking at it makes me think that it’s hands down the best looking diaper bag I’ve ever seen. The only downsides are the size (it looks a little small) and the price (which isn’t small). Available in Gray, Olive Green, Black felt, and leather.
Available from Design Public for $140.

Whether you are a jetset junkie, or you just like going on picnics every chance you get, an insulated bag is a great way to keep your food cold (or hot). I’ve bought simple plastic ones from Rockhill Creamery at our farmers market to keep things cool, and they worked great. If you are looking for something a little more stylish however, definitely check out the canvas cooler bags by Sagaform. Unica home has them in stock in black or khaki, with the small size starting at only $29.

Available from Unica Home $29 - $ 69.

Finding a good diaper bag can be a hard thing. There is a huge selection out there, and not much sets one apart from the other. Fleurville is trying to stand out from the competition by offering a greener solution, and I’m not talking color. The Fleurville Re-Run series is made from recycled plastic bottles. For each Re-Run messenger bag made they keep 10 600ml plastic bottles out of the landfill. Style and function hasn’t been compromised either. The bags are available in 7 different colors/prints and come with all the bells and whistles a diaper bag should.
Available from Fleurville for $75.

Via Treehugger.

I’m not exactly sure what the “Q” stands for, but I do know that this Q tote is a great looking and environmentally friendly little bag at a great price. This bag comes from thecraftpantry’s etsy shop and is part of her Mod Naturals Collection. The bag is made of 100% recycled organic cotton and is fair trade/fair market. The print is an original design by Cammie who has her BA in art education. She uses ultra high quality transfer paper to get the images onto the totes. What you use the tote for is up to you…
Available at thecraftpantry’s etsy shop for $8.

As the summer months approach it’s time to pack up some of our favorite treats, and go on a picnic. Here are a couple of things to get you started off on the right foot.

When it comes to efficiently carrying food in style, no one has it down quite like the Japanese. I remember the first time I saw someone at work whip out a bento box. My tupperware has never felt so inadequate. There are about a million styles to choose from, and all very affordable. This two tiered yellow flower bento will run you $10 from the Bento Obento Shop.

If you are more of a sandwich, chips, and juice box kinda guy, don’t worry, you can still picnic in style. The Mylarkey Lunch bag has got you covered. It’s big enough to fit your standard sandwich or leftovers, and it’s insulated so you don’t have to worry about your cold food getting hot. It’s vinyl and soft plastic free, so you don’t have to worry about any nasty offgassing while you enjoy nature. It’s available from Cascadelemonade’s Etsy shop for $15.

If you are going a little more upscale than a tuna fish sandwich on white bread, make sure you check out the Oenophilia Picnic Stake Set. It make it easy to balance a bottle of your drink of choice and some nice glasses with out needing a table. Made of steel with a zinc finish, these should hold up to many romantic outdoor adventures. Available from Target for $19.

Of course no picnic is complete without a blanket to lay on. Any old one will do, but if you are looking for something full featured to dedicate to picnics, Target has got your back. The Tiny Traveler Picnic Blanket is made of a soft fabric with a protective waterproof layer to keep the dew away. It also fold into it’s own little carrying case complete with handle to make your life a little easier. Available from Target for $19.

OK, so I admit I am a complete sucker for pretty things. My wife and I have been looking for a cute diaper bag that I would feel comfortable toting around for a long time now. We have found a couple online that are quite nice, but I could never justify paying $150 for a bag. Yesterday we went to a local chic baby store called Babinski’s and they had a bunch of Petunia Pickle Bottom bags. There was one in particular, the “Medow Lark” with its hand-woven tweed-blue/green herringbone design that I absolutely loved, and I made the mistake of looking at all the features and falling in love with it before I looked at the price. By then it was too late, and we walked out having spent $150 on a diaper bag. In hindsight, I have to admit, I don’t regret a thing. The bag is totally sweet.

Available from babypetunia for $158.
Or for the locals, at Babinski’s for $155.

If you haven’t seen the fresh style of Silent Revolution bags, then you are missing out. Started in 2005 by husband and wife team Andrea and Kyriakos Toyias, Silent Revolution brings a fresh perspective to urban inspired bags. Andrea’s sculpture background mixed with Kyriakos’ modern architecture background helps these sturdy vinyl bags find an identity far more mature than your usual modern bag. Not only are the bags gorgeous, but they are socially conscious as well. All bags are made by hand with tremendous amount of attention paid to both design and detailing in sweatshop-free factories of Los Angeles. Hydro bag shown, priced at $68.
Available from Silent Revolution from $64 and up.

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Although I had never heard of a Furoshiki Bag before I saw this, I was instantly enthralled by the design. According to wikipedia, a Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used for carrying things. This cotton bag is a slight spin on the old design. This origami like bag can be folded into several different positions, depending on what you need to carry. The handle attach to each other with magnets to hold things tight. If you get bored of the color, its reversible. It even folds up nice and small for when you aren’t carrying anything. Available in orange, yellow, blue and green.

Available from Compact Impact for $59.

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I always like to support the little guys, and to be honest, that is part of the appeal of this hand bag from Queen Bee Creations. Made in Portland Oregon, this simple modern bag is just the thing to tote around and stuff full of all your daily goodies. The Truckette is constructed of high-quality waterproof vinyl, has two front pockets underneath flap, an additional layer of vinyl on bottom of bag for reinforcement, adjustable heavy duty seat belt webbing strap, and a silver velvet lined flap that closes with two snaps.

If you are in a family way, make sure you check out Queen Bee’s kid line called Chickpea Baby, where she has a similarly styled diaper bag.

Available from Buy Olympia for $58.

I don’t do too much here on fashion, but this is one I just couldn’t pass up. Katrinakaye over at Etsy has made a lovely union of original Mid-Century Scandinavian prints and good old sturdy army messenger bags. The result is a wonderful collection of one of a kind bags that are as affordable as they are original. Katrinakaye lives in Amsterdam, but fortunately shipping is very reasonable on these bags. Most sell for around $30 and ship for around $7, which is a great deal for the sturdy stylish bag you are getting. So far the feedback on these bags has been very positive. She should have a webpage coming soon, so stay tuned for more news.

Check out her Etsy page for all her great bags.