Feature Friday- Kate from timi & leslie!

Congrats to Jamie E. the winner of this oh so fabulous Kate bag from timi & leslie!!  Thank you all for reading and entering, and thank you to our friends at timi & leslie for helping with with this fantastic giveaway.  Stay tuned and keep reading- more fun things coming on the blog soon!

This is Kate, a stunning new diaper/baby bag from the ever fabulous folks at timi & leslie.  If you're looking for high style, great accessories and stellar organization, you've met your match with timi & leslie bags (you'd never know they're diaper bags from the outside).  I've been carrying Kate in cobalt/saddle for the past few weeks, and have never received this many compliments on ANY bag.  I will be carrying this bag long after diapers! Here is my full & honest review on this gem:

An inside look at my Kate bag

Overview:  Kate (in cobalt/saddle) is my new favorite in an always awesome lineup of diapers bags from timi & leslie.  I don't think a photo could possibly do this blue justice! Like all timi & leslie bags, Kate offers style with terrific function and organization.  If you're like me and loose anything that's not attached to you, you'll appreciate the details and accessories the bag offers; everything from a place to keep baby's bottle to a hook for your keys.  I've found the bag to be extremely spacious without being too cumbersome.  I've been carrying this bag everyday, and find it  comfortable to carry.  I find myself mostly wearing this cross-body though I appreciate the versatility with the carrying options.  I only use one bag as my day to day bag, whether the kids are with me or not.  So my baby bag/mom bag has to match my style but also be organized and equipped to carry everything from diapers to snacks and toys etc..(I carry a lot of stuff) and for that, Kate is a great fit! (See my post from Wednesday for a glimpse at whats in my bag)! 

Design/Durability & Cleaning: This bag is made from (PVC free) vegan faux leather with custom hardware accents in a brass finish. (As a side note, my husband was convinced this bag was real leather...I had to pull up the website to prove otherwise :-) ). I've found it to very forgiving, durable, and easy wipe clean.  I've only had the bag a few weeks, but I've used it everyday and everywhere including our recent trip to Florida.  Its seen chorine, sand, lots of sticky fingers, and spills, and its held up really well.  The interior is a light colored water resistant lining that's pretty easy to wipe down as well.  Mine has seen a few spills and stains already and I've been able to clean it up nicely. 

Awesome Accessories: timi & leslie bags are stylish on the outside, but what really wins me over is the well though out, organized interior and fabulous accessories! The Kate bag has 3 exterior pockets and 6 interior pockets, an attached key fab inside and so many great accessories.  The following all come with the Kate bag:

• Large oval shaped changing pad with mesh pocket for storage 
  
• Stylish matching clutch with zippered cash/change pocket, card holders and plenty of room for extras (note I use this as my wallet)
  
• Adjustable cross-body strap
  
• Insulated bottle tote to keep bottles warm or cold and separate from everything else in your bag
  
• A zippered pouch to keep clean clothes (or dirty clothes)
  
• Matching stroller clips to hang your bag from your stroller 

What I love:

• 2 comfortable carrying options- The Kate bag can be worn cross body (with an adjustable strap to accommodate mom's of all heights (I'm short and often cross body bags will fall too low on me...but I'm able to get a great fit with this bag!) It can also be carried on the shoulder with two generous size straps. 
• Amazing color and overall style-  For me carrying one bag for everything (and everyone) means I need a bag that is somewhat stylish and doesn't scream diapers!  Well, this bag makes me look more stylish than I really am! :-) 
• Very roomy but doesn't feel like a suitcase-  The actual dimensions of the bag are 13.5"H x 17"W x 6.5"D I can fit what I need for myself and two toddlers and yet the bag doesn't feel too clunky or hard to carry. 
• Extremely well thought out layout & design-  I know some people that don't carry diaper bags at all (I think mostly out of principal) but what they are missing out on, esp. with t & l bags is a fantastic design specifically created with busy moms (with lots of stuff) in mind.  There are lots of pockets and the layout makes sense!!
  
• Great accessories-  You saw these above, but worth another mention b/c they are that great.  timi & leslie bags come with the best accessories that just add to the functionality and overall bang for your buck with this bag.  My personal favorite is the matching clutch that serves as my wallet! 
• timi & leslie is a New England brand-  Had to throw that in there :-)  t & l is based in Natick, MA and us New Englanders love to support each other 

The downside/ areas of Improvement:  Honestly, there isn't much I don't like about this bag, so this section will be short!  This bag keeps me organized, fashionable, and fits all of my stuff (which is not a small feat).  

• I will say that the bag is on the heavier side, although definitely not the heaviest I own. I just weighed my bag (fully loaded up with stuff) and it weighs 7.5lbs (used my lobster scale) :-) 
  
• Its also not cheap, retailing for $169.99.  In my opinion though its much like a pair of jeans.. I'd rather have one nice pair that fits me perfectly than a bunch of mediocre/cheap ones that don't fit well and don't hold up... I figure that I carry the bag everyday, and this is what I would pay (or more) for a nice purse (without all the awesome accessories!)  Nonetheless, its still a hefty price tag..if its not in your budget, keep an eye out for sales and deals; the t & l sale page is a great place to start.    
  

Recap/Recommendation:  Its pretty clear I'm a timi & leslie fan! I find the bags to be fashionable, functional, well made and you without a doubt get what you pay.  Kate is no exception and is in fact one of my favorites.  If you are someone like me that carries only one bag for everything (and everyone) or if you love a diaper bag that is stylish and doesn't look like a diaper bag, than this bag is a great option for you.  If you are someone that carries a separate purse and diaper bag, and or your bag gets passed from day-care or nanny and back again and you really don't ultimately care what it looks like, than its probably not worth the $.  I do not pack light, and this bag can sufficiently carry all I need on a daily basis for myself and my two toddlers.  If I had twins or two in diapers however, I might opt for a slightly bigger style.  Also, while I love Kate, you might want a different look, so be sure to Visit timi & leslie online for a look at all their styles!

If you've been drooling over this bag, you're in luck!!  The awesome folks at timi & leslie are going to give one lucky Mainely Mama reader their own Kate bag in cobalt/saddle!!!  So excited!  The giveaway will end at 12am EST on April 5th, and one winner will be chosen at random. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter form below.  Note you must be 18 years of age or older and must be a US Resident to win.  The bag will ship directly from timi & leslie, and can only be shipped within the Continental US.  Also please note that your information used to enter this contest is only used as a means to contact the winner, nothing more.  


Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for reading and entering!  As always if you have any questions or want to talk more, please feel free to reach out to me via the contact form.  Thanks as always for stopping by and reading!!

Happy Friday!

Rebecca 

As always, this is 100% my honest opinion and I only feature products on Mainely Mama that I like and would purchase myself.  I was given a bag for review purposes, but was not paid to write this; these are my own thoughts and opinions.  Remember that your purchases decisions are in fact your own :-) This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook or Weebly.