Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Mommy Bag! - BCowan Bags Review and Giveaway

When I was younger, my goal always seemed to be avoiding carrying a bag of any sort. If I didn't need to carry my purse, I would skip it.

That all changed when I became a mom. No surprise, I found myself carrying a diaper bag everywhere. The first bag we had was big and bulky and awkward to carry around - but it had everything! Then, we found a smaller bag that still allowed us to carry everything we needed and was a lot less unwieldy.

Then, my kids grew up and I no longer needed to carry a diaper bag, but there were still times when we would go somewhere and need to bring things with us - change of clothes, pajamas, towels, sunscreen, snacks, etc. I'm still not one to carry a large purse, so I needed something else that would allow me to take along the extra stuff but not be too bulky. I tried a few bags, but none of them were quite what I was looking for.

Then, I found it...a custom bag from BCowan Bags. What I like best is the versatility of the bag. They suggest this versatility as they describe possible uses on their site, such as diaper bag, knitting bag, travel bag, dance bag or other.

The bag is custom made - during the ordering process, they ask questions to help customize the bag for you! They ask about what type of bag you are looking for. They ask about what kind of look you want for your bag allowing you to list colors, patterns, boy/girl/unisex bag. Then they ask more about the future owner, requesting fun facts about the person for whom the bag is being bought for including hobbies and interests. Because the bag is custom made, it does take a few weeks to get your bag. But to me, it was worth the wait!

The bag that I received was made with bright colored fabric - a large portion of the bag is yellow (one of my favorite colors), but it also has pink, orange, green and more. The bag is soft, fully made of what I would describe as loosely quilted fabric. I'm not sure how to describe it exactly, but the outside panels are sort of lightly padded. The interior is split into three sections, but the middle panels do not connect to the bottom of the bag. (this could allow for the insertion of a changing pad or a stabilizer across the bottom of the bag if you wanted.) Inside the sections, there are five pockets. There are four external pockets that are about 1/2 the height of the bag - three are on the sides and are 1/3 the length (consistent with the inner divider locations). The handle for the bag was made with some of the materials in the bag and is a long handle that runs through the bag, providing a slight cinch on the edges if the pockets are not full. According to the website, the dimensions of the bag are 15w x 7d x 10h. With it's soft construction, it is easy to fold up to tuck aside while storing.

I have used the bag for a number of different things since receiving it. I love all of the little pockets inside and out - it really makes it easy to have things organized and separated and makes things easy to find.

When our friends were having a picnic and planning to have the kids play in the sprinkler, I used the bag to pack up the kids towels, the bag of chips, the bowl of dip, the sunscreen, the kids change of clothes (for after swimming). It was the perfect bag to tuck everything in for our walk over.

On Saturday mornings this spring, we found ourselves leaving around 9:30 am to go to two soccer games and then coming home around 3 pm after baseball. As such, we needed to have lunch on the go. I packed the bag up with sandwiches, pretzels, cookies, apples, drinks, sun screen, napkins, my wallet (no purse!) and maybe a little more. All the internal sections allowed me to keep from crushing the sandwiches and the pretzels. All the little pockets gave me places to tuck things in too!

The other day, when my daughter and I decided to walk to my son's All-Star Game, it was a great bag to pack in a few essentials for easier carrying. I tucked in my wallet, my book (in case there was free time before the game started), yogurt, water, granola bars, sun screen. It wasn't very full, but with the soft construction, it easily "collapsed" around my stuff and closed off the bag for the walk.

Since it is fully a fabric construction, it can be washed in the washing machine. That's great when you find yourself at a muddy soccer game!

This bag has been a great addition to my busy life and I would recommend it to you. Whether you are looking for a knitting bag, a teacher bag, a reading bag, a picnic bag, a travel bag, a mommy bag, a diaper bag - this bag can work for you.

You can purchase the bag directly through BCowan Bags.

Giveaway!
Courtesy of BCowan Bags, I have the opportunity to have one A Busy Mom of Two reader win a custom made BCowan Bag.

To enter: Leave a comment sharing who the bag would be for and what the use would be.

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

Follow ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter.

Follow BCowanBags on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway. You may complete this entry once per day. (You may use the following or write your own: Enter to win a versatile, custom-made bag from @BCowanBags, hosted by @ABusyMomofTwo. Ends 6/28. http://bit.ly/mruAIx)

Like BCowan Bags on Facebook.

Follow A Busy Mom of Two. Subscribe to updates in your feed reader or in e-mail. Leave me a comment letting me know that you signed up, or that you already subscribe.

Share this giveaway with friends - on your blog, on Facebook or by posting it on a giveaway link-up. Leave me a comment letting me know how you shared or leave a link to the giveaway link-up. You may have one additional entry for each give-away linky that you submit it on.

Leave a comment with a link to your blog where you have either my button or have a link to A Busy Mom of Two in your blog roll.

Giveaway will remain open until June 28th at 6 pm. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.

UPDATE: Don't forget to see here how you can save almost 40% on the purchase of a bag and get bonus entries for the giveaway.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a custom made bag from BCowan Bags and they are also providing one bag for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.

83 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be for me for when I go to my husband's sporting events!

dbravegirl at yahoo dot com

Sally said...

I think I would have to keep this one for myself if I win. I would use it for a lot of things, traveling in the car, pool time, etc. Great giveaway...Love the bag!

Sally said...

I follow you via GFC.
Thanks!

Rachel R. said...

It would be for me - and everything but the kitchen sink! I do currently have a baby, so I'm constantly carrying (cloth) diapers, wipes, wet bags, spare clothes, blankets, first aid kit, etc. - not to mention my own wallet, personal products, hair clips, etc. I think my bag weighs more than my baby!

The Mom said...

I love bags! I would carry this one for volleyball snacks when we have tournament weekends!

Anonymous said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT WOULD BE FOR ME ME ME !!!!!!
I WOULD CARRY MY STUFF IN IT FOR A DAY OF ALL TO MYSELF DAY !!!!

I WOULD PUT ONLY MY THINGS IN IT AND GO TO THE BEACH ....

KAPUMAKA@HOTMAIL.COM

Anonymous said...

I follow you on twitter

twitter name : kapumaka

kapumaka@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I follow B Cowan Bags on twitter

twitter name: kapumaka

kapumaka@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Liked B Cowan on facebook left message

kapumaka@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am Face book fan of yours

kapumaka@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe via email

kapumaka@hotmail.com

h. mcnaron said...

I would use this for groceries and picnics in the park.
hmcnaron at gmail

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

Absolutely for me!

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

I follow :D

Michelle Frame said...

This would be for my sister-in-law and she would use it as a diaper bag
mframe00@gmail.com

Michelle Frame said...

I Follow ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter.
- @mframe00
mframe00@gmail.com

Michelle Frame said...

I Follow BCowanBags on Twitter.- @mframe00
mframe00@gmail.com

Michelle Frame said...

tweet- http://twitter.com/#!/mframe00/status/81330108882886656
mframe00@gmail.com

Michelle Frame said...

I Like BCowan Bags on Facebook.- Michelle Frame
mframe00@gmail.com

Erin said...

I would use this for a diaper bag. Looks so fun!
Erin, happynurse27@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/#!/kapumaka/status/81816490743042050

NeedANap2 said...

You're on my Google Reader

NeedANap2 said...

(Sorry, thought I already commented.) Would be for me, might be a transitional bag b/c my youngest is 4 and doesn't need a regular diaper bag anymore but would be nice to have room for an extra set of clothes! :)

Shooting Stars Mag said...

this would be great for my sister in law so she could put things for the baby inside it

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i like the sponsor on fb

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i follow you via GFc

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

I liked B Cowan Bags on FB

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

I follow you on twitter.

Jessica said...

I would use it to tote everything to my son's ball games nad practices. The bag I use now jumbles everything up!
reklaw422 at hotmail dot com

Rebekah said...

I would use the bag for vacations and regular outings. I have four kids and three are under 6.
rebekahmercier@gmail.com

Rebekah said...

Follow you on Twitter.
@rebekahmercier
rebekahmercier@gmail.com

Rebekah said...

Follow BCowan Bags on Twitter.
@rebekahmercier
rebekahmercier@gmail.com

Rebekah said...

Shared the giveaway on Facebook.
rebekahandnick
rebekahmercier@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/rebekahandnick/posts/164967390235546

Rebekah said...

Tweeted the giveaway.
@rebekahmercier
rebekahmercier@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/Rebekahmercier/status/82586652811345921

Rebekah said...

Liked BCowan Bags on FAcebook.
rebekahandnick
rebekahmercier@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This one would be for me, I would love this for my many hours at cheer comps and my little girls, always having to keep her busy. trishbazin(at)yahoo.com

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

I follow BCowan Bags on Twitter.

Sweet and Savory by Sarah said...

Email Subscriber!

Anneke said...

it would be for me! id use it to carry all of my belongings to work! Thanks clcschick24 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to have this bag to take our stuff to the pool in!

acgoad@comcast.net

Angie said...

I would like it for me to put all of my baby stuff in.

angukena at yahoo dot com

Angie said...

I follow ABusyMomofTwo on twitter
@angukena1

angukena at yahoo dot com

Angie said...

I follow BCowan Bags on twitter
@angukena1

angukena at yahoo dot com

Angie said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/angukena1/status/85562530826686465

angukena at yahoo dot com

Angie said...

I like B Cowan Bags on fb

angukena at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

This would be for myself and I use it when I attended my son's baseball and football games to take snacks, water, blankets, etc.

abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

Tweeted. http://twitter.com/#!/theladya/status/85672464734109696 abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

I follow BCowan Bags on Twitter @theladya. abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

Angie Bailey said...

I follow you on Twitter @theladya. abailey_crace at yahoo dot com

RaettigFamily said...

I'm thinking that I would keep this for me. With twin 1 year old sons and a daughter on the way, I can see it coming in handy!

Unknown said...

I don't know if I would keep it for myself or give it away as a baby shower gift. I would prob keep it though because I think I'm in love with it!
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

follow you on twitter
@MomToSprouts
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Follow BCowan on twitter
@MomToSprouts
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/#!/MomToSprouts/status/85691484719955968

Tweeted!!!!

@MomToSprouts
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

follow you via GFC

Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Liked BCowan on FB
Tiffany Thomas Ellman
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

POsted on linky
http://homegrownfamilies.blogspot.com/2011/06/mommy-loves-tuesdays-giveaways_27.html
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/HomeGrownFamilies/posts/130728197008464

Shared on FB

Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Have your button on my blog. Right sidebar
http://homegrownfamilies.blogspot.com
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

linked you here
http://energizerbunnysmommyreports.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesdays-treasures-giveaway-linky-for_28.html
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo.com

Unknown said...

linked you here
http://mrsnespysworld.blogspot.com/2011/06/tuesday-free-for-all-0628.html
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot comtri

Unknown said...

subscribe via e-mail
hgfcomments at yahoo dot com (our blog e-mail)
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

linked you here
http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/2011/06/bless-their-little-giveaways-linky-june_28.html
Tiffany
MomToSprouts at yahoo dot com

Teresa said...

It would be for me! I could use it for a new tote bag (so cute!)
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com

Teresa said...

I follow BCowan Bags on Twitter - @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com

Teresa said...

I tweeted this giveaway - @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/85705102664536065

Teresa said...

I like BCowan Bags on Facebook
Facebook.com/tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com

Tori said...

This would be for me, I think it may replace my diaper bag if I won.

Anonymous said...

It would be for me as a new diaper bag/kids bag!

jenniekcoupons at gmail dot com

MommaM said...

The bag would be mine as a multi-purpose mommy bag. shreve_mary(at)yahoo(dot)com

MommaM said...

I like BCowan bags on facebook. shreve_mary(at)yahoo(dot)com

MommaM said...

I subscribe to your blog via email. shreve_mary(at)yahoo(dot)com

1955nurse said...

This would either be for me or my Daughter-in-law, to carry my grandkids "stuff" when we go to the zoo, etc!!!((1955nursehjc4me(at)myway(dot)com)) ;-)

1955nurse said...

I "LIKE" BCowan bags on FB (HollyCunningham) So cute!!!((1955nursehjc4me(at)myway(dot)com)) ;-)

1955nurse said...

I subscribe to yr feed via my Google reader ((1955nursehjc4me(at)myway(dot)com)) Thanks for the chance....

1955nurse said...

I follow via GFC ((1955nursehjc4me(at)myway(dot)com)) ;-))

Anonymous said...

Tweeted today for you

http://twitter.com/#!/kapumaka/status/85797452971646976

kapumaka@hotmail.com

Stephanie said...

The bag would be for myself just for when I am out and about and need to carry some everyday essentials with me.

jasperjax2003 at aol dot com

callbr549 said...

This bag would be for me and I would use it for all our day trips this summer.

vgsaxon(at)gmail(dot)com

callbr549 said...

I follow BCowan Bags @BCowanBags on Twitter.

@CALLBR549
vgsaxon(at)gmail(dot)com

callbr549 said...

I tweeted this giveaway.

http://twitter.com/#!/CALLBR549/status/85856539176476672

@CALLBR549
vgsaxon(at)gmail(dot)com

cman said...

It would be for my family and our little trips.

cman said...

Now following GFC (Gianna).