Now Bring Me That Horizon ~ It Begins P115

[Charleston Princess]

Ahhhh, the spa sounds lovely! You are going to have a splendid day on October 1st -- spa, tea, MNSSHP!

 

[TarzansKat]

Ahhhh, the spa sounds lovely! You are going to have a splendid day on October 1st -- spa, tea, MNSSHP!

It even rhymes!

Spa, Tea, MNSSHP!

Spa, Tea, MNSSHP!

I love it!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

A DIS meet in bathrobes... perfect!!! And now that you mention it, I believe I will NEED a tiara!

Good for you for tossing the budget temporarily out the window. You deserve it. This is a big birthday and a lovely event to have the family together!

And I'm giddy for you at the thought of APs and a bunch of additional trips!

 

[jmamom]

You know what, I have always wanted to try Rose and Crown! But I am actually more interested in their lunch menu for my family than for dinner. I am also dying to hear those lovely British accents.

You know that big open theater across from...oh, gosh, is it near the American Pavilion? I can picture Epcot in my head, I think that's where it is.

I booked it knowing that DH will at least like the beer.... Glad to hear its not back in Future World, probably wouldn't have hiked all the way back there. Your spa day sounds wonderful, wish I could ditch my family for something like that, but without me, they'd have no plan! How on earth would they know what to do with themselves?? They might just go ahead and do something - gasp - unscheduled. Can't have that! Enjoy your girls time with Mom, can't wait till my girls are old enough to appreciate some of that!

 

[TarzansKat]

Ugh.

That's pretty much how I feel about this right now. Big....ole....ugh.

Here's what I've been doing all morning, folks. Taking tons of pics of the different bags I have in my posession in the quest to find the ultimate park bag. The bag that will serve all my needs while hopefully being somewhat stylish, easy to carry, and easy to fit under the stroller.

I'm so close to ready to give up.

This is all the stuff (with the exception of a pair of underwear and socks for DS that I forgot to put in the picture but are in the bag) that needs to fit in our park bag.

- I also got rid of my bulky wallet and put the ids and various cards and cash I would need in a smaller zippered pouch. I bring my WTP wallet every trip and it's really unnecessary. And obviously, my camera's not in the picture. If you can't figure out why, you must be having a rough day.

Here's the Baggalini. I know a lot of you have either ordered, have, or been thinking about this one, so I took some photos of it empty for you.

- Front of the Bag

- Back of the Bag

- A - The Outermost Zippered Pocket with Mesh Netting Separating it from B

- B - The Next Outer Pocket, with Multiple Interior Pockets for Organization

- C - Velcro Side Pocket

- D - Mesh Side Pocket

- E - The Main Compartment

- F - The Back Zippered Pocket, Flush to your Back while Wearing

- G - Not Labeled in the Main Photo, this Pocket is on the Strap

And then I tried to fill it with everything. And I have to say, the organization of this bag is lovely. It has enough pockets for everything, and maybe even a little bit of room for some smaller souvies. Like if we got DS some extra Disney matchbox cars, I know they'd fit in here no problem. Bigger things would certainly need to go elsewhere, but I know we'll keep a tote bag with our ponchos in the bottom of the stroller so that's not a big deal.

- The hair brush is pretty much where I'd put the camera.

And here's your gratuitous shot of me wearing it, although since I'm still in my jams here, it's very, very, very cropped. Nobody needs to see that.

Here's the catch. I like it. It's sporty. It's cute. But check out how low it hangs on me. Even when I adjust it, it's still pretty low on my back. Now, I know that for the majority of the trip, this will be in the bottom of the stroller. It'll most likely come out briefly while we're on rides, to get the camera, things like that. So it may not be a huge issue. But if I view it as something I'd like to possibly use in the future, I'm not sure. The size of it is perfect, and it really does fit everything I want. The problem that I have with it is the way it pulls on my lower back. Even when I tighten the strap it doesn't seem to help too much. I'm just not quite tall enough, I guess. I'm wondering if there are any other baggalini styles that I might like better?

So then I thought, well let me throw everything in my Vera and see how I feel.

Now I sort of threw everything in, this would be way more organized if it were really packed for the trip.

I don't know. I really do like this bag, but I remember it feeling so heavy on my December trip. It didn't pull on my back, which I'm worried the Baggalini might do, but it did give me some tension on my shoulder from the weight. Which makes me wonder what the lesser of two evils is.

Then I tried this smaller purse style Travelon Mom gave me a while ago. Everything fits and it's very organized, but it's fit to bursting, no room at the inn.

So my last resort is my little Mickey purse and a tote bag.

Now I won't deny there are some benefits to having my stuff completely separate from DS. And this definitely makes it easy to find things, but I'll need myself or someone to carry that tote bag onto rides with us because I won't feel comfortable leaving it in the stroller. So, most likely, one of the menfolk (my FIL is a gracious helper) would be happy to carry it for me, but on the off chance that's not a possibility, I don't like how it feels to carry both of those. Never mind we'll have our ponchos in the stroller as well.

Decisions, decisions.

I really don't know what to do. I'm not entirely satsified with any of my options. Maybe a pro/con list would help.

Baggalini - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize and keep everything separate. Like the style of it. Is not bulky. Would probably count as a purse when traveling on the plane.
Cons - Feels like it would hurt my lower back after prolonged wearing.

Vera - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize, like its style as well.
Cons - Know for a fact that it hurts after prolonged use, and it feels very bulky when carrying on rides.

Travelon - Pros - I love the way everything fits, and how the interior is light blue so I can find everything.
Cons - I have a really hard time fitting DS spare outfit, pjs, and wipes in, but they do fit.

Purse and Tote - Pros - Everything is separate. Keeping DS' and my stuff separate means it's easier for DH when he has him on the morning I go to the spa. Not that we couldn't bring a tote and separate everything out as well.
Cons - Carrying two bags if necessary.

So there you have it. I'd really love some opinions from those of you who have successfully used the baggalini before. Does your back hurt? This is my biggest concern, I guess.

Ugh.

 

[TarzansKat]

A DIS meet in bathrobes... perfect!!! And now that you mention it, I believe I will NEED a tiara!

Everyone should have a tiara. I'm debating wearing mine...practically every day. It is my birthday, after all.

Good for you for tossing the budget temporarily out the window. You deserve it. This is a big birthday and a lovely event to have the family together!

This is extremely rare for me, so I'm going to enjoy it.

And I'm giddy for you at the thought of APs and a bunch of additional trips!

A bunch! I said two, woman, two. Don't start with me, you never know where it may lead.

Oh, Ti-ink? Want to go again?

I booked it knowing that DH will at least like the beer.... Glad to hear its not back in Future World, probably wouldn't have hiked all the way back there. Your spa day sounds wonderful, wish I could ditch my family for something like that, but without me, they'd have no plan! How on earth would they know what to do with themselves?? They might just go ahead and do something - gasp - unscheduled. Can't have that! Enjoy your girls time with Mom, can't wait till my girls are old enough to appreciate some of that!

Hey. I would totally book a placed based on alcoholic beverages. We won't discuss what that says about me. I recently became OVERJOYED when I discovered what neat drinks they have at Sci Fi. It dispelled any worries I had about dining there.

I know what you mean about leaving the family alone. My biggest fear in leaving the boys to their own devices is that they'll be late to tea.

 

[jenjolt]

LOL...Hey my Thursday sounds a lot like your Thursday....spa, tea, MNSSHP LOL!!!!! I can't wait it should be a ton of fun!!!

I got a princess tiara at one point and then I'm not sure what I did with, thankfully I have about 76 more days to find one LOL...so I might have to put that on my list and start looking LOL!!!!

I can't really help too much on the bag situation because well I have my own bag woes LOL!!!! But go with whatever is the most comfortable for you!

I too will be renewing my AP I have one more year of trips to make before the move...so going to get the most out of my money LOL!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Baggalini - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize and keep everything separate. Like the style of it. Is not bulky. Would probably count as a purse when traveling on the plane.
Cons - Feels like it would hurt my lower back after prolonged wearing.

I wish this came in prints instead of plain colors but I think it has the best of all features. I really don't know how much you will be wearing this....how does it fit on the stroller?

Vera - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize, like its style as well.
Cons - Know for a fact that it hurts after prolonged use, and it feels very bulky when carrying on rides.

This one looks good but I always wonder about those Veras getting wet...
Travelon - Pros - I love the way everything fits, and how the interior is light blue so I can find everything.
Cons - I have a really hard time fitting DS spare outfit, pjs, and wipes in, but they do fit.
This one looked too small to me.

Purse and Tote - Pros - Everything is separate. Keeping DS' and my stuff separate means it's easier for DH when he has him on the morning I go to the spa. Not that we couldn't bring a tote and separate everything out as well.
Cons - Carrying two bags if necessary.

That tote bag is going to hurt worst than the Vera or Baggiewhateverlinnie

I had no problems with leaving non-valuables in the stroller. I packed a small bag of stuff that just stayed in the stroller (not in my bag). And if you remember I had that blue organizer on my stroller that made it difficult to eye ball what was in the bottom of the stroller without kneeling down next to it.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I too will be renewing my AP I have one more year of trips to make before the move...so going to get the most out of my money LOL!

Jen- where are you moving to???

 

[TarzansKat]

LOL...Hey my Thursday sounds a lot like your Thursday....spa, tea, MNSSHP LOL!!!!! I can't wait it should be a ton of fun!!!

For me, it's dang near perfect.

I got a princess tiara at one point and then I'm not sure what I did with, thankfully I have about 76 more days to find one LOL...so I might have to put that on my list and start looking LOL!!!!

Start lookin'!

I can't really help too much on the bag situation because well I have my own bag woes LOL!!!! But go with whatever is the most comfortable for you!

What are you thinking of using?

I too will be renewing my AP I have one more year of trips to make before the move...so going to get the most out of my money LOL!

Excellent. More trips is always better in my book.


And Heidi, before I even get into your quotes, thank you SO Much for going through all the bags and being "practical mom" with me. It really helps to have your opinion because you've done this, too.

Baggalini - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize and keep everything separate. Like the style of it. Is not bulky. Would probably count as a purse when traveling on the plane.
Cons - Feels like it would hurt my lower back after prolonged wearing.

I wish this came in prints instead of plain colors but I think it has the best of all features. I really don't know how much you will be wearing this....how does it fit on the stroller?

You know, I want to say that I found one giraffe type print on bagsbuy.com. I know how much you love giraffes! I still don't picutre you with that, though, I think the messenger bag from LLBean is more your style.

And you're right. I probably won't be wearing it that much. And this would be awesome under the stroller. It's a compact size, but holds so much. Because of that compact size, I know it will be a very easy in and out underneath the stroller, which is a huge plus. It irks the you know what out of me when I have to struggle to get the bag out.

Vera - Pros - Has enough pockets to organize, like its style as well.
Cons - Know for a fact that it hurts after prolonged use, and it feels very bulky when carrying on rides.

This one looks good but I always wonder about those Veras getting wet...

You know, you're not the first person to mention that. I'm sure it would get soaked if we got caught in a rainstorm, but I'd just wear it under the poncho. As long as I had enough time to get to cover, it should be fine. I do like how the Baggalini is waterproof though, that's a plus.

Travelon - Pros - I love the way everything fits, and how the interior is light blue so I can find everything.
Cons - I have a really hard time fitting DS spare outfit, pjs, and wipes in, but they do fit.
This one looked too small to me.

I love it, but it feels to small to me too. This would possibly be great for my weekender with Mom.

Purse and Tote - Pros - Everything is separate. Keeping DS' and my stuff separate means it's easier for DH when he has him on the morning I go to the spa. Not that we couldn't bring a tote and separate everything out as well.
Cons - Carrying two bags if necessary.

That tote bag is going to hurt worst than the Vera or Baggiewhateverlinnie

I had no problems with leaving non-valuables in the stroller. I packed a small bag of stuff that just stayed in the stroller (not in my bag). And if you remember I had that blue organizer on my stroller that made it difficult to eye ball what was in the bottom of the stroller without kneeling down next to it.

I think in December we left the bag with the wipes in the stroller, but not much else in there. I guess what concerns me is leaving his spare clothes and jams in there. I mean if someone wants to take those, it would be pretty sad, but I had forgotten about how you had that stroller organizer as well. Where did you get that again?

 

[ILuvCrush]

Thanks TK for posting all the bag pics!! I have less paraphanalia (since my kiddos are bigger than your DS) to lug around, so now I know that the baggalini will be big enough for me! I'm hoping that i get it this week...so i can trial run it at Hershey next weekend


Do you think I should dig out my tiara too??? I don't want to feel left out...and 'technically' sorta I'm celebrating a birthday too (albiet a bit early) I have a couple to choose from... yay for having girls

horray for you for pampering yourself with a spa day!! I'm excited about the 'robe meet' LOL!! Too bad we aren't all getting mud facials... a 'Muddy Meet' has such a nice ring to it

Paula

 

[pooh'smate]

TK, are you going on any day trips in which you could try the said bagalini (or however that bag is spelled) for they day just to see if it would hurt your back? Then you would know if it would work for you. I too am considering up grading my ticket to an ap so I will have it already because my dd is starting school in the fall too and we would like to take her before she starts school. I am glad that you are treating yourself for your birthday.

 

[TarzansKat]

Thanks TK for posting all the bag pics!! I have less paraphanalia (since my kiddos are bigger than your DS) to lug around, so now I know that the baggalini will be big enough for me! I'm hoping that i get it this week...so i can trial run it at Hershey next weekend

Oh, I'm glad you liked the photos! I was hoping they'd be helpful, that's why I took so many. It really is a great little bag.

Do you think I should dig out my tiara too??? I don't want to feel left out...and 'technically' sorta I'm celebrating a birthday too (albiet a bit early) I have a couple to choose from... yay for having girls

Oh, for goodness sake, let's ALL wear tiaras!!!! I'll have to find one for my mom, but that's easy enough to do. We'll certainly know who we all are when we see the tiaras.

horray for you for pampering yourself with a spa day!! I'm excited about the 'robe meet' LOL!! Too bad we aren't all getting mud facials... a 'Muddy Meet' has such a nice ring to it

Paula

Muddy Meet. Well, I'll not only be the one in the bathrobe and tiara, I'll also smell yummy. I'm getting an aromatherapy massage.

TK, are you going on any day trips in which you could try the said bagalini (or however that bag is spelled) for they day just to see if it would hurt your back? Then you would know if it would work for you. I too am considering up grading my ticket to an ap so I will have it already because my dd is starting school in the fall too and we would like to take her before she starts school. I am glad that you are treating yourself for your birthday.

You know, we just went to the zoo and I was able to try out my Keen sandals. I hate to post it, because usually when I talk about how much I love shoes, it's like the kiss of death, but they were awesome!

My parents and I do have plans for more day trips this summer, so I could try a trail run.

 

[MRYPPNS]

That stroller organizer was actually a lawn chair organizer that I found at Walmart! I'm known to repropose almost anything.

I spare clothes I had for Liam in the stroller were ones that I didn't care about if they got stolen. I decided that anything that we kept unattened in there was 'disposable'... inconvinent, but disposable.

 

[TarzansKat]

That stroller organizer was actually a lawn chair organizer that I found at Walmart! I'm known to repropose almost anything.

Now I remember! I think I might even have something similar. I almost want to say someone gave me a car organizer, like you have on the back of the passenger's seat.

I spare clothes I had for Liam in the stroller were ones that I didn't care about if they got stolen. I decided that anything that we kept unattened in there was 'disposable'... inconvinent, but disposable.

You know, you make a good point. If I kept his older outfits as spares, it would really matter.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh the quest for the perfect bag. I'm not a mom so I do not yet feel the pain of carting around other people's stuff. Just my own carp. I'm liking the organization of the baggalini and you said that you see it being in the stroller much of the time so I'm thinking maybe there isn't a need to worry about it hurting your back too much?

LOVE the idea of us identifying eachother by our tiaras. Off to google tiaras for purchase now...

 

[MRYPPNS]

LOVE the idea of us identifying eachother by our tiaras. Off to google tiaras for purchase now...

I'm not going to the spa but I'm suddenly having a urge to pack the tiara that I wore for my wedding

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh the quest for the perfect bag. I'm not a mom so I do not yet feel the pain of carting around other people's stuff. Just my own carp. I'm liking the organization of the baggalini and you said that you see it being in the stroller much of the time so I'm thinking maybe there isn't a need to worry about it hurting your back too much?

That's pretty much what my DH just said to me. How much do you really think you'll be carrying it? And given that I usually spend about $10 on a new backpack every year (which we ruin every trip, they're cheap from WalMArt), this is only $15 more and will hopefully last longer.

I'm really liking the organization as well.

LOVE the idea of us identifying eachother by our tiaras. Off to google tiaras for purchase now...

It's a great idea. I'll have to find one for my mom, or ask her if she has one. I almost want to say she does, I think one year she came to my halloween party as a princess.

I'm not going to the spa but I'm suddenly having a urge to pack the tiara that I wore for my wedding

You should so pack your tiara! What are you wearing to MNSSHP?

 

[creativeamanda]

Aren't moms great for making sure everyone knows it's your 30th bday? UGH.

As far as the bag situation goes, yuck--I am having the same quandry. And, yeah, the ticker has changed. Again. I'll start my PTR tonight with the whole sordid story. And it is. Sordid. And a story. Of course, based on my dining reservations, we won't be at any of the same parks on the same day. We'll still have to arrange a Dismeet of some sort. I'll give you my cell number by pm sometime.

 

[TarzansKat]

Aren't moms great for making sure everyone knows it's your 30th bday? UGH.

I mean, she had to say 30.

As far as the bag situation goes, yuck--I am having the same quandry. And, yeah, the ticker has changed. Again. I'll start my PTR tonight with the whole sordid story. And it is. Sordid. And a story. Of course, based on my dining reservations, we won't be at any of the same parks on the same day. We'll still have to arrange a Dismeet of some sort. I'll give you my cell number by pm sometime.

I have plans to go out a bit with DS on Tuesday, so I'm thinking about loading the bag up and wearing it around to see how I like it. Heck, I'll plan a little day trip for us just to try it out. We have so many planned for the summer anyway!

Sordid, huh?

All I know is that I feel like I'm watching a little whirlwind. And hey, my plans are somewhat flexible. We're park hopping so, I'm sure we could work in a meet somewhere.