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the many shades of Lily Jade

07 December 2014

I'm willing to bet a small head of lettuce that if you've read this blog for more than five minutes you've probably heard of Lily Jade designer diaper bags? Maybe? One of the most popular emails that gets shipped to my inbox is from people having a tough time deciding which bag would work best for the needs and asking me to give a little bit of input and weigh in on the differences between the Caroline, the Madeline, and the Elizabeth. I always feel bad because I dash off a quick answer and I also feel bad because for a long time I was fiercely loyal to the Caroline but my allegiance has changed a bit ... you like that cliffhanger? I knew you would. 

Anyway ... let's go exploring. 


The truth is that you can't go wrong with any of their bags (there are more than just these three AND these three all come in a variety of different colors and some even come in canvas!!) but it's most definitely an investment that you want to make wisely so let me break it down and post 89 zillion photos of your favorite mom modeling each and every one. I hope you've made yourself comfortable and you have a cup of something warm to keep you company because 89 zillion is a lot of photos.

the similarities: All three bags come with an adjustable shoulder strap which I love because I tend to carry bags on my shoulder and across my body when I'm just running the kids into school or running into the post office or running quick errands in general.







All three bags also come with two shoulder handles that ARE actually long enough to comfortably wear on your shoulder ... without sliding off EVEN when wearing a cumbersome and annoying bulky winter coat. I've tried!




the Madeline


the Caroline

I was really surprised to read their dimensions to find that they are all virtually (within one square inch) the same size! I always thought the Elizabeth was the biggest but I think that's because the leather is a little bit thicker and it holds it's shape really well - so it feels roomier, if that makes sense?  It might technically have the most space because of the two patch pockets on the outside though - something to consider!!

And finally, of course, they all come with the company's signature removable nylon (machine washable!) baby bag organizer that features 16 different pockets, a changing pad, and a mother's sanity.



BAG SPECIFICS:

the Caroline - I carried this bag for many, many, MANY months in a row and loved it (still do!) and was hesitant to even test drive a different Lily Jade bag because I was so dedicated to the Caroline. I love that it really does look like a nice size purse, that the leather easily wipes clean and does not fade, and if I remove the baby bag full of the kids' stuff, it doesn't look weird and empty but just sort collapses into what the untrained eye would assume is a purse.


the Caroline

the Madeline: this is the bag I started cheating on Caroline with and while I've gone back and forth between the two ... I'm probably a slightly bigger fan of the Madeline only because ....


the backpack option. It can't be beat, in my humble opinion. When I'm on my own with the four kids, pushing a stroller, wearing a Phoebe, and trying to keep the older two on an invisible but tight leash - the hands-free option is really nice. Plus - it's important to a lot of moms that their bag zips closed and the Madeline does! I don't mind that about the Caroline but it is really nice that it zips (stops no Theo or Sebastian from raiding my purse and folding my credit cards into fourths but .... still!).

the Elizabeth - Again, I was completely surprised that the Elizabeth isn't the biggest of the bunch because it does seem a lot roomier to me. If I were committed to carrying extra outfits in case of diaper failure (I should!) or needed to tote around something bigger (like a breast pump, maybe?) on the daily then I would probably make this bag my go-to. It also has the backpack option ...


... which is spectacular. 

I have to add that all three bags would make perfect non-diaper bags too.  My friend Sarah proudly rocks hers even though she doesn't have kids and is a huge fan. The bags aren't overwhelmingly huge but the organized baby bag insert is such an efficient space saver that you can still pack a LOT in the bag. I've flown twice without the kids in the past six months and very happily toted first the Caroline and then the Madeline on my flights.    

If you have a specific question - send me an email with the subject line: Lily Jade Question and I'll edit the post to address it here! But in the mean time ... want to win one? NAY. Want to win one for yourself and a matching bag for a bosom friend?! YAY. You should. 

Winner gets to choose between any of the Carolines, Madelines, or Elizabeths and then surprise a friend or family member or stranger off the street (your call!) with an identical bag. How nice is Lily Jade? The nicest - they really are! I've had the pleasure of meeting them in person and it's such a pleasure to get to collaborate with them because they are some good people, truly. 

Okay - Rafflecopter your little hearts out.

1126 comments:

  1. Oh, the Madeline would make me so happy!

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  2. I could really use a diaper bag! These are gorgeous.

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  3. Love the Elizabeth! I don't need a diaper bag, but would happily carry it!

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  4. The Madeline in Brandy! One for me, one for...I can't decide which of my friends will be so lucky!!

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  5. What an AWESOME give away!! I want I want!

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  6. I'm all about the Madeline in red, please!

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  7. the Anna in black is totally my style!

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  8. The Madeline is my fav I think, in brown? So hard

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  9. Thanks for the breakdown :D
    Caroline in Brandy!

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  10. Dear Santa Rafflecopter, I'd love the Madeline in brandy, pretty pretty please!

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  11. My favorite is the Madeline in Brandy, but they are all gorgeous!

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  12. The Elizabeth in backpack form is awesome!

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  13. I need the Elizabeth! I have Baby #2 due in 7 weeks and this would be perfect for my two under two. Please please please!! It also looks husband-friendly to carry as opposed to our old pink Carter's diaper bag.

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  14. Madeline in Brandy is my favorite. Love the color and that I can use it as a purse too. Expecting #3 in the Spring and it's time for a new diaper bag!

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  15. All of these are great, but the Madeline in brandy is my favorite!

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  16. I like the Caroline but can't decide whether I like the black or red better. Although I'm totally going to be a pain and act like I know better than the company by saying they need to make some in navy! I would snap up anything in navy in a minute!

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  17. I'm torn between the Madeline and the Elizabeth....Madeline?

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  18. Madeline in red or Anna in gunmetal! So beautiful!

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  19. I like the caroline in black! Thought, I'm torn with Madeline in brandy :)

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  20. I keep stalking the brandy Elizabeth. :)

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  21. I guess the Madeline in Brandy? Such a hard choice!

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  22. Love me some Elizabeth, probably in black!

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  23. The Madeline! That's my daughters name. :)

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  24. The Madeline in Brandy for sure - I know because they've done so many giveaways with blogs I read and I just droooooool over the Madeline everytime one pops up!

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  25. Any one of them! Love their bags!

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  26. This is so helpful. I started browsing the website,thinking I'd ask for one of these bags for Christmas, but all...the...options! I think I would be a Carloline girl.

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  27. I love the Madeline, although I don't think I could pull off the backpack quite as well as you do.

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  28. The Madeline in Brandy for sure! You always have the best giveaways :)

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  29. i don't need a diaper bag, but i love the elizabeth! it looks like it would be perfect for me!

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  30. I need a new diaper bag ASAP, as baby is coming soon! Love the Elizabeth!

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  31. O my, I love love love the Elizabeth in Camel

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  32. Love the Elizabeth in Camel. Gorgeous!!

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  33. The Elizabeth in black, I need something to fuel my pack-rat mentality!

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  34. My fave has to be Elizabeth in Camel, but it's a tough call.

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  35. Elizabeth in Camel! They are all awesome!

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  36. The Caroline or Elizabeth look amazing!! I'd be thrilled with either!!

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  37. Is it bad that I don't even have to go to the website to know I want the Elizabeth. I have been lusting over it for months.

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  38. I am waiting on my first little one to arrive and have been dying to get a lily jade diaper bag… I dream about it! I think i would get either the madeline or the elizabeth because I am completely sold on the backpack idea. hoping to get a lily jade diaper bag by the time number 2 comes along (even though it is probably a few years out!)

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  39. I love the Elizabeth in camel! So gorgeous! Thanks for the chance!

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  40. I would love the Madeline or the Caroline. A bigger bag is a must now that I have 2 babies under 17 months!

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  41. I love the Madeline in Brandy! So pretty :)

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  42. how pretty! i would love something like this!

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  43. I think In like the Elizabeth best. But are the shorter straps long enough to out on over your shoulder with one hand? Or does it require the two hand maneuver? When carrying a baby, in really like straps that are long enough to allow you to pick the bag up and get it over your shoulder without putting the baby down!

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  44. Oh, beautiful! Such a hard choice ... probably the Madeline, but maybe the Elizabeth. :)

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  45. I love them all but the Madeline and Caroline are definitely my favorites!

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  46. I love the Caroline in brandy (but I do wish it also came in gunmetal)!

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  47. I like them all but love the Madeline!

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  48. I love the Elizabeth, and the Madeline in red. The backpack feature is great!

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  49. Oh I like the Caroline and have been looking for a larger leather bag to replace my small one. Four kids is too much for a small purse!

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  50. That Caroline would make me incredibly happy! :)

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  51. Elizabeth fo sho. but that insert looks like a dream!!!!!

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  52. Love the Madeline! What a great giveaway!

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  53. I get so flustered having to carry a bunch of stuff and am panicking at how I'm going to handle having a baby who will need me to carry things IN ADDITION to the crumpled up receipts, half eaten bags of almonds, 2 apples (just in case) and pretty journals that never get written in that I carry around. I'm thinking a backpack will save me. SAVE ME GRACE.

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  54. Definitely the Elizabeth in a brown, diaper bag meet purse meet diaper bag

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  55. The Madeline in brandy is my favorite

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  56. Either the Madeline or the Elizabeth. Both are lovely.

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  57. I love the Elizabeth in camel :)

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  58. I'm torn between Caroline in red and Madeline in brandy. Nice bags!!

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  59. The Elizabeth. I need as much room as I can get.

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  60. Love the straps on the Madeline!

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  61. I have the Madeline in brandy and love it! Got it for baby #2 due in March and so far just use it as a work bag, it's great! I had the hardest time deciding between the brandy and red canvas color, if there was a next time I would probably go with Elizabeth in red canvas!

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  62. Oh man, Patton. I'm jonesing for one of these! I'm torn between the Madeline and the Caroline...

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  63. I would LOVE the Madeline or the Elizabeth in brandy - and would love to send off the Caroline to a dear friend.

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  64. That's a hard decision!!! I think I like the Caroline in brown the best! (But that Madeline sure does look
    tempting.....)

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  65. I love the Madeline! So smart to make it convert to a backpack sometimes you don't have a free hand!

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  66. We are currently expecting our third and I'm certain the Madeline would fit all my diaper bags needs! Thanks Grace for all of these chances at some super awesome giveaways!
    Shawn R.
    Middletown, MD

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  67. Ooh I NEED this! I can't decide between the Caroline and the Madeline!! But if I win I'm sure I can handle choosing ;)

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  68. I love the Elizabeth in Camel!
    elleb at inbox dot com

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  69. I love this company so much!! I loved them even BEFORE they gifted me with a bag after reading about my daughter (http://ladysoper.blogspot.com/2014/10/surreal-37-weeks.html?m=1) They are a wonderful family business...I also love that they give a bag to an adoptive mom each month! Seriously...love them. I have the Madeline in Brandy (gift from Lily Jade). I would love the Elizabeth or the Cailin in purple. I've never had a nice bag until Lily Jade!

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  70. Elizabeth. Love the academic styling.

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  71. I love the purse and backpack options-- and that either way, it looks chic!

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  72. I think the Elizabeth is my favorite! But they're all great. I would love to have a diaper bag I'm actually excited to carry!

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  73. The Madeline in red is gorgeous. And that backpack option - brilliant!

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  74. Love love love the Caroline in red canvas

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  75. The Madeline. SWOON! Thank you for the chance :). Glad you're back!

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  76. I can definitely see why you love the Madeline!

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  77. Pretty sure I NEED the Elizabeth based on the Mary-poppins-esque storage which is a must for my life!!!! I've been dreaming of these bags for over a year now, even before my little guy was born

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  78. Oh decisions...I think I'd go with the Madeline. But seriously, I'd just love to have any of them!!

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  79. Well, you talked me right into the Madeline! I'm expecting #4 in a few months and the backpack option was a MUST for both #3 and this next round, I'd imagine :)

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  80. I also initially thought the Caroline, but the Madeline is more and more intriguing!! I love it in Brandy but the red canvas is pretty nice too.

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  81. I think I would have to go with the Elizabeth as my favorite.

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  82. no kiddos, but I would love it as a bag!

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  83. I heart the Caroline... I love all the colors! I would go w the brown

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  84. I think the Elizabeth is my favorite!

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  85. I think I'd have to pick the Elizabeth in caramel.

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  86. The Elizabeth in Camel is my dream bag!

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  87. My eye is on the Caroline in Brandy!

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  88. I'd have to say the Elizabeth since it has the backpack option!

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  89. I would love to with the Madeline for my SIL expecting a Christmas baby!

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  90. Please baby Jesus, the Elizabeth.

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  91. I THINK I want the Elizabeth but maybe I want the Madeline but actually I love them all. Angst! ;)

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  92. I loooove the Madeline in canvas!

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  93. Caroline for sure! And the name of our future daughter ;)

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  94. the caroline, for sure. its the most "pursey" looking of the diaper bag and i really HATE carrying a diaper bag. lol also, in red. b/c fun!

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  95. I have some dear friends I would love to give these to! I love the backpack option, that looks genius!

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  96. I love the Caroline in brandy but the backpack option may just woo me to the Madeline. SO MANY DECISIONS! ;)

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  97. I need!! I think I like the Caroline but all are super cute!

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  98. Oo, fingers crossed! I'd love a Madeline!

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  99. love that they look like purses. But also love that they turn into backpacks, which is key!

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  100. The Elizabeth is my favorite for sure!

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  101. I like them all. I think the Elizabeth is my favorite!

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  102. It's such a toss up! I really love Madeline in brandy! But I also like the looks of Anna in gunmetal!

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  103. I'd have a hard time picking one!

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  104. The Elizabeth is my favorite, but, I will let my sister in law choose since she will be receiving the second-hopefully! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

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  105. I like to have a zipper option, so I think I'd go for the Madeline!

    but the Caroline is super cute too...

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  106. The Elizabeth! So gorgeous (the bags and you, obviously!).

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  107. I loved having a diaper bag with back pack straps, so I'm going to say that the Elizabeth in Camel would be the best fit for us.

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  109. Love the Elizabeth! Especially since it can be a backpack.

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  110. With baby #2 on the way, making 2 under 2, a new, fabulous diaper bag (like the Elizabeth in camel!) would be the icing on the cake!

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  111. I love the Caroline!

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  112. I love the Madeline in red and I know a new mom who would love the convertible features of both it and the Elizabeth. She's more of a brandy color mom though. That baby insert is awesome!

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  113. I love the Elizabeth and the back pack option

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  114. I loooove the Elizabeth! The backpack feature is a gamechanger.

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  115. Love the Elizabeth! Need the organizer!

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  116. I would definitely love to have (and give) a madeline.
    that backpack option looks like a lifesaver - especially in an airport

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  117. Love! I would have to do some serious thinking about which one - they are all beautiful.

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  118. Hands down the Madeline! I have been drooling over it, and have been trying to convince my husband of the investment and that I would use it as my forever purse after we are done toting the diaper bag around. But winning it would be amazing, and I would LOVE to be able to gift it to someone else.

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  119. I totally adore the Madeline in brandy!

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  120. Every time I see these bags, I imagine how much easier it would be to tote around stuff for a three year old, a ten year old, myself and my husband lol. The backpack option on the Madeline makes me squeal like a little kid.

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  121. I love the Elizabeth, but the Sarah Grace is pretty beautiful too.

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  122. I love the Elizabeth in camel. Amazing!

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  123. My favorite is the Elizabeth! Would love to win!

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  124. I like the Elizabeth and Madeline!

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  125. I think my favorite is the Caroline in brandy, but it is so hard to choose!

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  126. I think the Elizabeth would look best in New Mexico!

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  127. i think the elizabeth in camel would be my choice. plus--backpack options and front pockets? ah-maze balls.

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  128. The Caroline has always looked awesome. I've been kicking myself for not getting that bag when i had my little girl 8 months ago.

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