I can easily admit that I’ve been eying Vera Bradley bags for, literally, years. I’ve admired friends’ bags, carried them around the store trying to decide if I wanted to purchase one and played around on the Vera Bradley website checking out the hundreds of style and color combinations. Now that I have a Vera Bradley of my very own, I have to say I’m a convert.

About Very Bradley

Young, mature, sophisticated, playful… women of all ages love Vera Bradley! And our phenomenal growth rate for the past five years shows this!
Our Mission: To design, manufacture and internationally market a distinctive line of superior quality handbags, travel items, stationery, eyewear and accessories that convey the Vera Bradley image and unique lifestyle. Currently, we release new colors and styles each season.

Get Carried Away Tote

The ultimate in travel, our Get Carried Away Tote is designed to function as a travel companion. Unique, breakaway zipper gives the option of securely closing the bag (like a duffel or luggage item) or leaving it wide open! Tons of pockets (some plastic-lined!) and positionable shoulder pads make traveling comfortable and easy. Go ahead, Get Carried Away!

Tote Features

The Get Carried Away Tote is huge, like so big I can fit my 21 month old child inside. See:

Generous Sized Tote Bag

Technically, the Tote is 18¼ inches wide by 15½ inches tall and 7½ inches across with a 12½ inch strap. In mama’s terms, that means it’s plenty big enough to function as a diaper bag, more than enough room for a gym bag and perfect for a weekend getaway. I am already daydreaming about what I’m going to pack when I escape for a girls’ resort and spa night away in a few weeks, and it will literally be the only bag I bring. While it’s very roomy, the Tote isn’t overwhelming. Don’t you hate when you find a great bag, but the bag itself weighs a million pounds before you even put anything in it? Well, this isn’t like that. It’s made of 100% cotton so the material is lightweight (and machine washable!). And, if you pack heavy and fill this sucker up, there are padded shoulder straps to make it more comfortable to carry.

Great Organization

The pockets and storage on the Get Carried Away Tote are awesome. There are four outside pockets – one on every side. There are eight inside pockets. Two of the inside pockets are elasticized and plastic-lined, making them perfect for sippy cups or water bottles that may leak or sweat. The six interior slip pockets are about 7 inches deep, two are longer (about 7.5 inches) and four are about 4 inches wide. The bag can be zippered closed, which is a great benefit for traveling (and nosy kids).

Be Colorful

The only concern I’ve ever had about buying a Vera Bradley bag is what makes a Vera a Vera – the fabrics. I tend to go with more neutral, safe colors and patterns in my clothes and accessories. But, the funny thing is I always admire and like Vera Bradley bags when I see others carrying them. Now that I have one of my own, it’s totally grown on me and I love the blend of roses and pinks and purples in the Very Berry Paisley pattern. The paisley pattern that covers the majority of the bag is accented with a round flower pattern that also lines the inside of the bag.

Now, for those of you that shy away from the patterns, the Vera Vera Collection is made of solid black or brown microfiber. The collection has the same function and usefulness of all Vera Bradley bags, and a very different look.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… I think the conversion is official – I’m now a Vera Bradley Mama. (Next on my list? The Jewelry Box is perfect for travel.) I love how roomy the Tote is and really appreciate the pockets and storage options.

Or Not to Buy… I do wish there was an internal zipped pocket or an attached key fob or key hook. I tend to, um, misplace keys and that kind of helps me out a bit.

Shop! The Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote is $88 and the complete color collection is on VeraBradley.com. You can also find many Vera Bradley bags and accessories on Vera Bradley.

Win! A Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote in Very Berry Paisley!

How to Enter: Browse around Vera Bradley and leave a comment here with another bag or pattern that catches your eye.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

• Follow Vera Bradley on Twitter
• “Like” Vera Bradley on Facebook
• Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
  Win a Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote ($88) and #becolorful @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/9YWWcG
• Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook. Leave another comment if you Share the post on your Facebook wall.
• Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS

Giveaway ends September 15. Open to US residents only.

I received a sample product and giveaway prize from Vera Bradley.

I love Rice Krispies Treats. Love them. But, when I was asked to participate in the Rice Krispies Recipe Box Challenge to come up with a new and creative recipe, I have to admit I was hesitant. Because, really? I’m not creative in the kitchen. I’m more of a follow a recipe gal than a make up a recipe gal. But I decided to go with the challenge full steam ahead and came up with several recipes that I think are delish.

Rice Krispies Treat Challenge

• Theme: Make your Rice Krispies Treats Recipe an after school conversation starter.
• Rule: Treat must contain fruit or nut.
• On the line: Pride. And, the best recipe among the 10 participating bloggers will be featured on RiceKrispies.com!
  

After School Rice Krispies Treats

I need help picking THE BEST Treat to submit for the contest. Check out my four options and VOTE for the Treat you think looks like the best “after school conversation starter”. I’ll share the (very complicated ::cough::) recipe for the winning Treat on Thursday, September 2.

#1: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Treat

#2: Choco-Monkey Sandwich Treat

#3: Nutter-Monkey Sandwich Treat

#4: Lots of Love Lollipop Treat

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Win! If you leave a comment with how you voted in the poll, you’ll be entered to win Two Rice Krispies™ Snap Crackle and Pop™ Bowls.

This post is part of a compensated program for Rice Krispies facilitated by TheMotherhood.com. (Read the complete rules.)

I’m pretty sure I’ve said it before, but I’ll go ahead and say it again. I don’t enjoy packing a school lunch. I dread it every school morning. But when I find a product that helps me pack a lunch, is good for the environment and makes my son smile – it’s all good. Enter Citizenpip.

About Citizenpip

Created by a mom of three who found herself packing and tossing out a few too many plastic baggies one day, Citizenpip® offers an easy alternative to the disposable lunch. By making it easy to pack a waste-free lunch, our goal at Citizenpip® is to encourage more families to ditch the disposables and go reusable.

Citizenpip Starter Kit

The Starter Kit is a complete lunch set ideal for kids of all ages. It includes an Insulated Lunch Box, Stainless Steel Water Bottle and FOUR Airtight Food Containers (one 20 ounce sandwich size, one 8 ounce, and two 5 ounce containers). The Airtight Containers snap open and closed easily, and still seal tightly to make the container leakproof and watertight. Because I am terribly uncreative when it comes to packing lunches, I have yet to figure a way to even use all of the containers that come with the set and I consider that a good thing. Another big plus? The containers are dishwasher safe.

At 10.5 by 9 inches, the Citizenpip Lunch Box is larger than others we’ve used, but it is also the only set we have that holds a drink inside. I love that I can pack up my son’s ENTIRE lunch in one container. Because, obviously lunch includes a drink, and I really appreciate that the Starter Kit comes with a Water Bottle and is large enough to actually contain it. And, speaking of the Water Bottle, it is stainless steel and holds 16 ounces of liquid. It keeps water quite cool and even helps keep the other food in the Insulated Lunch Box cool. Should your child drip or make a bit of a mess (never!), the Lunchbox wipes clean easily with a damp cloth.

You can see the Lunch Box size in comparison to my small closing-in-on-4-year-old. He was proud (and easily able) to carry it to his first day of school this week. (And please ignore his goofy faces. He was woefully uncooperative during my first day of school picture session.)

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Citizenpip has really thought of everything – and done it all right – with this lunch box system. From being “muck free” (no lead, no BPA, no phthalates) to the spot to write your child’s name on the outside of the Lunch Box to claim it forever to the functional and easy to use food containers, it’s really a solid product.

Or Not to Buy… I’d really like to see a Toddler or Junior size Citizenpip Lunch Box. A smaller lunch box with smaller water bottle and less containers would be plenty for a preschooler. I also hope they expand the Insulated Lunch Box selection.

Shop! The 6-piece Starter Kit is $42. For older children, tweens and teens, check out the Soup to Nuts Kit for $69 which also includes a stainless steel food jar, knife and fork and cotton napkins. If you already have a Lunch Box you like, you can purchase the Airtight Containers separately. SAVE! Use code SHOPPINGMAMA10 for 10% off your purchase!

Win! Citizenpip Starter Set of Your Choice!

How to Enter: Check out Citizenpip and the Insulated Lunch Box patterns. Leave a comment suggesting a new pattern or design you’d love to see them add to the collection.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

• Follow Citizenpip on Twitter
• Like Citizenpip on Facebook
• Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do.
  Pack a waste-free lunch with Citizenpip – win a Starter Lunch Box Kit @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/af6dm4
• Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook? If you Share on your Facebook, leave another comment.

Giveaway ends September 10. Open to Continental US mailing addresses only.

Disclosure: Thanks to Smitten NYC for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prizes. Opinions here are my own.