Hot Mama Handbags Review and Giveaway

When I first started looking for a diaper bag about a year ago now, I must say, I wasn’t really impressed with what the stores were offering. I could’ve found something I liked more for well over $100, but I really couldn’t see spending that kind of cash on something just so I could carry around a cuter diaper bag. Let’s face it, there was a good chance it would get puke and/or poop on it and I’m not in the habit of spending that much on something that may end up ruined. I ended up purchasing a plain old brown diaper bag from the baby store. It was plenty big and not exactly ugly, but not really with any style to it either.

About a month or so ago I was reading a blog (sorry nameless blog, I can’t remember which you were now) and they were talking about Hot Mama Handbags. I instantly fell in love with these bags. They are so cute AND affordable! I immediately went and checked out her etsy store and blog to look over more of her work. As Rosemary is getting older, (7.5 months now!) I no longer need the humongous starter diaper bag that fits everything but the kitchen sink. I was definitely in the market for a new bag and I thought a Hot Mama Handbag would be exactly what I needed.

Maranda is a mom of two and started making these wonderful bags for the obvious reason; she herself needed a fabulous diaper bag to tote around her own baby supplies. The rest is history. Now Maranda makes these bags in three great sizes to accommodate your personal needs. The bags in my opinion are perfect for a diaper bag, a purse, a beach bag, and overnight bag – the list goes on. She also makes wristlets, changing pads, key fobs and more that you can buy separately or have her make to match your bag.

I really love how you can get everything to match if you'd like!

When deciding which fabric I wanted for my own bag, I had such a hard time narrowing it down! Maranda has a large selection of fabric, so I’m sure everyone can find something they love. I really loved this bag in the Del Hi Earth fabric, but I also was thinking I wanted it a little different at the top, so I asked her to do the top section and the straps in just a dark brown. She was perfectly happy to accommodate my individual needs. So, when you're looking through her products, even if you see a bag exactly the way you'd like it, just know it's no problem at all to have her tweak it a bit. Maranda will work with you on whatever you’d like!

Since there are so many fabrics to choose from for both the inside and outside of the bag, different sizes, different strap choices - I feel like Maranda does such an excellent job of making the bags unique to each individual owner. The possibilities really are endless with all the choices.

After I chose my fabric, I had another hard decision – size. I was torn between the Medium Emma bag and the Large Emma bag. I decided to go with the Medium Emma as I really was looking for a smaller bag that I could take on my daily errands, like to the library or the grocery store.

I think it was three or four days later and Maranda sent me an email saying my bag was ready to ship. Amazing turnover time! Two days later, I had my perfect bag!

My bag!

I’m not kidding when I say it’s perfect! I love, love, LOVE how it turned out! I can’t believe she MADE this bag. It honestly looks straight out of the store and you would never have guessed someone sewed this at home. The bag is absolutely perfect for my style, but it’s also perfect for my needs as a mother too. In my Emma bag there are 6 pockets which make for perfect little sections for all my random toys and accessories for Rosemary. It has a nice magnetic snap to keep the bag securely closed. There is also a nice key hook at the top of the bag so I can attach my keys so they don’t fall to the bottom which avoids me constantly having to dig around in there.

In my Emma bag here’s what I’m carrying now just so you can get what that size will hold: 2 burp cloths, 3 diapers, wipe case, change of clothes for Rosemary, small blanket, my wallet, my cell phone, two little toys for Rosemary, my camera, and a bit of room to spare for any last minute add ons. Pretty good for a small bag that passes as a purse!

Hot Mama Handbags has an etsy store, a website and a facebook page that you can go to check out all of Miranda’s different products, fabrics, prices and any other details you’d need to get your very own Hot Mama Handbag (or accessories)! These bags are perfect for yourself, make a great gift, or she even has gift certificates available as well.

For the month of June, Maranda has graciously offered all of my readers free shipping on their purchases! At the end of your purchase, enter the code MAMA STORK – FREE SHIP.

For one even luckier reader, you are able to win $25 dollars to Hot Mama Handbags!

To enter simply visit the Hot Mama Handbags etsy store or website and return here commenting on something you'd love to have. Please leave an email so I can contact you if you're my winner.

For extra entries you may do any or all of the following:

1. Follow my blog publicly via Google Connect (over on the right side bar). You must follow publicly in order for this to count. Current followers just have to write that you already follow me. (2 entries)

2. "Like" A Mama Stork Knows on facebook - must do this as an individual (adding as your blog favorite will not count)

3. "Like" Hot Mama Handbags on facebook - must do this as an individual (adding as your blog favorite will not count)

4. Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may do this once a day. Please leave a url so I can check your tweets. If you don't tweet, you may instead add this as your facebook status. You may use the following to tweet/post:
"Enter to #win a Hot Mama Handbag Gift Certificate over at @AMamaStorkKnows http://bit.ly/d74lYD #giveaway RT"

5. Add my button to your blog or add me to your blogroll; leave your blog url so I may check

6. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs and/or Picket Fence Blogs. This may be done once daily.

Leave separate comments for all of your entries and remember to leave an email address in at least one of them so I may contact you. You must do the main entry in order to win the Hot Mama Handbags Gift Certificate. Good luck!!

Giveaway is open to entrants in the U.S. and ends on June 22, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A comment number will be drawn at random from random.org. Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. If I don't hear back, another winner will be selected.


I was provided with this product free of charge by the highlighted company and/or its PR agency in order to test the product first hand and to provide you with my personal opinion on it. The opinions I have provided are mine and mine alone. I am in no way required to write a positive review and my review was not influenced in any way by monetary means. Please investigate before any and all purchases as I am not liable nor responsible for any losses nor damages you may incur. Please read my Terms of Use before entering this contest.