Tote Bags vs. Crossbody | The Best Handbags of 2021

I recently conducted a poll on my YouTube channel asking what you are looking for in a handbag. The results were surprising! Not surprisingly, you were interested in totes. I expected this as I find totes the most handy handbag to have for moms. We have so much to carry, after all: water bottles, sunblock, hand sanitizer, diapers, wipes, wallets, snacks, and who knows what else goes into our Mary Poppins tote bags! 

The part of the poll that surprised me was that most of you are interested in crossbody bags. I had outdated notions of the crossbody. I pictured a student's backpack or a sporty/ bulky crossbody. I am so glad I conducted my poll because it prompted me to look into the best tote and crossbodies on the market. Not only did I discover that you can virtually find any shape handbag you like and can convert it to the crossbody (the handbag retailers are on to our back problems!), but that the bags can actually be stylish. In today's review you'll see something for everyone.  I hope you enjoy today's video. 

Here is a quick guide to the handbag companies featured and their discount codes. I will also list them down below as I discuss the bags in more details. 

⚜️Featured in the video

The American Leather Co. THEDAILY gives 25% off

Tocco Toscano (they have vegan options) TDCXTOS for 15% off

Teddy Blake TBJennC20 for an Extra $20 Off!

Jord (vegan handbags) thedailyconnoisseur25 for 25% off

Svala (vegan handbags) 

Susan Tancer Studios STSJEN20  for $20 off

Mark Cross (luxury handbags) 

 American Leather Co.

The American Leather Co. handbags are made of 100% genuine American leather, antiqued hardware, and beautiful craftsmanship. This particular bag is the Carrie Dome Satchel. I love that it has the chic look of a satchel with the optional crossbody strap. This bag has two exterior front slip pockets, one exterior back pocket, one interior zip pocket, and two interior slip pockets. There is also a large interior compartment and the bag has a top zip closure. The crossbody shoulder strap is adjustable. This bag is so great, I love using it on casual but chic days. For The American Leather Co. use Code THEDAILY gives 25% off. 

Tocco Toscano

Tocco Toscano means "Touch of Tuscany". This is their work BIB (bag in a bag) made of vegan leather. The feel of this bag is just like genuine leather and has a slight pebbled feel to it. My favorite part of this bag is the organizational compartments in the interior. everything is thought out from water bottle storage to lipstick storage! The work BiB can fit into their tote bags to keep you organized. Or, you can use this as a standalone bag. It comes with removable straps. TDCXTOS for 15% off (valid until March 31, 2021). 

This Tocco Toscano nylon bag is so elegant. It gives me glorious preppy/ equestrian vibes. I love the option to use the top handle or the over-the-shoulder strap. Very elegant and high-quality construction. Code TDCXTOS gives 15% off (valid until March 31, 2021).

Teddy Blake

Teddy Blake handbags are made of premium Italian leather by experienced craftsmen in Italy. The bags are characterized by high quality construction and lots of interesting details. I love the vintage glamorous look these bags give. This is the Ava Croco Gold 11". It reminds me of the type of bag Audrey Hepburn would use. It's very sophisticated. The optional crossbody strap make this bag really functional and modern. You can save up to 60% off and the code TBJennC20 gives an Extra $20 Off!

Jord (vegan handbags)

Jord vegan handbags are made from the bark of the cork oak tree. The removal of the bark to create the material for these bags actually removes CO2 from the environment. So, not only are these bags sustainable, but they are doing something good for the environment. I love the unique look of cork and the juxtaposition with the elegant hardware. Jord vegan handbags are luxurious and are so stylish. thedailyconnoisseur25 for 25% off sitewide. 

The following handbag companies were not featured in the video but are worth checking out:

Svala Vegan Leather Handbags  Svala handbags are luxury vegan leather handbags. They have a wide selection of beautifully designed styles that would interest any fashionista who is interested in vegan leather. 

Susan Tancer Studios Susan creates her line of hand-painted and crafted clutches, shoulder and cross body bags, totes and weekenders that are one-of-a kind unique pieces of art – the go-to accessory if you want to stand out from the crowd of mass-production handbags. STSJEN20  for $20 off. 

Mark Cross carries an ultra luxury line of handbags in unique and fashion forward feminine styles. Those with a larger budget, who are interested in a brand outside of the typical luxury bags, will be interested in these excellent handbags. 

⚜️ What I'm wearing in today's video

Velvet by Graham & Spencer jumpsuit

Everlane cashmere sweater

Capsul Jewelry JENNIFER15 for 15% off

Blouse by Lilysilk Daily12 for 12% off

Jeans by Mott & Bow JLS10 for 10% off

Nail polish Londontown JenniferS for 25% off

Mules by Oliver Cabell code JSCOTT10 $10 off

News

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On Instagram

Madame Chic on Instagram... Tag me with your book photos with #jenniferlscott #lessonsfrommadamechic or #connoisseurkids 

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Comment of the Week

Donna writes, "Hi Jennifer, I just made and served the Pineapple Crusted fish for dinner - I used wild Alaskan salmon. My husband and I described it as "different" from any salmon we had ever cooked but we decided that we liked it - that it was a nice change. I used a can of crushed pineapple and I think next time I might drain a little of the juice so that the pineapple mixture is not quite so watery but other than that I wouldn't change a thing. It was a super easy recipe. Thank you so much, donna"

Hi Donna, I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed the pineapple-crusted fish recipe. It is very adaptable and an easy way to add flavor to fish. I like your tip about draining the pineapple. I will try that next time too! 

I hope you enjoyed this weekend's handbag review. If you have any great handbags you want to share, please let us know about them in the comments. If you have any further questions on the subject of handbags, let me know and I can do a follow-up video. 

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*NEW* What's for Dinner? Family of 6 Meal Plan | Winter 2021

Welcome to a brand new episode of What's for Dinner? In today's video I'm compiling the best recipes from our meal plan for the past few weeks. There is something here for everyone and in general, all of these meals were enjoyed by the adults and kids. I hope these meals give you some dinner inspiration for your family. 
 

Pineapple-Crusted Steelhead Trout with Coconut Rice and Green Beans

This is a delicious way to enjoy fish. Salmon works well if you do not have Steelhead trout. For the coconut rice, replace the water in the the rice cooker with coconut milk and cook as usual. Sauté green beans in oil with 1 Tbs soy sauce and 1 tsp crushed garlic. 

Pineapple-Crusted Steelhead Trout

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 1 16oz can crushed pineapple
• 3 Tbs hoisin sauce
• 1 Tbs brown sugar
• 2 Tbs crushed garlic
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 lb Steelhead Trout filet (or salmon)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mix the crushed pineapple, hoisin sauce, and brown sugar until combined. If you are using chunk pineapple, combine those ingredients in a blender. 
2. Prepare your fish by laying it on a greased baking dish. Spread the crushed garlic on the fish and season with salt and pepper. Pour the pineapple mixture on top. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes or until the fish is fully cooked in the center. 
3. Serve with coconut rice and green beans. 

Created using The Recipes Generator

Ground Beef Tacos

These are pretty self-explanatory but I thought I'd include my kids' favorite meal: ground beef tacos. I cook 1 lb ground beef on the stove and drain the fat. Then I add 1/4 cup taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of water and cook for 5 minutes. I like to fry the corn tortillas in oil. I serve various toppings including chopped cilantro, green onions, grated cheese, chopped olives, red onion, and avocado. I finish them off with a squeeze of lime juice. Perfection! 

Steak with herbed butter, mashed red potatoes, and green beans

I am not the best at making steak. I always overcook it! But this herbed butter makes the steak very juicy. I serve this with red potatoes mashed with butter, cream, salt, and pepper and serve with green beans. 

Steak with Herbed Butter

Ingredients

• 2 -4 Sirloin Steak filets
• 1 Tbs chopped parsley
• 1 tsp chopped thyme
• 2 Tbs green onion, chopped
• 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 tsp horseradish
• 1 Tbs dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Cook the steak according to your preference. We sear ours in a skillet for two minutes on each side or until a nice sear forms. We transfer the steak to the oven and finish off under the broiler for 5 minutes, flipping once for medium rare. 
2. While the steaks are cooking, melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, horseradish, mustard, herbs, and onions.  Cook for 2 minutes, or until well-combined. 
3. Serve the steak with the melted herbed butter on top. Serve with mashed potatoes and vegetables of your choice. 

Created using The Recipes Generator

Spinach Artichoke Chicken 

Spinach Artichoke Baked Chicken

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 Tbs crushed garlic
• 6 oz cooked spinach
• 14 oz artichoke hearts, drained
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded 
• 3 Tbs chopped parsley
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp lemon pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together the cream cheese, crushed garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, and chopped parsley until well blended.
2. Prepare the chicken by seasoning it with salt, pepper, and the rest of the seasonings. Placed in a greased pan and top with the spinach artichoke dip. Bake in the oven for 35- 40 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked or until an internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. 

Created using The Recipes Generator

Fried Ravioli with Garden Salad

 I have shared my fried ravioli recipe on the blog before. It's very simple. Beat two eggs in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine one cup of dried bread crumbs with salt, pepper, 1 tsp italian herbs, and 1 Tbs grated parmesan cheese. Dip the ravioli in the egg mixture, coat in bread crumb mixture and fry in oil 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. You could also use an air fryer for these. Serve with a side of marinara sauce and a garden salad. 

Buffalo Chicken Biscuit Bombs 

I originally saw this recipe on Delish but have modified it in the recipe card below. It is easy and a nice refreshing idea for lunch. I served this with grilled asparagus and glazed carrots. For the glazed carrots: boil the chopped carrots until they are cooked through (not mushy). Drain the water.  Cook the carrots on the stove with a pat of butter and a drizzle of honey. Serve hot. 

Buffalo Chicken Biscuit Bombs

Ingredients

• 1 large (or 2 small) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked
• 3 Tbs buffalo sauce
• 1/2 cup softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
• 1 Tbs Ranch dressing
• 1 tube of refrigerated biscuits
• melted butter for topping
• chopped parsley for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. In a mixing bowl, blend the cooked, shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce (if you don't have this you can use hot sauce), cream cheese, shredded cheese, and ranch dressing. 
3. Open the tube of biscuits and roll the biscuits out until they are around 4 inches wide. Scoop the chicken filling on top of the biscuits and then roll the dough around the mixture to create a ball and place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. 
4. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with chopped parsley. 

Created using The Recipes Generator

⚜️ Featured in the video

My Kitchen shop on Amazon (aprons, utensils)

Earrings SKYE Genevieve Jennifer20 for 20% off

Blouse Lilysilk Daily12 for 12% off

Jeans by Mott & Bow JLS10 for 10% off

Nail polish Londontown JenniferS for 25% off

News

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 

On Instagram

Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram... 

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Comment of the Week

KW writes, "So glad to see you using your beautiful china and not saving them for only guests like so many people do!"

Thank you, KW! Always use the best things you have is one of the concepts from Lessons from Madame Chic that has truly made everyday life more pleasurable.

Thank you for joining me for this week's video. I would love to know if you have a great recipe to share. Let us know in the comments or tag me on social media with #dailyconnoisseur

*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

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4 Storage Home Organization Hacks That Have Improved my Daily Life | Clutter-Free January

Clutter-free January concludes as we explore the concept of Home Storage. Clutter-free January was started by Dawn from The Minimal Mom. You can watch the playlist here for the final week to get inspiration on how to deal with storage solutions as well as sentimental items. You can view the playlist here.  

In this video, I share four storage hacks that have improved my daily life in small ways. 

Makeup storage

The problem: My makeup was stored in my bathroom drawers and was not easily accessible. I couldn't see all of the makeup I had easily and ended up only using the same products while letting others go to waste. 

The solution: This countertop clear makeup storage container is easily accessed from my vanity and clearly displays my favorite makeup. 

China storage

The problem: Our tea sets, china, and seasonal platters and dishes were stored up high in our kitchen, not allowing for easy access. Our beautiful pieces were also hidden behind the cupboard doors and not displayed properly.

The solution: A second-hand refinished china cabinet bought on a local buy and sell website now stores our pretty china tea sets and dishes. These items are easily accessible and displayed beautifully. You can find the tea cup stands here and the dish stands here. 

Toy storage

The problem: Toys were jumbled together and created a mess around the home. 

The solution: A cube storage system with canvas bins allow toys to be categorized for easy clean up. An ottoman that doubles as a storage chest allows for easy clean-up with toys in the family room.

Entryway storage 

The problem: Our shoes, coats, backpacks, helmets, and purses were not easily put away when we entered the home.

The solution: The second cubed storage shelf, minus the canvas bins, holds shoes for our family of 6 comfortably. The hooks on the wall easily store our coats, hats, and backpacks. The helmets now rest on the shoe storage for easy access. We also place our family command center in our entryway hallway as well. 

⚜️ Featured in the video

Countertop makeup storage

Emile Cordon lip balms JENN10 for 10% off

MERIT minimalist makeup

Cube storage system (for toys, shoes)

Canvas bins for cube storage

1 Thrive Command Center (wall organizer) Daily10 for 10% off

Spode china from Riverbend Home DCHOL10 for 10% off

Victoria Magazine Blue Roses Tea Set

Steam Mop

1 Thrive Wall Organizer & Command Center

Hooks on the wall

⚜️ What I'm Wearing

SKYE earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off

SKYE Dezi dress Jennifer20 for 20% off

Lilysilk scrunchie Daily12 for 12% off

Londontown nail polish JenniferS for 25% off

Velvet Slippers

Très Chic sweatshirt

Jeans by Mott & Bow JLS10 for 10% off

Everlane Cashmere

News

📍The Feedburner saga continues, but I think we have hope! I received all of the missing blogs via email last week. Did you receive them too? Hopefully the issue is resolved and those of you who subscribed to the blog via email are now receiving notifications for new posts now in your inbox. 

📍Check out The Daily Connoisseur digital wallpapers on Teespring. These charming Parisian prints were designed just for my readers. I love having this as the wallpaper on my computer, rather than the generic pictures offered. 

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 

On Instagram

The Madame Chic books on Instagram... 

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Comment of the Week

Nicole M. writes, "I watch you and I immediately want to cook, clean, declutter. Even as a full-time working mother of 2, I have learned from you that there is always time to take care of my home."

Thank you, Nicole! That is my goal: to inspire you to enjoy the mundane. Thank you!

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Let us know about your storage triumphs or your storage conundrums. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.

*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

FTC: This post is not sponsored. I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links.