THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!
Growing up, I’ve always had backpacks. I carried backpacks to kindergarten, to primary school, to secondary school, to college, to university and on most holidays. These days, I see a lot of university students carrying totes and believe it or not, designer handbags (e.g. Louis Vuitton, Prada, etc) to school. Funny story: The first time I stepped into Louis Vuitton at Chadstone, I was shown a bag by a sales assistant who told me “it would be great for school!“.
Louis Vuitton. For school. Is it just me or is there something wrong with that sentence?
I didn’t know whether to be happy that she thought I was a student or to be insulted that she thought I’d carry such an expensive bag to school!
But anyway, back to backpacks. About 3-4 years ago, I decided that I’m too *ahem* grown up to carry a backpack when travelling. So for those years when I did travel, I used a tote or slingbag instead. I even made fun of Mum when she still carried backpacks on holidays. “But Mum, they don’t look good in photos“, I exclaimed. Mum wouldn’t be swayed. Comfort and ease are too important to her to think otherwise while her silly, hoity toity daughter here carried small slingbags that could barely carry her large wallet and phone, let alone her camera.
Last year, Tim and I went on the longest holiday we’ve had so far, and that was spending 5 weeks in Malaysia and Europe. Instead of being sensible and carry a backpack, I decided to bring a thin-strapped slingbag instead. I ended up carrying so much stuff in that small bag that it felt like I was carrying two bricks with their full weight on just one shoulder. By the end of that holiday, my shoulders were absolutely buggered.
I could hear Mum’s voice in my head “I told you so! I told you so!“.
In June, we visited Japan and this time, I decided to give backpacks a try. Sure it’s not going to look über stylish but I was determined to at least give it a go especially on flights and when we’re travelling by trains to different cities. I even brought along my small slingbag in case I was tired of the backpack. I ended up not using the slingbag at all because it was so much easier having the backpack with me. I didn’t need Tim to carry my water bottles for me. I could bring my camera without any issues and most importantly, the weight of the items I carried was distributed evenly on my shoulders and back thus reducing shoulder and back strain by the end of the day.
I wouldn’t say I’m never, ever travelling with a tote or slingbag again but I have to admit that I’ll be favouring backpacks from now on. The ease and comfort of travelling with one definitely beats style for this one especially if I also need to carry luggage. Having said that, there are plenty of stylish yet affordable backpacks out there so I don’t have to worry about looking super touristy.
At the end of the day, I’m on holiday. People don’t know me from Adam. I mean, if I really wanted to, I could just remove the bag and take photos, right? Yes yes, I’m afraid I’m that vain. 😛
Here’s a chance for you to win a Toffee Backpack!
Well, speaking of backpacks, the lovely people at Toffee has very kindly offered a Beautyholics Anonymous one of their bestselling products, which is the Centennial Backpack I carried in the photos you saw in this post. Toffee is a Sydney-based family-owned accessories brand that offers style and functionality for your digital devices. I’ve seen some of their laptop bags at MYER and they’re really good-looking.
The Centennial Backpack (worth AU$129.95) is crafted from water-resistant waxed canvas and leather trims and has a quilted compartment that can fit up to a 13″ laptop. I don’t have a laptop that small but it first my iPad perfectly, with a lot more room to spare for other things. I’ve had many backpacks before but this is by far my most stylish one. I particularly love the top leather handles that clip together. I’ve never seen backpacks that offer this feature (if you have, let me know which ones!).
The one that I have is in red but not to worry if red isn’t your colour because you get to choose out of the 4 colours that they have. For more information about this backpack, please click here to visit the Toffee website (and then come back here to enter the giveaway!).
HOW TO ENTER:
Simply leave a comment below answering the question:
“If you do win this bag, what would you use it for?”
The most creative answer wins the bag!
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. This contest is open to Australian and international readers.
2. The value of the prize in the contest is AU$129.95.
3. Employees, immediate family members, retailers, suppliers, associated companies and agencies are
not eligible to enter. If you’re not one of them, then feel free to enter regardless of whether you’ve won anything here before.
4. The name of the promotion is: Toffee competition. The promotor is Beautyholics Anonymous in conjuction with Toffee.
5. The conditions of entry are as follows: one comment per contestant answering the question above. Please keep it clean and spam-free.
6. The closing date for this giveaway is 11.59pm, 5 December 2014 (Australian EDT). Comments submitted after this time will not be considered for the giveaway.
7. This is a game of skill. The winner will be awarded based on the strength of their answer to the question “If you do win this bag, what would you use it for?”.
8. The winner of the giveaway will be announced in the Competitions/Giveaway page on 7 December 2014. The winner will also be notified via email.
9. The prize will be in the form of product that will be sent to the winner once address details have been provided after the competition has closed.
10. The winner will be required to submit his/her name and contact address to Beautyholics Anonymous. The contact details then will be submitted to Brand Meets Blog (the liason for the competition), who will be sending the prizes to the winners (please read Beautyholics Anonymous’ privacy statement for more information).
11. The winner must respond to the notification email to claim the prize within 5 working days.
12. Prizes are not redeemable for cash and are non-transferable.
13. If for any reason beyond the Promoter’s control that the agreed prize is not available, a product of equal or greater value will be provided.
14. Beautyholics Anonymous and Toffee are not responsible for prizes once they have been dispatched to the winner. Beautyholics Anonymous and Toffee reserve the right to change the terms of this giveaway at any time.
Good luck! 😀
Comments on this entry are closed.
Hmmmm… Actually I think I would keep snack packs for the homeless in my backpack.
Let me explain. I live in Silicon Valley and while there aren’t very many homeless near where I work or live, I spend every weekend in San Francisco at my best friend’s place. SF is particularly bad when it comes to homeless people and I encounter probably at least 20 just walking to her place from the train station. Now my parents raised me to help others in need and to always be grateful for what I have. My dad goes to the nearest grocery store or fast food store and purchases food if he ever sees homeless people in our town. So to pass so many hungry people on a regular basis has just been killing me and I’ve been trying to think of a way I can carry snacks or small food packs. A medium sized backpack like this would be perfect as I could keep a change of clothes and some toiletries along with as many snack packs as I can carry. A snack pack isn’t much and I can encounter more than 100 homeless on a regular day in SF, but at least it’d be a start.
If I win this bag, it’ll be perfect for my Europe trip in January with my partner. I am with you, I never liked bag packs and always bring shoulder bags for travel and at the end of the day, my shoulders will hurt so much. And yes, water bottles was a problem too. My poor partner will always have to carry 2 big bottles. Also, considering the amount of shopping I’m planning to do in Europe, I would love to win a Toffee Backpack in navy blue 🙂
I really like carrying backpacks especially when travelling but the ones I have are rather boring (typical work type). This Toffee backpack is really cute and I’d love to find something similar locally.
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Ooops, sorry… meant to also comment that I’m not entering the contest 🙂 But good luck to all who are participating!
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I love backpacks but I’m torn about using them for holidays because I don’t find them safe enough if you know what I mean. So I’m in a fix about what to use for a coming trip. But if you go for the fashionable ones (not the sports type), they’re very stylish and hip. I love my MBMJ one! Anyway, Toffee looks great on you!
Oh, this is not an entry. 😉
I have been looking for a backpack that i can carry to work to fit in my laptop and work related documents, etc and thsi would perfectly fit the bill. Tis bag can also double up as my travel bag as I travel alone quite a bit, so this will be handy for me as I can fit all my things in a single bag instead of carrying a camera bag and handbag separately..
I take long walks with my gorgeous 12 yo labradoodle Sidney. On each journey I have a few essentials to pack. Two water bottles – one for me and one for Sidney, wallet, tissues, keys, phone and dog collection bags. So, a bag is quite a necessity – and I feel like I’m letting the team down a bit with my husband’s old 1970s “Skigear” bag! Each time we head out Sidney looks at me to say “really….you have to take that with us?” So you can see my predicament. We don’t travel a lot, we spend most of our time at home here in Tasmania, where there are a lot of gorgeous walks. But the bag, OH THE BAG!
If I do win this backpack, it would be perfect for a carting around things for my son. Although he is long out of nappies, going out with a four year old boy means you need to be prepared with snacks, water bottle and things to entertain him with. I used to carry it all in my hand bag, which used to weight a ton, all those little Match Box cars add up! The Centennial Backpack would be ideal… I think there is more than enough room for a cosmetic bag too!
One thing that cross my mind when reading this post is…
“I think I have to win. Because this >> ” http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5aa1Gi1UuoQ/U3QIQhS1JnI/AAAAAAAAAFk/21R1cF2oOkY/s1600/images.jpeg
Hahaha 😀
The translation: “Sometimes an angel has no wings, but backpack.”
It’s a pic of a Muslim girl in Indonesia college. Most of us didn’t wear fashion bags to college. Mainly because it is not suitable and practical to carry our books and laptop (and expensive, yes)! We prefer backpack (although we do wear fashion bag when hanging out 😉 ).
This pic has been around social media since two years ago, when fashion wave hit Muslim society. This pic is meant for making the-not-so-fashionista-Muslim-girls to feel confident about themselves. Because every girls — with or without wings — are angels! They are beautiful. ^_^
Wow, I’m so sorry for the long post! Final statement: this bag will be a nice addition to my all-black backpacks. Thanks!
I have a husband and two kids and I hate packing for holidays and lugging luggage around, especially when they all think they need to bring everything they own! I would love to go away for a night by myself and only take what I can pack in this awesome backpack! Just to know I could!
I travel overseas a lot for my job and I love to carry backpacks such as these since it fits my work laptop so perfectly. I also love to take pictures so that bag will most likely hold my DSLR camera, and my iPad too for entertainment in the plane. The waxed exterior will also make it water proof, which is definitely important when you are carrying electronics. Love that the design looks so stylish but functional, not much unecessary stuff that will get snagged as you move around but it still keeps the form looking very classy and definitely functional
If I have the good luck to win this, I’d definitely bring it with me for the solo trip I’m planning next year! I’m planning to do a bunch of outdoorsy stuff like hiking as well as touristy things in the city, and I think it’d be versatile enough to make any kind of outfit I’d be in. (Yup, I plan my outfits long in advance, as I’m planning my itinerary, because, well, vain!)
I have a deep aversion for black laptop backpacks … this comes from years of lugging around laptops for business travels. Thank god for smaller, lighter laptops now that I can easily slip in a large tote … I simply can’t go back to backpacks now no matter how convenient it is.
I travelled in Australia for two months using a giant backpack and a medium sized backpack. I could chuck a lot of things in there and don’t have to worry about the weight because it will be evenly distributed on my shoulders. My friends asked me why did I chose to use backpack for my trip because it doesn’t look nice in the photos, and I suppose comfort is more important than fashion to me. Once you start using a backpack, you can never go back to using other kind of bags!
Sorry, I forgot to include, if I win this bag, I would make this bag my travel companion to everywhere I go in future because it would be handy to have the compartments and the quality is durable enough to handle years of travel 🙂
I would use it to carry treats for my dogs.
I love a tote. My pink Michael Kors – I die! My shoulders, however, hate it. Especially now that as a mummy I carry my own stuff (wallet, phone, keys), PLUS the stuff of a six year old (barbie dolls, barbie’s accessories, barbie’s change of outfit, barbie’s other change of outfit), PLUS the stuff of a toddler (nappies, wipes, snacks, sippy cup, dolly, books). So the gorgeous toffee backpack (love the red canvas) would be loved by not only my little ones and me but by my shoulders too.
backpacks are a hit in fashion once again. They are very useful, reliable and i’m able to stuff my laptop and other work related stuff inside. It’s like in sch days where everyone had one in school and i think it’s really cool to bring to work ;D
One of my must-visit-soon destinations is Venice which has, just yesterday, announced that they are considering a ban on wheeled luggage bags! Since Venice doesn’t require a long stay and I travel very light, I can leave my big luggage bag in another city (which I have done in the past since I typically visit 2 or 3 cities each time I travel all the way to Europe) and simply tote the Toffee backpack and perhaps a small hand carry for the Venice leg. And I could then use the Toffee backpack to house my camera and water bottles as I get lost in the narrow streets of the city. Perfect solution!
And the bonus is that I get to look good with the well-designed backpack!
If i do win the back pack… i can share this bag with my 2 daughter every time they had their swimming competition. Both of them are swimmers and instead of bring lots 2-3 bag at once..we can reduce it to 1 bag…. It lessen the load/weight if we could bring one bag with comfortable and sturdy straps….Not to mention the shape of the backpack… it balances the posture of your back.
Thanks.
If I won the backpack, I’d probably name it (yep, after one of my favourite characters – give it a bit of personality somehow!) and take it to work – course textbooks, marking schemes, assignments and chic stationery aren’t exactly easy to tote around in teeny, tiny handbags after all.And, well, if I manage to inspire a bit of bag envy in my students and colleagues, well, maybe they should go get Toffee bags too, hmmm?
I have been searching forever for a stylish backpack that I can take with me on holidays and for work. Currently the best I have found is a Lululemon backpack that is made out of shiny sporty type material, but I have still been taking it with me to work (because like you, my shoulders and back ached! And I was spending too much money on physio!).
After seeing your post I have found my dream backpack, especially having JUST booked a 2 week holiday to Japan (my favourite holiday destination) that will involve a bit of walking in, and not having the convenience of throwing my things in the car as I’m lucky enough to have here in Australia.
I am really torn on what colour I would choose though – red looks amazing on you and I would pick it in a flash, but I think that choosing blue will be easier for me to convince my boyfriend that the backpack will look good on him too!! You know, for when my shoulders start to ache after he dumps his stuff in my bag too 😉
Regardless of whether I win this competition, I’ve just found my next lust item (as well as some other things I have found on the Toffee website like the mini leather bag!)
If I win this bag, I would use it for short trips of two to three days and also for trekking trips as it will be comfy to carry around.
I will use this backpack to pretend to be a turtle. I will fill it with turtles.
For my honeymoon! It would make sense to share the load with my hubby to be!
If by any chance i win this bag then i will use it to carry my favourite book, my sunglasses ,my phone ,a tablet and it will stay with me always…
The backpack looks absolutely lovely! If I win this bag, it’ll become my number one assistant. “Hey Toffee, hold this for me real quick.” “Toffee? I need you to take care of these folders.” We’d be a pretty awesome team (;
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So – as you know, I’m a dancer. And therefore have VERY stinky dance shoes – they really are offensive. This would be perfect as the laptop sleeve I could stuff with lavender and other nice smelling things, and then throw my shoes in there, and they wouldn’t infect the rest of my items, which could live happily in the same bag instead of me needing to cart 3 bags everywhere when I want to go dancing (which would be every night then).
Help save my car from stinking out/other people’s noses smelling my wallet/notebook/keys that get thrown in with my shoes, and let my shoes feel like ‘one of the guys’ in the same bag as other items I need to lug around instead of being relegated to a nasty looking shoe-bag of their own…..
Oh – and I’d use it to look so damn cool too, natch! 😛
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The backpack is gorgeous 🙂 My answer is pretty simple actually. If I do win this bag, I would give it to my husband. His work bag is actually a backpack cum laptop bag (although he seldom brings his laptop to work) and it is in tatters! LOL. I did want to buy him a new bag or he could probably buy one himself but he is stubborn and prefer to use it until it is totally unusable. Typical of guys not to bother about how they look with the torn bag compared with us women. LOL. It would be a nice surprise for him and hopefully it will be in the colour black 🙂
What a lovely backpack! I currently use a tote to walk to and from uni but several years of daily service later and it definitely needs a lighter load. After numerous repairs, sewing the straps back on, patching the holes from wear and tear, my faithful bag needs some rest and relaxation. This backpack would be perfect for books, papers, laptop, and tablet and of course, snacks. Thanks for offering this pack and I promise to give it a very good home!
Bueno, dijiste que ganaba la respuesta más creativa y la única opción más fuera de lo común que se me ocurrió fue haciéndolo en dos idiomas (lo haría en tres, pero mi francés se queda corto), soy una persona con tendencias de acumulador así que mis mochilas o bolsos son el mundo de los por si acaso, así que dependiendo mi faceta (ya sea estudiante, explorador, maquillador, hermano mayor, etc.) llevo ciertas cosas pero nunca falta mi navaja, mi bálsamo labial y papel de baño. Así que le daría mil usos, podría hasta llevar a mi perro en ella.
Well, you said that most creative answer win and the only out of this world option I thought about was doing it in two languages (I would do it in three, but my French it’s not good enough), I’m a person with a tendency to full his backpack and bags with many “just in case” products, so depending of my side (like student, explorer, make up artist, big brother, etc.) I carry some particular things but I always have with me my Swiss knife , my lip balm and toilet paper. So I’d give it many uses, even I could carry my dog in it.
If you do win this bag, what would you use it for?
I will use it for my next year’s Philipines travel as by using this bag, it will make my life easier as I will not has shoulder pain problem by using sling bag.
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If I win this bag, I’ll use it for office use. I’ll carry all the essential items required for my office use, daily.
Omg what a very nice backpack, Tine! I really need one since now I walk with my 3y.o. & I have to hold her hand everytime while do many many things at the same time hehe.. would be grateful to have that backpack as an early xmas pressie 🙂 thx and hv a great day to you!
If I do win this bag, I need it for travel! Definitely a stylish and durable travel backpack that can last for years, fits my 13-inch macbook, camera and travel essentials. In addition, my partner can use this bag too! One bag that suits for couple, definitely a good deal!
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If I win this bag, I would use it for school! I am in dire need of a new backpack 🙂
In another life in another universe I could hopefully dream of using this backpack as I trek through the jungle accompanying Jane Goodall with camera at the ready, to capture the beautiful chimpanzees. Carrying water, camera equipment, and the obligatory earogard.
But alas my life is one of normality of an everyday mum. The backpack would be so useful carrying my son’s sheet music to piano lessons; my daughter for her change of clothes and water to gymnastics; for me on my daily ventures out and about, slung over the stroller carrying an assortment of toddlers necessities and for my sports gear as I make my way to the gym. My hubby would love it to carry his laptop and bring home all his thesis writing for me to type up. So you see this backpack would have a myriad of uses and would be very appreciated in our busy little household.
I would use it whenever I go out so I can stop making my boyfriend carry my heavy purse/tote bag, especially at the mall. Lol I tend to carry things I don’t even need, even a mini flashlight…. Haha =)
I have been thinking of getting a backpack for our next trip to Asia (hello shopping!). It would be very convenient to put my gadgets in it (I have a 13″ notebook. Yehey!). I have been thinking recently that it has been quite inconvenient to have something hanging off your arm when you need all of them free to shop and carry those bags. Like you, I usually prefer totes and shoulder bags but looking back on my Japan trip last year, a backpack would have been handier. Mind you, I stuff my purchases into my partner’s empty backpack which he carries for that particular purpose. His backpack though is soooo old and ratty and a little bit embarrassing. 🙂
So, if I win this backpack, I will stuff my travel essentials and my shopping in there. My partner will be so pleased that he is not the only one suffering with the weight of what I buy. Plus, there will be more room for my purchases! And, I might even inspire him to get his own…and we will have backpack twins! Haha!
Hi!
I’d use it for anything depending if it matches with what I’m wearing and or occasion. But this year I’ve been on the lookout for a cool backpack because it’s in trend and I’d definitely love one to travel with. Sometimes carrying a handbag when travelling can be tiring since it either goes over one shoulder or I hold it or its hooked at my elbow. If I won this cute backpack I’d totally be using it a lot. Lots of space for the everyday essentials and not killing my arms. Definitely something to invest in.
one month before we go to Malaysia for holiday, me and my bestie go to department store to find a backpack for our holiday,, and I see one red backpack with gold chain, it’s really cool and match with my bestie,, but because of the price, we didn’t buy it.. Lols.. We must save money for our culinary food at Malaysia..
So if I win it, I will use it for my holiday at Malaysia, but,if that bag doesn’t match with me, I will give it to my bestie as a Christmas gift.
Maybe I hope she will give me a thomassabo necklace.. XD
We have a same taste about red backpack.
This backpack would carry my education and experiences; it would ultimately become my new college companion! It’s the perfect size and shape for my sketchbooks and laptop, and would come at the perfect time being that I have no money (hah, college student, go figure). It would surely impress my graphic designer friends, as it’s so stylish and modern. It would literally make my day just seeing it! I constantly faun over bags like this, so receiving one would make my broke college heart smile! Although I don’t think that I could rock it as well as you do, I would surely try ;P
hi tine ..if i win this i would give it to my little niece .I know she will love it and getting this as gift would set her off to the moon.she would use it for keeping her barbie dolls (i know crazy right ),cute little hair tictacs and for her school picnics .
If I won this backpack, I’d use it as a ‘cat receptacle’…my cat loves hiding in shopping bags and empty cardboard boxes, and this backpack is right up his alley!
*ahem* I may not fall under your usual group of followers anymore as I’m going to be carrying snacks, water bottles, nappies, wallet and maybe a newborn in it! (Just kidding with the newborn,I’ll have a carrier for him).. I have 2 little ones stuff to carry now and this backpack will be great when out and about in public transport. No heavy tote bag and I have both hands free to hold my toddler, because totes always slide down my shoulders.