Thank you all for your great input! My husband and kids - ages 8 and 3 (who know NOTHING about LV) all voted for the Damier too! The kids liked the "checkerboard" style. You were all so great with your opinions! THANK YOU!!!
Do what I would do!! Get both in front of you, in the sizes you want, then mix them up with your eyes closed, and pull one of them out. Which ever you get, is the one you'll buy. You choose it for a reason, its destiny.
Get 'em both. Get the Damier for this Christmas since the its leather is tough enough for the winter weather. Save up for the Monogram. You'll need them both anyway.
Get the Mono!! It's cuter. All LV's are eventually faked so that shouldn't be the reason to get the damier. The Speedy 30 mono is so cute how it's a lil slouchy. The damier is really masculine doctor bag stiff IMHO. :shame: