Get Organized with Thirty-One Totes

Confession: I am a bag lady.

Purses, tote bags, cute re-usable shopping bags. All that stuff.

A friend introduced me to Thirty-One Gifts and its like a bag-lady shopping spree. I think I might be getting close to actually owning 31 bags from them - mostly multiples of my favorites in various colors.  The patterns are fun and bright (and I’m excited that they finally got pink!) and are pretty durable, because I do drag a bag around and put it through some work.

These are my favorites and I keep coming up with more uses for them.

A few of my 31 bags

Large Utility Tote. I own three, or maybe four.  

(It's the big blue one with Just Piddlin' embroidered on it, in the photo)

It’s large enough to hold a small child. Or laundry, to the Laundromat or on a roadtrip. It holds all the towels and snacks and goggles for a day at the pool or beach.  Or all the stuff that you keep in the back of your trunk – more reusable grocery bags, a pair of sneakers, wipes, tennis balls (everyone does carry all this in their trunk, right?)  Keep one packed in your car for the impromptu fun day - balls, sunscreen, frisbees, picnic blanket.

As an indie writer and publisher - I have one specifically for book vendor events to carry all the materials (tablecloths, bookstands, decorations, etc.) that I need for my table.

Utility Tote with pockets. I own three - two regular ones and one with a zip-top.

The Organizing Utility Tote is a great mobile office

This is a great bag to be used as a mobile office, whether for “real work” or “mom work”.

I use it for my PTA meetings to carry my files and notes that I’ll need, and fill the pockets with other random items – pens, notecards, snacks, a bottle of water.

For my sorority conferences, I tend to volunteer in some of the behind-the-scene tasks, so I’m running around a lot. In my bag, I carry paperwork and schedules, snacks and personal items in a Zipper Pouch, and in the pockets I have all the things I need to get to quickly – my phone, room keys, pens, candy and a bottle of water.

The Zipper Pouch helps to organize everything in the big bag

And again – as the small business woman – it’s perfect to carry the supplies I need for book vendor events.

I've seen other moms use these as diaper bags and the family tote bag for all the stuff you need for a day out.  For the kids' sporting events, pack your snacks, hand wipes, cowbells, a hat, and (for the swimming and track parents) a book.  Going to the park? Water bottles, first aid kit, snacks, bubbles, hat, sunscreen - it all fits in there. Since the bags are wipe-able clean, you don't have to worry about the little spills from all your necessities.

Zipper Pouch.  I own two and need at least one more.

Always have your crochet or knitting project with you

Since I carry so many big tote bags, I needed a way to organize and collect the small things in my life. These are the perfect size for an iPad, as well as a wallet, keys, phone, inkpens and a lipgloss – all the important miscellaneous for the day.

I use another one for my yarn project.  It fits a small skein and a pair of needles or a hook. I can take along a small project – a scarf, a headband, the beginnings of a blanket – wherever I go.

I have the regular sized ones; there's also mini and thermal ones.

Organizing Shoulder Tote.  I own one.

For those days when all you need is a phone, lipstick & keys.

I was given this one as a gift and immediately, I knew I would use it for those outings when I don’t really need a purse, but do need to carry around all my miscellaneous personal items (see all the stuff I carry in the Zipper Pouch.)  I use it when I’m at a community volunteer activity or a day out wandering with the kids.  I’ve also found it to be a great size for the traveling knitting or crochet project - since it hangs on my shoulder, I can walk and stitch at the same time.

Okay. Am I up to 31 yet?  I’m pretty close. And I think I’ve left out a few.  Go – check out the site for my favorite Thirty-One Gifts consultant, Sakima - she's set up a special page for Just Piddlin' readers - and see how these bags can help organize your life.  And if you come up with any other great ideas - leave them in the comments (I can always use another excuse for a new bag.)

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Pack Your Bags: For a Fun Day Out

Yesterday, we hit an odd busy day – the kids were busy with tennis, swimming, school orientation, summer work, but somehow all were to be done by 11 am.  We had nothing to do the rest of the day.  So while everyone was out, I packed some sandwiches, sliced up a watermelon and filled a couple of gallons jugs with water and sweet tea, and threw it all in the cooler.  Next, I grabbed up their bathing suits and a change of clothes.  I made my bus-route of picking everyone up, then headed to the beach.  Its about an hour drive and was a fun something different to do for the day.

As much as I enjoy staying home and letting the kids go off to find their own adventure, I also like packing them up and wandering around town.  We might go to the zoo or the museum, head off to find some great ice cream, or go to a park we haven’t been to before, or at least in a while.  Obviously, not necessarily any epic adventure, just a change of scenery.

My tote bag, cooler, and picnic blanket - ready for a last minute plan

To be ready for a spontaneous day, it’s helpful to have summer supplies on hand.  I have a couple large totes to corral all of our stuff and a few constants that stay in the bags, so we’re ready to go kinda easily.

• A picnic blanket – I picked up a durable one at Target, and another disposable-if-needed one at $5Below.
• Balls – basketball, tennis – for a stop at the park or entertainment while waiting for a sibling
• A towel – just because
• Wipes

I also asked a friend, Adrienne Lynne, a busy mom of 5, what she carries in her Utility Totes (like the blue one in the photo). Here's what she said.

I use this bag almost every day, well at least one of the 10 that I have! (Yes, I said T-E-N!!!) This is the most versatile bag I have ever owned. There are so many different uses for this bag, but right now, this bag holds all of our summer fun car activities. With five kids, I always have to be prepared for fun, and since it’s summer, and we are on the go constantly, I have to carry “fun” with me! So, this week in my Large Utility Tote I have the following:

• 2 Basketballs

• Several Frisbies

• Bubbles

• Blankets

• Towels

• Sidewalk Chalk

• Tennis balls

• Tennis racquets

• Zipper Pouch filled with bug spray, sunscreen and handi-wipes

• Notebooks

• Crayons, pens, pencils (in my Mini Zipper Pouch)

• Trash bags

And I even have room for a few extra items that I may grab on the way out the door!

We seem like-minded in also carrying a smaller bag for other stuff we just might need.  I use a collapsible basket, Adrienne has an Organizing Utility Tote.   

• In mine, I have: a magazine or two, hand wipes, a jar full of change (parking meters and bubble gum machines), a small bottle of lotion, and a couple of crayons.  
• Some of the stuff she carries:  I keep some magazines and notebooks in the main compartment at all times. I always have a little extra room for those last minute additions, like camera, jacket, etc. just in case! And then the pockets…there are seven-pockets on the outside and I can fill each one easily! I always have at least 2 water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, and still have room for my keys and my cell phone!

I’m sure every mom worth her melted crayons has a stash of fun stuff in her car.  What’s in your trunk that we’re missing?

Click here to order your Utility Tote through my favorite 31 Consultant, Sakima.

Hold Everything - My First Giveaway Contest!

It's summer time and the livin' is easy.  Hopefully, you and and your family and friends are going out for fun activities, maybe a picnic, a day at the beach.  How're you going to get all your stuff there? How about in a durable, decorative bag from 31 Gifts?

This month, I am hosting my first give-away (don't you love winning fun stuff?)!  For your next day out in the sun, you can win a Picnic Thermal Tote from 31 Gifts.  It's an insulated tote that you can carry to the beach, to the park, vacation.  Or if you're schedule is like mine, load it up with snacks for a day of running around; it's so much easier and less expensive to have juice, water, and munchies on hand rather than having to stop when someone gets cranky.

This tote is a favorite of Adrienne Lyne, my 31 Gifts consultant.

I almost always have the Picnic Thermal Tote with me! Since it’s the weekend, and we will be spending some quality family-time together, I have packed a wonderful snack bag for our time together! (I am cheating…I have two Picnic Thermal Totes with me!) I start by filling a Ziploc bag with ice to keep it all cool. I add several juice boxes and water bottles, some cubed cheese, grapes, lunchmeat, and some salad fixin’s (for my carb-free husband). And my other Picnic Thermal Tote is Mommy’s Survival Kit – two bottles of wine!

How do you get a chance to win?  Two simple steps.

1 - Follow my blog by email or RSS feed (there's a button/email fill-in space over on the right of the page) or "like" my FaceBook page - Just Piddlin' with Frances.  (If you have already done this, you can go on to step 2.)

2 - On FaceBook, answer the poll question (posted June 15): Where is your favorite spot for a picnic?  If you aren't on FaceBook, you can post your answer in the comments on this page.

Easy, right?  Of course - I want to leave you time to get out and enjoy your summer day.

Prize winner will be selected randomly from FaceBook page fans and blog followers, combined, on June 30, 2012.  Winner must be a person, not a business entity or organization. We will attempt to contact winner by FaceBook or email for a mailing address to deliver prize.  If winner does not respond within 3 days or declines prize, another winner will be selected.  Winner will not be expected to pay any costs to this blog to enter the drawing or for the prize.  Winner will be announced when prize is accepted.

Pack Your Bags! For the Pool & Swim Meet

In my last swim team post, I talked about practice and swim meets.  Now let’s look in our swimmer’s bag. You know he needs a bathing suit and some goggles.  What else?  (And again, thanks to Coach Jenn from RMSC and Tilden Woods, for her helpful tips.)

Ready for the pool!

What kind of bag?

Your child’s bag should be easy to get into, large enough for all of their stuff, and water-proof.  Backpacks made by water sports companies like Speedo are a popular choice, however, these may seem expensive for a summer-only swimmer.  A regular sports duffel/gym bag works well, too.  Put some kind of luggage-tag or identifier on the bag; you can imagine how many blue backpacks are lying around on the pool deck.

In the bag

Be sure to check his bag before each meet.  Yes, because the goggles were there after the last meet, you would think they would still be in there.  But do you really trust that he put them back after playing at the pool with his friends or that she remembered to tell you that her swim cap tore?

• Flip-flops/Crocs/sandals – water-proof shoes
• Towel
• Goggles (2 pairs), favorite pair plus an extra pair in case 1^st gets lost or broken
• Swim cap (2 – for same reason as 2 goggles) – team cap, if you have one.
• Team bathing suit – Yes, they are a bit more expensive than the one you bought at Sports Authority or Target, but for the meet, Coach Jenn says that its “always nice to look like a unified team by all having the same suit & swim caps.”
• Team t-shirt
• Water-proof sunscreen and lip protection (yes, even for the brown-skinned swimmers - they will burn, too, just ask my kids)
• Hydration – water, Gatorade, coconut water
• Healthy snacks – peanut butter, nuts, cheese sticks, carbs, fresh fruit, pretzels or chips (but watch the salt – swimmers don’t really sweat too much)
• Entertainment – book/magazine, cards.  I wouldn’t advise electronic equipment or anything expensive, not only because of the obvious potential for water damage, but the bags are often left unsupervised while the children compete and wander around the pool deck
• For evening meets – a sweatshirt, tight-woven cap or towel for wet hair
• For after the meet, if needed: multi-purpose wash/shampoo, swimmer’s shampoo and conditioner, moisturizer

A note on swim caps.  I’ve had a few discussions with parents on swim caps, and here’s my take.  Should your child wear one – yes.  It keeps long hair out of your kid's face, whether that’s long straight hair or long curly hair, even if it is in ponytail, an Afro, or in braids.  Although they don’t keep hair 100% dry, swim caps generally keep hair to just being damp, so less chlorine exposure and that’s better for your hair (not scientific evidence, this is my own opinion).  And for swim times - the point of swim caps is that their smoothness gives the swimmer a little more glide in the water and keeps them from getting weighed down by the water in their hair. Granted, the design and quality of the cap should be comparable to the skill of your swimmer, hence, why the Michael Phelps swim cap is like $40 and the regular swimmer’s cap is about $10.

Family bag

Parents may also want to carry their own water-resistant bag of supplies, especially if there are other siblings coming to cheer on the swimmer.  Depending on the meet, swimmers will stay with their team and parents will stay in the viewing area of the pool deck or stands, so separate bags is important.  Most of this is stuff you would also take with you for just a fun day at the pool.

• A couple dollars for the concession stand and the swim program – this is the printed line-up of the events, swimmers, and their seed times
• Water-proof shoes
• Folding chair
• Hat with brim
• Sunscreen
• If its looks like its going to rain - rain jacket, hat – swim meets will often go on despite the rain as long as there is no lightning
• Water
• Snacks, lunch – don’t have to worry about cramps and jumping in the pool, so pack whatever is desired
• Entertainment – book/magazine, portable games, small toys for siblings.
• Camera to capture all those beautiful strokes
• Plastic, ziptop sandwich bags – I put my phone and camera in them so they don’t get splashed.
• Bathing suits for the other siblings?  Depends on the pool.  Some have a second pool that they can use; some pools only have one and its restricted just for the swim meet.

My bag
The polka dot bag in the photo is what I'm using as my pool bag.  Its large enough for a family's worth of towels and all the other stuff listed above.  It has long handles so I can carry it on my shoulder and is waterproof.  This is the Utility Tote from 31 Gifts.

You're ready to pack your bags - have a great time at the pool!

This is the first of a series of posts - check back weekly for more fun reasons to "Pack Your Bags" this summer and a chance to win a bag of your own from 31 Gifts!