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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.)
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