How To Choose The Perfect Bag For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Every great adventure starts with the right gear, and at the heart of it all is the bag you choose to carry. Think about it as your trusted partner. It safeguards your essentials, keeps you organized, and ensures you can focus on the thrill of the journey ahead. Whether you’re braving rugged trails, navigating unpredictable weather, or heading to a serene campsite, it is a silent hero.

But with so many choices out there, picking the perfect one can feel overwhelming. Do you prioritize size, durability, or comfort? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into what truly matters when selecting your ultimate outdoor companion.

The Therafit Lexi Premium Tote Bag is perfect for holiday travels!

If like many you're planning to travel over the upcoming holidays then I have the perfect tote for you. It's the Lexi Premium Tote Bag from Therafit. Not only is it stylish looking it's super functional too. And not just for traveling either. I don't have any travel plans coming up, but I do have several craft shows over the next few weekends to attend. This tote is perfect for carrying along my laptop, catalogs, and other small necessities I need at all of the shows. It has lots of pockets on the inside and outside giving you plenty of space to organize all of your necessities all while keeping them separated. Plus the main pocket zips shut keeping your belongings secured. The shoulder strap is nice and wide so it doesn't hurt your shoulder if it's full either. And you can adjust the length up to 11" so it will hang at your side where it's most comfortable for you. It even fits up to a 15" laptop. Oh, and did I tell you about the cute removable wristlet that comes with it? Perfect for those times you only need the bare essentials when running into the store!

Are you ready for National Ice Cream Day? #thirtyone

July is National Ice Cream Month and even more specific this Sunday July 16th is National Ice Cream Day! And if you ask me that's reason enough to celebrate one of America's favorite treats... ice cream. On top of it all to celebrate both of these wonderful (in my opinion) national holidays Thirty-One Gifts is celebrating with a new ice cream print and embroidery icons. You should already know I have fond feelings when it comes to my Thirty-One products. I have them all over my house, and I give them quite often as gifts. So for me it was double the joy when I got my package featuring the fun new ice cream print. Ice cream and Thirty-One together...what more could I ask for? I love that the ice creams are all so bright and colorful. I'm big into bright colors when it's summer time. I like to have fun and enjoy the outdoors as long as the weather allows me to. So that means lots of picnics at the local state park for my daughter and I. Of course I can't exactly bring the big ole tub of ice cream with us, but at least I can still dream of ice cream while we're enjoying our lunch next to our fun new bags. Oh and enjoying other sweet treats from our exclusive Get the Scoop Bowl Set. Who says ice cream bowls have to be used just for ice cream? Not this girl!

You don't have to take my word for it when I tell you how super cute they are, just check out this video and judge for yourself!

July ONLY Special!
Thirty-One is offering products with the new Sweet Sprinkles print, along with the Get the Scoop Bowl Set as both customer and hostess specials in July. With any $35 purchase, customers may get up to two sale items, including the Double Duty Caddy for just $10 (regularly $25), the Oh-Snap Bin for $5 (regularly $10) or the bowl set for $15 (regularly $35). Hostesses who host a Thirty-One party in July are offered a five-piece Scoop N’ Style Bundle for $35, worth $269, when they host a party where sales total at least $600. You can check out the full details on the Thirty-One website.

Connect with Thirty-One: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Mini-trips are my new thing! #thirtyone

If you've been following my blog long you've probably noticed we don't take big trips. For one we just don't have the finances for big trips every year, and two my husband doesn't have much vacation time. So as you've probably seen we like to do "mini-trips" as I like to call them. Whether it be a day trip to see a dinner show or an overnight trip to do some exploring a few hours from home they are really a lot of fun. My daughter actually mentioned to me on the one we took over spring break that she would like to do more of them this summer so she can see more of Indiana. One really nice part about taking mini-trips is that you don't have to pack a big huge suitcase. Everyone can have their own smaller individual bags that fit in the trunk with ease (especially if you put them all in a Deluxe Utility Tote) - and leave room for any treasure you might find along the way! Let me point out we had four different bags inside of the deluxe tote. Yet when it came time to move everything in and out of the car we only had one to carry (well that and my bag at the side too)! Oh and of course it gave me the chance to break out lots of my fun bright patterned Thirty-One bags too!

The first thing I broke out was my Double Duty Caddy. Normally it's sitting at home filled with crafting supplies but this time I filled it with all of the "necessary" goodies we would need for our trip. I'm one of those moms that packs heavy on the snacks because I don't like to stop just because one person is hungry. I don't do convenience store stops for candy bars and chips. I prepare ahead of time with crackers, granola bars and dried fruit. And what better way than in a handy tote we can also take inside the hotel with us.

On our recent overnight trip up north for spring break I took along more of my Thirty-One products than usual because I found new ways to use them. I always love finding multiple ways to use things, and love sharing so others might be able to use them too! This is a photo of their Swap-It-Pocket. It's supposed to be for your purse so you can keep it organized and switch from one to another with ease. I couldn't find my toiletry bag when packing for our trip and remembered I had just received this little gem. Check out how awesome everything fits inside! Two zippered pockets on the outside, two elastic pockets on the inside, and a center pocket. Plenty of space to fit all of my toiletries!

This super cool transformation is the Cool Clip Thermal Pouch. Yes it was thought of for snacks or other things you might take outside and on the go. However I transformed it into a wet bag for our swimsuits after we got done swimming. By putting them in this bag nothing else will get wet on the way home. After we got home I just wiped the bag out with a towel and it was good to go.

I also got to show off my fun new personalized Thirty-One stuff on our trip too. This was my first time using their new website tool to test out what personalization would look like before ordering products. Now if we are out somewhere like a pitch-in picnic no one can try to take my Deluxe Utility Tote because it has our last name on it. And my daughter won't be asking to use my Organizing Shoulder Bag on her school field trips because it has my initial not hers! Yes that has really happened before with another one of my crossbody totes. Just because she thought it was cute that meant she should be able to use it on a field trip. And of course when she brought it back it had a big ole stain on it because she had laid it down and someone spilled red juice on it. So this time I got one with my first initial to avoid her even asking, and keeping me from having to be the "mean mom" and telling her no. I will admit though it's a great bag to carry when your walking around a museum or a park and don't need all of the "extras" us ladies tend to tote around in our purses.

I don't know why, but I just love sharing this photo of my son. As a mom it really makes me proud when he takes care of me when we are out without his dad. All on his own he gathered up the bags and headed out of the hotel room.

With Mother's Day right around the corner it would be the perfect time to take that special mom in your life on a mini-trip...just saying I know I would love it! Of course if you don't have time for a trip you can still get her something special like a personalized gift.

Connect with Thirty-One: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Back to school with the basics from Thirty-One

Back to school whether it be elementary or on up through college you still need some of the same basics. A few of those are a backpack or Cinch Sac and a thermal lunch bag. I know my kids don't always like what is on the menu for the school lunch so they do take theirs through out the year some. And I can remember when I was in college taking a lunch sack with me when I had classes close together during lunch time and knew I didn't have time to run home for lunch. Now days there are so many different backpack options to choose from and some kids actually prefer a Cinch Sac instead of a traditional backpack for going between classes. My daughter uses her Cinch Sac to tote her boots and winter gear to school for recess to keep it separate from her school books in he regular backpack.

You can find some really stylish options for a Cinch Sac and thermal lunch bag right on the Thirty-One website. And you can get them in coordinating colors like the set in my photo above. I like them because they are well made and I know that part way through the school year I won't have to replace them like many they offer during back to school shopping sales. Been there and done that, I'd rather invest in Thirty-One products that I know from years of experience using them that they are made to last. Plus they have really fun patterns to choose from and you can even get personalization if you like. My daughter's been bugging about getting her name on some stuff lately so I'm thinking it will make for great Christmas gifts for her!

If you're one that likes to break away from them norm (like me) then a tote bag might be your "backpack" of choice so to speak. I know I didn't like taking a big bulky backpack with me to some of my college classes because I knew the room was crowded and really for just one book I didn't need it. Instead I opted for a tote bag like this stylish Wander Tote from Thirty-One. I love the message on the front that says "Follow Your Own Path" and how fitting is that for a college student!? It has interior pockets that are perfect for your phone, keys, pencils and other small stuff. And it has a large top zipper so you can keep your contents private if you hang the tote on your chair.

If you haven't checked out Thirty-One in a while I encourage you to do so because things are always changing from season to season. New products, new patterns, and new colors! Their fall/winter catalog just launched August 1st so be sure to hop on over and check out all of the cool new stuff!  And make sure while you're there you check out their customer specials and hostess rewards. Hosting a party can earn you FREE and exclusive products not available to customers.

Connect with Thirty-One: 
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Disclosure: I received the products featured in this post for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions state are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Organize in style this summer with Thirty-One

If you've been around my blog for awhile you know about my love of all things Thirty-One. If you're new here let me fill you in. I used to be a Thirty-One consultant several years ago, but then I became a stay at home mom and well...life happened. Needless to say I had to step down to dedicate my time to other obligations, but I never lost the love for their products. Fast forward a bit and now here I am with the great pleasure of sharing my love with you my readers! I hope that through my posts you can learn a little bit about Thirty-One and the awesome line of products that they offer so they can help you keep your life organized in style.

One of the things I've always liked about Thirty-One is that they have so many products that can be used together. Yes they can all be used at the same time, but many of them can also be combined into larger totes making it easy to organize and tote them around easily. For example in the photo above I started out with the Deluxe Utility Tote (a larger version of their popular Large Utility Tote) and then slid in the Picnic Thermal Tote, Fold N' File, and Tall Organizing Tote inside. To finished it off I topped it with the Deluxe Cinch-Top Lid. This lid is really awesome because it can add up to 12" to the top of your bag! Now when you have lots and lots to take on the go you'll have plenty of room.

The other thing I like about Thirty-One is the awesome patterns that they come up with. My latest obsession is their Preppy Pop pattern. I love the bright colors and the way they all blend together so well. Plus they even coordinate well with some of the other patterns like the "First Mate" (shown below).  With stylish patterns and an easy way to organize your things heading out to the park or the beach will be super easy this summer for sure!

Speaking of the beach here are a few more great products in the Preppy Pop pattern. The New Day Tote is perfect for a day at the beach and when paired up with the Cool Clip Thermal Pouch and the Bring-A-Bottle Thermal you'll have everything you need all together. I love that the pouch and bottle thermal both come with a carabiner clip so you can attach them to other bags making them easy to access. I've always hated having to dig down inside bags to find things so this is perfect. Now I can keep my bottle of water and snacks handy.

If you haven't checked out Thirty-One in a while I encourage you to do so because so much has changed over the years. Their spring/summer catalog has some really hot new prints and products I know you'll love. And make sure while you're there you check out their customer specials and hostess rewards. Hosting a party can earn you some exclusive products too.

You can find these and so many more great products for at home and on the go at the Thirty-One website.

HDE Women's Faux Leather Shoulder Bag

I'm what one might call a bit of a purse and tote bag fanatic. I have more than I could even count on two hands to be honest. And I'm not saying all together, I mean purses and tote bags separately. I have them in different shapes, sizes, and colors.  A girl has to have just the right bag for every occasion right? So of course when my new shoulder bag from HDE arrived you know I was all about checking it out inside and out.

Starting from the outside it's made of a nice faux leather material. It has a large opening at the top that also has a zipper to keep all your contents inside. It also has a cute little strap that goes across the top at the center you can slide through a loop for added charm. Inside the bag you will find a cute little coin purse with a zipper that's attached by a strap. I love this because that makes it so easy to pull up and out of the bag. You will also find two inner open pockets as well as a zippered pocket. Nice for stowing away your cell phone, credit cards, and of course all your miscellaneous stuff you don't want in the bottom of the bag. The interior of the bag has a vinyl liner like most bags that is easy to wipe out if you spill inside of it. It's actually very roomy inside and it can be used as an over-sized purse, or as a tote bag. On the overall I really like this bag and plan to use it to keep papers in for my essential oils classes that I attend. I can slip my pen, keys and extras inside the smaller zippered pocket and all of my papers in file folders in the main compartment.

Colors: Black, cream, Turquoise, hot pink, red, and yellow.

Size: 16.5" x 10.5" x 1.5"

Buy it: You can purchase the HDE Women's Faux Leather Shoulder Bag on Amazon.

It's "Go time" with High Sierra

Not too long ago I started exercising again at the gym where my husband works and even took the plunge and signed up for a yoga class. A long winter didn't prove to be too good to my body so I new it was time to get up and moving again. Equipped with my new Yoga Sport Duffel in hand I felt like I could take on the world. It's it funny how something as simple as a new bag can give us extra confidence? I didn't want to stand out as a "newbie" that didn't know what she was doing. I knew I needed a bag that would hold everything I needed and be fit for the job. This one definitely did that - and it got lots of compliments along the way.

Pack-n-Go Yoga Sport Duffel: 

• 26 liter, main compartment with large, zippered opening.

• Yoga Sport Duffel stuffs into makeup pouch for easy storage.

• Single poly mesh side pockets holds 1000 ml bottle (bottle not included).

• Large, adjustable over-shoulder webbing straps.

• Front zippered accessory pocket.

• Pass through for easily carrying yoga mat.

• Dual top webbing carry handles.

I also recently got a really awesome pullover from the High Sierra line. Oh my goodness let me tell you it's so super soft. Sometimes I wear it just so I can feel the softness on the inside. We took a weekend trip over spring break and I was so thankful I had this because in the evenings it cooled off quite a bit and I needed something to keep me warm. This pullover definitely did the job. And with the nice big pocket on the front I could even keep my cell phone close at hand still for taking photos of the kids.

Women’s Lizze Pullover:

• 245gm polyester space-dyed stretch fleece.

• 4 way stretching technology for superior comfort.

• Kangaroo pocket.

• Oversized comfort collar with hood.

• Thumb hole cuffs to seal out cold and weather.

And last but definitely not least I received this awesome lightweight jacket. It's been great this spring with all the up and down weather we've been having. It's even waterproof which I have to say has come in handy more than once over the last few weeks. I actually started keeping it in my car for those freak showers that seem to keep popping up. And because I ordered it up a size I can even put it on over a sweatshirt with no problems so it's great for layering. This is one of those jackets that's made for warmer weather, but can be worn year round with layering.

Women’s Emerson Jacket:

• Shell: 100% Nylon Micro-Ripstop – 120gm 

• Lining: Mesh body, Taffeta sleeves and hood 

• ARMADRI: Waterproof, breathable, durable and functional 

• ARMAREPEL: Repels water, dirt & oil

• Two secure zippered hand pockets 

• Center front zipper with hook and loop closure 

• Drop tail hem with cinch cord 

• Adjustable hook stows in collar

This was my first encounter with the High Sierra brand and I have to say so far I am hooked. Their line has awesome products that come in really neat color combinations. I'm one that likes the muted colors a big more than the flashy neons or pastels so they are great for my taste preferences. The other nice thing is they make products that are perfect for the outdoors and our family has really gotten into spending lots of time on the go and enjoying nature.

Connect with High Sierra:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

At home and on the go with Thirty-One

As I'm sure you already know I've been a fan of Thirty-One for quite a long time. I love that it's a brand with style and a wide variety of products that I can use both at home and on the go. Speaking of style if you haven't checked out their Fashion Games purse yet I have to say you're missing out. It's super stylish and perfect for toting around all the necessities us ladies seem to need these days on the go. I love that it is super roomy inside so I can put all my stuff inside and not worry about stuffing it. Add on one of their Triple Slit Pockets that snaps inside and you even have plenty of places for cards, keys, your phone, and all those little things you don't want dropped down in the bottom.

Sometimes I don't want to take my entire purse with me when I'm just running a quick errand or over to my mom's house close to ours. But as you know you still need your ID and of course cash just to be safe. So pairing up the Fashion Games purse with the Double Up Crossbody is the perfect way to solve that problem. It has a removable strap so you can use it like a wallet in your purse or with the strap attached like a purse by itself. No having to switch from one purse to another for a quick trip out.

Remember the Double Duty Caddy from my previous post? (you can still read it here) I talked about various ways of using it for taking crafts on the go or use at home. Well here's one of the companion pieces (in the same pattern), the Essential Storage Tote. Let me tell you this photo doesn't do it any justice, it's so much bigger than it looks. The actual overall size is 14.5"H X 12"L X 9"D. It's so big I can fill it with all the stuff I need to help teach a craft at my daughter's Girl Scouts meeting with room to drop my Double Duty Caddy full of crafting supplies right in on top! The handles are perfect for tossing the bag right up on my shoulder too so it leaves me hands free going in from the car. And when I'm not using it to tote around crafts it folds down pretty flat so I can just tuck it away until I need it again....well that's if I actually put away everything in it that is.

And last but definitely not least is one of the signature (in my opinion) products from Thirty-One, the Large Utility Tote. Right now this tote is available in a whopping 20 different prints (they change some of the prints with each new catalog, and sometimes even have special limited time only patterns). I had gotten a one of those special prints that was only available in the fourth quarter last year for the holidays and have to say I'm still loving it. It's not one that screams Christmas so it's something I can use all winter long. This has always been one of my favorite Thirty-One products, and I will be honest probably the one I use the most. (I'm not going to tell you how many of them I have though...) Let's just say I have a few of them here and there and leave it at that. I actually have one of them with a Top-a-Tote Lid that I use for my Circuit machine and all my stuff I use with it. The tote is the perfect size for my machine to sit down into and leaves me enough space to add in my extras. Then it's all ready to go when I am heading to an all day scrapbooking event to take it with me. I just grab the tote by the handles (so to speak) and I'm ready to go. Plus while it's not being used at home it stays dust free with the lid on the tote.

If you haven't checked out Thirty-One in a while I encourage you to do so. Their spring/summer catalog just came out the first of February and it has some really hot new prints and products I know I'm dying to get my hands on!

You can find these and so many more great products for at home and on the go at the Thirty-One website.

Holiday Gift Guide: Organize and Protect with eBags

Do you have a traveler in your life? Or maybe just someone that needs a little help organizing their suitcase for vacation? Either way the eBags Packing Cubes will be a blessing to anyone that needs to get a little more organization in their lives. I have a set of these that I like to use just for organizing in my closet between seasons. I like to pack away things like tank tops and no-show socks in the winter months and these bags are perfect for that. Plus when they aren't in use the are very flat and take up very little space on their own. You can even store them one inside of the other then put them in your suitcase to use on your next trip. They even come in a variety of colors if you want to get a set for different members of the same household so no ones things get mixed up.

Small Cube Dimensions: 11" x 6.75" x 3"
Medium Cube Dimensions: 13.75" x 9.75" x 3"
Large Cube Dimensions: 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25"

If you've ever traveled with your laptop you know how stressful it can be. I know when I take mine out of the house I'm always extra cautious with whatever bag I'm carrying it in. Well stress no more; with the eBagsTLS Professional Slim Laptop Backpack your laptop is going to be nice and safe in the padded and lockable laptop compartment. Not only is there plenty of room for up to a 17.5" laptop there's also lots of great pockets for things like the power cord, accessories and more. Now that's a laptop bag if you ask me! Perfect for anyone that wants to take their laptop out of the house and know it will be protected.

Bag Dimensions: 18.5" x 12.75" x 7.5"

Laptop Pocket Dimensions: 17.5" x 12.25" x 1.5"

Buy it: eBags are available online and come with a Lifetime Warranty.

Healthy Back Baby Bag Tote for moms on the go!

I sure wish the Healthy Back Baby Bag® Tote was around when I had my two kids. This bag is amazing at a whopping 21.5" x 13.5" x 8". It has several pockets for all the various necessities needed to be prepared when on the go with baby. The large main compartment comes equipped with a fold-out changing pad, and a removable plastic waterproof zippered pouch for wet/soiled items. It also has several pockets on the inside as well as a key hook. On the outside you'll find EVEN MORE pockets! This bag has it all and it's even machine washable. Plus the extra wide, non-slip, adjustable shoulder strap won't break your back when you're toting around all of babies various needs.

Of course as we all know babies don't stay babies forever, and that's what makes this bag perfect for any new mom. When baby outgrows diapers, the bag is perfect for taking toys and snacks on the go, as a book bag for school or even as a gym bag.

Disclosure:  Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own.

HBBevo Bag - Great for Moms on the go!

Before receiving mine I'd never heard of the HBBevo. Now that I have one I don't think I'd want to be without it. The HBBevo is a re-configured Classic HBB (Healthy Back Bag) featuring a padded pocket for portable electronics, magnetic closures and a cushioned strap. These days pretty much everyone has a cell phone, and most have an e-reader or tablet too. With the HBBevo you can carry them all and more without breaking your back. I'm thinking this would make an excellent Mother's Day gift for those with tech savvy moms!

The part I like the most besides the cool look and style of the bag is that it has so many pockets. You have a zippered pocket on one side, two magnetic closure pockets on the other side, and a spine pocket. And that's just on the outside of the bag.

Inside the bag you'll find additional zippered and angled pockets as well as a key hook. The larger zippered pocket also features padding for added protection of your electronic devices. And the main double zipper is accessible only to you without taking the bag off.

I really could go on and on about all the great features of this bag, but instead I've included a photo of the card that was attached to my bag that tells some more about the great features it offers. Probably the most important feature however is that it's designed to contour to your spine and reduce stress on your back, neck and shoulders. I don't know about you, but I've had this problem pretty much since I started carrying a purse. Seems like it's a catchall for everything that everyone else doesn't want to carry. I can remember rubbing my neck saying how much it hurt after we spent an afternoon walking around a flea market looking for treasures. Of course all those smaller treasures ended up in my purse, slowly making it heavier as we went. I'm actually looking forward to going this spring again so I can test out my HBBevo to see how much of a difference it makes.

The HBBevo even comes in several sizes so there's one that will fit all your needs.  I'm planning to get a smaller bag in the same color as mine for my daughter so we can have a matching set.

Disclosure:  Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with a product for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own.