Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Works for Me Wednesday: Grab-and-Go Bags


If you're like me, you're always headed out the door for something.  And, if you're really like me, you're always forgetting something.  I have a handful of "grab-and-go" bags packed for certain situations in which I'm likely to forget something.

Nature Study.  The kids and I have really been enjoying our weekly nature studies between Josh and Megan's music classes and the bag I keep packed and in the back of the van for that trip has been a true sanity-saver.  I keep it loaded with our sketch pads, pencil bags (containing our colored pencils, drawing pencils and an eraser), binoculars, a magnifying glass, a ruler, field guides, and a map of the nature center.  The only thing I have to remember to do each week is grab the camera on the way out the door.

Swim Bag.  Swimming season is over now, but during the summer, I keep a bag packed with sunscreen, a brush, spray-on conditioner (to make brushing out tangles easier), swimmer's ear drops, Q-tips, deodorant and hair scrunchies.  We also have a mesh bag filled with goggles and pool toys.  That means we only have to remember to grab those bags, towels and a change of clothes (which usually get stuffed into the swim bag).

Overnight Bag.  I have a great little bag that my mother-in-law gave me years ago that I keep stocked with travel sized things that I'd need for overnight stays.  Anytime I get a sample of deodorant, make-up, skin care product, toothpaste, haircare...whatever..I toss it in that little bag.  I rarely have to worry about packing full-sized toiletries when we take a trip...and I always know where to find a back-up, if I run out of something at home.

Do you have any grab-and-go bags that make your life easier?  Please share...and visit Kristin at We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday tips.

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Posted by Kris at 12:01 AM
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11 comments:

  1. Our method is to just leave everything in the van. Strangely enough, my husband isn't thrilled with that tactic. :-P
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  2. I hadn't given them a catchy name, but we definitely couldn't live without our grab-n-go bags either.
    Gym and swim bag(the kids get their own stuff, mine has preschool activities and snacks to share with my little guy while the rest are in class);
    AWANA bag with spare New Testaments, pens, paper, and goodies for rewards;
    shopping bags (I keep all my reuasable bags in one larger bag and fill it with my coupon box and empty jugs to fill when headed to the store).

    Look forward to hearing others! I like your overnight bag idea, too. Hadn't thought of one of those.
    ~Erin
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  3. LOL Molytail! Sounds like a pretty nice technique to me. ;-)

    @ Erin -- Yeah, I hadn't given them a catchy name either, until yesterday when I was wracking my brain for something to post for WFMW. I'd almost come to the conclusion that there was nothing else that worked for me. lol
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  4. Kris, I know what you mean. I marvel at the hosts for WFMW that come up with great stuff week after week. I can often find something, but not EVERY week. Thanks for wracking your brain, this is a good one!
    ~Erin
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  5. Yes! I have my church bag with my notebook, pens, Bible study notes, gum & mints. My gym bag has my membership, small towel, and iPod. I also have a swim/summer bag, which has officially been packed away until next summer. And, of course the diaper bag with all the baby essentials. :) Hubby doesn't understand it, he calls me the 'bag lady', but I ALWAYS have whatever he needs at any given time in my bag.
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  6. I always have a knitting bag. Current project, next skein of yarn if the current project is small or nearly finished, all my dpn's scissors, sock pattern shrunk down and laminated, two crochet hooks, blunt needles, measuring tape and chocolate. I always have something to do, and something to teach because, apparently, I am an evangelical knitter.
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  7. I LOVE having bags for everything. We have bags for library books, nature study, church, trips to the zoo (we go alot), road trips and soccer. In the spring, we also have a swim bag. It is so nice to hang them on a hook and have that be the place where everything is stored safely and ready to go next time we are out the door.

    I read about some night/day bags for kids that you put jammies and a book in after you get up and the next days clothes in after the kids go to bed. That way they can grab their bag and get ready. Thinking of trying it since mine are still little...
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  8. I love the idea of stashing the trial sized toiletries!
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  10. I have cloth tote bags hanging from door knobs all around the house! My most helpful one is the return-to-the-library bag hanging on the door to the living room closet. When one of us finishes a book, it goes into that bag so that it's easy to grab as we head out the door for errands.

    I also find that keeping old plastic grocery bags in the car helps for gathering up trash and the millions of toy parts that collect in the backseat.
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  11. Thanks, ladies, for all your grab-and-go bag ideas! I'm taking notes from all the great ideas. We sort of have a library bag, but I'd never thought of putting the finished books in as we finish them. Great idea!
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