By Trisha Novotny

Some people may refer to me as a bag lady or a “tote-aholic,” but my love for bags and totes has a purpose – I create various totes stocked with useful supplies to help organize my life at home and on-the-go. Below are a few easy tips that will keep you organized and prepared for any situation that comes your way, no matter where you might be.

Mobile Office:

When my children were little I would drag my Mobile Office Tote from room to room so I could still get work done while keeping a watchful eye on my little ones. Create your own Mobile Office by using a tote made of plastic or one that is sturdy enough to insert a plastic file box into. Include things you use on a day-to-day basis such as:

• Pens and pencils
• Small stapler
• Paper 
• Calculator
• Note pad
• Calendar

Cleaning Tote:

Creating a Cleaning Tote will save you time especially when you want to prepare for a last minute houseguest. This easy-to-make Cleaning Tote will keep all of your supplies in one place so you are not running from one room to the next in search of cleaning supplies and will leave you less frazzled come cleaning day.  

You can use a sturdy, plastic, cleaning caddy, a simple bucket or a canvas tote with lots of pockets and include items such as: 

Mom Bag:

Moms are always spending hours upon hours in the car on the way to their children’s activities on carpool duty. To survive this time away from home, create your own Mom Bag to carry all the things you need. A few items that can be found in my Mom Bag include:  

• Calendar
• Books and magazine 
• Note cards – for thank you cards or quick letters
• Shopping lists, sale ads, coupons
• Mail or bills for sorting/handling 

Big Kid Bag: 

The Big Kid Bag is the go-to bag for short or long trips, containing all the things big kids need and come in handy to ensure productivity even if you’re running a bit off schedule. This bag can be a small duffel bag or back pack; ones with extra pockets work best. Fill with items such as: 

• Small first-aid kit 
• School supplies to do homework on-the-go
• Change of clothes
• Small toys and electronics
• Books on CD

How do you use bags or totes to organize your life?