Bin Buddies

You know what I admire? Creative people who see a need and fill it, making our lives just a little bit easier. That is exactly what Gretchen from PacEasy has done with her fabulous and innovative product appropriately named Bin Buddies. Bin Buddies are a durable and washable insert for your household totes that offer handy pockets to keep everything tidy and organized for easy access. Bin Buddies come in various sizes depending on the size of tote you own.

I admit when Gretchen first contacted me about trying out this product I was a bit skeptical. I didn't really understand at first what this product was going to do for me or how it was going to make my life better. It wasn't until I opened the package and saw how it worked and all the glorious pockets inside that the lightbulb went off.

I immediately knew what I was going to use this product for. In our playroom, the kids have a Rubbermaid tote that we use to store all the little indoor hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and balls and balls of all sorts and sizes. I wish I'd remembered to take a picture of how it looked before. You have to imagine that the sticks didn't stand straight up and kept falling over and out and the little balls got buried at the bottom so the kids had to dump the entire tote to just to get one out. It was a headache but the gear was contained and so we lived with it. Until now.....

The Bin Buddie fit inside my tote perfectly and now offers plenty of pocket space for the sticks to stand up straight as well as pockets for the small balls. I really am very pleased with it how easy it was to assemble and the versatility of it. I also love the idea of using it for picnics or camping as well. We already use Rubbermaid totes for all our camping gear but this product will help organize it even further for us.

Totes are an amazing storage tool.....Bin Buddies with handy pockets make them even better!

Happy Traveler Family Gear Bag

I am thrilled, just thrilled to introduce you to this next product. Anyone who has ever tried to travel with kids will appreciate this one. Back in July as I was packing to go on holidays for a month, I desperately looked for something that would be the ideal travel bag for the flight. I was flying with my under two son and I needed something that would accommodate MANY needs plus more. As you know when flying you are only allowed two carry-on bags. One of them for me was my laptop, the other one needed to carry everything else including diapers, wipes, snacks, baby blanket, baby stuffie, baby toys, sippy cups, my water, my purse, a book, sunglasses, camera, and the list goes on and on.

Prior to leaving I pulled out every bag I owned (which happens to be quite a few since I'm always trying to find the one) and not one of them seemed adequate. I finally settled on one though and then proceeded to be extremely annoyed the entire flight when I couldn't quickly find or grab what I needed while holding my squirming, you can't make me cooperate, one and a half year old.

I don't like to be annoyed.

I simply don't have the patience for it.

The success of travelling with babies and kids is based on organization. Organization requires a bag that stands upright on it's own, has multiple pockets for everything under the sun, meets airline requirements, and basically acts as my home on the go. Do you think I'm asking for too much? I assumed I was because if a bag like that existed I didn't know about it.

UNTIL NOW....


Happy Traveler Family Gear Bag

The bag of my traveling dreams has arrived....in bright red no less. Family Travel Gear is a company that understands the needs of traveling families. Of that I have no doubt. When the Happy Traveler Family Gear Bag appeared in my mailbox I open the package with anticipation hoping that I wasn't in for another mediocre bag to add to my collection. Frankly I was pretty skeptical. First thing I saw was the big pocket on front, and then another pocket, and then another one, oh and what's that, another pocket! The pockets don't end it seems and I instantly fell in love.

THEN....I saw one pocket in particular and nearly wept with tears of joy. Ladies there is a pocket on the side of this bag.....are you ready for this....for the portable DVD player AND slots for the DVD's!! I'm seriously not kidding! I had a separate bag for the DVD player when I travelled and had one of my bigger kids carry it on but it was just one more thing to worry about.

On the other side of this is an insulated pocket for sippy cups or bottles plus there is also a pocket for my camera, a pocket for my wallet and airline tickets, a pocket for my magazine and did I mention that the glorious front pocket includes a FULL BODY changing pad and numerous pockets for diapers, wet wipes holder, ointments and more. Oh.My.Word. All this AND it meets airline carry-on sizing requirements. Get out of town.....literally.

And less you think this bag will just sit in the closet when not in use, think again. This beautiful bag of amazing possibilities can also be used as a back seat kid’s organizer/toy box and snack bag for car travel.

Family Travel Gear doesn't just sell bags either. They are a family owned and operated business inspired by their personal travel experiences with their own children and sell many other travel products as well to make your life easier. They claim to personally test all of their products and you know what, after seeing this bag and what it means for all my organized future travels, I believe they do just that.

Thank you Family Travel Gear!!