5 Things I LOVE about My New Teacher Bag: 5 For Friday

// That's my bag, baby! //
{Insert Austin Powers Here}

Oh, How I love my New Teacher Bag....
Let me count the Ways...5 Ways, to be specific!

I am a bonafide, undeniable, pack-horse bag lady! I have been since high school, and don't see that habit changing any time soon. This year I invested in a new teacher bag and sure am glad I did! This bag and utility storage accessories from Thirty-One Gifts is the answer to all of my pack-mule teacher prayers! Special thanks to my friend, former teacher, and Thirty-One rep, Vanessa, for helping me choose the perfect tote!!

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1) Size & Durability

Now knowing what a pack-mule I am, it's no surprise that my teacher bag needs to be as big as possible and tough enough to pass for a Ford F150. Between my MacBook Pro, iPad, notebooks, teacher planner, life planner, folders, bags of pens/pencils/sticky notes, and a few personal items...I need a bag that holds a ton, but is still manageable to haul around back and forth to school.

This Thirty-One Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote is the PERFECT size. It holds everything I haul home from school, plus more and has storage options both inside the bag and around the base of the outside. I have yet to TOTALLY fill the space inside and out....but it's only September. I'm SURE that I'll find a way to fill it to the brim by May! 

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2) Design & Details

Function is foremost, but let's be honest....I want a cute bag. I'm luggin' this puppy around to and from school daily and want it to be bright, cheery, and full of pattern. A monogram is a HUGE bonus, and the brightly colored handles, make this bag my daily ray of sunshine!  It's such a cute design that I {almost} don't mind how heavy it is or the RIDICULOUS amount of teacher stuffy I need to tote home to complete on a daily basis!

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3) Strength & Durability

Now that you've had a glimpse at the junk I'm haulin' each day in this, you shouldn't be surprised that I bought this bag because it's super sturdy. The strong, wipe-off fabric, reinforced base, nylon double-stitched handles, and grommet reinforcements means this bag can "take a {teacher} licking" and come back for more!

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4) Functional {& Cute} Accessories

Ever noticed how the larger your purse {or in this case, teacher bag} is, the more DISORGANIZED it becomes!?!?!?!  That drives me nuts! Luckily, Thirty-One offers super functional, sturdy, portable, and let's not forget--CUTE--accessories. 

I purchased the Fold -N- File tote to insert into my jumbo bag. It's the perfect size to hold file folders, my planners, and my zipper pouch of tech devices. Better yet...it also features two exterior mesh pockets and two cutout round handles so it’s easy to carry. PS--LOVE the cute coral gingham pattern!  

I also picked up this Pocket-A-Tote, which feeds through the grommet holes and can hang on the inside or outside of your bag. It's the perfect place to store small necessities like chapstick, gum, or car keys.

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5) Pockets Galore!

I've already raved about the overall storage this bag provides, but the external pockets on both the bag itself and the Fold -N- File tote insert are so incredibly useful! I wasn't sure how much I'd use these at first, but they are worth GOLD. Umbrellas, my glasses case, water bottle, quick storage for keys before putting them away, and about a million other items find their ways into these pockets for instant easy access. 

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// Want Your OWN Bag, Baby? //

If you're looking to replace your existing teacher bag, give my gal pal, Vanessa a shout! She's super fab to work with and has REAL TEACHER insight into needs for teacher totes and must-haves when ordering for school functionality. 

• Check out her personal Thirty-One site HERE.  
  
• Her  Personal Customer October Special: Host an event in October that earns over $400 and the hostess receives a FREE surprise gift from me valued at over $60! 
  
• See her hostess incentives & rewards HERE. 

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