I was flippng through my Martha Stewart Living magazine - the December issue – and feeling inevitably and woefully inadequate.
For, try as I might,
And no matter how many back-issues I collect and store for Someday,
All of my Martha-inspired projects
are destined to turn out like so:
Click the image for the accompanying story if you missed it.
Anyway. I was perusing the December issue, and this phrase in an article on gift giving inspired me to dry heave take pause and reflect: ”Each year, around September, I start to think seriously about my personal Christmas gifts for family members and close friends…I organize my homemade gifts into groups – edible, wearable, decorative, and practical – and the list of recipients into human and animal…”
After the smelling salts took effect and I more or less had my wits about me once again (September? Animal recipients?), I scrutinized Martha’s message, and a single word jumped out at me: Organize.
Could that be the key to sailing through the holidays Martha-style, full of creativity, heart-felt giving, mimimum security prison and clever crafts?
I quietly closed the magazine, filed it away,
And vowed that this holiday season, I would be organized.
Yes. This was key.
Once I had made this pact with myself, I raised my head and looked around my kitchen.
My gaze settled on this.
In the super-chic Parisian Print, no less.
My Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty-One Gifts.
And I sat up a bit taller in my chair.
It does keep me organized, friends.
Last weekend? I took it to Happy Hour(s) at a girlfriend’s house.
Drinks, appetizer, wine opener, and hostess gift all fit easily inside, as neat as you please.
I loaned it to Twin A a few days later as she was getting her things ready to take along to musical rehearsal.
She was smitten with the seven – SEVEN! – side pockets. I may never get it back.
In sum? My Organizing Utility Tote helps my family get our act together. And keep it together.
Heck – Thirty One Gifts is all about getting it together.
Envious of our togetherness, now, are you?
Don’t be. This is your chance to nab one of these gems for yourself. Here’s how:
Giveaway Rules:
Each comment left on this post, from now until Thursday, November 15th, will be considered an entry. The winner will be chosen by random electronic drawing and announced in a post on that date. Multiple entries (up to five) per person are encouraged. To enter, do one or more of the following. Verify each action with a separate comment here.
1. Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me how you would use the Organizing Utility Tote.
2. Check out Thirty-One’s online catalog – They have a boatload of supercool stuff – and let me know which product(s) most appeal to you.
3. Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall.
4. Join Tori’s 31 Specials Facebook Group by clicking here and then on the “Request to Join” button on the upper right corner of the page. This will keep you in the loop with all of Tori’s upcoming holiday specials! And, by all means, add friends to the group who you know would love Thirty-One Gifts.
5. Follow The Spin Cycle on Twitter and tweet this giveaway.
Good luck, friends!
Disclosure Statement:
I was provided with an Organizing Utility Tote in order to complete this post. All opinions are my own. Only residents of the United States are eligible for entry. Thirty-One Gifts and The Spin Cycle are not to be held responsible for transforming hopeful entrants into Martha Stewart.
I follow your blog on WordPress and through email.
I’d use the organizing utility tote to help me organize my home office. It needs all the organizing help it can get!
mitch1rm(at)gmail(dot)com
Rhiannon, that’s a great idea! I use an Organizing Utility Tote to organize my home office as well! It has 5 awesome pockets for all of my desk accessories, like pens, stapler, notecards, post its, etc, and then the mesh pockets are perfect for the smaller things like paper clips, and and my checkbook! The inside is big enough for all of my file folders, and binders… and paired with a zipper pouch, I have all of my receipts, coupons, and bills organized! (https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx)
The Thirty-One catalog item I’ve got my eye on is the Retro Metro bag, I love the size and shape of that bag, and it comes in cute prints!
mitch1rm(at)gmail(dot)com
Looove the Retro Metro Bag! It’s my favorite of all of them! It’s so versatile!
I requested to join Tori’s Facebook group.
mitch1rm(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you! I’m excited to have you!!!
I follow you on Twitter as @crazeecatlady and tweeted: https://twitter.com/crazeecatlady/status/266510504648929280
Thanks for the giveaway!
mitch1rm(at)gmail(dot)com
I have an organizing tote, and it is good for everything. Except now it’s grubby and I can’t have my notebook and current read and mini office and some snacks and all three pair of glasses….
We need to get you a new Organizing Utility Tote, Maggie! Have you tried throwing your old one in the washer? Put it on cold delicate, and then hang to dry!
I follow you on Twitter.
…and I tweeted the giveaway.
I requested to join the Thirty-One Specials Group. And I gotta tell ya the current special is pretty attractive.
I’m so glad to have you, Maggie! (I don’t see your name on my list, when did you request to join?) https://www.facebook.com/groups/233908239996830/
I’ve checked out the catalog. I’ve enjoyed my own organizing shoulder bag, but love the look of the 5th Avenue. Alas, the price is out of the question. So. In addition to an organizing tote, I’d really love to own a Retro Metro Bag. Of course, when Spring comes around, I’ll be wishing I’d chosen a Picnic Thermal Tote.
You have great taste! The 5th Avenue bag is definitely gorgeous… I’ve had several hostesses earn that bag for free!!! E-mail me if you might be interested in that! And then we can get you your Retro Metro Bag, and Picnic Thermal Tote for 50% off!!!
tori@center-fit.com
I bought a case of wine to conduct an experiment and determine how many bottles will fit in the tote.
Great experiment, Cathy! 6 bottles of wine fit perfectly in the Picnic Thermal Tote…and as a bonus it keeps them at just the right temperature
Check it out!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx
I have heard of the Thirty One items and have one ordered! I think I too would have fight a cherub for custody of this little number! Swimming class comes to mind for a first use!
oh Betsy, I’m so glad you have something on the way! And yes, the Organizing Utility Tote would be perfect for a swim lesson bag! The bag is water resistant, so you can sit it in a puddle and the contents of the bag won’t get wet! You can pair it with a zipper pouch to keep the dry clothes dry, until you’re ready to throw the wet swimming suit in there and keep it separate from the other things in the bag!! It’s a win, win for the swim team!
LOVE <3 the Lil' Expression line! Big fan of cute cartoon family characters!
I also love the Lil’ Expression line. Have you seen the updates they’ve made to it for the NEW Fall Catalog??? You can add little snowmen and women, big and little dogs, and cats, and they even have an option to put glasses on your little cartoon! So much fun!!!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx
I follow you on Twitter! Go me!
You can find this giveaway on my wall!
And by some act of God, I tweeted the Thirty-One giveaway!
I’m not sure which I love more – your replica of the Lego cake (the perfect ones don’t make me smile like yours did – maybe because mine would look the same!) or that you threw the Martha mag in the garbage. I get overwhelmed and twitchy when I read all the amazing things someone who isn’t me can make for the holidays! Love the tote, too!
Oooh fun, fun, fun! I like the retro metro weekender bag. I also really dig that organizing utility tote. I think that would help my life. A lot.
The Retro Metro Weekender Bag is FABULOUS! It holds SO much stuff, and the best part is it can be thrown in the washer after your weekend trip that included throwing the bag on the floor in the car, sitting it down in the hotel lobby, and when your kids drop it in the parking lot! haha! Gotta love machine washable bags!
Now that is one awesome-shamawesome bag!
Yes, please!! I need all the organizational help I can get, and not from Martha Stewart either
I still remember the Lego cake incident…I think I’m still laughing at that.
xo
I hear ya, I’m definitely no Martha Stewart either! That’s why I love all of the 31 bags…helps me get organized and stay looking cute all at the same time! And with the help of a personal shopper, you can get everything to coordinate “as seen on tv”
Let me know if you’d like any help outfitting your organizing needs!
tori@center-fit.com
I love 31 gifts! Their large tote is a must for the pool!
The Large Utility Tote rocks at the pool, doesn’t it?!?! I love the water resistant lining in all of the organizing totes… makes life so much simpler…and cleaner!
Have you seen the new accessories to the Large Utility Tote in the NEW fall catalog?? They now have single and double organizers that are also water resistant, or you can get thermal ones! And to top it all off they now have a Top-A-Tote! It keeps everything in the bag dry, and there is a clear PVC top so you can see the contents of the bag…best part is, it’s only $10!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx
The catalog (which I looked at) always makes me want about 5 more items!
Missy, you should have a party!!! My average hostess earns about $125 in FREE stuff AND gets a couple of 50% off items!!!
Forget the 5 items, you could get 10!!!!
Seven Side pockets will be mine!
That’s right, Monique…the side pockets make it fit YOU! LOVE MY POCKETS!!!
If you haven’t checked out my specials page feel free to do so now!!! We’re running a little give-away over there next Friday…every member’s name will go in the drawing, and for each friend you invite (via facebook) your name will go in AGAIN!!! A fun little treat for my 31 enthusiasts!!
Oooohhhh….preeettttyyyy…. I want one. I’d fill it with wine bottles and kid crap. You’ve shown it can be done. Cheers
Great idea! It holds it all!
You’ve been tweeted.
Facebooked. Is that a verb?
I still want one of the wide-mouthed utility totes you can toss anything in (picnic gear, pool junk, dirty laundry, wine).
And BTW, my Lego cakes put yours to shame. Your cherubs better love that you tried.
haha, I’ve never heard it called a wide mouthed utility tote before!!! I’m gonna have to steal that and use it at my parties! Love it!
I love the 5th avenue bag….I recently had a party and got a ton of stuff, but not this one.
I also love the skirt purse!
The skirt purse is awesome!!! It’s also a great gift idea for those ladies in your life that you buy more than one gift for a year… i.e. mother’s day, birthday, christmas.
I joined Tori’s Facebook group!
So good to have you!!!
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted about the giveaway!
I think I’d use it to tote my PTA “Stuff” – until my role in that organzation is completed in May, at that time, I would use it in the happy hour manner you showed! Oh…maybe pool gear….
subscribe to emails/follow your blog. thanks for this, made me laugh!
sorry, forgot to say how I would use it…I would give it to my wife
…not too say she’s not organzized, but….!
shared post on facebook
follow on twitter and tweeted!
I could use this at swim meets. To keep heat sheets and pens and wallet and keys and oh the list just keeps going, but anyways to keep all that stuff organized.
I love The Spin Cycle and have been following you since the early days. You are so clever and I always look forward to Thursday morning when I get the Spin Cycle email.
As far as the super cute tote goes…I love it. I am always looking for cute larger bags to carry stuff back and forth to the BMX races…I have my water bottle, snacks, phone, wallet, keys, jacket, magazines (unfortunately there is a lot of down time at the national races so magazines/books are a must), etc. Thanks for telling me about this tote and website. I also like the retro metro tote!
I could also use a tote for back and forth to work with my work papers, lunch, etc…never enough room!
Looking through the catalog there is so many things I could use to keep the 3 kids and I organized.
I joined Tori’s page on Facebook too, not sure if I need to post that here or not…but just in case…here it is.
http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?src=bm&u=http%3A%2F%2Fthespincycleblog.com%2F2012%2F11%2Fgetting-my-act-together-a-thirty-one-gifts-giveaway%2F&t=Getting+my+Act+Together+-+A+Thirty-One+Gifts+Giveaway&v=3
follow u through email
love to give this to my sister who needs one
thanks
I like the retro metro bag
requested to join group Julie AScott Laws
With three kids, how could I not use a bag like that!! :LOL
I tweeted the giveaway again!
I <3 Thirty One Totes.
I would use this one for carrying all the essentials needed to properly embarrass – I mean – cheer for my kids at their various sporting events!
I retweeted your offer on my account – Mama_Kopp
I shared a link to this post on my FB timeline.
I have the online catalog for Thirty One bookmarked!
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