Colorado here we come!

We have begun packing for our family vacation! How exciting and frightening at the same time. I went to my office and pulled out every Thirty-One bag i own.
It's hard to see in the picture, but we have three of those BIG black bags in the car. As we slid them in place, my husband even made a comment about how nice they were to have. Now this was the bottom layer of our packing. The Expandable Tote with diamonds has my husbands ski gear in it (gloves, hats, ski pants, socks, thermal wear, etc.).



When we planned this trip we had a few extra stops in mind and we were splitting up who drove and who flew. All this juggling made packing a little tricky but we seemed to manage with the help of Large Utility Totes and homemade labels. So i packed some bags separate then our Colorado clothes and organized them in Totes with the proper names. This way we did not have to carry our big suitcases into the in-law's for a night, then put them back, then get them out again for a hotel the next night, etc. It would be four days before we landed at our main destination. So i packed little bags for everyone with three outfits and a bathroom bag. In the Large Utility Totes they went labeled with who's stuff was in each tote.


When we arrived, these two totes were all i really needed as far as clothes, shoes, stuffed animals for the kids, and bathroom bags. It has been great. So far we are still organized and the "family machine" is still functioning.


I also like to have an 'OTHER' tote. It is miscellaneous items that have no category but are essential to our travels. It is usually in a place i can easily find on top of our pile of belongings in the back.


Here we are at the hotel. All our bags and extra things that get carried in that has no place to go or ready to go back in the car.


Of course my husband is the one that normally carries them while i enjoy coffee.

What this BLOG means to me

This is me, Rebekah Bertram.....


And this Blog is sort of a passion of mine. When i opened my first box of totes i bought, and started to explore the possibilities, i was amazed. First, they were beautiful. So much better, brighter and more unique in person then on the page. Secondly, i began discovering multiple uses for everything. The $50 i spent could meet so many different needs at different times. And, they made my home more beautiful at every turn.

I love BEAUTY! Beauty in colors, flowers, shapes, material and more. Every where i look i love when something pretty catches my eye. God has given me a love for my HOME and family. My main job right now is to nourish them in mind and body. That can be done in a lot of different ways and each person finds their special avenue of showing it. I strive to keep things organized and beautiful wherever we go. We are all more peaceful when our surroundings are beautiful and calm.

I found that Thirty-One meets three main needs:

1. Facilitates an easy way to keep our home tidy and running smoothly
2. Gives every part of our home a splash of beauty while functioning in a purposeful fashion and...
3. Is affordable

As a busy Mother of four young kids, God has motivated me to share with ladies how they can make their homes operate smoothly yet be beautiful at the same time without spending hours and hours keeping it so. The busiest time of day for us is from 3:30p.m. - bedtime. Can you guess why? Every body is at home, kids are running in and out after a long day at school, homework needs to be done, dirty little bodies need to be washed, extra cooking is to be done, dinner eaten, end of day phone calls made, school uniforms washed, and that extra activity that always pops up at the wrong time that Dad and the kids run out the door to do, and the list goes on. During this time of day our home needs to stay in tact. It is not worth the trouble if our home is beautiful, yet can not be lived in. Being a naturally artistic gal, my stress levels skyrocketed when things fell apart into an ugly mess. I tried to suppress the urge to spend late nights putting the house back together, but if i didn't, the next day i felt behind and depressed. Beauty was gone, my equilibrium was off (which means my intellectual and emotional balance was off). Does anybody else feel what i am talking about?
Thirty-One came to the rescue. It was beautiful organization! Thirty-One coincides my two needs - beauty and functionality . Therefore, creating a place that is useable and calming.

So there it is ladies. I hope you enjoy this Blog and can learn from what is shared.

AWANA Bag

Here is my AWANA bag. I thought i would show all of you how well it works. For those of you who are new to this, this wonderful tote is called the ORGANIZING UTILITY TOTE.


It holds our vests on the sides, Bibles and books on the inside (mini Bibles are on the side mesh pockets) water bottle, and two zipper pouches. I am the TNT game leader so my game book, pens, whistle, and note pad are in a zipper pouch to separate it from everyone else.


This month there is a great customer special. You could buy an Organizing Utility Tote and get the special for $5.00. Check it out on my Consultant Site. I think you'll love it!

Thermal Zipper Pouch

I successfully pack the kids lunches each day and am loving my thermals i bought at the beginning of the year. They are working great! But now i am coming up against another problem. SNACK TIME! I have decided i am going to just buckle down and buy the Mini Thermal Zipper pouches for the four kids. I need to keep their snacks cold. Healthy snacks like fruit, veggies, cheese and milk need to stay cold. The paper sack is going to have to go.

My Mother - In -Law let me borrow this one for a night to take pictures of. It can fit two or three things and is small and compact.


This morning, taking their paper sacks out of the refrigerator , i new that by 9:00 a.m. their food and drinks would be warm.


So here it goes. Another Thirty-One item for another problem. It amazes me how they are constantly bringing items to ladies that help meet the need. Give it a try girls. If you never have, go for it! You will not regret it. Look for the need then fill it with a Thirty-One Tote.

The new Medium tote!

I hope you can all see how the tote on top is smaller then the one on bottom.


These wonderful totes seem to be the perfect size for those who like the idea of having the Large Utility Tote ( bottom one) but feel that is a little too big. The smaller style is called the Medium utility Tote. I can not wait to buy one. Keep an eye out for their special appearance.




I think Thirty-One had a fantastic idea by making these. The list of uses could go on and on but here are a few idea for those who have never had a bag like this:

- Christmas presents
- Car bag
- Games
- Party supplies
- Picnic carry bag
- Over night bag ( put your small carry-ons and misc. items in this to carry out of the car when you arrive at your destination)
- Stuffed animal bag
- Misc. toys
- Blankets
And so, so much more!

Purple, Brown, & Corduroy!

So Fall is here and I get the itch to turn my house from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter. The corduroy is so Fall!



My husband brought the box inside and I jumped out of the kitchen with a hurray!


My Zipper Pouch was bought for $7.50 because I hosted a party and it was 1/2 OFF.....


And the Timeless Wallet was Free by using my Hostess Credit. Last year I received the black in an Add On Kit. Even though I always wear brown I used it anyway but it looked really funny. This is my FAVORITE wallet of all time. It may not look like it but I carry three checkbooks around in this. On the left I put all my receipts. They stay flat and neat.


On the outside I keep my business cards.


My Zipper Pouch has all the little stuff that falls in the bottom of my purse. "Neat & Tidy" is my motto!

Remembering 'FLORAL FANFAIR'

Two years ago Thirty-One came out with this beautiful pattern called 'Floral Fanfair'. It was love at first sight for me. I had just become a consultant so I used my earnings to buy a collection of these items.


There in the photo is my collection. I have a few other things but these are the main ones.


This Hanging Bag was a Hostess item a few years ago. I earned $50.00 extra one month so I spent it on one when I had the chance. I took it to New Orleans with me just last week. Once again Thirty-One products proved their worth. It was so simple and easy. I brought the hostess cosmetic bag and a Weekender Tote. Our trunk even looked beautiful!

Beautiful things make me very happy inside. God made the first flower, the first color, the first soft touch. Call me crazy, but i always think of God when I look at my 'Floral Fanfair' bags.