today i am excited to commence a new feature spotlighting people, places and things we love. and what better way to kick things off than with one of the most useful products i have come across in years.
the idea of bringing your own shopping bag to the market became a necessary part of my daily life when i was studying in Germany all those many years ago. being "eco-friendly" was a way of life, an expectation, and a responsibility of living in Europe that i have come to recognize as a great model for the rest of us. i remember all too well that it was either BYO or you had to pay for a bag. yes, pay extra for each bag. (i bet Americans would flip out over this, but i personally think it works as powerful motivation to do the right thing and not create excess waste.) i purchased a great cloth tote bag one day and used that baby for years until it quite literally fell apart.
after being back in the USA, i admit to slacking off with paper/plastic bags, until finally getting back into using reusable bags. there was just one problem. i ALWAYS left them in the car. (i bet if i had to pay for bags at the store, i would have walked out to the car to fetch them. just saying.) what good is that? no good.
then one day i got a Flip & Tumble bag as a gift-with-purchase from Stubby Pencil Studio and it changed my shopping bag habit forever. really, it did. they are made of a super lightweight ripstop nylon that is strong enough for 2 half gallons of milk and a bag of apples, like i had in one today. and there is this felt patch on the strap right where it will rest on your shoulder so it won't dig in, either. but the best part is that i always have them with me. how do i remember them? ALWAYS, really?
just look what's in my bag on any given day -
see them? those little colorful little bundles surrounded by hinting arrows. that's them! there is this little stretchy pouch inside that you simply jam the bag into when you're done and the whole thing compacts to the size of a peach. i keep three in my bag at all times and they make me happy every time i use them. when i am at the store and pull them out of my purse, i get a smile and "oooh!" from someone who asks about them, and i am more than happy to oblige. because you can take them anywhere, we use them for almost everything. wet beach gear, trick-or-treating, dirty shoes, and of course the market. oh yes, and they are machine washable, too. awesome, right?
a few years ago, i bought a whole bunch to include with holiday gifts, and also ordered a pack of their drawstring produce bags to try out. not only are those great for perishables, but i keep one by the washing machine for laundering delicates. in fact, the mesh is fine enough that they would be useful as an alternative to cheesecloth when straining ricotta, yogurt, or even almond milk. maybe not the same one you use for washing delicates, but you knew that already.
speaking of gifts... (having a lightbulb moment as i type this)... i bet they would make a terrific wrapping alternative for holiday gifts. (how much money is wasted on wrapping paper/gift bags each year, only to see them tossed into the garbage afterwards. blech.) and they come in such great colors, i could present one with a gift inside and the lucky recipient gets to keep the bag, too. bonus! a nice thing is that they discount upwards of 20% when you order certain quantities in their shop.
and the story behind the company is really great, too. founded by students at Stanford who investigated the types of bags people (like you and me) use for shopping and how they utilize them, the 24/7 bag was created as part of their thesis project. how cool is that?
and guess what else...
i contacted the fine folks at Flip & Tumble a few months back to let them know how awesome i think their products are, told them i was planning this post, and also asked if they would share a few of their products with my readers. Eva kindly sent me a sweet package with the very products we use every day - three 24/7 bags and a set of 5 produce bags - FOR YOU! like i said, they rock.
so... let's have a giveaway!
TO ENTER: leave a comment on this post with your name + tell us something awesome about you.
this giveaway is open to USA residents only. one entry* per person. comments will remain open through Sunday, 19-August around noon (Eastern Time) and a randomly chosed winner will be announced here in this post.
COMMENTS ARE CLOSED AT THIS TIME + WINNER IS ANNOUNCED BELOW!
*please note comment moderation is activated for this site to prevent spam, so your comment will not appear on the post right away. rest assured non-spam entries will be received and posted a.s.a.p. promise.
so there you have it. Flip & Tumble, we think you rock! xoxo
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THIS ROCKS is a regular feature on the JCasa BLOG. We want to share our favorite people, places and things with you... just because! Check out the full archive here.
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NOTE: This is 100% original content, initiated and written by me, and the opinions are 100% my own. This is not a sponsored post. We do not accept payment for positive reviews, giveaways, text links or blog placement.
We do what we love. That's why we love to do it. It's how we do. xoxo
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edited 19-August-2012 to announce the lucky giveaway winner...
Congrats, Jen! check your inbox for an email from me and we'll get these goodies sent off to you this week.
and a big thank YOU to everyone who entered, and was thrilled to hear so many of you are already big fans of Flip & Tumble as well. i truly enjoyed reading the awesome things about each and every one of you, and was blown away by what amazing readers i have in this space. you inspire me! enjoy your week, friends. xoxo
