I am a bagaholic-Part 1

I stand here in front of millions (hopefully) of people around the world and admit this:

“I’m Lynn and I’m a shopping bagholic.”

Now you have to understand why this is such a peculiar addiction. I don’t like to shop-for anything. And aren’t I lucky to have a husband who happily does the majority of the food buying.

Keeping this in mind, you’d think that one or two shopping bags would fulfill my needs. And you would be right if logic held. But it doesn’t. An addiction is called that because it’s close to impossible to help yourself.

So even though I own enough shopping bags to provide at least one for every citizen of a small country, (OK, that’s an exaggeration, but still, I have a lot!), I simply can’t say, “No, thank you,” when someone offers to gift me with more.

The other day a friend, knowing my aversion to wrapping paper, showed up with a gift in a pretty, reusable bag. I’m embarrassed to admit I was more excited about the bag than the present!

It’s a sickness.

But it’s not as if I’m buying them. It’s practically impossible to attend any kind of festival, seminar, large meeting or trade show without bringing home enough bags to last for decades! All I can say is, at least they’re not plastic (although some, happily, are recycled plastic).

Ten years ago, shopping bags were about as glamorous as socks (mostly they were made out of string imported from somewhere plastic bags had not yet taken over), and attractive ones were difficult to find even if you were ahead of the curve and ready to carry home whatever in your arms rather than succumb to the plastic and paper foisted on you.

Today, it’s easy to discover stylish, eco-fabulous bags that will tote almost anything.

I’m especially enamored of bag systems ’cause I’m a systems type of gal. Don’t get the wrong idea. This does not mean I’m obsessively organized. (My son-in-law would say quite the opposite is true.) But I love the concept of a system-a bag for every need all packaged together in a nice tote of some sort. Unfortunately in my case,some bags mysteriously escape the system like wayward socks or wandering toddlers, but that doesn’t make the kits any less valuable!

In Parts 2 and 3 of this series, I’ll review my favorite two kits from Blue Avocado and Esse.

Do you have a favorite bag system? Tell me about it.