We’ve talked about this phenomenon before, I know, but I never cease to be amazed that Southern women will monogram anything. And I get that people in other parts of the country also enjoy monogramming, of course, but in the South we’re a little obsessive about it. I thought maybe we’d reached the end of our Things That Can Be Monogrammed list when I started seeing monogrammed rear window decals in carpool line, but just this past Saturday I saw a girl at Starbucks with a monogrammed clear laptop sleeve on her Mac.
It made me wonder if there will be a time when people will engrave the back of their iPads with their intitials – sort of like our mamas did with their silver trays.
(Oh. Never mind. I just consulted the Google and discovered that there’s already a company that engraves iPads. However, I can’t tell if they engrave big, swirly monograms or not. But if they don’t, they should.)
Several years ago I found out about a company called Initials, inc., and if you like monogrammed stuff, then Initials, inc. is pretty much your dream come true. They have wonderful, durable, products – I have a couple of their totes, a monogrammed vinyl cooler (OH, IT IS ADORABLE), and a great laptop bag – and what I love the most about their stuff is that it’s functional and fun at the same time.
See what I mean?
A few weeks ago the Initials, inc. people emailed me to see if I’d be interested in doing a review / giveaway for one of their resort totes, and even though I don’t typically do reviews, I immediately said yes because I knew in advance that I’d be crazy about it. The resort totes are big but not unwieldy, with super-comfortable straps and a handy cell phone pocket on the inside (along with an additional pocket where I usually put my iPod). There are also snaps on the sides if you need to make the bag a little smaller. I have a polka-dot resort tote that I’ve taken to the beach and the pool for the last couple of years – sometimes with four beach towels, sunscreen, goggles, books, keys, swim shirts, etc. – and whether I’m carrying a lot or a little, it’s always my perfect pool bag.
Since the resort tote is made from microfiber, it dries quickly and doesn’t look one bit worse for the wear if it is the unintended victim of some enthusiastic splashing or diving. It’s also fantastic for travel, and when I go on long trips, my resort tote is my go-to carry-on bag. It has a magnetic closure, so everything stays put, but since it doesn’t zip, it’s super easy to tuck it under a seat and then reach down and grab whatever you need to get out of it.
(Can you tell I’m a fan?)
(I am such a fan.)
Last month I received a new resort tote from Initials, inc. (full disclosure: they sent it to me for review, so I didn’t pay for it), and I was thrilled when I opened the package. I don’t typically pick out super-girly things for myself, but I am crazy about the hot pink pattern and the dark brown monogram. My new bag will be going to the beach with me in a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to introduce it to the white sand and the salt water. I think we’re going to be really happy together.
(Sorry. A little blurry.)
(Maybe this close-up will give you a better idea.)
Since they’re all sorts of awesome, the people at Initials, inc. are going to give one of you a $50 gift card. If you’d like to enter the giveaway (open until Wednesday, March 21st, at which point I’ll draw for a winner using random.org), here’s what you need to do:
1. Click over to the Initials, inc. catalog.
2. Look around.
3. Come back here and tell me one thing you’d like to buy with your gift card.
4. Only one comment per person, por favor.
5. Please make sure you type your email address correctly.
Just a few things to remember: Initials, inc. doesn’t ship outside of the United States. The gift card can be applied to your order total (which includes order and shipping), and as always, personalization is free.
And if you’re interested in earning some free merchandise by having an Initials, inc. party at your house? You can find information about that right here.
Happy Giveaway, y’all!
This giveaway is now closed.
I enjoyed browsing the catalog. My top two picks are probably the sunhat and the e-reader cover although I am sure I would be happy with anything!
I love them all so cute, I really like the resort tote, sassy bag and Market tote.
rachel
Oh, my WORD! Too hard to choose, but probably something for home organization – I love those things that stick onto the fridge for each person’s JUNK!
Such cute bags and you expect me to pick just one? Probably the resort tote or get a grip bag and then some more with my own money!!
Great giveaway, Thanks!
I think I would have to get the coastal tote or the sassy bag. Cute stuff!!!
So many cute things! I do love the resort bag, but the travel caddy would be so nice in the car!
I can’t choose just one! I need the Get A Grip, the Resort tote, and the adorable picnic basket!
Love it all, and would LOVE to get all the organizational stuff for my house. It would make everything look so crisp and clean and cute as opposed to the random dollar store containers I’m using now!
I would LOVE to have a party bin to keep in the car to help tote all the little things we use at the ballpark (which is where I seem to spend most of my time)!
Either market tote or get a grip.
Super cute!
How ador-a-bluh are those magnetic organizers?? I sure I hope I win; otherwise, I may be forced to try to make some on my own. That couldn’t possibly end well. :)
I’d definitly get the resort tote in songbird! I LOVE pink and this bag needs to accompany me on my next beach trip!!!
Well, I think I’d like a resort tote just like the one you have…. except with my initials, of course! Love it!!!
ooo! I love em all! I would buy either the Picnic basket one, the “Travler”, “Get a grip” or the tote in black, white and grey plaid! :)
MY WORD. Is it bad that I can’t decide?
I love “It’s a Cinch” in poppy.
I love ALL the travel bags from the makeup roll bags, to the toiletry tote (which, we have 2 already from another company…like I need a 3rd…but really, it’s SO CUTE!).
Thank you for hosting a giveaway! :)
The sling bag is adorbs!
I was pretty sold on the resort tote, but would probably use the SassyBag Large everyday as my new work bag.
There are so many cute fabrics to choose from! I love the Shopper bag!
I think anyone with kids knows, you really can’t go with out a great bag! I love so many of those bags, especially the one on the first page inside the cover, with the gray and white pattern. I also loved those refrigerator pouches…what a clever idea!
I love the resort bag too but the Travel Duffle would be perfect for each of the kids to pack themselves for our summer trips. And the patterns and colors are just SO PRETTY!!! Oh and P.S. I’m a Northerner who is also obsessed with monogramming. But then again I’m a southern girl wannabe so it only makes sense. :)
Love, love, love the Resort Tote.
I would love the Coastal Tote! It is awesome!
Kim Johnson
I love the “Sassy” bag in blooma Wave!!!!!!
I like the It’s A Cinch bag in Poppy! Love the colors.
The market tote…I am a “northerner”, from Indidana we have a company up here very similar to this Thirty-One…so Monogramming must be gaining popularity!!
Hi there,
I LOVE the Travelor Bag, I can always use big tote bags and I love the material on that one.
Thanks!!!! :)
I need the Resort tote for my trip to Alaska this summer and the take along caddy for my car. too cute
Everything is scrumptious, as my great-aunt would say! I like The Big Shopper and The Shopper in pink stripe. Very cute!
I love the resort tote–very cute stuff!
I like the blue and white flowered shopper bag.
I’d love the shopper or sling bag. Awesomeness!
I do love the resort bag best! Mama needs a new pool bag!
I don’t even need to look, because I’ve been needed a lunch bag for MONTHS now! Haven’t been able to find a cute one. With this gift card I could buy two! Thanks for the chance.
I would buy the magnetic pockets….so cute!!
Wow I love everything!! The dewdrop print is adorable!
I would probably get the e-reader case or the resort tote!!
I love the Sports Duffel in Cadet – perfect for my son’s soccer gear!
Well, that was just a delightful way to drink my coffee this morning! I feel like I’ve gone shopping with a friend. I would totally order the Sassy Bag and I love the cute car organizer (Lord knows we could use that!) Thanks for introducing me to this catalog and thanks for the opportunity to win. :)
Afater looking at the catalog, I would choose the resort tote also.
I had chosen three or four different things as I was looking through the catalog, but then I saw the Modern Woman tote. It promptly blew the other items out of the water.
And in faux croc?
AND in kiwi?!
Um, yes, please!
I would probably pick either a Sassy Bag or a Market Tote. Love!
Ooooh, I do like the SassyBag 180. i need a new purse with a zipper to haul around my ipad!
First off- your post made me smile because every year for Christmas my aunt in South Carolina sends me something monogrammed :)
Everything is super cute- I love the travel duffel and the flat iron case, but “The Dish” for carrying casserole dishes is probably my favorite!
Resort Tote, Songbird–so cute!
Love the sassybags!
I rather fancy one of those lunch totes. So cute! One for me, one for the daughter.
I can’t get to the catalog on my iPad because iPads don’t do FlashPlayer. Great. But I LOVE a tote and the resort tote you showed looked so cute!! And monograms? Nothin’ better!
Love the party bin!
I love the resort tote. I love tote bags! LOVE!
The Party Bin!
Oh..I love everything!! I think the sassy bags with the interchangeable sashes are my favorites!
There are so many things I would want to get but I think I would get the Insulated Tote first!
I love the Big Shopper in the gray and white print! Super cute!
How fun! I want that sort it all tote – the HUGE one for laundry. Four kids + One mom = LAUNDRY.
I would want the resort tote.
These are so cute! I would go with the resort tote or the It’s a Cinch Bag…. Or the Get a Grip bag?? They are all so cute!
I feel you should know – I don’t own a single thing with a monogram. How that’s possible, I don’t know, but I feel that should be rectified immediately!
I would love one of each of their great totes and bags, but what I really need is several of the “Just in Case” small organzers to try to tame the wilderness that is my giant purse. I travel a lot and being able to be uber organized would be huge. It would make going through the TSA check points a little less mortifying.
sort it all out…i’m all about laundry
I think I would go for the Coastal tote. It’s cute and simple, and it would be perfect for hauling a day’s worth of stuff from my car every afternoon.
Oh goodness! I want everything! But since I cant afford everything even with the gift card I would get the lunch tote…or the resort bag. Hummm
It’s a hard choice! Maybe the sassybag or the coastal tote
I could really use that “sort it al out” bag. My oldest daughter is a dirty laundy machine and I need something to contain her STUFF!!
I like the Party Bin!!
I love the resort tote and the get a grip!
Wow! I would LOVE the resort tote and the traveler bag! Also – I must have the toiletry roll-up case thing!!!
I would love a Sassy Bag with a sash! So Cute!!!
I would pick the e-reader case for my iPad!!
I was hoping there would be a Resorts Tote in some sort of turquoisey color, and there it was! I would have to choose the Blooma Resort Tote.
I would pick the Shopper in the blue Moda design. It is adorable.
I’d love the e-reader case or sassy bag. Cute stuff!!!
I think I’d find lots of ways to use the Resort tote in the same hot pink pattern that they sent to you. We plan on heading to the “beach” (aka Lake Michigan) a lot this summer, so that would come in handy indeed!
I would love to have an overnite type bag for my daughter, who is a freshman in college and plays a sport. When she goes on out of town tournament trips, she uses a bag she’s had for YEARS which I hate hate hate. She claims its the perfect size, etc etc but I hope every time that the darn thing breaks and we can throw it away. I’ve threatened to do that anyway, and it doesn’t go over well :)
What a GREAT giveaway! I have never heard of this company before. I have no idea what I’d choose. I love the resort tote, the coastal tote, and the market tote (for starters!). :)
It’s too hard to choose! I think the Get A Grip bag would get a ton of use at my house.
I’d most likely get a resort tote… but maybe if I got an e-reader cover, it would make me get an e-reader!
I’m DYING for that picnic basket! If only I could get it in the super-cute stripe!
A resort bag would be awesome! Or a toiletry case. Either would be great.
Resort Tote in pink!
Get a Grip or Resort Tote!
I looked and honestly, it was love at first sight when I saw that resort tote! I may need to make a purchase, even if I don’t win.
I love the all weather blanket to keep in my car. Thanks for the give away!
I really like the Coastal Tote, think that would have to be my top choice!
That resort tote is fabulous! And being I’m a fan of the polka dots, I gravitate toward that pattern over the other pretty ones shown. What a great bag!
I could really use a new purse that zips, that I can carry my ipad in. The Sassybag 180 would work great!
So many to choose from – I’d love one of each!! I’d have to choose either the coastal tote or the resort tote though. Love them!!
I would love to have the resort tote in dewdrop or maybe one of the e-reader covers.
Oh oh oh! I love them all!
I love everything in the bb & honey section. Every bit of it.
I also like the beach bag you got( resort bag). I am in desperate need of a good beach bag and soon!
I also really like the diaper backpack in brown and white polka dots!
The build your own bags with the interchangeable sashes are pretty cool too!
Love the Resort! Think it would be great to use for my church things!
1) yes, Southern women will monogram anything. My friend’s mother monograms TOILET PAPER. I kid you not. As a joke I gave a roll to my aunt for Christmas. Teehee!!
2) The giveaway- wow. I’m in love with the flat iron case– my daughter got one for Christmas and that thing does NOT pack well. This product would be perfect. I like The Traveler too…. never a bad idea to have enough bags!!
Ok, I NEED the traveler. SO cute, and so affordable!
Do I have to limit myself to just ONE thing??? Well, if so, I’d love the Take Along Caddy. So smart!
Love all things monogrammed!
i’d love any larger bag in that pretty gray-and-white-swirl print!
I love the big shopper in the moda fabric! So darling and fun for summer.
Would love to get The Traveler!!
Either the resort tote (you sold me!) or the party bin!
Love the cooler tote in Botanic and the clutch in mocha.
I will need a Resort Tote too!! It is just what I have been wanting for summer! :)
The chocolate traveler bag.
I love the Modern Woman large bag in grey!
The traveler, the hanging cosmetic bag, the sling bag..I could go on and on :)
Resort Bag for sure – too cute!