I find myself constantly using tote bags for carrying stuff to and from work, holding fresh produce from the farmer's market, groceries from the store…basically anytime I leave the house I have a tote in hand. So when we recently started carrying these super cute city mini totes by Maptote in the Oh Joy Shop, I started thinking about all the ways we could use them…not just for carrying everyday things but also for GIFTS! Because these bags are a little smaller than your average tote, they are the perfect size for packing full of treats and other little gifts. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them…

Mini Picnics! Now that it's starting to warm up a bit in Los Angeles, I've got summertime picnics on my mind! These totes are just the right size to hold the essentials for a mini picnic or snack at the park. Use it to hold snacks for an outdoor movie night, concert, or day at the beach. You can even use it as a reusable lunch bag for work! 

Kids' Gift! To make an extra special present for a child, fill them with plush toys, art supplies, and cute accessories! It's like a gift within a gift…because they'll love using the tote to carry around their treasures after, too.

Mother's Day! I love the idea of filling the bags with a small bouquet of fresh flowers and then adding in a few other little gifts. It's extra fun for the mom who lives in New York or Los Angeles, is moving there soon, or especially loves the East or West coast! 

You can find both totes right here!

{Photos by Lily Glass, styling by Julia Wester, styling assistance by Jess Hong.}