"I'm not a smug twat."

A "double fister" would be an accurate term to identify me were you to see me out shopping.

In my one hand will always reside my goes-with-everything, holds-everything, can't-live-without, cherished pink Balenciaga Motorcycle bag. In the other hand is my $.99 Trader Joe's canvas reusable shopping bag. The dichotomy is not lost on me.

The Trader Joe's bag was initially purchased for food shopping, it's amazing how much can fit in those bags! And, the handles never break! And, if something icky spills or leaks, you can wash the thing! But, at this point my adderall has worn off, and due to my ADD I find myself totally digressing from the point...

Unless you've been living under a rock, (or like me, trying to focus more on the new US Weekly instead of the depressing news) you've most likey been exposed to the glut of recent media describing the cons of plastic bags. They use tons of precious resources to make, are used once, and then sit and rot for thousands of years in land-fills if they were fortunate enough to land in the trash. Otherwise, they sit and rot for thousands of years in the ocean, in the park, in your backyard, under your sink, etc. Considering that the average American individual goes through 500 of these bags a year, it's crazy to think about the astronomical amount of land-fill filler, litter making, resource sucking that we are unknowingly creating everytime we run to the store to get something.

Luckily, the expansion of my thinking lead to the expansion of my trusty Trader Joe's bag's uses. Like a puppy that needs to be socialized, I tuck it in my purse and try to bring it with me everywhere. I really don't care if I'm at Bloomingdales or CVS, I have no problem telling the sales clerk that I don't need no stinkin' shopping bag, and then into my little sack the purchased goods proudly go.

Don't get me wrong, if these bags were comparable to beauty pageant contestants in the Swim Suit portion of the competition, my Balenciaga would kick Trader Joe's ass. Aesthetically, the Trader Joe's bag is downright ugly. But, it has a grrreat personality. And would dominate in the interview portion. Dependable, sensible, versatile, practical, economical, and environmental, this bag's got the whole package. (Depending on the item, it literally does have the whole package, too.)

The hardest part for me, really, is just remembering to bring it back into the car once I've unloaded it at home. The hardest part for you, really, should be picking out a cuter one then mine now that there are so many available options.

I feel like it's almost outdated to bring up at this point, (and certainly decreases my street creds to mention) as it's already been reproduced about a million times, and been photographed on the arm of countless young Hollywood do-gooders; and yet I think Anya Hindamarch's $75 canvas "Not a Plastic Bag" bag was an inadvertantly awesome PR move that launched countless imitators and a great, actually beneficial trend. If seeing Keira, Ivanka, or Petra carrying the bag inspires girls to go Reusable, then so be it.

This version amuses me, and may amuse you as well if you're as cheeky as the British designer Marissa Vandersee who satired Anya's "It"ness:

Juicy Couture's take is the bomb, and if that shit isn't already copyrighted, the heart/recycle logo will soon be all over this website. Biatch.

This one by Beau Soleil is just chic, clean, and simple, yet clearly gets your message across:

Both of these available through Pulsestl.com, for some reason the "Green is the new Black" really appeals to "The Hills" loving part of me, and I feel like a "Team Green" bag has to be right around the corner...? As for the second bag- I just really heart hearts. ♥

Much more then just a fashion statement, interestingly enough in Malibu, as of May 12, 2008, plastic and biodegradable shopping bags were actually legally outlawed. Both types of shopping bags proved to be too destructive to the surrounding marine life. Now, residents are forced to find and use some sort of reusable bag.

When this law hopefully gains fire and spreads across the country, hopefully you are an already prepared and practicing citizen. If not, the good news is that there will probably be even more options for you to choose from then.