My Winter/Spring Car Bag

Storytime!

Let me tell you about a moment when I did preparedness all wrong.

We were two hours from home at the Gulf of America-sand everywhere, kids burnt from the wind AND the sun, wearing their previously dry coverups from the morning to block the chill of the afternoon wind, but soaked through from their romp in the waves. It was April, and we wanted to pretend it was SUMMER, but it wasn't The sunny parts of the day were magnificent, but now, as we prepared to drive home, it was less than comfortable. And there I was, the "picture of unprepared" with nothing but a half-empty water bottle and some optimism that blasting the heater and the timeline song (any Classical Conversations families here?) might fix it all.

That day, I wasn't prepared for life. I was only prepared for hypothetical disasters.

Fast forward to now, my car bags are a staple in our life, and they are incredibly convenient when little happenings pop up now and again. I'm not too proud to let you know about the moments I've been because they're the moments where I learn the most-and the moments that lead to the education to benefits us all!

The Philosophy Behind the Bag

The most important skills aren't for the less often experienced disasters. They're for Monday afternoon when your daughter spills sweet tea all over herself twenty minutes before theatre lessons, or when your son decides to explore every mud puddle between the parking lot and the football field.

This isn't a bug-out bag. This isn't a survival kit. This is a "live extravagantly even when life gets messy" bag.

And after partnering with Vertx and building out their backpacks and duffels with their brilliant Tactigami organization system, I finally have a setup that works for real life-not theoretical emergencies.

Why the Vertx System Works for Family Life

I tried doing this with random tote bags and plastic bins for years. They'd slide around, spill open, and generally make me want to give up on the whole concept.

The Vertx bags changed the game because it's built for people who actually use their gear, and the durability means I'm not replacing it every season.

The added magic: the Tactigami system.

If you're not familiar, Tactigami is Vertx's modular organization approach that lets you configure the interior exactly how you need it. Instead of dumping everything into one chaotic void, I can actually find things. The small Tactigami pouch holds foul weather essentials (lighters, matches, and ponchos), and keeps them separate from the snacks, the clothes, and everything else.

Because nothing says "capable living" like not having to dump your entire bag on the ground to find a lighter. Ask me, I've done it.

What's Actually Inside (And Why It Matters)

Don't Stick Your Nose Up At A Blanket

I keep a wool blanket in here, but hear me out-this doesn't have to be fancy. My mama kept a beach towel under the back back (I shall never call it any other name) seat of her suburban for years, and we used it as a blanket, a changing mat, a makeshift privacy screen, and probably fifty other things I'm forgetting.

The question is: what's your climate and what's your capacity?

I'm in South Louisiana where winter means "maybe wear a jacket," but we still have those damp, bone-chilling evenings where a blanket transforms a miserable wait into something tolerable. Wool works for me because it insulates even when wet, and it compresses well enough to fit without dominating the bag.

If you're in real winter territory? Maybe you need something heavier. If you're in Arizona? Maybe a lighter throw is plenty. The point is: have something that turns the back of your car into a place where people can be comfortable.

The Weather-Proofing Essentials

Ponchos are the underrated hero of family life. They're not just for rain-they can be wind blocks, ground covers, and in a pinch, they'll keep your groceries dry while you're juggling three kids and a buggy through a parking lot downpour.

I keep multiple lighters because I have a boy who will borrow one, always, and honestly, I love that about him. The matches are backup because sometimes you need redundancy, and the peace of mind is worth the ounce of space.

The Trash Bag Philosophy

Contractor bags and standard trash bags, stacked flat, take up almost no room but solve a shocking number of problems.

Need to protect your seats from muddy gear? Trash bag. Kid gets carsick? Trash bag (and we've all been there). Sudden rainstorm and you need to cover something fast? Trash bag. Impromptu collection bag for pinecones/rocks/whatever treasures your kids find? Trash bag.

I also keep gallon Ziplocks and even save those plastic grocery bags that somehow multiply in my house. When you're living real life, you need containment strategies.

Glow Sticks (Yes, Really)

This one gets me the most questions, so let me explain.

We do a lot of evening outdoor activities-whether it's the kids running around after dark at a crawfish boil, or trying to keep track of everyone at a nighttime church event, or just making the walk from the parking area to the event more fun and visible.

Glow sticks turn "where did that child go" panic into "oh, there's the green light running around the oak tree." They're cheap, they last forever in storage, and kids think they're fun rather than feeling tracked.

Plus, they're useful for marking things in the dark, they don't require batteries, and they won't start a fire if someone forgets them in a weird place. Sigh...the things we worry about as parents.

Zip Ties (The Swiss Army Knife of Fasteners)

If you've never used a zip tie to temporarily fix something in the wild of life, you haven't lived yet.

Need to attach something to something else right now? Zip tie.

They weigh nothing, they take up no space, and they've saved my sanity more times than I can count.

The Clothing System

Each person gets a gallon Ziplock with:

• Underwear (because this is somehow always what someone needs)

• Socks (preferably wool blend—cotton socks on wet feet are misery, but start with what you have)

• Long-sleeved shirt (layers, always layers)

• Long pants or leggings (even in summer-trust me on this)

• Button-up flannel for layering (this is my secret weapon)

The flannel is non-negotiable for me. It works as a light jacket, it layers over anything, it can be tied around a waist, it works for boys and girls, and if someone's cold, it actually helps instead of just looking like it should help.

Those Ziplocks serve double duty too-once the clean clothes come out, they become wet bags for the muddy/soaked/mysteriously sticky items that need to come home with you.

And yes, I keep an actual wet bag in there too, because sometimes you need capacity beyond what a Ziplock can handle.

The Warmth Insurance

Hot Hands warmers and the toe warmers are in here, and I also keep gloves and beanies for everyone. These things compress down to almost nothing, and the day you need them, you'll be so grateful they're there.

The Snack Strategy

This is where living extravagantly really comes in.

I keep a dedicated snack bag with things that store well and actually taste good:

• Lenny & Larry cookies (protein, flavor, and they don't disintegrate)

• Skout organic bars (real food, not candy masquerading as nutrition) use code AMBERELLE

• Peanut butter packs (portable protein that doesn't need refrigeration)

• Fruit leather (natural sugars when someone's crashing)

• Electrolyte powder sticks (because hydration matters and plain water gets boring)

  
  

This isn't survival food. This is "we're going to be in the car longer than expected and everyone's going to be happier if they're fed" food.

The difference between arriving somewhere frazzled and hungry versus arriving fueled and ready is often just a good snack at the right time.

The Water Situation

I keep glass bottles when I can because they don't leach weird flavors, they're easy to clean, and they feel more sustainable. I store them in gallon Ziplocks in case of leaks-because the worst possible time to discover a leak is when you're reaching for a blanket and find it soaked.

Glass isn't required here-do what works for you. The point is: have water that's actually drinkable, not that bottle that's been rolling around your trunk since...you forget when.

How This Actually Works in Real Life

The beauty of this system is that it integrates instead of adding stress.

The bag lives in my car. I'm not hauling it in and out-it's just there. When we need something, someone can pop the back, find what they need (thanks to the Tactigami organization), and get back to living.

After we use something, I make a note to replace it. I check the bag seasonally to rotate clothes sizes, refresh snacks, and make sure nothing's expired or damaged. I also add in fun things when summer arrives so that we can say YES to all of the fun adventures.

Never complicated. Just intentional.

The Real Point

Preparedness isn't about fear. It's not about worst-case scenarios. It's about being the kind of person who can handle Monday afternoon with the same grace you'd bring to a real emergency.

It's about creating margin in your life so that when things go sideways-and they will, because you're human and you have kids and you live in the real world-you have what you need to stay calm and capable.

The Vertx bag and Tactigami system just make it easier to maintain that capability without thinking about it constantly. The gear works with your life instead of adding another thing to manage.

Use AMBERELLE always at Vertx for a discount whenever you shop!

Your Turn

You don't need to copy my setup exactly. You need to think about your life, your climate, your kids, and your regular inconveniences.

What would make your life smoother? What small comfort would transform a bad situation into a manageable one? What do you always wish you had but never think to bring?

Maybe even start a running list in your phone starting TODAY when you are out and about and notice that you wish you had XYZ in your vehicle. That list will grow quickly! Then you can reference it to build your own bag!

Start there. Build from there.

And remember: this isn't about surviving. It's about living extravagantly, even when life gets messy.