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Nailed it. By the wonderful Grace Farris.
P.S. Flirting at the library and mom’s bag of surprises.
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Where’s the water bottle?!
I carry extra socks in the colder months. Sometimes I just need that extra pair, or if the ones I’m wearing get wet from snow. Nothing worse than wet socks.
This would be cute to frame and hang up as mudroom decor – love it!
Just turned 50 this year and have had to add reading glasses to my packing list. While I’m kinda bummed about all the things happening to my body as I age, needing reading glasses isnt one of them as I’ve found soooo many cute reading glasses out there. I have around four pairs now!
Yep, all the glasses! Prescription sunglasses, transition glasses if it’s not that bright, and reading/computer glasses… a pair for every possible situation!
Yes to all these, plus my emotional support granola bar and tea bag, a tiny bottle of bubbles from a wedding reception in case I run into a kid who needs cheering up, and a compact shopping bag that folds into itself for when I need to schlep even more things around!
Oh, I love the bubbles idea!
This is so me…add a small notebook, more pens (4 or 5 or 6), some tape, extra reading glasses (probably 2 more pair) Tums, I’m sure I am forgetting something else…so far there is no perfect purse for this. But I keep trying!
Backpacks are the ideal bags for me. I don’t care if they aren’t “chic” looking or whatever either. I have large ones (if I’m going to be out and about all day and need ALL my stuff), and smaller, sportier, some prettier ones. I’ve been using them for years. I will sometimes add a small crossbody if I’m traveling and want to keep my wallet closer. I just don’t know why every person hasn’t realize the joy of freedom of being hands-free!
I just ran to put floss in my purse. I’ve somehow never thought of that, but twice in the last month I’ve been in the bathroom of a restaurant, folding up the paper towel to try to make a corner stiff enough to scrape a seed out of my teeth, unsuccessfully, because paper towel gets soft and floppy when it’s wet. Thank you for helping me with this obvious solution that I wasn’t getting to on my own!
My mother always has a tiny interdental brush in her bag. I just pluck out one of my hair and use it as floss !
I carry a light sweater and winter cap for too-cold air conditioning or when I need to nap in my vehicle while I wait for my kids to use as a cover and neck pillow. Also, I frequently bring a water bottle for me or snacks for my kids. Finally, I usually bring empty food storage containers if I’m headed to a restaurant to avoid using single-use, especially styrofoam, ones.
I had a handbag custom made for myself – I took all my necessities over to the craft-person’s workshop and said “I need a bag that fits all this. It’s important that I stop losing my keys and my epipens”. Now I have a bag that holds two epipens in place, a spot for my glasses (sun and reading), as well as a hook for keys, and everything else goes in a sort of pouch. It was expensive but it will last my life. In three years now I have not lost those items – before hand, I lost them all the time.
Kirby, I think you are the smartest chicest person I’ve ever imagined!
As always, love Grace’s art! Today’s unexpectedly synced up with a recent shopping need of mine – my trusty, zip wallet that managed to be compact and also have lots of slots for credit cards, license, library cards, public transportation cards, etc. has finally, after 7+ years, fallen completely apart and the zipper is no longer functional. I need a new wallet – but I’m paralyzed by choice! Does anyone have any suggestions for reasonably priced (less than $100) everyday wallets? Ideally, I’d like this one to actually last a lifetime, haha.
Roots – it will last forever and their tribe leather is beautiful and soft. I just picked one up preowned on Poshmark and love it.
I am on my second (third?) of these wallets from Vera Bradley – I prefer cloth vs leather and they have lasted me 7+ years each. I bet the leather ones last longer, but cloth shows so much wear and tear! Anyhow – I don’t use VB in other parts of life, but I love these wallets and how many pockets/slots there are! Great price too.
https://verabradley.com/products/continental-wallet-5045220090
YES!! Of course we need an alternate lip balm!!
Forgot the random assortment of crumbs at the bottom of the your bag/purse/pocket from snacks! And the handful of tissues in various state of use.
Yes…plus Pepto!
While I am not a mom, I am referred to as “Mom” by my friends because I always have – contact solution, Advil, nail clippers, foldable scissors, hair ties, a few bobby pins, alcohol swabs, charger, 2 diff charging cords for connection tip, pen, highlighter, lip balm, lip gloss, lip stick in a neutral that looks amazing on everyone, heavy duty carabiner, binder clips – large and small, reading glasses +1.0, headphones (AirPods), wallet, cash, 2 forms of ID, mints, and a partridge in a pear tree. While it may seem like a lot, it all fits in a small 7x4x2″ leather pouch, except for my glasses.
I toss the pouch and my glasses in whatever bag I am carrying and then add my iPad and/or a journal and/or a book. Ta-Da!
What is this magical lipstick Eli?!
Hi Anon! It is Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Blur Lipstick in B101 – TIEPOLO. It is absurdly expensive but I use it nearly everyday, it’s lasted over 10 months, and not even halfway gone. Not much is needed, it smudges over my lips perfectly, and there is very minimal (almost nil) transfer. I won’t say it stains my lips but it lasts! And it’s not drying. And it replaced 6 other lipsticks I rotated through that I always thought, “meh” when I put them on.
Hauntingly accurate
Imm trying to leave the house without my phone as much as possible.
I used to leave mine at home often until I was the one calling an ambulance after a traffic accident (both the motorist and the pedestrian he hit were unconscious). So now I take it because what if I need to call an ambulance or fire-truck ?
The best thing I ever did for my sanity was to fill up a small pouch with all these necessities (a cute blue Sonia Kashuk one) and just transfer it to any bag I am using that day like a backpack on commute days, or farmers market tote or any fancy evening purse! So simple but so effective
Same here, Anon! I swear by my little green pouch and transfer it to every single bag.
Add a nail file (or emory board, depending on your age). Never fails that I’m going to need one.
Love this! I’d add my kindle, reading glasses, tylenol and tweezers!
1000000%
One of my must-carry items is a TSA-approved pair of scissors – it looks like a pen or marker with a cap, and comes in so handy! Now I’m on the hunt for a foldable pair of pliers to match my “purse scissors”!
And my emotional support Kindle! Cannot go anywhere with a book on hand.
Or an actual book, in my case! :)
Yes to all of the above, and seconding water bottle and tissues, but also adding hand sanitizer!!!
This is also very extra and I don’t always have it on me, but I’ll sometimes have a mini travel-sized hand soap with me (like Aesop or even just unscented) because I’m really picky about scents and public bathroom soap often smells terrible 😄
+ reading glasses. Got to about 47 and had to give in.
I’ve been so proud to have a small Uniqlo purse but now that it’s summer, I’m stymied by readers + sunglasses + tinted readers, oy! I need a bigger purse!!!
yes! came here to say this :)
The ear plugs were a recent addition for me. Kids’ indoor sports matches are SO LOUD!
And water. And a book just in case (that i will not read but really am determined to read at least 71 pages in one go by the end of this summer :)) short attention span, I will crack you (eventually!)
spot on! but you forgot Kleenex and emergency chocolate!! :) i love all your musings!
Yes to tissues and chocolate!! 🤍🤎
My list includes ALL of the above (although I think I have multiples of pens and hair ties), plus a bottle of water, pocket tissues, some mini snacks, and plasters.
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