My purse is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. There is something so intimate about what’s in a woman’s purse. I would feel less uncomfortable going through their dresser than I would digging through their purse for something, even if they asked. I feel like you can tell a lot about a woman by what’s in her purse. What’s happening in her life, her routines, etc. Until you get to mine. Which actually might tell you everything you need to know about me. Prepared for any tech, charging, beauty or thank you card emergencies.
Quick tip: The one thing I will say that helps me stay organized? Putting things back in their exact same spot. Every single time. It takes a second to train yourself but trust me, once you start being able to reliably pull out your headphones without looking you will thank me.
My Madewell Tote
I upgraded to the zip tote this Christmas (a present from me to me) and have been super happy with it! I really prefer to have a zipper on my tote and this one is one of their best. You can also change the strap now! I got it in black for myself and cognac for my best friend and honestly there is not a wrong choice when it comes to this bag.
My goal with my bag is to have exactly what I need, not what I *think* I need. Having excess has encouraged me to overspend or buy *just in case* and while occasionally that has come in handy, I’d rather be smarter about what’s in my bag. It helps keep your bags shape and your back and shoulder will thank you!
Emergency Tech and Beauty Bag
I love bags in bags. It’s almost a problem. But it helps you stay organized to think about your purse like a packing cube situation. Through work travel I have learned I always, always, always need an emergency tech bag. I cannot tell you the amount of issues I’ve been able to solve by this blessed bag. Both beauty and tech emergencies. One of my friends at work is a director of IT and put together a “go” bag and gave me some items which was the start of this magical, random, Mary Poppins-style bag. So what’s in it?
- A long HDMI cord. You really can never have enough of these.
- USB-C adapters or a 3-in-1 adapter. You can never be prepared enough.
- These eye patches that are mess-free and perfect for in-flight.
- A facial spray, this is my current one.
- Cable wrap and screen spray. Neither of these are sexy things, but very much needed.
- Oh and you can the get the actual confetti-bag here. Trust me it’s fun to have when you go through TSA and your bag gets pulled. It confuses them on who you are.
- Misc. items: Two pens, chapstick, the wall part of a charger and a 10 ft cord.
Everyday Items
There are some items that don’t necessarily work in my packing cube thought process and those items are brilliantly called, “loose items.” I know, I really came up with an original term. Even though they are loose, they still have covers to protect them and I can easily find because I put back in the exact same place.
- Beats headphones. I used to only keep these in my Tumi travel backpack but not anymore. I get so much done when I have headphones on and I love the they signal to people at work I’m in a get sh*t done mode. (Some might prefer regular headphones but I like sending a message.)
- Cards and stamps – I love having cards on me at all times. I write a lot of thank you, thinking of you or just in general, cards to people so I always have a few on me for when I have a few moments. Stamps on me encourage the instant gratification of mailing it as soon as I write it. (I got these cards custom done at Love of Character here in Wichita.)
- Wallet – I’ve had this wallet for years, like since college. I once bought a Gucci wallet but I returned it because I am so attached to this wallet. Inside of it I have a photo of my grandmother and I that I look at every single day. It’s one of the only things I have of her and I have literally gone dumpster diving to save it.
- I am honestly very picky about my wallet. I carry entirely too many cards between personal/work that I need a legit wallet and I can’t do a trendy wallet like most can.
- This wallet was $40 and I bought it back when I was at KU and I remember thinking it was expensive. LOLOLOLOL. Okay Alissa.
- Ray Bans – I am so proud that I have managed to keep these sunglasses and their case together and un-lost for a year. How? I have no idea. How much longer will this last? Probably a day after I publish this post just to make me a liar.
- My favorite lipstick (Capricious) and primer. This is my everyday mauve-y lipstick that is my ride or die. The primer is a recent buy that has been really great.
Snacks
Listen let’s be real. Snacks are life. While I prefer to buy my organic dried mango from Costco, Trader Joe’s snack (ahem, they are meant for like three snacks but not around me) bag of dried organic mango are PERFECT! They also have these really good, sweet and spicy pecans that are EXPENSIVE and worth it. But seriously, expensive. It’s like .15 every full-size, non-broken pecan you eat.
So if you ever need an emergency card, HDMI cable, charger, snack AND headphones, you know who to come to. These items are truly my essentials and move with me between my Madewell zip tote and my Tumi backpack for work.
