Once in a while I’ll meet a person who casually mentions that they never carry a purse, and I am completely struck speechless. If a person doesn’t carry a purse, how do they carry all the things? Or do they carry no things? Or do they rely on pockets? Just…how? And am I carrying too many things?
The above is the stash of things I take to teach; I’m like a pack mule.
I have been wanting to write about handbags forever, and was doubly inspired after reading this post by Stephany (HI STEPHANY). I am not a “handbag person” in that I don’t have myriad bags that I switch out seasonally, but I do have a few that I switch out for different functions on the daily.
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The “It’s My Bag, Baby” Edition
The Big Mama
This is my number one, catch-all, if-I-had-to-run-out-of-the-house-in-an-emergency-I-would-have-everything bag. I love it so much. It’s sturdy, it’s huge, it’s cute, it’s waterproof, it’s wipeable. I take it with me for appointments and to travel (well, inasmuch as I travel these days), I grab it when I am just popping out for a quick errand, it goes with me to teach, and it also acts as a storage container for everything in my life, as you will see.
It has a cross-body strap, which is more convenient to me if I need to be hands-free.
Barkley photobomb! Also, how do people take mirror selfies? It’s hard. Anyway, this bag has tons of room, zippered compartments, a separate compartment for books/ laptop (if ever I carried one, which I do not), and a little mesh pouch to hold a water bottle, which I do take to every class. After ninety minutes of talking, not to mention mask-wearing and talking, I am pretty dry.
The bag is from lululemon, but it doesn’t look like they sell it anymore. I have always been impressed by the quality and size, and the fact that the straps have never suffered from me cramming so many things in it. It’s expandable as well, which is a feature I haven’t yet had to use, but it’s nice to know it’s there.
The “Going Out” Bag
This is the bag I use for all my super-exciting expeditions. In other words, the grocery store. I love my giant bag but it’s not particularly practical for going to Costco and Superstore, even with the cross-body strap. Grocery trips are a workout in themselves – Costco in winter is like CrossFit – and I don’t need a big bag to get in the way.
Enter this cutie! It’s from Matt and Nat and it’s juuuuuuust big enough to hold my wallet and a few other key items, like my actual keys, as well as my phone, grocery list, small sunglasses case, a mask, and a tiny hand sanitizer. There is a lipstick in there too but it goes unused because masks. You know what I mean. Well, masks are the new lipstick, I always say.
It also has the all-important cross-body strap, because until I grow an extra arm I cannot waste the use of one holding a bag while I haul around hundreds of dollars worth of groceries.
The “Walking Barkley” Bag, a.k.a. If It’s Not Scottish It’s Crap
My parents brought this back to me from their trip to Scotland, and I love it. It’s too small to hold a wallet or sunglasses, but it’s perfect for holding keys, phone, a mask, and the all-important stash of dog poop bags. Have you ever been caught without one? I have, and I felt so badly that I went home and came back to clean up.
It has a small zippered compartment that I can stash my library card in, when I need to pick up a book.
Let’s Call This What It Is
Okay. So. I really like this bag for longer walks, it’s waterproof and a good size in case I need to take a wallet with me somewhere. I keep dog poop bags in it as well, along with keys, phone, and mask. It’s big enough to put in my smaller sunglasses case as well. It is from lululemon and it is euphemistically called a “belt bag” but let’s call it what it is: a fanny pack.
Now, let me just hasten to assure you all that I do not wear it as such. Bless you all who love the belt bag but there are a few reasons I do not wear it as intended: first, I feel like I might turn into an older lady in my life who shall remain nameless, and who loved her fanny pack back in the day, and while I love this lady I do not want to emulate her personal style. Second, I actually don’t know how to adjust the straps, and frankly, I don’t want to learn. Third, for the majority of the year I wear large coats on my walks and having something on my waist is impractical. I wear it cross-body, as I do with all of my bags, and is my hand really that big?
WHAT’S IN THE BAG
In my head, I just said that like Brad Pitt in Seven. Not to worry, there is no one’s severed head in my bag. But there are a lot of things!
This is what I keep in my big bag, on the regular. Could I get rid of some of the things? Sure! But why would I? It’s a bit of a storage area for me. Not everything goes with me all the time, it should be noted, like the book and water bottle, and the sunglasses I’m not using. Let’s go left to right, sort of:
Masks: although I always match my mask to my outfit, it’s a good idea to have a couple of extra in my bag, just in case, and yes, that is a Golden Girls mask. Extra dog poop bag, because you never know. Water bottle, for teaching. Book and reading glasses, for appointments. Nail files – I probably don’t need three but you know how it goes. They multiply. Emergency wide-tooth comb for the rare day I have my hair down. Pens, Advil, dental floss, mints. Earplugs – I sleep with earplugs and those are my spares for when we are travelling. Cosmetic bag, wallet, three different sunglasses for different sun strengths, small first aid kit, hand sanitizer, lip products, keys, tissues. Not pictured: phone, because it’s taking the photo.
My friend Sara (HI SARA) gave me this cosmetic bag, and it’s a perfect size to stash all those little things that don’t fit in the zippered compartment.
At last count there were ten lip products in this bag; like I said, my purse is a bit of a storage area. Also in this little bag: a phone charger, travel size toothpaste and toothbrush. You can never be too prepared. You may think that fourteen lip products in one bag is overkill, but what can I say, I like choices. I find it soothing to know that I could have anything from a clear balm to a bold red lip, without having to search cupboards.
All important question of the week: are you a handbag carrier, or are you one of those unicorns who can go without? Are you a bit of a turtle – carrying everything with you – like me, or are you more of a “travel light” kind of person? Tell me everything. xo
I don’t carry a purse, but on errands I do wear a backpack I think serves the same function. I just never stopped after college/grad school. Well, I did have a messenger bag for several years when I was teaching and carrying a lot of papers and books everywhere. If it’s jacket/coat weather, I can often get by with pockets and I don’t carry a separate bag. If I’m just going for a walk, all I take is my phone and reading glasses (to see the phone). I don’t even need keys because someone is almost always home.
I LOVE to see what people carry in their handbags! Your Scottish mini bag is SO cute!
Over the past five years, I have transformed into a person who doesn’t carry a purse and it is LOVELY. I have my phone in a case that has a little compartment for my ID and a credit card, and that’s all I need! I mean, I do miss my chapstick and hand lotion and hand sanitizer, but I keep those in my car which helps. But I do not miss having a purse with All The Things, because that is what is in my purse normally. I guess I am a woman of extremes.
(If you don’t say WHAT’S IN THE BAG with serial-killer induced anguish, then who even are you???) (A less disturbed person than I, I suppose.)
I have a couple of friends that only carry wallets and I am in the same awe of them as I am of people who can grocery shop with just a little basket. My purse needs to be infinite and contain multitudes. Not on dog walks, though, I like to do those unencumbered – the dog poop bags are in a holder right on the leash because otherwise I would invariably be caught without them. I love that you have Frost Mints – Eve says I actually have a Frost Mint Condition.
How can anyone go without carrying a purse or bag? I too have many things that I feel are necessary to have on me. Just.in.case. Like lip balm choices as well as eye drop choices (red, dry or allergy?)
I have a nice selection of purses, but I tend to use the same tote purse over and over. It was an expensive gift from my husband a few years ago and I use it and abuse it like it was from Walmart. Fill it with everything under the sun and it’s great for traveling because I can put a smaller purse INSIDE it.
I love your little Scottish purse and of course your photobomber. 🙂
Team purse! I only have one, and it’s large enough to carry all of my stuff plus a book. The only time that I don’t carry a purse is when I’m walking the dog, but now that I think about it, it would be handy to have a “poop” bag for my poop bags.
Back in the old days (pre-pandemic), I carried a purse everywhere. These days, since I barely go anywhere, I usually only carry my keys, wallet and phone. If I’m going into a store, I add my cloth grocery bags. If I’m headed into the office (usually on a weekend when no one is there), I take my laptop bag and throw my keys, phone and wallet in and call it a day. Honestly, I never thought I’d be a person who wouldn’t carry a purse but now, I can’t figure out why I’d need one…but then again, I’m home all the time now so the whole “what if I need….” question is out the window.
I have a catch-all sort of purse that I use for all the things…. But i like to go hands-free when possible. This morning I took my son to the zoo, and put the car key, ID, and a credit card in one pocket and my phone in the other pocket of my dress. We have one of the fancy combination locks on our front door, and it is so liberating to not be constantly searching for keys.
Definitely team purse! Although I am not one to change my purse for different occasions. I usually have one that I stick with for most outings. I loved taking a peek into your bag!
Ooh yay, a shout-out! 🙂
As you know, I am TEAM PURSE all the way! I used to be someone who carried a tiny purse that only had room for my phone, a small wallet, and my keys, but I upgraded to something bigger so that I could feel more prepared!
I love all of your purses!
How did I miss this? Well, I know how. Life was unfortunately turned upside down over the last 4 days for us. And such a fun topic. OK, I’m here now.
I was always the type to carry a purse. Nothing super fancy but slightly upscale. As in, not over $100 but bought on sale so worth a tad more. I required an outside pocket for keys and phone. I wore that purse until it was no longer pretty enough to be in public. OK- maybe a little beyond that time as choosing a new purse to love was a hassle.
Then I bought an Addidas tote bag because it was on sale. I have been using that exclusively for about 3.5 years. It holds everything and has a zippered outside pocket for phone and wallet and extra room for whatever. I can put a book and snacks in it, or less. I have a mini brush and mini hair product spray so I can always adjust my hair if needed. What I have found works best is that I leave it in the car and run into places with just my wallet with a strap for my wrist and my phone. I love pockets and get by using pockets for phone and keys.
When we go somewhere, like dinner with other parents while visiting Tank, I bring a nicer purse and toss like 3 things in it. At leadt I look like an adult vs a gym rat.
This post reminds me of the book Nora Ephron wrote. Or was it just a chapter in the ‘I hate my neck’ book?
The Brad Pitt reference . . . oh, that movie. Love your big bag and how well it serves. Enjoyed the photo bomb too.
I find myself stuck on wearing a mask to match your outfit. That takes dedication and planning. I myself just wear a black KN-95 wherever I go because I have given up attempting to make cloth masks work.
I myself am a crossbody kind of gal and I’m happy to see a fellow crossbody enthusiast!