Tuesday, June 7, 2016

What's In My Bag

Ah, a lady’s handbag… It used to always be such a mystery to me why my momma’s purse was so darn giant and so darn heavy.  Now that I’m an adult I understand completely why, and my purse is actually even bigger and heavier than hers.  #Woops

I pretty much live by the Boy Scouts motto Always Be Prepared.  Maybe it’s the Type A in me, maybe it’s because of my love for material things (don’t judge), maybe it’s the OCD in me, or maybe it’s just because of my irrational fear of getting stuck somewhere without access to anything.  I don’t know, but I have to have my stuff.  And my purse holds 7 lbs. of stuff.  Like, for real.  I just weighed it.  #BackProbs

Here’s a look into my purse AKA my whole world.

1/ Planner

This has my entire life in it, and yes, it’s paper. 

My name is Lindsay and I have a paper planner. 

There, I said it.  I’m a very visual and hands on person and electronic planners just do not cut it for me.  I’ve never even tried one because I couldn’t find one that was versatile enough.  I live and die by this planner and it goes everywhere with me.  It’s because of the planner that I am able to be so organized and efficient with my time.  The planner is large – 9” x 8” – and it’s thick so it’s by far the heaviest thing in my bag.  I keep everything in there:

  • Monthly calendars for appointments, meetings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
  • Weekly schedules and to do lists
  • Short term and long term to do lists
  • Reference lists
  • Credit card spending
  • Christmas gift lists
  • Vacation tracking for work
  • Blog calendar
  • Blog checklists
  • Post-its/stickers/labels
  • Address labels
  • Stamps
  • Blank thank you notes
I use it in conjunction with an app on my phone called Listmaster.  Listmaster houses all of my lists that are too hard to keep up with on paper – grocery lists, wish lists, bucket lists, etc.  But that’s a whole other post for a different day.


2/ Pencil Bag

I color code my planner, so yes, I have to have my special colored pens with me at all times.  Pink, red, green, blue, purple, black, and a black sharpie marker.


3/ Wallet

I still carry a checkbook because, surprisingly, there is a need for it again now that we have a kid in real school.  Between fundraisers and extra-curricular activities they nickel and dime you to death.  So anywho, since I still carry a checkbook, I still have a full size traditional wallet to hold that plus my ID, credit cards, gift cards, etc.


4/ Coupon Wallet

This is actually very thin and it only has two slots.  I use one side for restaurant coupons and one side for store coupons.  That way they’re always with me in case we’re out and about and an opportunity arises!


5/ Makeup Bag

While I do put on “the works” at home every morning, I don’t carry it all with me everywhere I go.  I just carry the basics:

  • Powder for touch-ups
  • Lipstick
  • Lip gloss
  • Carmex (I never go anywhere without my beloved Carmex)
  • A tiny brush (gotta do what ya gotta do when you have long hair)
  • Nail clippers (if I can’t clip a hang nail I will pick at it until it bleeds. #Disgusting)
  • Tweezers
  • Hand lotion (I have extremely dry skin so I can’t go anywhere without it)

6/ Medicine Pouch

This is where I go a little overboard.  I carry lots of things that I rarely even use, but it’s always good to know they’re there in case I need them:

  • Ibuprofen
  • Immodium
  • Pepto (redundant much?)
  • Bandaids
  • Feminine products (well, duh.)
  • Antibacterial hand wipes, for the germaphob in me
  • Inhaler
  • Epi-pen (just in case)
  • Tide pen
  • Tissues

7/ Random Things

These next items are all dispersed in various pockets and compartments throughout the purse (but organized, of course).

  • Pen, pink highlighter, and pencil (and no, I do not keep those in the pen bag because I want to have easy access to them since I use them frequently.)
  • Gum (I will always have gum. #NameThatShow)
  • iPhone charging cable
  • Ear buds (even though I never use them)
  • Jump drive
  • Chapstick for Jacob because he licks his lips like crazy!
  • Cell phone
  • Keys
  • Sunglasses 

And there you have it.  A look into my back-pain inducing bag.  And if you want to see more details on how I choose a hand bag (because I’m incredibly picky), you can read this post that I did last summer.  The bag that I'm currently using is the one from that post and I could not love it more!  You can't go wrong with gold!

*Linking up with Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday, Our Pretty Little Girls for Tuesday Talk, and Stang & Co. and Crown Me in Glitter for Talk About It Tuesday.

 



29 comments:

  1. You are so organized and I love it! I am the same way. I have to be able to put my hands on things immediately when I need it. Having smaller bags that have a specific purpose is spot on. Way to go lady. Love what you keep in your bag.

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  2. Love these types of posts! You sure do pack a lot in there haha, but it is always good to be prepared!

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  3. I still carry a checkbook too! I hate that it makes my wallet so bulky but I need it! This post made me realize I need to get my bag organized, LOL

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  4. You're super organized. And I'm
    Jealous! I swear I'm a hot mess when it comes to organizing. I try. I really do. I even have that Erin Condren planner. And it's sitting on my kitchen island untouched. Id love to know how you use it best. I need to start because I swear I forget everything.

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  5. Guuuuurl! You rock out your purse! I wish I was that organized. I mean, my purse isn't a complete mess, but it could use some work. I've recently switched to an over the should/across the chest long purse...does that makes sense? Haha! However, it's small and I found myself without wipes last week while out for ice cream with the kiddos! Yikes!! I probably should just start carrying a diaper bag again. It was comforting to know it was all there!

    As for the planner, I'm at a loss. I used to document everything in my Mac, but I don't have one anymore, I've tried a cheap planner this past year and failed miserably. Perhaps I should give in and get a nice Erin Condren or Emily Ley planner. Ahhh!!! What to do, what to do.....

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    1. Aaaah I would die without wipes! I seriously don't know what I would do without all of my stuff!

      And yes, you should totally try a nice planner... I have an Erin Condren and it was definitely pricey, but it is worth every penny in my opinion because I use it SO MUCH. If something ever happened to it, I would die. Like, I would rather somebody steal my wallet instead of my planner. Lol.

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  6. Your handbag looks so similar to mine! Haha I feel like I have everrrrrything in my bag! I so badly want to have a paper planner and have tried so many times, I just always go back to my phone! Thanks for linking up!

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  7. I love your medicine pouch! That sounds like me--always prepared! Love that you're so organized!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  8. That is one full bag-but WOW organized mama! You are awesome!

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    1. Thanks, girl! And yes, I just know I'm going to have back and shoulder problems one day! Lol.

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  9. soooooo organized!! Is it wrong that I'm now dying to see the inside of your planner lol I scribble stuff down but have planner-envy with those who make it look all pretty!!
    we're doing a handbag linkup too (spoiler alert: mine is SUPER boring) feel free to linkup if ya want

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  10. were we separated at birth?? I carry my planner, it's color coordinated too (and I only use colored pens at work! Must have colored pens) and I carry a little makeup bag and a little medicine bag too (with Pepto too! Its a lifesaver. and Band-Aids.. and I get cold sores, (ugh) so I always have my Abreva with me) oh, and that show is Friends, what Monica says to Ben when he was born. :-)

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  11. Haha. I love all the stuff you have in your bag. Such a fun post. I have so much random stuff in mine and could use that little make up bag for things and I should carry more pens in my bag.

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  12. I love how organized your bag is! The check book is still very much a part of my purse contents as well!

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    1. Glad to know I'm not the only one! I mean, who writes checks anymore?!

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  13. I'm a paper person too! I used planners for a little while, but always ended up calling it quits a few months into the year. However, I do have a small notebook I keep in my bag at all times that contains any important events and appointments, to do lists, shopping lists, etc. I never leave home without it! I really need to start using little bags to organize my purse better. I currently have everything just thrown in there and it's kind of a disaster. It takes a lot of digging to find something!

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  14. You are so prepared! I love it! What brand is your planner?

    Becky
    www.bybmgblog.com

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  15. Oh friend I think we have the same purse contents...:) I love it! And I like being prepared too. I'm with you on the planners, paper planners is where it's at, I too carry them with me at all times. You just never know when you'll need it.

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  16. I have a paper planner too and I absolutely adore it. Yes, I feel judged by others over it. ;-)

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  17. I have an EC planner and LOVE it! I need to have things in front of me visually. Love this post, it's so fun!

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    1. Thanks, Laurie! And I'm the same way! I need something tangible!

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  18. I love planners...you know this! :) I always love seeing what other people carry! I need to carry a little medicine pouch like you do too, I'm always in need of something. Great idea! ;)
    xo, Lily
    Beauty With Lily

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  19. Ahh this makes me want to be more like you! I feel more prepared for life just reading this ;) Also, I think I use that same lipstick!

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  20. Amen to the paper planner. All others just fail in comparison. I have been amazed at how much stuff people have in their purses :)!

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  21. Having a dedicated coupon wallet is GENIUS!

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  22. I am 100% with you on a paper planner. I just can't get on board with an online calendar!
    I carry so much stuff, too. My husband always makes fun of me, but I'm always prepared!

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    1. Me too! Just like the boy scouts say! Always be prepared!

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  23. I love how organized you are! And I'm all about using a paper planner too, I have that same one in fact and love it! Being prepared for anything [and everything] is a good thing! There are many a times we've been out and I forgot to grab an extra something or other and it was not good. And of course, the one time you go out without all of those things, will be the one time you need every.single.one of them. Right? ;) Right now my "purse" is the diaper bag that goes everywhere with me. I have one little pouch in the bag that is "mine" and it has a few of the very bare necessities. Will I ever carry a purse again? I doubt it. haha. :)

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  24. That's a great idea to use pouches to separate things out. I need to start doing that!

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