What’s in My…Bag, Which I Call a Purse: A TBB Series and Link-Up

Hey gals!

As is often the case, I am a day late and a dollar short in linking-up with my friends at The Blended Blog for the first in a four-part “What’s in my…” series.  I spent much of today catching up on reading the blogs I follow, especially enjoying “What’s in my bag?” posts.  So I decided to dump out my purse on the kitchen counter tonight for your inspection.

This is the purse I am carrying right now after retiring a very well-loved, well-worn turquoise bag that I had been using each spring for the last few years.

It was on clearance at Charming Charlie.  I like carrying a purse of substantial size because, as you will see, I have many important things I fill it with.

Here’s a bird’s eye view of the contents in my bag.  When I am going out of town, you can add to this hodge-podge, a Nook, iPAD or laptop.

I am in awe of my comadres who carry only a wallet, lipstick and ink pen in their purses.  I don’t know how they do it.

I bought the little green toiletry tote to make changing out purses faster and easier.  And then I discovered Miche bags which have interchangeable outer shells that you use over an inner cloth base bag.  I was sad to learn recently that Miche has gone out of business.  I thought their design was genius.

In the center part of the tote, I carry my black wallet, my credit card holder and my Ziplock bag of store coupons.  Probably could stand to  replace the Ziplock with something a little…more permanent, more attractive? On the outer pockets, I have some rather random items.

I have a chain purse made from a baby sock.  I collect my change in it until it is full and then transfer the money into a jar in my closet.  I am saving quarters and dimes for my granddaughters’ college funds.  Pennies and nickels are for my savings.  The tribal patterned bag is one that Francisco and Lauren brought me back from a trip to Mexico.  I keep rewards cards in it.  In the third photo, you can see some of my store coupons from my trusty Ziplock bag.  In the last picture, I have my purse hanger that I never remember to use.  In El Paso, people (women) get very nervous when they have to place their purses on the floor.  They say it’s bad luck, can make you poor.  You’d think that would be enough to remind me to use my purse hanger but instead I set it on the floor and then feel nervous about it being there.  I have a few photos of my girls, my parents and PC in some bedraggled photo sleeves.

In one of the outer pockets to my green tote, I have kept hand lotion, a brush, lipstick and a little first aid kit. Recently my friend Bea gave me this darling quilted black cosmetic bag that just happens to be lined in the same color as my purse.

I have transferred my lipstick and a tube of mascara to it but it just occurred to me that maybe I could also put my brush and lotion in there, too.  What do you think?  Actually, I could completely remove the hair brush from my bag, I am lucky to brush my hair at home, much less out and about.  See that faux fur charger?  It was a genius gift from Lauren.  It has saved my skin so many times when my phone has been about to die.  Great gadget.

The next items might be the most important things in my purse.

Might not look too precious to the untrained eye but on the left, inside my wallet is a picture Cady drew when she visited me at the Guerrero library.  I kept the little Post-it stuck to my computer at school until my last days there. On the right is a stylus for Cady’s ‘Pink’ – her iPAD.  I need to give that back to her when we are together again.  In the meantime, it is in safe keeping.  The white lid goes to one of Lucia’s baby bottles.  When she was first born, we were trying so many different formulas and bottles, some formulas came pre-mixed in bottles that Lauren was going to keep.  I removed this lid from one of the pre-mixed bottles of formula and started to throw it away but then thought we might be keeping the lids, too, so in my purse it went.  And has stayed.  Until I see Lauren and Lucia again.

Along the same sentimental note as the stylus, Post-it and bottle cap, are the Peter Piper Pizza arcade tickets PC and I won from our recent arcade date, one of our “52 Uncommon Dates”.  A brand new Peter Piper opened very close to our home and PC and I both look forward to taking Cady there this summer.  We are saving these tickets in the pocket of my purse until her visit.

Finally, what purse would be complete without a bar of Mexican coconut candy.  I am not eating it, although I love it.

The candy is serving to remind me to stay on my 21 Day Fix eating plan.  I bought it at one of PC’s ball games from a man who peddles Mexican candy and nuts every Saturday.  My Oakley sunglasses are rarely in my purse, usually in the car because they are prescription lenses and I need them to drive.  My keys are normally buried deep in the bottom of my bag where I can’t find them, along with my phone.  And that’s about it.

So, here’s the question of the post.  Question:  What sentimental or superstitious item might be found in YOUR bag?  Won’t you share in a comment below or better yet, send me a pic or post one on Instagram or Twitter using #TBBWhatsInMy.  Or link-up here.

Be sure to hop around the blogs of the other Blended Blog contributors and check out the neatly organized, streamlined contents of their designer bags.  Puts mine right to shame!

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a beautiful week!

Hugs and kisses,