A few weeks ago, MamaTulip bravely revealed the contents of her purse and I was mightily impressed at how, well, minimal it seemed. Because, um, my “purse” is actually a piece of carry-on luggage from REI… Generally, my sock knitting bag and a book are in the “purse,” too. No cats, though. Even I have limits! 😉
“Hey, May, get over here! I think something’s about to happen!” -Chaos
Clockwise from bottom left (you may want to click on the picture to make it larger), a small purple hairbrush, a shopping bag (the kind that folds up into a wee stuffsack), some pressed powder for blemish control (I think I bought that in 1997), and some backup UnPetroleum lip balms. Running out of lip balm? Eeep! Moving right along – hand lotion, my wallet, a small pink pouch with “feminine supplies” in it, a blue bookstand, my camera case (since I was obviously using the camera), iron pills, a GorillaPod (you can’t see it, since May is chewing on it), Neutrogena Oil-Free Sunblock, and my PDA (under Chaos’ head).
“Mwmph.” -Mayhem
“Oh, how I wish those feminine supplies weren’t in that little pouch. They are so much fun to rip apart!” -Chaos
Clockwise from the left below, a pen and notebook, my access badge for work, a java jacket from Kind Coffee in Estes Park, some bandaids, generic lactaid, more lip balm, lots of hair bands, earplugs (yellow case), a glasses cleaning cloth in a little case, Imitrex autoinjector for migraines, Swiss Army knife, more generic lactaid, my own java jacket, more “feminine supplies,” silk hankies hiding my blog card case and sunglasses case, a Red Tango pocket mirror, my cell phone case (the phone was charging), and a glasses strap (just in case I get really crazy active and skydive or something, I guess).
“I do love these little hair doodads! I wonder how many I can steal before Mom notices?” -Mayhem
Finally! A Bad Kitty notebook (from a bin at Target ages ago), my checkbook in its kitty cover (oh, she has key fobs in that same fabric right now!), a toothbrush and toothpaste, some pens and a Sharpie, Caribou Wintergreen HoofMints, more sunblock, and antiperspirant. Whew! Isn’t it fortunate that, for days that involve a lot of walking, I pull essentials out and toss them into a smaller bag?! When I shop, I pull my wallet out and just take that along.
“My goodness, big kitty. Do you think everyone has as much stuff in their bags as Mom does?” -Mayhem
“No wonder she goes to the chiropractor. Sheesh.” -Chaos
HOLY CRAP. Dude, that is a LOT of stuff to cart around! I’m laughing really hard at the powder you bought in ’97…are you just hanging on to that for nostalgia’s sake? LOL!
I love that your purse is carry-on luggage. That’s brilliant.
I WAS FIRST! Booya!
*blink blink blink*
Phew! I thought I was bad!!! That’s a LOT of stuff!
Wow! That is a lot of stuff! Probably as heavy as me! ; )
Alright, now I KNOW my bag is majorly minimalist: wallet, keys, lip gloss, hair doodads, knitting project.
p.s. I too love me some Red Tango!
Chris- Isn’t there an Olympic competition for this? I can see you’re going for the gold!
May and Chaos are wondering if you stuffed a kitten or two in there.
That’s a lot of stuff! I hope you have a strong back. 🙂
BTW, checkbook?!? I haven’t carried one in years. It’s hard to write a check at a lot of places in Chicago.
Where’s the kitchen sink 😉
Only one thing in my bag. My wallet! If I could hang my wallet over my shoulder, I wouldn’t need a bag.
Holy Toledo! 😉
I have gum, wallet, planner, 3 lipsticks, tissues, keys, nail file, 3 fossils and a buckeye. (The last items were picked up on two different walks with a special friend LOL)
Wow.
You have a mom purse! I mean you do have two young ones, your entitled! Mine looks like a garbage dump. You may have a lot of stuff but it looks pretty tidy.
Oh boy! And I thought I was good at carrying bunches of random stuff? Hee hee. Fun, though.
And ack,KEY FOB! THE TEMPTATION! Eeeee.
Dude. I have a kid and I don’t even carry around that much stuff! You must feel so liberated when you just take your wallet. I know I do when I don’t have the ever-present diaper bag slung across my shoulder! 🙂
Yea – someone else who uses “luggage” for a purse. I have a large, full, multi compartmented backpack that I schlep around. One time I had to empty EVERYTHING out into my SIL’s lap (who uses a large tote for a purse)to find a spare key and she just about died laughing asking me when I was going to pull out the rubber chicken.
Hmm. Camera, ipod, notepad, a couple of writing implements, two half-done crossword puzzles, a pack of gum, a small knitting project (often a sock, but right now it’s a headband), and (in the mornings, at least) my lunch. Sometimes also a book. I keep my spare hairbrush and lip balm and hand lotion in my desk drawer in lab. Oh, and I suppose it’s only fair to note that I keep my wallet, keys, and phone in my pockets.
Holy cow. I thought I was bad. But really, no wonder that you need a chiro. Has he reamed you for the bag yet? Or do you “cheat” and only bring your wallet in with you? 😉
I think you’d win one of those “what’s in your purse” contests! I have a lot too, although it’s getting less as my kids get older.
That’s a lot of stuff, but it you are certainly prepared. I could use you around here.
Wow. I am positively a minimalist compared to you. And yet, I still have crap I could get rid of!
Oh, that takes me back to when I was a kid and my grandmother carried a giant purse with all sorts of stuff. She used to watch Let’s Make a Deal and get so excited when Monty Hall said he’d give someone in the audience who could produce X item some money, because she pretty much had everything Monty was paying out for in her bag. Well, with the exception of a hard boiled egg he asked for one time, but she said she’d bring one if she ever did go see Let’s Make a Deal being filmed. So, you never know, you could get lucky with all that stuff one day!
Some days I feel like a pack horse, but you make me feel positively light!
Whoa! That’s worse than my purse. Even so, I’m afraid to show mine. :o)
Back when I worked out of the house, I carried bags filled like yours. Sometimes I miss my treasure bags….
Your brave dear. I’m not even sure of the contents of my bag. Hmmm, this could make for good blog fodder though. Thanks for the idea…just a question, are any of us knitbloggers actually knitting or posting about knitting right now?
My bag used to be just like that – now I carry two so my “purse” isn’t so heavy.
…very telling ;o) You’re quite prepared for anything! Perhaps you were a boyscout in another life?
I’m amazed. Grateful that you carry my sock bag with you, but amazed, none-the-less! I thought MY bag was big. lol!
(but you’re entitled – you DO have two “little ones!” lol)
(((hugs)))
I laughed at all your *stuff* until I realized I could compete. Hmmm, blog fodder, yup, indeedy-do.
Might I suggest a backpack-style bag? I think it would be more back-friendly. And the cost would quickly be made up for in reduced chiropractor visits 🙂
Oh my DEAR! Maybe it’s a Minneapolis thing — and I’m inspired now and going to copy you on my blog, and empty out my purse. My mother used to say, in her best “this is what’s right” voice, “SMALL WOMEN SHOULD CARRY SMALL HANDBAGS!” I’m 4’11”, and I found a smallish bag that’s got hidden secret sections in the 4th dimension so it holds a lot…but that’s not enough; I always carry a big tote as well — wear dresses with pockets – and I’ve added pinafores to my wardrobe, with more pockets. (Oh – and I now have a petticoat with pockets!) And there’s the knitting basket….
But if you ever run into me just ask – I have EVERYTHING! (Oh, and next time I’m coming to the Cities I’ll write, because I sure’nuff would be tickled to get together!) And Evangeline and Lilliane are just not into being in pictures, how DO you do it?
Wow! You are prepared for everything. I have a medium size purse; I don’t like a heavy bag. But I also carry a backpack to work which has my laptop, sock knitting, iPod and the like.
May should be careful with those hair doodads! When my little brother was about 4, he put one part way around our cat’s head (sort of diagonally–not around her neck). It wasn’t visible. The cat (Astoria) went nuts. My parents had quite a time capturing the cat to see what was wrong. Astoria always hated my brother. He also “shaved” her whiskers after watching Dad shave. The memories a photo of May with hair doodads evokes!
Well, your chiropractor might complain, but he or she would probably appreciate your preparedness in an emergency!
I love bags, and have a problem finding the perfect one. I mean, my “purse stuff” doesn’t really take up that much room, but when you add in knitting and maybe reading, a small piece of luggage makes sense, but then I don’t take my knitting up to the store. And if I just take my wallet, I end up putting it down somewhere when I come home, then leaving the house the next time with the bag and not the wallet. Oy!
You’re better than a boy scout – prepared for anything and accessorized much cuter!
I think I stopped using a “purse” years ago and have begun using many other bags instead. I’ve got my Yarnery bag, from seeing the Harlot which has plenty o’ stuff in it… Inspirational, maybe I’ll do a copycat post and show the contents of my newly cleaned out purse.
Sunds like my bag, is’nt it amazing what we carry around
Holy crapper, you’ve got a lot of stuff in there.
I have an REI bag, too, but it’s mostly full of knitting and various little notebooks. I am the queen of various little notebooks. Kami says Hi to Chaos. She loves to steal my hairbands.
Wow, that’s why I try to be semi-reasonable in bag choices so I don’t end up lugging around too big of a bag. Though since I started knitting my purses have gotten bigger with each purchase, LOL!
I’ve toned down the amount of crap I carry but when I was carrying a diaper bag for Munchkin as well.. I had EVERYTHING anyone could ever want in that bag.
Its funny.. I have a collection of (bought at discount store) “designer” purses and the ones I like best are my Eagle Creek bags from REI and the like. Did you see that Keen was making purses? Ooooh!
Seems fairly reasonable. You never know what’s going to happen on a given day. Better to be prepared…..
very proud to see you also carry a swiss army knife, I always have one, of course this does cause a problem when you try to go into the Federal courthouse, and they look at you and say, you have not one swiss army knife but two. Well you see officer I’m a knitter and you’ll….oh never mind,j ust leave them here and pick them up after you’re done in the Judge’s chambers.
Wallet, make-up case, iPod, notebook, pen.
Goodness girl! Where’s the kitchen sink? 😉
Damn, that’s a lot of stuff in your purse/carry on/Mary Poppins Bag. Do you have a spiffy beaded lamp and a mirror inside too? Or a spoonful of sugar?
Ok, I’ll stop now. 🙂
Yep, that’s a lot ‘o stuff. And I thought my purse was full.
Luggage, huh? Wow!
Wow… the cats seem to be having a lot of fun with it though 😉 I have hardly anything at all I carry with me anymore, except a wallet — but that will all change when the diaper bag becomes attached to my hip 😉
LOL I read once that women with purses like ours were-independent and capable. Wallet/c-book = the “new” coin purse (but I-Pod case works perfectly, too). PS-cosmetics have a shelf-life of 12-18 months. You will love Lisa’s key fob. Love mine. Keep in mind that your c-book cover started all this.
Looks like there’s room for a can or two of wet food.
Holy sh*t! Does your back hurt from carrying all that? Dude, when the zombie apocalypse comes I wanna be with you.
Hmmmm, I think I have two knives in my bag right now, one Swiss! Too much, but not quite as much as you!
So – where’s the 4 pack of AA batteries? 🙂
Wow, that’s a lot of stuff! I definitely don’t feel so bad about the contents of my purse now.