The other day Lilan over at the Daily Cookie asked me what was in my purse, so I pulled out my bag, took out one item at a time and wrote everything down in a list.
When I finished, I felt cleansed and pure, like the pocketbook gods had absolved me of all my purse-stuffing sins.
Not only was writing out this list strangely cathartic, it was also slightly alarming. Does one (relatively sane) woman really need to lug around all this crap?
Let me preface my list by saying that I AM NOT A HOBO. I just happened to get a big, slouchy purse a few months ago, thinking it would look chic. Sure, it’s cute, but it’s also heavier than a stuffed Thanksgiving turkey.
Right now my purse contains…
- one Blackberry smartphone
- one wallet
- one Goody stretchy headband (grey) for workouts
- two black ponytail holder thingies
- three bobby pins
- …and a partridge in a pair tree (just kidding!)
- one ticket stub for the movie Atonement
- one half-eaten box of Orbit Maui Melon Mint gum. Unfortunately, I haven’t felt like chewing this gum since the minty poo experience with Poof! drops a few weeks ago.
- two packages of DHC Vitamin C Powders (thanks Jessy)
- two black Pentel RSVP fine tipped pens. These pens are the SH*T!
- house and car keys
- a pair of dangly black freshwater pearl earrings
- a sheet of white Apple stickers (the computers, that is, not the makeup!)
- pepper spray
- two pieces of coral from the beach directly in front of where El Hub and I got married in Hawaii
- a W-9
- a Post-it with the phone number for Skates on the Bay, a restaurant in Berkeley
- one Lemon Zest Luna Bar
- one dark chocolate Ghirardelli chocolate square
- a tube of Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour hand cream
- a box of Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage Concealer (unopened)
- one pearl necklace
- MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- Vincent Longo Illumina Concealer Stick #3
- CHANEL Rouge Allure in Exquise
- CHANEL Glossimer in Galactic
- CHANEL Gloss Creme Lumiere in Petite Four
- MAC Pink Treat Cremestick Liner
- MAC Blot pressed powder in medium dark
- last week’s pay stub
- a Christmas card from my Grandma
- one bag of Cherry Honey Ricola cough drops
- MAC Lipglass in Nico Now
- one binder clip
- one 2008 Monet day calendar
- one “To Do” list with 34 frickin’ tasks on it!
Yep… That’s about it. Oh, and yesterday there was also one Fuji apple in there but I ate it.
What can I say? I like to make lists, and I’m also a bit of a voyeur (but not in a pervy way, dirty birdies). Now it’s your turn!
What’s in your purse?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Mariah says
What’s in my purse?? I, like you, have wayyyy too much stuffed into my “chic yet giant” bag!
I have:
My wallet, with my bazillions of club cards and gift cards that I never seem to use.
About 5*counts* … 9 different lipsticks and lipglosses, my keys, my iPod, my keycard for school, loose change, no-doz, 3 flavors of gum, my favorite purple pen, girlie products, my bluetooth earpiece, my phone, a small thingie of clinique hand lotion, hair ties, and more receipts than you can shake a stick at! (I usually have to purge my purse of receipts about once a week. It’s SUCH a cluttered mess, it takes me like, a few minutes to find anything.) XDtricia says
i also love the big bags, but i pack light. i have a small makeup bag(pressed powder and brush, lipgloss, blotting sheets, chapstick, eyeliner),wallet, cell phone, keys, small mirror.
Vanessa says
HAHAHA Karen, I just did this post an hour ago too! It’s fun! And WOW I am amazed you fit all of that stuff in your purse! I gotta have my OREO Cakesters in my bag!
Julie says
Wow! That IS a lot of stuff. I carry heaps in my hand bags too. My friends are amazed at the stuff I bring!
I took a picture of it last month and WOW! I was :O
Anyways, here’s a list I copied and pasted from the picture I took last month:
Lancome Make-Up Bag
Paladio Blotting Paper
theBalm Hot Mama Blush/Shadow
Natio Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss – Watermelon
Lipsmackers – Celestial Strawberry
Lancome Juicy Tube – Chai Freeze
Lancome Juicy Rouge – 360
Max Factor Lipstick – Pink Ribbon
MAC Lipgelee – Dewy Jube
NARS Blush – Orgasm
Stila Perfectly Gold Palette
Mirror
MAC pigment – Vanilla (Sample)
Prescription glasses
LG 1GB USB Drive
House Keys
Miss Shop Sunglasses
Motorola Razr V3
The Body Shop Born Lippy – Strawberry
Make-Up Brush – Cheapie lip brush, The Body Shop blending brush, Prescriptives eye paint brush, cheapie blush brush and cheape highligher brush.
Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner – Noir (HG!)
ELF palette – MAC Gesso eye shadow and MAC Woodwinked eye shadow
Lancome Miracle vial
Britney Spears Curious vial
Davidoff Echo Woman mini
Papermate pen
Wallet
2 x Band Aids
4 x Bobby Pins
2 x Hair ties
1 x prescription contacts
You never know when you might need these things 😀
Sylvia Scarlett says
Today I’m wearing a big Furla bag, but it’s not that full… then again, it’s school day so I’m also toting a second bag with my laptop!
My list, give or take a few things:
Wallet
Car keys
House keys
Cell phone
Estée Lauder lipgloss
Chanel powder compact
Kiehl’s lip balm
L’Occitane shea butter hand cream
Coin purse
Misc. receipts
Pill box
USB pen drive
Driving gloves
Zipper bag containing:
-Hermes small size agenda/notebook
-Lip liner, neutral
-Lip liner, red
-Hair pins
-Pen
-Breath mints
-TdC Bois D’Iris mini vial
Sandy says
i love the brazil nut & palm tree eyeshadows from origins 🙂 so pretty!! i’ll do my “what’s in your makeup bag” next time. my internet hasn’t been quite friendly =( i love chanel rouge allure lipstick. they last quite long =) you just reminded me to get mac blot powder too. thanks =) xOx
Renee says
Well lets see… my two wallets (one that carries everything and one to put the id and debit card in when I feel like carrying light), my organizer, an envelope full of postits with beauty tips from You, about 5 recipes printed from my computer at work, about 5 face looks from mac, somewhere between 25 and 30 lipglosses, lipsticks, lip balms, etc. (I am a lippie junkie for real!!!!), my clinique stay matte sheer pressed powder, physicians formula shimmer powder in translucent pearl, little bottle of purell, small tube of hand lotion (avon), essie jackie oh my, my keys, my stupid phone (doesnt work half the time), and my umpteen million reciepts!!!! That all fits in a 15w X 9h X 5d black leather handbag from van heusen! Wow that is a lot of stuff…i need to clean it out this weekend!
dawn says
In my bag….and I just cleaned it out!!!
• Burts Bees replenishing balm
• Chap stick 100% naturals lip butter
• Blue tooth ear piece
• Blackberry
• Choward’s gum
• Choward’s Violet mints
• Alka seltzer cold
• Imodium (you never know)
• Sinus pills (crazy weather here in Pittsburgh)
• Pen – purple Pilot BP-S fine – very hard to come by
• Best Friends house keys
• Work Keys
• Own house keys
• Tweezers
• Solid ANGEL Perfume (it’s a necklace so I keep in Tiffany pouch)
• Hair bands (a variety)
• Tampons
• Wallet
• Sunglasses w/ case
• A “sock monkey†change purse filled with change
• Nail file
• Tissue’s
• Fresh lip-gloss palette “Cameoâ€
• Aveda hand relief
• Halls Naturals Honey Lemon
• Du wop lip venom
• Honey sticks
• Fresh Cannabis Santal ….LOVE THIS
• Tea bags (yerba mate)
Crystal says
So one of my new years resolutions was to keep my purse clean and neat! .. i work at a bank and i hate it when its takes people ten minutes to rummage through there purse to find something, so i dont want to be that person anymore. Plus i got a super cute Juciy purse for christmas that i dont want to get messy :).. so here is goes
1 Harajuku lovers makeup bag ( with the essential makeup)
bottle of Euphoria Lotion
Midol
pay stub
altoids
wallet
checkbook
day planner
pen
only ONE random receipt!
sephora gift card holder
mints from subway
and thats it!!!
kat says
I had cleaned my bag the other day and afterwards i felt light and airy.. lol but wow! I thought I was lugging around alot.
But now my shoulder doesnt hurt that much. did you ever have any shoulder pain from carrying your purse?
Amanda says
OK, I’ll play too. (and Karen, I love lemon zest luna bars, arent’ they the best?)
My bag is the large treecycle satchel from Harvey’s seatbelt bags, so it can hold a lot.
5 bills to mail, wallet w/ credit cards, driver’s license, etc, cell phone in brigthon holder, Px bottle (empty, LOL), tube of airborne
(grapefruit flavor), sunglasses in case, keys, two loose band-aids, checkbook, one bottle of sensaria white tea calming serum, $15 off postcard from gap, work badge ID, 2 pilot g-2 gel pens (and these are the BEST pens! one black, one hunter green), small sephora pouch with mac blot medium, travel size black raspberry vanilla lotion, nail file, clean and clear blot sheets, another band-aid, small bottle advil, dramamine, and nail clippers. and finally in the side zipper pocket: cargo plume lipstick, mac viva glam V lipstick, stila nude tinted lip balm, kiehls spf 15 tube, stila enchanting it gloss, fresh sugar fairy lip gloss, black barette, lip brush, laura mercier pencil concealor in nude and a maybelline pure concealor pencil in light. Whew. I’m cleaning out the lippies! I *try* to just keep lip balm and lippie of the day in there….I’m a few days behind I guess.
TUPRNUT says
This is too much fun! Here’s my contents:
Mini expandable-file of coupons
Inhaler, Epi-Pen and Aleve
Neutrogena Fast Absoring Hand Cream
Kleenex
Banana Repulic and Gas bills
Girly supplies
Diapers and wipes
Wallet
Checkbook
House/Car keys
Parent’s House/Car keys
Old Studio Tech foundation (why are you in there still?)
Pocket Planner
Lipgelee (color unknown)
Twig Twig l/s
The Body Shop Lipe Care w/ SPF
Nico Now l/g
Syrup l/s
Viva Glam V l/s
Angel l/s
Politely Pink l/s
Plink! l/s
Nymphette l/g
Full on Lust l/g
Mary Kay lipliner in Neutral
Philosophy’s Falling in Love roll-on perfume
…and a VERY full Body Shop makeup bag
Tekoa says
Hmmm…
One map of Calgary
One info paper of Horseback Trail rides
The package of a cat toy
A folded piece of paper.
MAC blotting papers (so that’s where I put it!)
Blue pen
Six hard candies
A temporary nametag
A small eyeshadow brush
A dime
One penny
Pen cap (not from above blue pen)
Wallet with student ID card
Makeup Bag (Containing Blot Powder, Foundation Powder, Mineralized Skin Finish Natural, Face brush, Pink Grapefruit lipgloss)
Pepper spray
Baton. No, not one of those dinky cheerleader batons. An eight inch steel baton that extends to a goodly length when I flick it.
A hair tie
Karen says
LOL, Mariah,
I have receipt issues, too. I tend to horde them and then weeks later I’ll look them over and be like, “Why did I buy five bags of Life Savers Gummies in one day?”
Karen says
Tricia,
The content of your streamlined purse is a thing of beauty. You are officially my hero!
Karen says
Ha! I saw your pic of your stuff, Vanessa! And those Oreos look GOOD! YUM! Happy Friday 🙂
Karen says
Julie,
I totally love that you carry around vials of perfume. I am scent person so this makes sense to me because you just NEVER KNOW when you’ll need some perfume.
Girl, why are you carrying around a USB drive tho? You crack me up 🙂
Karen says
Hi Sandy,
A few months ago we were having serious internet issues and so I feel ya pain – it’s kinda stressful.
I hope you get both Brazil Nut and Palm Tree. They are my favorites out of the four. AND they smell good, too!
Karen says
Renee,
That’s cute that you carry around Essie polish. Now that’s something I’ve actually never hauled around in my purse.
I print out recipes too and stuff them into my Day Planner. I’ll find them months later and then be like, “Dang that casserole looks good! Why haven’t I made that before?” 😉
Karen says
Dawn,
I love how your bag has all the essentials I have in my bathroom. If I had all that stuff I could live out of my purse, seriously.
I need to start carrying around tweezers, too. Ever since I turned 30 I get these scary lunch-lady chin hairs that are hard and pokey and they sprout up out of nowhere! Plus there’s always the stray eyebrow hair or two…
Karen says
Hi Kat,
I don’t have shoulder pain, but that’s probably because I really don’t spend a lot of time standing or walking with the purse on my shoulder. I carry it to the car, the from the car to work, and vice versa during the week. But that’s about it. On the weekends I try to take some of the crap out, but that’s only cause I go to the movies and need the space to put all my movie snacks and a water bottle, LOL!
Karen says
Hi Amanda,
Yes, Lemon Zest bars have saved me on more than one occasion. I always try to have a bar with me because I often find myself in a position where I’ll be running around and I’ll forget to eat, and all of the sudden my stomach will start making loud, obnoxious noises in PUBLIC! Lemon Zest bars to the rescue, hooray!
I love those gel pens too, BTW!
(Oh, and that’s smart you carry Dramamine. I get motion sickness, too, but I always forget to have these on hand.)
Karen says
Tuprnut, LOL, your lipstick and gloss purse collection is a thing of beauty. I bow down!
And why are you still carrying that foundation around?!?! Take that out, girlfriend!
LaurenIvy says
I recently cleaned mine out, too:
A notepad, paperwork for school, a makeup bag, a digital camera, hand sanitizer and lotion, 2 hair clips, sunglasses, an assortment of pens, a paperback book, and my favorite Coach wallet (the red and plain wristlet)
That’s the light version!
LaurenIvy says
oh, and my Ipod..I’d be dead without it close to my person!
PeeChee says
OMG. I just cleaned out my purse at work the other day too. My whole life is in that thing. ha ha. I tried to use a clutch for one week…that was a joke!! I ended up putting the clutch in my tote bag and carried that around.
My husband always had this perplexed look everytime he would see me “lug” my bag. 🙂 I told him not to complain when he’s the one asking me for kleenex, contact solution, or gum….which is in the handy dandy – take it all with me bag. 🙂
Lea says
Holy schmokes, you carry all those in yur purse? And I thought I’ve got loads of crap. One time I asked the EngMuff to hold my purse he said to me “you carry a gun in here?!”.lol.
Oh and lol on “two black Pentel RSVP fine tipped pens. These pens are the SH*T!”….now I know who tags the doors of restroom stalls!
My Crap:
Cel phone
Wallet
MAC Blot Powder Pressed (which I never use)
Sephora Mirror
Sunglasses/Eyeglasses (nerd)
Arb Hand Cream
2 check books
DigiCam
Starbucks gum
chinese shell coin holder
work badge
page 36 of a Dining Guide Mag
Goody StayPut headband
bobby pins
thumb drive
memory card
tampons
matches
pen
business cards
eye drops
contact lens and case
chapstick
lipgloss
mascara
Hmmm…I carry around another bag with me all the time but in that are mostly work stuff.
Lea says
…I had these on my desk as I was typing and forgot that I carry these around as well.
2008 Planner
Tissue
Post-it notes
As Meryl Streep says on The Devil Wears Prada… “That’s all…”
Tanya says
Muahaha! I love doing this!
Everything fits in a Mark (by Avon) bag. I’m so gosh darned impressed with Mark bags! Okay, here we go:
Cell phone
Rosebud Salve
Small sample of yarn from my Grandma
Disneyland Wallet
Checkbook
THE BOOK (I call this THE BOOK because I write down random stuff like lists and things to do in it)
Gloves (It was BELOW FREEZING today here in my part of CA!)
Sonia Kashuk makeup bag (I don’t even GO THERE and list what’s inside!)
Vera Bradley pouch w/my digital camera (Cannon Power Shoot SD 400) inside.
Pirate pouch w/meds (tylenol, inhailer, pepto bismol tabs, floss) inside.
Recipe for Red Velvet Cake
Tissues
Special K snack bar
Coin purse
Fold-in Princess brush from Disneyland
Snow White Pez dispenser
Sunglasses
Orbit Gum
Keys
Work ID
Spoon (a special spoon, my Grandpa passed away last year and this was his ‘tasting’ spoon. I kept it and it’s been my lucky charm in my purse ever since, I always feel like he’s with me)
Hot pink bandaids
“Miss A” Kit
Pen
Disneyland mints
…you would think my arm would fall off by now! ;D
NBLACK says
I don’t have a murse or a purse but in my back pack I have
My algebra book
white binder compliments of the LD
One Sade Cd from like the 80’s when she first came out I love it
various car rental stubs from a road trip to LA
a small first aid manual
That natural glove hand lotion in that blue bottle
some random gillete after shave that smells like coolwater mixed with baby powder
a few black pens
hella old disk with pictures of cars and cute girls that are probably broken or something
lint remover tape roll (I have dandruff and I wear a lot of black)
Some change
one Novel Kite Runner (so good)
Various Car Magazines (Car Craft, Road and track, and Sport Compact)
The first part of the second season of Futurama (I like Cartoons)
That’s it
I also have a bunch of cards in my wallet and silly stuff in my pockets the is best if I don’t discuss it.
Lilan says
Aww Miss Karen, thanks for playing! I can’t believe how much stuff you’ve got in your bag! PS – It’s super cute.. I kinda want it 😉
TGIF!
Cindy says
you’ve seen my “work purse” girl…there’s not enough character space on this entire blog for what’s in it ;-P
Melissa says
I think I might have the most random things in my purse…
Toy Truck
Toy Car
Plastic Chicken Drumstick
1 Passport Photo
Book of Stamps
Wallet
MAC Nymphette Gloss
MAC Illict Gloss
MAC Whirl Lipliner
MAC Viva Glam V
Tampon
Ear buds
My Notary Stamp
Pepper Spray
Cell Phone
1 Silver Bangle Braclet
My Business Card
Uncrustable Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwhich
Goldfish Cracker Crumbs – I’m making a point to dump these out tonight:)
Can you tell I’m the mom of a two year old?
Mariana says
Aagh! I wrote it all out and I don’t know where my comment went. But that’s okay b/c I forgot some things on it. Let me try again.
Treo
a few Chapsticks
hairbrush with ponytail holders wrapped around it
bobby pins
pager
epi pen
bandaids
emergency medications (Advil, Benadryl)
blotting papers
gum
pens
planner
mirror
reading glasses and their case
tissues
yankee gift card
wallet that desperately needs to be thinned out
loose change
cough drops
Makeup bad: spark and pagoda glossimers, bare escentuals wearable nude gloss, Viva glam V gloss, mac dubonnet l/s, armani lip liner, nars sin/casino duo, 187SE brush, benefit hoola, becca concealer, bobbi brown concealer, LM concealer (you can tell I need serious concealer), bigelow rose salve, nars cactus flower, benefit galactic shield in shades 2 and 3, more bobby pins and ponytail holders, tweezers, nail file, mini Tarte mascara, body shop mini nut butter cream, aquafor, benefit eye bright
I *think* that’s it. But, writing it out makes me see how I need to clean it out and also explains why my shoulder hurts!!
Have a great weekend,
Mariana
Mariana says
Haha, it should say “makeup bag”, not “makeup bad”. Freudian slip. : P
Madeleine says
It looks like so much fun and it’s sooooo temmmmpting that I’m afraid that I’m going to reveal my purse content…Just watch (or rather read) LOL it’s a lot,and I mean…a lot.
wallet
car and house keys
work keys
book (paper cover) “We don’t die”
Crystal Light “Pink Lemonade” whole box,already open;
10$ cash card
pocket calendar(which is already falling apart)
2 makeup brushes(smolder and lip brush)
Lip service by Smashbox(16 lipsticks sitting in one box)
comb
instant shine (shoe polish sponge,I like my shoes…clean!)
4 candies
a spare pair of glasses and sunglasses in one(they have a clip)
black pen PILOT (I can never find it,anyhow)
at least 4 grocery shopping lists
dermal therapy hand cream (stolen from my husband – heh)
Revlon nail clipper
nail file
another black pen
toothbrush
MAC 6 cool lips from 2006
MAC 6 lips Crystal from 2004
dental floss
lip balm (Blistex)
some pills just incase I go crazy
mirror (gift from Biotherm)
Clinique Surge lipstick in Waterviolet
Clinique lipstick in Pink Spice
MAC 6 Warm Lips from 2006
band aid a few ,loose
Advil(6 pills) in little Ziploc bag
cosmetic bag that is full of lipsticks (MAC High Tea,Sophisto,and Rubia)MAC lipgelee in Mega,lipstick Estee Lauder in Sugar Honey,MAC lipglass in Sprightly,MAC lipliner in Subculture,Estee Lauder black eyeliner,MAC brow finisher in Clear,another nail clipper,another lip brush,Champagne lipstick by Lise Watier);
That would be all for…today LOL
I’m only regretting that I still haven’t figured out how to carry a glass of wine in my purse.Well,everything still ahead of me,maybe someday…who knows LOL
Holly says
I really dont think I used to be this bad with carrying so much around with me, I blame the big bags the one I got for my birthday has been my downfall! But here goes:
ysl faux cils mascara
Chanel blush brush
Chanel eyeshadow brush (no idea why as i dont carry eyeshadow around!)
Chanel teint innocence compact foundation in beige
Chanel poudre universelle compacte
Chanel soleil bronze
Chanel blush which i adore but have had for so long the colour name has rubbed off the back!
Chanel creme gloss lumiere
Chanel Glossimer 25
Chanel Glossimer 107
Chanel coco mademoiselle twist and spray
Chanel coco mademoiselle solid parfum compact
stella rollerball edp
EBoost powder (pinched from W Hotel NY lol)
pack of tic tacs
pack of polo mints
softlips lip balm
RAC membership card that i have been meaning to put in my car for 2 months!
pack of tissues
some odd dollars left over from my trip to NY
extra strength pain killers (for my poor achey head!)
Chanel sunglasses (no idea why as we havent had anything but rain for about 2 months!)
pearl earings
about 10 of those little Chanel dust covers
University library card
Law of evidence statute book
Intellectual Property law case book
Cute little Juicy Couture notebook that I got free in saks!
about 10 hair elastics
5 plasters
travel sickness tablets
Cashmere socks (from the plane lol not a normal item in the bag!)
A random mixture of pens and highlighters
ipod and headphones
Nokia 8800
spare mobile phone battery
a ‘drawing’ from a baby cousin which needs to find the bin (not big on kids lol!)
Oh my goodness that is a lot of rubbish in a relitavely small space I do feel cleansed now admitting my problems though lol!
Julie says
Karen,
The USB drive is JUST IN CASE I need to save a file when I’m at a friend’s house or something 🙂
Haha, I always try to be prepared.
kelly says
Phone, juicy tube gloss, wallet, sunglasses, keys, bill. *Sniffs*
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings says
1. My wallet
2. my pocket calendar
3. two ink pens
4. one nail file
5. bottle of Naproxen (Walmart’s generic Aleve like stuff)
6. bottle of Nitroglycerin (in case I have heart issues… I had a light heart attack in 2006)
7. small purse size bottle of hand sanitizer… I have seven children, need I say more. lol
8. two Ryan’s restaurant coupons
9. my keys
10. my cell phone
11. my digi camera… it’s small enough to carry. Hey, I’m an avid scrapbooker. I gotta have pics. lol
Karen says
Hey Julie,
Now that you mention it, I’ve had a few moments when a USB drive would’ve come in handy.
Not that I need anything else in my purse, but you’re right – one’s gotta be prepared.
Karen says
Hi Sylvia,
I *love* that L’Occitane shea butter hand cream too 🙂
Karen says
Hi Crystal,
Looks like you’re doing a good job keeping your resolution! LOL, I’ve noticed those purse rummaging ladies at the bank too. I try hard to have all my stuff ready because I’m not about to empty all my crap onto the counter. Nobody needs to see all the 1234890423895 lipsticks I’m lugging about.
Karen says
LOLOLOL Tekoa! When I read “baton” in your entry I immediately thought of the one I had when I was a kid…for some reason I desperately wanted to be a baton twirler. But I kinda want that one you’ve got. Not to twirl, but to lay the smack down if I had too.
BTW, do you ride horses?
Karen says
Hi LaurenIvy,
I usually have my iPod with me too, but I took it out last night because I to the gym and left it in my sweatshirt when I was done. Sometimes I have these sudden urges to hear a song and I have to my lil’ Pinky (yes, I named my iPod) with me to soothe the itch.
Karen says
Ha! PeeChee, I’m threatened to get El Hub a man purse a few years ago. He was *always* asking me to lug his crap around, so I retaliated by carrying around an itty-bitty coach purse that barely held my wallet. Well, that got old eventually and I ended up buying the bag above.I had it for a few months before he figured out that it wasn’t the same tiny purse and now I’m screwed!
Karen says
HA! Lea, yup, you got me – “For a good time, visit http://www.www.makeupandbeautyblog.com!” Yup. My pens and I do some damage.
What’s on page 36 of the Dining Guide Mag?!
Karen says
Tanya,
I love that you carry your spoon around you. 🙂
That’s cool that you’ve got your Canon with you, too. I’d lug my SLR around if I could (hey, it fits in that cavernous purse!) but I’d probably develop some serious back issues because it’s sooo heavy.
Karen says
Hi Nblack,
It’s weird that we haven’t seen each other yet in 2008 🙁 boo hoo Anyways, I love Kite Runner, too. One of my fave books, ever. But dude, why are you carrying around a first aid manual?
And hello, LD binders! I remember those good ole days (ha) of LD paper reams and LD pens and LD Post-its…yup, sticky fingers.
Karen says
Hi Lilan,
Happy Friday! Ha, if you want my purse just e-mail me and I’ll send you the dangerous internet link where I found it and adopted it! MWAAA HA HA HA! I warn you though, it’s like purse crack.
Karen says
Cindy? Is that you? Hello?
Karen says
Melissa,
OMG! I kinda want a plastic chicken drumstick in my purse, too!
Are you a notary? Dang you ladies come in handy.
Have a good weekend!
Karen says
Mariana!
Yeah, I have an exploding wallet, too. It’s stuffed to the brim with receipts and it’s threatening to take over.
What blotting papers do you use? I like Shiseido’s. 🙂
Karen says
Madeleine, you crack me up – “Some pills in case I go crazy.” Um, I might need some of those.
I need to figure out how to carry a piece of Fudge Slice from Safeway in my purse. Ahhh, the possibilities.
Karen says
Hi Holly,
I am lemming big time for that Coco Mademoiselle solid compact! And I never know what to do with those dust covers either. I find them in weird places. Just the other day there was one in my sock drawer, and I have no idea how it got there.
Karen says
Hi Kelly, You officially rock. (And I take it you’ve got one of those teeny, tiny purses).
Karen says
Hi Laura,
I’m not a scrapbooker, but I *love* going to paper and craft stores and looking at scrap book stuff. I really like the cute little appliques and the different types of stamps and paper. I’m afraid if I start I’ll just end up hoarding stuff (like I do with makeup) so I just admire and leave it at that.
And you should get a medal or something for your seven kids! Wow, girl!
Lilan says
Hey Karen,
I know I’m going to regret it later but… link me! I need to do a little adopting in the new year 😉
Breezy says
LOL ok I have to ask….How the heck were you planning on getting to your pepper spray if you need it with all the stuff in your purse?! I can just picture you now, pulling random stuff out of your purse and throwing it at a potential mugger only to second guess actually throwing it if its one of your favorite products 😉 You should just do what I did and carry one of those ridiculously loud air horns (tried to get pepper spray one night at Kmart but I guess they don’t sell that after like 10pm go figure) anyway those are easy to find in a bulky purse haha.
Maddie says
Ha, a purse? Being in grad school I have a massive bag that fits all my school stuff and cosmetic bags for the little stuff…
-2 notebooks
-1 folder
-1 book: Scenarios of Power: Myth and Ceremony in Russian Monarchy from Peter the Great to the Abdication of Nicholas II by Richard Wortman
-a sheet of paper with the call number of a book I needed to get at the library
-a Christmas list (oops)
-Nivea lotion
-hairbrush
-gloves
-cough drops
-hand wipe
-nail file
-tampon
-pens
-pencils
-car/house keys
-Band-aids
-Lactaid
-sunscreen
-MAC Lustreglass in Wonderstruck
-C.O. Bigelow Orange Cream lip gloss
-Davies Gate Cocoa Bean lip balm
-MAC NW20 pot concealor
-Burt’s Bees Radiance Lip Shimmer
-Clean & Clear Oil Blotting sheets
-mirror
-Epi-pen
-glasses case
-gum
Ah the life of a grad student 🙂
-wallet
-normally my planner would be in there but I somehow managed to lose it
Miss Gisele B. says
Karen,
You’ve got the hand bag of all hand bags and no doubt with all the items listed in this post…you are ready for any beauty crisis ;-))
Gisele
Tania says
On the weekday I carry a purse AND my work bag but this is what’s in my purse:
Blackberry Curve 8310
Headphones for above phone
Spare phone just in case the crackberry quits
Wallet
Eyeglasses
Coin purse
Bulletin from Churh
Keys
Pens (one I swiped from the docs office)
Candy Wrappers
Milkway Midnight mini bars
Receipts
One a day Active Vitamins
Smith’s Rosebud Salve
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lipshine
Peppermint Eclipse mints
MAC Lip gelee-Moistly
MAC Blot Powder-Dark
MAC Viva Glam V Lipglass
MAC Lusterglass-Flashmode
MAC Tendertones-Warm smile
Sarah says
Here’s my list – my husband swears that I can open another dimension when I pack my purse:
*Wallet
*Cat face Change Purse (where I keep my bank card and money in case my wallet gets stolen – which has happened more than once)
*Three foldable re-useable bags for shopping throughout the day (I swore off plastic bags this year)
*Address book
*Cell phone
*I-pod
*Epipen, Benadryl and tylenol in a waterproof bag (the life of an peanut allergy sufferer)
*Three lipglosses
*Two lip balms
*House Keys
*Bus Pass, gift cards and all sorts of other cards in sparkly case
*Mac Blot Powder
*Pop-up brush
*Planner
*Sunglasses
*Gum, mints, floss and toothbrush (to avoid the many times I have had stuff stuck in my teeth and made it a whole afternoon without anyone telling me)
*Gloves and hat for the winter
*Oodles of perfume and hand cream samples – cause a girl has to smell good
*A book – for those times I have to wait a while (for whatever)
*Too many pens and scraps of paper to count
*Bandaids, polysporin, antiseptic wipes (cause I am a major klutz)
*Lint brush and static guard
*Most importantly, pictures of my husband and kids
*Anything else that happens to make it in there – because I always have something in there that surprises me – today it is my dog’s brush because I took him to the vet yesterday and I wanted him to look presentable 🙂
Lea says
Hey Ms. Tagger, I mean Karen. JK.
On Page 36 is a restaurant in Pasadena called The Nepal House, I’ve never had Nepalese food before and me and my EngMuff are always on a hunt for a new place to eat.
Karen says
LOL, Breezy,
OMG – yeah, a tube of Chanel Glossimer probably won’t be effective when it’s time to ward off the bad guys. I do keep the pepper spray in it’s own personal pocket…but yeah, this weekend I actually cleaned half of this crap out and now my purse looks cute again.
That’s SO WEIRD that they don’t sell pepper spray past 10 at KMART!
Karen says
Hi Maddie,
What are you studying in grad school? BTW, I had a sales associate at Bath & Body Works tell me that C.O. Bigelow Orange Cream lip gloss is a super good pre-makeout lip gloss because it freshens your breath and makes your lips crazy soft. Yep, I bought a tube or five.
Karen says
Hi Gisele,
Thanks! If I was truly prepared I’d carry some tweezers and perhaps some upper hair wax strips, ha ha ha!
Karen says
Sarah,
LOL, that’s cute that you prep your dog for his appointments!
Yeah, maybe all of us should get together and use the collaborative power of our handbags to send us to a parallel universe or something.
And thanks for the floss reminder. I need to start carrying that around too. For the record, I would’ve given you the international subtle hand sign to let you know you’ve got food stuck in your grill (pointing of fingers to teeth). Gotta help other girls out!
Karen says
Tania,
Those Milky Way Midnight bars are so good. When I read that on your list my stomach started rumbling.
I love how you have an extra phone in case your crackberry dies. I’m surgically attached to my crackberry at this point …
Karen says
Hi Lea!
Ha! Gotta advertise the blog in every way possible, j/k 😉
I like trying new food, too. I’ve never had Nepalese food either so I’m going to put that on my list.
If you haven’t tried Filipino food yet I can give you a list of dishes that won’t disappoint.
Megan says
I’ve been MIA somewhat again. I seem to be getting busy in spurts. I went to see the musical My fair lady ( http://www.myfairladythemusical.com/images.htm ) last week here in DC… it was like sold out every night. It was really good, but it threw my whole week off. If it’s coming to your area you should totally go because it’s really good. Anyway I’m sorry I’m late on this post because I’m constantly accused of carrying way too much crap in my purse. Okay so here goes.
Coach Wristlet – because I went out this weekend…yes inside my regular purse because I was too lazy to take the stuff out and put it back in the regular purse.
Orbit Raspberry mint
ID
Random Cash
Debit card
Metro Access card
Freebie Vaseline Hand Lotion Sample
Estee Lauder lip gloss berry
Loreal colour juice in candy apple
Random receipt
Business cards for a couple men I met this weekend.
zyrtec D
zicam
flonase
ibuprofen
Wallet containing many discount cards, corporate credit card, insurance cards etc.
checkbook
Mini purse sized Ellen Tracy perfume… which is/was my fave for daytime but they retired it 🙁
Many random receipts, business cards, flyers for a sale, a party, and a brunch.
Gift card to macaroni grill
My digital camera
coupon for the pet store (I need filters for my fish tank)
Rolaids
Random Change
Blistex silk and shine chapstick
gum wrappers
and that’s it…not too horrible, but I need to do better at managing the paper – receipts etc. The trick with me… I keep an emergency makeup bag in my desk at work and in my car… with some minor basics – a lot of times my non-favorite freebies from Gifts with purchase…but they are handy in a pinch, and then I don’t feel the need to tote everything in my purse.
Tootsie says
I just cleaned out my purse, so:
– 7 lbs in change
– 36 plane ticket stubs (just got back from a trip, 3 planes, each way, 6 people)
– blue plastic vampire teeth (I’m a mom)
– Razor cell phone
– wallet
– keys
– 2 dry cleaning tickets
– 2 dry cleaning receipts
– 1 tube Cover Girl Wetslicks lipgloss in Iced Berry
– 1 tube Cover Girl Westlicks lipgloss in Wine Shine
– 1 mirror compact
– package of travel size kleenex
– grocery store receipt
– Rubik’s cube (did I mention I’m a mom?)
– 3 movie ticket stubs
Erin says
The MAC lychee luxe lipglass is heaven on you! I’ve just found your blog today and I LOVE it. I guess I should join the party. In my purse right now:
Lotis clutch
chanel sunglasses
panty liners (just being honest)
personal cell phone
treo for work
portable GPS
small black sephora make-up bag containing:
Chanel Glossimer in summer plum
Mac plushglass in Ample Pink
Bare Escentuals tapered blush brush
Bare Esentuals soft focus glee cheek color
finger nail clippers
Marc Jacobs solid perfume
Bambi says
The bigger the bag, the smaller you look. ;]
I looked into mine, which hasn’t been used for a few days because I haven’t left the house, and I found a graphic tablet among other junk!
Karen says
Tootsie,
OMG – 7 lbs in CHANGE?!!? Girrrrrrl, it’s like your working out!
For some reason, I really wish I had some blue plastic vampire teeth in my purse too.
Where was your trip? Was it fun?
Karen says
Hi Erin!
Thank you for saying hi 🙂 It’s great to meet you.
So, I’m kinda jealous of your personal GPS. I get lost so often it ain’t even cute.
I have a serious Chanel Glossimer addiction! Do you have any faves that I need to check out? So far I have Galactic, Equinox and Myriad.
Karen says
Hi Bambi,
Wow, I take it’s a small graphic tablet? Do you use it for work?
Bambi says
Yeah it’s small, I haven’t used it for years though so I have no idea how it ended up in there. haha.
Karen says
Hey Bambi, I want a small one that I can lug around in my purse too (hey, you never know!). Mine is big and the pencil tip is wearing down, boo. Are you an artist?
Bambi says
Ahh, I think mine is an a5 size, and I used to be, I mainly use it now to plan out makeup designs or hair styles.
Karen says
Oh that’s cool! Speaking of hair, I gotta get my roots done, they are a HOT MESS, ugh!
Anyway, I hope you’re having a good week so far! 🙂
Susanne says
Ok, I can find:
Nokia cellphone
tissues
purse
keys
Labello
MAC Select Sheer/Pressed NW 20
MAC Studio Touch Up Stick NW 20
MAC Plushglass Wildly Lush
MAC McQueen Lipglass White Magic (Love this one!)
Escada Sunset Heat (Sample)
sunglasses
nailfiles (two)
sanitary towel
handcream
chocolate
Body Shop Lip butter
“to do”-list
shopping-list
“Fafi for MAC”-list
brush
🙂
Karen says
Hi Susanne,
LOL, somewhere in my purse is a Fafi for MAC list too…
And a girl’s gotta have her chocolate! Yum!
holly says
This is what I usually carry….
House Keys, Bus pass,Bike lock keys,Lip balm,teeny tiny pot sized concealer,chewing gum, my cell phone, ipod (before I lost it like a few days ago!!), and that is all, i can’t carry those big bags as I am extremely petite!
holly1 says
i just scrolled up and read the previous posts, there is another holly on this blog (one that carries much more than I most likely will ever be able to), so from now on, I am holly1!
Karen says
Hi Holly1,
All Hollys are welcome here! It’s great to meet ya!
I’m petite too – 5’1 without heels.
Erin says
I just found your blog so this is very late, but I think this is so fun :).
A computer screen cleaner with an accounting firm logo
A mini expandable coupon holder
A wallet
A small box of tampons
2 random coupons for a new store
Savings Account Register (that I don’t actually fill out)
Cucumber Melon PocketBac from BBW
Receipts that I am throwing out while writing this 🙂
iPod
Broken headphones
Hair clip
Keys
Empty tube of handcream from BBW
Tweezers
Stud earrings
Gum
Birth control
Deoderant
Tide to go pen
3 pens
Mirror
Burt’s Bees lip balm
5 lipglosses
USB
Key-fob to get into work
Random…
Priscilla says
Oh my…I have been reading these, and I am bewildered. I do a lot of traveling, and my “bag” reflects it. First thing–that bag…it’s a USMC “ditty” bag from my son, who knows of my sickness. Next,..I am bewildered because I see all of you say you carry too much stuffs in your purse. Are you ready for this??……
Crayons and book MAKE UP BAG:
old maid cards Clinique foundation
regular cards Sephora Mini Box with
mini Pictionary shadow, gloss, & blush
dice Dior facial cleanser
calendar Ulta green, brown and black
various pens and highlighters eyeliner
stationary Estee Lauder Lip liner in Mocha
blank labels Essence shimmer powder
2 plastic zip baggies Bare Minerals Loose Powder
small recipe book Anastasia black mascara
small journal Mary Kay two toned blush
mini Bible Estee Lauder
candle lipstick in Tiger Eye
sewing kit Tarte lipstain (can’t read color)
beading kit
cheese-crackers-coffee pkts -tea bags- 2 Slim Jims-2 PB pkts (munchies??)
hand sanitizer
Epi-pen Tweezers, scissors, toothbrush
Deluxe first aid kit—LOADED!!! and paste, dental picks/floss
travel size hair spray–HATE fly away hair! Various hair do-dads in various
book/book marker colors and styles
Tide to go pen kabuki, blush, shadow, liner, and
Kleenex foundation brush by Ulta
wipes Eyebrow pencil-(A MUST!!)
a few doggie biscuits Condoms, lube, tampons and
muscle rub panty liners
Xtra socks-black
tape measure
Mulit-tool ———————————————
small pouch with random jewelery
portable ashtray ” Heartsong”s by M.J. Stepanek
2 lighters “Coming Home” -R Pilcher
book light and flash light Mini fan
flash drive and USB cord Pepper spray–(??–not sure why–
camera can just beat them w/ my bag!!)
cell phone 2 Walmart bag for garbage
compass Sample pkt of baby formula &
small towel and wash cloth Baby keys (can’t stand noisy kids)
umbrella Wallet and cash!!!
safety pins O2 key-(used to be EMT)
zip ties 2 Eco-Shopping bags
shoe polish
glue X 2
ruler
matches
CHANGE!!!
glasses, cleaner and repair kit If I have forgotten anything, I would be
small spray bleach SHOCKED ….and – YES–it all fits
nail polish and kit and YES–I can lift it!!!
cold and flue meds
rolled up change of clothes
fold-able black ballet flats
brush/comb
mp3 w/ x head phones