What's in Bella's Purse?

In the name of goofy Friday fun, I thought I'd bare the innards of my purse. (Of course I'll expect you to do the same when I'm done!) As I was laying everything out for these pictures, I couldn't help but wonder: how do men do it? How do they manage to go through the entire day, every day, without lugging 10 pounds of stuff around with them? Clearly, as you'll see, I'd be lost without my green leather bag and all of the wonderful, useful things inside.

The first image (upper left) is my purse looking all lovely and mysterious. The second one (to the right) is the equivalent of the regency lady raising her skirts to show a bit of ankle! I tried to cut out the dirty dishes in the sink to no avail....these pictures were taken in the post-dinner mayem.

The next picture on the left is the initial unveiling of the bag. I've got nuts and pens and my wallet and another very mysterious chock-full bag, a brush and hair clips and bands. What you're not seeing: The heap of crumbs I threw out once I got to the bottom of the bag and some clean tissues that got smashed and looked really dirty! I recently read an article that said a purse is one of the most germ-ridden things we own. I guess we touch them all day long after touching other stuff...and they rarely (okay, never) are cleaned.

The last picture (right) is the final dump. the yellow zipper bag is empty and as I stare at this picture I'm thinking I probably don't need six lipsticks. Then again, maybe I do. ;-) However, no question about it, I definitely do need the FOG CITY DIVAS compact. Very handy!

Now it's your turn! What do you always make sure to stuff into your purse? And has anything embarrassing ever fallen out? Do you clean it out on a regular basis or do things pile up for months?

Comments

[Terry Odell]

I am SO not a purse person. Right now, I'm using a really nifty bag I bought for my trip to South Africa -- paid about 5 times what I consider reasonable for a purse (which I normally find at K-Mart), but it hyped 'back-friendly' so I splurged, knowing I didn't need back problems that far from home.

See it here: http://www.ameribag.com/catalog/collection/8

Its got more compartments and pockets than God. I love it. OK - Inventory:
A. Front - outside zipper compartment: 1. wallet 2. separate organizer for driver's license and all those other things like insurance cards, etc.
B. Front, velco pocket behind A. Cell phone (if I remember it), receipts.
C. Ouside narrow pocket, glasses case which may or may not contain my sunglasses.
D. Back velcro flap pocket: Business card case, keys
E. Inside -- More compartments. LOTS more compartments. Without itemizing what's in which, I have pens, highlighter, bookmarks, my makeup pouch (lipsticks [2]; tissues, hairbrush, pill container, wet-wipe, compacts [2 --so that's where one of them went!] checkbook, holder of things like library card, all those retail store cards, etc.

Plenty of room for a book or my e-book reader, reading glasses, digital camera -- the 'variables'

I'm trying to decide if I should buy another one in a lighter color or if I can get away with black year-round.

[Jami Alden]

Hah! I love the nuts! my purse is much smaller these days. I've rebelled over the diaper bag, so when it's just my purse I want it to be very small. My purse has (i think): my wallet, a powder compact, 2 lip glosses, 1 chapstick, 1 tube of blistex (as you can see i'm very concerned with lip moisture), 1 pack of oil blotting papers (also concerned with face shininess), and a pen. but it used to be a lot worse. When I carried a big bag, I'd find books, way more than 6 lipsticks, bits of food, articles of baby clothes... crazy. But my favorite was when my "autographed by authors" attacked everything in my purse.

[Bella Andre]

Terry - I've seen those bags everywhere! Is it really comfortable? Because I'm certainly looking for something that doesn't kill my shoulder when I'm wearing it for what seems like hours of grocery shopping! I have to say all the zippers and pouches make it look especially appealing! Thanks for the link. ;-)Bella

[Bella Andre]

Jami - I totally get the whole "rebelling against the diaper bag" thing. I'm with you! Just not nearly as willing to discard the various and sundry items in my bag. I mean I *could* if I really needed to.... ;-)

For everyone else, what she's referring to it the time she put a roll of these little "signed by author" round stickers in her purse and it unrolled itself and the stickers attached themselves EVERYWHERE! Four on each lipstick, six on her checkbook, twelve on her wallet! (i'm only exaggerating a little bit.)

[Emma Sanders]

LOL, what a great post! I have to carry around a huge purse. I'm ashamed to say it's a haven for receipts and stuff I ought to go through and get rid of. Then there's the brush, a book, lipsticks that I barely wear, pens, my blood sugar machine (for diabetes) and a wallet chock full of other unnecessary things and reminders and biz cards. My MP3 player and cell phone, and sometimes I carry around a smaller type bag to take out of my purse when I'm shopping so that I don't kill myself carrying around my huge purse. I'm always on the lookout for THE ONE great but cheap purse that I will fall in love with indefinitely.

[MonicaMcCarty]

You know about me and purses...a serious weakness. I'm sure you'll be shocked to know that mine is pretty well organized: keys, Garmin navigator (for car), cell phone, wallet, makeup bag, Divas compact, picture wallet and--I kid you not--barf bag for my little car sick girl.

[Terry Odell]

Bella, I LOVE the bag, and I had no back issues. If you make it too heavy, your shoulder might protest, but just switch it. I showed it to a friend and she went straight to the store and bought one; she carries her purses slung across her shoulder and in front.

It was practically a carryon in Africa when we were touring. Did the website show what the insides look like? And I got the fabric that wipes clean -- it was literally on the floor of the safari vehicles in dusty game parks, and all I've ever done is brushed it off.

[Tracy Grant]

Purses are so much fun! I found a great new one last fall (with stripes that sort of look like Regency wallpaper--I think the name of the purse style even has "empire" in it). This purse is on the smallish side, so forces me to be a bit more organized--wallet, keys, cell phone, makeup bag (with three lipsticks, two lipliners, compact, perfume, comb, bandaids), nail polish (for touch ups--doesn't fit in the makeup bag :-), cross pen, and a mini notebook. And assorted receipts in the bottom (yes, I do clean them out, but not as often as I should. I frequently also have messenger bag or tote with my lap top, a book, and various papers.

[Bella Andre]

Emma - Glad you liked the post! And you completely took the words out of my mouth: "I'm always on the lookout for THE ONE great but cheap purse that I will fall in love with indefinitely." Let me know if you find it, okay? I'm still looking.....

[Brenda]

I can't carry a regular purse. I'm so absent-minded that if I set something down, I'll walk off and leave it. LOL So I carry only a very small, wallet-like purse I can wear cross-ways over my body. Doing this, I've never had to have a panic attack because I thought I lost it. Inside you'll find only the bare essentials.

My fellow Superromance Author Anna DeStefano is a purse freak. She collects and gives away very cool designer purses. Each year, she does a section for my on-line auction where she features beautiful designer purses and wallets. Last year, I won a Coach make-up bag from her page, which I've used a lot and really love.

Brenda

[Bella Andre]

Terry - Thanks for the additional info! I was wondering if it was possible to wear the bag across my chest - if strap stretches long enough. My sister in law has one of these bags and she loves it.

Do tell about Africa?!?!

[Bella Andre]

Monica - Now we all know about your weakness! ;-) And I was laughing / cringing about the barf-bag. Poor baby.... How long did it take you to realize you needed to have one with you at all times?

[Bella Andre]

Tracy - Your bag is really cute! And you've reminded me that I should have included pics of my other bag - the one that holds the computer and my research books and many, many more crumbs! Where do all these crumbs come from? Can I blame my kids? ;-)

[Bella Andre]

Brenda,

How do you manage with such a small purse? What about all the cr*p you need to carry around? ;-) Especially with five kids! My purse is off to you!!!

[Karin*]

I have always been a girl who could cram a whole lotta stuff in a small bag. BUT! I was out shopping a couple of months ago with my girls, we walked into a Coach store, and I was mesmerized by a big bee-u-tee-ful red leather bag that can, if needed, carry a small child. There may be one in it. I'm afraid to look.

[Candice Hern]

I love purses. I used to be a Coach poster child and still have dozens of Coach purses, but then Greg gave me a Bottega Veneta bag for Christmas and I haven't looked at Coach since. I'm not quite at the poster child stage yet, but I have a couple of BV purses now and love them.

The one purse, though, that I truly lust after is a red crocodile Ricky Bag by Ralph Lauren. Ha! In my dreams.

I have the usual stuff in my purse. I think the only unusual item -- not for me, but some people might find it odd -- is a jeweler's loupe. One never knows when one will come upon a piece of antique silver and need to read the hallmarks. :-)

[JOYE]

I enjoyed reading about all of the stuff that is deemed necessdry to carry in purses. I was a teacher and was always lugging papers and books home so much that now I carry the least I can. Drivers license, cell phone, credit card and lipstick Works for me

[Carol Grace]

I always carry small foil wrapped candies in case of unexpected long hours between meals. While passing through an airport the other day in a foreign country, the personnel were wearing Easter bunny costumes and handing out chocolate eggs while checking boarding passes. We had our pictures taken with them and I still have the egg in the bottom of my purse...just in case.

[peggy]

my purse is full of surprises.i never know what ill find in it.my husband and son
are always sticking something in it.
from a package of fishing hooks ,book
yoyo.now i no why its so heavy

[Kathleen]

I clean out my purse when it gets to the point that I takes me more than a minute to just find my wallet! And once I clean my purse, I form this huge pile of misc. trash which looks bigger than my purse itself. It is one of life's many mysterious as to how much can actually fit in purse..LOL! Well, at least how much I can fit in a purse :)

[Kalen Hughes]

I've recently been ruined, just like Candice. My best friend gave me a Mulberry, and I freaken love it. Before, a purse was a purse, and Coach was the nicest thing I'd ever owned (or even aspired to own). Now I'm lusting for another Mulberry . . . a bigger one that can carry a bit more stuff. Hello tax return!

Current purse contents:
Burt's Bees (round clear and colored tube)
Small Compact (double sided mirror)
Cell Phone
iPod
Business Cards
Pen
Check Book
Coach Wallet/Purselet
Sunglasses
Keys
Allergy Pills
Emergency Protein Bar

ps
All the men under fifty I know seem to carry “man bags” these days. Depending on age, they have either back packs, messenger bags, brief cases, or actual metrosexual man purses. Somehow my dad still gets by with whatever he can stick in his pockets (wallet and keys).