What’s in My Bag: 8 Things I Always Carry With Me
When I was younger, I thought Harriet the Spy was the epitome of cool. Essential to Harriet’s spying is her “spy kit,” a tool belt which contains a composition notebook, pencil, magnifying glass, binoculars and flashlight.
Inspired by Harriet’s spy kit, I spent most of 2nd grade toting around my own, notating in my black and white notebook such riveting things as: “dad eats snack at 5 pm. Or: sister leaves apartment for ballet class, 3:30 pm.”
While my career as a young spy was short-lived, today I’ve simply traded in my spy kit for a purse full of on-the-go essentials.
Here are some items I like to keep in my purse at all times:
1. Hand Sanitizer. If I’m going to sanitize my hands on repeat, let’s make this a fun fragrant moment! My absolute favorite hand sanitizer in the world is the Everyone Hand Sanitizer in Coconut + Lemon. I have never NOT received compliments after spraying this on my hands. Kind of smells like a beach getaway/Pina Colada in one. Also makes for an amazing stocking stuffer/random friend gift.
2. iPhone Battery Pack. As soon as I got a battery pack for my purse, I felt like a true grown up. No more, “Sorry! my phone totally died!” And only: wow, look at that, my phone is always at full battery. For better or worse (probably worse), I spend a lot of time editing videos on my phone, which really drains the battery. This battery pack is a must: super lightweight, long-lasting, and looks sleek too.
3. Portable Perfume. I used to carry a bottle of perfume in my purse for a quick touch-up before dinner, or a nice little midday refresh. But let’s be honest, the big perfume in the bag is a disaster waiting to happen. Today, I’m absolutely loving the Eau Rose Solid Perfume from Diptyque. It comes in a solid format so you don’t have to worry about spills, and the best part is that the rose scent lingers long after applying it (if rose isn’t your thing, there are other scents too).
4. Baseball cap. I always like to keep a random hat bouncing around my bag in case I need extra sun protection. Maybe the baseball cap isn’t your vibe, in which case go for a bucket hat or some such hat that can be tossed in your purse. Is this the chicest accessory I’ve ever owned? Of course not. But my skin is grateful nonetheless.
5. Granola-ish Bar. As a hopelessly hangry person, I like to protect myself and others by keeping a bar of some kind on my person at all times. If I were slightly more health conscious, I’d tote around a bag of raw almonds, but for now, I think I’m doing just fine with my chocolate-covered KIND bars. My all-time favorite granola bars are by GoMacro (the cherries + berries flavor is a real flavor trip!).
6. Pen. Having a pen on hand is another one of those items that really makes you feel like an adult. You never know when you’ll need a pen, and you feel especially boss-like when someone in your midst needs a one and you’ve got the goods! My favorite one of all-time is the uni-ball Ballpoint Pen. Lasts forever, beautiful black ink finish. The end.
7. Tinted lip balm. I’m not really a lipstick person, but I’m definitely a tinted balm person. My go-to is this Kosas tinted lip balm which I discovered in a gift bag a couple of years ago. One swipe really just wakes up my entire face, and I love that it’s super hydrating long after applying it.
8. Sunglasses. Yes, sunglasses are important but know what’s also important? A sunglasses case and wipes. Because your sunglasses are nada if they’re full of scratches and smudges. The chicest of chic sunglasses cases: this one by Bottega Veneta, although seriously, any case will do! I also like to keep a microfiber wipe or two nestled inside for quick and easy smudge removal.