A couple of days ago I did this with my work bag, but let's look at my purse. I rarely actually bring my purse anywhere these days, except to the grocery store. I have to move my wallet from my work bag to my purse when I use it.
This is a Fossil bag I purchased years and years ago. My husband I were trying to do the math on it, but maybe it was even before we were married? So it's probably between 15-20 years old. They don't seem to make this one still, so I can't just give you a link to it, which is too bad. I like that it is both structured (it doesn't just sag when you place it down) and unstructured (it is just a big open space in the middle). I like that there is a tiny pocket on one side for things like my phone and grocery list. I really like this bag and here's the real real - I've never done anything to properly care for it. It's never been treated with any leather things. I've walked with it in the pouring rain. An entire tube of sunscreen once exploded in it and the liner is none the worse for wear. I do not want to ever replace this purse.
1. Wet Ones - Why do I have so many? Well, my husband has undiagnosed OCD and we use them regularly if he has to touch something at a store.
2. Pens - So many pens.
3. Lotion - Eczema relief, my left foot. It won't come as a surprise to you that this exacerbates my eczema, will it? (It's CeraVe, Vanicream, or Cetaphil for me, friends. Most other lotions I've tried feel like my hand is on fire. I obviously haven't tried EVERY lotion out there, but I feel pretty good at saying I need to stop trying new ones.)
4. A ball marker (for golf)
5. A "I'm COVID vaccinated" button
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| The ball marker is from a country club in Iowa. My husband and I love that crow logo and he got it for me once when he was golfing. I've literally had that button in my purse since I was first vaccination and have never once used it for any purpose. Nonetheless, I put both of these items in my purse after I took this photo. |
6. Lip things
7. Two empty eyeglass cases and an eyeglass wipe - I purchased new eyeglasses, but I'm having some issues getting them to work properly, so they've been sent back to wherever they go and I'm waiting for them to come back. The other empty case is a mystery and I took it back to where it belongs after I took this photo.
8. A lot of earplugs - The green ones are the best. Now that I have noise canceling headphones, I don't use these as much as I used to, but I used to wear them almost every time I went somewhere with music (stores, coffeeshops, etc.).
9. Notebook - This has been in my purse since 2019 when I took Hannah to an obedience class and we were supposed to keep track of our progress in this notebook. It has never been written in.
10. Hair ties - Every pocket I looked in had another hair tie.
11. A jewelry case that holds a pair of earrings That's been in there since August and after I took this photo, I actually put it away where it belongs.
12. My wallet - I purchased it at the same time as I purchased the purse. The zipper pull has recently broken on it and since they don't seem to have this color leather anymore, I honestly am rather paralyzed about what to do.
13. A mask - Hey, are other people still carrying around masks like I am?
14 A grocery list
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| Grocery list up close. I divide the list into sections of the store (aisles, produce, dairy, gluten-free/beverages) and we cross them off as we move on. The other side is our list for dinner for the week. Is this even remotely interesting? |
15. A price tag (read: trash) - I threw it in the trash after I took this photo.
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So, this is for everyone who thought my work bag was organized. Here I have a random ball marker, eyeglass classes, and trash. How do you organize your grocery lists?
I have a couple of undiagnosed OCD issues -- licking my lips, and moisturizing my hands.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had this! I hat moisturizing my hands because of the eczema issue. But I actually need to more than other people for the same reason!
DeleteI hate carrying a purse, but I do. And after two bouts of frozen shoulder and one surgery, I can't even use a shoulder strap, so that makes it even more inconvenient. I am down to two purses, one for fall/winter and one for spring/summer. I hope I never have to replace them. Ever.
ReplyDeleteMy grocery list is loosely organized by store aisles. I know my store! But I use two columns in case I forget anything--I can just stick it alongside the similar items and still be organized.
(And yes, I always have an N95 mask in my purse.)
I have a lot of purses, actually. It's just that this is the only one I actually use. I have a couple hand-me-downs from my SIL who feels terrible that I don't have as many purses as she does and another Fossil bag that I really love. But if it's not a cross-body, I'm not really interested in it. I don't know what I would do if I had your shoulder issues!
DeleteMy list is also loosely organized by aisles. But there are some things I don't really know that well (like floss and packing tape) that I rarely buy and so those can throw off my system.
I don't organize my grocery lists! We have a large post it note pad that lives in our kitchen, and the fam writes stuff down as we use it up. The downside of this arrangement is that it is mandatory for me to carry a pen when I shop so that I can cross stuff off as I go.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started traveling I downsized my purse and got very strict about what I was carrying with me. I used to always have a small notebook with me, but that was when I stopped carrying paper and so far I haven't been in a situation where I needed any. I limit myself to one pen.
One pen! What if it stops working?! This is like how even though I bring my Kindle everywhere, I also bring a physical book or two in case my Kindle breaks. This happened at my sister's wedding and I had to go literal DAYS without a book. Can you even imagine?
DeleteI didn't know you golf!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure why THAT is the takeaway here. I love love LOVE these posts! So fun to see what we are all hauling around and why. Love it Engie! I recently started using CeraVe and WHERE HAS IT BEEN ALL MY LIFE. I have a face cream and a serum and wowza, what great products. I'll be talking more about that for sure, bet on it.
Lol when you said "for eczema, my left foot" I thought "her left foot has eczema?"
You know what I love about you? A lot. But specifically I love that you left the price tag, jewelry box, etc for the photo and THEN put them where they belonged. I love that you gave us ALLLLL the goods!
I do have masks in my bags but I can't remember the last time I put one one. It's been a really really long time. I had some in my bag when we went to Italy and I didn't wear one once. I seriously can't remember. 2022 maybe? Anyway, they don't take up much space so they can stay in my bag just in case!
Ah! I just remembered! It was when I went to the hospital to pick up my husband from his colonoscopy, but the hospital required I wear one of their masks, not my own, so that's the last time I wore one. Feb 2023.
Oh, I don't golf, Nicole. My husband does. I even had to ask him what the ball marker was called.
DeleteCeraVe is amazing. It is definitely my go to!
Because I had COVID at the end of October/beginning of November, I actually recently had to BUY more. Crazy. It's like I'm living in 2021 all over again.
If I'm ever on an airplane, I'm wearing a mask. I think that's one of the main reasons I haven't been on a plane since 2019!
I used to also carry a small notebook with me, but once smartphones came along, I gradually stopped using it as much. However, I still have the one that I took with me on my round the world trip in 2010/2011 and I wrote down every single thing we spent and kept track of all sorts of plans in it! I love looking back at it now.
ReplyDeleteI currently keep my grocery list in Google Keep, as it will let you duplicate it so I just make a new copy and uncheck all the items that I need (again) because I often buy the same thing over and over anyway. I organize it by store: Safeway, Costco, Target etc. but otherwise do not do any sub-organizing after that. I am pretty familiar with the layout of my local stores and like I said, always buy the same thing anyway, so grocery shopping is pretty routine for me.
My husband keeps a list on his phone in some Apple app that I don't have and we write a physical list when we go to the store because my husband (OCD, natch) doesn't like to take his phone into the store. His is organized by store, so if we run out of something during the week, I just ask him to put on his list on the phone. I don't know why we do two lists, but this system works for us!
DeleteEngie--How much do I love that you got yourself a quality piece and have been using it for so long? I can't begin to count the ways. You, my friend are seriously a friend to the earth! And it still seems pretty organized to me. So Wet Ones but no Band-Aids in your purse--got that!
ReplyDeleteI tend to do grocery shopping by rote now, but back in the day, I used to have a comprehensive list organized by aisle on my computer and a stack printed out and tacked to the kitchen fridge--I'd grab one after a quick fridge and pantry check to take with me to the store. It's more a text to myself if there is absolutely something I must remember these days.
No one has ever asked me for a BandAid when I have my purse! I should actually have some hand sanitizer in this purse and my work bag and I'll remedy that the next time I go to a pharmacy.
DeleteI could not shop off the cuff! I would undoubtedly forget eggs or potatoes or something!
Engie, do you have a luggage repair place in town? If not, a shoe repair place that you trust? They might be able to repair your wallet for you.
ReplyDeleteI write out my grocery list on paper, organized by category (meat, produce, dairy, canned) though I do not label the categories. Ted puts his list in his phone and I do not think he sorts it. He's an anarchist.
Oh, I do have a shoe place! I have a pair of shoes there right now. When I go pick up the shoes, I'll ask them if they can fix the zipper issue.
DeleteMy Ted also has his on a phone unsorted and we get together and compile the list so it's organized in paper for my preferences. We really are sort of married to the same man!
I loved seeing what was in your purse! We're Fossil twins - fraternal twins. I have a Fossil purse, but not the same one as yours. I think mine is called an Elvie, but I'm not sure, and it's not made any more, which is such a bummer. Mine is looking very worn on the bottom.
ReplyDeleteThe liner of mine is starting to look a little ragged. I refuse to acknowledge that it will not last until the day I die. I hate looking for a new perfect bag.
DeleteOkay, this is more like it. It still doesn't have as much random junk in it as my purse, but we're getting a little closer. I like that you have the obligatory collection of pens.
ReplyDeleteWhat purse doesn't have too many pens in it? I did check, though, and all those pens still have ink, so I left them in there.
DeleteBack when I used to carry a purse; God only know what one would find in it. But sometime early in the pandemic, I just quit carrying one. Now, I just grab my wallet, keys, phone and mask and am out the door.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I stripped it down to my phone and wallet during the pandemic, too, but now I am back in the purse swing of things. I just don't like my pockets to be weighed down with a lot.
DeleteHonest question: How do your bags/purses/wallets survive these many years? Mine need replacement every 5-7 years I would say... Granted they are like faux leather but still. A mystery to me.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty good at cleaning out my purses/bags after every use so I rarely have random things in them. Medicine and chapstick most likely.
As for grocery lists... I use an app that my husband and I can both add and check off. So it's been a while since I had a written one. When I do Christmas baking I usually print a list from my recipe app so I keep an overview on what I need and for which recipe.
Well, I buy quality goods (the wallet and purse here are leather) and the rest is luck. LOL. I treat my things well, but I don't act like they're museum pieces. If this had been faux leather, it would definitely have needed to be replaced. I'm lucky I can splurge on materials that last a long time.
DeleteI definitely don't clean my purse out after every use. I need to take some lessons in adulting from you!
I was also going to say a shoe repair could fix the zipper-- I have had a wallet repaired at a cobbler!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good idea. I'm going to bring it up the next time I'm at the cobbler's!
DeleteWell, I started reading this at the girls' b-ball skills thing last night. I charged my iPad all day, but it was at 1% when I got there. I managed to charge it on Curly's charger when I got home. Of course I finally get an iPhone and the charger is different from my iPad. I was surprised to see how long 1% lasted, but I didn't get to comment on all of the posts I read. All that to say, I thought the last post WAS your purse. I didn't realize you had two different bags. I do feel better about the disaster that is my 'purse' (Adidas bag that I carry everywhere and leave in the car). If we looked right now, we'd find at least 6 used envelopes, folded a million times with old grocery lists on them. I open the mail and use the discarded envelopes as my list. Sounds so efficient until I admit that I then find them in my coat pockets and the bottom of my bag. I'm blown away at how long that purse has lasted. It looks like it's in great shape. My criteria for a purse is an outside pocket for quick things like my phone and keys. I also like a large center part so I can put a small lunch container or a book.
ReplyDeleteMy purse does have an outside pocket and I use it for my phone and the grocery list! It's actually why I don't want to replace it because it doesn't look like a lot of the newer Fossil bags have an outside pocket. I guess it's better for security - it would be easy to snatch my phone from that pocket, but I like the convenience of that pocket.
DeleteWe use a share apple note for our grocery lists. It's something Phil and I can both edit. I love it! It's nice that both of us have the ability to add to it so that it's a shared task. We also have a shared note for house projects and for wish/gift lists for the boys. The gift list for the boys is something new this year and I am loving it because it helps me share the mental load of keeping track of what the boys want. Phil even bought something from the list!
ReplyDeleteI think Ted uses Apple note, but since I don't have an iPhone, we can't share. It's actually okay, though, because I prefer a paper list at the store.
DeleteA shared gift list is so smart! We did the draw for Christmas presents for our nieces and nephew and I went around asking the parents what to get. LOL. Some of them had lists on their phones, too.
That bag looks great. I love the color! And that you've had it sooo long. Amazing. I also have the "I got vaccinated against Covid button in my bag for four years" kind of thing, in pretty much every bag I own. And I own way too many. Why is it still in there? Will I ever take it out? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteI have never once used that button. LOL. But still I have it. Maybe someday I'll feel comfortable enough to take it out.
DeleteVery fashionable bag that still holds up well. But now I feel like my grocery list is chaotic and crazy. You can organize your shopping list? 😮
ReplyDeleteI do organize my shopping list because I want to be in and out of the store as fast as possible!
DeleteAre the pink and yellow things earplugs too? I was trying to figure out if they were pills or candy.
ReplyDeleteI still do a paper grocery list, and I write it roughly in order of where things are in the store. My brain just doesn't take to phone notes well. If my husband is going I text him a list.
I was trying to figure out why you only have eczema on your left foot, and why you would be moisturizing your foot at work. November is hard. In the winter no matter what kind of hand moisturizer I use I have to follow it with polysporin with lidocaine, and then my hands only burn for a few minutes but don't usually bleed anymore.
They're also earplugs. I like to have earplugs for every occasion.
DeleteI sleep with steroids and Vanicream on my hands at night and I wear gloves. It'll be like this until April or so. My hands dry out so much and I wash them a lot and it's painful. Oh, well. At least I have heat!
That's a cute bag. I used to like Fossil a lot. I had Fossil watches as well.
ReplyDeleteMost of bags are Fossil. I love the simplicity of their styling.
DeleteI love that you have so many earplugs. That's genius!
ReplyDeleteI keep my grocery list on my Notes app. It's fun to click the checkmark on each line item when it goes into my grocery cart!
I really like a physical list to cross things off. I can also circle things if they're not available or if I'll have to go to another store to get them. I don't know if I'd get the same sense of accomplishment by checking things off in an app.
DeleteAs you know, no purse for me. Jacket pockets and if I'm in a bind (no jacket, no pockets) then a small belt bag slung across my chest.
ReplyDeleteI use an app - Our Groceries - and have for years. Love it, despite the ads. You can organize by category and have multiple lists (e.g., Costco, coop, grocery, etc.). Also, I get my face and daytime body cream (night = Cetaphil in the jar) from this place where my mom lives - all natural, truly fragrance free, etc. It works for me but I never moisturize enough. I need to send you a pic of the cotton gloves I ordered so i can type after putting it on. You'll die laughing. :)
Oh, Anne, I wear cotton gloves and cotton booties to bed EVERY NIGHT. Because I am a cool, cool, sexy lady. I will laugh at people who do what they need to do to moisturize. Sometimes I think about how people used to do hard work out in the cold all the time and I wonder how their skin survived. We are very pampered in this modern age, aren't we?
Delete