Sunday 19 January 2014

Itinerary of this Mum's handbag

It is a cliche, I know, but I do love handbags. I have loads of them. Mostly satchel type or organiser bags with big pockets and compartments for all sorts of stuff. I do have some small evening bags and even the occasional 'proper lady' handbag. I know women who have a lovely dinky postage stamp of a handbag that they keep a phone, a discreet compact and a lipstick in and they go about their day. I aspire to their control. Mine, however, resembles those sacks you see in movies that baddies sling over their backs filled with kittens to drown in a nearby river before the hero rescues them.*

In the recent sales I decided to get myself a beautiful rather than functional bag and I chose a 'slouchy' one that is just gorgeous. In my attempts to go from slummy to yummy I'm trying so hard not to fill it with rubbish, but I took a quick itinerary of it yesterday and here's what it already has in it.
  • 2 Ikea straws and a handful of napkins
  • Cup sleeves for coffee (I don't drink coffee) 
  • Pocketful of loyalty cards - Jojomamanbebe Cafe Nero, Evolution, etc. (I still don't drink coffee)
  • Bags for life - I always carry bags for life, well you never know when you might need to pick up some groceries do you ? 
  • Wet wipes - however, I did carry these before I was a mum
  • Tissues - new in packet infused with balsam and the used scrumpled ones that end up in there
  • Two notepads from hotels where we stayed in pre-parenting days, for my profound thoughts and great ideas (they are both blank)
  • Half a dozen biros in the front pocket and a pencil case with camper vans on it containing another half dozen pens, pencils and an eraser 
  • Nail files - yes plural - I'm a Mum not an animal !  
  • An apple, a banana and a bottle of water (oh that's why it's so bloody heavy)
  • An oat bar for the boy and a gluten free, dairy free and wheat free bar for me - despite how it sounds it tastes absolutely divine 
  • iPad in case of a breakdown - the car, the bus, the toddler or me !!
I wish this was all but I'm trying to tone down the crazy so let's just leave it at that shall we ? I'll skip over the mini pot of dental floss, the two hand creams and the make up bag that is aspirational at best.

I'm a Mum and this is my handbag:


*Just to be clear I do not carry kittens in my bag, nor do I drown said felines.

44 comments:

  1. I'm with you on the many, many biros, where do they all come from?! I also have 2 bags for life in my bag but ALWAYS forget them and end up buying more!

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    1. Oh stop - I have biros and bags for life in the house, the car, everywhere !!

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  2. It just proves why we need a large handbag. The day you go out with a small one you need all those thing that didn't fit in!!

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  3. Oh my word - your shoulders must be lopsided carrying all that lot around! But you're definitely prepared fora n=anything so well done :)

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    1. I have very strong arms actually - and a standing appointment with an osteopath !

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  4. I cleared mine out this morning, so go me!! It's normally full of so much random junk - loads of receipts and papers tend to end up in there

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  5. I don't really have a bag. I know. I am a fake, an imposter woman!

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  6. I have a huge bag which I seem to fill.......all sorts of random rubbish and the kids keep adding to it!

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    1. The bigger the bag the more you carry - can't be helped can it ?

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  7. LOL that could be my bag. Only you are missing the five year old packet of half melted Lockets.

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    1. Oh I stopped carrying sweets - a slowly rotting piece of fruit yes, but sweets no.

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  8. Do you have a handbag like the bag that Mary Poppins had? ;-) I ecru random rubbish too - and applaud you for having a sort out x

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  9. How did you fit all that in??! You probably need a backpack:)

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    1. I refuse to carry a backpack any more - I'm a grown up now. I only use a backpack for the gym or my swimming kit :)

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  10. You know what I ditched the handbag at christmas and have yet to transfer stuff to a new one. Although my pockets are full of crap all the time!

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    1. I sometimes wonder if I could cope without a bag - I have decided probably not :)

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  11. Oh yes I'm in your gang, everything in is my bag, you never know when you may need a tomato sauce sachet for example ;0

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    1. absolutely ! I've just chucked out the salt and pepper sachets from way back when :)

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  12. And I thought I had a lot in my bag, umbrella (just incase but never seems to be there when I need it) is probably a favourite of mine ;) lol x

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    1. I am the same - have a dozen brollies and never have one when I'm in the rain !!

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  13. Ha ha ha - mine is exactly the same (probably worse)!

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  14. Got to love a big bag! There's always all sorts of rubbish in mine too!

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    1. I find it reassuring to be able to fit a small child into my bag don't you ?

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  15. Mine is full of toys! Son gets in a huff if I can't produce at least 5 ;o)

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    1. I read a book before I had my son that said you have to have a bag that is just yours ie. no toys or kid things in it. Chance'd be a fine thing !

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  16. If I admit mine contained most of what yours does and a little bit more, does that means I am in with the crazy? ;) It always amazes me how much stuff we can fit into one of those bags, and not even notice it. The only time I notice it is when my husband says "here, let me carry it for you" and then suddenly it is as if the weight of the world has been lifted :)

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    1. I was heavily editing what's in mine so I think you're probably safe :)

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  17. Brilliant! I love that you have all these things in your bag. I always have too many hairclips and raisins although I did have a fireman once too :)

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  18. You made me chuckle with the cup sleeves for coffee and not drinking coffee! How does one end up with cup sleeves for coffee when they don't drink coffee?
    I just realised I actually said, 'how does one'; I've never ever spoken like this in my life, what with being born and bred in Derbyshire so I have no idea why I'm doing so now!

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    1. I like it. I've made you go all posh :)
      I pick them up for my free tea from Waitrose so my fingers won't get burnt and for some reason can't bring myself to throw them away !

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  19. Ha your bag contents sounds very similar to mine but wear i'm lacking in nail files I make up for in Superman, three thomas tank engine trains, a car, an astronaut and some old play-doh. Oh the joy x

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    1. I try so hard not to chuck toys into my bag as they may never be found again !! Play-doh though ? that must get messy !!

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  20. Hope then that the new bag is much smaller, I speak from experience and know that it will end up filling up quickly if the size allows :-)

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    1. I find that if I'm out for the day it's perfect as I can stuff a lot into it and not need to lug a lot of bags around, but otherwise it's just the right size for just my stuff.
      Excellent observation though - and so true !!

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  21. I have always been a handbag hoarder even pre-child. I would go out with so much stationary even on a night out... to this day I don't know why.

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  22. I always find biros, and biscuit crumbs in my bag! x

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  23. That all sounds reasonably sensible. I looked it mine. It's mainly bottle tops and crumbs :D

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