I said goodbye to a good friend yesterday.
The clasp broke on one of my favorite bargain finds: this Marc Jacobs-lookalike, Banana Republic Outlet bag. I bought it six months ago and it’s been my constant work companion since. I hate having to switch work bags (because I will inevitably forget to replace my ID and office keys), so this old gal has been with me every day.
Yes, I’m sure I could get the bag repaired somewhere, but since I only spent $40 in the first place, I’m not sure if it’s worth the time or energy to do so.
Last night, I went to empty the contents of my bag so I could switch to a new one and I was horrified at the amount of utter crap I had in there. I felt like a pack rat. No wonder why I could never find anything in there – apparently I’ve been impersonating Mary Poppins, or a Sherpa.
Here’s what I found:
- 2 iPhones (work and personal)
- 1 Chapstick tube
- 1 Lego block
- 1 granola bar wrapper (extra points for the smeared chocolate)
- 1 Ben10 Action Figure
- 1 dirty sock (Buddy)
- 1 dirty (?) sock (Mimi)
- 1 random plastic produce bag from the supermarket
- 1 Red Robin loyalty card
- 1 Baby Einstein music player “iPod”
- An expired Kohl’s coupon
- 2 gloves
- 1 small, empty Tupperware container (from my almonds earlier in the day, I
hopethink) - 1 reminder card for my next eye doctor appt
- 2 pens
- 1 tripod (for work)
- 1 dentist bill
- 1 kids CD
- Hand sanitizer
- 1 Mimi board book
- 1 packet of tissues
- 1 Mimi bracelet
- 1 pack of gum
- 1 used band-aid (ugh)
- 1 disposable wipe your glasses
- (Not pictured) Half-empty water bottle
And that’s not to mention the gross array of crumbs, crumpled receipts, random coins and God-knows-what-else lurking at the bottom of my bag.
Oh, and I also had my wallet and my makeup bag (which, I should add, is the size of an evening bag but only contains a few lipsticks, some dental floss that I don’t remember putting in there, a nail file, band-aids and some emergency tampons).
Wow, was I really carrying all this around with me? Why? And how did I not notice that I’d become a bag lady? I joke about Buddy being destined for “Hoarders” … maybe it really is genetic?
Speaking of Buddy, he came in my room as I was sorting through the pile of junk and made a face. “Mommy, what is that?” he asked, pointing in disgust.
My thoughts exactly.
So I spent the next 15 minutes putting dirty socks in the laundry room, returning various toys and books to their rightful owners and making several runs to the garbage can to dispose of the trash.
Ahhh, much better. Let’s hope it stays that way.
My new and improved bag:
- Tissues
- Gum
- Sunglasses
- Wallet
- Makeup bag, which is next on my replacement list
- Kids CD (because I forgot to leave it in my car)
- Work ID, keys
- Both iPhones
- A couple of pens
Have you gone through your bag or purse recently? You may find it to be an eye-opening experience.
What’s in your bag? Write a blog post and link back to me, or leave your links/comments below!
Joanna says
Ok, so this has totally inspired me to go through my bag when I get home!! I am a little scared about what I will find though…
Sheri says
Love it! I’m always finding odd things in my bag, from rocks to mini dinosaurs. Even fake gold coins…wish they were real 🙂
Jane - MomGenerations.com says
I have to go through my purse every so often because it gets so heavy AND I can’t find anything. There is always inevitably way too much crap in there and it feels like a weight lifted when I clean it out!
Jen says
I am loving this. The other day when I was going thru my bag i found that there were 4 junior mints mushed to the bottom of my bag thanks to my little mister !! Maybe I will dump it and take a pic for you. Just peeking over at it i can see a wallet, a diaper, ipod, iphone, matchbox car and an old evelope of pics from snapfish that i am sure i was going to frame.
Dollops of Diane says
Yesterday, I almost wrote an identical post to this (but just some different contents in my bag). Too funny – we are so on the same page!
Jessica says
Great minds think alike 😉
Jennifer (Savor) says
I have to clean out my bag each week and am always amazed at how much paperwork is in there!
Kirsten says
My bag(s) would horrify you. Well, after reading your list, you could be holding my bag! I tend to switch up my bag every few days, depending on what I am wearing and I drag the necessities from place to place and leave the crap behind. Soooo, when I get back to the bags with the residual crap in them, I have a moment where I can sort it all out, or just add to it. It’s not pretty. 🙂
Kameron @ My Wrinkle in Time says
I have to go through my purse once every week or 2. Somehow I end up with 500 reciepts and 6 pounds of change! I am so bad at putting my credit cards back in the slots too.
Elizabeth Atalay says
So fun to see what is in other people’s bags! This is a great post!
Jane says
Love this. I usually see these posts and think really no crumpled receipts or half eaten cookies? I totally become a bag lady with everything in my bag. I almost need the season switchover just to clean it out!
candice says
I think once you are a mom the bag is no longer all yours. I wonder what is in mine? Oh, and I usually carry a snack for the hubby since he turns into a toddler if he get hungry!
Leah DeCesare says
I once won a scavenger hunt for my team because I had fabric and paint swatch in my bag! Your bag sounds like mine – I’ve found rocks, twigs, crayons and an assortment of treasures my kids gathered and dumped in my bag!
Heather @ Housewife Heather says
This cracked me up! I have a backpack diaper bag & a pocketbook type bag. I use them both depending on who is with me & what I’m doing. My pocketbook usually has my wallet, Chapstick, lip gloss, keys, a few band aids, hand sanitizer & a small thing of wet wipes. The diaper bag is another story! 😉 Everything under the sun that I could fit in there for a 3 year old & a 1 year old!
Liz {Learning to Juggle} says
Oh lord….my work bag is what I carry daily – besides the laptop, notebook, financial notebook, pens, gum, make up, planner, address book, check book, wallet, hair ties, lipgloss, chap stick, random office supplies, there really isn’t much in there 😉
Sarah B says
I’m not going to dig in there now, but I can promise you there are at least 10 half eaten puffs/yogurt drops, and no less than 5 teethers! haha
jen - keekoin says
I’m cracking up because I always find random socks in my bag, too! Dirty ones, at that. Hysterical. Oh, and same goes for smeared wrappers and expires Kohl’s coupons. Now I want to go through my bag… this is so funny!
mel says
Haha- your purse sounds like mine! I love this idea- I might have to do this. I always see whats in my purse in US weekly.
Abigail says
Oh man, I know I need to clean out my purse, I’m sure yours looks clean and organized compared to the disaster mine is. And I hardly use anything in it! My purse is basically an oversized make up bag. Must get on that.
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
I switch bags so much, that when I look for something I check my other bags first. I usually find stray money.