Look deeply into my purse

Jun 29th 2007
Claudia DainOn Writing!

54 Responses to “Look deeply into my purse”

1. Kay on 29 Jun 2007 at 8:48 am #

   My special item is a “Leatherman” tool. It has scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers, bottle opener, knife and yes, a ruler (inches and cm) on the side.

   I call it the “MOM TOOL” and use it every day.

   I always have a cell phone and my iPod. Ditto on the handkerchief. I’ve carried one since I was a little girl (except when I was in HS, then it was uncool.) Nail file and clippers are a must, too. I can NEVER carry a small, cute purse. Mine always look like a suitcase. LOL

2. jessie on 29 Jun 2007 at 8:50 am #

   I don’t really carry anything out of the ordinary, but one thing I try never to be without is a pen and a little scrap of paper to write on. You never know when you’re going to need to make a list or remember the name of a book or whatever. I think this reveals that a)my memory is not so good, and b)I like to be organized and on top of things. Otherwise, major freak outs ensue because I’ve forgotten something and I can’t remember what it is.

   Also, I’m never without gum. This says that I like nice-smelling breath and I worry too much about what other people will think of me if I don’t have that minty freshness going on.

   Other than those two items, I just keep my wallet and my keys. Pretty minimalist (which does not reveal the secret me, because I am a pack rat and messy:).

3. cail on 29 Jun 2007 at 8:52 am #

   good morning and happy friday! my (current) purse is huge.

   currently in it: my wallet, my ipod, my calendar, a bottle of water (or 2), some benedryl, a medincine kit (with bandaids, antihistamines, bug bite/hive on the spot medicine, inhaler, tissues, hand sanitizer), keys, swiss army knife, sunblock stick, perfume, gum, a plastic bag…

   I also carry a second bag to work with my shoes, a sweater and my yankee sunvisor.

   the plastic bag is what shows insight into my character… i’m terrified that someone will puke near me, so i always have at least one bag incase someone needs to be sick.

4. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 8:56 am #

   Kay!! I want a Leatherman tool! It sounds absolutely necessary to me. I can imagine I’d need it at least once a week. You and I must be soul sisters…or at least members of the Handkerchief Club. We’re a dying breed.

   Jessie, I also always carry a notepad and pen, just because I know I’m going to need to write something down. I use it maybe once a year, but I feel so good knowing I’m prepared!

   I also always carry breath strips because I’m POLITE and don’t want to knock people over with my breath.

   Ladies, it’s nice to know I’m in good company!

5. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:01 am #

   Cail, LOL! You are the Master! I have never once thought to be prepared in case someone puked in my vicinity. I’m so impressed!

   I also carry aspirin in one of those adorable tiny bottles. I use that all the time. I would love to carry water, but it’s just packs on too much purse weight. That’s another purse requirement of mine: I don’t want to actually ‘feel’ my purse dragging down one shoulder.

   I’m allergic to bees so I know I need to get an EpiKit. I’m too lazy. Do you think they sell those in Target?

   I also used to carry a Swiss Army knife, but the airport confiscated it a couple of years ago and I never replaced it. It was GREAT. I really need to get that replaced.

6. Susan K on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:01 am #

   Currently my purse has: my wallet, my checkbook (just got paid and had to pay some bills), my prescription sunglasses (they take up a lot of room but the last pair I left in my car got stolen when my car was broken into), a book (never leave home without one), my scrap notebook (for when I get inspiration for a scrapbook page. plus it has my “want” list of scrapbook supplies), a camera (to take pics for my scrapbook pages), lots of pens & pencils, a small brush, gum, mints, my hands free ear piece, my cell phone, a small bottle of alieve, chapstick, eyedrops (in case my eye infection flares up), hand sanitizer, nail glue (when I had press ons a couple of months ago), eyeglass cleaner wipes, and my keys. I think that covers it. My purse is pretty small too. But I have one of those purse organizers a friend got me for christmas. Otherwise I don’t think it would all fit!

7. amy1242 on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:01 am #

   I’m thinking purse content doesn’t really show WHO you are, but WHERE you are, in life. My little purse carries credit cards, cash, keys, phone and lip gloss. BUT, more likely than not, my little purse get’s thrown into my “Life is Good” day bag, that carries my humongous calendar (full of kid activities like ball games and practices and sleepovers, etc…), 11 yo daughters many medications, sunblock, gym shoes, softball glove, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipies, mini first aid kit, camera, my never ending list of things to do and a good book. Lets not even go into my “winter” contents! But when it’s just me going out with the girls, my little purse is all I need. It reminds me of how simple life used to be and how awesomely busy life is with kids. Love my kids!!

8. SuzyQ on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:05 am #

   I try to keep my purse as small as possible, otherwise I would fill it with stuff I don’t need and then I would end up getting bursitis in my shoulder. Even though the purse is small it has to have a top zipper and I must be able to get my hand in - I total understand, Claudia.

   Things I always carry - a tiny notepad and itty bitty pen, aspirin, hand sanitizer (hey I have kids - do I need to say more), chapstick or lip gloss, and my camera. I have a super thin digital camera and I never want to miss that “Kodak moment”. I have also carried the tape measure when we were renovating our house. It seemed I always had it then.

   When I was little, my mother always carried a collapsible cup so I wouldn’t have to drink out of the fountain. I haven’t seen something like that in ages.

9. Darla on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:08 am #

   I don’t carry an extra large purse or a tiny purse, but I carry one that can hold my cell phone, keys, gum, wallet, BOOK of course, sunglasses, glasses, small leatherman tool, nail stuff, ibupropfen…I guess that says I like to be prepared for anything…theres been many a time when I’ve had to whip out my mini measuring tape! LOL

10. BethanyHamilton on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:11 am #

    My purse is compact, but not small, and has hundreds of little compartments. What does that say about me? I have OCD and things HAVE to be neatly organized If there isn’t a place specifically for my cell phone on the front of the purse, I won’t buy it.

    Now…as for what’s in it. Movie tickets that I got for Christmas (that’s how often I go to the theatre!) one of my daughter’s socks (she’s more interested in eating them than wearing them at this point), my checkbook, numerous credit cards, and both my house/car keys, and the keys to my job. Oh! Always chapstick. Medicated blistex. I don’t wear makeup at all (I have sensitive skin and I end up looking worse with it, lol), so I always have to have my handy chapstick to apply 14,000 times a day :D.

    I have no idea what the contents say about me…That I’m a mom who has no time for herself? lol

11. BethanyHamilton on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:13 am #

    Oh yeah….hand sanitizer and pens too. It can fit a book if I bring one, but for the most part I’m just too worried the book would get bent or otherwise desecrated. I’m anal about my books. Looking at them, you’d never guess they were read. Not so much as a crease in the spine!

12. ladydawgfan on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:16 am #

    What does is say about you if you don’t carry a purse at all? I gave up my purse when I started college about 10 years ago and never picked it up again. Everything I need fits into my pockets - my pocketbook, my cellphone, my keys, my pillbox - so there really is no need for a purse. In fact, when I DO carry a purse, when an outfit has no pockets or I need more stuff than my pockets can hold, I tend to leave it places that I shouldn’t, NOT a good thing to do.

13. Sonja Foust on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:49 am #

    Love it. I carry band-aids, partly because I’m prone to injury and party because I like giving them out. People are always impressed when I have band-aids in my purse to give out for pinchy shoes and papercuts. Now I have nieces and nephews so I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to start carrying Blues Clues and Dora The Explorer band-aids too, because who doesn’t want to impress little kids with your awesome band-aid collection?

14. Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:56 am #

    ladydawgfan, you’re just too young. Give it a couple of years. I did the same thing as you for years, for exactly the same reasons (I do not buy pants that don’t have pockets–period; and leaving purses is an art I have refined). Then I started needing things–tissue, naproxen, cell phone, spare glasses, reading glasses, contact case, bookmarks and autograph stickers … My purse is now huge, and I like it that way. Usually.

15. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:01 am #

    It’s so true; the contents of our purses reflect not only who we are, but who we are at that moment. My contents have changed as my children grew up and my back starting bugging me. No more 5 pound purses!

    I love all the little pockets in purses now. I won’t buy one that doesn’t have a special pocket for my cell phone and I’ll buy it for sure if the lining in some bright color (who can find anything in a black lined purse?) and has a slot for phone, glasses, pens, etc. Love having a place for everything!

    Now, I’ve tried and tried to imagine my life without a purse. I can’t do it. I don’t have that many pockets. Ladydawgfan, I think going purse-less shows that you’re practical and self-reliant.

    And I always carry at least one band-aid in my purse. I have a mini first aid kit under the driver’s seat in every car I own. You just never know!

16. Karen Rose on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:12 am #

    Y’all are way too organized for me! Bandaids? Hah! Suck that wound like a man. But that only works for easy-to-reach places. If I’m bleeding all over the place, usually one of my more organized friends has a bandaid. Some of my REALLY organized friends carry bandaids with built-in antibiotic ointment. Space-age.

    Emory boards? They would be useful if I had nails. I don’t. That’s a bad habit, I know. If I have nails, they’re always fake and don’t need an emory board anyway, because they are made of some space-age stuff, too.

    I always have my wallet and it always has my passport in it. People ask me why, am I planning to flee the country? No, but it’s got cool stamps of cool places in it and if I get bored, (I get bored easily) sometimes I like to browse my passport and reminisce.

    I usually have a pen, but last week I only had lipstick, which didn’t help when I needed a pen. I always have lipstick, but never use it, so my lips are always chapped, Claudia.

17. Karen Rose on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:19 am #

    When I was in NYC recently, my key card to my hotel room kept becoming invalid. It kept not working, in other words. I kept getting new ones and finally, after several days of this, the very nice man at the desk rather put his foot down:

    Man: Ma’am are you storing this next to your cell phone?

    Me: No, I have these cool little pockets in front of my purse, one for my cell phone, so nothing else touches it, see?

    Man: Then have you been to Macy’s lately? Sometimes their security system will wipe key cards.

    Me: Not in the last few days. See, I store the keycard in this little pocket here.

    I proceeded to stick my fingers down in the pocket and pulled out … an AA battery.

    Me: (red-faced) I guess this would wipe the key-card, huh?

    Man: (trying not to look smug) Yes, ma’am.

    Me: Never mind.

    I have no idea how that battery got in there. Probably one of my kids. Yeah. That’s the story I’m sticking to!

18. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:19 am #

    But Karen, what if you get a bleeding blister on your toe? I’d LOVE to see you suck on that! LOL

    I’m intrigued by the no pen/only lipstick scenario. Did you think to use your lipstick as a pen? This always seems to happen in movies and I’m always thinking about how much it cost to write that note on the mirror in lipstick. Lipstick isn’t cheap!

19. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:21 am #

    Karen, I now have a story about those adorable little purse pockets being a problem. Who would have thunk it?

20. Karen Rose on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:24 am #

    Yeah, I’d love to see me suck on that toe, too, LOL. Come to think of it, DH would be intrigued were I that limber. Sadly, I am not.

    I think I looked pathetic when I only had lipstick until some nice person loaned me a pen. I briefly considered using the lipstick - it would be the first use it would have had in some time. I could almost hear it screaming “USE ME USE ME”

    No, I am not on hallucenigenic drugs. I am on deadline. There is a very fine difference between the two.

21. Julia London on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:30 am #

    I am so into handbags. This is an affliction that came on me about the same time the pounds started rolling in when I turned 40. I like ‘em big. I like to stuff all sorts of stuff in them: ipod, wallet, little powdered energy packets to put in my water, sunglasses, reading glasses. No condoms. I wish I had condoms — I think that would be cool. But the DH no longer need that sort of assurance.

    What I don’t understand is where all the paper comes from!! Slips and folded pieces and letters and receipts and stuff I don’t remember handling, much less putting in my bag. By the end of the week, I am pulling out handfuls of paper and scattering them on the bar, trying to figure out if I need to keep it for Official Tax Purposes.

22. zambonigirl on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:32 am #

    I actually carry a purse as seldom as I possibly can. I find that they get in the way…and I buy Coach bags, so yeah, I’m kind of counter-productive.

    However-this: What can I say? I like to shop in peace. There’s nothing worse than getting a phone call while you’re trying on a swim suit. The person calling you doesn’t understand at all why you’re sobbing incoherently as you stare into a cruelly lit fun-house mirror.

    I love you. That is the best thing I’ve read all week. Fun-house mirror indeed.

23. Jami Alden on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:41 am #

    I buy the cheapest cute purses I can find - same as with sunglasses. While I admire the more expensive bags (although I still don’t understand why anyone would pay thousands of dollars for a purse) I am self aware enough to know that I will trash any handbag I own. Ditto for sunglasses. Right now the contents of my purse reveal that I am a mother of small children. My purse currently contains diapers in two sizes, baby wipes, a baggie full of raisins, a baggy full of crumbled graham crackers, a fresh set of footed jammies in case the baby has a blowout, and a t-shirt for the toddler that I haven’t put away yet.

    Oh, and I have a roll of autographed by author stickers in the bottom of my bag that my friend gave me at a booksigning since I forgot mine. The stickers have managed to migrate onto all my stuff, so now my wallet, my note pad, and all of my lipsticks have little gold “autographed by author” stickers on them.

24. Karen Rose on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:53 am #

    Okay, one more purse-from-hell story before I kill off someone in my next scene (bwahaha). I was going to Japan years ago and was in the line at customs. It was going very slowly as this customs agent was very thorough and stern-faced. It was finally my turn and the officer said, “Where are your papers?” I gave him my passport. He shook his head, sternly. “WHERE ARE YOUR PAPERS?”

    Now, to get into Japan, you only need a passport, no other visas or any other kind of paperwork, and I knew this. Later I found this guy was just giving me a hard time. But this back and forth went on for several minutes, with him demanding my papers and me saying “I have no papers.” I was starting to panic because it was Sunday afternoon and nobody would have been at work and I didn’t know any of my colleague’s home phone numbers - not that I would have been able to figure out the Japanese phone system anyway. I was about to demand the US ambassador or something, when my temper popped.
    (more)

25. Karen Rose on 29 Jun 2007 at 10:53 am #

    “Fine,” I snapped. “You want papers, you find them yourself.” Then I dumped my five-pound purse on his table and contents went everywhere.

    Now, in those days, I was working Feminine Hygiene at P&G and I was carrying product samples. LOTS of product samples. Pads and tampons of all shapes and sizes and colors. Plus a romance novel with a bare-chested man in a kilt. I picked up the novel and shoved the bare-chested-man-in-a-kilt at the startled officer’s face. “Is this the paper you wanted?” I snarled.

    I had been awake for 24 hours by this point and the customs dude had pushed too far. “Or perhaps THESE papers?” I picked up pads and tampons. The customs guy turned dark red and started stuttering that I was cleared to go. I swept the contents of my purse back into the purse with dignity and said, “Thank you. Have a nice day.”

26. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 11:06 am #

    Karen, Japanese Guy got EXACTLY what he deserved. You are brilliant.

    Jami, I love that the contents of your purse proudly proclaim Autographed by Author!! Too funny.

    Zambonigirl, if you’re paying Coach prices, you need to get Coach value! ‘Nuff said on that. But I’m glad I made your week. I think we all know that there is something seriously wrong with store mirrors. We should sic Karen R on the designer; I think she could handle him nicely.

27. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 11:08 am #

    Hey, while I’m thinking of it, is anyone rushing out today to buy the new IPhone?? It would be such a nice purse accessory. I plan to get one, once the price drops to my level. I may even learn how to use it!

28. Susan K on 29 Jun 2007 at 11:46 am #

    I feel the need to buy a new purse now. I almost went to Target on my lunch hour but resisted. There’s always this weekend though!

    I fluctuate between small and large purses and every size in between. I always carried medium to large purses when I was younger but everyone used to make fun of me cause I’m small. I just like being prepared. So I switched to small ones and they just don’t seem to give me enough space. I have 4 large things I need to fit in my purse: my sunglasses case (they’re prescription), my wallet, a book and my scrapping notebook. I think I need to upgrade this weekend. We’ll see what Target and Walmart has.

29. cail on 29 Jun 2007 at 11:49 am #

    ah, the iPhone… i’ll be passing the 5th avenue flagship store on my way home from work just before they go on sale at 6pm. i’m intrigued to see the line… apparently one of the traders has an intern standing in line for him. i have no intention of getting one… i’m not switching carriers.

    i totally forgot to mention that i definitely have a book in one of my bags. and usually a snack. todays its a bag of cherries.

    You have no idea how often those bags have come in handy… also, the airport guys in Wisconsin took my last swiss army knife so i bought a new one. I have the little one that barely qualifies as a knife, and had been let though security at JFK, LGA, and countless other big hubs for the last 10 years, but somehow the people in wisconsin decided it was their duty to remove the 3/4 inch blade from my bag. i have knitting needles that would cause more damage!!

    (incidently, if this question had been asked in winter i’d have some yarn project in my purse too!

30. SuzyQ on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:09 pm #

    Great story Karen! Now everyone at work is wondering why I am LOL!

    Claudia, I’m with you on the IPhone and have to wait for the price drop. But it does look soooooo cool!

31. BethanyHamilton on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:11 pm #

    Karen - You’ve got me dying over here. My co-workers are giving me funny looks I can just imagine that guys face! Carrying your passport isn’t too bad. I have my license, social, AND birth certificate in my wallet. Talk about screwed if I ever lose my purse! I would cease to exist! We really need to get a fireproof safe….

    I like to go without a purse if I’m on vacation. It’s too much of a PITA to have to deal with it, especially at casinos or amusement parks. In those scenarios, the credit/debit card, license, and cash all go in my front pocket.

32. amy1242 on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:18 pm #

    Cail, where in Wisconsin, were you flying out of? I’ve gotten all kinds of things confiscated in Wisconsin airports. My daughter almost lost her beloved stuffed puppy to a security guy who wanted to gut it because of the head having some kind of wiring for the eyes and nose in the poor pooch. That dog went through the scanner FIVE times! He kept turning it round and round in his hands while my daughter looked on in complete horror. He ended up conferring with another security agent, they both looked at my duaghter’s teary eyes, shrugged and gently gave it back to her. The dog made it through every other airport we visited on that trip, without a second glance. I have more stories but this is WAY off topic. Sorry, everyone.

33. Suzanne Enoch on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:24 pm #

    My proudest moment as a packed-purse carrier was in the Tower of London when a little girl got sticky hard candy all over her hands. I whipped out my packet of wet-wipes and handed one to her mom, saving the day, English antiquities, and the entire Realm, I think. *g*

34. colinfirthfan on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:27 pm #

    I am trying to carry a smaller purse these days since my shoulder hurts.
    I used to have a bottle of milk for my younger son (thankfully outgrown that)!!

    Now, I have my wallet (the heaviest item in my purse), iPod, cell phone, kleenex, lipstick, hand sanitizer, access card for work, check book, a few receipts floating around, dramamine, gum, chapstick, pepperspray (which I can never find) and nasonex!!

35. Tracy Grant on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:36 pm #

    I love purses! My every day purse has my wallet (which has charge cards for various stores, which I guess reveals that I like to be able to go shopping on the spur of the moment :-); my makeup bag–two lipsticks, lipliner, compact, perfume comb, nail polish, and nail file (which reveals that I’m frequently spend the day running around and need to do day-into-evening touch ups), sunglasses, cell phone, and a pen and some paper. But I also have a messenger bag in which I recently managed to carry not only my laptop, wallet, and makeup bag, but a whole change of clothes for an evening event. And with an evening bag I can get down to compact, lipstick, drivers license, credit card, and call phone (I recently tested how minimalist I could make my evening bag contents because I bought a darling and very small beaded evening bag).

    Cheers,
    Tracy
    http://www.tracygrant.org

36. cail on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:38 pm #

    Amy, it was in Madison WI.

37. Susan K on 29 Jun 2007 at 12:41 pm #

    I just found the bag I want on Walmart.com! I’m heading there after work. The website said most Walmart stores would have them.

38. Caren Crane on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:04 pm #

    Julia, I feel your pain! I routinely clean the masses of paper out of my (rather large) purse and wonder where in the world it came from! Well, most of it turns out to be receipts from the Quickie Mart, the ATM, the pharmacy, etc. Some are random reminders (or trash) my kids handed me. It all gets stuffed in the purse. Then, when I wonder why it weighs five pounds (with the cell phone, sunglasses, car keys, house keys, medicines, breath mints, pens (always plural), checkbook, on-the-go calendar, etc.), I blame it on the receipts. Um, maybe it’s not the receipts. *g*

    I totally envy Claudia’s ability to change purses with outfits. I carry one purse until a change of season or an evening gown forces me to switch. I just dread the change. Too much like moving!

39. Caren Crane on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:08 pm #

    Oh, and I forgot to mention the lisptick, compact, wallet, the 8000 membership cards, gift cards and various bits of plastic from stores and whatnot, hand sanitizer, emery board, nail clippers, tissues, dental floss and who knows what else buried in there.

    Karen R, I carried my passport around with me for years. Not because I ever left the country in a hurry, but because I like to think I’m the sort of person who might have the opportunity to do so. Ha!

40. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:28 pm #

    Oooh, a new purse purchase! Make sure you share all the details, Susan K, so we can enjoy it with you.

    It’s the membership cards that kill me. If I didn’t have to cart them around, my purse would be 1 pound lighter. There has to be an easier way for me to get a discount!

    Only Caren Crane and I have admitted to carrying dental floss. Are we the only women out there who are terrified of getting a poppyseed stuck between our front teeth? I carry the cutest little mini-dental floss, the size of a quarter, honestly.

41. SuzyQ on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:32 pm #

    Claudia, I do carry dental floss too, it’s a sample I got from the dentist so it’s really tiny and to tell you the truth I forget it is even in there.

    As for the membership cards, I like it when they give you the ones that go on the keychain. Then of course that increases the size of my keys. Yes, there must be a better way.

42. cail on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:56 pm #

    SuzyQ, i’m with you on the keychain membership cards. i have a seperate keychain purely for those cards. it sits in its own pocket in the purse and never leaves with my keys.

43. Brandy on 29 Jun 2007 at 1:58 pm #

    I carry a small swiss army knife, a pen, my wallet(with all the cards necessary for outings such as library cards, sams club card, insurance cards, etc.), a book, chapstick (I’m not a lipstick type of woman), my ipod shuffle for those trips to the gym, a change purse, a rosary, my camera, my cell phone, a comb, my keys, a small pack of kleenex, my sunglasses in their hard case and a mini flash light. Sounds as though I carry a rather large purse, but it isn’t!

44. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 2:02 pm #

    Oooh, I love the mini flashlight idea! I have one in my car, plugged into the socket for the cigarette lighter, but it would be so handy to have one in my purse.

45. colinfirthfan on 29 Jun 2007 at 2:08 pm #

    KarenR, that is a funny funny story!!

46. zambonigirl on 29 Jun 2007 at 2:38 pm #

    Oh my gosh, Karen! You’re definitely my travel companion from now on! Hawaii in October, mmmkay? You put the hurtin’ on that customs agent. What an asshat.

    The iphone! The iphone! Yes, the perfect purse accessory. You can watch your Matt Damon movies while waiting for a sandwich at the Subway or listen to the latest free downloads from itunes while you text-message all your little friends. I’m dubious about the sound quality, though. All of my friends with T-Mobile Sidekicks get the worst reception. I’m definitely going to wait for kinks to be worked out of the iphone before buying it, but I will buy it.

    And then I’ll forget to ever charge it up and it’ll be really useless…

    But still, how awesome would it be to say, “I had lunch with Colin Firth today?”

47. Aemelia on 29 Jun 2007 at 2:49 pm #

    The weirdest item is probably the horse chestnut —really it’s a family joke, but I NEVER leave home w/out one in my purse— actually i have 2 in my purse today!!! The other items in my current “summer” purse are a book …maybe I’ll find a moment to read- not really likely, but I like to be prepared- a flashlight and a whistle/compass on as cord to hang around a neck -you just never know when I may decide to go on a wilderness hike…in the dark, a ziplock w/an assortment of crayons and some baby wipes.

48. twolilhahas on 29 Jun 2007 at 4:10 pm #

    I don’t carry a purse. I have a wallet. I carry that.

    However, I do have a bag that goes with me in the car. I usually just leave it in the car, but if I go in someone else’s car, I take it. So, I guess it qualifies as a purse to some degree.

    The strangest thing in it really isn’t a strange item, just something most people don’t carry around. It’s a container of salt. I prefer the Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and so that’s the kind I take, but it’s more just so I never get caught with something that I really won’t eat without salt and no salt. You know? lol

    I also have an eyeglass repair kit, a fingernail file, fingernail clippers, a small screwdriver, a bottle opener, a toothbrush, two books, some spare panties for my kids (just in case), my vitamins, some spray on body oil…and I don’t remember what else. Just whatever I think I may want while I’m out and about.

    So, now that you all now I’m insane, I’m signing off.

49. twolilhahas on 29 Jun 2007 at 4:21 pm #

    Oh darn, I totally mispelled KNOW.

50. Claudia Dain on 29 Jun 2007 at 6:11 pm #

    I just got back home from seeing the latest Die Hard movie. Loved it, love that character, loved the fact that John McClane is as technologically clueless as I am, but i digress…

    While we were in the theater watching the previews, my DH leans over and asks for some aspirin. I reach into my purse and pull some out.

    The movie starts and it’s action from start to finish. I start to worry a nail in my nervousness and give myself a hang-nail. I reach into my purse and pull out my nail clippers and snip that thing off right away.

    After the movie I visit the rest room, wash my hands, and pull out my handy purse sized perfumed hand lotion.

    A typical afternoon for my purse in the Life of Claudia Dain!

51. Sabrina Jeffries on 29 Jun 2007 at 9:09 pm #

    I did not detail my purse contents (I have a BOOK due, people!), but I do indeed have dental floss. And a nail clipper, and hand lotion … in fact, my purse sounds a lot like yours, Claudia. Except less stylish. Oh, and I carry kleenex rather than hankies.

52. Kathy on 29 Jun 2007 at 11:06 pm #

    And who puts the things they take out of their purse exactly back where they got them? Not I. Things migrate in my purse. The loose change goes in the bottom. Dollars are stuffed here and there. I might have a comb or a brush, probably chap stick, date book (or my brain as I call it), check book, wallet with baby pictures of the 7 year old daughter. Keys for my house, the mother in laws house, the mom’s house, work and some I don’t have a clue. Receipts, bills to be paid, atm receipts, gum wrappers, blank paper. And it all moves around during the night while I am sleeping. Sometimes my car keys jump out of my purse and land under the bed or on the bureau. I have ciggies, and lighters, and pieces of tobacco here and there. Oh my gawd….

53. dahlia on 09 Nov 2007 at 9:54 pm #

    i am a fan of big purses. in my purse i usually carry a small notebook, pens and pencils, cell phone, mp3 player, body lotion and spray from bath and body, gum, wallet, fingernail file, paper clips, saftey pens, sanitary pads, comb, brush, medicine and keys.

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