While my mom has a purse addiction, mine tends to lean more towards tote bags. Currently, I don’t really even have a purse, but use the Vera Bradly pleated tote in Blue Rhapsody. I don’t like this solution, and I have been really frustrated with my purse situation, but I bought it so I’ve made myself use it. (I love this bag as a tote!) Because the pleated tote is actually a bag and not a purse – I put WAY too much into it and it is forever too heavy (my shoulder/neck lets me know)! Because I had recently cleaned it out, the picture portrays what is not normal :-D. I usually have my Nook Color; full-size notebook(s); files with papers needing to be read; a magazine or two; and if I’m out for all day – lunch and maybe even my camera.

Here is my picture of what it looks like now though. I am waiting for a purse to come in the mail, so this may change before the day is out :-):

So, for a little bit of explanation…

In the pleated tote there are three pockets on one side and a zipper pocket on the other.

– Basically, I’ve organized them to be phone, mouth, hands – what I mean by this is my phone gets its own pocket; then the mouth: lip gloss, chapstick, and gum; then hands: hand sanitizer and pens.
– The other side has a zipper pocket that has the things I don’t want to accidentally fall out: a pocket knife, tape measure, and when needed – certain supplies. Yes, I know – a strange combo, but it works.

The main pocket is just open and I’ve labeled it (if you can read it)… I feel I need to explain some of these as well…. 🙂 Mittens & earband: I live in Alaska and we’ve had lots of -20* lately. I got tired of trying to drive with my hands up in my sleeves… The earband is just because it’s small and for emergency purposes. It is often blowing wind and my ears and wind are not friends. I usually have a scarf on, but if I was stuck and had to actually walk to get help I can’t rely on being able to hang onto my scarf to keep my ears covered. Lotion: Yes, I carry a full size lotion with me. Again, I live in Alaska. It’s dry. My hands are often split and/or just cracked. Notebook: Usually this is only one and smaller (5×7 size). I write everything in here – all my lists-groceries, to-do, measurements, want-to-do’s and other random stuff that comes up. I don’t like using the iPhone for this. I know it’s supposed to be great, but I’m a pen and paper girl. I tried real hard while doing school to switch over to be technically organized – it didn’t work. I have finally gotten the calendar down and do pretty much exclusively use it for all scheduling – alarms and all. It is what keeps me on track — even if it’s to remind me to look at my notebook :-D! Other pouches: Yes, I know I have three and, I realize they’re three different Vera patterns — but they all serve a different purpose. The double kiss coin purse (I love!), my brother gave me for my birthday. It holds cash, ID, and VISA/debit card, with the store cards I frequent most often. The other side is all my receipts for the past week (or so). If I don’t want to carry everything in, I can just grab that one, stick it in my pocket, and I’m good to go. The light blue (Bali Blue) one is just one I got on sale and fit cards perfectly – but I love the hole punch and ring idea way better! I’m going to do that soon. The last one is really with me for sentimental reasons – it is the patchwork of Blue Rhapsody, Carnaby, and Pirouette – two of my friends and I were given these to reflect our friendship of being patched together in life. We each had a Stephanie (my absolute favorite purse in the whole wide world-I wore it out!) in our respective pattern and then the wristlet in patchwork.

Have fun taking the purse quiz for yourself and evaluating what you deem worthy to carry with you :-D. Regardless of the quiz results, it’s interesting to really look at what you have with you nearly all the time!