The Mystery is Revealed Today

2009 March 11
by mandythompson

I always hear about men saying they don’t go into the mysterious purses of women… And, most of them get all wide-eyed when they say it, like they’re remembering some urban legend told around the campfire of a weekend-long boyscout trip.

So, today I thought I’d reveal (some of) the secrets of my own purse:

contents

A. My iPod, with headphones not-so-neatly tucked away in my glasses case.

B. Egg-Shaker. You never know when you’re gonna need to shake it.

C. An external hard-drive. Did I mention I was a techie nowadays? (grin)

D. Burt’s GLORIOUS hand lotion – keeps my knuckles from cracking during the dry winters. Thank you, Sarah.

E. Moleskine – where I keep all my bad ideas. Alece got me back into this. (Did you know that?)

F. My cute little pill box. Someone I love and miss OH SO MUCH gave this to me. It’s a little treasure.

G. Fisherman’s Friend losenges. Like MAGIC, I tell ya. MAGIC.

H. This little doo-hickey allows me to plug my guitar straight into my computer. ohheckyes

I. In case I ever ride the subway. ick!

J. I don’t know why there are eleventy-two.

K. YUM! But don’t eat too much. Acid does ugly things to… nevermind.

L. M is for Mandy – or Matron-of-Honor. Both fit the weekend I got these little tissues.

Ok. Your turn! Ladies: What’s in the bag?
That wasn’t so bad, was it? ;)

47 Responses leave one →
  1. 2009 March 11

    I can’t believe you have an egg shaker in your purse. That’s a fabulous idea for us musicians. There are times I wish I had one. Like when my mediocre piano playing just isn’t cutting it. Just pull out the egg shaker.

  2. 2009 March 11

    I actually have taken to just sticking my lil’ wallet & my phone in my pocket and not carrying a purse at all because of my neck/shoulder/arm pain thing.
    And I gotta tell ya, it is SO liberating to not carry a purse…or as my teenage daughter calls it, my ‘urban survival kit’. Very freeing. Dont think I’ll go back. But you all enjoy!!

  3. 2009 March 11

    pen (only one)

    wallet

    ID book

    lipgloss

    mascara

    miscellaneous bits of paper

  4. 2009 March 11

    Checkbook, fruit snacks, wallet, phone charger, and gum. There’s usually more, but I just cleaned it out. Oh…and I almost forgot. I keep a book in my purse at all times. You never know when there will be a long line or wait.

  5. 2009 March 11

    Okay… Here’s the ultimate truth…

    NEVER in my life have I ever carried a purse.

    I know so not womanish.

    But I tried several times and I would leave it. So it’s better if the ID and keys and phone are in the pockets.

    crazy I know..

  6. 2009 March 11

    Kelli: A whole book? Good thing big purses are in style!!!

    H: ya gotta do what ya gotta do

  7. 2009 March 11

    I’ve carried a purse for maybe a total of two months during my whole life.. they were not consecutive months.. or days for that matter.

    I’ve always wanted to be a purse carrier, but I just haven’t been able to do it. It’s pockets only for me! All I need is my trusty Burt’s chapstick (in the pants pocket) and my keys (in the jacket pocket.. along with various fruits and granola bars to keep baby happy while I’m at work :) ).

  8. 2009 March 11

    I think boys are terrified of finding tampons. Kind of like – picking up someone else’s husband’s dirty underwear. I think that’s the feeling.

  9. 2009 March 11

    Chapstick

    fifteen thousand blue pens

    my journal

    my quote book (or for jotting down scenes around me which I find particularly interesting, maybe to write about someday.)

    the current book I’m way behind on with reading (right now? The Great Omission by Steve saint. It’s okay. Read better.)

    wallet

    more pens

  10. 2009 March 11

    Corrie: Soon you’ll have a diaper bag!

    Annie: Wait. So, have you ever picked up somebody’s husband’s dirty undies??? :shock:

    Becca: Why only blue?? And three books? Just how big is your bag??

  11. 2009 March 11

    I am in LOVE with blue pens.
    It’s an obsession. Really.

    It’s not really a purse, I spose. It’s a side bag. I got it in Bosnia-Herzegovina in ‘06. I love it.

    The quote book is a tiny Moleskin from a very good friend.

  12. 2009 March 11

    Purse: two pens, a wallet, 3 expired ski passes, camera, Tylenol, Benadryl, hand lotion, hand sanitizer – for riding bus/tram/train, kleenex, 2 memory sticks, cell phone, hair bands, comb, 4 lip glosses, mascara (was late for church & put it on in the car :( ), gum & tictacs for kids, Ricola, passport and train pass

    I just saw your comment re: kids “bones & things floating around” from our hospital visit. Yeah – I had never thought about it either. And when they translate from German to English it just comes out funny. I had a nurse once ask me to “free your upper body”. Took me a minute to realize she wanted me to remove my shirt! For an ECG – Duh.

  13. 2009 March 11

    I actually carry a timbuk2 bike messenger bag during the week because I ride my bike everywhere. Here’s what I have:

    -Rain gear
    -Extra sweater
    -Bike tools, small tire pump, patch kit
    -Wallet
    -iPhone
    -Journal
    -5 pens
    -Lotion
    -Makeup
    -Keys

  14. 2009 March 11
    kim permalink

    ok…here goes…

    wallet, checkbook, tissues, at least three pens, cell phone, camera, pill box, compact, lipstick, gum, mints, Imitrex migraine med, a couple gift cards waiting to be used, small notepad, lotion, chapstick. Normally there are numerous debit card receipts, but I just cleaned it out a day or so ago.

  15. 2009 March 11

    A – for some strange reason, i love that you keep it tucked away in your eyeglass case
    B – do you know how much i love the sound of a well-placed eggshaker in a song? oh so much. i’m thrilled that you carry one.
    C – your purse must be huge!
    E – i had no idea! that made me smile big. i have that same one (well not the same one…) in my purse.
    J – my purse holds a plethora of writing utensils, too. one is never enough.

    ::

    some of my contents:

    2 small moleskines (one’s a dayplanner)
    “look ma, new hands” hand lotion
    mint mojito gum (boo-ya!)
    post-it notes
    tide to-go
    eye-glass cleaner cloth
    vitamins
    two almost-empty mint-flavored slightly-colored lip glosses
    a slew of itunes “pick of the week” cards from st. bux, that i’ve yet to actually download (sample?!) the songs for

  16. 2009 March 11

    Thought I was the only weirdo who carried a journal/book around with her. heh! Guess not.
    helloooo other weirdos! :)

  17. 2009 March 11

    I like to switch purses all the time so I keep it simple. One wallet which holds everything and is like a little clutch. And my lipstick. That is about it. And when I head to church I drop in my super huge Notemakers Bible. Did I mention I carry big, mostly empty purses?

  18. 2009 March 11

    An egg shaker? HA! Love it. OK – I left you a comment at my wornoutwoman blog in response to your question about creative inspiration. One thing essential to always carry…pens and note-pad which I see you already have in your purse! You’re half way there. Go read my response and see if it helps: http://wornoutwoman.blogspot.com/2009/03/i-need-your-photos-please-for-finding.html

    Love to you – you funny girl!
    Kim

  19. 2009 March 11

    Lori: Big and mostly empty? So sad… yet funny! :) At least you’re in style!!!

    Kim: Thank you for your words. I really enjoyed your response.

  20. 2009 March 11

    Am I the only person who has never heard of an egg shaker? A maraca, yes. Egg shaker? New to me!

    For a girl who never leaves the house, I should probably not admit that I have a box of purses in my closet. You just never know…

  21. 2009 March 11

    Egg-Shaker is pretty much a tiny maraca…

    ps: I LOVE that you have a box of purses in your closet! Yes, you never know. :)

  22. 2009 March 11

    all the typical stuff…like lip gloss, pens, wallet, hand lotion, etc.

    and then i also found…a spoon (yep. a spoon), a pair of earrings (never be found with naked ears, i tell ya), a wet comb, a complimentary bag of peanuts from southwest, aaaaaand a little green monopoly house. :shock:

    • 2009 March 11

      I’ve been known to fly with a (metal) fork in my purse… On more than one occasion. Don’t tell security. Wait. Maybe they should know.

  23. 2009 March 11

    I wish I could get away with not carrying a purse. They make my shoulder hurt, but I just have too much stuff to just shove things in my pockets.

    Wallet, camera, ipod, retainer case (UGH), assortment of meds, brush, pens (side note: my mom once found over 20 pens in her purse), floss, and journal.

    After hs graduation, for whatever reason, a friend snuck a wrench into my purse, which I was to initial and sneak into someone else’s possession. I put it in my BFF’s purse. She didn’t know for a good month. She found out when she was trying to get into an amusement park that had metal detectors. The call that came my way afterward just might be the best call I’ve ever gotten.

    • 2009 March 11

      THAT is a great idea! I’m sure you cracked up when she called.

      • 2009 March 11

        Hahaha oh yes. She recounted the story of trying to convince the security guards that she really wasn’t going to use it as a blunt weapon. This coming from a 5′2 very petite girl. It was amazing.

        • 2009 March 11

          Wish you could’ve witnessed that. I bet the look on her face was priceless when they pulled it out…

  24. 2009 March 11

    Wow…your purse is a lot less cluttered than mine.

    I think I’m going to have to steal this post….

  25. 2009 March 11

    i opted for the metal version, as well. way to have good taste… ha.

  26. 2009 March 11

    Megan: Let us know when you put this up! :)

    JR: Oh girl. You and I would immediately be slapped on the terrorist watch list if we ever flew together. I’m sure of it.

    • 2009 March 11

      (Is there something wrong with “would immediately be slapped on…” – is the “be” in the wrong place? Or am I just up too late tonight?)

      • 2009 March 11

        Nope, nothing wrong with it. You could say “would be immediately slapped on,” but both are grammatically correct.

    • 2009 March 12

      I’m officially a post thief now. The innards of my purse are now splayed about on my blog.

      Thanks for the great idea!

  27. 2009 March 11

    Nope. you are grammatically correct according my high schooler

  28. 2009 March 11

    to my high schooler

  29. 2009 March 12

    such grammatic correctness. bravo.

  30. 2009 March 12

    What?? no kitchen sink??

    if JR could fit a house in hers that’s the least i’d expect! :-)

    <B

  31. 2009 March 12

    Love: What’s in YOUR purse!? :)

    Grammar correct? huh… It looked kinda funny to me.

  32. 2009 March 12

    I got a little lump in my throat over the tissues. Why?!!
    I think I miss you….

  33. 2009 March 12

    Honestly, I don’t carry a purse…unless I’m going to church on a Sunday/Wednesday…and then all it holds is: keys, wallet, notebook, pen, bible, chord charts for worship team.
    The rest of the week I just keep my wallet and keys in my pocket or dump them in my laptop bag when I head to work at the church.

    Not gonna lie…purses just drive me nuts. I don’t like how they have to match with everything. So I just have the one that my sister brought back for me from India.

  34. 2009 March 12

    wow. just wow.

    and i can’t believe you still have that lotion. i’m gonna have to send you some more! still my favorite!!

    it would seriously take me hours to list my purse contents. lets just put it this way: chad is frightened of my purse.

  35. 2009 March 13

    the pill box!

    i miss you.

    k. here are my contents…

    wallet
    prescription glasses that i dont wear
    ear thingys for my in ear monitor at church
    travel size hairspray
    hand lotion
    nail file
    pill box with ibuprofen in it
    4 lip glosses
    gum
    mirror
    3 pens
    1 orange highlighter
    a 2 week old church bulletin on sex titled “kiss me and kiss me again”

  36. 2009 March 13

    Can’t tell…too much in it!

    Umm…okay let’s see.

    Keys, Wallet, Prayer Journal(from a siesta btw!!),
    eleventytwo pens, and pencils, lip gloss, VS lotion,
    hair clip, some bad habit, upper room devotionals my BFF gave me, graphing calculator TI-84, and junkdrive…not to mention so many receipts strewn about..kthx.

  37. 2009 March 13

    joy – i am addicted to lip gloss. i am constantly putting it on. i love it! makes me feel purdy.

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