Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Perfect purse kit

Let me just start off by saying this .... I am an organization person. I am also that person who has an emergency roadside kit in her trunk and have seriously been eyeing the 3 day survival kit at Costco just in case my car breaks down and I need bags of water and MRE's to eat for the next 3 days so I don't die. I keep a pair of socks in the storage pannel in my driver's side door just in case I forget to bring my own when I go bowling. Believe it or not that actually happened. I feel like I may be sharing too much here .... whatever.

Everything does have a place and when I can't find something when I need it I find that situation maddening. When have you needed something from your purse, but you can't find it even though you KNOW it's in there? I have tried to fix this problem by putting things in the same place every time they go in my purse. I have also put things into little pouches or "kits" so they don't go all over the place in the event that my purse tips over. I love making these little kits. I'm a dork .... that goes without saying, but I am an organized dork so I'm OK with that.

Case in point.

I was shopping with my friend, Emily, last week and the zipper on her skirt was stuck. This made trying on clothes a challenge since she couldn't get the skirt off. When she tried to unstick the zipper it broke entirely. She asked me if I had a safety pin and I was filled with pride in the moment that I went to my purse, dug around and actually found one in my first aid kit. That got me thinking .... if I was going to make the perfect purse kit what would it contain?

I have the standard stuff that I carry all the time. You may laugh at some of my "standards", but what can I say .... I'm fancy and my standards are pretty high ;)

1 tube of lipstick, 3 tubes of lip gloss, 4 lip liners, chap stick (that is all in my make up kit) mineral misting spray, fruit leather (I think I have like 8 of them right now), 2 pair of sunglasses, a book, a pen size hand sanitizer spray, a mini version of the same hair spray that I use at home, a little booklet to hold coupons, receipts, and an emergency $10 (just in case I spend my emergency $20 in my other pouch), wallet, a first aid kit and my diaper kit. My diaper kit has diapers, wipes, sanitizing wipes, toys, formula, a baby bottle with water, Cheerios, and Devon's vaccine record. No wonder my purse is huge! It's not THAT huge (TWSS), but I am one of those people who likes to be overly prepared.

If you are going to make a Perfect Purse Kit here are the rules:

The pouch itself has to be small enough that it can fit in any bag you own. (The one I used is 2 x 4 inches, has a soft leopard print and is the "mini" bag that fits inside a larger one that I use for diapers, wipes, and snacks.) It is stuff you don't really need all the time, but would save the day if you had it on hand.

I FINALLY had the perfect use for all those free gift bags from Lancome I've been accumulating over the years. Here is what I came up with so far:

1) 1 tampon to get me through an outing until I can get home and stock up. I don't like to carry tons of them in my purse unless I need them. Why carry something for 3 weeks out of the month that I will only need for one?

2) 2 bobby pins in case I need to put the front of my hair up or if I need to pick a lock or something.

3) 1 ponytail holder. Just because it's Tucson and it's hot.

4) Nail clippers and a small nail file.

5) A mini-lighter.

6) A mini-roll of tape. It is the same size as two stamps.

7) 2 stamps.

8)A mini-post-it-note pad and space pen. Yes, it has to be a space pen if you need to write while underwater or upside down.

9) A safety pin, plus an extra one in the first aid kit.

10) A mini tube of lotion. They have really great mini lotions at L'Occitane (said like "lox is tan", but take out the "s" in is). My favorite is lavender.

11) A Leatherman tool. It has scissors, a knife, tweezers, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener all tucked away inside.

12) A sewing kit. Who really needs this, but I guess it's good to have.

13) Emergency $20. If you forget your wallet and need to buy gas or if you have to "cab it" home.

I think this is a pretty good list, but I am happy to have your suggestions. Remember, the pouch is very small and only holds so much crap! I also carry a mini first aid kit that has all the standard stuff like band aids, neosporin, Tylenol, cough drops, but it also has a forehead thermometer and motion sickness tabs. Plus an extra safety pin .... for safety.

8 comments:

Kate said...

oy...we are sooooooo sisters. i have several of "those" kits made so i don't have to move them from one purse to the other...don't forget change just in case your cell phone dies...oh and a condom.

Franklin Family said...

I am so impressed! You've given me some great ideas. Thank you!

Kim said...

That's a great idea! It would be perfect for a YW or Enrichment activity. I love the space pen...I am always under water when I need to write something down. I know your mom is a huge buyer of them for the missionaries. Thanks for the idea.

Elizabeth Larson said...

Wow, I am impressed. I need to get my butt in the game cause I am soooo not prepared. Thanks for posting this to help motivate me. I would add chapstick for sure cause in case of impliment weather you are for sure to get dry lips and that is something I always forget! ;)

Elizabeth Larson said...

okay, I'm a loser. I was just re-reading your list to make one of my own and realized of course you have chapstick on there. Go ahead now, Lo-Hooo-Sa-Her!

big red 26 said...

Well done sir. I love it, I too have several of these in different purses when I change them out. Great post.

annieareyouok said...

to kate: the change is a good idea, but i don't use condoms ... condoms are for teenagers ;)

Unknown said...

Now I know you are always good for $30.00! :) -jaime (not jared)