As a self proclaimed “shoe girl” I really have to dedicate myself to looking for handbags when I have a need arise. When I decided I needed an everyday tote bag, Black Friday was calling for me and I found this gorgeous Tory Burch one for a complete steal from Nordstrom. After seeing mine, my sister bought the camel colored one! While Nordstrom has sold out of them, I did find them available other places online, though the deals are not quite as good as the one we found, unfortunately. This time I got lucky with Black Friday sales, but normally the outlets are my go-to for bag and wallet purchases.
With my brand new bag, I wanted to share some of the things I always have in my purse!
Kate Spade Wallet. I had another Kate Spade wallet for years before I bought this one (another Black Friday purchase!) There was really nothing wrong with my old one, it was still in great condition after five or so years, but I needed a change and I love the plum color!
Kate Spade New York business card holder. As a blogger with a first name that can be spelled half a dozen different ways and an unconventional blog name, this is incredibly important. I have business cards for my blog accessible at any given time; whether I’m at a networking event or shooting in the Public Garden when someone tells me they like my outfit (true story).
Ray-Ban Erika Sunglasses. I like having a pair of plastic sunglasses with me always, since they tend to be a little more comfortable than metal aviators. My most recent purchase is these Erika ones. (Also I’m pretty sure my best friend has them and maybe that’s why I gravitated towards them so quickly. Jennifer can you confirm?!)
Mophie Powerstation Plus Mini. I have spent forever looking for a perfect, reliable charger. I love this one since the charging cable is built into the battery. This means I don’t have to carry around a three foot long cable all day, just the battery itself.
Too Cool For School Blotting Paper. I haven’t used these much over the past few months, but in the summer they will absolutely be my best friend. When I go on my Saturday or weekend adventures, I always wind up shooting blog photos so I usually have a full face of makeup on, even if my destination happens to be 90 degrees and humid. These blotting papers are perfect for mattifying my “dewy” (sweaty) face while keeping my makeup in tact.
Herschel Leather Card Case. My mom bought me this card case for Christmas two years ago and I am so into it. It is my go to for crossbody bags, or really any smaller occasion that I don’t want to carry my full wallet around. Usually I use it for my license, debit card, and Charlie Card, but it’s currently holding some gift cards from Christmas and my Dave & Buster’s card from last weekend. I also love this one from Kate Spade.
Drybar Lil’ Lemon Brush. As someone who does not bother doing their hair most days, this might be a surprise to anyone who has seen me on a bad hair day. Nothing frustrates me more than when I have that frustrating tangle of knots at the nape of my neck from the winter wind or when I’m shooting and have a snarl to work through. Hence this perfectly portable brush.
Well-Kept Screen Cleansing Towelettes. I am a major germaphobe and clean my iPhone regularly. So regularly, in fact, that I just ran out of these, panicked, and immediately ordered a few extras (so they’re unfortunately not pictured). Normally, I keep a pack of these in my purse at all times in case my phone gets something on it or in case someone else asks me to use their phone for something and I voluntarily give it a good cleaning before touching it…. That is what my mom calls rude but I call proactive.
Clare V x Sephora Makeup Case. This was a Christmas gift from B’s parents and I absolutely love the pattern, so I immediately replaced my older pouch and started using this one to organize all of my beauty products that I carry around with me! (Take a peek at the next photo to see what I keep in here!)
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rollerball. I am not much of a perfume person, but I always keep at least one of the Nirvana scents in my purse. Black, white, and bourbon are my favorites!
Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy. Perfect for when you have dry lips but want a little bit of shine. You can get three of them in this kit from Sephora!
Hair Elastics. I have a very no-nonsense attitude about my hair – which usually means no matter what I do in the morning, by 10AM I’m throwing my hair up in a bun out of my face. Incidentally, I go through hair elastics at a borderline alarming rate. I’ve been trying to be better at using these or these ones, but the Goody ones from Target are still my go-to.
Hand Sanitizer. I used to hoard hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works in troves. In the past two years I have realized that I really don’t like using scented things on my body when I don’t have to, and started straying away from the body lotions and hand sanitizers of that nature. Target’s up and up brand has been my new go-to in this category.
Neutrogena Hand Cream. No matter how many lotions I try, this is the one I always go back to. It is $4 and yet I have never found a better one. If you have the kind of extra dry hands that sometimes start bleeding during the winter (I know my life is so glamorous), this is an absolute Godsend. You only need the tiniest drop to moisturize both hands, and you can then move on with your life instead of being unable to pick up anything because of your slippery hands, like with some other lotions!
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm. Another drugstore staple that I cannot live without, I have these stashed all over the place, including usually two in my purse!
What do you always have in your bag?? Let me know in the comment section! Hope you all have a great weekend!
xo, C
The Sol Compass 