The bag
I feel like I'll inevitably end up doing a post all about your work bag because I have a lot of thoughts on what to consider when picking one, but I'll do a quick version now. Two words: tote. bag. I have a crossbody bag that I use for going out that better matched an outfit that I had on so I wore it instead of my big bag and it just didn't cut it because I didn't have enough room. Your bag needs to be big enough to fit not only all your basic necessities but also anything you might have to take to/home with you from work. For example, since this past week was my first week I had some HR paperwork to take home and fill out/sign and return. If I didn't have a super big purse then I would've had to fold it or otherwise crumple it and that's just not ideal. Also, some people have work laptops that they have to take home so that's a factor when you're considering sizes. My go-to measuring stick is my padfolio. If that fits, then the bag is good enough for me.
Little bags
I generally like to be organized, so inside my purse I have two smaller bags— one for makeup and one as a catchall.
The key to reining in a makeup bag is to use travel sizes for all of your makeup! These can either be little add-ons that you throw in your Amazon cart to fill up your prime pantry box or quick items you grab at checkout at Sephora/Ulta. Besides just being space savers, mini makeup products are better for your purse since you don't use these every day so you don't end up still using 3-year-old mascara and get a stye or something. I also keep a cloth hair tie, a clear plastic elastic, and some bobby pins. Another thing that I highly recommend you add to your makeup bag is this spot makeup remover so that you can do quick touch-ups if there's a mishap. Lastly, I keep one of my extra Kendra Scott earring bags in here just in case I get tired of my jewelry and want to take something off.
My other bag basically consists of what normally would be rolling around in the bottom of my purse, just all trapped in one bag so I can find it easily. This used to be my pencil bag but now that I don't need a pencil bag anymore I used to to make my purse more organized. From left to right I keep:
Ear plugs: These are immensely handy to always keep in your purse to block out sound either if you need to concentrate or there's someone really loud nearby.
Tide to-go pen: Sadly I end up using this about once a week, but it saves my outfit every time.
Advil: Just in case you have a bad day or for when you've had a long day and your body is starting to get stiff.
Glasses cleansing cloth: I use this for both my sunglasses and my blue-light blocking glasses that I recently got since I'm staring at a screen all day (not pictured because they're on my desk).
Travel charger: Buy one! You won't regret it, I promise! I'm paranoid about my phone dying because I'm sure that the moment it does, I'll have some emergency and will need it so I always use this when I'm out of the house. And it's small enough that when I switch purses to a smaller one for going out, this can fit too!
Headphones: Over the years I've upgraded my phone enough that I have a pair of headphones for my nightstand, backpack, gym bag, and purse.
Band-aids: When you work long hours, there's a good chance that your shoes will start rubbing eventually and so that's where these come in. They're also good to have stashed away in general in case you hurt yourself.
AirPods: I love, love, love these! It's a splurge but one that's definitely worth it. You can sneak listening to music while you work since they're completely hidden by your hair and are amazing for the simple fact that you can stand up and walk around without having your headphones ripped from your head.
Travel hair brush: Basically from the walk to my car into my building is long enough that the wind almost inevitably ends up messing up my hair so I have to brush my hair every morning once I get to my desk. I usually also end up needing it again about mid-day just from running around the office.
Phone cord: I have to have my phone cord for my travel charger so I go ahead and keep a cube in my purse too and then I always have a way to charge my phone. I also keep a cord/cube at my desk just in case (I recommend getting a colored one so that no one can steal yours if everyone knows you as the girl with the neon pink phone cord).
Lotion: If your New Year's resolution was to drink more water, then I have a surprise for you. Drinking lots of water = lots of bathroom trips = lots of hand washing = dried out hands. And literally the worst time to have dried-out hands is when you're dealing with a stack of papers on your desk because that's how paper cuts happen.
Stylus pen: I need a pen for my planner so I figured I might as well get one that's a stylus as well for doodling on Snapchat/Instagram.
Having a two-wallet system sounds extra but is actually a really great system! In my smaller wallet I only keep my driver's license and debit card since those are my only necessities. This way, I always have at least those two, plus my car keys and apartment key on me at all times (just keep a Tile either on your keychain or in your wallet because you'd because screwed if you lost this). Then in my other wallet are important things to have like cash and my insurance cards and gift cards, but that's not something that I always will need on me so they can go in the big wallet. So, if I just have to run to the grocery store real quick then instead of taking a big purse with me all I need are my keys and phone.
Ear plugs: These are immensely handy to always keep in your purse to block out sound either if you need to concentrate or there's someone really loud nearby.
Tide to-go pen: Sadly I end up using this about once a week, but it saves my outfit every time.
Advil: Just in case you have a bad day or for when you've had a long day and your body is starting to get stiff.
Glasses cleansing cloth: I use this for both my sunglasses and my blue-light blocking glasses that I recently got since I'm staring at a screen all day (not pictured because they're on my desk).
Travel charger: Buy one! You won't regret it, I promise! I'm paranoid about my phone dying because I'm sure that the moment it does, I'll have some emergency and will need it so I always use this when I'm out of the house. And it's small enough that when I switch purses to a smaller one for going out, this can fit too!
Headphones: Over the years I've upgraded my phone enough that I have a pair of headphones for my nightstand, backpack, gym bag, and purse.
Band-aids: When you work long hours, there's a good chance that your shoes will start rubbing eventually and so that's where these come in. They're also good to have stashed away in general in case you hurt yourself.
AirPods: I love, love, love these! It's a splurge but one that's definitely worth it. You can sneak listening to music while you work since they're completely hidden by your hair and are amazing for the simple fact that you can stand up and walk around without having your headphones ripped from your head.
Travel hair brush: Basically from the walk to my car into my building is long enough that the wind almost inevitably ends up messing up my hair so I have to brush my hair every morning once I get to my desk. I usually also end up needing it again about mid-day just from running around the office.
Phone cord: I have to have my phone cord for my travel charger so I go ahead and keep a cube in my purse too and then I always have a way to charge my phone. I also keep a cord/cube at my desk just in case (I recommend getting a colored one so that no one can steal yours if everyone knows you as the girl with the neon pink phone cord).
Lotion: If your New Year's resolution was to drink more water, then I have a surprise for you. Drinking lots of water = lots of bathroom trips = lots of hand washing = dried out hands. And literally the worst time to have dried-out hands is when you're dealing with a stack of papers on your desk because that's how paper cuts happen.
Stylus pen: I need a pen for my planner so I figured I might as well get one that's a stylus as well for doodling on Snapchat/Instagram.
Wallets
Food and drink
I've just always drank a lot of water so I am never without a water bottle. I stupidly packed up my collection of Tervis cups and Swell bottles and left them in storage back in Lubbock so I had to go buy a new water bottle. I found this water bottle and it's my new favorite! It has a lock on it so you can keep it from opening up and spilling in your purse!
My lunch bag is kinda small which is a pro because that means usually I can fit it in my purse and that's one less thing to carry, but also is a con because it doesn't hold all that much. Right now I keep my lunch in here and my snacks (like a banana and peanut butter crackers) floating around in my purse. Honestly pretty soon I'm planning on getting a bigger lunch box so that I can meal prep on Sunday's and fit all of the food and snacks into it.
Extras
Everything else goes back to what I was saying earlier about what your situation is. I keep my planner in my purse since I don't have a drawer to keep it in and I don't just want to leave it laying around. Sometimes I bring my Kindle with me to work and read a little during my lunch break. And back when I worked at the Capitol I had a long walk to get from the parking garage to my building so I would keep cheap flip flops in my purse to change into from my heels. I also super recommend adding a small deodorant to your purse if you have a long walk and you can thank me later. If I know it's going to rain or if it's just Spring in general then I keep a small umbrella in my purse. I did find a space to stash a minimergency kit at my desk, but you could totally keep one in your purse since these are so small. If you're in a situation where you know you can be networking (like when I was at a courthouse), you can keep a business card holder for ones you get as well as your own to hand out. If you have a lot of little electronics or cords to keep up with, you can organize them with a GridIt. Lastly, not pictured for obvious reasons is this.
let's be friends!
I see that you go to school in Lubbock but have an externship in Dallas. Did you transfer schools to be able to move to Dallas for this oppurtunity?
ReplyDeleteHey great question! I'm still technically in school at Tech, just spending it in Dallas working at an externship for class credit this semester (I'm getting 12 hours) and then I'll go back in May to graduate and study for the Bar. If you're interested in learning more about externships, here's more about them >> http://www.brazenandbrunette.com/2017/06/law-school-externships.html
DeleteCan I ask what the style name of your LV handbag is? I love that it just has ONE strap instead of two!
ReplyDeleteHi it's the LV Delightful MM! It's not as long as the Neverful but it's actually wider and still fits in a laptop. The handle is VERY sturdy and doesn't dig in!!
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