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Purse Essentials for Busy Moms

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A long time ago, my husband and I used to watch this show called Mad About You starring Helen Hunt. Some of the episodes we skipped because it was not all clean humor. But one particular episode stands out in my mind as an all-time favorite. I could watch it again right now. In fact, I might try to find it on cable or something. Do they play the reruns?

The day they switched purses.

Helen played a very organized Jamie – public relations specialist. Always polished. Always ready for anything. And her sister Lisa was the exact opposite. Very disorganized, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants, couldn’t keep a job. Until the day they accidentally switched purses.

Suddenly, they also switched roles. Lisa had a job interview and no matter what obstacle thrown her way (rain is one I remember) she found a solution in her purse to fix it all, and landed the job. In the meantime, Jamie almost lost her job and completely fell apart, ending the day with hair a mess and a husband who was accidentally stunned by a stun gun she thought was his razor. It was a pretty funny episode!

Almost every mom I know has a purse of some type. Some larger than others. 🙂

The big question is – what will be left in our purses once munchkins of various age and size filter through it? I left for the pharmacy the other day only to discover on arrival that someone small had removed the prescription from it – one that was placed in my purse exactly two hours before at the dentist. How do they even find time to do that? And I cannot ever expect to find gum in there. Oh my. Gum disappears as soon as I buy it! (Truth: I hide the gum.)

And what exactly do we need in our purses to get through a typical day anyway? Ever since watching that episode, I’ve given extra thought to what I carry with me in that most essential accessory called “purse.” I’m a lot more like Lisa than I am Jamie, but I have a few things I do try never to be without. And fail. But at least I try!

I’m going to share my “must-haves” and my “luxuries” here, but I’d love to hear from you in the comments! What do you keep in your purse that you could not do without?

Purse essentials for busy moms - what moms need in their purse. Mom survival.

My Purse Essentials Must-Haves

Kleenex. My nose runs a lot. I have sinus issues. I’m having surgery next week, so this might change, but for now I must have tissues everywhere I go. Or it is not pretty.

A pony tail holder. A local friend of mine will laugh if she sees this. She’s a lot more like Jamie than I am! She always has a pony tail holder and I am always digging for one at the pool. But I do *try* to keep at least one in there at all times. I can’t stand windy hair!

My wallet and phone. I know that seems obvious. But I really do try not to leave home without either one!

Chewing gum. My teeth hurt a lot and the gum Ice Breakers helps a lot.

Receipts and trash. Okay – I’m kidding. Those are the things I can always count on to find in my purse!

My Purse Essentials Luxury List

Chapstick. Because somebody in this family always has chapped lips that make them cry at the most inopportune time. And it’s never the same person and never me. So weird!

Lipstick. Because I just look better with lipstick on. And I never remember until I’m almost there.

Sunglasses. When I lived in California these were on my must-have list. But somehow, the sun just isn’t as bright here so I don’t remember to grab them as often. Pool season is coming though!

Pens. I can never have enough pens in my purse because they always disappear! So, when I clean out my purse I always try to add a stash of pens. And I buy nice pretty pink and purple ones that the boys won’t want.

A mountain climbing clip. What are those things called? Caribeaners I think. I try to have one handy, because then I can string together a whole bunch of shopping bags and stuff. Binkies for instance. I don’t have those any more, but when I did, a caribeaner came in very handy. A pretty pink one like this.

So tell me – what’s in your purse???

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  1. We take school off during the spring, and are about ready to go on a vacation to Florida! The hot summer months are when we start back up again in our homeschooling. 🙂

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  4. I carry most of the “luxury” items with me, because to me they are the essentials. Can’t leave home without my Chapstick or sunglasses!

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  5. My husband is riding in A Ride to Remember for the Alzheimer’s Association (252 miles on a bicycle over 3 days), and our daughters and I are going along to volunteer. We help with luggage, directions, water stops, snacks… lots of work, but lots of fun. That’s the bulk of our summer plans, and this is our 3rd year in a row doing it 🙂
    http://act.alz.org/goto/lube2016 for more info 🙂

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  6. My summer plans include hiking and finding the nearest spray park. This pink purse looks so beautiful!

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  9. Our Summer plans are to enjoy the weather while tending the garden and the chickens. We hope to get in some long hikes along the water as well.

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  10. No special plans for the summer, just hanging out with my kids. This purse is really pretty, thank you for the giveaway!

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  11. I’ve gone about 8 months just carrying a little zip wallet that holds my phone, cash, and cards. I wear prescription glasses and sunglasses, so I need to keep those with me, and in the arid climate of AZ, lip balm is a must. I went to a church fundraiser last week that was a purse auction and I won the bid on one I thought I’d like, but I’m not sure. Trying it out this week.

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  13. My summer plans always include gardening, canning, and freezing produce for the year! We sneak in mini vacations, too. 🙂

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  14. Summer plans for us include lots of pool time, beach trips, and reading! We are major readers at our house! And my seven year old son will be going to summer bible camp.. His first trip without mom and dad! So I may be needing some counseling!

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  15. My purse has so much stuff in it, if their was a natural disaster is probably be prepared for a day or two 😉

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    • And our summer plans are to relax and have a fun Sumer. Maybe one or two camps for my daughtwr

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  18. Our summer plans are going to involve catching up with our school work. We missed a lot of school this year between welcoming our 3rd bundle of joy into the family and making a move to a new state. We do plan to take advantage of the neighborhood pool as much as we can though!!!

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  20. Well I have a little over a month off of school. Then we are doing a month of school before baby #6 comes!

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  21. summer plans are to RELAX after a CRAZY year. Sit at the pool and watch my kids enjoy themselves while I read a book and talk to friends. 🙂 I guess we have to do pre-algebra through the summer too, but I’m trying to focus on the POOL part.

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  22. Saving for curriculum and a niece’s wedding in the fall. Hope to get away at least once, even if it’s for a day.

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  23. Our summer plans are to enjoy summer! Sight see, history trips, read lots of books, garden. Enjoy life!

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  27. Summer plans … moving, school,& hopefully several hiking/backpacking/camping trips ! Thanks for the chance to win this beautiful purse!

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  28. I’ll be taking kids to and from various camps throughout the summer, watching a sweet couple get married in July, and teaching the girls at a local Bible camp. Gonna be a busy summer as usual!

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  35. Our summer plans are vacationing with the grandchildren. They do year round homeschooling so I am not sure when exactly.

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  36. In my purse there is a wallet, a cell phone, and keys. That’s because yesterday I cleaned it out and threw away about a year of receipts, wadded up candy wrappers, half-opened hard candy, cruddy looking chap-stick tubes, rubber bands, napkins… you get the picture. 🙂

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  37. I always have so much stuff in my purse. Glasses, lip gloss, phone, keys, gum, first aid kit, snacks. My poor bag.

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  40. Moving to a different state and having my husband make a total career change. Maybe squeeze in a little schoolwork to make up for our hectic spring.

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  44. Oh my, I am closer to Jamie’s purse. Most people know to ask me and what they need is probably in my purse! I have a small pouch for feminine products. Another with toothbrush, toothpaste, hair ties, lipstick, chapstick, bandages, tweezers, nail clippers, midget lotion, tape measurer and Benadryl itch relief stick. My wallet of course with all the store cards, punch cards, stamps, ids, change, normal stuff! Two plastic envelope pouches–one for coupons, the other for receipts. A small monthly calendar, a small notebook, several pens, a knife, pretty smelling lotion, and my sunglasses. Then another small pouch I can take out for when I volunteer and can’t keep my purse on me with gum, mints, small candies, cough drops, more chap stick, tylenol, a few dollar bills, more hair ties, a mini lotion, a phone screen wipe. Then you can usually find a paper clip, some rubber bands, anything my kids threw in they decided not to carry anymore, often a phone charger and a bottle of water. All in only a medium sized purse!

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  45. My current “purse” is a diaper bag, but the days of carrying a regular purse again are in sight. I always try to keep coupons and gift cards in a special pocket because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the coupon I needed sitting on the kitchen counter at home!

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  47. We homeschool year round so we would finish up our school year and take lots of outdoor field trips!

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  51. Summer plans are hanging out with my kids, going to the pool and beach, bike rides, keeping up with a little bit of schoolwork, getting caught up on my photo books….Ahhh! So behind.
    Thanks for the purse giveaway. Love purses but it’s always one of those things on the “don’t really need to buy but would really like” list. I always carry bandaids, a nail file, lip gloss, lotion, suckers and fruit snacks for a toddler distraction. 🙂

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  52. Teaching my dd how to drive. After we were rearended two years ago she’s been afraid to drive. So lots of love and patience going on this summer. Beautiful purse in the giveaway by the way.

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  53. Oh and good luck on sinus surgery, I had mine (FESS) done this March. Sure helped mine, although not 100%.

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  54. My plans? To do as little as possible! LOL Seriously, this year has been so crazy. My father was sick and passed away a few weeks ago, the 3 kids have been running around to activities and appointments. It’s just been go, go, go! I need some to slow down and regroup. We’re going camping for a week in August. It should be fun.

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  56. Summer plans include a few day trips to the beach, a lot of reading, 3 days a week of home schooling. I always have to have some kind of snacks in my purse. Even though I haven’t carried a diaper bag in a couple of years my kiddos expect to eat a LOT ?

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  59. We are heading to the Adirondacks for camping and hiking in a few weeks. A ferry ride on Lake Champlain will give us a fun day in Burlington, VT too.
    My purse is not complete without a snack, usually a bar, for the boy who’s got a hallow leg.

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  60. I do Family Childcare in my home so I will be working. We will be spending a lot of time outdoors and reading.

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  61. Since we just moved we will be organizing and adding our personal touches to our new home. And of course planning the next school year!

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  63. I’m so busy this summer, I’m not sureiI wouldn’t rather be doing school still! But we are taking a couple of days to visit some historical sights in Philly and the Philly zoo.

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  64. We are currently launching a church, so our summer will consist of that, and getting “caught up” on school! Also, some beach time now that we live on the coast! 🙂

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  65. Summer will find us walking and working on our beautiful farm as we look forward to new calves being born!

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  67. I’m volunteering as a counselor for our kids church camp, my oldest is taking drivers ed when she gets home from her mission trip that she is on this week volunteering at the LA Dream Center. And hopefully some fun relaxing time just the five of us.

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  69. We are moving this summer, so instead of our usual summer, we will be packing, sorting, cleaning, organizing, and all those things that come with a fresh new adventure.

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    • Yesterday we made an offer on the THIRD house we’ve come to love. The first two fell through, and we are praying that the third time is the charm. Meanwhile, we continue to pack, as we have to be out of our current home by the Fourth of July. This “adventure” has become a test of faith, and we are growing tired. This will not go down in our memories as our favorite summer. I’m looking forward to being settled again and having grandkids around all summer to garden, can, craft, sew, picnic and do all the normal summer things. End of rant. 😉

      Reply

  70. The one item in my purse that I could not do without is my credit card. I pay it off each month but can set down and put every budget item in it’s place with just the one printout. But now the other items are too numerous to mention. LOL

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  71. There is probably half a store in my purse. There are the required items being a mother, then the essentials for me.
    Or summer plans: June, summer activity classes then July some travel and spending time with family.

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  72. My son is graduating in about a week, so this summer’s plans include the family vacation he’s requested – a baseball road trip! We plan on visiting at least three or four major league cities for games and we’re also planning side trips to Cedar Point and to visit our oldest son in Columbus. Also, I am just starting a new job which is pretty exciting.

    PS – I love that purse, and I’m not usually a big fan of pink, but in this case it’s fabulous!

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  73. My summer plans are to spend as much time as I possibly can with my kids, especially several camping trips. They are getting older, and I know that I have so little time left to spend with them, before they are gone from my everyday life. 🙁

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  79. My essentials for my purse are chapstick, wallet, and phone. Lots of stuff seems to end up there. We will have summer break in two weeks!

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  80. Summer plans…catch up on our homeschool lessons ? , rest and relax, fun in the sun, craft sessions, summer movies, snuggles with my littles. Lastly, the ever daunting planning of our next school year.

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  82. We just took a “daycation” yesterday and have several birthdays to celebrate over the summer too. We will still sneak some schooling in over the summer as well. Enjoying some much needed time off right now to pursue other things.

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  95. Possibly going to Colorado Springs, too visit my daughter…exploring the beautiful mountains.

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