When my son turned 1 and a half years old, I took the plunge and decided not to bring his diaper bag with me everywhere, but leave it in the car instead in case I needed something. I know, not a very deep plunge, but still. I needed to keep his essentials along with mine in one purse now. I used a spacious Michaels Kors bag to do this. Here's what it looks like when you open it:
When I first started using this purse for both of our items, it was a huge mess with his clothes, toys, snacks etc everywhere. To be neat, the key is to compartmentalize everything. I got pouches for different things in my purse. There's also a convenient chain in this bag to hang keys from so you don't need to search on the bottom every time.
Let's get started with the breakdown:
I love this striped pouch from J.Crew. It unfolds to become a decent sized fabric bag that can hold many items. Useful if you don't have enough hands to carry all items! Usually the case when you have a child with you! It folds again when you're done into a neat square pouch.
I got this small pouch from the Outlet Mall (excellent place for deals!). Rolling my son's clothes in here makes it much more organized than just throwing it in the purse.
Then of course, my wallet and sunglasses.
On the very bottom of the purse I stack one of his diapers, a disposable changing sheet and a very useful flexible wipes container, which is really slim and holds just enough wipes for a few trips. On the side I keep a container of his snacks, healing ointment and an interactive toy for endless fun (i.e. something to keep him quiet for 3 minutes tops).
Finally, we're getting down to my last few personal items. A notebook and pen to jot down anything I want to remember. And a pouch from the Sonia Kashuk line. It fits perfectly in purses and keeps everything in its place.
A look inside. It's not clear unfortunately, but there are many pockets inside so that everything has a set place. There's even a zippered pocket hidden on the inside.
Here are all the items I can fit into that small pouch! The green cardholder holds all of my gift cards and some rewards cards. I also keep extra plastic bags folded into triangles in my purse. There's a post about it here.
And finally, a little gift for one lucky reader! I bought an extra Sonia Kashuk pouch, but I can't decide what stuff to keep inside! According to this post, it would only be sensible to keep purse essentials inside. But I thought it would be so much more FUN to keep studying, home office or planner essentials instead. Colored pens, fun post-its and other such items. So I want the winner to choose! Comment below what you would prefer if you won, and I'll get to shopping after the winner is chosen! I will be using Rafflecopter. Good luck!
This is my first ever giveaway so unfortunately it will be in the United States only, as I don't really know what to expect. Apologies to international readers!
Also, those under 18 will need parental permission because I will be needing your address to send the prize.
Giveaway ends on July 20th 2014
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Even though I'm not a mom yet, it is still cool to find things to keep things organized! Also since being in school, the school stuff would be sweet! (Also, how do I find the rest of your blog posts??)
ReplyDeleteHi Shaylene! Good choice! You can go to other posts by clicking on the title on top of the website (Simply in Control). Enjoy!
DeleteAlso, there's an archive on the right hand side which lets you see what topics I posted in different months.
DeleteGreat post. I love when my purse is organize it makes me feel happy. I would love that pouch..
ReplyDeleteAn organized space always helps clear the mind and makes everything more efficient! Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteI would love to organize my purse essentials. That's always a disaster! Just looking through your posts-great stuff
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah! Hope you enjoyed the other posts as well!
DeletePurse essentials… I desperately need to clean out my handbag.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the giveaway! :) Cleaning out a handbag really alleviates stress! But maybe that's just me lol
DeleteLove how you organized your bag!
ReplyDeleteI recently re-organized my closet and purged tons of clothes I no longer wear. Felt soooo good! /// and, I'd have to choose purse essentials. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh wow Celeste I know the feeling! Glad you got that out of the way! Feel free to check out my post on how to give your closet a boutique feel for more ideas! :)
DeleteThanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Carolyn! Make sure you let me know if you'd like purse essentials or stationery supplies if you win! :)
DeleteExcellent ideas on how to organize your purse and, with everything in small pouches, it makes it even easier to switch purses!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! Switching purses with this method is a breeze!
DeleteHi I would like a purse essentials! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSure thing, good luck! :)
DeletePURSE ESSENTIALS and we are going to move soon, so organizing and packing all the knick knacks now
ReplyDeleteMoving can be so chaotic! Good luck on the move and in the giveaway! :)
Deletestationary items
ReplyDelete*Purse Essentials*
ReplyDeleteI just rabbit-trailed and found your blog, and will be making it a regular read. Thanks for taking time to share your helps!
Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed my posts. Appreciate it! :)
DeleteThis is such a fun post! I would choose the purse essentials. Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteI recently finished updating and reorganizing our bathroom. It was a chore to clean out and paint the cabinets, but so worth it in the end. I am thrilled with how they turned out!
You're welcome Cindy! Thanks for leaving your sweet comment :) I'm sure updating the bathroom must have given it a fresh feel! Keep it up!
DeleteI would love purse essentials. My project now is organizing my closet. - shaunie
ReplyDeleteSure Shaunie, thanks for participating! Good luck on your project! An organized closet is my favorite! :)
DeleteStationery supplies are purse essentials for me :), so maybe a mix? Or just stationery supplies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've been organizing stuff for our new baby we're expecting, like the hospital bag and her clothes.
DeleteThat can be arranged :) Ooh best wishes on your delivery and the journey from there! I have a post on diaper bag organization if you're interested :)
DeleteOh the purse essentials would be amazing! I was just telling my mom how I need to organize my purse - it's completely out of control!! My kids are getting older, but we always need some kid essentials in the purse with us.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this post was made for you then :) Hope it helped!
DeletePurse essentials! And I'm in the middle of reorganizing my bathroom cabinets.
ReplyDeleteBathroom cabinets is a fun one! Good luck in the giveaway :)
DeleteI love that bag!! I would love purse essentials ��. Thank you! My name is Meg MsDafodil@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI know, I love that bag! My dad gave me money for my birthday and I ran to the mall the next day, lol. Good luck!
DeletePurse essentials would be great! I just cleaned out and organized my craft closet.
ReplyDeleteOh wow a craft closet would be a dream! There's no space in our apartment :( I'm sure yours looks great!
DeleteI would love the stationary essentials
ReplyDeleteSure :)
DeleteLove the blue color... and purse essentials would be my choice. Now I am going to explore your blog too.... Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm on a huge navy kick lately. Buying everything navy! Thanks for exploring my blog, hope you enjoyed it :)
Delete...and one of my projects is cleaning out the craft corner in my room. (I just saw the second request on the rafflecopter after I'd already commented.)
ReplyDeletePURSE ESSENTIALS prize sounds perfect for me!
ReplyDeleteMy next project is cleaning out all our closets. It's fun finding things and paring down what we don't need.
I love organizing closets! I heard I'm a rare breed lol. Maybe my closet organization post may be of help to you?
DeleteSTATIONERY SUPPLIES
ReplyDeleteSeher, what a fun, beautiful, and useful blog you have created - you are great inspiration for me to get mine up & running soon. The blue Sonia Kashuk bag is awesome! I'd love to have one to help me organize the 86 year old gentleman i take care of. The stationery supplies would be most helpful.
ReplyDeleteBria, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a sweet comment on my blog. Helped me start the morning on the right foot :) I would love to read your blog once you start it up! Please leave a link in my comments once you've posted! I'd love to help you organize the person you're assisting. Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteI just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.A fantastic presentation. Very open and informative.You have beautifully presented your thought in this blog post. Time to buy Handbags
ReplyDeleteI would love the purse essentials. I feel very organized when my purse is. I hope to start on cosmetics/beauty items organization in my bathroom today! Sarai
ReplyDeleteHaving an organized purse definitely makes a day go by more smoothly! Happy organizing! :)
DeleteI love the idea of putting everything into smaller bags! I've been meaning to organize my purse for awhile now!
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful way to keep everything in its place!
DeleteGreat blog post. I would love the purse essential
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim, good luck!
DeleteHi Seher!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from a comment you left on Organizing Home Life! I'm going to start following you and would love for you to come check out my blog at http://oisfororganize.blogspot.com. I too missed out on Haven last year but was fortunate to get my ticket early for this year's conference. It was very informative and motivating and I would definitely recommend it!
Excited to add you to my list of bloggers!
Kim
So glad you dropped by Kim! I love it when I find organizing blogs, such eye candy!! I really hope I can make it to Haven next year and hopefully meet you there :) Off to check out your blog!
DeleteI would love purse essentials! I am working on re-organizing my closets now since I just moved and everything just got "dumped" .
ReplyDeleteI would love purse essentials
ReplyDeleteThat is a hard choice since I need the organizer badly but the Stationary Supplies would allow me to carry with me those type items that I do use very often. Sooo, I choose Stationary Supplies.
ReplyDeleteI sell Avon products and will soon be signing up to become a Young Living Distributor.
ReplyDeletePurse essentials! I think once I organize this then I can tackle the closet LOL
ReplyDeletebaby steps!
Kathryn C
I would like the stationary supplies.
ReplyDeleteI've been organizing my car! It's a mess.
I'd love the stationary supplies. I'm trying to organize my craft room right now
ReplyDeleteI would like the purse essentials! We're organizing our garage
ReplyDeleteAWinesburg@hotmail.com
This is rather a challenge as for the:
ReplyDeletePURSE ESSENTIALS prize will be a gift that I'd give my mother, a veteran, thats still working to get the benefits she deserves. This would organize all the business cards that she puts the appointments on and then lays in her purse.
STATIONERY SUPPLIES... These would be perfect for my upcoming fundraiser where I want to redesigning a room into an office with multi-computers where I can teach persons how to use a computer / software or make repairs -plus- design web sites!
The organizing project I've recently taken up work on or plan to work on soon is the organization of my entire residence. It needs / deserves a complete make-over! But after being injured in an accident; by way of a driver that was driver her ex-husbands vehicle w/o insurance injured me and I have lost the use of my right upper extremities. This could not have come at worse time; I was getting advanced in the office & finishing up academics then this happened! I've been in 24 / 7 pain since but life must continue and I realize that I need to find a way to pay the medical bills & loans.
computertech2you [at] live [dot] com
PURSE ESSENTIALS - because my purse needs some organizing . Right now I am tackling my closet to get that cleaned out and organized.
ReplyDeleteI would like the stationary prize. I am working on reorganizing my bedroom closet so I can see everything easily and keep it straight.
ReplyDeleteI would love the purse essentials. I am planning to organize my closets sometime soon :)
ReplyDeleteI would like the PURSE ESSENTIALS prize. I recently reorganized my kitchen cabinet that stores all my plastic containers and threw out those that didn't have lids or weren't in good shape.
ReplyDeleteIf I won I'd choose the stationery supplies! I always seem to lose my pens, post-its, etc!
ReplyDeleteI would pick the purse one.
ReplyDeleteI need the post-its and pens to keep lists on. I'm organizing the garage this summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
I WOULD LIKE THE PURSE ESSENTIALS PRIZE. I'M EXPECTING NEXT MONTH SO I'M ORGANIZING A ROOM THAT WILL BE MY DAUGHTERS. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove3570@aol.com
The purse essentials prize, for the small items needed while out and about, such as makeup touchups, sanitizer, bandaids, pen and notepad, would do the trick. I am currently in the middle of organizing combined households - wish us luck! By the way, love your website and the organizing tips!
ReplyDeletethe Purse Essentials prize would be so much fun! I'm always having to dig around in my purse!
ReplyDeletei would like the PURSE ESSENTIALS prize
ReplyDeletehere really soon i would like to get my clothes/closet organized its a mess right now
I recently added shelves in that little narrow cupboard in my kitchen! now it is a useful space, and I'm organizing my plastic bags/saran wrap.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely love the purse essentials prize! My day would be so much easier with a cleaner purse!
ReplyDeleteI recently cleaned out my entire pantry, lined the shelves, and labeled several containers. It's been great to be able to open the door and reach for what I want without having to pick up 10 things looking for the item I need!
I'd LOVE the purse essentials!
ReplyDeleteMary Beth Elderton
I would love the PURSE ESSENTIALS prize.I am now working on organizing my kitchen ,installing more shelving,rearranging everything so it is more accessible.and getting rid of items I don't use that often.
ReplyDeleteI would like a purse essentials if I won. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would choose the STATIONERY SUPPLIES. I recently went through my jewelry box and organized my necklaces. I used a tip I seen on TV where you put each necklace through a straw. The necklaces will not tangle up anymore.
ReplyDeleteI would love the stationary supplies if I won! I just recently purged all of my old clothes from ALL of our closets to give to Goodwill. It feels great organizing! So refreshing.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a purse supply for me. My project right now is organizing my office. Going through lots of papers, shredding and still deciding what I really need to keep.
ReplyDeleteheymissvirginia at embarqmail dot com
i would pick the stationery supplies.right now im trying to organize my bedroom
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the PURSE ESSENTIAL, and my biggest organizing project right now, is attempting to separate my lil' ones and my stuff in my big purse/ diaper bag. So i feel your pain, before you're purse organizer lol. My little one is just around the age, to were I don't have to carry an actual diaper bag everywhere we go. But combining mine and her stuff is turning into a true challenge for me!!
ReplyDeleteI think the Purse Essentials. I've been "organizing" as in purging tons of paper from my file cabinets. It seems to be a never ending job.
ReplyDeleteI would like the PURSE ESSENTIALS and I'm trying to organize my closet.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely love the purse essentials prize to help keep me organized with everything I need on hand.
ReplyDeleteMy choice: PURSE ESSENTIALS. I fear I could bust the closet with all of my office supplies. lol
ReplyDeleteI've organized my parents' move recently. I think that's more exhausting than actually packing. Ugh!
I love purses with many pockets. So exciting to organize everything :)
ReplyDeleteI would choose the purse essentials prize. I plan to work on organizing my bedroom.
ReplyDelete