What's Inside P's Bag

I like bags. I seem to collect a lot over the years. But most of them are hanging on my wall, rarely used. I don't know why but I seem to use the same old bag over and over again. There's something comforting about an old reliable bag... and the fact that you know that your keys are right where they're supposed to be.... I'm a bit of a scatterbrain and I often lose my keys, have a mini panic attack and sigh in relief when I do find them... Eyecandy is actually afraid I might develop OCD because of this. Therefore, only one bag for the whole work week... unless I have time to swap bags...

And there are those bags that speak to you... like love at first sight, you zero in on this lovely bag and you know that you can't leave the shop without it... it beckons... it teases... until you throw caution into the wind! Yes, that's what shopping is like for me... it's a guilt trip cum therapy of sorts.

To tell you honestly, brand is really not a big issue for me. Like this bag... it's unbranded... I bought it at Jarir of all places! But it's roomy and has a lot of pockets-- it even has a pocket that fits my iPad! It's durable, it looks like the type that would look wonderfully vintage in a few years... something that I find appealing in leather bags... and the indisputable fact that it pulled me out of my morning stupor.

So what's in my bag? I normally carry around a water bottle, my keys, makeup kit, toiletries bag, wallet, ID, flash drives, iPad and iPhone and of course data cables. It's pretty basic to be honest... 

Of course you must never go out without your wallet and your documents! The most important things I always check before I leave any place are my wallet, my iqama, my medical insurance card, my keys and my phone pouch (with the phone in it!)

Ohhh, I love the fact that I can do almost everything with my iPhone. I think they have every app imaginable to make life easier. Hahaha! The only thing I can't do on the iPhone is read my PDF books (screen is too small)... so that's why I have an iPad. As an online student and a bookworm, it's just really convenient to have all of your textbooks and modules in this really thin package! I just love it! ^_^

And then there's my make up kit. I love make up! It may not seem obvious because I don't glam up a lot but I do keep a sizable stash with me... and I carry it everywhere I go...  I am a self professed MAC fan. Majority of my makeup is from this brand. I have products that I just use in the morning and keep on my dresser and I have some that I bring everywhere!

Clockwise from left: MAC Strobe Cream, Satin MAC Red Lipstick, Vegas Bolts Lipstick, MAC Liquidlast Liner, Lustre, Lipglass, Red Lipliner, MAC Select Cover Up concealer, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and MAC Studio Fix Loose Powder. 

I love to use makeup brushes... well, not all... just those that I can figure out... like that blush brush that I won't replace or that MAC brush that I so love. But as much as I love makeup, I am utterly clueless about color... thus my very safe color palette of browns and nudes for my eyeshadow..  The only color you'll find in my face is my lipstick. That, I can blend! Hahaha!

I also have a stash of toiletries in my bag. Again, pretty basic stuff like mouthwash, toothpaste, portable toothbrush, hand sanitizer, nasal drops, Strepsils, pain relievers, anti-histamine tabs, a comb, a mirror, lotion, some pins and wet wipes.

So that's what's inside my bag. They say you can glean a lot from what's inside a person's bag (my best friend likes to "kalikot"  my wallet too... hehe). I often wonder how people would read my personality based on my bag's contents. Hahaha... Would you say I'm a little OCD?

Hmmm, I wonder...

Sampaguita Pride

What's Inside S' Bag

It's been a long time since the last What's Inside Your Bag entry. Mary and Shoegarfreeruby spilled theirs already. Rummage their bags here and here. I'll just give a quick run through of mine because I am more or less the same with... Mary! We keep our stuff in little kits to avoid clutter. Though I must say I am not as organized as her. I am more like Shoegar in terms of kikay-ness.

The Bag

I am a fan of the big bag theory. I'm not sure what's that but I just love huge bags. I only use small bags when I'm going somewhere very near (ie. neighborhood bakery) or somewhere very crowded (ie. Haraj). I always carry a huge bag to work. Yes, even if it contains just a few pieces of kits. I love this Aldo bag because it's very versatile. It has three handles that transforms it into a handbag, a shoulder bag, and a messenger bag. And the black and white color, of course, goes with any of my outfit. (Teka, abaya lang naman technically ang outfit ko, hehe.) I don't change bags everyday. I hate the hassle. Lol. I change it just twice or thrice a month.

Spill It!
Bag with two pouches, 2 books, 2 eye wear, and 2 gadgets

The two of everything is not intentional. I just realized it when I was taking the picture of my stuff. On a normal day, my stuff wouldn't look this organized. Because of my over-sized bag's width, my things tend to jumble inside that's why I use two pouches to keep the small stuff. My gadgets are stored in the bag's inner pockets.

What's Inside?

My phone, a Nokia E72, is mostly used for calling and texting only. I am not a firm believer of multi-tasking cellphones. I carry a handy Samsung ES60 for instant "photo shoots" and "photo ops," especially when I am out with my friends (not seen in the photo above because I'm using it to take the photo). Nope, red is not my favorite color. :P I carry a book (I'm re-reading The Secret Life of Bees) for idle moments. The Starbucks planner serves as my planner and journal in one. A very dear friend gave it to me when I had my vacation in the Philippines last December. I'm into wayfarer shades now, I never leave home without one. Wayfarers in photo is from Forever 21. My eyeglasses needs to be changed soon. My eye sight's 225/225. And of course, I never go out without my veil (even if my abaya is now with a hood). Nope, sorry, my tarha is not pink.

Kikay Kit
1. Pink makeup kit 2. Ellana travel brush set 3. Guerlain lip gloss 4. Vitress hair shine 5. Ellana minerals (foundation, finishing powder, blush, and eyeshadow) 6. Ellana lip color 7. Eye-Mo 8. Human Heart Nature hand sanitizer 9. Neutrogena lip balm 10. Mint gum 11. Mac Lipstick in Cosmo (my go-to shade) 12. Human Heart Nature solid perfume
(not in photo: HHN pocket soap, comb, and mirror mints)

Confession, I love make-up! (I'm wondering why we don't do beauty entries here in The Pink Tarha... hmn, good idea!) I was a pimply teen and I'm still prone to break-outs up to now and make-up has helped me embrace these imperfections. I rarely leave the house without a powder on. Although sometimes, I do go out without putting on make-up, just to let my skin breathe. But, but, but... despite my ♥ for make-up, I don't consider myself high-maintenance. I only take 15-30 minutes to put make-up on. I already have my beauty ritual down pat. Also, when I'm out, I don't like getting up to retouch and retouch. I don't even touch this kikay kit in my bag the entire day. Well, except to get the hand sanitizer and the mints after eating... and of course, unless it's really necessary to put makeup again for dinner or a date... with the girlfriends! :)

I'm also currently into organic and earth-friendly products now. I am using Human Heart Nature products and Ellana Minerals (as seen here) and organic/handmade soaps from By Nature and Ilog Maria. They're very affordable and they work!

Essentials Kit

I don't carry a wallet, just this wristlet, which carries everything important. This is my "makalimutan ko na ang lahat sa paglabas, wag lang ito" thing. It contains my national ID (iqama; I still have the old booklet form), money (SR10 lang laman! lol!), various cards, receipts, and a ballpen. I also have a SAWA recharge card for emergency.

Okay, that's basically it. Was that quick or what? Anyway, hope you enjoyed my WIYB edition.

Care to show us what's inside your bag too?

§undrenched

What's Inside M's Bag

They say that you will know a girl's personal style through the bag she carries everyday. The Pink Tarha Ladies say it's what inside the bag that matters. We can always replace our bag every day but the essential items we carry inside are a staple. Things we use daily speak a lot about our personality. Are you carrying a filled kikay kit? A stash of gadgets perhaps? Books, notepads, and pens? Or just the bare necessities? Can't leave the house without the tarha and the iqama?

The Pink Tarha Ladies are raiding each other's bags in the What's In Your Bag edition. Will they dare spill it all?

First up is July birthday girl Maryhadalittlehump.*

As you all know by now, our resident little miss sunshine is funny and laidback most of the time but can panic like crazy! Hmn, does her bag and its content reflect her fresh, sunshiney personality or is she the seemingly basic but deceptively simple gal? Let's find out shall we?

The Bag
White Dorothy from the Kipling Basic Collection

Truly, M shows us how simple and laidback she is with her white sporty shoulder bag. It's basic but very dependable. "This bag is a favorite. It's versatile and roomy. I can put anything inside," M says of her favorite bag.

Take a Peek

M's bag contents are neatly organized and placed in her bag. Smaller items are placed in smaller kits. Gawd, no clutter?! Amazing yes? M says, "My bag is a girl scout's bag. Laging handa dapat. Kung anuman ang kailangan ko, madudukot ko kaagad!" Well, with this kind of organization, we're sure M gets whatever she wants from her bag in five seconds flat. Scout's honor!

Spill It!
1. Kipling Bag 2. GAP wristlet 3. Tarha (veil) 4. Ballpens 5. Woven kit 6. Vogue eyeglass case 7. Wallet 8. Nokia cellphone 9. House key 10. Kokology book

What's Inside the Insides

Kikay Kit
1. Woven pouch / 2. Comb / 3. Mirror / 4. The Body Shop Lip Balm (Cranberry)

Hygiene Kit
1. GAP wristlet 2. Napkins (laging handa remember?) 3. SebaMed creams

Wallet and eyeglass

Containing cards, ids, photos and the one thing we can never leave home without, the iqama. Trivia: M was issued the a wrongly colored iqama. Hers is green when it should be a maroon booklet! Her eyesight is 50/50.

Stripped to its most basic essentials, M's bag shows how low-maintenance she is. Any other fashion accessory is missing. True enough, M is the least shopaholic among the Pink Tarha Ladies. But that is not to say she's lacking on style. If you meet this girl personally, style is just one of her best assets. It's her laughter and smile that prove to be infectious. She's so fun to be with... simply beautiful and happy!

* Mary is sick right now but she's on her way to a full recovery. Get well soon, M!