I’m not feeling particularly prepared for our upcoming trip to Denmark and Belgium. I still have daily itineraries to complete and a packing list to compile, but I do have one thing ready: the contents of my everyday purse while we’re abroad. While I try to pare down to just the essentials, it doesn’t always work out. We rarely stop back at the hotel during the day and I’d hate to find myself without a creature comfort like hand cream or Band-Aids for blisters. Fortunately, the Tory Burch bag I purchased earlier this year (worn here) is spacious enough for just about everything (excluding the case for my sunglasses).
- iPhone (not pictured)
- Camera (not pictured)
- Passport and cover (love this one)
- Journal and pen for jotting down observations, recording what we did each day, and storing reciepts
- A deck of cards or a set of dice for playing Farkle
- Card case for my credit cards (similar)
- Coin purse (mine is an old one from Coach similar to this)
- Sunglasses
- Herban Essentials towelettes for cleaning my hands or sanitizing surfaces on the plane
- Band-Aids
- Hand cream
- Lipstick (a long-wear lipstick and one that’s easier to apply on the go)
- Mirror (mine is by Lauren Merkin and her shop has since closed; here’s a budget-friendly option)
- Brush and hair ties (not pictured)
- Tissues (not pictured)
- Inhaler (not pictured)
- Reusable shopping bag for the grocery store (not pictured, but I purchased this cute Kate Spade one)
- Container with allergy pills and pain medication (These containers are also great for packing tiny items like earrings or bringing just a dab of a special face cream or exfoliator that you don’t use every day. There’s a larger version that’s perfect for packing dry snacks for the plane. I bring almonds to avoid any hangry outbursts.)