I Bought a Grandma Purse
I had a break-down today at Target. I went to take my son shopping to spend a little of his birthday money (he bought a Darth Vader voice changer and mask :starwars: and his life is now complete). I was buying practical things, and when I struggled to find my shopping list amid the stuffed purse I have, the raw truth invaded. I realized I needed a bigger purse. 
Now, the last time I went shopping, I eyed the cute little leather handbags that make you look like a trendy chick. You know, the ones that hold a wallet and a lipstick? 
I wanted one so badly. In the end I caved into reason and bought a medium sized brown purse (that way I can use it in both summer and winter). Mind you, it holds little more than a wallet, sunglasses, car keys, and cell phone.
But as any mother will tell you, once you have kids, your purse changes. Suddenly, those overnight-sized floppy handbags look rather attractive. I draw the line and the ones that could double as an airline carryon bag. But today, there was no turning back. Instead of trying to cram the wallet, cell phone, sunglasses, Motrin, crayons, tissues, gum, ID badges, make-up, spare batteries, car keys, classroom keys, and the other sundries needed in a purse, I bought the Grandma bag. You know, the one where you can keep small animals? Yes, I could hide a poodle in there. Or perhaps, three Happy Meals, placed end to end. 
Oh, the space! The luxury! If the kids are bored, I can store a game of Candyland in there. Or six rolls of Charmin, should the public stalls be out! 
So, what does your purse look like and what’s the strangest thing you have in there ? Or if you’re a guy, do you have a man purse like Jack Bauer in 24? What are your thoughts on man purses? 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:59 pm | Viewed 861 times
StDebb Says:
I have a medium sized purse now, but when my son was younger, I had a fanny pack. That way, I could leave it on, and if I had to take off after him at the park or somewhere, I didn’t have to worry about leaving it behind.
As for the strangest thing in my purse–the little bitty flashlight on my keychain, I guess. Not so very odd, but I use it to power my calculator in dark restaurants, when I need to figure the tip. Easier than actually using my brain!
Debbie
Peggy Says:
I have a typical mother purse. Had it for years, thought I would update it but made the mistake of going with my teenager. All the ones I pointed out, she gave me the finger in the mouth make me gag look.
MaryF Says:
Y’know, Jack Bauer might kill you for that
I have a trendy Tommy Hilfiger purse. So, yeah, it doesn’t close half the time, but it’s CUTE and it’s RED.
I have a trendy Guess purse for spring. It’s PINK.
Michelle Says:
MaryF–I am so jealous!
Debbie–I’ll bet that comes in really handy!
Stacy Says:
My husband is amazed at what I can pull out of my purse at any given time but my prize possession is the little bottle of extra strength Tylenol:roll:
Rene Says:
I got a big ol’ purse from Target. It’s huge, but very stylish :loser: I needed something big enough to carry my kid’s Gameboy DS and the state of Montana. I lose my phone in it all the time. And my keys.
beth Says:
I’m currenly suffering from “I-can’t-find-a-purse-I-like- so-I’ll-just-use-a-totebag-darn-it” itis. So yeah, if your purse is actually designed to be a purse, you’re one up on me.
But hey, I can put my daytimer in my “purse” and it still zips.
I don’t know that I have anything odd in there though - unless you count a box of paperclips as odd. But, seriously, you never know when you’re going to need a paperclip!
Tori Lennox Says:
But I really really really want Mary’s purses!!!
The strangest thing in my purse? Hmm. Probably the little gizmo that helps get the caps off Coke bottles.
Kelly Says:
I can’t believe there’s a Darth Vader voice changer - I so want one!
As for my purse, it is made out of the army green canvas and is relatively small with little pockets on one side. I keep my purse pretty sparse. It holds lip balm, wallet, comb and glass case, that’s it.
Brian Says:
I proudly carry a (ahem) man BAG. Not a man purse, ugh. It’s black leather-like with polished nickel clasps. It is emblazoned with Kentucky’s state brand (unbridledspiritkentucky.com). Plus, I keep a leatherman (www.leatherman.com) in it. This guarantees it’s a man bag and not a purse. (For those who may not know, a leatherman is like a Swiss Army knife on steroids. Mine has a knife, saw, plyers, wire cutters, beer opener, 13 inch b/w television and jet pack.)
:batman:
Teresa Says:
You caught me. I just switched purses too. The one I did carry held my cellphone keys and credit cards. It was so cute and still is. But I switched to a mid-size when I bought the planner wallet combo. I decided I needed an on the go planner. So now my purse contains, my planner, my cellphone, pens, chapstick, gloves, and my work badge. It did have an apple in it until I took it out when I got to work. It’s a funky design with multi-colored stripes and little wooden circles attaching the strap to the purse.
Emma Sinclair Says:
Um, my purse has Kermit the Frog on it.
And I don’t even have the luxury of blaming kids. And it’s big. Bit enough for a book, a small notebook (not the full sized kind) and lots of other stuff.
Crystal* Says:
Ah yes. Another post I can SO relate to.
I carried a flipping diaper bag for approximately five years for the girls. And my first purse afterwards (one would say I go to extremes, I suppose. *ahem*) was a purse no bigger than a checkbook box. It was tiny!
I had a small-medium one that broke. I will tote one around until it literally falls apart in my hand.
Now I have some straw, exotic looking piece that I borrowed from my middle girl. It actually has a wooden pineapple hanging off of it.
Hey! It was either that or the see-through Bratz purse. *laughing*
I must hie myself to the local retail store, I suppose.
The strangest thing I had in there would probably be an um…phallic shaped pencil top from an adult party I went to with a friend.
And man purses? Not so much. A briefcase is fine by me. But ixnay on the man purse.
Grins*
Crystal* Says:
I want Emma’s purse!:hissyfit:
Grins*
Rene Says:
Oh yeah, I forgot about man purses. Uh huh, no way, yuck. My dh will wander around with a little pack around his waist when we go on trips. He looks like a dork, but at least it isn’t a man purse.
Melissa Says:
For awhile I carried around a great big purse that I absolutely HAD to have. I really could fit six pack of toilet paper in it! (but not the double ones :headspin:).
Now I’m back to a medium-sized tapestry-style bag. And I STILL can’t ever find anything.
Michelle Says:
Kelly, I dream of the day I can go back to that kind of purse!
Beth–paperclips! Now I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right.
Brian–A 13-inch-color tv, huh? And you don’t have a power saw as part of that Leatherman? :confused2: How can you call yourself a man without power tools in your Man Bag?
You need the upgrade, I think.
I think I may need GPS for my keys, though.
Amy K. Says:
My purse is sensible, black (same reason as yours…I wanted a pretty color for the spring/summer last year but couldn’t bring myself to do it) and good-sized. No rodents or pooches in there but it seems to hold plenty of trash!
Mary Says:
Weird, I just switched to a smaller purse. I went through my lovely Hobo, and thought, “What do I need all this shit for?” Then I bought a brown, smaller Nordstroms bag that’s light and easy to carry. Let’s see how long this will work.
April Alsup Says:
I want a jet pack in my purse… I am so jealous of Bryan right now!:hissyfit:
I have a medium Nine West I usually carry. It’s just large enough that I have to set it on the hood of my car and dig for thirty minutes to find the car keys. But not so big that I can carry my big notebook.
Good news though: I recently got stuck out with a bunch of girls under 18… Yeah, I know, fun for me
But they had some of the largest purses I’ve ever seen. One was larger than my laptop bag. I think it’s the whole 80’s thing coming back…
LauraP Says:
Define strange. How about an alcohol prep pad and an empty rabies vaccine vial? It’s still in there from the last trip to the other house when psycho cat was due for her shot.
I love my hobo bag with all the nifty little pockets.