Friday, February 16, 2007

The “Ladies, dump it!” Meme and a related subject

My dear Canadian friend Kim from Stepping Stones tagged a few of us blogging ladies including Christina, Expat Traveler, Dixie Peach, Cyndi and Jen (sorry girls, but we have to stick together, right?). Kim, of course, did it, too. (Uhhh... You carry tea in your purse??) And it looks like I'm going to be first to post, too. Do I get a prize for it, Kim? ;)

The rules are as follows:

· Take a photo of the handbag/purse that you are using today
· Dump it out and take another photo
· Make a list of everything in your bag
· And now the most embarrassing… Post it on your blog.

So, here it is: my handbag. Not very big (about 30x18x10cm, or 12x7x4 inches), but you will be surprised to see what I can fit in there.


Now for the content (for your entertainment):



- Chewing gum
- Kleenex tissues
- Sunglasses (with case - in photo, (mis)used as Kleenex and chewing gum case)
- Photo of my Dad’s second wedding
- Lighter
- Lip balm
- Car papers
- Pen
- Canadian Passport (still in there from our last trip to Canada?? Now safely put away.)
- Boarding card slips from our last trip to Canada (were in my passport)
- Cell phone
- Bulky wallet - due to too many cards (discount/shopping/debit/credit/health/business, etc.), too much small change, the last 3 days' shopping lists, and a few old grocery store receipts
- Keys (one set for the house and car and one set for the garage)
- Last, but not least… a tampon (I know, I’m always prepared)

There.

Kim was also asking if she her hubby was the only one to have a phobia about looking for something in her purse. The answer is: No. You are not alone. OrangeX used to be like that, too, until I got angry and told him to just pick whatever he needed out. Today, he just asks first and takes whatever he needs. I know however, that some women are allergic to anyone (not to mention their hubby) getting even near their precious handbag/purse and go into a humungous fit about it should the "scoundrel" attempt to do so. I don’t get it.

And why should men need something from their spouse’s purse, you ask? Because when couples go out, the spouses often carry the men’s keys, wallets and anything else that would look absurd if it were all stuffed in the front and/or back pocket of their trousers. This brings me to the next point.

I have now considerably reduced the size (and weight when going out) of my handbags because O-X has gotten himself not one, but two man bags. And today, he never leaves the house without it. He has everything in there: mobile phone, wallet, keys, cigarettes, lighter, papers, etc. AND it does not look ridiculous (unless the male wearing it looks ridiculous to start with). It will only make you look (and feel) strange if you don’t wear it with a certain confidence. It’s by far better than having strange and unnatural looking bulges all over the mid-part of your body.

So. Women, stand up for your rights. Why should you be the one to carry everything on a night out?

And men, what is this phobia with the wife’s handbag anyway? If you (or she) have that much of a problem with it, get yourself a man bag.

Now, go see what the other ladies are carrying around. I will.

PS: I'm not tagging anyone, but if you feel like it, go ahead ladies (and men with man bags are welcome to join as well)

14 comments:

Miss Kim said...

Well done! I bet I'm not the only one who is incredibly curious about what's in other people's handbags!

I like manbags and actually think they make a man quite interesting but I don't think I'll ever convince my Man that he needs one.

Thanks for doing my Meme!! And extra points for being first!

Jul said...

Yay for manpurses! Ever since my husband got one, I get to travel light and give him stuff to carry... a very good deal for me!

Ginnie Hart said...

I love this meme! It was a good idea from Kim (which I happened to see first before I pulled up your post). There are some manbags so cool that I'd buy them for me (but why would that surprise you!).

Anyway, your dumped pile looks way too neat. I'd have to clear away all my used kleenex before you'd see a thing!

Unknown said...

Good one! I'm up for your entertainment.. or not so much as Borat would say! ;-)

CanadianSwiss said...

T1: Thanks. I guess you'll have to work on your hubby, then ;)

Jul: I think they look great and a much appreciated plus for us ladies, too.

Ginnie: I agree. Some of the manbags I saw could really be unisex and worn by both.

ET: I'm comin' over to see what's in your handbag. :)

CanadianSwiss said...

Fab: I almost did an extra on my wallet, too. :)

Shammickite said...

Good excuse to turn out the junk, throw away the used Kleenex, dump the expired bus tickets, chuck the candy wrappers, get rid of the pens that don't work any more.... and now your handbag is so much lighter!!!

Unknown said...

Remeber the show, "Let's Make a Deal"? I'd win on that show, on any given day. I have so much crap in my purse,if we were ever to be on the run, we'd make it on my crap alone. The only odd thing and people do comment; I carry a man's wallet. My job often requires that I not have any more than my wallet on my, keys hooked on my belt. But I keep my wallet in my purse and when in uniform, I just stick it in my back pocket.
My Dad has used a man purse for 15 years. He may have started the fashion, who knows. A man that is sure in his sexuality is sure carrying a man bag. Don't you agree?

CanadianSwiss said...

Ex-Shammi: Does that mean that you'll do the meme, too? Or was this only a call for a handbag clean-up? ;)

Babs: LOL. Ever since I've reduced the size of my purses, I carry less crap. No space for extras :)

I totally agree with you on the man bag. It has a lot to do with that.

Anonymous said...

It would bother me to wear any kind of bag. I tried it several times. I feel restricted, especially when I want to do more than just walking. It's something at my hands or on my shoulder that takes a bit of my freedom. I rather wear jackets with a lot of pockets. Here I'm very organized: I know exactly in which of these 6 or 8 pockets I find everything. This way my hands stay free. I admit, that's more than stupid in the summer. Just imagine somebody at 100°F, carrying a jacket instead of a bag... Well, I try to avoid carrying too much stuff around with me anyway.
Watching my honey when she is looking for something in her handbag (I call it "container"), I wonder why women can live with this "desaster in the dark". I believe I'll get rich one day, selling handbags with built-in illumination. Scientists spend years to discover black holes in the universe that let all things disappear. They never investigated woman's handbags...

Unknown said...

hey the update is up...

:)

christina said...

I don't think I could get Mr M to use a man bag but he doesn't ask me to carry his stuff all that often so I don't mind.

Yeah, next time we need to do a "what's in your wallet" meme. :-)

Shelli said...

The contents of my purse would be boring because it is really just a wallet on a string. However, if I posted the contents of my bag that I take to work everyday, that might be entertaining.

CanadianSwiss said...

Christina: I think so, too.

Shelli: I'm sure that would work. :)