See this bag?

It hangs over the back of my chair in the office.

Truth?

You never know where life is going to take you. A trip to the library. A walk around the lake. A coffee date that turns into a work date. A last-minute shopping trip.

And the amazing thing about this bag? It’s always ready for an adventure. It’s ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Or a bag scavenger hunt—have you ever played that at a party before?

I’m always on the go and along the way I had to learn to be prepared.

So I filled this bag (and the bag before this bag and the bag before that) with my on-the-go essentials.

You know.

The kind of things that you didn’t know you needed until they weren’t there and then you wish that you had them.

Want to see what’s inside?

Here are 17 things I’m taking along with me in my bag.

17 Amazingly Useful Things to Keep In Your Bag

// powder sunscreen //

1. Powder sunscreen

Have you seen this yet?

It’s powder sunscreen that’s translucent.

It’s PERFECT for the part in your hair that gets sun and you don’t want to put sunscreen in your hair.

This isn’t greasy and it protects that part of your scalp. It’s also great for when you don’t want to get greasy and sweaty at a ball game or other outdoor activity.

Sunscreen is a MUST.

You can see the powder sunscreen here.

2. This laptop stand

I had to start with this portable laptop stand.

It goes with me everywhere. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love it. It folds flat and fits perfectly in the bag without taking up too much space. It puts your laptop at the perfect height for ZOOM calls. The stand allows your wrists to be at the perfect height when you are typing. I’ve used it at coffee shops and restaurants and my office and so many other places.

You can see the laptop stand here.

And if you need a stand for your phone to film things on the go? This phone stand is amazing (and adjustable).

3. Gold hair clip

When I’m working or going for a walk my hair gets in my way. I also use them if I’m having a bad hair day and need to look cute for a ZOOM or lunch with a friend.

I found gold clips like these a couple of years ago and I love them.

My favorite one is the rectangle one at the top. It goes with me everywhere. There’s literally one in my hair right now (the rectangle one at the top).

You can see the hair clips here.

If you would rather have matte non-slip than metal? These hair clips are a great option.

4. Clip-on video light

A friend recommended this light and it’s kind of a game-changer.

You can clip it on your phone when you’re FaceTiming or on a ZOOM call.

You can clip the light on your laptop too. It’s so good and lights up your face and there are three different settings depending on the light around you. There are so many versions of this and I’ve tried several this clip-on light is the best.

You can see the clip on video light here.

5. This laptop charger (and cord organizer)

I wish I could tell you I was squared away enough to keep everything charged.

But I don’t.

Not even close. I keep a laptop charger in my bag (I have another one at my desk, too) along with a cord organizer to prevent tangled cables. This way, I can charge my laptop whenever I need to. I LOVE this collapsible charger organizer that attaches to the charger. All you have to do is pull it out and you can wind the charger cord around it to keep it organized in the bag.

You can see the collapsible charger organizer here.

6. Listerine strips

When I was growing up we weren’t allowed to chew gum.

My mother was NOT about it (and still isn’t about it now at ALL even though I am grown).

So I never really got in the gum-chewing habit and mints taste too much like candy. So what’s a person who wants fresh breath to do? I found these Listerine strips. You just put one on your tongue and it melts and leaves behind fresh breath.

You can see the Listerine strips here.

7. Hand lotion for dry skin

You can thank me later for this one.

This No. 7 hand lotion is amazing. It’s not greasy, but not too creamy. It’s kind of thick and glides over the skin and adds a layer of protection. I always use it before a photo shoot so my hands look smooth and hydrated.

And it’s small enough to fit perfectly in the bag.

You can see the hand lotion here.

8. Notebook

I am old school.

In a world of screens, I use a pen and paper. Having a small notebook like these in your bag can be incredibly useful for jotting down important notes, ideas, or to-do lists.

Having a dedicated space like this for putting down whatever I’m thinking helps me stay organized and I never forget anything.

You can see the notebooks here.

 

9. Pen

If I have a notebook, I have to have a pen.

And these are my favorite.

They glide and don’t leak (which is super important when you keep them in your bag).

You can see my favorite pens here.

10. Tide Pen

I am a spiller with extra spills on top.

This Tide Pen is an amazing stain remover that gets rid of fresh stains on clothing or fabrics. I have one of these in my laundry room, my upstairs closet and my bag.

You can see the Tide Pen here.

11. Hand sanitizer

Watching out for germs is more important than ever.

Carry a travel-sized hand sanitizer in your bag to keep germs at bay. This hand sanitizer spray from the Honest Company is made with aloe and other botanical extracts to prevent your skin from drying out. It has plant-derived ingredients and it isn’t sticky.

You can see the hand sanitizer here.

// sunglasses //

12. Sunglasses

These are my go-to sunglasses.

So many of you have bought them and sent me a thank you.

They are affordable and they go with EVERY outfit.

You can see the sunglasses here.

13. Folding brush

The best thing about this brush?

It folds up in half and is so compact that it’s easy to tuck into the pocket of your bag. It has a mirror on one side, but I like a compact mirror instead (see number 14 instead).

You can see the folding brush here.

14. Lighted compact mirror

Isn’t this the cutest compact mirror?

You never know when you’re going to need to fix something or put on lipstick or check to see if there’s anything in your teeth.

You can see the lighted compact mirror here.

 

// portable fan //

15. This portable fan

This fan.

This fan.

This fan is a SUPERHERO.

I live in Texas and have been using a fan since I discovered Merle Norman make-up in 11th grade.

But this fan is extra special. You can hold it in your hands OR you can push the stand down and it can sit on a desk or tabletop. It comes in TONS of other colors if you don’t like pink.

You can see the portable fan here.

16. Small lint roller with cover

Lint and pet hair on clothes can be so frustrating. A small lint roller like this can quickly remove fuzz from your clothes.

A roller like this will easily fit in your bag, but make sure you get one with a cover so you don’t waste so many of the peel-off strips.

These lint rollers.

17. Red lipstick

And of course, it wouldn’t be a bag without red lipstick. I saved the best for last. 🙂

I have about seven of these red lipsticks that I keep everywhere including one in my bag.

My go-to red is L’Oréal British Red.

If I’m having a tough day? Nothing makes it brighter than a little red lipstick.

You can see my favorite red lipstick here.

And now you know what’s in the bag.

It’s packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Just in case there’s an adventure waiting. 🙂

PS I’d love to know what you keep in your bag? My bag might need some other ideas. 🙂

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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