HEALTHY HABITSâ—½ YOU
Purse Particulars
by Marcy Lytle
Does the title amuse you? How can buying a purse be involved in staying healthy and safe? Well, when you have as many totes, bags, and purses as I do…there are seriously lots of things to consider over time…in purchasing, wearing and enjoying that one accessory all women carry.
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Buying:
Make sure it closes – Once in a theater, I slung my purse across my shoulder and my wallet flew out! Open totes are one thing, but a purse with important valuables is another! Magnets and zippers keep your items inside and safe.
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Designer isn’t dope – Don’t spend money you don’t have on a designer bag. There are so many pretty bags that look just like the one you’re eyeing. And so many Instagram influencers share designer lookalikes. It’s not healthy to drain our bank accounts if we don’t have the funds to drain…on a bag.
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Functional AND pretty – Sure, some purses are so cute and pretty, but if they can’t hold at least your essentials, they’re not very practical. Or…if the straps are so thin that when you carry the full bag, your shoulders hurt, that’s not good! I have a skinny strapped purse I love but I just quit carrying it because it cut into my shoulders.
Carrying:
Clean out – Make it a habit of dumping and wiping out your bags at least once a week. One full of used tissues, old candy wrappers, and any other personal items is just a bag of germs.
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Heavy is not good – I mentioned skinny straps above. But if the bag is just overall a heavy one, it won’t be comfortable or good for your back or arm. I love a large tote bag to hold all the stuff, but it won’t be one I carry over my arm for long walks. Summer bags are out now, so consider lightweight ones that are airy, ones that breathe.
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Safety first – Be careful with all the dangly things on bags. Purse charms are popular right now, and fringe is back. But sometimes, too many strings and baubles can be an unsafe thing to have on your bag. They can easily catch in a door or swing by an object and knock it off, when you’re shopping.
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Enjoying:
Why Not? A pop of color – Sometimes, adding a pop of color to your outfit can just brighten your look and your day. And that’s healthy! Maybe a pretty red bag this summer would be fun, or what about blue? Look in your closet and see what color you might wear the most. Then check out Marshalls, where the bags hang by color, and choose one!
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A dressy bag – I found a peacock sequin fancy purse last fall in an antique store for $19 and grabbed it. I carried it several times for special events, and it made me so happy. It went with so many things…I was surprised. If you spot a cute bag with sparkles or one you’d carry to those fun outings this summer, and it’s not too pricey, it might be fun to have…to sit on a chair in your room as décor…or to hang by the door! That way you won’t forget to use it!
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Those totes – I can hardly ever pass up a good tote, and they’re a healthy choice when traveling or going to farmer’s markets. How so? A roomy farmers market tote (Marshalls has the cutest and ones with pockets!) is yours personally, and you can fill it with fresh veggies and jarred goodies as you shop. It’s so fun, and fresh is awesome! Travel totes can be filled with books to read, a hat for the sun, snacks and so much more. And having that cute tote on your car seat to grab from, it relaxes and soothes the soul. I carry a tote to the movies with a sweater and personal snacks!
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Who knew all the particulars about purses could be so important to our well-being? Now, we do!