what's in my bag #25: my work backpack by sweaty betty

The majority of my work days, I carry this Sweaty Betty quilted backpack. It's pretty functional and quite well built and considering that it's on the pricier end for a backpack, I would hope so! I also really like the two pockets at the side. On rainy days, one side is useful for an umbrella and the other side usually has a folded up tote bag. 

Contents (top left, clockwise): work ID and pass, a pair of socks (as I wear theatre clogs at work with scrubs on the days where I'm in theatre), pencil case (usually a fountain pen, a gel pen and a biro are its core contents), a one litre flask, my work notebook (a surgical mask enclosed within it of course), chocolate covered rice cakes, a rollerball of peppermint and lavender essential oils gifted to me by one of my seniors a few months;' ago and a tote bag. 

I feel like I've managed to really decrease how much I carry around in my bag which my back will be grateful for in years to come. 

My work bag often has my lunchbox in as well - I like to meal prep as the lunch options are not great at the hospital I work at. There's usually a fair few more snacks in my bag including a piece of fruit. If I'm on-call (which are usually 12.5 hour shifts), they are often hectic and I find myself craving something sweet or salty and definitely not good for me. As a result, I try and carry a healthy sweet and a healthy salty snack. 

Unfortunately, we don't get allocated a locker at work otherwise my socks and snacks could be stored at work.

what's in my bag #24: a small cross body bag

These are some of my favourite blog posts so of course, I had to kick off with another one in my return to blogging. Earlier this year, this bag caught my eye in the Smythson sale. I was on the lookout for a classic black mini cross-body bag which would last years and age well. However, I didn't want a brand that was common or mainstream and it also had to be within budget. I'd done an extra shift to pay for it so my budget was a decent one; though not massive. 

This bag fit the bill... It's small and can fit everything that I need on a daily basis. It's my new go-to on days off! 

Contents (top left, clockwise): fabric face-mask, house key, pocket tissues, chewing gum, purse and lip balm.

As you can see, I'm now carrying the bare minimum. I often put in a foldable tote bag too in case I go to the shops. During the summer months, it was a bit of a struggle as I like to carry a bottle of water because my blood pressure can dip when I'm dehydrated. To get around this problem, I'd just carry the bottle in my hands or if it's small enough, it can fit at the bottom of the bag but horizontally. Because so little is in the bag usually, there's usually enough room for a 500mL bottle. 

what's in my bag #23: a new addition!

I bought this Kate Spade bag in the sale earlier this month. It's perfect - small enough to fit the essentials, not too big for me to stuff it with everything and the kitchen sink and can be worn as a grab bag or with a detachable shoulder strap. I don't actually own many black or crossbody bags so this is perfect to cover both bases.

The bag has an outside slip pocket which can fit a few slim things.

And the contents of the bag itself:

With the contents of the slip pocket in the bottom row:

Contents (top left, clockwise): water bottle, stethoscope, make up bag with basic medicines and make up, a Katie Leamon notebook, portable charger, tote bag, hand cream, pocket tissues, chewing up, lip balm, a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen, another lip balm, more chewing gum!, dried fruit and nuts, glasses (just in case as I tend to wear contact lenses!). 

I still think I carry a bit too much! Sometimes, my shoulder does ache from carrying all of this around. In those instances, I whip the tote bag out and transfer the heavier items into it and sling it onto the opposite shoulder. I've found it hard to whittle down what to carry though - I think all of these are essentials! In the summer, it's even more difficult as I sometimes cram a few of these items in my coat pockets (Barbour jackets are amazing for extra pockets) and of course, no coats are worn during the summer (but this is the UK so anything could happen!).

This has become my favourite work bag on the days I am on site where I have a locker. Otherwise, I use my Longchamp as this one is a bit too precious for me to not leave locked up. Anyone else do something similar? 

what's in my bag #22: nights on-call

Night shifts are the worst: twelve and a half hours where I cover all medical patients (around 300!). I try not to eat too much during the shift but it's a delicate balance as on an empty stomach, I do get hangry! Here are the usual contents of my on-call bag:

Bag: Longchamp Le Pliage small
Contents (top left to right): a bottle of water, a pen, crackers, a snack, stethoscope, lip balm, phone charger, tissues, hand cream and boiled sweets.

I try and carry a small-ish bag when doing my nights. One that's small enough to not be in the way when walking from ward to ward but still big enough to hold as many snacks as possible. This is where my small Longchamp Le Pliage comes in handy. I have tried using a small cross-body bag but found it didn't hold enough food in (my colleagues will laugh at this as they all understand my constant hunger).

Anyway, these are the usual contents of my bag. Often, there will be a banana or two, and a clementine in there too; sometimes even a packet of nuts if I'm after a bit of luxury. It is often tempting to eat a load of rubbish but I try and stay as healthy as possible. I also get a bit ratty if I've gone for too long without food so grazing every few hours or so on fruit helps. The crackers and Soreen mini-loaf are there for contingency more than anything as they aren't as healthy as fruit or nuts.

what's in my bag #21: work!

Throughout my clinical years at medical school, I've decreased how much I carry around with me. Most of my clothes now have pockets which mean I can fit the bare essentials.

This is pretty much what I carry around with me most days (sometimes in a cross body bag if I can be bothered):

- An A6 Pantone notebook
One thing we're continuously told is that the learning never stops and this is true; hence the presence of this notebook.

- Cards in a Kate Spade holder
Because some days, you just wanted something different and easy for lunch/a snack.

- ID!

- My trusty Lamy Safari in Petrol Blue

- A stethoscope

- A snack (usually some bland crackers for when my blood sugar feels low!)
I try not to snack if I can help it but maybe once or twice a week, when the tank is empty or near empty, it gets eaten.

- Eye drops 
Staring at the computer doing discharge summaries can be harsh on the eyes!


Sometimes, I like to have a bottle of water on me too and will carry this in a bag (along with the bits shown above). It can be so easy to not drink enough during the day so I've been trying really hard to look after myself just as much as I look after the patients.

what's in my bag #20 - elective edition

The hospital I'm doing my elective at didn't give me a locker or anywhere safe to put my bag and coat so I've taken to packing non-valuable items only, carrying anything of value on my person. As a result, here is what I end up packing on a daily basis:

From top left, clockwise: toothbrush, toothpaste and flannel, two small bags, a tote bag, a book for the journey, my ID card, an umbrella, my glasses, a 1L bottle of water and my travel card holder.

During week two of my elective, I left my bag in the changing room in an unlocked locker (as the electronic locks are dodgy and I was advised to not use them) with the above belongings. There is nothing of value to anyone else in there (the travel card and my ID were in my scrub pockets) and yet someone rifled through my bag and took my phone charger (out of all things). I came back to find my bag open with all of my belongings in disarray. It's awful to have this happen - I felt so violated after!

Not seen in the photo above is my lunchbox which sits within a cool bag. As for what's in the other two bags, see below!

From top left, clockwise: Paul and Joe make up bag, Benefit Dandelion blusher, feminine hygiene pieces, a face brush, some crackers, eye drops, contact lens case, Bobbi Brown face powder.

In this bag, I have a few beauty essentials. My contact lens stuff are in here along with some make up. I have a random packet of crackers just in case I need some sustenance in between surgeries/during a brief break.

Not shown are some painkillers just in case.

From top left, clockwise: Paul and Joe make up bag, facial tissues, my keys, a ginger sweet, some mints, Burt's Bees lip balm, Nuxe hand cream, a few pens, phone charger cable.

This small bag has some other essentials in too. It used to be my pencil case but it now holds some other stuff in it too. This is another phone charger cable that replaced my stolen one. Hand cream is something I always carry now due to the constant alcohol gelling and hand washing.

Do you adapt your bags to certain situations, i.e. knowing that there isn't a safe place to put your stuff? Looking at how much I pack on a daily basis, it's made me think more ruthlessly about what I really need and not need every day.

what's in my bag #19: out and about

Last year, I acquired a Modalu Erin bag in the mini size in an effort to decrease how much I carry around with me on a daily basis. It is a beautiful stone colour and there are so many compartments to it. The one negative is that there's actually a lot of space in this small bag so I inevitably end up carrying around more than I would've originally wanted!

Top L, clockwise: ID card, contact lens solution and case, a snack!, eye drops, an eye palette (and brush usually), glasses, purse, phone charger, pocket tissues and a tote bag (a must when using a smaller bag than usual!).

My essentials are basically cash, glasses and contact lens stuff, my ID, a tote bag and a phone charger. This bag is one that comes with me when I'm out during the weekend because it's a little too small for daily use (unfortunately) but is ideal for those shopping trips with its cross body strap, freeing my arms completely!

The leather is of a decent quality and is quite stiff but I'm certain that with time, it will soften beautifully. The outer pockets are perfect for those items you reach for regularly; things such as tissues or your travelcard. However, I like to keep my travelcard, lip balm and keys in my coat pockets (my coat has nine (!) pockets).

Do any of you use a different bag for those weekend shopping trips? :)

what's in my pencil case #3

My pencil case is now looking much less a pencil case rather than a place for all things random. Here is the proof...

As you can see, I have the most random bits: Trebor mints, Loveheart sweets, Nuxe lip balm, a selection of pens (at least one being a fountain pen), Benefit Dandelion blusher, a Gin Gin sweet, a Ricola sweet and a bulldog clip. 

My pencil case has become a dumping ground for things that don't have a place in my handbag. As a result, I'm not quite sure if it even qualifies as a 'pencil case' anymore! Maybe more like a pouch of random items :)

what's in my bag #18: surgery placement

With it almost half a year since I last did one of these, I thought it was time for another. This time, I have a new bag - one that is more floppy so I can stuff more into it but still small enough to carry around on ward round.

Clockwise from top left: Hobonichi, Oxford Handbook of Clinical Surgery, a cheap black gel pen, a black biro, Lucozade tablets and mints.

Around my neck is usually a stethoscope and on my lanyard is a roll of tape, a pen torch and my Lamy. In my pocket is usually a tissue (my nose can be quite sensitive so always useful to have a tissue on me!) and sometimes a neuro tip or a vacutainer (for blood taking) or two.

I used to carry a snack around with me but I've never felt the urge to eat whilst on ward round (surgical ward rounds are super quick!). However, Lucozade tablets are always in my bag in case I ever need a burst of sugar (hot wards + not enough sleep = a sleepy upright medical student).

Sometimes I carry around extra pieces of paper and some lip balm but I try and lug around as little as possible and only carry the necessities as shown above. One thing not shown is my water bottle - this comes everywhere with me as I'm conscious of the fact that I never drink enough on placement. 

what's in my bag #17: clinical placement edition

The last time I did a what's in my bag whilst on placement was a year ago and a fair bit has changed since.

Contents (top left clockwise): some cash, a snack, a small A6 Iconic notebook, a Bkr bottle (more on this soon!), iPhone, stethoscope, Caudalie lip balm, mints, a cheap black gel pen and my Lamy Safari.

This year, I'm on placement for 40 weeks in total (with the rest made up of lecture weeks or exams). I'm really feeling like medschool has ramped up a level: gone are the half days where we have lectures in the morning and an afternoon off or vice versa! Though I guess this is just preparation for those twelve hour days (or more) that I'll be working in the future (are such long hours ever safe? That's a debate for another time.).

Another thing I've done this year is adjust my bag on the pretence that I won't be leaving the ward for at least four hours hence the presence of a snack (and also because, long ward rounds). This ensures that I don't hit the floor due to a low blood sugar and that I also have something to look forward to at the end!

I try and ensure that I wear clothes with pockets (why do so few dresses and skirts have pockets?! Women need them too!). These pockets are usually crammed with more equipment such as a pen torch, some neurotips, cotton wool, medical tape and another pen or two. I've already stopped carrying the Oxford Handbook around on a daily basis (it still comes with me to clinic though!) due to its weight and the lack of space available for it in the tiny bag.

If you do a course where you're on placements, what do you carry around with you?

what's in my pencil case

During the post-Christmas sales, I came across this adorable make-up bag by Paul and Joe. It came as part of a set where there was a small tub of hand cream and a sachet of cleanser inside but I had no intention of putting any beauty products in it. Instead, I'd purchased it for the sole purpose of using it as a pencil case and that's exactly what I've done with it.

I love the satin feel of the exterior, the nude colour of the interior and the adorable gold-coloured zip. The size is generous too - it can hold a lot of pens (I think I had about twenty five pens in there at one stage and it zipped up with ease) and is more than big enough for my needs.

From top left, clockwise: my iPhone charger, a Muji gel 0.5mm in blue, Pilot Coleto, Lamy Safari, Pilot Kakuno, Zebra mechanical pencil, three Zebra Mildliner pens and three Pilot Juice gel pens.

I try and carry my phone charger everywhere as you never know when your battery might drop and this was especially true for the ageing iPhone 5 I was using up until a few months ago!

I carry a blue gel pen that is used in lectures (I like gel pens in lectures as they can be left uncapped for an hour and it won't dry up; plus, they start writing immediately unlike some other pens), fountain pens for note taking outside of lectures (I usually only carry one but these two are my current favourites) and also a variety of coloured gel pens as I do like to write some phrases and words in a different colour. Finally, a variety of Zebra Mildliners also make an appearance because they highlight words without being too fluorescent and harsh on the eyes.

Keeping the number of pens I cart around with me everyday mean that my bag won't be as heavy and also, I've found that the more pens I carry around, the harder it is to make a choice as to which one to use (the phrase 'spoilt for choice' comes to mind!).

what's in my purse #1

Having done a number of 'what's in my bag' posts, I thought it was time to do a 'what's in my purse' post too. I think it could also be called a 'what's in my wallet' post if you're American :) (correct me if I'm wrong though!).

My purse is a Luella one I saved up for when I was sixteen and I have used it ever since. The leather has softened and aged well over the years and I've not tired of the design enough to be tempted to buy a replacement! When you open it up, the cards and bank notes are on the left with a coin compartment on the right.

I don't tend to carry much cash on me at any one time. At the most, I'll have £10 so that I can buy lunch if I forgot to make it the night before. The cards I have are: a Boots loyalty card, an NUS card so I can get a discount on Amazon, a bingo membership card (we went for my 24th birthday as a bit of a joke but it was actually quite entertaining!), a John Lewis membership card, an IKEA Family card, my NHS card, a Bodean's Q card, a Superdrug loyalty card, my debit card, a voucher for a free Innocent Smoothie and my driving licence which also acts as my photo ID (notice it looks like they photoshopped out my nose... Bizarre!). It appears that most of my cards are for loyalty schemes - a representation of the consumerist world we live in at the moment?

Though I have no physical bank notes in my purse at this moment in time, I do have some vouchers that I get through participation in surveys.

The contents on the right hand side of my purse were quite random.

From top left, clockwise: a Collect+ receipt, a Tempadot (a device put under your tongue so that your temperature can be taken), a Nando's receipt, paracetamol, hairpins, hair bobbles, a charm my mum gave me, £3.80 in coins and a bingo voucher.

Writing this post has made me realise that I carry around far too many cards and more rubbish than necessary in my purse. Some of the loyalty cards don't need a permanent place and the two receipts need to be binned - why, in particular, the Nando's one was kept at all is a mystery.

With my purse being leather, it is quite heavy even without its contents in it so by adding in extra, unnecessary bulk, I'm just adding to the weight I carry around on a daily basis.

What do you carry around in your purse? Have you done a 'what's in your purse post'? If so, leave your link so I can have a nosey :)

what's in my bag #16 : placement edition

Whilst on placement, I only carry around a small cross body bag as it is inappropriate to tote around a massive bag with the kitchen sink in it. Here is what I carry around:

From top left, clockwise: an Iconic A6 essay book, two pens, a bottle of water, a pocket textbook that is ridiculously useful, an ASUS tablet (university-issued and contains an app where I have things needed to be signed off whilst on placement), mints, a snack bar and a box of Graze snacks.

The eagle-eyed of you will notice that the Iconic notebook was featured in a post where I talked about some additions from The Journal Shop. In that blog post, you can see the layout of the essay book and it has been ideal for placement use (I will talk more about this in a post towards the end of this year/at the beginning of 2015).

Snacks are essential as lunch breaks aren't guaranteed and fainting during a long morning clinic or ward round isn't a good idea when there are already numerous of patients to care for on a ward. You don't want to add to that list, even if it is for a few minutes!

The tablet is a hassle to carry around. It is university-issued as all procedures and tests that are done need to be signed off electronically now.

You can never carry enough pens around: people are always asking to borrow pens and when they do, don't expect to get it back.

The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine is a great book to have on hand when on the wards. I know that a lot of medics call it 'the bible' and I'm definitely seeing why they do - the information in it is perfect for clinical medicine and it covers an extensive range of topics.

Being on placement is definitely a shift in the way I learn things. Whereas in the past, I was used to sitting in lectures, I have found that I've had to be more assertive in my own learning; using my initiative to visit other wards to see patients with a variety of reasons for being in hospital. After all, patients are interesting to talk to!

what's in my bag #15 : summer edition

This summer, I will be carrying around my Mulberry (unless I'm going to work) and also significantly less than what I would usually tote around with me on a day where I head to university. Here is what I will be carrying around:

From top left, clockwise: Rayban Wayfarer sunglasses, Luella purse, my keys on a lanyard, Strepsils, Soap and Glory hand cream, Cath Kidston travel card holder with my Oyster in it, Evian water, Tempo pocket tissues and an umbrella.

So why these items? Well, an umbrella is present as you never know when it's going to rain. A necessity if you live in the UK! Hand cream as my hands have been damaged by alcohol gel that I've used on an almost daily basis whilst at uni for the past year.

Strepsils (and eye drops which aren't pictured) are required due to my hay fever - which seems to have, annoyingly, got worse this summer. And finally sunglasses as the bright sunlight makes me squint a lot and I'd quite like to put off the development of wrinkles if at all possible...

Do you find that you carry less in the summer? Or are you the opposite - do you end up carrying more due to allergies and sun protection, etc?

what's in my bag #14

Last year, I bought a new Longchamp Le Pliage to replace my old one which was becoming a bit too battered. I purchased this one with vouchers so I paid less than £10 for it! It is easily my most used accessory so it has been worth it to use all of the vouchers I had at the time to buy it. 

Having had one in the graphite colour, I opted for the bog-standard navy one this time. They have changed the material a little - this one is a lot shinier than the graphite one I had but the fabric does feel that bit thicker and sturdier. This one was also cheaper than the graphite one I bought four years ago!

With the Le Pliage being lightweight and waterproof, I can totally understand why it is popular among university students. You can cram an awful lot into it without the whole bag and its contents becoming too heavy and it is versatile - I have used the bag on nights out too!

Anyway, without further ado, here is what was in my bag:

Top row: The Body Shop almond hand cream, a Semikolon notebook and my pencil case.
Second row: Specsavers contact lens solution, Strepsils, Burt's Bees lip balm, medical tape (in case my shoes are hurting my feet), my student ID card, Tempo pocket tissues (the best! They smell of Applewood!) and a compact hairbrush and mirror in one.
Third row: Luella purse, Cath Kidston travel card holder which has my student Oyster and railcard in, a chocolate bar and Netter's and homemade flashcards.
Bottom row: paracetamol, eye drops, my house and locker keys and my medicines pouch.

My lunch would also be in my bag (I always take leftovers from the night before as my lunch - luckily, we have a microwave in the student union that I can use), as would a bottle of water. Sometimes, I still think I carry too much to uni. On the days where I opt to wear my glasses instead of contact lenses, I take out the contact lens solution; but even so, I still feel that I don't need to carry Strepsils around with me every day. However, a sore throat can strike at any moment...! I'm all about being prepared...

what's in my bag #13 - the university edition!

During this first term, I have alternated between a Longchamp Le Pliage tote and the Zatchel you'll see in the next picture. Which one I use depends on the weather, how heavy it will be and also what I'm wearing (dresses and skirts with a satchel?! Bad idea...).

And here is what I carry in the bag (I try and keep it as minimalistic as possible):

From top left, clockwise: A4 refill pad, Garnier handcream, ID card (we are required to wear these at all times on the campus as the medical school is connected to the hospital), earphones, Smythson binder, Paul and Joe sister medicines bag, bottle of water, box of snacks and lunch, pencil case, phone, glasses, Oyster card holder and Halls mints.

I have a locker at university where I keep a bottle of contact lens solution, some snacks, my dissection room coat and some other essentials that I may need whilst on campus.

I'm sure what I carry around will change as the year wears on but this is all I find myself needing at the moment.

What do you carry to university?

what's in my bag #12: summer 2013!

So far this summer, my Mulberry Bella hobo has seen an awful lot of use. Being a paler, nude coloured bag, it is ideal for this time of year.

Here is what I usually carry in it:

From top left, clockwise: Burt's Bees lip balm, pocket mirror, Halls mints, eye drops, Smythson organiser, Luella purse, Paul and Joe medicines bag, Strepsils, pocket tissues, hand cream, glasses, car keys and house keys.

I think I'm quite consistent with what I carry in my bag? You can see more 'what's in my bag' posts to compare :)

However, I am sure the contents of my bag will change once uni starts - throw in some notepaper, pencil case and folders and that may be closer to the reality of what the next 'what's in my bag' post will consist of.

what's in my (sports!) bag

For netball, I tend to alternate between two bags - a massive, old Nike gym bag if I'm at a tournament or want to carry extra layers in case of unpredictable weather; or my old and trusty Longchamp Le Pliage for training sessions and times when I need to carry less.

In this post, I will be showing what I carried in my Longchamp Le Pliage bag when I was at netball training earlier this week.

The bag (an oldie; I've had it for almost four years' now I think?):

And what I carried in it:

From top left, clockwise: house keys, pocket tissues, glasses (with a contact lens case inside), water, towel, Lucozade tablets, phone, sunglasses, purse, Garnier handcream, car keys and my medicines and plasters bag.

Quite often, I carry two bottles of water but for the purpose of this post, I've left out the second one. I always carry a can of deodorant too as I dislike the thought of being smelly!
If I'm going out on a non-sport related outing, I add in a mini atomiser of perfume, my Smythson planner and maybe some nibbles.

What do you carry in your sports or gym bag?

what's in my bag #11

The last time I showed off what was in my bag, it was cold, the days were short and the nights were long. This time, it's not quite as cold, the days are longer and the nights are shorter. 

So, in an effort to lighten up the bag I carry around (in the hope that lightening up my bag will also lighten up the skies...!), I have resorted to using a smaller satchel type bag from NW3 by Hobbs. I do occasionally use my Longchamp Le Pliage tote for when I do sport or if I am carrying a lot of heavy stuff on a day trip, but I usually resort to my Modalu Pippa or this NW3 bag for all other occasions. Moreover, my Miu Miu is good for those times when I need to look smart and the Mulberry is ideal for the summer months!

All in all, my bag collection is pretty much complete and I don't find myself tempted by bags I see on sale or on other people's shoulders/arms. Although I am still trying to become a minimalist and less materialistic, I only have a few bags now (what I've mentioned above is all that I've got) and they are all quality bags that will last for years and years. However, I may end up selling one or two in the near future if I find some of them are neglected of regular use.

Anyway, enough of that. Here is the bag: 

And when you undo the clasp and undo the zip, you see this:

And all of the things laid out:

From top left, in a clockwise manner: Smythson Bond Street organiser, Kindle K4, Garnier hand cream, plasters, Burt's Bees lip balm, house keys! my iPhone, Luella purse and some pocket tissues. 

Sometimes, I won't even carry my Kindle - but as it's not that heavy, it doesn't make too much difference in terms of extra weight or bulk.

I will probably do another one of these posts when the summer arrives as that is when I will probably resort to using my Mulberry!

what's in my bag #10

After seeing the Modalu Pippa on Deborah's blog, I was convinced that this bag was my perfect one. Compartments (perfect for organising! A dream for someone like me!) and the lovely shell detailing... yum. So, since the summer, I've been lusting after this handbag. However, two months ago, one popped up on House of Fraser - and it was on sale! And because I had a lot of vouchers for HoF, I ended up getting this handbag for very cheap. I didn't get it in the more popular 'Shark' colour, but instead chose the 'neutral' colour. It looks like a pale, dusky, nude pink.

I've not seen any blog posts on this colour so I thought I'd incorporate that into this 'what's in my bag' post. So, at the front, you'll see this. The two mini zipped compartments are super handy for tissues, and throat lozenges, etc.

Before I get onto the topic of what I cart around with me in this bag, I just want to show a few pictures of the detailing that I love so much.

First up, the shell detailing on the main compartment zips (there are three compartments so, therefore, three zips):

And the shell-print lining:

The backside of the bag, there is a zipped compartment, which is extremely spacious. It was hard to take a picture of just how spacious it could be but trust me on this!

 And that compartment at the back has this zip detail too:

So in the first big compartment, you're greeted with this sight:

The middle (smaller compartment):

And the other big compartment:

What is really deceptive about this bag is the space. It doesn't look as if it could hold much but the amount I can cram into it is unbelievable. However, I refrain from doing that because not only could it ruin the bag, it also bloody hurts to carry around so much on my shoulder/arm!

Everything laid out...

From top left: Paul and Joe bag that has make-up, medicines, etc; Kindle K4, Slimline Deco, The Body Shop almond handcream, Cath Kidston travelcard case, duck contact lens case (my sister gave me this as a present!), medical tape, iPhone 5, Luella purse, tissues, mirror, Burt's Bees lip balm and Softmints.

I'm trying to decrease the amount I carry around and this was what I carried on a recent trip to London. There were some papers in there too but these were only present in the journey to London and not on the way back.

Do you carry the kitchen sink, or do you try and carry as little as possible?