What's In My Handbag #3

 I did a What's in my Bag post back at the start of the year, but I got a new handbag for my birthday and was just itching to show you guys it! I originally planned to do this as a video, but I'm not very well right now and nobody wants to hear my croaky voice.

So the bag! It's the Zara Mini City Bag with Zip detail, in the shade 'jeans', a beautiful powder blue, the shade I am currently totally obsessed with. I normally go for handbags in various shades of black, but since pretty much my entire wardrobe is black, I figured a pop of colour would be nice. The bag is really well made, the quality is excellent, so I can't fault that! The fabric is textured so I would imagine that if you scratched it, it wouldn't show too badly. What really drew me to this bag is the fact it feels really secure. First off, it's pretty compact and small, although it fits a lot in it. Secondly, you've got two big zip pockets either side which are perfect for storing the important stuff, purses, phones, iPods, cameras, whatever you want protected. There's a small zip pocket on the front which is perfect for storing my Oyster card (in a Cath Kidston travel card holder), so it's safe and I can always find it. The mid section is the biggest, and whilst it doesn't have a zip, it's got a popper at the top and a couple of compartments inside, and because the bag holds it's shape so well it's pretty well protected. Also, I love that you can clip the handles together, it just offers a little more security, since it's harder to get into the zip pockets when it's clipped shut. The bag sits perfectly in the crook of your arm, but it also comes with a long strap if you want your hands free! 

So onto what's in the bag! First off, the obvious one, my purse. It's a grey leather Michael Kors Purse in the largest size, with rose gold detailing, and I just love it. It's big enough to hold everything I could possibly need, I can even slip my phone in it if I'm popping out without a bag. I keep this in the front zip pocket, along with my iPod & headphones. I have a red iPod Nano which is in a case with a big clip on it so I can hang it in my car, or clip it to my bag if I'm listening to music and I don't have any pockets. I've always had an iPod as well as my phone, I hate the music player on the iPhone! Plus this is much smaller for when I go for a run. I'm currently using just the standard apple headphones whilst my Beats are being fixed, and I have them on this little organiser thing to stop them getting tangled, makes life much easier! Also in this pocket is my camera remote, I'm back home for a week and I don't want to lose it so I just keep it in there! 

In the back zip pocket I keep a NARS makeup bag with a few essential bits in, blotting sheets, a small Sephora body spray, some setting powder, hairbands, an eyeliner and a lip balm. In this back pocket is also a LOT of lip products, since I tend to chuck whatever I'm wearing that day in, and forget to take them out. This time there is the Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in Rosy, the L'Oreal Glamshine Splash Stain in Lolita, the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine, the MAC Lipstick in Lustering, the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy and the Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Aurora. Definitely need to sort that out later! Also in this pocket are Compeed Blister Patches, you always need these in London, some Nurofen, an assortment of pens and a Notebook from Tiger, for lists and ideas on the go. 

In the main section there are two little pockets, where I keep my Student ID Card, blog business cards in a Kurt Geiger card holder, and my white iPhone five. Then in the main section is hand sanitizer & hand cream, a small bottle of CK Shock perfume, a bottle of nail polish for if I ever get time to paint them, a charger cable for my phone since my battery always dies, some Wylers Light sachets, my favourites, and a Forever 21 Beanie because it's bloody cold in London. I also usually have my Sunglasses in here but they appear to have gone walkies.

A lot of stuff for a small bag! What are your handbag essentials?