The Art of Carrying Two Bags

 

I’ve been carrying two bags since 2012, back when the no plastic policy first rolled out in my city.

At first, it was a simple adjustment — one of those “eco-conscious things” we did because we had to. But over the years, I’ve come to realize: it’s not just better for the environment.

It’s better for me. 

It’s become a rhythm. A habit. And now? A quiet kind of lifestyle.

My first bag is always my main purse — usually something smaller for my phone, wallet, and essentials. The second is a tote, often canvas or jute, always soft and reliable. It carries water bottles (one for me, one for my son), an umbrella (because weather is drama), my snack kit, tissues, wipes, sometimes a tablet… and whatever life hands me while I’m out.

It’s not just about being prepared.

It’s about being gentle to my back and shoulders, too — distributing weight across two bags instead of stuffing everything into one. Practical and surprisingly ergonomic.

🥐 And then… I found out French girls do it too.

I stumbled across a thread where someone asked:

> “Why do French girls always carry two bags?”

One replied:

> “One is my purse, and the other is for books I pick up at a secondhand shop… a plant… a baguette… or things I didn’t know I needed when I stepped out of my apartment.”

Another added:

> “Always a book. Always a journal. And always, always an umbrella.”

I smiled reading that. Because here I am, quietly doing the same thing in humid Metro Manila —

with none of the Parisian chill, but all of the intentionality.

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🎀 My Tote Rotation (a few of them, anyway)

Over the years, I've had many different totes. When that policy was first implemented, the stores gave away totes. It was smart. Made people walking advertisements. But today, I prefer these polished, structured totes:

A soft brown Amour Paris net tote. This is one of my favorites as it looks chic, is functional, and lightweight.

My beloved Hello Kitty canvas (with a Hello Kitty keychain, of course). It's too big and the handles are too long for my petite frame, but I love it because it has a zipper and is perfect for when we go out of town. 

Mitsukoshi Fresh for groceries — chic and functional. This is my favorite grocery shopping tote. I always bring this whenever we go grocery shopping at Mitsukoshi. 

A plain Muji jute tote which is great for road trips and when we go out of town to shop in the provincial palengke (market).

And my olive Muji bag that fits multiple water bottles like a dream...and my curated purchases. These are from Daiso. 

And the beauty? Instead of lugging around multiple small paper bags from errands, I just slide them into the tote. It becomes my soft, ever-ready companion — ready to grow with the day.

I have other totes, too like Landers, Healthy Options, IKEA,  Parfois, The Body Shop, Steve Madden, M&S, etc. — but to be honest,  some of their size and shape don’t always work for me. Take for example the blue IKEA bags. they're spacious and nice but it has no structure, so my groceries end up rolling around. The shark IKEA tote is cute and functional, though. I like that. Plus we love that adorable shark plushie. We have 2 of those. I bought that tote because it had the shark design. 

I also like this small IKEA tote that is serving as my first aid kit. It has The Body Shop organizers inside to corral my stuff. 😆 I know. I just want my gauze, bandages, and tools fashionable. 🤣

But the iconic blue bags? Not quite Lady E.

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Lady E's Curated Picks

Two years ago, I bought my crafter friend a tote on Amazon. I was in love with it. I had just bought a crafting bag for myself, so I passed. But the tote bug bit me again and  I've been looking at the totes and this  🛒 brown Carhatt Horizontal Zip Tote caught my eye. I like the color and I love the fact that there are smaller compartments inside. 

This 🛒 BAGSMART Puffy Tote is reminiscent of my Uniqlo puffy tote. I'm a sucker for puffy totes and this one from Amazon is perfect for laptops and tablets, too! There are so many pretty colors that I don't know which one to put in my cart! Should I go with classic white? But the green is lovely, too. But the brown and dark grey are totally my aesthetic! 

My Uniqlo tote feels like a pillow

And this 🛒 BAGSMART Puffer Travel Bag had me at shoe compartment. Yep, in you go into my cart. This will be perfect for my trip in December! I chose the green one. 

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I don’t carry two bags for fashion.

I carry them because it makes sense.

Because I’ve been doing it for over a decade.

Because I live a life that always has room for something more —

a surprise purchase, a shared snack, a book I didn’t plan to buy.

Two bags:

One for the day I planned.

One for the day that unfolds.

And maybe… that’s where the art..and elegance really begins. ✨

I'm taking a break from my Binondo series. We'll get back to that soon. I just have a few posts that I've been meaning to write. So, stay with me, Glow Girls!

'Til then,

Stay soft. Stay strong. Stay Glowing.

LET'S GLOW.

With elegance and quiet fire, 

Lady E

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