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The Peace of Mind I Carry Wherever I Go This Summer

 


Three times a charm… and this little Hello Kitty tote is back again.


But this time, it’s not about what I packed…
it’s about what I chose to carry.


I went quiet for a few days. Not out of absence, but because my body asked for stillness… and for once, I listened.


And when I came back to this bag, I realized something.


The things inside it aren’t just “essentials.”
They’re small decisions… that make everything feel softer, calmer, easier.


This summer, I’m not carrying more.


I’m carrying better.


You already saw what I pack to keep calm in the heat in my last post. Tonight, I’ll share with you the other things I carry for peace of mind. 

Above are my bag organizer, snack kit, 2 tote bags, fan, and Evian spray. 

One would think that that’s all I’m carrying in my big Hello Kitty tote. 

However…


The bag organizer looks small but it actually fits a lot! Just look:


The things that keep me feeling like myself



In the biggest compartment is where I put my makeup kit, my pen pouch, and my travel journal. 

The things that keep me clean



In the next is where I put the tissues and wet wipes.


I also include a motion sickness bag, toilet seat covers, and hand sanitizer. There’s another tote in the photo because I normally bring three. 

I also included the cool fever strips.  


The organizer has these small compartments inside, too!



I like this garter detail in one of the outside pockets. I put my hand and nail lotion here and my cute cat paw box cutter that has been very helpful in a lot of situations. 

Here it is when full in different angles:



My clear pouches fit in the outside pockets!



One of the biggest things that give me peace of mind in my bag is this mini stool that I take out whenever I’m shopping at a store. I take a long time choosing and looking at things and my son used to just squat on the floor while waiting for me. I found this on one of the days I was fixing my studio. I put it in this laundry bag that was given to me by one of the staff at Ramada. And then I put the laundry bag in my Hello Kitty tote so that my tote won’t get dirty inside. 

When I take a long time at a shop, I take this out and my son sits beside me. He moves when I move and sits when I take a long time looking at something. 



Is my tote heavy?

A little. 

Especially when the water bottle is full. And if I have the other things from the last post in the tote, too.

But I’d rather carry them around and have peace of mind than find myself in a situation where I need them and I’m empty-handed. And I’ve been in those situations. 

Some happened just recently. 

Some people can argue that you can find most of these things at the mall, so just buy them when you need them instead of lugging them around.  And yes, they are available at the mall, but you lose precious minutes if you have to scramble around. And I can’t leave my son alone when he’s overheating, so I have to have everything with me at all times.

For me and my son, with our sensitivities, this is how I move through the world without stress. 

Peace of mind. 

That’s my real luxury this summer. 


---


'Til my next post,
Stay soft. Stay strong. Stay Glowing.
LET'S GLOW.

With elegance and quiet fire, 

Lady E

Exhibitor and speaker at the Philippine Book Festival 2026
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