When you have chronic illness, there are things you need to keep with you to maintain some sort of comfort level when you’re away from home. If you’re just going to work, shopping or to visit a loved one, it’s handy to keep these things with you. Whether it’s, a bottle of water, salty snacks, pain meds, or a stash of emergency chocolate. I’ve found the perfect answer to hold all of our “survival away from home” items.
Remember my post about having the right tool for the job? And thinking outside of the box? This is an instance of just that.
Finding different uses for everyday things is a specialty of mine, and this one was no different.
It’s a diaper bag. But not just any diaper bag. It’s a Ruvalino Multifunction Travel Backpack. I found it on Amazon after my daughter requested a very similar one for college.
I’d like to point out that my kids are adults now, and my daughter doesn’t have any kids.
I know what you’re thinking. Why on earth should I get a diaper bag? Let me tell you why.
Why a diaper bag?
First of all, it’ll keep ALL of your items organized. I had a big bucket bag that I used to carry to work, and it was just that. A big bucket filled with so many different things I wasted a lot of time digging to find things and if I couldn’t find something right away, I’d just throw another one in the bag, and then it got heavier, and, well, you see my problem.
This bag has so much storage and so many pockets and dividers and places to put all of your “don’t leave home without it” things, you’ll know exactly what you have, what you need to replace, and when to refill something.
No more wasted time or energy sifting through an unorganized heap in a bag.
The features
This bag has everything.
It’s a backpack, so you can throw a strap over one shoulder or two. Bonus. Hands free shopping and it won’t fall off of your shoulder when you bend down.
It’s roomy. I can fit my laptop in it, and my ipad, and two bottles of water (it has room for 4, maybe even 6 if needed), a change of clothes, snacks, food, pens, my wallet and my cell phone and more.
It’s got two insulated “bottle holders”, which are excellent for water bottles. I personally like the short bottles of Core water.
There’s a secret pocket for your cell phone, wallet or keys where it would sit flat against your back. Not easily accessible by anyone standing behind you.
It’s got an expandable outside pouch on the side that is an excellent tissue dispenser or wipe dispenser. And when I say wipes, I’m talking about the hand cleaning, germ removing, wipe down your stuff kind of wipes.
It’s got a “diaper changing pad”. But we don’t need this for that reason, no. However, it’s the perfect size for say, a placemat for eating lunch at a park and keeping your food and dishes clean.
Or, for when you need to sit down like, right now, and the park bench or floor is a little wet, or dirty.
Or, say you need to set your bag or something down on a surface that’s not ideally clean or dry, just use the “changing pad”.
You could pack a pillowcase in your bag, and if you are worried about germs and getting your “changing pad” dirty, just slip your clean pillowcase over it, use the pad however you intend, and then remove the pillowcase and turn it inside out to keep the debris inside until you can get it home and wash it. Or, better yet, the bag comes with its own dust cover bag, keep it and throw it in there to use for this purpose!
Genius.
This bag really has everything. Do you lose your keys often? I keep my car and house keys on a carabiner clip, so that I don’t lose them. This bag has rings at the top on the outside (technically for attaching to a stroller), which are perfect for clipping your keys to quickly so you don’t have to dig through your bag to find them.
Better yet, it keeps your keys away from your other belongings so that you can disinfect them when you get home.
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Lost keys no more! -
D ring clips for keys, or hanging.
There’s also a short lanyard in the very front outside zip up pocket to clip your keys to. No carbiner clip required here. There’s a clip right on the end of the strap. Done. When you need your keys to be secure and not jingling like reindeer on Christmas coming down the hall.
This bag is water resistant. I don’t know about you, but I get caught in rain, and I have a knack for spilling things. Mostly coffee.
It’s got two handles at the top if you prefer to carry it that way, instead of wearing it like a backpack if you are unable to, or need to switch it up. There’s a little strap with a snap on it to secure the two top handles together. I’ve clipped the strap of my face mask in here so that I don’t forget to put it on before going in somewhere. Super handy.
It’s very uni-sexy, and very modern in its style and design. It in no way looks like the diaper bags of previous decades.
And, it’s got a cute little tag on the front.
It’s exciting to know that I’ll be organized, neat, and stylish at the same time.
It’s less expensive than purchasing a large purse, it’s more efficient than a big bucket bag, and it’s got a lot of handy storage.
This would be a great gift to give a friend or family member who has recently been diagnosed with chronic illness.
Fill it with their favorite goodies and snacks, a distraction such as a coloring book and colored pencils, a good book, or a board game, and a card to let them know you’re thinking of them instead of a gift bag or box.
You can tell them it was your idea. Wink, wink!
Andie
