Everyday Carry

I was a terrible Boy Scout (because I, you know, wasn’t a boy lol) but I really took the whole “be prepared” thing to heart. Being prepared when I’m out in the world gives me a sense of safety. Being prepared makes me feel like I can conquer adventures big and small. When it comes to everyday carry (also known as EDC) I want to feel like I have all the tools I need to be comfortable, think, jot, and even make art. But I also... don't love carrying things with me. Quite the conundrum.

Let’s take a look at my EDC (everyday carry) as it exists in this moment! This is what I carry when I’m “adventuring” (be that at home or when traveling) but is also what I’ve been taking to work and when I run errands.

The bag: Alpaka Go Sling

I tend to prefer backpacks, but when I’m walking around a city or crowded places I worry about safety of my things. I have a Fjallraven High Coast Totepack which I love! It’s roomy, it’s nice quality, it’s light, and it has both backpack straps that can clip flat to the back of the bag as well as a tote bag strap. It is a little on the taller side though. I also love my Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L sling, but it doesn’t hold much.

My current go-to EDC bag is the Alpaka Go Sling in black, which they have sadly retired. I chose this bag because it’s just big enough to fit my 11” iPad with depth for other things too. It doesn’t have too many pockets, can be worn as a cross-body bag or as a sling, and has a magnetic clasp on the strap for easy removal. Really the only downside to this bag is the strap is too slippery when not worn cross-body.

(I also did a little bit of decorating with the gold stars pin set from @keelystudios on Etsy and also a had a custom metal tag engraved with my contact info on one side and my logo on the other!)

The sketchbook with a keyboard: iPad Air + Magic Keyboard case + Apple Pencil + AstroPad screen cover

I have a tough relationship with my iPad. It's so powerful, technically, but the software I need to make the most out of it when it comes to making art just doesn't exist. My iPad is mostly for two things when I'm out: As a sketchbook that I can incorporate photos into, and as a big keyboard.

I’ve tried many note taking/sketching apps but honestly? I just keep coming back to Microsoft OneNote. It has the ability to endlessly scroll left/right and up/down (versus being limited to a predefined “page”), it has great Apple Pencil support, syncs to my other devices, and allows me to take photos from inside the current note. Combine that with the AstroPad Rock Paper Pencil matte screen protector + Apple Pencil tips and it makes drawing and sketching a dream!

The camera: Fujifilm X100V

I vaguely remember when I got my first digital camera around 2003. I was hyped. It was a Canon PowerShot A300, it literally had the form factor of a brick, and I loved that sucker until the day it died. Today a digital camera is still along for the ride, and after 20+ years of digital cameras in my life, this is my favorite one yet. The Fujifilm X100V is my ideal marriage of the intentionality of a film SLR with the ease of digital. I don’t really use any accessories with it either. It’s perfect just the way it is! But I do carry along some lens cleaning cloths and use the amazing Peak Design Cuff Rope wrist strap (in ocean blue).

The other tech

There's nothing worse than a battery dying when you're in the middle of a big city you don't live in. Thankfully I do not speak from experience lol. In my bag are two key items, both from Anker. Anker is a pretty reputable company that builds high-quality stuff at very reasonable prices. First is this Anker USB-C power brick. All my devices these days are USB-C powered (🙌) so thankfully no need for anything other than this one brick. I also tote along a Anker USB-C to USB-C cable that supports both data (mostly for taking photos from my camera and loading them onto my iPad) and charging.

There’s also an Apple AirTag in my bag too. Unremarkable and boring… until you need it!

The “Mom friend stuff”

Okay so remember the "be prepared" thing I said in the beginning of this post? This is where it really kicks in. Introducing the "Mom friend stuff." This is the stuff that your Mom (or Mom friend) would carry to make sure everyone's always comfy when out. In my purse or backpack I have a much more flushed-out "Mom friend pouch," but as the bag I carry for adventuring is smaller, these are the key items I take with me to ensure I am comfortable—that's the key here. What do I need to stay comfortable?

• Glysomed hand cream: My current favorite especially in MN winters!
• Lip stuff: Dry and chapped lips are my mortal enemy, plus I like a little bit of gloss. For the vibes. I’ve been trying a lot of lip oils recently and while I have been loving the Byoma Liptide Lip Oil, the packaging is bad and it leaks everywhere. So right now I’m carrying both the Peach & Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm and the NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip.
• Tide To Go Pen: Having a coffee stain on my shirt will drive me absolutely bonkers all day. Being able to get rid of said coffee stain while I’m out? Peace and bliss.
• Hair ties: Ya girl thinks she wants her hair down, but half-way through the day (especially when taking photos) it's time to go.
• Kleenex: Achoo!
• Handkerchiefs from antique stores: I sweat a lot. What can I say?
• Pill case: Some ibuprofen, some acetaminophen, and whatever afternoon meds I need!

And finally, the removables

Here are the guys that will move from one bag to another with me.

• iPhone 16 Pro
• Wallet: I have this cute little wallet from Glad & Young Studio in Atlanta, GA. It has my initials stamped on it! I just carry my payment card, Minnesota license, and a lucky $2 bill someone gave me at a USPS location after I let them use my packing tape and Sharpie (yes this interaction was absolutely adorable and wholesome 😊)
• AirPods Pro 2: When I got my first pair of AirPods Pro I didn’t expect to love them so much. The noise cancelling is really impressive, they sound great, they fit in my ears well, and I can’t imagine taking anything else with me.
• Sunglasses: For the last few years I have been sporting the Ray-Ban Lady Burbank sunglasses. They make me feel like a movie star and you can’t beat that!
• Keys with a pocketknife: You seriously need a Classic SD pocket tool on your keychain. I use this thing so much! Just don't forget to leave it at home before you go through TSA 😬

This particular revision of my EDC has been hangin' in for about a month and honestly I really love it! The Alpaka Go Sling continues to grow on me and I haven't yet needed anything that I didn't already have with me.

What do you carry with you everyday? Anything I should add? Let me know! Until next time, love you! Mean it!