Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.
Meredith Sides is one of the many foreigners who originally came to China for a short stint, but was sucked in by the fast-paced Beijing lifestyle and has now been living here for more than ten years. Originally from the US, Sides graduated from university with the intention of pursuing a career in medicine, like so many others in her family. However, after turning her passion into a business, she’s made a career as a nutty entrepreneur – the founder and CEO of NAKED nut butters.
I adore a good fanny-pack and this is certainly not the only one I own, but it’s my day-to-day fanny pack (not my fancy fanny pack). I find conventional purses too inconvenient, always falling off my shoulder whenever I make any sort of movement, and backpacks are just too big for my simple needs. This particular one I got from Lululemon, because even though I tend to be more conservative with my money, it just spoke to me.
1. Two types of Vaseline and an empty bottle of hand cream: Anyone that knows me well knows I’m obsessed with Vaseline. I always have a mini-tinted one for my “going out” nights, and a regular-sized one for all those chapped lip emergencies (and trust me, those happen often). I have this empty bottle of hand cream because I keep meaning to throw it out and replace it but always forget. So, it’s a good reminder of my failures.
2. Mini lama: Her name is Sherry, and she just really enjoys going out with me. Sherry is very popular with the boys.
3. “Snipes” hoop earrings: My nickname since college is Snipes (that’s another story for another time) and so I got these hoop earrings made to flaunt that. Granted, I haven’t worn them yet, but I keep them in my bag until I find the perfect occasion to wear them.
4. Mini sunglasses: I must have about ten pairs of my own sunglasses, but I never remember to pack them. What I do remember to pack is this pair of mini sunglasses, because I feel I should always be prepared in case I meet a cute doggy who is in desperate need of cool shades.
5. A random key: I have absolutely no idea what this key unlocks, but I’m determined to find out. I keep it with me at all times and try it in any random lock I encounter, hoping that one day the mystery will be solved.
6. Mini stereo: I think this one is obvious… pigeon breakdance circles.
Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our official Jingkids WeChat account (ID: beijing-kids), or leave a comment below!
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Images: Courtesy of Meredith Sides
