What’s In My Work Bag?

Hello everyone! I wanted to do a ‘WIMB’ for the set up I use for work, but found I had too much to say about it for a TikTok. Thus, this blog post is born.

I should start off by clarifying that I do a pretty unique job. I’m an Interpretive Guide for a Zoo. A lot of this entails talking to guests and managing engagement areas, particularly areas where guests feed or touch animals. So, a few things in my bag may not apply to a more ‘normal’ job… but I encourage you to look at it anyway! Maybe you’ll find an item you could use. Also, I typed this whole thing out, so the least you can do is read it! Hehe. Ok, let’s dive in >:)

THE BAG.

Meet the Kanken Mini Backpack in Spruce Green. This is not my first Kanken Mini Backpack, and it won’t be the last! I love their look, size, and sturdiness. I will say, this one is getting a little full with my current set up. So I am open to suggestions of slightly larger (but not MUCH larger, you know?) bags!

FRONT POCKET.

I will say, this front pocket fits a lot of stuff. But somehow, I still wish it were just a tad larger. My problem is I can’t fit my pill organizer in there with anything else. I am forced to choose between having my pills in the front or literally anything else I may need. I have decided to utilize this pocket for items I would like to reach quickly instead of meds. There are also a few things in here that just didn’t have a home in the pouches I put in the main compartment, and I didn’t want them loosey-goosey in the bag. So… here it comes.

In the front pocket, I stash…:

• Baby Powder scented roll on fragrance body oil. I got this from Amazon. I really like the scent of baby powder! I think I’ve only actually worn it at work once or twice. I’m really afraid perfume will attract bugs to me! But one morning I said, “You know what? I’m gonna smell nice today!” so I put it on. Well. One of my coworkers suddenly goes ‘What smells like a baby wipe? Did someone leave a baby wipe in here? I just hate the smell of baby wipes’. I have not worn it since. If you have recommendations for other scents that are not floral (as this will FOR SURE attract bugs), LMK.
• Bluetooth Earbuds. I have yet to use these on a day of work at this job. I can’t really listen to music during the day, I might miss a guest coming into my area or asking a question! And on lunch I usually just eat my food, talk to coworkers, or zone out. But I know there will be a day where I will need some jams on my walk from the car to the break room, or on lunch. And I will be ready! These are the JLab Jbuds Mini.
• Fidget Cube. I LOVE a good fidget. I found myself fidgeting with the counters we use to count guests at work, but that messed up my count! So I got this lil guy. I know there are many other fidget options available to us now, but for me, there is nothing like the classic cube.
• Vaseline tub. My lips have been so dry lately! Even before the cold front! What is happening to me?! This is the 1.75 oz tub!
• Shark watch. These watches are really popular with surfers? I am not a surfer. But! I do have to dip my hand in a stingray touch pool quite often! So, I wanted a good waterproof option. It was a no brainer to get this watch, based on reviews. There’s one problem, though, they are expensive as fuck. These fuckers run SEVENTY DOLLARS AND UP???? FOR A UGLY WATCH??? No way, Jose. I found this one used on Depop for 15 bucks because it’s stained up. Hurray!

PILL CASE & LIL POUCH.

We have now entered the main compartment of the backpack. Introducing: Pill Case and Lil Pouch!

The Pill Case contains my daily prescription medicines, a fuck ton of Lactaid, and a fuck ton of the Advil Dual Action pills. Y’all… advil dual action has changed me. I will never take regular advil again. Anyway, let’s get into what’s in LIL POUCH!!!

YEAAAAA LET’S GIVE IT UP FOR LIL POUCH CONTENTS!!! Now, Lil Pouch is a pouch for things I might like to grab quickly but like… not TOO quickly. LET’S GET INTO IT!!!

• Picaridin Bug Spray. Now, this bug spray is new to me. I cannot vouch for it yet! But I’ve heard good things. I used to use Ben’s Tick & Insect Repellent in the aerosol cans. That shit got me through Everglades. But the zoo is not as bad as Everglades, and that particular Ben’s can leaves me greasy. I also once tried to offer bug spray to a coworker in need, but she did not jive with the amount of DEET in Ben’s. So, we’re trying this one.
• Eyeglasses Cleaner Spray + Cloth. Me wear eyeglasses. But me also touch them and get them gunky very often. So me buy stuff to clean.
• Sunscreen Stick. It’s winter, but the sun still exists! I am really trying to be better about wearing sunscreen and I hope putting it in LIL POUCH will encourage me to use it and help me remember it exists.
• Scissors. This is such a niche problem. When I am up at the Giraffe feeding, sometimes there’s a really long branch in our bucket of stuff we’re feeding the Giraffes. And like, I don’t want to give a massive, leaf filled branch all to one person! It feels wasteful! But I can’t split them in half by hand. These aren’t dry twigs, they are freshly cut, so it’s tough to tear them apart. Thus, scissors!
• Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Oil Soap. THE GOAT!!! When I do the stingray feedings, I have to handle lil fishies. And they STIIIINK SO BADDD. One of our team leads has provided some bath and body works soap, but it is not enough. It doesn’t 100% get rid of the smell and does NOTHING for the fish oil film on my hands. Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree cuts through the smell and oil with just a teeny bit of product. Bless them.

OHHH MY GOD IT’S BIG DADDY POUCH!!!

Everyone, meet Big Daddy Pouch!! This is a big pouch with a good amount of items in it!!! Yay!

LET’S GET INTO IT!!!

• Power bank, Charger cord and Wall Plug. I got this power bank from Buck-ees a million years ago. It says it will solar charge, but I have never succeeded in getting that to work. It does still hold a lot of battery juice, though!
• Tide To Go WIPES. I used to swear by the Tide Stain Pens. But I think I like the wipes better!
• SOCKS!! I need extra socks. One day, my socks got wet and it ruined me forever.
• Lil Mini Deodorants. This is not the brand I use daily. But it was a cheap lil spray for touch ups. Huzzah!
• TAMPONS!!!! Tampeens are a necessity. I should probably throw some pads in here too so I can help folks who use pads too.
• WET WIPES! These are coochie and butthole safe and from DOLLAR TREE.
• A lil pencil. Ya need it
• Metal straws. The zoo doesn’t use any straws. Not even shitty paper ones. But like, sometimes I want a lemonade from the restaurant and I also want a straw! I must bring my own.

I almost forgot to put this in here. Commonplace Notebook.

This is my commonplace notebook. Look it up. It’s more like a zoo specific commonplace notebook than the general ones you see out there. K thx bye

HAHAH NOT BYE!! HERE’S MY WORK CUP!

This is the Swig 40z Mega Mug. Idk the name of the print but if you search ‘Swig 40z Mega Mug Sunshine Print’ it will come up. It is very pretty and it keeps me drink cold. I wanted a strap for it. When I’m moving from one engagement area to another one all the way across the zoo, I have to hold a lot of stuff. If I’m closing down an area and walking back to the break room, it’s a BIG a lot of stuff. So a strap just makes sense! The ones the actual brand Swig makes only come in a few designs and not the sunshine one. Which made me mad. I bought this cup bc it’s cute and now I have to put a different patterned coozie on it just to get a strap?? NO!!! I REFUSED!!! So I scoured Amazon to find this one, which looks cute and doesn’t cover the whole design 🙂 Lots of Amazon cup straps cover the whole thing which makes me MAD!!! WHAT IS THE POINT OF BUYING A CUTE CUP THEN?! Ok we’re done now….

LOL I GOT YOU! THERE’S A SURPRISE BAG INSIDE MY BAG!!!

Look at this lil guy. It’s a little bag that folds up! This one was like 15-18 dollars, I think. But it has a nice long strap and the shitty cheap ones don’t. And it has a nice texture, while the cheap ones come from the Devil’s texture house. Ok I’m done now. Here’s the link to this bag tho.