A look into the handbag contents of one busy Chicago Mom & Realtor as she zips around the city.
The contents of our handbags are very personal, and they tell us a lot about our lives. I always have a good laugh when I think back to my single, pre-kids days, remembering that my handbags only contained a few chic items like lipgloss, perfume, and breath mints. Today, two kids later, I find myself elbow deep in my Neverfull (and btw, it’s ALWAYS full), digging out Hot Wheels Lamborghinis, Goldfish crackers, and a myriad of other findings my kids bring to me.
For this month’s What’s In Your Bag, I thought it’d be really fun to dig through the contents of my bff’s bag (which is likely to be a Gucci, Chanel, or YSL number that we would all fall in love with).
Annie Caltabiano is a successful Chicago Realtor and jet-setting mom of two – and she’s been my friend for over a decade. We were pregnant with our oldest children together; she is the Godmother to my youngest child; and we’ve grown up as women together – from our carefree pre-kids days to our current roles as motivated boss moms who get more done in a day than we ever imagined we could (hello, 5am coffee and burning the candle ‘til midnight).
I thought it would be really fun to sit down with Annie – who is more like my sister than just a friend at this point, really – and talk to her about the contents of her handbag. Because do you even really know a person if you don’t know what’s in her trusty side-kick – aka the bag that’s always at her side?
LUXYMOM®: Annie, walk us through a day in your life. You’re on the go from morning til night, and then there’s your travel schedule – albeit hampered because of COVID this year. What is your typical day like?
Annie: My day is non-stop. I’m up by 5am most mornings, making breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for my two kids. I love to cook and I believe in giving my kids nutritious meals, so I invest a lot of my morning routine to meal prepping.
After I drop the kids at school, I dig right into work. I’m driving all over the city every single day – doing showings, listing appointments, putting out fires – you name it. I even squeeze in my errands, since my job is flexible and I might have small pockets of time where I can fit this in. But I’m always racing from one place to the next.
After work, it’s back home to help the kids with homework, get them to after school sports, and make dinner. But when I get the chance, I like a little down-time, so I might head for a quick happy hour champagne if I can!
LUXYMOM®: You have a very full life, and a very busy schedule. What do you find, as a busy working mom, are the most important items you must have in your bag at all times?
Annie: At this point in time, because of COVID and the fact that my job takes me all over town and into different properties, I have to be prepared to keep myself and others safe. So, I always keep hand sanitizer, extra masks (I love my adorable champagne mask a friend gave me from an Etsy shop). And – because of showings – I also have to carry hospital gloves – something I never thought I’d be carrying around on a daily basis!
In a non-COVID time, my must-haves are a little different, and they involve simple beauty and toiletry-type items. I always carry lipstick – my favorite is Dior Rouge Addict lipstick in CD-DREAM, Extra gum, Altoids, Blistex chapstick (it’s basic, but it works – especially in our cold Chicago winters), a good hand lotion, and a pen – because I’m always writing something down.
LUXYMOM®: How have the contents of your bag changed since having kids – any differences?
Annie: Yes (she says with a laugh) – I always have tissues, wipes (we both laugh, that understanding laugh that only a pair of moms can share), and that’s about it – and usually a That’s It Bar or RX Bar – because I never know when I’m going to have time to eat during the day.
And for the times when we’re out to lunch or dinner with the kids, I always bring along coloring supplies like markers and blank paper. They keep my creative kids entertained.
LUXYMOM®: What are your go-to products that you could never leave the house without?
Annie: This list is very simple. First, my phone – because I need to stay in touch with my clients, friends, and family. This is followed by my lip care products – the previously-mentioned Dior lipstick and your basic Blistex. These are my must-haves, and the list is so small because it’s what I can get by with if I just want to bring a couple things in my jacket pocket and not even carry a bag.
For more information on Annie’s listings or to have her help you find a home, she can be reached via her website.