What's In My Purse? My 16 Everyday Essentials

PLUS: 4 genius smartphone tips that make travel easier, my favorite cornbread recipe, and more. PLUS: 4 genius smartphone tips that make travel easier, my favorite cornbread recipe, and more. June 14, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! We all have things we find useful to keep in our purse or bag, and I’m often curious what other people deem worthy to carry with them. In Today’s Good Thing, I’m (metaphorically) dumping out my purse and sharing the contents with you, just in case you’re as curious as I am! And if you’ve been itching for a good book series to sink your teeth into, don’t miss today’s Jillee’s Pick. I’ll tell you all about the 6-book series I recently finished reading (and already want to re-read). Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING What's In My Purse? My 16 Everyday Essentials [Photos of Jillee showing the contents of her purse.]( Ever wondered what I carry in my purse? Wonder no more, because I’m sharing the full inventory. During a recent team meeting, someone mentioned they can't resist social media posts that reveal the contents of someone’s purse or bag. (Apparently there’s even a snappy term for it—EDC, or “everyday carry.”) I was immediately intrigued by the idea, because I often feel curious about what other people carry around all day. I know what’s in my own purse, but what if someone else is carrying something totally life-changing and useful that's never even occurred to me? (Perish the thought!) But I recognize that it would be fairly hypocritical to be nosy about other people’s EDC if I'm not willing to share my own, so that’s what I’ll be doing today! I sat down, went through my purse, and ended up with a list of 16 items that have earned a spot in my purse. I like to be prepared for minor emergencies, so you'll find out what I keep on hand to tame flyaway hair, fix smudged lipstick, and resuscitate my dead phone. Along with explaining what each item is, I've also explained why I like to carry it with me and where you can buy it (or buy something similar, if I couldn’t find the exact item). To find out what exactly I keep in my purse so that I'm ready for whatever the day brings, just follow the link below! [What's In My Purse? My 16 Everyday Essentials ➜]( Related • [These Are The 11 Best Things I Bought In 2021]( • [11 Secrets To Always Getting The Best Deals On Amazon]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Part fun in the sun, part arts and crafts, these two-toned “sun prints” are as enjoyable to make as they are to look at. [Read more ➜]( • If your soft and fluffy towels never seem to stay that way for long, you could be guilty of these 7 towel-ruining behaviors. [Read more ➜]( • Leather furniture needs special care, but “special” doesn’t have to mean “difficult,” especially with these helpful tips. [Read more ➜]( TECH TIP TUESDAY 4 Indispensable Phone Hacks For Travel [An image of someone taking a screenshot of a map on a smartphone.]( Whether you’re visiting another state or another country, these tips are sure to come in handy. 1. Take Screenshots Of Directions. While you're looking up directions, take a screenshot of them and save them to your camera roll. You never know when you're going to end up in a place with spotty cell service (or none at all), and if that happens, you'll be glad you have those screenshots as a backup. 2. Snap Photos Of Rental Cars. If you’re renting a car on your trip, take a picture of both the car and license plate. The license plate photo will come in handy when checking in at hotels, and the photo of the car will jog your memory if you forget what it looks like while you're searching for it in a parking lot. (It happens!) 3. Take Pictures Of Hotel Rooms. Every time you arrive at a new hotel or lodging, take pictures of the room before you get settled in. If, heaven forbid, there were a fire, theft, or other unfortunate circumstance, those photos could come in handy. And if not, you’ll just have a few extra photos of the places you stayed! 4. Take Screenshots Of Conversions. If you're going somewhere with a different currency, take screenshots of basic conversions (the equivalent of $20, $50, etc.) so you can reference them when shopping. (Have an iPhone? Skip the screenshot and [download Elk]( for handy conversion tables that don’t depend on cell service.) COOKING The Cornbread You’ll Want At Your Next Barbecue [Photos of cornbread.]( This cornbread may not be traditional, but it tastes so good that no one will mind. I find it fascinating that even with a dish as straightforward as cornbread, there's so much variation between recipes. My favorite cornbread recipe (the one I'll be sharing here) has a relatively low ratio of cornmeal to flour, making it light, fluffy, and deliciously cake-like. It's a real crowd-pleaser too, so I’m sure you and your family will love it as much as we do. The sweetness of this cornbread is the perfect compliment to rich, smoky barbecue, so give it a try at your next cookout! One more quick note—as written, this recipe feeds a small army, so feel free to make a half batch if you’re feeding less than about 6 people. (For a half batch, make the batter according to the directions, pour it into an 8×8” pan, and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.) Here’s how to make it: Start by combining 1 cup of cornmeal, 3 cups of flour, 1 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt together in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture, then pour 2/3 cup of oil, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, 2 beaten eggs, and 2 1/2 cups of milk into the well. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together just until they come together to form a batter. Pour the batter into a greased 9×13” baking dish, then bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes. Let the finished cornbread cool for at least 15 minutes or so before slicing and serving. [See the full recipe ➜]( JILLEE'S PICK The Rich Renaissance World Of The Lymond Chronicles [An image of the front cover of ]( I stumbled across [The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett]( by chance while looking for a new series to dig into, and I will be forever grateful for whatever twist of fate led me to this one! The series consists of six novels set in 16th-century Europe—The Game of Kings, Queens’ Play, The Disorderly Knights, Pawn in Frankincense, The Ringed Castle, and Checkmate—that follow the life and career of Scottish nobleman Francis Crawford of Lymond (think Jamie from Outlander). It did take me some time to get into these books though, because Dunnett makes so many references to the Renaissance era that I found it hard to keep up. But I eventually realized it wasn't necessary to understand every reference in order to follow the story. (Keep that in mind if you decide to read this series!) The characters are so well written, and I’m sure you’ll feel as strongly about them—positively or negatively, depending on the character—as I do! I don't re-read books very often, but I already know I’ll be returning to this series in the future (and reading the author’s other acclaimed series, The House of Niccolò)! [See The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett on Amazon ➜]( POLL OF THE WEEK Leisure Leanings Q: Surprise—you have the day off! What do you decide to do with your free time? (Click one of the options below to submit your response.) 1. [Go shopping]( 2. [Have a spa day]( 3. [Take a day trip]( 4. [Stay home]( Results from last week's poll: According to my horoscope, the vast majority of OGT readers think astrology is pretty fun. Over 1,400 of you weighed in on the question “What is your stance on horoscopes and astrology in general?” Here's how you responded: • 63.3% said “It's fun to read about but I don't take it seriously.” • 22.9% said “It's all fake and a waste of time.” • 9.2% said “I check my horoscope often and find the guidance valuable.” • 4.7% said “I don't really know what to think.” A FEW MORE THINGS... 🇺🇸 Stars And Stripes (Again): Today is Flag Day, commemorating the adoption of the [national flag of the United States of America]( on June 14, 1777. The flag today has the same 13 stripes (7 red and 6 white) as the one the Second Continental Congress adopted 245 years ago, but the style, number, and arrangement of stars has changed many times throughout the intervening years. 🩸 Give Blood: Today is also World Blood Donor Day, a campaign by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of the global need for safe blood products and encourage people to donate blood regularly. Giving blood is an easy way to support your community and help save lives. Celebrate the occasion by [donating blood]( or making an appointment to do so! 🍓 Strawberry Supermoon: Today's full moon is traditionally referred to as the [Strawberry Moon](, as it occurs during the peak of strawberry season. It's also the 2nd of this year's 4 supermoons, meaning it will appear larger because it's near its closest point to Earth. If weather permits, don't miss the Strawberry Supermoon! 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why. Update your email preferences or [unsubscribe]( [here](. View our privacy policy [here](.