Sofía Villafaña's "What's in My Bag"

Dear Readers, 

As an mfa student, and a New York native, there are certain things that must remain in my bag at all times. First, let’s talk about the bag. It was a gift from me to me, after a hard semester, I bought a Brandon Blackwood gorgeous brown leather large handbag. I added some charms, a scarf, filled it with heavy books and wore it around the house until it actually had a lived in shape. What’s in it, though, tells you all you need to know about me. 

1. A moleskin, pen AND pencil. The best ideas are fleeting, that you have to chase with three bags in each arm and an egg on a spoon out of your mouth. I find that it’s better to be prepared for those ideas, it’s not the same as typing it out on my notes app, handwriting it solidifies its place in my mind. Makes the idea real, and makes it easier to build off of when I can see it all in front of me. 

2. A book, at the moment, Dominicana by Angie Cruz. I don’t dare even bend a corner on a page, but I love the traveling I get to do between the pages. 

3. Penelope. Can’t get through tourist season, which in New York is every season, without something. 

4. Camera, instant or digital depends on the day. Sometimes I need to take hot pics with friends with the skyline in the background, other times I see a cute dog. 

5. Lip liner and gloss, I don’t go anywhere without my armor. 

6. Silk scrunchie, Got2be hair gel, and a boar bristled brush. Just in case the curls don’t make it to the end of the night, you will NOT catch me slipping. 

7. Custom Olfactory perfume and deodorant, because trying to withstand the heat of power walking through the subway station to catch the next 4 train or whatever.

8. Of course the essentials, metro card, wallet, house keys. Can’t get anywhere around New York without these. Or make it back home either. 

9. Pepper spray. I’m still a girl. 

-Sofía Villafaña