Page 2 / News, Trends, Gossip and Stuff To Do : Lifestyle : A Backpack Roomy Enough for 3 Lives

Name: Christine Bullard, 33, Los Angeles. A mother of two children--Andrew, 3, and Zoe, 1--she used to carry a small purse just big enough for a wallet, keys and lipstick. Today, her full life is represented by a bulging backpack. Why does she carry a rucksack instead of the traditional diaper bag? “It’s not as geeky looking,” Bullard says. “It’s easier too. You just strap it on. I can carry all my things with the things my kids need.” That would include:

* Zoe’s Essentials: Four diapers, a travel-size container of Baby Wipes, one bib and a hot-pink teething ring.

* An Emergency Food Supply: One small bag of Gold Fish crackers, one small bag of pretzels, Handi-Snack cheese and crackers, and a plastic sippy cup for Zoe. And, Andrew says, “I have the Nutty Hemp Seed Honey Bar Treat, so Mommy can get protein.”

* A Traveling Medicine Cabinet: “Sesame Street” Band-Aids, travel-size Extra-Strength Tylenol (“Because I’m nursing and can’t take ibuprofen,” Bullard says) and homeopathic medicines, including arnica, sepia and a teething tablet.

* Photo Gear: A Canon Sure-Shot camera (fully loaded), two rolls of film (that need to be developed), and a small photo album that includes a picture of Zoe when she was 3 days old, pictures of Andrew, and photos of herself and John, her husband, a movie prop builder, at their wedding.

* Lip Protection: Two lip glosses (Bonne Belle watermelon lip smacker and Avon Slick Tint), one lipstick (MAC red) and one lipliner (MAC hot red).

* The Essentials: A checkbook, a wallet and her leopard-skin date book and phone book, which includes times for her belly-dancing lessons.