New Year, New Month, New Purse!

A good shopping trip is not complete unless I have bought a new purse.

I had a good shopping trip on Saturday!

Every other weekend (the weekend of pay week), I go to a nearby town with my mom to shop. Typically, we go to get groceries (we only have one grocery store in the town I live in...and it’s very expensive), stop into Wal-Mart, and possibly the mall depending on what we both need. Yesterday was a pretty good trip; I managed to pick up a few things I have been wanting, and a few items I didn’t know I wanted until I saw them :)

One of the things I picked up was a new purse by Cabrelli & Co.; it’s not the first purse of theirs that I have bought. The purse is made with grey faux leather. It’s got two short handles, one main compartment, and a small zipper pocket on the back. The front has a funky asymmetrical bow on it. Here’s a picture:



I thought it was cute and funky. I ended up getting 10% off because I have a loyalty card for the store I bought it at. The manager of the store (who knows me...I’m a regular!) made the comment that she can always count on my to buy something when she gets in new stock. It was cute...she joked with my mom that when I get a house I need a room for all of the purses and jewellery I have bought. I had to laugh, because it’s totally true. If it isn’t a room all its own, it will be one big ass closet. She also asked if I share my purses - and I totally do! I love to lend my bags out...it’s weird, I get a kick out of lending something to someone and then they get a ton of comments on it. On the way out of the store, my mom mentioned that she wants to get a new Guess? purse this spring - something new and fun. I was stoked to hear this! Most of the time I have to be the one to convince my mom to get something she wants...this took no effort at all! So, I’ll be watching the Guess? website for something she might like. I am hoping I can score a good deal for her with my Guess? List membership.

Have you seen any purses you like lately? Anything on your wish list?

What's in a Bag?

I apologize if the title of this blog entry is misleading - this is NOT an updated What’s in My Bag post.

You’ll recall that a week ago, I was enamored with a bag I had come across on the Coach website. I was bound and determined that I would be purchasing that bag when I am in Ottawa next weekend. Last week I found out that the purse I want is not stocked at the Coach store I was planning to go to, as the bag is Limited Edition and that store does not stock any LE products. So, for a few days, I was a little bummed out that I will not be able to get the purse I was lusting after.

This weekend I went into a town nearby where I live and did some shopping. I bought myself some new clothes, some supplies for making Christmas Candy (my mom and I have a tradition of making candy to give to family and friends at Christmas), and I also bought 3 things that made me forget all about that Coach bag.

I bought two new purses - a small clutch, and a large tote. I also bought a new ring.

The first bag is a black leather clutch, with a chain handle with leather woven in, and silver zipper detailing on the bag’s opening flap. It’s just big enough to hold essentials - wallet, coin purse, phone, keys, lipstick. Here’s a photo of the bag:





The second purse is a large silver-studded tote by the company Chocolate. It’s big and made of black leather, and the front has a pattern of silver studs on it. It’s got a strap that can be used to make the bag a cross-body bag, and two shorter ones so that it can be carried like a tote bag. This is my ‘day’ bag - I have loaded in what I consider to be my essentials: day book, prayer book, notebook, cheque pouch, my ChocoCat business card holder, iPod Nano, and a few other things. The best part about this bag is that I can actually carry around the smaller clutch bag inside it. So, if I am at work and want to go to the cafeteria to grab a coffee or lunch, I can just take out the small clutch and leave the larger bag behind at my desk. Here’s a photo of the bag:





Last, but most certainly not least, is the new ring I bought. Two years ago, my grandmother gave me a turquoise ring for my birthday. I had seen it in a jewellery store a few months earlier, and a few days after that she went back and bought it for me and then set it aside for my birthday. I use to feel awkward when I wore this ring, because I didn’t have another ring in my collection that I could wear with it. Then I stumbled on this beauty:



It’s a sterling silver and turquoise ring. There are 4 round stones, and one teardrop stone on its side in the middle. Each stone has a bit of black veining in it, and the stones are much bluer that the stone in my other ring. When I tried the ring on in the store, it fit perfectly. I couldn’t pass it up - I had to buy it! I absolutely love the ring, and it goes perfectly with my other ring. Here’s a picture of the two together:



I am really starting to look forward to my trip to Ottawa next Saturday. I think it will be a blast - and I will certainly have a haul to share with you all when I get back.

Have a great week!

UPDATE: Haunted by Handbags

Well, it was no sooner that I had posted my entry about having a difficult time trying to figure out which of the 5 purses to buy, that I finally made up my stinking mind!

Naturally, I chose the bag that I kept coming back to, time and again.

It's big.

It's black.

It's studded.

It's The Studded Leather Large Alexandra, $598.00



I am very happy that this is the bag I will buy.

I just hope that they have it in stock when I get to Ottawa on the 13th! I'll be calling a day ahead to ask them to set one aside for me. I have pretty much given up trying to get a matching wallet from Coach - so I'll be getting a nice plain black leather wallet from Roots instead.

Now I have to make up the rest of my shopping list for the trip - we're going to two malls - the Rideau Shopping Centre and the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. I'm very excited! I don't get into the city for shopping all that often, so I want to make the most of it.

Once again, if you want to know more about the purse that I've picked, visit the Coach website here.

Curious about Roots? Go to their website here.

Haunted by Handbags

Happy Halloween!

For two nights in a row, my dreams have been filled with Coach handbags. I am going to be going on a weekend shopping trip to Ottawa in two weeks, and I am planning on going to a Coach store to purchase my first Coach handbag. The problem is, I can't make up my mind about which one I want!

Here are the contenders:

1. The Studded Leather Large Alexandra, $598.00



This bag is totally me. It's black - meaning it will go with everything, and it's got stud detailing - something I find myself drawn to time and again when I look at purses. It's large, too - which is another good thing, as I love to carry a lot of stuff in my purses. The downside? The price. If I do decided that this is the bag for me, I am likely not going to be able to get a wallet to match; my budget won't allow it.

2. The Kristin Leather Satchel, $358.00



This is not the color that I want - I would like this bag in the color 'brass', which is a nice cognac brown. This is a classic purse, meaning it's timeless and I will be able to use it for years to come without worrying about it looking juvenile. Another plus is the fact it is of a reasonable price - I could get the wallet to match and not feel a huge amount of buyer's remorse for dropping so much cash in one place.

3. Poppy Ocelot Sequins XL Spotlight, $598.00



Most of the time, I am not a fan of the animal print...but for whatever reason, this animal-print purse catches my attention. I think it has to do with the chain handle details, and the bright purple color. In reality, unless this one really catches my eye when I walk into the Coach store, the odds of me buying it are pretty low.

4. Poppy Patent Large Spotlight, $378.00



This bag is one that I know only holds my attention because of the color, a shade of teal that Coach calls 'Mermaid'. This is another large bag that I would be able to carry a lot of stuff in, and would be able to afford to buy a wallet to match it. However, the color of the bag would make it very difficult to wear all of the time. If I am going to be spending this much money on a purse, I want it to be something that I can use religiously and wear at least 90% of the time.

5. New Poppy Star Collectible XL Spotlight, $598.00



This purse is so cute---I cannot help but want it. I love the fact it's shiny, detailed, and flashy. It reminds me of childhood, and the 80's, and creativity. I love the star detailing, and the chain handle. The thing that makes me doubtful about buying this is exactly what draws me to it. This is not a bag that I will be able to use when I'm in my 40's without feeling a bit embarrassed and like I am trying to look 'young'. I know fashion is suppose to be fun, but I have a hard time reconciling that with my own desire to look like I'm mature and 'acting my age'.

What It will Boil Down To:

When I walk into the store and look for these bags, I am certain that I will know which one I want. It is one thing to look at them online, but something completely different to see/feel them in person.

What do you think? Do you have any other recommendations that I haven't considered? Let me know!

As always, if you are interested in any of these purses, or anything else by Coach, please check out their website, here:

www.coach.com

or, pop in to your nearest store!

Have a great week!

New Purse!

Yesterday I received a beautiful thing in the mail. I received a new purse and matching wallet I had ordered online. Here's all the gorgeousness (mind the cat tail):



This is the Guess? Otilia Satchel, and Otilia Slim Clutch - both in the Rose Multicolor shade. Both of these items were bought during the Guess List members-only sale that happened a few weeks ago. The bags were at a reduced introductory price, and then I got another 20% off because they were new releases. So, I got both items for $137.18 before shipping, handling and HST. I think this is a pretty good deal, considering at full price, the Otilia Satchel is $150.00 before taxes, shipping and handling.

I love everything in my bag to match, so naturally this morning I went on a rampage to make sure everything I would put in the bag matched it (makeup bag, day planner, coin purse, etc.). I get an odd sense of relief knowing that everything I am carrying in the purse matches it. It would bother me if it clashed - seriously!

I love all of my Guess? purses, but this is probably my second favorite. I have another bag that is shaped much like this one, and is my absolute favorite purse ever. I'll save that for another post, though.

If you have any questions about this purse, or want to see better pictures, just let me know.

Want to order an Otilia Satchel of your very own? Visit the Guess? Canada website:
http://www.guess.ca/default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

What's In My Purse?

I have a confession - I love to know what people have in their purse! I know I'm not the only one - because there's an entire webpage devoted to it! Here's the link:

http://fuckyeahwhatsinyourbag.tumblr.com/

I thought I would make my contribution to the What's in My Purse posts out there, and would share what I keep in my handbag.

First of all, here's a picture of it:



This is the "Dreamcatcher Small Hobo" by Guess?. I got this bag for a steal - I'm a Guess List member, and bought the bag during one of their members only sales. I got the bag for half-off - $45.00 before duty and taxes. What a bargain!

Normally, I like to have a big handbag, since it comes with me to work. I like to be prepared for everything, which means I tend to cart around a lot of stuff. A LOT of stuff. This is a small bag, which means I really have to reduce what I carry around in it. Here's what's inside:




- Pink faux-croc makeup bag (loaded with stuff...blotting paper, Tide-to-Go pen, kleenex, mascara, blister pads, bandaids, etc.)
- Patent Pleather Purple 'Enchanted' Guess? Wallet
- World Wildlife Fund Chequebook
- Not Pictured: Cellphone, a Blue Samsung Reclaim
- Peace & Love coin purse
- Gum
- My keys
- Ballmania Lip Balm
- Cucumber melon foam hand sanitizer
- Luck Bear Care Bear figurine (my good luck charm!)
- Maybelline Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in 40 Berry Bella
- Wooden pill caddy
- U by Kotex tampon/liner container

I am a self-confessed handbag/purse junkie. I especially love Guess bags, since they're so pretty and affordable. I can honestly say that I don't really like Louis Vuitton - monogram is just not my thing. I do love Coach bags though...I just can't afford them!

As always, I am happy to answer any questions about anything in this post (or any of my others) if you've got any. Have any recommendations for purses for me? Please share - I would love to hear from you!