Baggage

As some of you may know, I have a slight love of handbags. I have an overflowing coat rack in my bedroom covered in purses in every shape, size and color. And the ones that don't fit on the rack puddle on the floor around it's base. I try to keep my obsession under control and only buy new ones when they are really calling my name which is not as frequently as one might think considering my stash. I guess really the deal is that when I do buy one I'm never going to get rid of it.

In the last few weeks I have added to my collection in the greatest of ways, ways in which I didn't have to buy a single one! The three new bags are below. Maybe as the summer goes on I'll share some of my old favorites too.

This bag was a gift from my favorite magazine for renewing my subscription. So I guess I kind of paid for it but not really. It is beige canvas with brown handles and brass colored clasps. It's the perfect size for carrying my light weekend belongings.

This bag is from DSW. I got it free as a rewards member (which I guess signals my other obsession, that of the shoe variety). It is a large bucket tote with silver ring accents and two large front pockets. It is big enough to hold all of my junk so I have been taking it to work and filling it with my planner, my lunch, my gym clothes, etc. I should also mention that I purchased silver shoes at the same time I got this bag. A wacky coincidence as the shoes were required for a wedding.

This is from Target. A friend gave it to me as a gift when I was having a particularly emotional life moment. We had been shopping together a few days earlier and I mentioned, in passing, that I liked it. She thought it would brighten my day, and it did. It is a gorgeous mustard/sunset yellow with cream colored accents and a single shoulder strap.

Now the fun part is finding the outfits to accent the bags!

While cleaning out my shelves and files at work today I came across this. I pulled it from a Glamour magazine in February of 2006 because it made me smile. It still does. Enjoy.

12 Friends Every Woman Deserves
1. The friend who won't let you be less than your best, even if you sometimes want to kick her.
2. The friend who's spent the holidays with your parents, gotten drunk with your brother and lived through the dog-spaying incident of `92. She's family.
3. The personal comedian, so hilarious that you dare not call her while driving.
4. The friend who's a little bit evil--so entertaining.
5. A rich friend who will always buy dinner.
6. A poor friend who'll let you buy hers.
7. The work friend: listener, knower of backstory, saver of sanity.
8. The friend you can't wait to be Golden Girls with.
9. The neighbor who'll lend you her drill--or a pair of red stilettos.
10. The friend who drags out of you all the sexual details you're secretly dying to share.
11. The friend who rafts the Amazon, gets a pet snake and does speed dating--so you don't have to.
12. The friend who, instead of asking how she can help, just shows up and does.