Favorite Purse Under $100 and What's In My Bag

Personal Collection 

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Anyone who knows me knows that I probably love purses/handbags more than nail polish - from really expensive ones to those budget-friendly ones that everyone loves. I've jokingly said I'm a "Purse Snob" but I'm really not. I love them all and the label isn't what matters. What matters to me is how the bag fits into my everyday style, fits my daily needs and budget. Whether it appeals to me. How well it's made.

I've held off doing more of these because honestly the obligatory "modeling shots" scare the beejeebers out of me. I'm not photogenic. At all. So I've compromised and cropped out my face. LOL!

But first, the What's In My Bag posts seem to be popular and I don't know how often I'll be doing this because I'm not sure who really cares what's in my bag, but I'm a huge fan of SLGs (Small Leather Goods) so I'll show you mine. I prefer keeping everything in SLGs as opposed to having it all banging around loose or shoved in those cheesy, flimsy "handbag organizers." They make it easy to change bags and let's face it, I change bags as often as I change nail polish. Well that and they're pretty.

Here are some of my SLGs...

SLGs

I've done a few "purse posts" in the past, but today I thought I'd show you my favorite purse under $100.00:  The Sak Kendra Crossbody.

Initially I grabbed one in navy blue because I needed a smaller blue bag THAT DAY and it was under $100 so why not? Well, I found myself using it a LOT. Reaching for it over some of my expensive bags <shock> for everyday. Wishing I had it in every color. I ended up getting the cream/tan for summer.

The Sak Kendra Crossbody

The strap isn't leather, like the rest of the bag and "grabs" onto my shoulder perfectly and doesn't slide off. I found that I really loved that when I realized that one of the main reasons I loved my all-time favorite handbag, Hermès Evelyne so much. And it's adjustable.

The linings are sturdy and interesting. Roomy zipper pocket with leather pull on one side and two slide pockets with elastic on the other.

The zipper pull is leather and easy to find, grab and open without looking...

The strap is attached with rings through metal reinforced holes on either side so it doesn't get twisted or "caught."

Check out the stitching in the next few pics too. This bag is well put together.

One outter slide pocket on the back which is perfect for easy access to my iPhone...

One slightly gathered slide pocket on the front - I use it for mints, gum, breath freshener, receipts...anything I'm too lazy to put away properly or want quick access to.

And the obligatory "modeling shots" so you can see the size. Wearing it on the shoulder and crossbody. I mostly wear it on the shoulder, though.

And the stats:

• exterior: leather, trim: polyurethane
• interior: nylon
• saddle multi, flame, resort multi and deep teal have silver tone hardware. all others have brass tone hardware
• 11.25in l x 1.5in w x 10.75in h strap 10in -25in
• zipper closure
• front exterior pocket
• back slit pocket
• lining features two multi-use pockets and a zippered back wall pocket
• clean with a water-based leather cleaner and moisturizer. use a protective spray to protect the leather surface

What do you think? What's your go-to bag for everyday?

The Sak Kendra Crossbody retails for between $69.00 and $99.00 and can be purchased at Dillards, Macys and online at The Sak website, Amazon.com, and Zappos.

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Perspectives

The earthquake/tsunami news kept most of us riveted to the news all day yesterday.  We googled and we tweeted.  We cried and we prayed.

Today, those of us who weren't directly affected, mainly checked in with our various methods for "the recap."  Which is normal.  If you're not with the Red Cross or the news media, you basically went on with your life.  Again, normal.  Doesn't make us bad people.  Other than donating our time or our money, there really isn't anything we can do.  It stays on our minds for a day or two and we move on.

Reminds me of some song lyrics..."I guess the world didn't stop for my broken heart..."  and "...and this ol' world will keep on turnin'..."  No it doesn't stop.  Nor should it.

Every person has a different perspective on every event.  And every person's perspective can change in a split second.  A photo I saw yesterday afternoon really struck me.  It was of two young women who'd been evacuated from one of the office buildings in Tokyo. Being the handbag lover that I am, the first thing I noticed were the handbags they were carrying. One was a Louis Vuitton Monogrammed Alma and the other was an Hermes 31 cm. black Bolide with gold hardware. And then I saw the stricken, dazed, confused look on their faces and the sadness in their eyes and I suddenly felt horribly guilty for even noticing their bags.  I am sure they were as excited when they got those bags as I am when I get a new one.  And I am equally sure that, at the moment that photo was taken, their handbags were the absolute LAST thing on their minds.

credit: The Atlantic (atlantic.com)

That photo, and the particular meaning it had for me, stayed with me all day and all night and I am still thinking about it now.  Perspective is such a HUGE word.  It's everything.

When my husband was ill and then when he passed away, there were times I would just get SO angry.  I was angry that our worlds were turned upside down and no one around us seemed to even notice.  Everything went on around us as if things were perfectly normal. The sun even had the audacity to come up every day!  I couldn't wrap my head around it.   Sometimes I wanted to scream at them.  "HELLO!  Don't you people understand the tragedy that's going on here???  Don't you know that the world will never be the same???"  But it wasn't "their tragedy."  Their lives were going on as normal.  Now don't get me wrong, I would never wish what we went through on anyone and I don't really understand myself what I expected anyone to do.  Nothing, I suppose.  There wasn't anything they could have done.  My perspective was majorly out of whack.

I think that's why I got upset with myself for noticing their handbags in that photo.

But the world doesn't stop turning.

For anyone or anything.