Things we're just mean't to have!

Sometimes in life things come along that just call your name, they're so obviously mean't to be yours. Well a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday morning I started receiving urgent texts from two friends telling me to turn on HSN (Home Shopping Network) immediately. Both told me there was something on I just had to have!

And here it is - a Twiggy London, Union Jack patent tote handbag. The Hubster was not too chuffed with my friends, especially as I am not short of handbags. But he also knew they were right deep down and so he shelled out for it and I'm now the proud owner.

This cute cosmetics bag has now become my wallet!

Whilst in the big city I had another 'calling my name' moment when I saw these, and again the Hubster could only concur ;-) bless his heart!

Infamy in rhyme!

Many of you are fans of David McMahon at Authorblog in the land 'Down Under' like myself, and today he has bestowed a great honour on me!

One of my favourite features on his blog is his daily 'Verse and Worse' limerick/poetry and a week ago I happened to say to him in passing "David you should write one about me and all my handbags (purses)".

Well he took me up on my challenge and HERE is the wonderful result. So please pop in, enjoy and leave him lots of comments.

Handbag of the day....Imelda!

Oh deary me ladies, look what sneaked in the door about 10 days ago and joined my other girls! Yep thanks to QVC and it's 5 monthly payment option, I splurged on a 'designer' bag. They were having their D&B show and I resisted for almost the full 2 hours until this classic beauty appeared before my eyes.

I swear I really tried to resist and with their policy I thought I'll just get it here and see what I think. But I was lost the moment I opened the box to see and smell the exquisitely packaged, soft, pliant, rich leather and it's timeless style.

So I just had to name her Imelda, after all my handbag collection is now getting into the same league as her infamous shoe collection!

Handbag of the day....Jello!

Remember a few years ago when these 'jelly bags' were all the rage and appeared everywhere in a multitude of colours. Well I like most women thought they were pretty cool at the time and I contemplated buying one for a few weeks.

This culminated in a week long trip to NYC, right at the peak of their popularity. At the time the pound>dollar exchange rate was still in our favour and so I shopped around for one in pink. I visited a few high-end stores selling the original brand that launched the fad, but just could not bring myself to part with that many dollars for what was obviously only a fashion fad.

So I ended up buying a 'fake' (sharp intake of breath!) from a street seller in NYC, it was reasonably priced and looked the part. A few months later the fashion passed and I was glad I had 'cheated', but Jello still makes an occasional appearance for fun!

So did anyone else succumb to the Jello bag fashion?

Shopping Success - almost!

We had a great day of shopping and my mum got everything on her list and then some. Her favourite store now is definitely Dillards, where she always seems to have great success with clothes shopping.

I persuaded her into a much more up to date pair of jeans, slightly bootcut, rather than her preferred straight-leg style. I told her they slimmed her legs, hips and butt and she did buy them, but I don't think she was 100% convinced until she put them on again back home.

I bought two reduced t-shirt dresses in the nightwear department that had 'patio' on them, but I thought nightwear seeing as that's what the sign said. Well when I got home and put them on I thought 'wow they are really very nice for nightwear'!? When I came into the lounge wearing them both the Hubster and mum thought they were dresses and lovely. So I guess I unexpectedly actually bought two dresses I will wear for work and out!

My mum bought me my Christmas present, a lovely Dooney & Burke handbag, like I need another! But it's being wrapped up until Christmas, so you'll have to be patient to see it ;-)

Then we went to Old Navy and I got clothes for my god-daughters as birthday gifts, as my mum can deliver them for me. However I had what can only be described as a 'brain fart' on sizing! After calling my bestfriend back in the UK for the eldest's size, I changed everything from S to XS and off we happily went on our way. We stopped and ate a delicious meal at Applebee's and then headed home.

Ten minutes down the road I suddenly realised I had converted wrong and so we turned around and drove back. I got into Old Navy changed everything back to a size S again, got to the checkout and thought, hang on that's wrong still. So I went back to the US size chart and my very weary brain somehow decided I actually needed size M. So I changed them yet again and off we went home.

60 miles down the road I suddenly started laughing slightly hysterically and said to my mum "They're still the wrong size, I converted up instead of down!" We then discussed it for 5 minutes before we both realised I had converted the wrong way, they were all too big and the correct size was indeed S all the time!!!!!! So we will be making a trip into Old Navy in OKC before she flies next Saturday to change them for the correct size :-) Mum was extremely delighted that she wasn't the one who made the mistake that required us to turn around!

Apart from this though, which I can only put down to tiredness, we had a great day and found some real bargains.

Handbag of the day....Cal-Jo!

Just guarding your handbags from pamokc mum! ;-)

Handbag of the day....is a lamp!

How cute is this handbag lamp my mum bought for me in the UK!

It has pride of place in our dining room now, is just adorable and even tones with the colour scheme in there :-)

Handbag of the day....Shirley!

Shirley because I can just see Dame Shirley Bassey carrying this to some 'big do'! I'm assuming y'all know who she is - most famous for singing 'Goldfinger'. She also just happened to be a great favourite of my gran and this was another handbag left to me by her.

So I have no idea of Shirley's history but I think from memory she is at least 1970's. She is beaded all over with tiny jet bugle beads in differing shapes and patterns, even the long strap is entirely made of plaited beads. Shirley has been very well looked after over the years and is still in pristine condition and I have used her a number of times for 'black tie' events.

To me she epitomises timeless elegance and will never show her age, a bit like Dame Shirley herself :-)

And the prize for best card goes to..

Inese and Jane, my old work colleagues and good friends in Bedford, England. How funny and appropriate is this card, I fell about laughing when I opened it up.

Thanks girlies!

Handbag of the day....Miranda

Named for Miranda from SATC, as this is a very businesslike handbag! I inherited Miranda from my grandmother, this was a favourite of hers and I also really like the classic design.

Miranda is a chestnut coloured leather in an alligator pattern and she has a long strap as well as the handle. Inside she is taupe suede feel finish, with an interior pocket and gold accents on the outside.

She is a bag I have used extensively for work and attending meetings in the past, but now she gets to go out more in the Fall and Winter. Everytime I use her I think of my Gran :-)

Handbag of the day....Helen!

This little handbag is very much grown-up glamour, so she's named for a woman who epitomises that, Helen Mirren!

Helen is an evening bag from good old Accessorize yet again and I have had her at least 10 years!

She is made of silk with a fine lace overlay in a rich burgundy, a metal frame and gold and red embroidery with beads. I don't use her very often and it tends to be more in the winter when I am wearing the Fall colours. In my old life she got to go out alot more, as I was usually out somewhere partying on a Friday and Saturday night!

Handbag of the day....Rodeo!

'Rodeo' is a fairly recent purchase at an Arts Fair in our area and is so named because I have regularly seen the local girls carrying similar bags at rodeo's around here.

I have been looking out for a nice one since I arrived, as this is a very everyday popular style in our area and I like the added touch of the animal print on my bag. It features faux turquoise and rhinestone decoration on the black leather, also very much my style being a big 'bling' girly!

Handbag of the day....Miss Match!

I spotted 'Miss Match' in a Coldwater Creek catalogue this spring and wearing so much Blue and Aqua' I just had to have her. So the next time I was in OKC I went along to a store but could only see the orange version out on display. But they went and dug around in the stockroom and found her for me.

Obviously 'Miss Match' is a play on words, as she actually matches just about everything I wear, especially as I'm usually in jeans!

She is made from a woven dyed straw and I love her wavy pattern and shape, which are both unusual. She has a navy cotton lining, is zipped on top and has a few interior pockets. The handles are long enough to use her as a shoulder bag and are made of wrapped leather with the decorative wooden beads. She is a good sized everyday summertime bag and I have already used her alot this year, so definitely a good buy.

Handbag of the day....my first one!

What can I say! This is the first known photo of me holding a handbag that was obviously mine.

Even at an early age it appears my taste in bags was fairly exotic and not run of the mill. Note the elaborate pattern, intricate stitching, funky fringe and pink handles. To this day I still have handbags of a similar design and it even co-ordinates too!

I know nothing about this little bag, whether it was a gift, or I spotted it in a shop and wouldn't let go, or maybe someone made it for me. I am not even sure how old I am in this piccie, but I would hazard a guess at maybe nearly 3yrs old? We will have to hope my mum wanders in here and can post a comment on this for us, shedding some light.

I was obviously already a 'pink' girly and that hasn't changed either, get a load of those cool pink dungarees!

Handbag of the day....Bella!

Turquoise is one of my favourite colours and I wear it alot and have alot of jewelry made from it. So being the co-ordination Queen that I am, a turquoise bag became an essential shortly after I arrived here.

I bought Bella from a local Brighton stockist and love both her style and size. She's pretty compact with a long strap, back zippered compartment, cellphone pocket, card storage slots and zipped change purse on the front. She is made of leather, with the cool looking alligator effect as an accent and a pretty floral print interior lining.

Bella is just a handy little bag for trips out where I don't need to carry much and want to make a stylish and co-ordinated statement.

Be warned if you click on the Brighton link above, temptation is gonna be a problem, I have already found out firsthand! I was a good girl and resisited though, the Hubster will be sooo proud ;-)

Handbag of the day....Barbie!

Well I think it's pretty obvious why this snazzy little bag is called Barbie! She's what I refer to as Barbie Pink, my own personal favourite shade and she is small but cute.

I've actually only owned her about 6 weeks and she was cheap but cheerful and goes with alot of my clothes. I also like the silver accents as I am either a silver or white gold jewelry girl.

Handbag of the day....Sassy!

I have had Sassy about a year and bought her from Endless as I did not have a silver handbag and it's such a versatile colour.

Sassy is another handbag made by The Sak and I love her 'squishy' relaxed look and the detachable crystal look charms that hang off one side. I really liked the alligator and stud accents and the length of the shoulder strap, which puts her very securely under my arm. I also prefer her matte silver finish to the super-shiny or reflective look, you sometimes see in metallic handbags.

She is an average size bag but great for everyday use, I don't tend to use her for work though as I always carry more. Inside she is a taupe colour and has a zippered pocket, pen and cellphone pockets.

Sassy is one of my favourite bags and I take her out at least once a week. If you don't have a silver handbag then I highly recommend buying one, they just go with anything and are right up to date.

Handbag of the day....

This handbag is called 'Pink' for obvious reasons but also because she's a little bit edgy - just like the popstar Pink. This was another gift from my mum, who knows exactly what my taste is in bags, although her own is entirely different to mine!

Pink is made from printed fabric, with a black leather surround and accented with white stitching and metal studs. Her lining is a satiny bright pink and she has one zipped compartment, she also has a very long strap which is adjustable. The big buckle is just there for aesthetics and she fastens with a magnetic button and a zip.

As the handbag says "It's a girl thing"!

Handbag of the day....Raquel!

So are any of you old enough to remember Raquel Welch in the animal skin furry bikini in 'One Million BC', a very old movie? Well that's what inspired this handbags name!

This was another excellent gift from my Mum for Christmas after I had moved here and guess where she got if from - yep got it in one, Accessorize!

Raquel is a fun, furry winter handbag and is a good size, lined in black with an internal zipper pocket and fastening with a magnetic button. She is super-soft as I'm sure you can tell and has the fun, furry hanging balls (there's just no easy way to say that!) and shiny black handles.

I am not generally an animal print person, in fact Raquel and a very similar furry hat are the full extent of animal print in my closet. But she looks great with my black winter coat or vest and a pair of furry winter boots.

Handbag of the day....Jade!

Jade is an evening clutch in one of my all time fave' colours - what we call petrol effect, a mix of deep blues, greens and purples. The colours you get if you see gas spilt on the ground and the sun hits it.

Once upon a time long, long ago when I used to have events to regularly wear evening/cocktail dresses too, she was one of my most used handbags. Most of my evening dresses are either black, teal or blue and she just works with all these colours.

Jade is lined and edged with a rich purple, has the multi-coloured sequins all over and a magnetic clasp, I bought her once again from good old Accessorize. I am hanging onto her because I think I can still use her with smart dark jeans and a pretty top for social events here.