V.ery I.mportant P.urchase

I did end up going to the Coach store on Sunday. You knew I would.

I just couldn't keep myself away with that invitation staring at me.

That and Holly Marie, or was it Marie Holly, or Marileah? called me on Saturday and left a desperate message on my voicemail that I MISSED the VIP reception (heavens!), and if I stop by this week they will honor all the goodies I missed.

It's nice to be loved by someone. Even if it's a commisioned Coach employee who could give a crap about me.

Wait, I pay for Coach to love me... that's so wrong isn't it?????

....anyhoo, S. wanted to take a ride since it was such a beatuiful and cool day here in the Northeast. So, we all jumped in the car and somehow ended up at the Yankee Candle store (good Fall scents there btw), and then Starbucks, and then Coach.

I bought a Fall purse:

And I got a free gift and perfume.

Damn you, Coach.

I wish I could quit you.

A new purse brightens the day, but of course

So I wanted to treat myself to a new handbag, but the thought that I may end up in the poor house with these medical bills put the kabosh on that.

And then, a surprise.

My Mom, who in her inifinite wisdom knows that there are very few things that cheer me up when I am in a funk... gave me the CUTEST summer purse today.

A Michael Kors Santorini Woven Shopper with white leather detail.

OH YES.

I feel 2% more happy today.

Okay, maybe 5%.

Thanks Mom. You rock.

Bag Envy

Besides reading a lot of blogs, I like to keep up with the celebrity gossip. Not so much for the celebs themselves, but I love to see what unlimited money can buy in terms of fashion and accessories.

Take, for instance, my girl JLo. Who doesn't want to be known as JLo anymore, just call me Jennifer Lopez please. I saw a bunch of pictures of her over the course of a couple weeks and SHE NEVER HAD THE SAME HANDBAG in her hand.

This is astonishing to me. One, I'm kind of jealous that she has that many (far outshines my closet of bags).

Second, the logistics of switching bags EVERY DAY defies logic. I mean, how can you keep track of your stuff when you are constantly switching off bags like shirts?

I am not a bag switcher. Unless I am going out and using a smaller bag. I tend to buy a bag and carry it for, say, two-three months. By that time we're in another season and the switch is warranted. And when I go to switch bags, it's a 20 minute task of cleaning out one, reorganizing into another.

Maybe the celebs without kids can do it easier. I mean, what does a single girl need more than a cellphone, lipstick, and a little wallet??

I buy Mom sized purses now. Don't let the price tag fool you, I carry lovely bags that from the outside, looks nice. But peek inside, and you are guaranteed to find a juice box, a used tissue, a bottle of water, miscellaneous dollars floating around, some WetOnes, my wallet, and some half eaten lollipops that my son gave up on when we couldn't find a trashcan.

What does JLo carry in her purses that makes it so easy to switch off? Does she even own them? Or does [insert designer here] just give them to her for free advertising (free for them, a tax burden for her)?

I wonder about these things.

I guess I am a little envious. My most prized handbags (in the you gotta be ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a handbag category) rarely ever get used, because I'd have a cow if I got a greasy handprint on them from my son.

They are treated like my own personal museum pieces. Every once in awhile I use them on special occasions... the rest of the time I am wondering why on earth I justified the purchase to myself. Unless they were a gift from my Mom (love ya Mom).

Oh yeah, that's right.... it's like my hobby. Hubby has his Harley, which will always cost more than all of my bags. No guilt trip there.

So, hey, if any designers want some free advertisement, you'll know where to find me. I just hope you don't mind that I don't hang out in L.A. or NYC.

I am from the ultra-cool streets of New Jersey where the check-out girls at Target and my favorite Barista at my local Starbucks (who always notice my bag of the season) would LOVE one of your designs. Where the sun never sets unless it's behind the shadow of a Wal-Mart and a Circuit City.

Whaaaaat? You don't think Joisey is cool? Just call me Shelli from the cul-de-sac. The hip part of town next to the horse farm.

lol.

The latest addition to BagMomma's closet

Here's my latest addition to my ever-growing closet of handbags...

This was a biggie (dollar wise), and I rationalized my purchase because...
1. I got a VIP invite to the Coach store for 25% off anything I bought yesterday.
2. I had a $200 Amex GC from the holidays.
3. I am using my bonus from work to cover it.

I also picked up sunglasses too.

You should feel the suede, very nice. I don't think I can keep this as my everyday bag, but it's camel colored, so it should get a lot of mileage thru Spring, and into Summer.

I am just so weak when I am in the Coach store. It's an addicition with no cure.

Random thoughts

AI last night.....sigh.... where o where do I begin??? I still hold to my prediction that 3 boys will be the first to go home on American Idol. Unfortunately, we are stuck with Sanjaya and his hair for another week. Once again people.... WHY are you voting for this guy???????

I'm okay with celebs getting their free grab bags of gifts at every turn, but I think it should stop here. If I wanted to adopt a child (which I'm seriously still considering), I would be waiting the better part of 18 months to two years. Angelina picks out kids like I pick out handbags.

DID you watch LOST last night??? Holy cow, this is finally getting good. Check out Shannon's commentary. Don't click the link if you haven't watched your DVR'ed or TIVO'd episode yet.

For the newer mamas out there, check out my bloggy friend Kim's diaper clutch wristlet. She is a very talented handbag designer... and Kim, if you are reading this, if and when I have a need for diapers again (hopefully soon god willing), I'll be signing up for two of these. So darn cute!!!

Got any weekend plans? I actually do for once. Tomorrow, S. and I are heading to a local winery for the weekend for an overnight getaway with my brothers-in-law and their lovely wives (hi, J!) They have an inn on the property, so you know what I'll be doing tomorrow night.... vast quantities of food and drink. Do you think I should count the WW points or not? lol.

Because a new bag always makes BagMomma smile...

Did I just talk about myself in the third person? lol.

I am adding this bag to my wish list.

This is one handbag in a line of Hayden-Harnett limited editions inspired by Paule Marrot's signature prints (as featured on FabSugar).

Think of it as art meets totally fabulous fashion accessory.

The rest of the collection is here.

Sign me up!!!

Another month, another new bag...

I bought this one for myself after the holiday, been using it for a few weeks, and I love it!

Available here:

http://www.coach.com/content/product.aspx?product_no=8911&category_id=68

Yeah baby, a new winter bag for me!

Who says it's Christmas without buying something for yourself???

Behold, the newest "winter" addition to the BagMomma closet.

Cute handbag Betty!

If you aren't watching ABC's newest show Ugly Betty, you should... so cute, I love it.

Betty is presented as "fashion-challenged" on the show, but I spotted Betty with a cool "very fashionable" handbag in a recent episode!!

It's the Lucky Brand Jeans Large Patchwork Mailbag. And, you can fetch it at Macy's on-line, which I already did!!!

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=204554&CategoryID=4084&LinkType=EverGreen

Above screen capture from the Ugly Betty Blog:

http://uglybettyblog.com/2006/10/20/episode-4-feys-sleigh-ride/#more-7

Hot Bags, Cool Cause

You all may know a passion of mine is assisting however I can to raise breast cancer awareness.

I found out today that there is an auction going on right now at eBay (sponsored by Seventeeen Magazine) with proceeds going to the fight against breast cancer.

Click on the title of this post to go there. Check it out!

Latest additions to BagMomma's closet

Ta Da!! The latest additions... I bought both of these items in black over the weekend. The hobo bag is really nice, and the wristlet is just adorable (it's like the size of a wallet, so don't let the pics together fool you). It's been awhile since I've bought a predominantly black bag. I've been into colors lately, but I am in love with this bag!

A BagMomma Dream

I've had my eye on this bag for awhile now. It's a Louis Vuitton Cabas Mary Kate bag. RV $1,110.00

There is no way on this earth that I can afford this bag (I could get like 3 or 4 nice bags for this price), but I love to look at it. It is a good Mom size, no?

Can carry all my essentials plus a juice box and package of animal crackers or Pirates of the Caribbean fruit snacks.

It's all about the bag

I have an obsession, and it all started about 12 years ago with a simple brown purse my Mom bought me for my new job in the the corporate world. But let me digress for a moment, to explain the motto that sits atop this blog.

My Mom is, and always will be, a fashion maven. She was a snazzy dresser as far back as I can remember. No sneakers in that woman's closet.. no sireee. She had clothes, lots of them, and shoes... of Imelda Marcos proportions. And, accessories.... most of all... handbags.

I think back now, how it all started, and I remember Mom and Dad had some pretty lean years when I was a kid growing up with my brother. My father was the kind of guy who had 4 jobs at once just to keep the bills paid (more on my Dad in a later conversation). My father had taken over my grandfather's construction business after his death in 1976. And, well, we didn't have a whole lot in terms of money when I was very little, but as the business grew, so did my Mom and Dad's wallet. By the heydey of the 80's, before the whisper of a recession, we had enough money for Mom to indulge herself (and us) with the finer things in life. Family vacations (which were little more than a few days away at the shore) grew into cruises and getaways to far-away destinations. I loved the cruises the most, because, as I came to learn.... the Caribbean was a great place to buy HANDBAGS. Especially Gucci. My Mom and I would gleefully walk the shopping areas of St. Thomas and St. Maarten in search of the cutest purse. We always found one (or, two, or ten).

So begins my appreciation of a good handbag. In 1992, I was just off the heels of my first out-of-college job (as, what else? an accessories/jewelry buyer for Macy's) I took the leap jumping into Corporate America, working for a software company. To commemorate the occasion, Mom bought me a Coach bag. It was brown leather, with a big flap with a brass closure, and it was heavenly.

Since then, I have added to my collection, on the order of maybe 4 Coach bags per year (one for each season), in addition to the other brands I buy occasionally (and I say that because I do actually have a handbag budget... well sort of). My latest addition is a Burberry bag. Love it!

I would love to have the newest Coach Diaperbag.... a good reason for trying to conceive #2, dontcha think? OK- just kidding, but I will have that bag eventually.

Some women say they can't leave the house without makeup, or their favorite coat... I choose hangbags. There is something wildly appealing to me about a new handbag... always makes the day a little brighter. It's a bizarre addiction, I know, but it is me.