Momma's Got a Brand New Bag--or so...

Although it isn't really a "purse-purse" in the aesthetic fashion sense that that one would normally think of purses, the Blue Q shoulder tote actually holds up as a purse in the functional sense of looking cool and holding things. I am a "carrier of stuff" by nature: a big bag person. I've been carrying mine for about a week now, and can tell you it works as a purse because it is definitely capacious enough for my needs. The straps are long enough to rest comfortably on a shoulder while wearing a winter coat (still, alas, despite allegedly being spring, a necessity so far) and it has a pocket into which my automatic Chinese Laundry skull umbrella fits neatly. It has ample room for my wallet, cell phone holder, make-up case, zip-pouch of sundries (wet-wipes, hand gel, notebook, pens, etc.) lunch bag, and one folded "shopper" that I had to also purchase, also from Blue Q:

because I am totally in love with Carolyn Gavin's animal designs and I try to use my own bags instead of "paper or plastic" wherever I go. And I have even managed to shove in a water bottle and my Kindle, so what I'm saying is, if you are a pack beast like I am, this is not a bad way to go. The thin recycled plastic material is surprisingly tough and the zipper is usefully rugged. The woven material handles are not going anywhere nor breaking anytime soon.

So anyway, the bag was a sensible choice that definitely worked out. Also, the Letterpress design is pretty cool, especially if you like an old timey motif (I know I'm a sucker for "old-timey" packaging and advertising material--this reminds me of that).

GPOY: Blue Q "Join Us" Tote

I know, that isn't exactly me--but when I saw a fox drinking wine and talking about grapes with a blue hen on a small tote bag made of recycled material, for some reason, I said "That is very relevant to my interests."

Probably because of the "being relevant to my interests."

Anyhoo, I picked up the lovely "Join us" tote from Blue Q (designed by Carolyn Gavin) when I was at Journeys Gifts in Peddlers Village, and I have to say, it's probably the cheeriest lunch bag I've ever had. Also, I like Blue Q because they seem like a cool manufacturer and their products are some of the cutest. Since this is "Strangely Random Stuff"--I have to point out that their site qualifies as strange, random, and cool stuff. Basically this is kind of an endorsement. Also an excuse to point out the totes cute tote I'm pulling my pears and Lara Bars out of, these days.

(I've ordered a shoulder bag that I may blog about because I'm kind of over expensive leather purses, but still a total mega-purse afficcionada. Bigger the better, I say. This is an affordable way to do the status bag without the status: unaffordable credit card bill.)

When Woolite Won't Do

I sometimes rebuke my vintage clothes for that kind of warmed-over BO stank you only notice after you've worn a second-hand thing for a couple hours, and then you realize it has "other people stank" all over it, but this is so rare, that I mostly just wash the items before wearing them, and re-inspect them for anything that might look like nits, and just go ahead and add them to my wardrobe. I find that the only things I've ever come across that were distinctively demon-haunted were actual televangelists, although some evanglists were distinctively dodgy even if not exactly on tv.

What I think I'm getting at is--really, Pat Robertson? Always be banishing? It's like you're half a witch yourself.  He would feel lighter if he went white lighter.

Check out this fanny pack--

Okay--I have a fashionista bent to me, which is why I needed to link to this picture of Louis Vuitton's version of the fanny pack. I copped the pic from here. There's a lot of bad things happening here--from the typical LV status-bag pattern, to the multi-colored touches here and there to add "interest--to the fact that this thing is mostly brown and pink, which means the designer of this bag hasn't the slightest idea what people wear fanny packs with.

I don't actually sport a fanny pack, myself--ever. First, it goes around the waist, and I am not a fancier of belts. But also--fanny? Okay, a fanny-bag doesn't need to drape the fanny (Ugg, why not say tush? Or rear? Or even ass? Arse-pack. Sounds lovelier already, doesn't it?) But where else should it go? The hip? How many ladies want their hips accentuated? Draping the lower abdomen? Who exactly wants a belly "drape?"

Truthfully, the fanny-pack is a functional item generally in use with sport clothing for joggers and speed-walkers, or other casual gear for people getting their "mall" on at low-end shopping venues. It's not really what you think of as a higher-end or status item. It should be understated, neutral, probably black and nylon, if it should even be done at all. This fanny pack is....simply wrong. I think it might be one of those high-heeled sneaker sort of things. You know--expensive irony. I can't really recommend it unless your income is commensurately humorous.