review: kate spade andee tote

did you check out the kate spade 75% off sale? i sure did, and scored a great deal on this bag i had been eyeing for quite a while. this tote is simple, practical and perfect now that i'm carrying a few more things around than i used to.

the bag is heavy, make no mistake about it. it's heavier than i thought it would be. the leather is thick, but not structured. the bag will slouch when empty or when not filled adequately, which according to other reviews online, was a disappointment for some. but it doesn't bother me, especially since i fill it enough that it doesn't slouch too much. instead of a zipper, the bag features a magnetic closure. so technically, your bag isn't completely sealed up.

i like this tote because it's definitely large enough to fit books, an ipad, water bottles, etc. in addition to my regular items. i can throw things in here and go. it's not a black hole of a bag either - the striped lining does make it simple to find things inside, and i find that the shape of the bag sort of keeps my things in place. in addition, the bag features two zippers on the side that allow for some extra room to be created this. if i unzip both, i can fit a laptop in this bag. though i wouldn't recommend it solely as a laptop bag because it's so heavy already.

i'm looking forward to using this bag because it's very versatile and easy. i guess i'm bag lazy, these days? don't get me wrong, i love a good top handle, but there's something so much more pleasant about slinging something on your shoulder and being done with it. this bag is practical and perfect for just that.

review: coach mini tanner

 y'all know i'm a bag person. it's just my thing. big bags, small bags, any bag - i love them all. after deciding i was interested in a new crossbody, i was briefly torn between the coach mini tanner and rebecca minkoff's mini mac. i wanted a smaller, versatile bag that was a little different than the bags i already owned. and while the mini mac is still a coveted favorite, something about the mini tanner was especially appealing - probably because it's incredibly roomy, feminine and slightly resembles beautiful celine bags with the expanding sections on the side. 

during the weekend i ventured to the coach counter in a local department store. online, the bag was backordered until july, but my curiosity drove me to just go & see if i liked it in person rather than wait. i checked out the beautiful poppy color, but my heart was kind of set on 'sand', the light, versatile brown. i'm kind of boring when it comes to bags. i like neutral tones, so they won't ever clash with an outfit. i really should invest in a bag that isn't brown, grey or black, i know... but i wasn't ready for that just yet. 'sand' is a beautiful, soft brown that is perfect for a summer wardrobe of florals - aka my clothes, hello!

what sold me on this bag was the roominess. as you can see, it easily fits my wallet, a makeup bag, keys and all the essentials. i tried to cram a larger makeup bag in there and it was a bit much, but thanks to the expanding sections on the side, if you really wanted to cram a bunch in there, you probably could. the bag features a zip compartment and a small phone pocket.

my only tiny, tiny issue with this bag is the zipper. as you can see, you have to manually re-attach the zipper together if its unzipped all the way. this doesn't bother me much because i honestly don't ever zip my bags. that's bad, i know. if you're looking for a quick zip, this might pose an issue.

as you can see, i don't carry too much - wallet, keys, glasses case and a makeup bag - so switching between shoulder bags and a crossbody usually isn't an issue. i'm very satisfied with this bag so far! i can't wait to use it this summer and forgo a shoulder bag for the time being.

what's your favorite summer bag?

what's in my bag?

what's in my bag posts are my favorite, so i decided i needed one for my blog! last year, i did an entire post about my bag, the marc by marc jacobs baby q groovee. if you decide to go back & read that post, keep in mind that i'm totally geeking out in it because i love my bag, probably way more than a healthy woman should. it's incredibly versatile & has served me well!

i'm not the type of girl to just toss everything in my bag & go. it must be organized. bags within a bag. it's a little silly when you think about it, but i much prefer knowing exactly where i keep something as opposed to rummaging for it in the dark. it makes my bag 1000x heavier than it needs to be, so thank goodness for the shoulder strap.






1. marc by marc jacobs wallet - i was afraid to get a white wallet, but i don't regret it. i'm a sucker for anything marc. honestly. have you noticed? so yeah, this was a must.
2. coach wristlet - in here i keep medicine, gum, feminine fun stuff & a random usb drive. yep.
3. makeup bag - contents include mac pressed powder, rose salve, ahava hand cream, 2 mac tinted lip conditioners, visine, lip venom, burt's bees, mini perfumes of viva la juicy, daisy & twirl by kate spade, mac cremesheen glass in fashion whim & joeur lip conditioner.
4. glasses - because being able to see when i drive is awesome & contacts scare me.
5. my keys, of course! inside my mini juicy zip-up is my university ID card for easy access, i need it to swipe into my parking deck on campus.
5. & inside my zipper compartment - fruit snacks! life's essentials, y'all.

new handbag lust: lv speedy 25 damier ebene

this summer, my handbag lust was finally satiated when i received my marc by marc jacobs baby q groovee - and it's been my loyal companion ever since. i literally cannot get enough of that bag. sometimes, i'll glance over at it & smile fondly. it's the perfect size, the perfect material, & on top of that, it's gorgeous.

& to be honest, i kind of feel like i'm cheating on it. i used to hate louis vuitton bags. i'm not sure why, but i think it had a little to do with the classic LV print, of which i am still not the biggest fan. if you know me, you know i love bags. i'd rather shop for bags than clothing any day of the week. i was afraid that once i had acquired my lover baby q groovee, my heart would only settle on something else. it's been gradual, but here i am in full blown handbag love affair with the louis vuitton speedy 25 in damier ebene.

handbag gods, please stop with this. you're torturing me.

when you wish upon a handbag...

go ahead & skip this post if you've any reservations about a 20 year old woman spazzing over a handbag. really, continue scrolling... this is nothing you want to see. or, accept that you too secretly harbor a lust for a material item that is ever so slightly out of reach, & rejoice with me.

i first spotted the marc by marc jacobs groovee back years ago. specifically, the 2007 resort collection where it was labeled as the "dr q. groovee", i believe (is there a wikipedia for purses? well, there should be!) i'm really a sucker for a leather bag, & the groovee was just my style. from the soft, pebbled leather to the classic silhouette, i truly couldn't get the bag off my mind. when someone asked - well, no one asked, but we'll pretend, shall we? - what my dream bag was, this was the bag that came to mind. of course i'd like to own a mulberry or balenciaga one day, but the mbmj was so attainable. so close. so beautiful.

but i just ignored it. gift giving occasions came & went. meh, a handbag... no thanks. i suppose i wasn't ready then, but oh, am i ready now...

ultimately i settled on the baby groovee. after meticulous research, i decided i simply didn't want to carry around my entire life in a bag any longer. i've been using a small crossbody for months, & i've learned how to correctly pack the essentials to get through the day. also, the groove was easier to convert to a reasonably sized crossbody itself with the long strap. i'm a junior in college, & although some girls have made it work, i don't have the energy or patience to lug around a gigantic bag full of bricks when i'm already carrying books, notepads, huge sketchbooks, coffee... oh, & it's raining, & i'm a mile from the parking deck (did i mention alabama heat is a factor too?) i needed something chic & functional that satisfied my marc jacobs adoration.

groovee & i will be settling into our new life together in the coming weeks. the transition has been quite smooth & i'm predicting long, blissful days together... trekking across campus in black leather glory. i think we're both excited - i know i am!

so, i have to ask. what's your secret material obsession? is there a product/item you can't stop thinking about & have vowed to own one day? or maybe you already have it!