2022 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Anyone else?

[Katinahat]

2 Aug - brand showcase: A-F
4 Sept - brand showcase: G-L
11 Sept - brand showcase: M-R
18 Sept - brand showcase: S-Z
25 Sept - totes
2 Oct - satchels
9 Oct - crossbodies inc WOCS
16 Oct - shoulder bags
23 Oct - bucket bags
30 Oct - clutches
6 Nov - backpacks
13 Nov - bags that don’t count
20 Nov - pairing bags with shoes
27 Nov - pairing bags with other accessories
4 Dec - bag storage
11 Dec - SLGs
18 Dec - charms

Challenges:
Sept - bags in different locations
Oct - Halloween: wear orange or black bags
Nov - International Merlot Day: wear wine coloured bags or pair bags with wine.
Dec - use the bag.

 

[ElainePG]

Thank you!

With a purple bag, I was thinking black ballet flats, jeans (feels weird to wear jeans on a first day, but that's what everyone in the office wears), black shirt. Flame painted copper bracelet. Small stud earrings.

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I'm in love with that copper bracelet!

If everyone in the office wears jeans, then I agree that it's perfectly fine for you to wear them, too.

 

[ElainePG]

Etsy.com shop.

TracyBurlisonStudio - Etsy

Shop Studio jewelry handmade with heart in the SC Lowcountry by TracyBurlisonStudio located in Summerville, South Carolina. Top shop for gifts. Buyers bought gifts from this shop and gave them 5-star reviews!

www.etsy.com

Thanks for the link… I just bought this one!

 

[ElainePG]

Shopping my closet today with my darling coco handle. I used to consider my Fendi the star of my collection but this one might be over-taking it.

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Such a lovely bag!

 

[ElainePG]

The only eggs I'll buy in a restaurant is an omelet. I like the way I make eggs at home better than any restaurant. I even make better omelets than most but I can handle the way others do it.

I'm with you! I make very good eggs, but I'm fussy about them. I'm not good at making poached eggs, though, so if we're at a restaurant I might order poached eggs on english muffins. Even then, it's hit or miss since I like the whites firm & the yolks runny.

 

[ElainePG]

Being in California, ordering from Japan has been great for me. Often items get here quicker than they do from another place in the US, sometimes within 2 days! The US has a rule where we don't pay customs on things under $800, and since I never spend more than that online, I never have to pay it, but lately Ebay has been charging me California sales tax. Often the Japanese sellers will have things a little cheaper than the US sellers.

What kinds of things do you buy from Japanese sellers?

 

[ElainePG]

I CARRY MY OWN PILLOW TOO!!! I thought I was the only person crazy enough to do that. I have left pillows all over the world. DH threatens to make me wear a mitten string with my pillow. This trip I took my pillow in a chocolate brown pillow case and that saved it from being left in several hotel rooms. I really think I need a bright red pillow case with lettering that says "don't leave me." I carry my own pillow because most hotel pillows are too thick for me and force my neck out of joint. I want mine only slightly thicker than a pancake. I folded towel will do in a pinch, but you can't wad those up like you can do with a good floppy pillow.

I need to start doing this too. And the red pillowcase idea is hysterical… but also brilliant! I wonder if someone sells this on Etsy???

ETA: Yes, someone does. Isn't that funny? https://www.etsy.com/listing/860511...9002d914234515cc6bad7fa969a52ed2114:860511852

 

[ElainePG]

A few months ago, I gave myself some usage targets for certain bags. I was aiming to reduce CPW for some of my newer or less used bags. My main purpose was to reduce CPW before buying more but then DH gifted me the Brioche (do birthdays count?!). I was trying to get to a CPW of under £10 per bag. After that, I had 11 bags with targets on them (including ones I was gifted as I put them in at retail price).

I remember we had a discussion at the time about who does track/think about this and who not. I respect and understand all views on this. I don’t worry about cost per drive of my car for example and I chose to buy expensive bags so in many ways I don’t care. However, I’m a bit spreadsheet obsessed and it’s all part of the hobby for me. It’s perhaps more about increasing usage really and hence shopping my own collection.

Anyway, to bring a long story to the point, I reached the target on one out of the 11 bags today so this post is a small celebration. It’s the Bayswater Tote, 25 carries this year so far, my most used bag. I’ve used it lots for work as it suits just as well for walking or driving commutes. So here’s a little nod to this bag!
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Just 10 to go, and several of them are smaller evening or going out bags and have a higher target still so much harder to achieve this with.

I love color of this tote, and I'm happy for you that you've reached your target.

I'm tracking usage very carefully this year, and since I know how much each bag cost I suppose I could track CPW, but most of my bags were bought ages ago so the CPW fgure wouldn't make sense mathematically. I think usage will be the most helpful for me by the time 2022 comes to an end.

 

[ElainePG]

And - without further ado - my April stats!

Bags in or out - 1 in, zero out. I bought another Tory Burch McGraw in a tan leather. I feel I could use a tan bag with a shoulder strap... but this isn't it. I like the bag, but I don't love it like I love the same bag in smooth leather in the burgundy color. So I'm still looking for that bag. I think I really want a smooth leather cognac color, rather than tan. Still - it's a nice bag.
SLG in or out - 1 OUT!! It took almost a year to sell the darling Longchamp wallet - so cute and with a darling lining - so YAY!
Scarves in or out - ZERO! Seriously - this might be news worthy! But I've already bought 1 in May... I had to do it! I was in Paris!
And it's beeeeeee-you-tee-ful!

I have no idea what the challenge was in April. I had a very bad month - there was too much going on (taxes and our CPA(s), still working on the basement flood aftermath, I got sick, then got depressed about everything, and trying to get ready for our trip to France) and was doing good to get anything done at all.

I did carry 7 bags in total but it's kinda skewed because I was traveling. I did take the Dior Lady and the H Vespa to France and they were both perfect. I also took the MZ Wallace Micro Sutton in black but didn't carry it... I think I'm going to sell it.

Onward into May! What are the challenges? Oh and I forgot to post my silver bag (same as last years), and I do have a multi-colored ebellished bag to post... oh and the bag I ended up carrying to the formal dinner at the Clos de Vougeot!

@jblended - thank you sweetheart for asking about me - you are a dear!

I'm so sorry you had a bad April, dear @Cookiefiend . T.S. Eliot wrote "April is the cruellest month" (The Wasteland, Part 1) and I think he makes a good point. Spring is ahead of us, but it isn't here yet. Winter is behind us, but not all the way behind us. And (though not in Eliot's time, I suppose) taxes! I hope May will be better for you.

 

[ElainePG]

Thank you!
Paris was packed, lots of people everywhere. We had a day that we spent with a chef (catering) - she took us to a street market (I fell in love at one of the cheese stands - the guy looked just like Bradley Cooper!) and then a cooking lesson - I learned how to make a soufflé!
View attachment 5396225
We made Magret duck breast, mashed celery root, and a pan sauce.
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We fithe Musee D’Orsay,
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had coffee at a bistro on a sidewalk, bought a baguette and took it to Luxembourg Gardens and ate it sitting and watching kids playing with boats. We walked everywhere, had so many fabulous dinners (I highly recommended Guy Savoy but it is very spendy),
View attachment 5396224
and I met the lovely women I bought my second Plumes En Fete from and had dinner at her restaurant.

It was our second trip to Beaune, but our first time to attend an event at the Clos de Vougeot - the Chapitre d’Amitie Franco-Americaine. I can’t even explain what a production this is, it’s just incredible.
View attachment 5396241
We also toured Dijon,
View attachment 5396244had lunch with Laurent Ponsot at his new winery, saw the Hospice de Beaune
View attachment 5396243
and managed to walk up and down a cobblestoned path in high heels without breaking my ankles or falling over after a very long evening fill with fabulous wine.
And then back to Paris, where I found this at the Sevres boutique - Marble Silk Brides de Gala! ❤
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Thank you for these amazing photos. The wine, the fancy dinner, the cooking lesson, and… zomg… that marble scarf! I love the way you tied it so that the marbling pops out.
I'm guessing that you and Mr. Cookie speak French?

 

[piperdog]

I keep away from everything bar basic skincare. 1. Because I am too lazy to keep anything up 2. Because I'm too scared.

I know I have to see a dentist though

I could have written these exact words. Too lazy for the upkeep has been my standard response on hair color for years. Now I just decide to rock my naturally-occurring platinum highlights.

 

[Jereni]

My multi-color bags… more than I realized!

Coach Borough - oldest bag in my collection at this point. Don’t wear it as much bc I sort of want to keep it pristine.


Coach Dreamer 21. Perfect summer evening bag.


Coach Floral Swinger. Twins with @afroken on this one I think.


Tory Burch Studio


Tory Burch Moon bag. This is my first foray into circle bags and I’m not sure it’s been successful.


Burberry


Johnny Was velvet hobo. This is the least ‘me’ of my bags but I love it regardless.


LV Multi-Pochette. Prob my favorite of my multi-color bags.

 

[piperdog]

Got offered the job I wanted today! Turned in Two Week Notice/Resignation Letter to my current job. Getting 'promoted' from Administrative Assistant to Executive Assistant!

Is two weeks too early to start deciding on my purse for the first day of the new job? Asking for a friend...

Congrats!

 

[papertiger]

My multi-color bags… more than I realized!

Coach Borough - oldest bag in my collection at this point. Don’t wear it as much bc I sort of want to keep it pristine.
View attachment 5396768

Coach Dreamer 21. Perfect summer evening bag.
View attachment 5396769

Coach Floral Swinger. Twins with @afroken on this one I think.
View attachment 5396773

Tory Burch Studio
View attachment 5396774

Tory Burch Moon bag. This is my first foray into circle bags and I’m not sure it’s been successful.
View attachment 5396775

Burberry
View attachment 5396776

Johnny Was velvet hobo. This is the least ‘me’ of my bags but I love it regardless.
View attachment 5396779

LV Multi-Pochette. Prob my favorite of my multi-color bags.
View attachment 5396780

These are really interesting and cool, multicoloured but neutral

 

[papertiger]

Proenza Schouler PS Courier small - formerly owned by our sweet @Sparkletastic
View attachment 5396141
Embellished bags:
Kurt Geiger Mini Kensington (super cute, but also super small)
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Stuart Weismann clutch (carried this for the formal dinner)
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Me at the Clos!
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Your KG is s pretty! Please don't let me look

 

[papertiger]

Thank you!
Paris was packed, lots of people everywhere. We had a day that we spent with a chef (catering) - she took us to a street market (I fell in love at one of the cheese stands - the guy looked just like Bradley Cooper!) and then a cooking lesson - I learned how to make a soufflé!
View attachment 5396225
We made Magret duck breast, mashed celery root, and a pan sauce.
View attachment 5396227
We fithe Musee D’Orsay,
View attachment 5396228
had coffee at a bistro on a sidewalk, bought a baguette and took it to Luxembourg Gardens and ate it sitting and watching kids playing with boats. We walked everywhere, had so many fabulous dinners (I highly recommended Guy Savoy but it is very spendy),
View attachment 5396224
and I met the lovely women I bought my second Plumes En Fete from and had dinner at her restaurant.

It was our second trip to Beaune, but our first time to attend an event at the Clos de Vougeot - the Chapitre d’Amitie Franco-Americaine. I can’t even explain what a production this is, it’s just incredible.
View attachment 5396241
We also toured Dijon,
View attachment 5396244had lunch with Laurent Ponsot at his new winery, saw the Hospice de Beaune
View attachment 5396243
and managed to walk up and down a cobblestoned path in high heels without breaking my ankles or falling over after a very long evening fill with fabulous wine.
And then back to Paris, where I found this at the Sevres boutique - Marble Silk Brides de Gala! ❤
View attachment 5396239
View attachment 5396245

Friendship through silk, I that

I would love that scarf. so special