Verizon and Coach

A few months back we terminated our AT&T mobile phone service. We moved from DC to northern Virginia and changed from Xfinity to Verizon Fios. Having Verizon internet, it made sense to have Verizon mobile phone service too. I really wanted unlimited data - which we didn’t have with AT&T - because it was very annoying whenever we traveled and used google maps. With the change came a ten dollar discount on both services as long as we maintain both services. Additionally, my husband and I each received a $150 gift debit card. Today we decided to spend the gift cards and headed to the Coach store in Tyson’s Galleria. I was looking for a purse that had both a carry and shoulder option, and was bigger than my tiny coach purse that I use for walking - it’s just big enough to put my phone, keys and umbrella. I have a large black Tumi travel bag that’s great for putting in iPads and the kitchen sink, a Coach turquoise zipper purse that’s great for summer and spring but doesn’t have a shoulder carry option, and a brown Cole Haan laptop size for fall and winter. We found the perfect choice while walking in the mall last week. It’s called the Charlie Bucket and fits all the requirements - great for all year round, grey - a neutral color I don’t have, a shoulder and arm carry option, and enough space to fit a bit more than an umbrella and phone. I’m not sure I would have purchased this bag if not for the gift cards. That’s the danger of walking in the mall when the weather is bad - it gives you ideas. I tend to hang on to my purses forever and this will be the perfect staple for years to come. 

Replacing Cole Haan With Tumi

My old Cole Haan purse was looking quite beat up. I've had it for about fifteen years. It was very functional but very heavy. It's been on many trips with me. I particularly like the space on the side for water bottles, phone, or umbrella. So I started looking for something that could replace it - light, closes completely, shoulder, cross body, compartments to organize, stylish. I've always had large purses because I put so much junk in it. I don't like backpacks. So it was looking like a large tote would be the solution. I saw some nice options on the Internet and we headed out to the mall to see what it would boil down to. I found a beautiful leather bag at Coach, but it was slouchy and unstructured. It had great features. But I found another bag at Tumi that probably would work better for a working person - but I retired a few months ago. The Tumi was very structured, had a shoulder and wrist carry handles, and about the same size as my old bag. It was a very difficult decision but the Tumi was on sale and the Coach bag was not. I also liked the five year warranty and it would be good for any kind of travel. So my husband helped me decide and we went with a black Tumi. The grey and green were also nice but dirt is a problem. And for the first time in ages I had it monogrammed with my artwork artist initials - LIT. So I've been trying it out and like it so far. I need to really break it in. It's still quite heavy especially when I load it up with two iPads. But the slot for the phone is great. Now I'm hoping this one lasts as long as the previous bag. I also hope it goes well with my LLBean wardrobe. 

The Home Depot Fix For My Favorite Cole Haan Bag

When we travel I put everything but the kitchen sink in my purse. That purse happens to be a several year old Cole Haan hobo bag that has served me very well. I'm very attached to it. Well, the stress of the weight finally took its toll on it - three iPads were just a bit too heavy. One of the metal rings holding the strap broke. The tiny nail fell out and the strap came with it. So what could be done? We decided a trip to Home Depot might be just the thing. I wanted something that looked like the original ring, but it also needed to be easily applied. With the help of the staff at Home Depot, we found a clamp of sorts that was silver and black. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for but when I put it on, it looked quite nice. Maybe I should have gotten two so it was a matching set. The best part was that this new clamp can hold up to 100 pounds! What more could you ask for? 

My Favorite Cole Haan Purse and Andre Winter Coat

I had a great winter coat in Milwaukee. It was full length, light, flannel lining, and a great collar - perfect for walking the dog and staying warm. I left it there thinking I probably wouldn't need it here in this warmer climate. What a mistake! But I did bring along another three season coat that I've had at least twenty years. It has a removable hood and inside lining. But it is suede and very heavy. It serves the purpose on especially cold days. It is finally starting to wear down, but is still fixable as it gets older. The strings that tie the hood in place have deteriorated and one of the brass decorative buttons fell off somewhere. My always reliable Cole Haan bucket purse with a cross body strap and handle lost a piece of the silver ring that keeps the strap in place. Unbelievably I found the tiny part on the ground in front of my work place. I just needed a little wire to replace the itsy bitsy screws. I would be heartbroken to lose either one if these valuable items. I'm not sure if I would have felt that way even ten years ago. I think I'm getting older. It's getting really hard to lose things. 

Macy's Purse

I usually carry a very large purse and put everything in it except the kitchen sink. It weighs a ton but I always have whatever anyone needs from band aids to water. But during the week I don't need to carry around all that junk. I have a very small purse that holds the essentials but it's not quite big enough to fit in the umbrella or gloves when it gets colder outside.  And when we travel it becomes the primary purse and fits inside the big purse. So our mission today was to check the shops and hopefully find something to meet the need. My husband always comes along to serve as fashion advisor. We headed to Tyson's and checked Neiman Marcus, then Coach, then Cole Haan, then Saks. We finally reached the end of the mall and headed in to Macy's. It was there I found exactly what I needed at 40% off plus another 20%. Best of all it met all the specifications and more, and the price couldn't be beat. I hope it lasts for awhile, but at that price I just can't complain.