Fall Purse Time

Fall has come again and you know what that means . . . Fall Purse Time! My fall purse is my favorite with its red quilted leather and a white leather strap intertwined with a gold chain. Ahhh . . . and it reminds me of how we met (the purse and I).

January 2, 2007 (I know right. The beginning of a new year is always a difficult adjustment).

It all began dress shopping in a small boutique in Holland, MI . . .

Of course we were there to help my sister (the blushing bride-t0-be) by trying on some styles of dress and giving her our opinion. I lived too far away to be a day-to-day consultant for all of the bridesmaids' fashions and so Katie had come with me to act as my sister's fashion advisor once I left. We had many good intentions and tried on many a gorgeous dress but overall I think Katie and I planed our own wedding by the time we left and had only a suggestion or two for my sister. Pink cocktail dresses on the beach in Jamaica for Katie, and well for me I can't really remember now but I am sure it had to do with varying shades of blue, maybe something classic with just a touch of style like a wink as you walked past. After the novelty of beautiful dresses wore out, we threw back on our jeans and sweaters and coats and boots and hats and gloves (this is Michigan after all) and crossed the street to Pietro's.

Pietro's must be one of my all time favorite restaurants. We would journey to the Pietro's) in GR (about 45 minutes away) for big events or perhaps just include it in a shopping day on 28th street. I once even had a boyfriend who took me there. That memory makes me smile. My first boyfriend. Sigh, I am so single. Anyway, the rolls were delightful, the dipping sauce savory, and of course the Bellini's (unblended) were uterly fabulous. As the sweet drink tipped with alcohol warmed us we headed back out for some serious but fun shopping.

First stop, Tikki. The boutique I first fell in love with Kenzie. The store was open from front to back and filled with small displays of eclectic goods and accessories. Brown bohemian flowing tops caught my eye and we turned and twirled in them pretending to be as free as the fabric. Shoes poked out from beneath the table and I almost trip over a silver pair of Kenzie boots. Silver boots! Just my size. But where would I wear silver boots? I mean really. Um, where can't you wear silver boots? Katie, my better half, cried. I don't know. I hesitated. Well, I'll think about it. (Now I wish I bought those boots . . . every winter I think I could totally use those boots right about now). Shaking off the boots and slipping back into my simple black ones, I looked up into what would become my obsession for the rest of the day. Brown shrugs. How have I not owned one of these before? I asked amazed. It was incredible. There were crocheted ones, faux fur ones, even sparkly ones. I felt dainty and refined just trapsing around the boutique. Perfect.

Circling around the block, the Green Mountain Coffee sign lured us into our next haunt. Green Mountain coffee got us through morning lectures and late night study sessions. I can still taste the sweet spiced pumpkin flavor of the fall blends now as Stuart Lingo asks anyone if they recognize the next slide. Oooh, I do. I do. Katie wriggles in her chair. Her entire face lit up as she gushed how you can see the peak of this specific chapel from a hotel in Florence . . . but that story is for another time. It does show you how quickly coffee can take me any where in the world however.

Shops continue to line the quaint streets of Holland and for a moment I miss home and the view of Lake Macatawa off the downtown only solidifes how beautiful Michigan can be.

Then, Jb & me. It was love at first sight. The shop was filled with perfectly preppy and eclectic styles. Ah, but I am getting ahead of myself because we quickly navigated to the basement with an extra 10% off sign luring us into the depths. No one else was around, and I should just disclaim now that after Green Mountain coffee, well, things can happen and sale racks of clothing and no dressing room in sight, i am just saying you would do the same (or at least consider it). I stripped in the corner as Katie giggled and kept a look out for me. I first threw on a tank top (see-thru) not a chance. Ten minutes and my tits would pop out. So, it's a maybe on the tank top (I mean for those ten minutes I would look good). Then a fabulous shrug with nothing to go with it and too sad by itself. A teal, brown, and pink belt wrapped around me, as I placed a light blue head scarf arond my hair. I began dancing I believe at this moment and Katie snapped shots of me as I stated I should be a gypsy for Halloween . . . which isn't for another 10 months (but at least I would be with Katie).

By now Green Mountain was in full swing. People came down the stairs to browse the racks in the basement and katie and I had to become serious shoppers. Meanwhile, I am still in my gypsy outfit/halloween costume. I had to wait for the shoppers to leave before I could change back (boo - I was having too much fun).

The upstairs provided more distractions as I quickly forgot about my brief love affair with gypsies. A teal shrug stood on the mannequin in front of me, knitted and with a hint of sparkle, as if made just for me. As I slowly contemplated the teal shrug . . . what do i have i could wear with it? Is a shrug warm at all? Is it a kind of sweater or jacket? It happened. I saw it. A red purse too fabulous to pass up. You know the kind. You see it and hold it up and everything that you would sacrifice in the next month flashes through your mind in order to justify just this one purchase. And I did sacrifice. It is mine now and I love it.