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Our walk this week was much colder than it should have been! We hope you keep walking, even on days when it’s dreary and you’d rather do anything else!
Walk and Talk (and What’s in my Bag)
The walk convo this week is all about purses. Opposites attract, and we couldn’t be more different in our choices of bags and what’s inside! One of us is a Minimalist, carrying just the bare essentials. The other is a Mary Poppins, prepared for anything. Any guesses?
Are you a Minimalist or a Mary Poppins purse girl?
How often do you switch bags? Daily? Weekly? Depending on the outfit? Or do you wait for your purse to wear out? There are bags for every occasion, traveling, black tie (summer and winter), concert/sports arena bag, cross body for travel… the list is endless. Having an assortment of bags that work for your lifestyle is helpful, if you notice a hole in your purse collection, keep you eye open to fill it.
And some friendly “purse health” advice – make sure the bag you carry isn’t too heavy. If you are a Mary Poppins, alternate which shoulder you’re carrying it on to avoid any shoulder or back pain. Yes, a heavy bag be the cause of pain in your shoulder and back.
You can read more about our obsession thoughts on purses in last year’s post.
What’s in Megan’s Bag
Obviously I’m the Mary Poppins of the group. But listen, you never know when you might need that Clorox wipe, an extra pair of glasses or who knows what else that might be lurking in the bottom of my purse. I’ve been toggling between a taupe crossbody/bucket bag and this Clare V. woven leather. Both can be worn crossbody or shoulder bag style. Switching back and forth between bags helps me keep it tidy, er – less cluttered? Ok lets be honest it helps me clean out the receipts, straw wrappers and loose change that accumulate in the bottom of my purse. I would consider this snap shot to be “just the essentials”.
When choosing a bag always select real leather. They look a million times better than their faux counter part and they hold up much longer. Nothing cheapens an outfit more than a pleather bag. If real leather isn’t in your budget, look at nylon, neoprene or canvas. Try Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls and Poshmark — a beautiful hand bag can be found for every budget. I tend to use bags “seasonally” (and year after year), I have a red leather bag for holidays, a light taupe for spring, brown leather basket style for summer and a brown suede carry all for fall.
What do I consider “the essentials”?
- readers (never leave home without two pairs)
- sunnies (always the optimist)
- an assortment of lipstick/glosses
- my business cards (you never know when you’ll need one – even if it’s to enter a drawing for a free taco lunch)
- sanitizing products (iykyk)
- wallet (My friend Anne brought this one back to me from her Italian vaca last year and I love it. It’s the perfect size and the creamy white leather is tres chic. I linked a similar one)
- purse strap (I have a rack of these in my closet, a little accessory for my accessory)
- my favorite pen!
- current favorite perfume in a “purse” size
Shop Megan’s Bag
What’s in Christa’s Bag
If you’re looking for minimal, I’m your girl. A small crossbody is my go to bag. And when there isn’t much inside your bag, it’s a breeze to switch bags to coordinate with your outfit. I’m currently on the hunt for a new spring bag, but I’m just not finding the size I prefer. For a crossbody, I look for something that’s at least 10″ x 7″ to fit everything easily. I also prefer leather bags — I like the look and feel of leather, and it holds up better so I don’t mind the investment.
Until I find just the right bag, I’m using my Marc Jacobs J Marc bag. It’s a smidge too small for me, so I’m not carrying very much! I love everything else about this bag — the soft leather, the color blocking, the cavas strap.
Shocking that you can count the contents of my bag on one hand!
- slim card case wallet (old, by Michael Kors; similar, but I love this one that matches the bag)
- lipstick (in “Hibiscus”)
- readers
- keys
- sunglasses (similar)
Shop Christa’s Bag
Organize Your Bags (Inside and Out)
While we’re on the subject of purses, here are some Amazon finds to keep everything inside your bag organized, and keep all of your bags in your closet organized.
You can also learn more about our favorite purses by checking out What’s in Our Bag? | Purse Edition.
What We’re Watching
CHRISTA : If you’re a fan of Succession (HBO), set your DVR because the season 4 premiere is March 26. I’m a little late to the game and just started watching last weekend. Two episodes in, and I have to say I’m not seeing what all the fuss is about. It’s won 13 Emmys, so I’m sticking with it to see where it goes. If you watched it, tell me if it gets better.
MEGAN : It’s an oldie but a goodie, This Is Where I Leave You (circa 2014 Netflix) with Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Diver, Rose Byrne — the cast is seriously star studded. My bookclub read the book (by Jonathan Tropper) in the late aughts and honestly the movie is just as good. A funny story about love, marriage, death, divorce and siblings. Great way to spend two hours.
Something Quick to Read
CHRISTA : How old are you in your head? For most of us, the answer is not the same as how old you feel or how old you actually are. The Puzzling Gap Between Hold Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are (The Atlantic) explains why. In my head I’m still in my late 30’s!
Something to Wear
CHRISTA : Grad season will be here before you know it. It’s not too early to think about what you’re wearing for the ceremony and all the parties. We’ve rounded up some dresses that will be perfect for the all the picture taking and celebrating. Pro tip: These are also perfect for Easter or Passover, too!
stripe wrap dress (on sale!) // lace asymmetrical dress (available in 3 colors) // light blue dress // eyelet midi dress // floral midi dress
embroidered maxi dress (available in 3 colors, in regular, petite, tall and plus; shop the entire Somerset Collection here) // green dress (on sale! also in this floral from our spring trends last week // floral print dress // blue dress // jumpsuit (available in regular, petite, and plus)
MORE DRESSES TO SHOP
What We’re Listening To
MEGAN : I’ve been catching up on my podcasts and just listed to the March 1st episode of Second Life with Hillary Kerr. She interviews Maggie Bullock about her new book The Kingdom of Prep: The Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew. It’s like a business case study that you are actually interested in. Perfect for listening on the treadmill or on a walk, lots of juicy details about one of our fav retailers!
What’s in My Amazon Cart
CHRISTA : A peek in my Amazon cart might be more interesting than a peek in my bag! 🙂 Here are a few things I’m eyeing up.
- 2 Tier Sliding Organizer – I’m organizing some cabinets where I store serving pieces, like trays, bowls and platters. This will make it easier to see what I have and reach everything. Because my cabinets were a custom built-in, they aren’t a standard depth, so these 16″D organizers are perfect (most organizers are 18″ or 21″.)
- Button Hoodie – I shared this before in green (it was a Best of 2022!). When I wanted a pink one, it was out of stock, so I tried several other brands that looked identical. But the quality didn’t compare to this one. This one is a nice weight for cool spring mornings, it isn’t too short (so it’s good with leggings), and it washes well, too.
- Preserved Boxwood Topiary – I like a little touch of greenery in a room, and these topiaries are a perfect way to do that. I’m planning to replace the pots with these to match the decor — fingers crossed they work because they are so darn cute!
Random Stuff We Like
IT’S HERE! The 95th Academy Awards are this Sunday. Will you be watching it all or just interested in the Red Carpet fashion? In case you’re keeping a list, here are all the nominations. Will Everything Everywhere All At Once go home with all the wins? Will anyone trip going up to the stage? Who’s name will be mispronounced? Will someone get slapped? What will this year’s drama include? What actor will become Monday’s viral meme? Any guesses on the most popular color or style of dress?
Something Just For Fun
MEGAN : I spotted a new trend on Nordstrom’s website this week. I’m calling it “Homeless Chic”. Seriously, these sweaters are all over $600. What is going on? I’m not sure the Goodwill would accept these. Is this a trend you’re excited about?
Friends Share the Good Stuff
Our stylish friend Georgi shared a pic of her new spring decor. She shopped last week’s post with spring decor from Amazon, and we think it looks perfect on her console table! Thanks for sharing, Georgi! Well done!
If you want to add a little Spring to your home, like Georgi, here are some great finds, all from Amazon.
RECALL ALERT!
For those of us that were (un)lucky enough to receive the coveted Theraplush hand cream, it’s been recalled. You should have received an email. If not, to request a refund, email help@softservices.com with your order number. p.s. They were very quick to issue the refund.
Reader Request
QUESTION FROM OUR STYLISH FRIEND MICHELLE : “Can you recommend a spring jacket (that’s not a jean jacket), preferably white or cream.”
CHRISTA : This cute sweater jacket from Ann Taylor caught my eye, available in regular and petite sizes in three colors, including white. And I also recently found this utility jacket from Macy’s that’s a great on-trend casual option for spring — available in several colors.
MEGAN : We’ve got you Michelle! This winter I picked up the perfect quilted creamy white “shacket”. I think you’ll love it, too. Currently on sale, plus 40% off, and comes in regular and petite sizes.
Is there something you’re looking for? Let us know! Drop us a note and we’ll get right on it!
What’s Happening on the Blog
Looking for the Top 5 from February? If you’re a subscriber, you received the “best of” email right in your inbox this week. In case you missed it, here’s the link. If you would like to become a subscriber, click here.
WHAT’S TRENDING…
The most popular link from last week is the little brass bunnies. Hop on over to Christa’s spring decor roundup for more spring decorating inspiration. Are you decorating for spring yet?
…and Last Year on the Blog
Our Evening Skincare Routine – a little peek at our evening skincare routine and our favorite products.
Weekly Walk and Talk | 3.11.2022 – We’re busy chatting about movies, books, “3 finds under $30”, food, Etsy pillows, and some fun things we’re shopping for. Megan has a chocolate chip cookie recipe to share, too!
Christa’s Links
- What’s in Christa’s Bag?
- Succession (HBO)
- The Puzzling Gap Between Hold Old You Area and How Old You Think You Are (The Atlantic)
- Graduation/Easter dresses
- my Amazon cart: 2 Tier Sliding Organizer // Casual Button Hoodie // Polka Dot Ruffle Sleeve Dress // Preserved Boxwood Topiary (with these pots)
Megan’s Links
- What’s in Megan’s bag?
- This Is Where I Leave You (old but new to Netflix) and the book by Jonathan Tropper
- March 1st episode of Second Life with Hillary Kerr and The Kingdom of Prep: The Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew
- quilted creamy white “shacket”.
Friends share the good stuff on social media, too! Follow us @styleamongfriends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more more style, decor, beauty, recipes and other fun finds.
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