I’ve always been a picky shopper, but I’ve made the mistake (on more occasions than I’d like to admit) of falling in love with a shirt (or jeans, or sweater, or…) in one color and picking up another color “just because”. Not because I saw that color and fell instantly, deeply, undeniably in love, but because I liked the original item and this was also… OK. Well, along with my new KonMar-esque lifestyle, I’m saying goodbye to that silly (and let’s face it, wasteful) practice. If it doesn’t make bedroom eyes at me from across a crowded room, we just aren’t going home together. If it doesn’t spark joy, I just don’t care.
I live in a very small town and the nearest large mall is about 40 minutes away. We have some big box stores along a main drag, but if I want to hit a Macy’s, I’m going out to that mall or going all the way into the city. Lucky for me, this weekend I had the opportunity to do both.
I actually only had one shopping mission this weekend: I wanted a large-but-not-too-large tote that I can bring to work with me. I want to be able to fit my lunch and work-related stuff but not my entire body. I know some ladies swear up and down by their huge-normous purses, but sometimes I want to find my keys. And I’m short. And I’m just not going to purchase a purse organizer. Ever.
So the search was on for the perfect tote. Along the way I found a couple of other things that sparked joy, too.
Like these adorable Crown Vintage booties from DSW. Until a few months ago, I thought I hated heeled boots. I’d gone 30-some years without heeled boots and I didn’t care if I died without heeled boots. Don’t tell my husband, but sometimes you can be so, so wrong. They were $69.95 and I had a $10 coupon so I motored up to the counter and made these my own. I also bought about a half-size down. The reviews agree that they run a tad bit long and I like my shoes on the snug side. You can buy them here if you’re so inclined.
That was the easy buy. The tote? Not so easy. The Internet’s heart is all aflutter over the Madewell Transport tote and it’s a beautiful bag. Like, seriously lovely. I’d love to carry it around Brooklyn and bring flowers home inside of it like so many pictures on Pinterest. But the unfortunate truth is that it’s just too large. If you’re a few crucial inches taller than me (I’m just under 5’3″), I salute you and wish you well as you meet your Madewell Transport match. OR if you’re one of those tiny girls who pulls off the giant bag thing like a bandit, I’m jealous. Either way, it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Plus, there’s no zipper or other type of closing mechanism – there’s just one fairly small enclosed pocket inside. Even though I leave my bag embarrassingly open a large percentage of the time, I need the security of some sort of enclosure for my twice-stolen wallet. Sorry, love.
There are a few more in the same vein: the J. Crew Downing tote, the Baggu basic tote, the various Michael Kors Jet Set bags, even Fossil has a few cute ones (Sydney Shopper or Sydney Work). But all of them either slightly too large, slightly too small, or an odd shape. I searched the mall. I even went by the local outlet mall on my way home from an errand this morning. In a last minute stop and after telling my husband I was on the road home, I dropped into the Marshalls. I should have known Marshalls would save the day. And I apologize in advance that this picture is going to be anti-climactic but it’s all I could find.
In truth, the bag is the perfect size and shape and has a… wait for it… zipper! The Michael Kors Montauk large tote bag is black nylon which means that my messy ass won’t have to worry about ruining it with a pen or getting stuck in a sudden downpour. Plus I still get my beloved brown leather detail in the straps and along the top seam. The best part? I did not spend $180+. This baby was $79.99 so I got a shirt to go along with it: a fine striped Olive & Oak long sleeved shirt that you can also purchase at the girl’s Poshmark shop that I ‘borrowed’ this picture from. Love the two different stripe sets and that this is a cover-your-tush shirt that doesn’t come down to the backs of my thighs (short girl problems). This also left some money in my budget this month mayyybe for something I’ll discuss on Want It Wednesday this week, but here’s a spoiler: it’s small, fits on your wrist, and keeps time. What could it be?!
My other awesome, fantastic weekend wins? Getting dinner and slumber partying with my sister on Friday night, eating vegan cake from Chicago Diner, and having an extended brunch date with one of my dearest friends on Saturday morning. We also got new living room furniture delivered today so UPGRADE. A great weekend outside of shopping and will have pictures to share soon!
Until then, eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark.
J.