Handbags and Drama
Handbags and Drama
Anyone else here addicted to handbags… and drama?
We recently visited with friends who have a very large, beautiful house, with the best walk-in closet and laundry room I’ve ever seen. I confess, I had storage-envy after seeing their place.
And I immediately recognized another bag-lover. Not only does my friend has a long shelf in her closet devoted to her handbags, but she also has another floor-to-ceiling cupboard in their laundry room to house those shoes and bags she uses less often. I LOVE it!
Recently, after having my credit card compromised, I’ve become a fan of Travelon Anti-Theft bags, with RFID protection. I’ve got one in red, and I love it. We hope to do more traveling in the coming years, and security is kind of a big deal for me. Also, since I just finished writing another book, I figure I deserve a bit of bag-shopping as a reward. Right?
I wear a lot of black, so red often works. But not always. I’m currently looking for a similar bag, but in a different color. This one, maybe? I love purple and I like the water bottle pockets. Not sure about the front compartment though.
For years, I was hooked on Derek Alexander bags. They’re an entirely different kind of bag, leather, elegantly designed, and fairly pricey, so I can’t indulge myself much on these. But this is one of the best organizer bags I’ve ever had. I find I need more room now, though.
Sometimes I wish I had a cute little bag for when you’re going out and you only need to bring keys, a credit card, tissues and lip balm. A friend of mine has an adorable Kate Spade mini-bag that looks something like this:
Isn’t this so pretty?
Right now, I’m leaning towards this one. All the Travelon security of my red bag, in color that will work with my blue-green-checked winter coat. What do you think? What’s your favorite bag?
PS: I almost forgot the family drama! I read this New York Times bestseller The Breakdown Lane by Jacqueline Mitchard years ago and loved it. Jodi Picoult says, “Reading just doesn’t get any better than this.” Publisher’s Weekly calls it a “no-holds-barred family drama.” It’s available in digital format now, and I’m getting it to reread on my Kindle. Anyone else remember this book?
PPS: the book I just finished writing is called The Chocolate Cure part of the Love at the Chocolate Shop series. There’s family drama here, too, though it’s the kind that makes you smile, not the kind that makes you want to stab yourself in the eye. In case you’re interested, it’s available January 4, 2017.
Reader Thank-You Giveaway!
- At May 28, 2016
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Roxanne Writes On
- 0
Each year, Melissa McClone puts together an amazing donation for her local Fisher House. For those who don’t know (I didn’t) Fisher Houses provide military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury. As you can imagine, this is a traumatic time for families, many of which includes young children and overwhelmed mothers.
Melissa solicits donations of books and other pampering, self-care items, including some stuff for kids and packs them into lovely insulated thermal totes can also be used to safely transport breastmilk. You know, for those many moms who need to be in two places at once.
This is a fantastic cause, people, and it strikes close to home on two counts for me. I’ve always believed in the power of books to transport us, especially in times of distress, plus I’m a huge advocate for breastfeeding and was a peer counselor for new moms for many years when my own children were young.
Contributing to this is an honor for me. Will you help support us? Melissa’s put together some great prizes, as her way of saying thanking you for being our readers.
Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here’s my sponsored tote. Isn’t it pretty?
Thank you! Readers are awesome!
Day #1 of 100 Days of Happiness
The brilliant author Nancy Robards Thompson recently issued a #100DaysofHappiness challenge and I’m taking her up on it. If you’ve been following me for a while, you might recall my 100 Days of Bikram Yoga challenge, where I not only did 100 straight days of Bikram yoga, but I blogged about it most days as well. 100 day challenges apparently work for me.
So here’s my entry for Day 1.
As some of you know, our youngest daughter left for university this past weekend, leaving me a little… forlorn. Motherhood has been my primary identity for well, most of my adult life. Natural childbirth, breastfeeding, homeschooling, the works. Attachment, baby. All the way. Plus, I’m a Scorpio. We grab on. Tight. (Mama Doesn’t Share Food!!)
Which was all great. Until now when my primary task IS to let go.
Some things were easier when our girls were smaller. For instance, we could tuck them into bed, set the alarm and know they were safe. Some things were almost unbearably sweet: the fresh-from-the-bath smell when tucking them into bed. The full-belly laughter. The innocent, wide-open trust in their eyes. The hand-holding.
But there was lots to counteract that easy sweetness: screaming fits, hours-long bedtime rituals where I just wanted to spray them with Nap-Time (come on, you’ve thought about it too!) not to mention the power-struggle between 30 pounds of arched-back fury and a non-negotiable car-seat. In the dreaded mommy-van.
As our daughters have grown into independence, I’ve morphed as well. But this milestone, last chick launched, is forcing me to evaluate my life and goals. The Next Stage of my life is here. How do I want to play it? (And for the last time, Honey. Naked Wednesday is NOT a thing.)
So this is my Day 1 of Happiness: I’ve got a wide-open world ahead of me, with three fantastic adult children and a husband who loves me even when I get broody and existential. I’ve got a career I love, with readers who remind me that exploring the landscape of relationships through fiction is important. I’ve got excellent friends who also love me, despite my neuroses, or what I call The Adventures of Roxanne’s Brain.
Change can be hard. But life is very, very good.