Mama Wants a Brand New Bag

I'm getting that itch again. The one where I get ridiculously obsessive about my next big purchase, and that always means a handbag. I've said it before - some women love shoes, some lust after diamonds, and some like myself well...it's all about that next beautiful bag to add to my (rather small) collection.

Here's the criteria:

• Must be practical and multi-functional
• In keeping with the upcoming Spring and Summer, I want one in a lighter color
• Which color have I narrowed it down to? Either beige, white, or blush
• I'm also in the market for a crossbody/saddle style. Trendy at the moment, but when it comes to bags in particular, the saddle bag comes back around every few years.
• Must be leather and of good quality because my bags are forever - quality over quantity
• Must be under the $400 range. As much as I'd love a Chloe, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, or Valentino, I just can't bring myself to save for one just yet. There are other pressing matters in life. I have to be realistic. 

I'm not one to jump at the chance to make a big purchase. I like to do some research, mull over my options, and then narrow the choices down to two or three. Sometimes I'll ask for others' opinions, but most of the time, I go with my gut because ultimately it's my money and I'm the one who is going to carry the bag! 

Some pretty options that are in the running:

Kate Spade 

Loeffler Randall

Michael Kors

Gigi New York

Milly

Which do you ladies prefer? It's hard to narrow down to just one! 

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Fake It Til You Make It

Wearing //

Express cami

American Rag moto jacket, similar

Express jeans (current favorite, so soft!)

Michael Kors bag

Beauty //

Essie ladylike polish

Anxiety sucks. I know I've briefly mentioned this before, but because I like to keep my blog a little less personal and a little more frivolous, it's not something I write about often. Over the weekend, I had a conversation with one of my best friends about what she's been experiencing lately, something I didn't know about. She told me that her anxiety has gotten to the point where it's preventing her from living life to the fullest. As I listened to her speak, I realized that I let anxiety do the same thing in my own life. I get uncomfortable around large groups of people, I avoid or turn down opportunities that could benefit me, and I even cancel appointments because I get nervous just being around people. I know that may sound crazy to some of you, but for those of us that struggle with it, the fears and phobias are very real. As a behavior health specialist, I teach my kids to cope with their emotions by talking to a friend, going for a long walk, or listening to music. There are plenty of ways to cope with negative thoughts and feelings, but I don't really take my own advice. I'll ignore a problem, or I do whatever possible to avoid a conflict. It's because I want to be comfortable. My whole life I've just made decisions based on being comfortable. Does that make sense? I'm pre-wired to think this way, and it's really unfortunate because I know that I'm not living life to the fullest. So Nate told me to just fake it til I make it. Get up, get dressed, and go about the day. Don't over analyze, don't let worry stop you from getting out of bed each day. I do see a therapist and I take anti-anxiety medication which does help, but I have to do the work myself. I'm not sure why I picked today to share this, but sometimes I don't know what shallow things to write about. The outfit pictures illustrate that part for me :) I hope those of you who are suffering from a mental health problem get treatment, and I encourage you to talk about it with friends. You'll quickly realize that you are not alone. 

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Beauty Products To Try

L'Occitane shower oil

I'm not one to splurge on shower or bath products terribly often, but after reading the hype about this L'Occitane shower oil, I decided to leave my Aveeno on the drugstore shelf and give it a try. The good news is that I love everything about it - the light almond scent, the luxurious feel of it on my skin, and the moisture that it imparts even after my shower is done. The bad news is that I love everything about it! The lather isn't very strong, I presume because it's an oil, but it also isn't greasy like I feared it would be. I think all skin types would benefit from it. I like that this scent stays on my skin, and it's a gorgeous way to start or end your mornings and nights.

First Aid Beauty face cleanser

I tried First Aid Beauty last year when I bought an eye brightening cream from the line. I loved that product so much, that I decided to give their face cleanser a try after my Cetaphil ran out. Honestly, nothing beats a bottle of Cetaphil. It's great for all skin types, it cleanses without stripping your skin, it's easily accessible at any drugstore, and it's cheap! This is essentially the fancier version of that, meaning that it acts in a similar manner. Even my husband uses it (and that is very rare). I don't know if I'll continue buying simply because it's more expensive than Cetaphil and why pay more? But if you're in the market to try something new and don't mind paying a few dollars more, this works great. 

Essie "cabana boy"

We all have a love/hate relationship with Essie, right? I hear it all the time - great color range and pretty bottles, but the formula can be a giant pain to apply and work with. You don't always get what you see in the bottle, but I guess that spans across brands. I'm no novice to a good manicure. My mom was a manicurist while I was growing up, and I practically lived in the salon with her, occasionally painting older ladies toes. I love the look of well-groomed nails, even better if they are polished nicely. This color called Cabana Boy is part of Essie's "Retro Revival" collection, and to say that I'm in love with its pearly grey tone is an understatement. It does go on very sheer at first, but give it another coat and it quickly transforms into neutral mani perfection.

Bella "island moonlight" candle

This obviously isn't a beauty product, but it sure is beautiful to look at (and smell). I have a serious candle obsession right now, and I can't for the life of me walk into Target without buying one. My favorite candle of all-time is called volcano by Capri Blue, and I swear that this smells extremely similar and is half the price. The scent is faint at first, but then fills up an entire room. I keep one on top of my bathroom counters, and I light them whenever I'm home. There's just something so warm and comforting about a lit candle. It instantly lifts my mood, and it makes me feel kind of glamorous too. Strange, but undeniably true.

What have you tried lately that you'd recommend to others? And by others, I mean me...

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