As I search for the PERFECT park bag (found really really great ones, but nothing perfect yet), I of course found out that DISers like Vera Bradley. I had never heard of it before.
And at first glance, I wanted to puke. I thought the prints were hideous, garish, and bag-lady looking. But I couldn't stop from reading posts day after day over how much DISers love their Vera bags. And picture after picture showed women my age or younger (and some more experienced - no one older of course
) with cute bags that even with their print, didn't compete with them or overwhelm them.
So I got an
Amazon gift certificate for a work reward and thought I'd try one out. I ordered the hipster in the darkest color I could find that I thought the print would suit me (happy snails). I got it last fall, used it and was teased by my family for carrying it. Well, I typically am a small black leather purse kind of person. Hmmm... But what I couldn't get over was the weight, the construction, and the utility of the bag. The bag was light weight, comfortable, sturdily made, with lots of useful pockets and could also be washed in the washer!
I decided to venture over to the Vera Bradley website and what did I find - lots and lots and lots of fun accessories. Now THESE I could work with! My permenant wallet is now the double kiss lock wallet in twirly birds. I love how unique it is, and perfect for what I use it for. And that pink color gives me just enough punch to accent my bag. Friends remark on how it reminds them of Hawaii, or just how pretty and fun it is. All those fun items with their different locks, zips, snaps, straps, pockets, and features, really got me on the Vera bandwagon.
I rarely use the hipster that I originally bought but I did use it to determine how I would like another purse to really look (especially in the size and the color). I recently bought this to take to Disney and it is perfect for me (Lizzy in Twirly birds):
And I also bought a bunch of accessories to go with my Disney couture bag and I'm super pleased with the Deco Daisy 'Mickey' color:
Even my DD8 is on the bandwagon. We love to share our Vera items and figure out the best way to accessorize our carry-on bags and our purses.
So I do like Vera and I have bought quite a few items now but not everything is perfect.
-I did not like the 'one for the money' wallet. It is a huge size wallet with very little space to put anything.
-I also bought the metropolitan and have found it to be just slightly too big to store under the seat of the aisle airplane seat. I do manage to shove it in there and push my feet so that I don't have to put it overhead, but it's not perfect.
-I also bought one of the tech wallets and it is really bulky. I haven't found a good use for it.
What I love, love, love:
-Mini hanging toiletry case - I use mine for cosmetics and my daughter uses her as a toiletry case.
-Double kiss coin purse - as an everyday wallet - so cute!
-Small cosmetic pouch - I added a wristlet strap to it and put it in my purse. I can take it out of one purse and put it in another. I can also pull the cosmetic pouch out of my purse and still carry it to a restroom as a chic looking bag.
-Cosmetic bag - I can't remember the name but it is a perfect size for my work items and is vinyl lined (with a nice print, not clear!) with an outside magnetic pocket, and two inside mesh pockets.
I'm the same way. I have a few other birthday coupons to use for other stores, that I will not let go to waste either! 
It was a "girls' weekend" and all the cool kids were doing it. 
