Kayaks, Cellos, and Knock Offs...

 My day started with kayaking on Lake Union with my brother.

 We rented two singles (way funner than a tandem.)

 Here he is near some houseboats and duckies.

arm candy

Then I ate a huge lunch, took a tiny nap, and had a quick shower before getting ready for my cello lesson. Two outfits in one day!
But what I really want to talk about is bags...

A few months ago, in a thrift store, I spotted a little purse with the unmistakable LV logo all over it.  It looked totally new, had pretty tags with numbers on it, was lined in leather, felt nice, and came in a little protective bag.  In the heat of the moment, I bought it.  Then I came home and read articles on the internet about how you could tell a fake from the real deal for about an hour until I was sure it was a fake.  And it sat there, unused and unloved for months until I decided to sell it at my favorite consignment store.  The owner knew immediately it was fake, but thought it would sell anyway.  The next day, the owner called me to tell me she had to give me back my bag because the leather part that attached the bag to the strap was coming off!  Keep in mind, this is a totally new bag!  Ack!  Dang piece of trash!  So I picked it up, cut off the offending piece with scissors, and am punishing myself for my stupidity by carrying it in my purse as a clutch to hold my non-basics until I feel my shopping sins have been reprieved.  Ugh.  And the moral of the story is: Don't get excited about fancy things you don't even really like.  And don't buy knock-offs. Besides being terrible quality, they are very likely made in places you don't want to be associated with.  Right?

So, in an effort to turn a Louis Vuitton lemon into blog lemonade, here's a post about what's usually in my bag!

Essentials:

- wallet

- phone

- grocery bag, now that bags at the grocery store cost a nickel a piece

- punishment clutch of non-essentials

Non-essentials but make me feel safe and prepared for the world:

- notebook
- lip gloss

- pencil, pen, sharpie

- bag hook

- mirror

- comb

- lotion

- band aids

- two different tea bags in case I'm ever in some kind of tea emergency?

- not pictured: hand sanitizer, tissues, gum

Have you ever regretted a buying a knock-off?
Do you carry anything unique in your bag?

Daily Details:

- weather: very warm and sunny

- location: Northwest Outdoor Center on Lake Union and community garden

- AM Outfit: t-shirt gifted, shorts accpw $7, beach shoes accpw $3, bag accpw $5, life jacket rented

- PM Outfit: t-shirt accpw $2, thrifted skirt accpw $2, local shoes accpw $3, bag accpw $5