All About Handbags

Today, I share some of my handbag care and storage tips with you, along with a new giveaway. Watch the video below for more info on how you could win this bag by Michael Kors.

The built-in shelves in my closet are the perfect place to store bags and clutches, as well as cuffs and bangle bracelets. 

A couple of years ago, I started using dust covers to protect my bags. I also keep them stuffed with tissue so that they don't lose their shape. I am making smarter purchases now, so I will be keeping my bags for several years, which means I want to take care of them.

I store clutches in a drawer for easy viewing and to keep them free from dust.

This video shows how I organize what I carry in my bags to switch them out so easily. You will also learn how to enter to win the bag I am giving away on the 4th of July!

Congratulations, Pat Willoughby!

You are the winner of the Michael Kors handbag giveaway.

Shopping in Asheville

The sun came out, and the weather was beautiful on Saturday. That means it was a perfect day to go shopping!

With temperatures in the fifties, a blazer and a scarf were all we needed for outerwear.

We stopped at the North Carolina rest stop on the way to Asheville to enjoy the sunshine and the majestic view of the mountains. 

Carmel's in the Grove Arcade is one of our favorite places to stop for an early afternoon treat of their yummy spicy pimento cheese.

A yearly ritual for us includes going to the annual clearance sales at Dillard's in the Asheville Mall. We stopped by the men's store where I tried on this fun men's hat. I didn't buy it, but it sure was cute!

This is a happy woman! There was a three-day sale which included 40% off their already reduced prices. I bought three pairs of shoes, a white blouse, and four jackets. The total was less than $220!

One of the things I love to do in any city is to drive through the older neighborhoods to look at the houses. Biltmore Forest is a village outside of Asheville built on land from part of the original Biltmore estate. 

We watched this house being built a few years ago, and it remains one of our favorites.

Looking up from one of the golf course's well-manicured holes, you can just see the top portion of this fabulous home.

This is another newer home. My guess is that wing to the left houses an indoor swimming pool.

Have you ever seen a more artistic mailbox?

Before dinner, we stopped to visit the Blue Spiral Gallery to see my friend Coralie Tweed's collection of beautiful paintings.

We had a wonderful dinner at our favorite vegetarian restaurant in town, The Laughing Seed Cafe. This is carrot cake done the vegetarian way. It was awesome!

Today I wore a fuchsia V-neck long sleeve tee, which I found on sale at T.J.Maxx earlier in the week. The darker fuchsia scarf is from Target. The blue blazer is old. The Platinum straight leg jeans are from Chico's. The boots are old from Stein Mart. The bag is by Michael Kors via T.J.Maxx. My moisturizer and almost all of the makeup I am wearing is from Merle Norman Cosmetics. Lip gloss is Plush Plum Colour Riche Balm L’Oréal Paris.

Spring Fashions at Belk

Michael Kors has arrived at my local Belk store! It is so new that they were still setting up the department today.

Skinny jeans are still an item for spring. I've paired these white ones with a black knit tank of my own and this fabulous buttery black jacket with ruched three-quarter sleeves. The necklace is by Erica Lyons, and my own nude heels are by BCBGeneration.

There were many crisply tailored shirts, sweaters, jackets, and the ubiquitous khaki pants in the Lauren section.

The three-quarter sleeves of this pink and white stripe shirt have no buttons, just an open cuff. Perfect for an easy casual look without having to turn them up each time they slip down. I am wearing it with khaki ankle pants and my own Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals.

Every woman in my family goes to Belk when she needs a dress. They are known as the south's dress address.

This wrap detail dress is by Ralph Lauren.

I found so many great dresses I had a difficult time narrowing them down to three!

This royal blue knit dress with three quarter length sleeves was available in several colors.

For the bride or groom's mother, there were many special occasion dresses for women of every age. This blue-gray sleeveless dress came with a matching bolero jacket.

Belk also has a large selection of beautiful clutch bags that look really smart with dresses.

It was great fun chatting with all of you who showed up for the photoshoot today. I hope you found as many great items as I did!