I just came across another website that is giving away a Vera Bradley Raspberry Fizz Messenger Bag.  If you would like a chance to win the Messenger Bag, hurry on over to Purple Pink and Orange.

The deadline to enter is May 31 (sorry for the short notice). It’s very easy to enter.  Simply leave a comment under the post about the Vera Bradley Giveaway, and you will be contacted by e-mail if you win the drawing.  It doesn’t get any easier than that, does it!

If you are reading this and the May 31st deadline to enter has already passed, check out the other giveaways sponsored by Purple Pink and Orange.  Apparently, they have a drawing once a week, and from the look of past giveways, I know that I personally will be entering their weekly drawings!  

Good luck to all!    

And of course, if you do win, return here to post a comment gloating over your victory…

I just finished reading a post on Vera Bradley’s Facebook page regarding the new fall 2008 fabrics.  Ok, so you may be thinking to yourself…

“We just wrapped up Memorial Day weekend, the kickoff to summertime activities.  The last thing I want to hear about is what’s coming out this fall!”

I initially thought that too, but I’m just not good at keeping things to myself.  So what the heck, here’s what you can expect to see from the Vera Bradley company in just a few more months…

Night Owl - This is a blue and black pattern.  I don’t know much more, but I’m guessing by its name that it will be dark tones.

Puccini - This Fall 2008 Vera Bradley fabric is brown and dark orange.   Not exactly my taste in colors, but we’ll have to see…

Caffe Latte - If this one lives up to its name, I’m going to love it!  From what I hear, it has shades of browns, creams and tans. 

Frankly Scarlet - A little spin on Gone with the Wind, me thinks?  I have heard this red pattern described as “gothic”.  Interesting, huh?

At this point, that’s all I know.  If I can get my hands on some pics, you can bet that I will post them here.  I am going to check with my local Vera Bradley retail store - it seems to me that’s where most of the Facebook members received their sneak peek.

UPDATE ON JUNE 19, 2008:

Hopefully by now everyone has seen pics of the new fall styles.  I just returned from my local Vera Bradley retail store, and I have to agree with Amy (see comments below), the fabrics are a lot better in person!  My two favorites are the Puccini and the Night Owl.

I took my camera with me - I wanted to get a few pictures to post here.  However, wouldn’t you know it, my camera batteries were dead!  I considered running over to Walgreens to get some replacements, but my three year old had other plans. (I think he polished off my cup of coffee this morning when I wasn’t looking.  Not really, but that’s what I told the ladies at the VB store.  They tried to force a smile, but by the way they kept glancing at the door, I got the feeling they were anxiously waiting for us to leave!)   Anyway, we had to call it a day and go home for a nap…

I was so excited to see Vera Bradley on the Desperate Housewives season finale!  If you didn’t catch it, Susan (Teri Hatcher’s character) handed Mike a Vera Bradley Mod Floral Pink Travel Cosmetic case when she was packing up to leave the hospital after giving birth to their new baby boy. 

Mod Floral Pink must be a favorite pattern among the ladies of Wisteria Lane — Marcia Cross’s character carried a tote bag in that particular pattern in several episodes this season.  This particular episode was the first time I saw another character with a Vera product.  Oh, Vera Bradley and Desperate Housewives - two guilty pleasures in one! 

The finale was great, but it’s torture waiting for next season.  I was a little worried at the end when they ran the “five years later” segment.  My first thought was that I must have missed some news that they were wrapping up the series - but they threw a couple of kickers in and it looks like there will be more to come…

I am always on the lookout for contests and giveaways featuring free Vera Bradley products.  The most recent contest I found is by Guideposts magazine, with an entry deadline of May 31, 2008.  The theme of the contest is “Giving Back” and it features products with profits that support cancer research and awareness. 

The contest includes a Vera Bradley Pinwheel Pink purse.  Like the now retired Pink Elephants print, Vera Bradley donates 10% of the net proceeds from the sale of Pinwheel Pink to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and other breast cancer projects and services.  

In addition to the Pinwheel Pink handbag, the contest giveaway also includes the following items:

• a pink Kitchenaid stand mixer

• “In Great Taste”, a cookbook from Evelyn H. Lauder, the found of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

• a necklace that supports the Cancer Schmancer organization

• Clinique’s “Color for Cause” all over glow and lipgloss

• a pink silicone cake pan from Kitchenaid

• a pink and white umbrella from gustbuster.com

Good luck!

Drumroll please…

Vera Bradley Raspberry Fizz fabric is the winner of our poll for favorite new Spring 2008 Vera Bradley pattern!  The results are as follows:

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Thanks to everyone who voted!  If you didn’t get a chance to vote this time, I’ll be running other polls.  Make sure you check back in and keep sharing your opinions!

Just wanted to wish all the moms out there a very happy Mother’s Day! 

I’m blessed to be mom to two little guys, although one isn’t so little anymore - he’s almost bigger than me!  My oldest gave me a coupon book to be used for chores (I remember giving one to my mom when I was little, but I don’t remember her using any of the coupons).  My youngest gave me a necklace made out of Fruit Loops.  I thought about wearing it to church this morning, but I’m afraid he might make a snack out of it!  

Have a wonderful day today, and happy mother’s day!

As great as it may be to take a brand new Vera Bradley bag out for its first night on the town, it’s just as hard to part with a favorite fabric handbag.  You know when your bag has seen its better days - the handles and bottom start fraying, the fabric begins to lose its shape and color, and you’re almost embarrassed to be seen in public with it.  However, if you’re like me, it’s too difficult to say goodbye, and instead of throwing out or donating my worn handbags (like I should), I place them in the bottom drawer of my dresser.

Problem is, now I can’t get that overstuffed drawer closed!I have thought about boxing them up and putting them up in the attic.  Problem is, our attic here might as well be the Bermuda Triangle.  Once I put my old Vera Bradley bags up there, they will be good as gone. 

Lately, I have been thinking about some alternative ways to give my old handbags a new life.  I have been checking out Etsy (if you’re not sure what Etsy is, it’s a website for crafty individuals to sell their wares online), and I am amazed at what others have done with just a few scraps of Vera Bradley fabrics - earrings, headbands, pony tail holders, lanyards, keychains, magnets.  For example, I found the button magnets made from the Vera Bradley Java Blue fabric at Designs by Janna on Etsy. 

I’ll keep you updated if I do make something, but if anyone out there has tried recycling their old bags, let me know how it went…

Here are some pictures that I took at the 2008 Spring Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne…

This is a picture of the Allen County Memorial Coliseum,
the venue for this year’s sale.

This is just one of many aisles of discount Vera Bradley
products.  Enough for everyone!

Piles and piles of Vera Bradley bags - all on sale!
Don’t you just love the Vera Bradley Capri Melon…

Checking out at the sale wasn’t too bad -
there were sixty registers in all!

As promised, here are the remaining Spring 2008 Vera Bradley Outlet Sale prices… 

p.s. Click here to read the first part of the price list.

Microfiber Collection

Baby Bag $65.00
Bangle Bag $28.00
Chain Handbag $54.00
City Tote $54.00
Colette $15.00
Crescent Cosmetic $15.00
Double Kisslock Wallet $27.00
Garment Bag $96.00
Grommet Tote $54.00
Hipster $42.00
Large Hobo $48.00
Large Toggle $53.00
Lilly $41.00
Margie $39.00
Petite Coin Purse $11.00
Pleated Handbag $46.00
Shoulder Bag $37.00
Small Toggle $28.00
Tall Hobo $40.00
Travel Backpack $57.00
Turn Lock Handbag $44.00

Denim Collection

Abby $47.00
Ashley $11.00
Madison $53.00
Olivia $35.00
Taylor $47.00

Highlands (Fall 2007 Tweed) Collection

Cargo Satchel $81.00
Carry-On Cargo $105.00
Newsie Hat $27.00
Saddle Bag $72.00
Tab Shoulder Bag $72.00
Three Pocket Tote $78.00

Sateen Collection

Alicia $48.00
Casey $17.00
Holly $41.00
Julie $41.00
Nicole $44.00
Patchwork Coin $10.00
Patchwork Cosmetic $13.00

Jacquard (Winter 2007 Holiday) Collection

Clutch $42.00
Handbag $75.00
Tall Tote $81.00

Miscellaneous

Daughter’s Apron $11.00
Long Sleeve Tee $19.00 (new markdown - now $5.00)
PJ Pants $28.00 (new markdown - now $15.00)
Short Sleeve Tee $16.00 (new markdown - now $5.00)
Slippers w/ Pouch $18.00

Beach/Sport

Beach Towel $20.00
Bottle Sleeve $10.00
Golf Glove $14.00
Racquet Cover $39.00
Shoe Bag $23.00
Straw Sandals $13.00
Straw Tote $46.00
Sun Hat $16.00
Visor $12.00

Home Accessories

Napkin $4.00
Padded Hangers (3 pack) $9.00 (new markdown - now $5.00)
Placemat $7.00

Pet Items

Pet Collar $9.00
Pet Leash $10.00
Pet Porter $58.00 (new markdown - now $10.00)

You might also note that Vera Bradley is further discounting some of the items as the sale progresses.  If you do manage to find time to attend the outlet sale this year, you may be pleasantly surprised to find you can get an even better discount on certain items than what is listed here

The 2008 Spring Vera Bradley Outlet Sale is now in progress and will be continuing until Sunday!  Here is a partial list of the discounted prices you can find at the sale:

Handbags

Amy $18.00
Baby Bag  $55.00
Backpack $30.00
Backpack  (Large) $50.00
Backsack  $33.00
Betsy   $38.00
Bitty Betsy  $15.00
Bowler   $43.00
Bucket Tote  $34.00
Cargo Sling  $54.00
Curvy Tote  $37.00
Handbag   $30.00
Hipster   $32.00
Hobo   $37.00
Katie   $16.00
Lindsay   $40.00
Little Betsy  $35.00
Little Toggle Tote $28.00
Lola   $38.00
Maggie   $24.00
Messenger  $49.00
Metro   $48.00
Mini Hipster  $27.00
Molly   $26.00
On The Go  $38.00
Sherry   $29.00
Small Tic Tac Tote $33.00
Tie Tote  $35.00
Tote   $26.00
Vera   $47.00
Villager  $43.00

Travel/Luggage

Garment Bag  $78.00
Large Duffel  $48.00
Little Travel Case $25.00
Luggage Tag  $ 5.00
Miller Bag  $50.00
Satchel $52.00
Small Duffel  $41.00

Accessories

Belt   $12.00
Brush & Pencil Case $11.00
CD/DVD Case  $13.00
Cell Phone Case  $15.00
Checkbook Cover  $11.00
Coin Purse  $ 8.00
Curling Iron Cover $10.00
Ditty Bag  $15.00
Eyeglass Case  $10.00
Ella Wristlet  $15.00
Good Book Cover  $15.00
Hanging Organizer $29.00
Jewelry Case  $20.00
Jewelry Roll  $ 5.00
Laptop Case  $23.00
Large Bow Cosmetic $20.00
Large Cosmetic  $14.00
Medium Bow Cosmetic $18.00
Mini Jewelry Box $12.00
Mini Zip Wallet  $15.00
Out to Lunch  $15.00
Paperback Cover  $ 9.00
Pocket Wallet  $15.00
Purse Cosmetic  $22.00
Readers Case  $ 9.00
Reversible Belt  $16.00
Sash   $ 9.00
Silk Scarf  $24.00
Small Bow Cosmetic $13.00
Small Cosmetic  $11.00
Tortoise Link Watch $48.00
Travel Companion $11.00
Travel Cosmetic  $29.00
Travel Organizer $25.00
Travel Pouch  $ 9.00
Tune Case  $15.00
Umbrella   $19.00 (new markdown - now $12.00)
Wallet w/ Strap  $25.00
Wristlet  $15.00
Zip Around Wallet $23.00
Zip ID Case  $ 6.00

This is just a partial list of the 2008 Vera Bradley Outlet Sale prices.  I still need to add information for the following collections: Microfiber, Denim, Highland, Sateen and Jacquard.   I should have that posted in the next couple of hours (UPDATED:  Here is the rest of the price list for the 2008 Spring Vera Bradley Outlet Sale).  I will also give you my personal review of the sale (I attended it last night)…