My Handmade Summer Bag

After fruitlessly looking almost everywhere for a tote that didn't have dorky prints & designs & within budget, I decided to make one of my own. The sunglasses & skull are everything. I don't think the skyline is specific to any city, but we'll pretend it's New York City... my favorite. The sequin pieces are from SequinAppliques.com

I bought the leather parts from TheCraftShack411 on Etsy. It was a pretty simple process to attach the straps but would have been a cinch if I had the right tools for leather tooling. Lesson learned! I love to personalize and customize things, so the little name-tag was just for fun. The rivets & metal key fob below are from Hobby Lobby.

Most ladies would agree that fishing for your keys when they are swimming amongst the loose sticks of gum, lipstick & other items in your bag is no fun at all. I took a cue from my favorite Dooney & Bourke bags, put a key ring attachment so the former will no longer be a problem  :)

I can't wait to use my bag this coming school year! Happy Back-To-School students & teachers!!!

Greer, AZ

Road Trip to Eastern Arizona

Road closed for an hour... but at least a rainbow

Fun bunk beds

Pippa doesn't want to leave

Porch swings

and ladder golf

Milla buying up property like whoa

First time fishing

Running up here is kind of hard on my little baby lungs, but it's gorgeous

First you roast the mallow

Ahhhhhhh, perrrrfect!

Delicious, sticky confection=the S'more

Coffee in the woods

I love coloring

Best rock stander in the world

I love these guys :)

Chicago

My view for a few days.

From the balcony // the lake in the distant horizon

I love walking big cities.

Buckingham Fountain

Aslan the bandwaggoner #chicagoblackhawks // The Art Institute of Chicago

"Horse and Rider", Charles Ray sculpture outside the museum

"Cloud Gate" at Millenium Park

...a.k.a. The Bean // artist: Anish Kapoor

So shiiiny

Electrocuties

Jay Pritzker Pavillion

The best views are usually seen from the sidewalks

... but sometimes you have to get the bird's eye view, 95 stories high.

The John Hancock Center has a great one

But the truly best view of the city

is actually from the Ladies Room ;) Sorry boys!

Reflecting lights from this installation at the base of the building

Flo & Santos // The meaty, ghost pepper pizza after a long day totally hit the spot

Aaron's party with some cool kids at St. Ignatius--a former convent, old and very mysterious.

Guess Aero hates pictures

Gorgeous balmy weather

Sadly missed out on the Shedd Aquarium // early closure

When strangers take blurry, fuzzy pictures // you need a selfie stick

Field Museum of Natural History

Sue // she's beautiful

Northwestern tribal figures

Dew Tour at Grant Park 

Yay Aaron-- John Marshall Law School Class of 2015

We could rule the land from here

h a p p y

Reception at the Hilton ballroom // love all the chandeliers

... and this pretty window knob

what a trip // what a guy // doggie booty