Vera Bradley Outlet - Leesburg, VA

Sunday I had some free time on my hands so I decided to head out to the Vera Bradley Outlet in Leesburg, VA. I had a coupon for $20 off a purchase of $65 or more, so that was some extra motivation to drive out there. My Garmin said that it would take about 40 minutes, but it took me about an hour. That is one thing about living in the DC area...it takes longer to get everywhere! In California I would always beat the time that google maps would tell me, but here I have to add time on to my trip.

It was totally worth it though! The store had 20% off all bags and totes! Bonus! I picked up some great stuff! I bought a Pleated Tote for my friend Amber as a thank you for driving across country with me! She knows this is coming because I called her to ask what color she wanted :) I really wanted another Hipster to wear around DC this summer when I go check stuff out, so I got one in a color that I think is perfect for summer - Hope Garden. I didnt have a bag in that color yet, so I was pretty happy. The next bag I got kind of surprised me, first because I dont really care for Sittin' in a Tree and second because I assumed that these were sold out - Boardwalk Handheld. It was a limited edition collection made with the Sittin' in a Tree print. The bag is a canvas and has the inside print printed on the outside. It has a nice leather handle and the bag has a sheen to it. I love it! Plus it was on clearance for $16.99 (org. $55). Then I walked past the Audrey bags and I had to pick up one for a special little someone! :) I also picked up two Pocket Papers. And somehow I forgot to take a picture of my Paprika Lanyard. I got it to wear to the Bike MS event we have coming up at work next month.

So let me just tell you what a great deal that I got at the outlet! I added up how much my stuff would have normally retailed for and it came to $245! Yikes. But I only paid $104! And that counts the tax that I paid! What an amazing deal, I love a good deal! So I saved 58% off of the retail price. Oh happy day!

I have to tell you the women were so friendly and helpful this time around! The first time they didnt seem that interested in me and Amber, but this time I was greeted when I walked in and when I asked where the Pleated Totes were the woman had another woman show me where they were. When my hands got full and I was trying to talk to my mom or Amber on the phone one of them swooped in with a shopping bag for me to load everything up in. Also I really wanted that Paprika lanyard and they helped me dig through the pile looking for one. When we couldnt find one someone found me one from the back. I had a great time shopping there...I just wish that it was closer! Although, I cant really complain about it being an hour away. Plus it is a really nice drive through the country roads.

Check out my pictures of my purchases...I forgot to take pictures at the store...oops!

Outlet!!! Woo Hoo!

All the new bags! Except my lanyard which I forgot to take out of the bag.

The Boardwalk Handheld! I love it!

The back of the bag has a zipper.

The inside is lined with the print that is normally on the outside.

My new Hipster! I picked this one because it had 3 big pink flowers on the front :)

Super Cute little Audrey bag!

Vera Bradley Colors on Sale - Purple Punch, Poppy Fields and Sittiniin a Tree

It is time for more colors to be added to the sale list. Purple Punch, Sittin' in a Tree and Poppy Fields are now on sale for 25% off! Also there are a few styles that will be retiring, so stock up if any of these are your favorites: Lisa B, Reversible Tote, Morgan and Maggie. I am a little partial to the Morgan. I only have one, but it was from my first visit to a Signature Store. Click here to go to vb.com and check out the new sale items. Side note: Vera Bradley sent me a Spring 2011 catalog. It is different than the one that they sent me in January, but has some of the same photos and it is just weird timing. I feel like I should be receiving the Summer 2011 catalog since the release is later this month. Maybe I will post pictures from the catalog this weekend.

Vera Sighting

Sittin in a Tree Hipster, downtown San Diego
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Vera Bradley and Baby Shopping

Yesterday I had a great time hanging out with my family. Erin leaves soon, so it has been great to be able to spend time with her.

While I was hanging out I got a couple calls and texts from my friends. First it was a text photo from Amber of a hamper that reminded her of a Vera bag because it had a different color inside than the outside. She was out baby shopping with our friend Sophia. After baby shopping they headed to Vera Bradley! It was only Sophia's second visit to a Vera Bradley store and really the first time that she really took a look at it. It turns out that I was right when I said that she might like Hello Dahlia! She called me after they headed out of the store to say that she did like it. The other one that caught her eye was Baroque...it is the inside lining for Vera Vera right now. So we might be exchanging the Sittin' in a Tree Baby Bag that we bought for her. I think that Baroque would be a great choice! Green is her favorite color. She loves green like I love Vera :)

Here is the hamper that reminded Amber of Vera because it had a coordinating fabric on top and inside.

Doesn't this bedding remind you of Baroque?!

New Shopper Tote

The new Shopper Tote is available starting today (April 9-23). This one is in Sitting in a Tree. I got the one in Night Owl a while back, but I don't use it very often. I think that it is too stiff. I like the Market Totes better.

{There is a picture of the new Shopper Tote from the back of one of the summer mailers. It turned out a little blurry.

Today I swapped out my bag again. I am using my Symphony in Hue Saddle Up purse. I am going to a concert after work, so it will be nice since I wont have to carry it since I can wear across my body.

My Sister and her Vera

If there was ever someone who I thought would never like Vera Bradley it was my sister. She looked at my mom and me like we were crazy for liking these bright, patterned bags. Well slowly but surely she came around. She isn’t a fanatic or anything, but she at least now sees the appeal. She even has a few of her own!

Her first Vera was a Card Holder in Hope Garden that she bought on our trip to Hawaii last summer. The next item came when we were in Temecula visiting our cousin Katy. I knew there was a store up there that sold Vera Bradley so we took Katy with us to check it out. We spent way too much time is this great country store called The Farmer's Wife and Erin came home with a Notable Mousepad in Hope Garden. Katy even picked up a couple Vera Bradley items, I believe a Nylon small cosmetic bag and the Black Microfiber Zip Ar0und Wallet. For Christmas I gave Erin a itunes giftcard and decided it would be fun to put in a Zip ID Case, so I got her one in Hope Garden.

For her birthday I couldn’t decide what to get her, but I had a feeling that she would like Sitting in a Tree. I decided to get her the All in One Wristlet. She opened it and she didn’t hate it, but I could tell she was a little hesitant. I thought maybe I had gone too far, maybe four Vera Bradley items was too many. I told her that she could return it or exchange it and I wouldn’t be offended. I knew I had taken a risk. She said no, that she thought that it would work for something and that she would keep it. She works across the way from the store that I bought it at and on a break she wandered in there to check out what else they had and came across the Flapper Wristlet in Sitting in a Tree and decided to exchange for it. I was excited when I found out that she exchanged the one I got her for the Flapper Wristlet. The Flapper Wristlet wasn’t out when I bought her present, but I had seen online and knew it was super cute! And she is really happy with it, which makes me happy.

The one thing we realized that all of Erin’s Veras have in common, is that they aren’t quilted! Vera Bradley quilts almost all of their items and Erin’s collection is strictly non-quilted. There are only a couple of other items I can think of that aren’t quilted like the Quickstep Wallet and the Ditty Bag, but I think that I will wait a while until I try to buy her any more Vera. We have come a long way since the summer! I am so glad all the girls in the fam like Vera!