SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

I LOVE MUSIC! (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

but i remember, i remember well! actually, thinking...  i don't want a radio dj to choose what songs i listen to when..    

so, platforms, like spotify and others..  where you choose your own songs..   dream come true.

it is very true about music in general, that the methods for listening, receiving, purchasing; how we access and get exposure to..     this has changed, evolved exponentially

but the importance of music in our lives,  to individuals.. to teens! especially, but to everyone; this is a constant.

   /don't you love when i use math terms, but its true..   method & access=variable; importance=constant.  -for all of humanity; for all of time.  different types.. same appreciation

the value!..

let's call it musical wisdom..  i've learned, from experience,  how to use music in my life to accomplish goals..   this music to get the house clean; that music for romance; this music to accompany a cultural dinner; that music to put my heart and mind at east; this music/lyric to capture the times; that music/lyric to validate my experience; this music to lift/inspire..  that music to dance the night away..

i use/choose music in my life very similar, i would say, to how soundtracks work for movies.

  i'm going to stay on topic and digress simultaneously..    our grandson, in a car seat..  the driving still to do; plenty..  and he was crying hard..   i put on you are my sunshine by christina perri, and you would have thought... i mean,  it worked like a toggle-crying-off switch. -so touching, it brought a tear or two..

precious.   and i put on some luther vandross..  when we were home; slow danced together...  and next thing you know..    i glanced down at his sweet, precious face..  i had danced him to sleep..    and, so touching again..  brought a tear or two..

powerful stuff; love & music; music & love..

like, sewing, mentioned in my recent post about my wedding dress..  [no talent/tools for sewing, but an imagination and ideas to request to someone who does]

i don't have the talent/tools.. but it is still an idea..  a dream..  a wish, a prayer:

that someone who does, and who can:  mix these two songs; merge them, fuse them:

what a wonderful world, by louis armstrong & wonderful world, by james morrison..

      ... and i think to myself...

                    ...and i know its a wonderful world but i can't feel it write now...

****

and on this topic:  fan of the voice..   and also recently watched voices of fire..

i want to give a shout-out here..   in a different but similar way, that poets can give a voice to the voiceless..

i want to give love & validation and appreciation to singers/songwriters/musicians who are not, also

   -public performers.   the talented, gifted, introverts.  God created you, gifted YOU! 

of course, i respect that when the goal is creating a choir that will travel and perform, you, of course need to select  -performers-

but, i want to remind, that when i'm cleaning the house and listening to music for energy; i'm doing just that LISTENING..  i'm not  -watching- a performance..   

when we are shopping, and music is piped in overhead..   we are LISTENING..  not -watching- a performance..

when we are watching a movie..  we are LISTENING to the soundtrack; not  -watching-  the people who made the music

when i am driving my jeep, my eyes are on the road..   i am LISTENING to music

i do not, personally, need or care about whether the person singing a song, or playing an instrument, can ham it up on the stage; it is not at all a requirement or necessity. 

the majority of music in my life is LISTENED to, not watched..

that said, i love a live concert!  and just finished watching MOTOWN Christmas  -a T.V. Christmas special..  of course, i love/value how the performers dress up, dance, look AND sing amazing on a stage for a tv VIEWING audience..

i just am inspired to make the point:  amazing, impactful music does not REQUIRE the gifted musician also be a tv 'personality' so to speak    [i did not show my grandson a music video, i just let him listen to.. you are my sunshine]

for me, music is about listening/experiencing first and foremost;  i do like when there is just a pix of the artist, a still shot, and not a video..   i don't care for or like watching music videos

just let me listen...   feel...

closing here with my 2025 personal anthem song:   power of love, by luther vandross

and re-mentioning my favorite Christmas song, as we are only 4 days away from celebrating the birth of Jesus..     Oh Holy Night, by Christina Aguilera 

and speaking of the birth of Jesus..

pretty funny skit on Nate Bargatze's Nashville Christmas TV Special...  "encore!"

hallelujah! selah! & amen!  

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 11:29 AM 0 comments

Wedding Reception... Mr & Mrs Mickanen family & friends

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 7:29 PM 0 comments

It's Official~Official. Our blessed, fun, wonderful wedding - 1month ago today! mr. & mrs mickanen

and start with a "thank you!" to my (our) daughter for creating, designing, ordering our wedding 'you're invited' invitations; and then a second round of 'excited you can join us' closer to the actual date, to people who rsvp'd yes.  we both positively love the artistic, stylistic choices and decisions you made..   the font choices, the wording, the placement..    as we are both artists too;  we appreciate what goes into...     LOVE! "Thank You!"     -framed treasured keepsake now...

*****

we are so grateful we had our wedding ceremony at  -our- church; park victoria church in milpitas.  -where, years ago, Robert taught youth Bible study; where they attended as a family, when his kids were young..    and the "HELP!" we received from Sharon...  enormously grateful (especially attaching those corsages and boutonnieres!, but so much more..); And David & Pahm & Simone..   our musicians + lighting + big screen/slideshow, "Thank You!"   -helping our vision manifest!

We had 3 songs at our Wedding Ceremony:  AS, by Stevie Wonder, which accompanied our slide-show.  Our slide-show, -only pix from the last 7 years, since we met; and with effort to include every guest at our wedding in at least 1 picture..        We have thousands of pix!  and grateful for each pix and the memory that goes with it..  but, wow to what it takes to edit!   

so, "thank you!" here to our daughter, Kassandra, who pretty much made the slide-show even possible.. we are not tech savvy, as you know..      You made it exactly what we wanted it to be!  And.. excellent professional photos!  gift of additional professional photos by a friend & peer, daniela harrington!  so grateful!   

2.  Down the aisle, by Patti Labelle & the Bluebells..      -Simone sang this..  and she knocked it out of the park!   -most grateful..    Pahm on piano... tremendous!  WOW really, to Pahm, David, & Simone. We are fans!  The musicianship we get to enjoy at Sunday services! on a variety of instruments..  the energy! the talent!  Pahm rocks as a drummer too!  David on guitar!  -honored you performed at our wedding.

3.  We Are Family, by Sister Sledge.  The perfect song, piped in overhead, to accompany ALL of our GUESTS, as they moved their way from their seats to the church stage for one of my husband Robert's famous and fun "group pix!"

*****

  Pastor Michael Denton!  -Friend of Roberts from earlier days at Park Victoria Church   -We cannot count the compliments we received..  how Pastor Michael Denton officiated our ceremony/vows with that magical and engaging blend of scripture, humor, and friendship history, personal connection..   and great pleasure to meet his beautiful wife, and portion of his gorgeous children..   love & "thank you!"

*****

 

never can "thank you!" to God enough for our family!

Robert & i asked our grown adult children, and grandsons to be 'our wedding party.'  Our love resulted in a blended family that gifted us, combined, with 3 awesome daughters, 2 awesome sons, 3 awesome grandsons (but 1 an infant and too young to ring-bear). Everyone said "Yes!" and we are enormously grateful..  We recognize that a Tuesday wedding..  and with your professions, travels, families..   but everyone made it happen!  so deeply love & "thank you!"  

and, for a wedding for a couple in their 50's/60's..   all the big, formal stuff...  not so much; and bachelor/bachelorette parties.. absolutely not. we have no interest. but we were able to have a 'girls day'  -me, wanting to thank and appreciate and spend time with my daughters..    my daughter taryn, maid of honor, rose & kassandra, bridesmaids.  the fun stuff:  manicures/pedicures; hair; lunch together..   and, i just love, for some reason, how 'i have one of each for my bridesmaids... a brunette, a blond and a red-head'   -fun.  and arent they gorgeous!   -my request as the bride, 'a fall color dress that you pick out, that you like on yourself'  and we treated.  L.O.V.E. their choices!

  

  i loved, loved, loved getting to have this special and fun time with the 3 of you! love you! "thank you!"  

and didn't our sons look extra handsome and so attractive!  and didn't our grandsons look adorably gorgeous!      delighted in seeing everyone all dressed up.   'you clean up nice!'  as the saying goes..

****

speaking of..   didn't our parents looks fantastic!

so grateful for their love & support!

  

and, extra "thank you!" Jesus for the answered prayer, that my Dad, having so recently been in the hospital;  and extra "thank you!" Chris,     -he was there to give me away...   father of the bride...    and, fun fact..  he is going to be father of the bride 2 more times, with both of my sisters getting married in the coming year(s).

*****

let's start talkin' wedding decor, shall we:    -not by request, but from her own, creative, talented, generous heart and spirit, my amazing and dear fashion-model friend [and scientist!], she created this L.O.V.E. display.   SO BEAUTIFUL! each letter masterfully collaged, and vase hand-embellished..  AND! not only did she display it at park victoria church for our ceremony; she even RELOCATED IT! to el torito for our reception!  this added so much artistic elegance and beauty to our wedding day...  plus she gifted us the colorful balloon bouquet!  love & "thank you!" 

*****

our wedding became a very solid reason for me to just get to create stuff!  [legitimate excuse!]

our background at park victoria church was going to be 4 wooden pallets:  2, 8ftx4ft & 2, 6ftx4ft.

and i did some brief online research, and WOW to how beautiful and inspiring so many of the different ways people use these to create on for special occasions..  amazing!   but again, with so many choices, process of elimination becomes crucial..

i also had to factor in: we'd display it ourselves, the evening before.  -transportation..

we both wanted it to be quick n' easy..  not have too much to work with, organize, place, secure, etc.

easy up; easy take-down..

and i did want the decorations to be reflective of us, as a couple..

so, i did some math  (yes.. that's write.. me, math..); and i realized if i decorated 6 3ft x 3ft canvases..  this would fill in the space fairly equally; and meet the easy up/easy take down criteria

plus!   "empty canvases!"  yahooooo

all mixed media; all created outdoors in our backyard on beautiful sun-shiny days..

1. w/cross, of course! to capture our faith: Christianity.    

2.  bicycle theme, because it is one of our favorite things to do as a couple; bike, sight-see & picnic  

3.  'everlasting'  which represents our love for one another and God..  'walking in eternity together  

4.  football theme, because that is large part of our personal joy.. NFL fans..  and fellowship..  parties... 5&6, i used two canvases to create one heart...      

                  loved working on each one; very pleased with result.

****

also, our choice for a wedding favor:  tambourines!  we had tambourines handed out by our grandsons to each guest prior to sitting down for our ceremony.  this was quite specifically so they could tap on their tambourines; make some joyful noise, sing along to AS by Stevie Wonder, while watching our brief slide-show to begin our ceremony.   Remember how everything is an empty canvas for me..

naturally i had to decorate!  and used canva to customize, personalize, design, and then vinyl sticker paper to create this:

with some select lyrics, and a thank you to our guests with wedding date/info on the back.   -great joy to create and pleased with result.

ALSO..    turns out we would need name place cards for seating at el torito  -and this was also a great joy for me to create and design.  no two exactly alike...  love the vinyl sticker paper!  placed it on magnets, set them in the cutest little heart shape holders..     delighted!   -p.s. also used canva to create a seating chart to give to the  (exceptional!) manager, Dee, to clearly show what name(s) at what tables..  worked out great!

 

and, the canvases, the tambourines, the name cards..   it is a joy for me to do myself...

what i can't do, is SEW.

i do have a creative imagination when it comes to what i'd like to see, clothes-wise, done to improve, embellish, convert, a given top, pants, skirt, etc.

but i have zero gifting or tools/resources for sewing...     that is why i am extra, extra, grateful for LESA!   -originally introduced to me via my mother-in-law, and now a friend..  with a wonderful talent!

love the question:  what does a 58 year old bride wear for her wedding?    love the answer:  whatever she wants!

again, process of elimination..   saving the formal, white for younger generation, first time weddings..

my criteria, while shopping was this:  something comfortable.  i want to be able to walk around, hug people, sit down, stand up, hold my grandson...   i knew i wanted floor length, personal taste...  i knew i wanted, off-the-shoulder/personal taste...   i did not at first know i wanted something

light-weight!  until i tried on several different dresses, and some of them weighed so much with the beading, fabric..

so,  light-weight became a criteria..     something flattering...    something sparkly...

and the dress i ultimately chose..  it met so many, but not every single one of my criteria..

i really loved the layers!  light-weight layers..   

so, easily...  because i know lesa..

so easily, i could look in the mirror and see...  if we add some sparkle... if we add some flowers around the neck line...  if we add some sleeves..

and so, love & "thank you!" here to lesa for helping make my wedding dress dreams come true!  i found a sparkly fabric to lay-over, just the front side of the dress...   each layer; and it matched, like perfectly!  and i just selected a few different color fabric flowers to add along the neckline, in addition to the few already on the dress..

she used the sparkly fabric to also make some sleeves..       very pleased with the result!   i was so comfortable..  but the dress still felt and looked wedding-ish to me..   -special.

****

FLOWERS!  fresh flowers..   no secret how much i LOVE...     we went minimalist here, and our only flowers were the bouquets for maid-of-honor; bridesmaides; bride   -corsages/boutonnieres for our parents.. and my best aunt ever

 

each bouquet was its own kind of beautiful!  such pretty fall colors..    blessed to have our wedding, reception and florist, all in milpitas:  marleigh's floral design..   love & "thank you!"

****

RECEPTION: El Torito, Milpitas:  -also can't thank the manager Dee, or her staff and team enough for the incredible above and beyond service!  attention to detail..   wonderful logistics...  added touches, that all combined, helped make our reception a great experience for our family & friends      love & "thank you!"

5 star! all the way

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 6:09 PM 0 comments

i love myself an empty canvas! (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

i mean, the very second i looked at it..    and it's big!  i started to envision shapes and designs that utilize those stamps i've been collecting for...    ever.

i do not, and have not for a very long time, suffer from writer's or artist's block.  -the opposite is true; blank canvas for writing "awesome!"    -blank canvas for creating something..  "awesome!"

and in regard to writing; my canvas is paper, but also this blog..

and when it comes to art, my ratio of using a traditional 'real' painters canvas, to using other types of canvases is probably 1 to 10, 

everything is an empty canvas to me..   empty wine bottle; fireplace bricks; book; walls; vases; front yard; pottery; mirrors; windows; lampshade; furniture; human skin..   

i am blessed 'exceedingly, abundantly, above & beyond!' [Ephesians 3:20] to be in love with and married to Robert, who literally 'gifted' me the walls, fireplace in our home as an empty canvas, a place for...   whatever i wanted, really..   and we collaborate on so many projects, interior designs and of course, our front yard art..    we meld more, as a creative team, year after year, being a positive influence on each other..    he has helped me become more conscious of efficiency when it comes to process..  i have helped him explore and experience the joys of asymmetrical creations..   he has helped me value open space..   i have helped him see empty spaces that require  -something...

always a great pleasure to collaborate with my husband.  we start by discussing out loud a variety of ideas..  and organically start to reduce, eliminate this..  and ultimately follow the idea that seems to generate the most energy for both of us..   the most excitement..

we have already agreed on the yard art for halloween and Christmas 2025..  "Thank You Jesus!"

  -the yard art idea for Super Bowl LIX 2025 is built in; we just replicate, in a creative way, the actual NFL logo for the Super Bowl for the given year..   but we contribute to the whole in different ways; he primarily shapes; i primarily color in..  but my God, am i looking forward to the open window, climate, energy, time wise to get started on that project..   what a super cool logo!   and i LOVE, love, love, how they have started to incorporate, in one way or another, a landscape/icon/vibe from the hosting city, into the design..   just by looking at the design, your memory can be triggered..   Los Angeles..   Las Vegas...  New Orleans..     and i was reading, randomly..   people out there [online community] who suggest the colors of the design can help you predict which teams will actually be competing that year...

     /what teams wear...  red/dark purpley-red? neon lime green?  neon yellow./gold?.

anyway..

i love an empty canvas..  i love to create..  i love mixed-media opportunities.  and i'm going to writing soon about, and sharing pictures, because, our recent wedding..

it became a wonderful and inspired opportunity for me to create, quite specifically, on traditional, 'real' painters canvases..  but i also used other objects as an empty canvas..   i got to do a lot of creating.. and every minute of it was joyful and fun..

i love my husband; my sexy...  my creative collaborator and best friend; and i loved our wedding..  preparing for it; creating for it..   being in it

being surrounded & supported by family & friends we love...

    upcoming posts for sure!

hallelujah! selah! amen!

#emptycanvas  #mixedmedia 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 11:15 AM 0 comments

clearing, cleaning... preparing for rain (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

 fellow writers will understand:  must write this; BEFORE i can write on my love/fun topics.  let's call it a clearing; clean the gutters; remove the leaves and debris, so when it rains..

****

regarding the city of san jose, california:

issue based not party based, politically speaking; and i would apply it to the entire u.s.a.

1-2 minute open mics at city council meetings/city hall would be consistent; at a specific time pre-determined and shared with the public; council members would be mandated to (at least pretend) like they are listening

dignity acres emergency campgrounds at the santa clara county fairgrounds would already be fully operational and utilized   -sparing neighborhood after neighborhood, district after district from having to fight city hall [such a waste of time, financial and human resources!]  first responders WOULD ALREADY HAVE a place to relocate individuals currently colonizing creek ways, shopping plazas etc.

the san jose flea market would stay write where it is!   -it only so recently is neighbored by new apartments, new safeway, variety of small businesses, restaurants, new park..    it is just now enjoying greater people traffic potential, and with a new, increased population..  the flea market, with all the unique vendors, the live music, the vibe..   the outdoor fun thing you can just walk across the street to enjoy..   -should be protected like a historic landmark..    beer garden..  vintage/antique shopping..      [and again, spare the vendors, and the decision-makers from having to find a place to relocate them to...]   it is a short-sighted decision in my opinion to close and relocate the flea market

and speaking of short-sighted:  the decision to place 80+ RV parking site less than 1/2 mile away from all the new places/businesses/apartments mentioned in above paragraph!?!?  WOW   -i feel for you in that neighborhood/district..   they are going to remove a cultural icon and fun, safe, outdoor place for families to go; upend everyone making their livelihood as a vendor there   AND place 80 RV's for homeless on the other side...        i don't understand investing in [new safeway, new apartments, new small businesses, new park] and then DESTROYING...     -if i am wrong about this, i would only be happy:  but pretty confident, the new safeway, the whole plaza there..  everything will be under lock n' key; iron bars on doors... iron gates..  an environment less safe, opposite of family-friendly..     -more dense housing will replace the flea market..  so there will be lots more people, but with no-where fun and safe to walk to..

-there would be sky tours for locals and tourists out of reid-hillview airport..

-every shopping plaza would have fresh new beautiful, drought-tolerant, disease resistant, creative and attractive landscaping    -everywhere: fresh coat of paint, new/refurbished signage, sidewalks power-washed..

-san jose would be the first graffiti free city    -there would be no toleration of vandalism, no destruction of public or private property; only pre-approved art, in pre-approved areas by the people who OWN given property..

-breeze of innovation would already be up..  somewhere near santana row, and/or here in berryessa neighborhood   -somewhere with great security and (as i learned..) a strong conservancy..

-every cross, on every church that has a cross, would be lit up and illuminated at night; and for other faith systems, they light up their lights..    san jose would be the first city in the world to 'light it up!' like this..    this would draw photographers, artists, writers, people from every faith, from all around the world to come see and enjoy...

i will return here as necessary, and as inspired to do so..

but, 

yes, 

that helped..   moving write along then, 

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 10:35 AM 0 comments

My FANTASY (clean comedy) ROAST Team (sandra mickanen!)

L.O.V.E.

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:57 AM 0 comments

we love joyce meyer! -the micks (sandra & robert)

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:27 AM 0 comments

The Perfect Tattoo.. for (me!) mrs sandra mickanen (topps! writeousmom!)

regarding my courage tattoo, 

i knew where, before i knew what..

and i knew where, because when my kids were little, we used to sometimes just play with make-up, draw on each others faces, and there was something extra i liked about the canvas area on the cheek, near the eye..   a cute spot for cute things..   [will find pix of my daughter with a little heart drawn there..]

anyway,  the where entered my mind/heart around.. year 2000, 

but i did not get my courage tattoo until 2006, when i was 40 years old.   on some day with which i cannot be specific, i was shopping..

guess where

MAGIC OF MACY'S of course..   and i came across a t-shirt with a super cool looking symbol on the front, and the word COURAGE  (i remember be research..) on the back.    and i knew so instantaneously:  that's my what.     and i cannot be specific, but that t-shirt was folded in my dresser drawer and i'd come across it now and then..

and then, one day..  just called around for a tattoo shop that would take a walk-in.  showed up, as requested with a picture of what i wanted..        -remember the place was in dublin, ca; remember the artist's nickname was droopy  [because of his bedroom eyes]

and in 2006 having a tattoo on your face was not so common.  they are ubiquitous today, -as is social media and posting pictures and getting lots of feedback from both supporters and mean, mean haters

i can't say that if i was in my late teens, early 20's.. 30's..  that i could have fielded all the feedback

but by 40, [and in the absence of even having to deal with in 2006, what people deal with today]; i was completely prepared.    it turns out; if i like or love something enough on my own

no other opinions can sway me.  "thank you!" for the compliments; and my favorite response for haters:

   -your liking it was not my criteria for getting it.

****

anyway..  i consciously did this for more than just 'cute spot for cute things' reasons.  i was also aware that, the same way commercials work  -repeating, repeating, repeating a message..

i could create my own commercial, with my own message; use my own peripheral vision; proactively place my own subliminal message; by me, and for me.

where the message would be seen, repeated to my mind/heart, heart/mind, every. single. day: you are courageous.

and in fact, i never did look at my face everyday in the mirror while washing, brushing teeth and putting on make-up and say out loud, i am courageous or anthing like that;   -but what i knew, is that

the icon for courage; the symbol..  my mind was catching sight of it every time i looked in the mirror..  and not itemizing the words..  you are courageous..

but the message was (and is to this day) being received and repeated and received and repeated by my heart/mind daily

and for those of you familiar with the number and severity of traumas i've been required to transcend; you will immediately understand how necessary the daily, ongoing repetition of this message to my heart/mind has been.

and i love my tattoo!  i've had fun making up stories about what it means (to people who ask, but i guess wont really be looking it up...)   the 'what it means' answer has morphed from year to year...  different answer for different people at different places..  /all here in this blog somewhere...

but i've returned, really, to just answering with 'courage'      "stripes i've earned on life's journey"

 and, let's say you see a military service person, and they have those embroidered stripes on their uniform. i'm guessing when they get dressed, glance in the mirror, there is a certain good feeling attached

i have a good feeling permanently attached to my tattoo.

hallelujah! selah! amen! 

#fashion #macys #tattoo #courage

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 5:57 PM 0 comments

The Magic of Macy's: I found THE PERFECT PURSE! by (me!) mrs. sandra mickanen! (topps!) writeousmom

 in 2025 i will have been posting here on this blog for 20 years!  -but you know, you would not, prior, ever regard SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com as a FASHION blog..

or a WEIGHT LOSS, NUTRITION, blog..   BEAUTY & MAKE-UP..   WEDDINGS...  

or an exercise blog..    or, how-to-parent blog..   but i am going to be writing on those unaddressed, purposely neglected/avoided, culturally popular topics in 2025

and i am very excited to get started! so excited, i can't even wait til 2025

and i'm going to start by writing about the magic of macy's.   -not that i havent written about macy's before..  but i've written about it, without writing about fashions, beauty or make-up, in a direct way, really..

and for my fellow human-memory-storage nerds, i will [without the aide of research/confirmation] bullet point a few macy's stories i know i've written, from memory, and without giving the story away, so to speak

* my dad being santa at macy's

* lancome, us as 3 generations models

* my traumatic macys bathroom experience

* my laughed til we peed in the dressing room at macys experience with my sister; thanks to our mom

* the spiritual intervention that prevented my purse contents from being stolen while shopping at macys

* purchasing swimsuits during 2020  [purposely not using the c word] when no dressing rooms were available at macys

****

and there's probably more, but those rise to the surface..   and i've already probably shared that 80% of everything in my wardrobe is from macy's.  and if i've gifted you clothes or jewelry, chances are very high i bought it from macys..  i think it was my very first credit card, but didn't keep, so can't verify..

but i remember the struggle for that 1st card...  need to have a credit history in order to get credit..

   -so, how on earth do you start then?

****

anyway, let me not get away from my excitement:   i found the perfect purse! (for me).

k, now.. let me speak of my purse shopping criteria.  [skipping here about how i used to always carry a purse...   (or, bowling bag, as my kids like to tease); and then stopped using a purse entirely for a stretch   'quickest way to lose 10lbs']

and one of the great things, for me personally, about being in my 50's, is that i have learned to seek, (and find!) when it comes to fashion, what works for me; what i like, vs. being influenced by peer pressures, online influencers; media; brand names; false commercials..

further i would add, that as i've blogged 20 years without including ads on my blog, i am not tied to liking something i really don't like; i have no reason to 'pretend' or make anything up..

   -the scripture, 'who God sets free, is free indeed' is coming to mind & heart here..

so, 

back to my perfect purse:

i am not seeking a particular brand for status; period.

i am seeking something very pragmatic; utilitarian.  like it needs to pass my 'how i actually USE IT on a day-to-day basis test  [not, can everyone see the brand name test].  it needs to pass my, 'what i actually keep inside it, for what' test..

and! it needs to pass, my 'where/how i use it' test, and!  it needs to pass my 'where i place it in my jeep test'

those are the primary concerns i brought with me on my purse shopping adventure..

pragmatic:

i will be wearing my purse  -not carrying- my purse; i will need a long, strong, adjustable strap so that i can wear my purse, strap over my shoulder, around my body.  i like to be hands-free...

purse shopping is like wordle; lots of process-of-elimination to immediately focus in on what i do want; vs. what i know i'm not looking for..  and since we are blessed in these parts to have 1000's of choices; process of elimination becomes a very important skill set for a lot of things..

so i can immediately eliminate clutches.. or anything i would have to 'carry'.

next,  i can immediately eliminate any back-pack styles

when i want to get something out of my purse; i want this experience as fast and efficient and quick n easy as possible..  i want visible and physical access to my purse and contents of my purse at all times

this not only eliminates backpack styles, but immediately eliminates any purses where the flap is folded over, any purses with lots of snaps and buttons or magnets, velcro, etc.  it also eliminates any purses that are too big or deep, where you have to sit n search for things..

and helps me zoom in on only smaller purses that zip (for protection of contents); and zip specifically, write at the top

when i hold the purse, seen in the pictures i provided here, the adjustable strap allows me to place it  -ergonomically- write where i want to reach; comfortable on my body, height wise, AND allows me to just glance down at purse, unzip, and immediately see/get what i want..

LOVE!

so; -a smaller size purse with zippers on top; and i like a vertical orientation..   vs. horizontal.   -reason being; cell phone.   i love this purse, because i can place my cell phone in the front area; vertical,  and zip it closed.  -i love that i can 'feel' through the fabric, and be reassured, without unzipping and physically looking, but i can just 'feel' and reassure myself that i remembered my phone,  my phone is with me..

LOVE!

i need kleenex close at hand..  this purse offers an area, without a zipper, where i can easily store and grab kleenex at will..   i also, playfully, use this area to place advertisements for where i am..  and delight in seeing this in pictures later..       

LOVE!

i will also be carrying, touch-up make-up, floss picks, chapstick..  odds n ends..

this purse has a separate area, where i can zip in, life's little helpful blessings

and an additional area, i can zip in the more important and valuable things like id's and money.

LOVE!  i place cell phone front compartment; helpful blessings center; valuables closest to my body zipped closed.

and, lastly, it does have a smaller, area, in the front, with another zipper for protection; and i use this area for something i know i will for sure be needing/using that same day, so i don't have to search through anything, i can get write to it..

i.e., ticket to an event 

****

summary: adjustable strap i can wear it over me vs. carry it; zippers at top, vertical orientation; 5 distinct/primary zipper compartments, with one open for emergency kleenex..

NOW

gets even better

in the open compartment, you will see in my picture, i also have...  (drum roll here...)

SUNGLASSES CASE!

these were in fact, purchased separately, and not at Macy's.   the one with the glasses in the design itself, bright pink & bright green, that was a gift from my sister.    LOVE!  

i learned that one of the ways you ruin the fit of your sunglasses the quickest, is by sliding them up on your head, like a headband,   -which i have loved because it gets my hair out of my face, but..  it does damage the fit, the shape

so i have successfully broken that habit, which i had for many, many years

now what i do; i do not 'push' my sunglasses up on my head.  i remove them, and quickly, easily, conveniently, PLACE THEM, inside their designated cute little holder case.

so, in order to be quick, easy, convenient..  this container also has to be easily accessible AND have a zipper at the top.   the way i have this set up, i don't even need to remove or move the sunglasses case at all,  it sits open/waiting,  i literally, just slide sunglasses in, and pull sunglasses out, at will.  i keep the zipper partially open at all times, and the orientation in my purse, is again, vertical..   perfect!

i LOVE the case my sister gifted me, also, because, it has a small zipper compartment on the side.  this is the perfect place to keep your little sunglasses cleaner fabric..

i was so enthralled with my whole set up -the perfect utilitarian purse + sunglasses case, that i wanted to duplicate my experience in different colors, for different seasons..

i am a fan of the changing seasons that inspire the different fashion palettes..

i had no success finding an exact match, with only a color change, when it came to the sunglasses case

i did find!   magic of macys..    an exact match in the purse itself; so i have one for fall/winter; and one for spring/summer..

the sunglasses case my sister gifted me, is spring/summer..   so i did find one, with colors/design that complement my fall/winter purse..  but, it is not designed the same

it is missing the zipper on side for cleaning fabric..; and it unzips all the way around; not just the top (i like just the top; its all that is necessary)

but! IT HAS A FASTENER, which allows me to ATTACH IT SECURELY to my purse. LOVE THIS!

      i am enormously pleased.  of course, the ideal sunglasses case for me personally, would have the zipper compartment on the side for cleaning fabric; PLUS a FASTENER to secure to purse;  and only unzip at top for the sunglasses..    and, it would just be pretty to look at. 

and if i really put my wildest purse dreams out there..  it would be this purse, in 4, not 2 different colors, one for each season, plus one extra fancy one for special occasions; and each one would have a very pretty complementary sunglasses case..

as it stands, i LOVE it, and BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!  the jeep i drive, has a smaller sized compartment   -as a matter of fact, my 2 door jeep willys just doesnt have a lot of  -free space- so to speak, in general, for -stuff..

i can't think of a purse i carried in the past that would fit inside what i use now;

but!  this purse i wear now..  it also FITS PERFECTLY inside the compartment, that securely closes, in my jeep

that got me to thinkin'...       dear Jeep,  i have an idea about what you can add to your merchandising line...

because, while i'm not a name brand person when it comes to purses..

i just LOVE all things JEEP..      i placed their sticker on the gum container i keep inside my jeep and just re-fill...

how cool would that look on a purse? sunglasses case.. THAT FITS INSIDE YOUR JEEP COMPARMENT...\ !?!

      caveats/improvements that can be made to my perfect purse:  the zippers can sometimes open so far to the end, that they get stuck, and i have to really wiggle/work to re-zip them..  i have learned to just make sure i don't unzip them all the way; only enough to get at what i need.  

*****

   -first of many fashion related posts to come...   AND many (but not all of them) Magic of Macy's related...   and i just LOVE how, the acronym ='s MOM.   don't you?  I am a 2nd generation Macy's shopper..  

and my first post since getting "MARRIED!" this past NOV 19TH, 2024.

oh! i can't wait to write about that too...   lots of pix; lots to share...     i'll be working on a collage all day today... 

and you know what else!  there's gonna be fresh and new in 2025..   some COOKING BLOG POSTS..  trust, me, in the past 19 years you'd never refer SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com to anyone looking for recipes...  but, mr robert mickanen...  (my sexy!)   he can cook people!

well, that's colloquial..  he doesnt cook people..   [giggling here]  he can cook, ~anything!   amazing mick meals, i call them..   and we'll share this blog in 2025; take turns, each writing about the things we love...

our criteria for posts in 2025:  do we LOVE it...   write about it; in detail... 

****

Glory be to God,   Hallelujah!  Selah!  & Amen

#fashion #purses #macys #jeep

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 11:48 AM 0 comments