It's a Purse Party!

So said Jennifer Coolidge during a guest spot on "Sex and the City" when she played a freshly dumped woman who's turned to selling handmade purses ("I tore up my bedspread to make that one!"). That having been said, I think she and the rest of the "Sex and the City" gang would appreciate this selection of purses from my page-a-day Handbags gallery-style calendar (Workman Publishing). Based on the book Handbags: The Power of the Purse, by Anna Johnson, this desktop delight is bursting with photographs of ornate, colorful, and sometimes historical satchels, clutches, hobos, cases, shoulder bags, and reticules. (I had to look up that last one; according to dictionary.com it's of French origin and means "small purse or bag, originally of network but later of silk, rayon, etc.")

P.S. The May 4 number is described as a "handmade vintage-inspired fabric bag with abstract paint design" and hails from a lovely-sounding place called The Pink Room. Pretty apropos in light of Ms. Coolidge, huh?

Drop by the Dragon's Den!

Apple Dragon Soap, The Dragon's Den

Love finding new Etsy shops? How about buying handmade at a discount? Who doesn't! Amanda of The Dragon's Den soap shop has launched a new Web site featuring coupons from several Etsy sellers (including yours truly; I'm offering 20% off an entire Tote Trove purchase. :) Amanda has asked all participating sellers to spread the word, and I thought, what better way to do just that than to post about it on my blog? So click on over to discover some great deals at some fun shops. Happy hunting!

Book Report: The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

Some novels use characters as props, never plumbing the depths of their personalities to reveal their greatest fears, their biggest regrets, or even what they like to eat for dinner. The Castaways, by Elin Hilderbrand, is a tale that unabashedly plumbs. The story is about the Castaways, a group of four close-knit Nantucket couples, one of which dies in a boating accident. Each of the friends takes turns discussing the incident in his or her own distinctive voice, revealing secrets that both complicate and illuminate the tragedy. The Castaways has a dark, soap operatic quality not unlike that of "Desperate Housewives" in the good old days. The characters are the kind of people you'd run into at the supermarket or at PTA meetings; well-meaning and idiosyncratic and protective of their shadows. The small-town island setting lends intimacy, quietly reminding us that each character is an island with problems isolating himself or herself from the others. Yet to solve the mystery and move on with their lives, each must band together like any castaways bent on survival. Striking a balance between literary symbolism and everyday life, The Castaways delivers an enriching tale that will resonate with readers long after they've shaken the sand from their beach towels.

Jack Handey Quote of the Week

"If I was being executed by injection, I'd clean up my cell real neat. Then, when they came to get me, I'd say, "Injection? I thought you said 'inspection.' " They'd probably feel real bad, and maybe I could get out of it."

New Etsy Buys: Funky Finds From PenGwynneBeads

I've always found myself to be frustrated by the bead selection in local craft stores. Although these stores offer no shortage of snazzy embellishments, such as flowers, feathers, rhinestones, and even dollhouse miniatures to give my jewelry zing, the beads themselves often seemed run-of-the-mill. So, I decided to explore some of the many jewelry supply sellers on Etsy and happened upon PenGwynneBeads. Gwynne's shop was bursting with just the kind of bright, unusually-shaped resin and acrylic beads for which I'd been searching. Naturally, I made an order, limiting myself to just thirteen varieties (no easy feat!). Gwynne was a pleasure to shop with; she provided lots of friendly communication and even a surprise pack of bonus beads! The whole lot is currently spread across my coffee table, waiting to be incorporated into my next flurry of necklaces.

If you like what you see here, then be sure to check out PenGwynneBeads's entire range for more exciting accessories in the making :)

Movie Moment: Bridesmaids

I'd been looking forward to seeing Judd Apatow's Bridesmaids for a long time. The bf and I caught the last showing on Memorial Day, right before it was yanked from local theaters. It was funny, a veritable wishing well of wedding planning disasters. The heroine is Annie ("Saturday Night Live's" Kristen Wiig), a down-on-her-luck thirtysomething whose childhood best friend Lillian ("Saturday Night Live's" Maya Rudolph) is getting married. As if dealing with a failed bakery, a disturbing brother and sister duo for roommates, a humiliating job selling engagement rings, a clunker car, and an insensitive friend with benefits (Jon Hamm) aren't bad enough, Annie's new role as maid of honor puts her head-to-head with Lillian's new pal, wealthy, prissy, one-upper Helen (Rose Byrne). Of course, the clunker jump starts the meet-cute for Annie and nice-guy cop Officer Rhodes (Chris O' Dowd), a guy as quaintly charming as his oh-so-appropriate moniker.

I've never been a bridesmaid (well, not as an adult anyway), but everything I've read or heard about the in-fighting, jealousy, and pettiness that plague bridal parties was in full flower in this comedy. Kristen Wiig is funny and sympathetic as the always-one-step-behind Annie. With an all-star supporting cast including "Mike & Molly's" Melissa McCarthy (hilarious) and "The Office's" Ellie Kemper (so like her naive receptionist character Erin), a "Brady Bunch" reference, and an appearance by Wilson Phillips belting out "Hold On," Bridesmaids is fun and, dare I say, heartwarming. (Beware, as a gentle plot spoiler lurks within the next two sentences.) In the end, Annie finds out that her nemesis Helen has her own "stuff" to deal with, and that it's these very insecurities that account for her unpleasantness. Although the two don't become best friends (that would be unrealistic), they join forces to give Lillian the wedding she deserves, reminding us of the importance of kindness. That's a little deeper than I meant to get reviewing a comedy. But then again, even the zaniest, most outlandish blockbusters are built on a few grains of truth, offering us windows into the emotional minefields of our own lives.

Jack Handey Quote of the Week

"Love is not something that you can put chains on and throw into a lake. That's called Houdini. Love is liking someone a lot."