Hi bnitaeyre - I'm amazed at your preoccupation with handbags! Oh my - I did a search on your name, selecting "all forums", and nearly every post is a question of some sort about a handbag (it has a stain on it, what kind, what color, my Gucci, etc.). Interestingly, the only ones that aren't about a handbag are obviously spam. And you've only recently joined and posted all of these handbag questions. I'm suspect, and that's not my nature. So what's the story with you and handbags, or you and spam? Will we start seeing links to a handbag site soon? Taking a money clutch or big handbag to an interview is totally dependent upon the job you're hoping to land. (Not sure why I answered that).

I've been peeking in on this thread but too busy to post.. It's very interesting. As you may know we have a 1950 Cape that had a galley kitchen. When I brought up the thread about pushing the back of the house out 7 feet and opening up walls some GWers were totally against it and said the galley was fine and could be made more functional. Some of those people have NEVER commented again on any of my posts. I believe they felt it was against the integrity of the house. The problem was that the first floor is the LR, DR (which was 8.5' wide), Master Bedroom, and the kitchen which didn't hold many people. SO, where was anyone to go? It wasn't as much about the kitchen as that we needed space SOMEWHERE in order to entertain and enjoy having people visit. I can't tell you how our renovation has TOTALLY changed our everyday life and will change our social life! We had 16 people over that ALL were in the kitchen/DR and we could have fit more! No one was even in the living room but with a bigger party they would have been, of course. In our old layout it would have been awful- 4-5 people in each room- squeezing behind chairs and tables. And 7' (x 28') isn't even THAT much bigger... but with moving stairs and removing walls it was ALL we needed. Also, we have the glass doors in between the DR and LR so there's some separateness there. I really didn't one one big room where you can't escape the kitchen or get a minute alone. Our First Floor Plan: Kitchen/LR/DR: Most of you have seen my finished kitchen thread so I won't post pics but here's the link if you want to see before and afters. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0222274329904.html?20 I spoke to a few realtors while we were deciding what to do although our decisions were made more for US- not future buyers. We really want to stay here a long time and now we can. Our last house was almost 4000 sq ft and we didn't like it. Now we have 1700/1800 sq ft and it's great... Anyway, we're in a desirable area so we felt it was worth it to make the house more livable and also one realtor's thought was that if we do sell the more updated layout and large kitchen will probably set OUR Cape apart from the others that will be for sale. Also, before the reno we looked at homes for sale in the next price range (being we were going to be spending a lot of money) but they all needed work in some way anyway! Kitchen or Bathroom- so that wasn't really an option either. OK, best of luck! I'm sure you'll do what's best : )

I have too many bags for my own good! My go to bag is a larger black Tory Burch with gold chain straps threaded with leather. The straps have comfortable leather at the top where they go over the shoulder. It's big enough to fit my ultrabook computer which is a big plus. I switch out with several Coach bags in brown, gray, and silver, an orange leather Hobo tote, a great summer purse of pebbled white leather with luggage brown handles and straps and buckles (forget that brand), and Longchamps bags in seemingly every color. I have a cute nautical navy and white canvas bag from Stella and Dot (just happen to have striped shoes that don't match but look great together) and those are my mainstays. I have a few specialty type purses that I use infrequently, like a canvas and leather drawstring bag from Studio Ghibli in Japan and a tooled leather purse from Mexico shaped like a small saddle. My 29 year old dd loves Vera Bradley and has several purses, totes and overnight bags in various patterns. They are fun and colorful but I liked the older patterns with less black and purple better. My cloth bags were Provençal prints from Pierre Deux back in the day.

I prefer tote styles, but they must be wider at the top and not too deep. Absolutely must have a zipper all the way across the top so nothing can fall out when it tips over. I don't care too much for outside pockets, but do like an inside pocket where I can stash some things, and that inside pocket must have a zipper also. I prefer metal feet, and the bag should have some ring or other place to hook my keys inside. Leather is a plus, but I do have some canvas and woven bags-I'm not picky on color, but I won't have a white bag-I recently picked up a raspberry leather tote style and a suede cross body pouch with fringe on the sides. I must confess to a collection of over 70 bags currently. I switch them out according to my mood or outfit. I have an addiction to handbags! I love tassles, fringe, and metal on my bags, but not a fan of obvious branding-all my Coach bags are plain leather or straw, i don't like the logo print. Texture is big for me, quilted is good-I've got a quilted patent leather shopper very reminiscent of Chanel. I do love Michael Kors bags but haven't added any to my collection yet. I prefer large bags, either with handles large enough to slip up to the crook of my arm or cross body straps, I don't like shoulder bags or clutches. One thing I really dislike in bags is multiple compartments. I prefer the bags to be open and I use small pouches inside to hold different things. Makes changing out my bags a lot easier. I am asking for this one for Christmas