Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Right Purse?




Today's feature for my Good Friends Old and New blogoversary theme is a post graciously shared by Rhonda Shrock of The Natives are Getting Restless. No doubt about it, Rhonda is one busy and talented lady. In addition to raising four boys, she's a blogger, columnist, and all around fun and supportive friend. Her writing reflects her down to earth sense of humor and a heart that desires to encourage others. She is one of the sparkling gems I've found through my blogging adventures.


All I Want is the Perfect Purse!

by Rhonda Shrock


You girls will understand this.  You know how it is.  There you are, digging in your handbag, unable to find the thing you want.  It's in there (you know it is), but you just.can't.wrap your fingers around it.

For me, it was the Chapstick.  That's all I wanted, rummaging there in my purse.  Oh, that purse...

"I need a new one," I'd said to The Mister months ago as he dropped me off at the department store.  "I'm determined to find just the right one."  I think he sighed, feeling helpless in the face of my handbag issues.  And he wheeled away to park somewhere and Google something manly (like national news or basketball scores) on his smart phone while I plowed through purses.

I thought I'd found it.  Looking, comparing, judging colors, sizes...to strap or not to strap, loaded questions all, then finally settling on a black one.  Which, as I learned later, would complicate my life.

Now, standing there in the dark, scrabbling around for that goofy tube in a bag that was clearly too small, this is what the poor Mister heard from the bowels of the closet:  "I'm ready to throw this thing in the English Channel!"

From the bathroom sink came a chortle, which he quickly smothered, and then this in a smooth, bass voice, "Lord, help her find the perfect purse!"  I hadn't thought it possible to pray in a "roll-of-the-eyes" tone, but by cracky, if he didn't nail it.

I laughed (what else?), finally emerging, triumphant, green tube clutched in my hot little hand.  "So you're not planning to go over there and drop it in after all?" he queried, peering at me with those blue eyes.

"I'm waiting 'til spring," I said, shooting him a look.  "Then I'm getting a new one...something bigger."  He sighed, looking pale, and headed for his favorite spot on the couch to Google the latest polls on his phone.

Yup.  I'm going to gut it out with my black, too-small handbag until spring.  Once the crocuses start showing up, though, all bets are off, and Mama's going out.  In last summer's darling pewter flip-flops, of course.

All I want is the perfect purse, one that will let me find the Chapstick and get to my phone.  That, and it'll save me a trip to the English Channel with the old one.


Rhonda Schrock lives in Northern Indiana with her husband and 4 sons, ages 22, 18, 13, and 5. By day, she is a telecommuting medical transcriptionist. In the early morning hours, she flees to a local coffee shop where she pens Grounds for Insanity, a weekly column that appears in The Goshen News, so named for her love of coffee and her boys. She is an occasional guest columnist in her hometown paper, The Hutch News.  She’s also blogged professionally for her son’s school of choice, Bethel College; contributed to a humor blog; contributes to a parenting website; and maintains her personal blog, The Natives are Getting Restless. She is a writer and an editor for the magazine, Cooking and Such: Adventures in Plain Living. She survives and thrives on prayer, mochas, and books.  


Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing this with us! 

Ladies - can you relate to the great purse quest? How do you define the perfect purse? What was the last item you unearthed from its dark depths?

Gentlemen - I am sure you can relate in some way. My husband has been my chaperone on many a purse hunting safari. (His exact and kindly spoken words, I believe, were, "What are you looking for?") Have any related shopping adventures to share?

Details regarding a little blogoversary giveaway will be up on Monday :)

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,
Karen



Photo image: Stock Exchange

33 comments :

  1. My husband always chuckles when I am hunting in my purse ... for my phone, a pen etc.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  2. Thank you so much for hosting me today, Karen. It's truly a delight and a pleasure to be at your place today. You've been such a faithful encourager to me and (I know) to many others.

    BTW - I saw a DARling purse last weekend. It was the color of spring in a soft, buttery leather. It's good that drooling is free, because that's all I could afford.

    But that color...

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  3. Thanks Karen and Rhonda for bringing us a fun filled post today!
    No, I am not a purse person :) I use the same one for years (yes, I only have one purse at the time) until it falls apart and then I'll force myself to buy a new one.
    But, I enjoyed the story anyway :)

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  4. Glenda,
    It is indeed an adventure, isn't it? I am sure they can be the same way with a toolbox or something! :)

    Rhonda,
    It's a delight and a pleasure to have you here! :) Thanks for your kind words. I feel the same way about your blog! Yes, drooling is free, last I checked! :D

    Marja,
    I am sure we can all relate in some ways, perhaps even poking around in the junk drawer for something! :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  5. The pictured red one is worth a look, I like that. I got into handbags not too long ago and I like looking. I get sticker shock frequently but I keep a look out for just the right color, right size, right arrangement...at that moment.

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  6. Can totally relate! I think I say this at least twice a year. The perfect purse? I don't think it exists! If it does, someone already owns it! Have a great weekend, Karen and Rhonda!

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  7. Sally,
    I know - I like this red one too! Just came across it at the photo site I use and thought it was perfect. :)

    Maria,
    Glad to hear you can relate! I knew many of my friends would be nodding and smiling, perhaps even chuckling, over this one! I am going to hold fast to the fact that I will find the perfect purse someday!

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  8. I've been searching for the perfect purse for well over a year. It has been one of the most frustrating pursuits of my life. Not too big, not too small. Outside pocket for my phone because I can't hear it ring from the inside. No buckles or chains. Just plain. But no, it doesn't exist. I did find a Fossil for $4 at a flea market that would be perfect but it is green. That doesn't sound like a downside because green is my favorite color and 3/4 of my wardrobe is green. But ya know, greens are hard to coordinate. And I really wanted soft, brown leather that would go with everything--especially my Birks. I think I'm heading to the fabric shop to look for leather to make my own, yet. When I do it, I'll send you a pix. Thanks, Karen and Rhonda--great piece.

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  9. Do you see I smile? Great, great post. But I am ashamed a little. Because I'm going to say that I always lose my bags and purses, so I do not use them. :-) I wear my credit card and driving license at a special place in my coat.

    No bags or purses for me.

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  10. I think some women are shoe girls and some of us are purse girls. I love purses but have yet to find perfection. Thanks for introducting us to Rhonda!

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  11. Carol,
    I hear you, loud and clear. The purse is one accessory that must be just right! You must send pictures if you make your own - I'd love to see it! :)

    Aritha,
    It's nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by! Perhaps you are the smart one, paring down your accessories. :) I might have to think about that option if the right purse does not surface when I need one this year!

    Annie,
    Yes, good point, each has it's important roles in our lives. Although, I am rather fond of both, though, which might be a problem! lol Glad you like Rhonda. She's a sweetheart!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  12. Hah, so true. I let my purse fill up with too much garbage and then end up fishing through it time after time to find the same stinkin' tube of chapstick. Or bottle of lotion. Or phone. Or keys....

    Thanks for sharing (:

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  13. I'd say it's more hard to find one I like. I don't really carry too much stuff around with me and chapstick goes in my pocket or coat pocket! :)

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  14. It's always nice to be understood. But I have shoe issues, too...no wonder Mr. Schrock is tired all the time! :) There are some things even he can't fix.

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  15. Becky,
    I'd have to say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in the purse department! Nice to have someone around who understands. :)

    Laura,
    Now see, you are a smart lady! Chapstick in the pocket may just be the answer. As long as it doesn't get left there through the laundry cycle as my husband's has sometimes. Well then though, at least we know it's clean! :)

    Rhonda,
    I suspect we have many kindred hearts here! As for shoes, well that could be another post entirely, right? :)

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  16. This is a funny post, and although I stayed away from purses until after kids . . now I have two. One is a tiny one that is for going places like grocery stores and other errands, another resembles a huge carryall with pockets that I can carry books and notebooks, plus chapstick and all that other stuff in too. Then sometimes I just take my wallet and zip it in my coat pocket. I don't think there's a perfect purse for all occassions.

    BTW - Karen, I have an award for you at my blog today.
    http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-meme-award-and-my-toughest-beta.html

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  17. The perfect purse takes a long time to find!

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  18. I can completely relate to this purse quest. The perfect purse is an elusive thing, we have to chase it.

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  19. I know where my Chap Stick is but what I can never find are pens. They drop to the bottom of my purse and hide. New purses won't help.

    I have been on the perfect purse hunt. Last year I searched for the perfect straw bag. I ended up with a $1 purse from a rummage sale. It worked, but it is wearing out so now I have to start the search again this year.

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  20. Tyrean,
    I like the idea of a small one for errands and such. I might have to try that. Somehow my bigger one comes in handy, even though my kids are grown, I am the go-to person for tissues, bandaids, pens, and of course, Chapstick. Thanks for the award! :)

    Laura,
    It does, and I am thinking we need to buy more than one when we find it!

    Rachna,
    I'm glad - not that I want you to have purse challenges of course. But it is nice to know others can relate!

    Nancy,
    My current purse has some little slots for pens, so that's really handy. I may sew them into the next one if they don't come with some. Perhaps otherwise we should invent a purse GPS that locates items for us?

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  21. LOL, I love Rhonda's humor. Thanks for hosting, Karen!

    I have the opposite problem...My purse is too big. And it's black. Thus its nickname "The Black Hole". I bought it because it was big enough to hold my laptop, but finding anything else in there is pretty much impossible. :)

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  22. Oh, I fully understand your dilemma, Rhonda!

    I have purses within my purse, and I still can't find anything. With all the compartments, zippers, and dividers, you'd think it would be a breeze.

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  23. OMG can I relate. I used to buy purses thinking, believing I'd finally found the right one. Nah, a month later, I was shaking my head, wondering what I'd been thinking. And then one day I saw this pink Kathy purse on sale! I climbed over this little old lady to get it. Just in case she had the same idea. Now 2 years later, the thought pops up every so often that maybe I should buy a new purse. I mean, you have to change once in awhile, right?

    Nah. I love my bright pink leather Kathy purse. Even when I wear my purple 3/4 length jacket. I feel so kewl with it hanging off my elbow.

    Great post!

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  24. Sarah,
    You are so welcome! I love Rhonda, and her humor too. I love the name for your purse! I'll have to remember that. :)

    Susan,
    Glad you can relate. I know, sometimes those organizers make things more complicated, don't they?

    Joylene,
    Somehow I thought you were a kindred spirit in this department! nI am sure you look super cool with your pink purse. I can picture it with your purple jacket - awesome!

    Happy weekend,
    Karen

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  25. What a fun purse. I actually threw out my old purse today because there were no pockets and I could never find anything. I guess men will never understand!

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  26. Sarah, another friend said that her HUSBAND calls hers "a black hole." Funny!

    All this angst is why I will, if elected president, institute an immediate 30-day trial period on handbags. I'd call it The New Purse Purchase Act because you just can't know, after 20 minutes in the purse department, if it'll pass the test in the grocery store.

    I fully expect a landslide election. :)

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  27. Shanda,
    I think we should really start our own purse company. It could be a group effort, and I think we would do quite well!

    Rhonda,
    Wow, so there's more than one purse "black hole" out there? Who knew? I think that New Purse Purchase Act is a fine idea. We really must work on that. Thanks again for sharing with us!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  28. Love the red purse. I'm stopping by to say hello and wishing you a happy St. Pat's day! sandie

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  29. Sandie,
    Glad you like the purse! Thanks for coming over to see me. :) Happy weekend to you!
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  30. Great post!

    I must admit I'm not much of a purse fanatic. I even hate the word! I try to get away without carrying one as much as I can.

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  31. Talli,
    Well now then you are one of those efficient girls! I am thinking you might be the smart one, avoiding all that purse stress! :)
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  32. This cracked me up. I spent hours one day hunting a new purse. My husband joined me and, God bless him, stuck with me through the whole blasted thing. He tried to help, but I'm so picky: "No, that one doesn't have an inside pocket. No, that one has an inside pocket but it doesn't zip." It took forever but I finally found one. Now the challenge is to keep it organized!

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  33. Lisa,
    Glad you liked it! Your husband is a trooper! There is a science to this experience, don't you think? :)
    Blessings,
    Karen

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Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Have a blessed day!