Sweet tooth

This year I became a substitute teacher. Now from my business classes I know that I need to market myself since there are a lot of substitute teachers and the schools have their pick from the flock of us. So I did a few things right away to try and get a head start on the "competition". I ordered myself some business cards. I made a copy of the card before it went to print and saved it as a picture on my computer. I them emailed EVERY teacher, secretary, principle, and assistant principle that had their school email listed on their school website. I introduced myself, a little background info, and attached a copy of my "Virtual" business card for any future jobs.

Then I realized I needed to make official introductions in person. That is my plan for this week. But I do know that a good way for a person to remember you, and in my case pick me, is to remain in the front of their minds. What better way to do that than have something from me on their desk. That way they will call ME when they need a sub. It is marketing myself.

I came up with these little candy jars.

Proverbs 10:9

Dictionary.com defines integrity as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

The antonym or opposite is listed as dishonest.

Sir Winston Churchill once said ~

Every man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, dangers and pressures -and that is the basis of all human morality.

Often times in life there are opportunities that will present themselves where you can be forced to make a decision to do the unpopular thing or let the situation slide. After all, who is it really hurting. But Sir Issac Newton's third law of physics can be applied to life as well. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So although keeping one's integrity might mean making the unpopular decision, it is worth it. Trust me, I know. When you get to Heaven you will not be asked how many friends you had but what right you did.

Harveys Hump Day - Quest for....

I have this CRAZY AMAZING GREAT FRIEND!!! She has come into my life as if she was always there. She helps with my homework, we visit each other, she is great with my boys. Payton cannot say Amy so he calls her Mayme. (FYI Amy, he is asking where you are.) She has even brought a few of my most prized bags into my collection. She is just all around great. So when she FINALLY found "the one" I knew she needed to share.

(Left to right Top Me and Amy. Bottom Payton and Preston)

Hi, my name is Amy and I am addicted to Harveys.  I am also a HUGE enabler, but I can’t help myself.  I love Harveys, and I want everyone to love them as much as I do.  I am also a self confessed purse hoarder.   Actually, I am a hoarder of many things…books, shoes, books, books, oh and did I mention books? But right now, my “hoarding” attentions are focused on those fabulously chic, made in America bags – HARVEYS!

Of all my Harvey’s friends, my husband, Charles, has to be my biggest enabler.  “I bought this one,” I’d say…and he would say, “How come you didn’t buy 2?”  My two dogs seriously believe that my Harveys bags are made of dog treats, because I keep them locked up, where they are inaccessible by the dogs.  “Seriously, Mommy, if they taste so good that you have to hide them behind a locked door, why can’t you just share?!?”

MY QUEST FOR COPPER

It was like a magical, bigger than life, honest to goodness treasure hunt. 

At some point in my young Harveys life, I had seen a Copper Convertible Tote for sale on the Harveys Web site.  “I have to have one!” I said, “but not right now…I have to have “that” and “that, and “that!”  In my mind, copper could wait. 

Unfortunately, copper couldn’t wait.  As soon as they became scarce as hen’s teeth, of course – I HAD TO HAVE ONE.  No, a Large Tote won’t do, I have to have the glorious CT.  The copper CT very quickly became one of my “grail bags.”  I knew there was one out there for me, but patience is not one of my virtues.

Point of Interest – A grail bag is loosely defined as “a bag so scare that it will be nearly impossible to find someone who is willing to give theirs up, or will be so exorbitantly expensive when you do find it, you will seriously contemplate selling an organ to afford it.  Or one of your children/spouse/animals/etc.”

I had a few other “grail bags” on my most-wanted list.  But copper was the first and foremost.  Every time the question went out about “your most sought after bag” – I was always there waving my hand, screaming COPPER!  My wonderful group of Harveys friends calmly accepted the fact that I was seriously deranged, and had to have this bag. They were so nice, that every time a copper bag went up for sale, they would send me a note to let me know.  So sweet, and so enabling….and I love them for it.

A very good friend of mine, who is also a serious Harveys fan, actually questioned my sanity in my pursuit of the elusive copper CT….did a copper CT really exist? Or was I hallucinating? “Sigh…no, I really saw it…I did! Honest!”

One Sunday night, not too long ago, I got a private message on Facebook from another Harveys fan, informing me that a copper CT had just shown up for sale on eBay.  “Isn’t this the one you are looking for?”  I immediately logged onto my eBay account and found my precious copper CT sitting right there with a BIN.  Holy crap!  My hands shook while I logged into PayPal to pay for it, thinking someone might snipe it out from under me before I could complete the transaction….whew!  I was able to pay for the little beauty and start dreaming about its arrival.  I couldn’t wait to get it my grubby little paws on it.

When it arrived, and I opened the box, I swear I heard a chorus of angels in the distance. And, there she was, in all her delicious copper glory!  Wow. I was shocked.  I loved her instantly.  Pictures were posted almost immediately, but not before I dressed her up with a large topaz rosette, which I bought a loooooong time ago, specifically for my yet-to-be-found copper CT.  One of my very good Harveys friends says I go for “statement bags,” and there is no louder statement than copper!

Even my husband loves her, although when he first saw her, he said, “she is pretty but she’s not Caddie.”  Caddie is his all time favorite Harveys bag. Ever.

Now that I have her, I look back on some of my prior Harveys purchases and realize that I have bought a few bags that I thought would substitute for copper, but did not quite fill that void…TreeCycle Carriage Satchel, which has no copper in the pattern, but does have a copper rosette affixed to the front; Herring Bone Carriage Satchel, which is really crazy because it isn’t even a “metal” color; and, a bunch of others that were not the right color and/or size.  All because I was searching for a substitute for the bag of my dreams and was being wholly unfulfilled by these substitutes.    

My treasure hunt or this elusive bag is over.  Right now, I’m not “grailing” for any bags,  but I’m sure something will catch my eye, from a previous season, and I will begin my quest over again…I hope to one day have a closet full of Harveys, and a bunch of statement bags, but my copper CT will always be nearest and dearest to my heart.

Yay!!! She found it. It is like a fairy tale story with its happy ending. I cannot wait to hit So Cal with Amy next month. We will be at the Harveys release of the Fall LTD (in So Cal) on September 24th, with BELLS ON!!! Getting to see my fam and Disneyland are just AWESOME perks!! LOVE YOU AMY!!!

Harveys Hump Day Purse Dump Day

So, I love people and the different things that make us. I also love Harveys. That happens to be one thing that has drawn many different women into my life. I am thrilled to be able to say that I consider these many different women my friends. A new friend in my life.....

Mandy Silman Herbert from Eagle, Idaho

“My name is Mandy Silman Herbert and for the last eleven years I have lived in Idaho. For the first thirty years of my life I lived 45 minutes from Disneyland which is the result of my lifelong obsession with anything Mouse House related. I first became aware of Harveys when browsing through a Disney blog online I saw the amazing Disney Messenger. I ran screaming through the house for my husband who having been married to me for 14 years was able to remain calm. Because I am married to an amazing man who also values peace he called the Disney Ears number the next day and my new bag was on its way. He mentally patted himself on the back and thought it was over. Sometimes he forgets who he is married to :) Obsessed with my new bag I had to find out more. And so it began.

I was already a purseaholic when I found my way to the Harveys page. It felt like coming home. Since our only child is a boy I thought my bags were safe. They were until the little boy discovered Scully. He luffs "his" Scully so much and I often have to comb the house to find his latest hiding place. I don’t have the heart to not share with him.

Then there are our nine four legged children. Two barkers and seven meowers. There is no way to get a picture of them all together without a trip to the ER. Because the sides of the bags are hard the cats spend hours rubbing their little faces against them. I don’t have the heart to not share with them either but because they have all their claws I watch them very carefully.

I was never a football fan but you can’t live in Idaho and not love our Boise Broncos. They won their first major championship when I was eight months pregnant and I got so excited I thought I went into labor. I was beyond excited when Harveys released the Mandarin line. Besides the fact that it is a gorgeous bright orange it is a perfect Broncos color. My hubby found blue ribbon and put in together for me and now we just need a patch and some bling and you have the perfect Broncos bag.

Here is my current bag, the incredible MCKY boat tote. This is my favorite design of all the Harveys bags but I have a small obsession with the cherries too. I always need a bigger bag because apart from my stuff I usually get handed my hubby’s keys and wallet and whatever the little boy cannot live without at that time. He tends to store toys on there as do our cats who have "killed" a toy and then "buried" it in my purse as a gift. I have been known to pull out a catnip mouse or squeaky toy at a register while try to pay. It’s my version of a clown car.

After I dumped my purse and finished screaming because I thought the cat feathers were a dead animal (which has happened before) I realized I also have a small lip balm and gloss obsession. Also in my makeup case are my summer perfumes, sunscreen wipe, mascara, and blotting stuff. My minnie holds my eyeglass wipes and eye drops. My phone, Rowans toys and crayons, my non Harveys wallet ( I'm getting there ok ) one of my current books, Xanax for panic attacks, Harvey cards of course, a notebook and pen for lists, my datebook to keep track of my dad’s Dr appts. Hand lotion and sanitizer. I keep a separate bag in the car with extra clothes for Rowan and a first aid kit. I can’t carry it because Rowan will keep coming up with new boo boos until he has used all the band aids.

It’s not all about Harveys though. It started with Harveys, and Harveys will always be the biggest part of it but there is another side to it. Their fans. Harveys has the most amazing fans called sisters. A group of women spread all over the country, they are sweet and sassy and the most horrid enablers ever. They support each other, trade and help find bags, and send gifts to those who are sick or need cheering up. Most of us have not met and despite this it’s them I go to when celebrating a new bag or a need to vent. I wonder if Harveys ever dreamed that their company would be the start of something so amazing.

Before I leave you I want to say thank you to Mindy Harris for letting me be this week’s dump girl and for writing this terrific blog. I also want to say thank you to the Harveys for their incredible bags. You have created an amazing world.”

Thank You Mandy!! I was thrilled when you said yes to be our dumper this week and even more thrilled by your own excitement!!

Next month I will be making a pilgrimage (of sorts) to California. I will be in town for the Fall LTD release in Santa Ana. I will have the HUGE privilege of meeting some of my fellow sisters. Many of my other sisters will be in Omaha, NE for a special Release at Material Girl.

You can find your own Harveys Bag on their website or by finding a store near you where they are sold. Have a great week!!