Harveys DAY!!!

Let me start out by saying "Yes, I am still alive." I really appreciate how many of you were questioning last week's dissaperance. I am glad to know that there are many of you out there that share my love and appreciation of Harveys Seatbelt Bags. With that being said...... Onto a new home where Harveys is loved.

Alandra "AJ" Galusha from Eugene, Oregon

I remember when I saw my first Harveys, it was a red large tote, while I was working at a make up counter about 7 years ago. I loved it but I did not follow up right away it would be another 2 years before I found the Seatbeltbags web site. Once I found they had so many colors and styles to choose from I was sold. My addiction started slowly I only had a handful of bags for the first few years. But then I found I was not alone in my appreciation, and that is when the enabling began. I will go more in to that soon. My collection is ever changing, but I would like to share a few of the special ones.

This is my One of a kind, Studly, I won him at the patchwork auction event to raise money for R.U.F.F. Harveys are known for their events.

There is funny story behind this must have bag. The day before the event I was at the store with one of the lovely woman I had met off their Facebook Page (Miss Erin Lane) and we were talking to Erin (the Harveys employee) about making a studded bag out of the feet, and like magic there it was at Patchwork) I took that as a sign I had to have this bag.

Shag Bag

Harveys has also worked with the Grand Central Art center with some very limited bags. I was lucky enough to snag one of 5 bags done with the Artist Shag. I was new to the artist but really like a lot of his work. Harveys has done multiple collaborations with other local artist, these are some of my all time favorite bags including my all time bag that may carry my ashes after die.

Death or Glory Bag

You are starting to get an idea of the variety offered by Harveys but what you may not understand is how this simple handbag as brought so many people together. I am a stay at home of one fantastic little boy (Cade) and follow my husband around the west coast for work. This leaves a lot of time on my hands. I met a lot of women with the same application of Harveys that I have on the Harveys Facebook page and was surprised by the almost cult following Harveys have. I would check in with from time to time but now it is always on my computer and I can't walk by my computer with out checking in on my new friends. These women are some of the most supportive, loyal and over all fantastic people I have met. We were brought together by an appreciation of bags but we talk about everything and often lean on each other for support. Of course we talk and trade bags but it has grown to be much more than that. 

First time meeting Sisters (what we call others who share our love)

Thanks AJ for hooking us up this week. I have to say that I have the special opportunity of meeting new friends through this specail community of Harveys Fans. I have high hopes for meeting many more later this year when I attemd the Fall LTD even at the Santa Ana Store.

If you are not near a store you can always shop online at www.seatbeltbags.com

Are You Awesome?

Often times we forget to be true to who we are through our daily grinds and forget that we are a creation of God. So keep this in mind and use it as your daily reminder of just what you should be doing.....

Harveys Hump Day Purse Dump Day

Its a family thing.....

This is my friend Stephanie Edington-Shearer and her two daughters, Taylor and Dallas.

They reside in Miller, Missouri.

I recently asked Stephanie to be my guest dumper and to have her daughters join in. How cool to have something you love and can share with your daughters. (Ok, I might be a little jealous since I only have boys and if their dad caught them with a purse. Let's just say not pretty.)

"I bought my first Harvey's SBB in Oct 2006 from a store in Columbia, MO.  My sister's friend owned the boutique, and had actually given my sister, Tiffany her first SBB the Christmas before.  She told Tiffany that she had just gotten a new shipment in and would be putting them out that weekend.  That Friday I saw pink and brown Rugby...it was love at first sight.  And thisclose to ending my marriage.  My husband was with me when I bought the bag, and NOT HAPPY about me spending $168 "on a purse".  He still isn't happy when I buy a new one, but my marriage and Rugby, are still intact and going strong!

This was also the bag that my girls fell in love with, and started their love affair with Harvey's.  I talked my husband into letting me buy Taylor, the oldest, a black and white MM (mini messenger) for her birthday the following January.  Then, that September, we bought her sister, Dallas, a Stardust baguette for her birthday.  Since then, all of our collections have grown. We have added bags, minnies, wallets (full and clutch), rosettes, lanyards, click-n-go wristlettes, change purses, checkbook covers and make-up bags.

Dallas and I did a bag dump. (Taylor is working 2 jobs, so we don't see her very much.)  I have actually been using 3 bags the past 2 days, so i had to dump all three: storm MM, Rugby and Lavender boxy.  Dallas uses Stella constantly, so she just dumped one. It's amazing how much a bag will hold!

Both girls have received bags for Christmas last year. 

 Taylor got a Purple Haze boxy!! 

Dallas got a much coveted large Stella.  Dallas was just a little surprised!

It has been wonderful to pass my love of Harvey's and Seatbelt Bags on to the girls.  Taylor will be starting college this fall, and Purple Haze will be accompanying her on this new chapter in her life."

 And from the looks of things it will be a new chapter of bags as she grows. The girls are beautiful Stephanie!! Thank you for sharing with us this week. It is always great to see a tradition in progress.

The Harvyes website is a great place to find your own bag or one as a gift. This last First Friday there were Picnic and a bike basket. Very cute!!

My Dad..... Going under for God. An answer to prayer.

My mom and dad were both raised in the church. They met in church. There were circumstances that drew them away from church, but not necessarily away from God. My brother and I were not raised going to church on a regular basis but were raised to understand and believe in God.

For a long time, due to a lot of life circumstances, my dad discounted his worth to God. My mom prayed. Many prayed.

Recently, there were answers. My dad accepted the Lord as his Savior. And.....

I love you dad....

Harveys Hump Day Purse Dump Day

Have you ever bought a Harveys bag for a friend or family member? I have given my mom at least two, my sister in law one, and my three year old son has a back pack. We use as his go bag since we are potty training and I will not buy any more diapers.

He even picked out the ribbon to decorate the bag with and make it his own.

I find it a lot of fun to give Harveys bags, sometimes almost as fun as getting a bag. But kids with their bags are the best. They are so cute. I hope to get my niece one for her birthday later this year.

But I have another "little diva" to share with you today.

Melodie from Arizona!!

D.I.V.A.

"Hi!! My name is Melodie or you can call me Moo since everyone else does! I will be 12 in July but Mommy says I'm going to be 3. I get to show you my purses, aren't they pretty?

"Mommy has lots and lots!!! She's a little bit crazy about them, and decided that my diaper bag wasn't enough. I AM a Princess..didn't you know (and Princesses need purses)? So she searched ebay, and found me my very first pink  purse when I was about 20 months!! It has gone everywhere with me ever since. To the doctors, the zoob (yes its called the zoob according to me), shopping with Auntie Erin, EVERYWHERE.

And I get lots of compliments, especially when I make Daddy carry it for me.

Since then Mommy and Daddy got me two more purses for Christmas last year from a pretty lady named Sandie (I cant wait to paint your nails again Sandie). I love those too! And now I have purses to match almost every outfit!

I have lots of important vital things in my purse that I cant live without. Because you absolutely never know when you might need 4 pairs of sunglasses. A girls gotta have options right?!?! I also have my perfume, brothers Towmater truck that I "borrowed" from him. (DON'T TELL MOMMY). Three necklaces, a brush, a monkey block for my VTech train, a green heart bracelet, a Kero Kero Kerropi watch, a tiara hair clip. And my special minnie.

I went to my first Harveys event in March, so Mommy could get a Blackberry bag. I met Dana and Melanie. They were very nice, but I liked the cheesecake bites more. Melanie carried my brother, because he was being a pest and she was being helpful. Aren't all brothers like that? Daddy promised me that if I was good he would buy me something. I don't think he thought I would remember but when I saw the pretty purses I reminded him! So he let me pick out my pretty orange minnie!! I love my Daddy! Not sure where Mommy was, I think she was going crazy with all the other crazy purse ladies.

Well I better go, Tangled is on and I need to watch it again! Thanks Mrs. Mindy for letting me do show and tell! Oh and did I tell you my Birthday is in July? I can't wait for my birthday party!"

Such a cutie, excuse me, diva/princess!! Thanks Moo and mom for sharing with us. I hope I can get my hands on a cute bag so, too. Or maybe we can convince Harveys to make them again (HINT).

Check back next week for another bag and another dump. Don't forget this Friday is also FIRST FRIDAY!!! That's right, new bags!!! Be sure to check out Harveys on their website or their facebook page.

Missing.....

A few things this week are missing. My laptop has gone off to Dell to be repaired and I feel lost without it. I was able to take a short leave of absence from school whit it is gone. My Sanity has been on an extended vacation. I am not sure when it left or if it will come back for the next...um Payton is 3..... 15 years. What was not missing today was TJ. It was his day off and we had a lot to get done. His was mostly outside and with the tractor. Here are a few pictures from this afternoon, my family at its best.

This week holds more challenges in Potty Training. It has been "ok" but could be better.

We saw Cars 2. Way too much for the little ones to understand and follow, but cute.

Preston finished up Cub Scouts summer camp.

TJ is waiting to get the final ok for his new job.

I jouned Weight Watchers and am walking 3 miles in the mornings.

Whew, that is just another day in my Country Fairy Tale....

Harveys Hump Day Dump Day

Last week I told you I have a special treat for you all. This week is super exciting for me and I am sure you will recognize our featured dumper.

If you have ever visited or even called the Harveys Santa Ana store you could have encountered this person. Do you follow the Harveys Blog? I have seen HIS face there too!! That's right. You asked and I delivered. We are going to see a Black Label Wallet (maybe more), but from WHO??

Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce you to Christopher Montes.

"Hello! I'm Christopher Montes, Customer Service Manager at Harveys. I started my career at Harveys back in 2006, but my first introduction to the company was in 2004 by a former coworker from Allstate that carried a Harveys Classic Red Large Tote. The first day she brought her Seatbeltbag to work changed my life forever!  It’s as if by magic the steps that followed to get me exactly where I am today. I am thankful each day I work because I love the Harveys, I love everyone on Team Harveys and I enjoy working in the exciting environment Harveys Industries provides. At Harveys, I’m celebrated for my strengths as well as my quirks, and personally, what I find most important is I get to be myself, every single day!

 I was stoked when Mindy asked me to participate and be a featured “Dumper” on her blog, and I’m more than willing to celebrate hump day with you by giving a sneak peek inside some of my very own personal Harveys pieces.

First up is my Black Label Wallet in Black. Each piece I own represents a Harveys career moment in time for me.  This reminds me of being promoted to Store Manager in 2009 and being gifted a wallet. When it comes to what goes in my pocket, I try and keep it simple! In the wallet you’ll find my Driver License, debit card, AAA card, Target card, Disneyland Annual Passport, personal Harveys business card, cash and Harveys Website cards for the impromptu moments in life when someone asks me, “Where did you get your Seatbeltbag?!?”

Sometimes, a guy’s got to stash away his phone! When I go to an event like a concert, I use a Minnie Wristlet to carry all the same items I’d normally house in my Black Label Wallet in addition to my iPhone! Before my bike was stolen last summer, I’d throw a Minnie Wristlet around the handle bars and I’d be set for an adventure!

My Executive Laptop bag in Army reminds me of my first week at Harveys. I was allowed to pick out any bag of my choice and I knew right away the silhouette for me and I’ve used that bag almost every day since December of 2006. It’s never been sent to our Bag Spa and it’s never needed a repair. Oh the stories my bag could tell if it could talk…

Inside I carry my 15” Gateway Laptop, laptop charger, iPhone charger, iPhone, Lady GaGa Heartbeats headphones, Hot Pink Dr. Grip Pen that a sweet customer gave me (hey Jane, hey!), Harveys Classic Clutch in Violet (same size as convertible clutch where I store all my unmentionables), “I Am A Seatbeltbag” SeatbeltStrap Tote (Dana gave me this for helping with a project and I use it for spontaneous shopping trips I justify to myself by being “green”), the keys to my life, Harveys folder for my current work projects, upcoming look books and a Sharpie.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a lil’ bit of my collection! Thanks for thinking of me for this opportunity, Mindy! I wish to all of you Harveys Original Seatbeltbag “toters” that your collections bring many years of friendly compliments to come. Keep on bloggin’, Mindy!

XOXO,

Christopher at Harveys"

WOW!! This blog was SO much fun for me, and Christopher is the one who did all the work. My deepest thanks to Christopher for sharing with us and making it so much fun!! Next time I am in So Cal I will be making a special trip to the store. For those of you have never been, like myself, there is a Harveys Museum on the third floor of the Santa Ana store that is well worth the trip. That's right, thre are THREE floors of Harveys goodness. But let's be real, the bags and employees are more than worth the trip as well.

There is also a Harveys store in Chino Hills. This is the only store I have ever had the opportunity to visit and the service I have always encountered has been extremly plesent and helpful. After all, they understand my crazy love.

Don't forget to stop buy the Harveys website and find your own love.