FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

The Camera Bag

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After upgrading my DSLR action to the Canon 7D, I figured it was high time to stop tossing my camera in any old purse and using koozies as protection for spare lenses.  Once I made the decision to invest, I got to WORK searching the web for the perfect bag.  I emphasize work because me on an online shopping mission is probably one of the more strategically intense things you could ever witness in this lifetime.  I settled on two bags, this Ketti Handbag and an ONA Bag, and blasted links to all of my besties for input.  We agreed on the ONA and when I went to purchase, I just couldn’t do it.  The scale was wrong, the me-ness factor was wrong, and most importantly, the price was wrong – $229 for an off-brand, camera-only bag?  No sir.

Within minutes, my mission was modified.  I found a camera insert on the Darby Mack Etsy site and, after a lengthy back and forth (thank you Darby!!), I custom ordered this camera insert with another fabric from her collection.  And I ordered a camera strap in matching fabric.  I noted the dimensions of the insert, 11″ wide x 8″ tall and 5″ deep, and began a new hunt – the hunt for a perfectly scaled designer bag that was oh so me and oh so on sale.

On a side note, if you’d like to order something wonderful from the Darby Mack store, Darby is offering free shipping to FoodFash readers by using the code “JUST4U” at checkout.  

As luck would have it, I headed to Nordstrom and this Botkier satchel jumped off the sale rack, down the aisle, up my leg, and onto my shoulder.  It begged me to take it home and I couldn’t say no.   The dimensions weren’t exact, but I had a hunch they would work.  The price was just about what I was willing to spend.  And by the time I left the store I was completely in love, whether the insert worked or not.

The insert arrived within a week and, as you can see above, fit perfectly in the satchel.  I ended up spending just under $250, which may seem like a lot.  But if you’re an extreme purchase justifier like me, you’d convince yourself that $250 is a steal for a designer bag, a designer camera bag, and the means to make any bag in the future a camera bag.  Yeah that’s right, three (or more) for the price of one!

A Big Time Saturday

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Oh what a week!  I spent most of my spare time snuggling with the ice pack pictured below and, although my Saturday is bound to have some ice pack time, there are also a few solid tasks on my to-do list.  Most, not so fun, but what can you do.  I’ll focus on the fun stuff.

I cleaned out my freezer (not fun) and discovered a gold mine of frozen fruit that I used to make a killer breakfast smoothie (fun).  I’m usually a green smoothie gal, but this morning I put the kale back in the fridge and treated myself with sweetness.

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

1 Frozen Banana

1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries

1/2 Cup Frozen Mango

1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries

1 Acai Smoothie Pack, unsweetened

NO SUGAR!!!

My late night Amazon book order arrived last week, which I’m pretty pumped about.  I’ve been SO frustrated with clothing stores lately that I decided, rather than complain, I need to be proactive in this predicament.  Being a “free form” seamstress (meaning I don’t know how to use patterns), worked out well for Halloween costumes, but I’m ready to de-raw my talent!

Which means I need to find my step ladder and take my sewing machine down from the highest possible storage spot in my kitchen.  Apparently, I don’t iron much either…

Oh and then there’s the mini Nordstrom display on my dining room table!  I’m in desperate need of Tory Burch replacements (so cute, but kill my toes) and all of these bad boys were severely discounted during the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale.

I’m borderlining ridiculous here because I think I may keep them all even though I fully intended on returning one or two pairs.  The problem is I don’t love any of them and they are all comfortable and equally as OK.  And OK is the best I’ve experienced since I retired my Torys.  Decisions, decisions.