poolside

Poolside Lori straw tote review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged beach / handbag reviews / investment dressing / poolside / totes by

pictured: Poolside Lori tote bag (customize the embroidery) /

I am not sure how I failed to review my beloved Poolside Lori tote back when I purchased it six years ago! Thankfully I have realized my mistake and am reviewing it now!

You read that right, I purchased this tote six years ago and it still looks fresh and new! The photo at the very bottom was taken in 2019, and the photo above was taken last month. As you can see, the tote still looks fabulous. This is a nod to the high quality of Poolside bags. You know I love a high-quality handbag! This is exactly that! Love!

Straw totes and straw handbags are always hot in the summer months. It makes sense to invest in one you can keep and use year after year. This way, you won’t find yourself purchasing a one season handbag every year. In the long run, investing in a good straw tote will save you money and time. The quality of the Poolside Lori tote is impeccable. The lining is strong and there is a drawstring for securing what’s inside your bag. It is made of a thick linen which can withstand daily use as well as beach days. Since I tend to bring my straw tote to the beach, I have had a lot of sand and sun touching my bag. It is easy to shake out and return to daily use in the city. Love that!

My Poolside Lori tote can fit a lot of essentials. As you can see, even with my wallet, phone, lipstick, keys, sunblock, and a book, there is plenty of room for snacks and other items. This is a nice, roomy tote; perfect for beach days, travel, and more.

The fun part? You can customize your tote bag! Mine says “Jet Set,” but you can have anything you want embroidered on the bag. You can put your name, your initials, or a cute phrase. The color of the embroidery is your choice too!

So, overall, I rate my Poolside Lori tote five out of five stars. Love!

Shop Poolside totes and handbags I love:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

straw bags summer 2019

Pigeon Point Lighthouse with the family

 in General Fashion  tagged family / lifestyle / poolside / staycation by

pigeon point lighthouse

Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse built in 1971 along the coast just south of Pescadero. It’s a fun, historical monument to visit after a hike, or a beach day, in San Mateo County. This historical monument also includes a youth hostel which was established in the 1960’s. It’s a nice diversion off highway 1 where you can explore local history, and enjoy our beautiful coastline.

We took a walk on the grounds of the lighthouse on our way home from a beach day along the coast, and also read the placards which are set up around the property in order to learn more about the lighthouse. It’s always nice to learn local history!

There is a cute little pathway along the coastline, and the cliff, by the lighthouse, which offers a nice and peaceful walk along the grounds. We had fun walking on it and snapping some family photos.

If you are looking for something to do as our local lock-down continues, this is something you can explore! You can combine Pigeon Point Lighthouse with an easy hike, and also learn about local history while enjoy our beautiful coastline.

It’s too bad the lighthouse isn’t in operation anymore. It looks like it would have been pretty to see lit up. Parts of the grounds were being fixed up when we visited, but we were still able to enjoy the area and see the buildings close up. I highly recommend stopping by if you are local to the Bay Area. If you are not local, and are planning a trip to the Bay Area coastline, be sure to add a quick visit to Pigeon Point Lighthouse to your itinerary!

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your trip!

XOXO

Cathy

Summer 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged capsule wardrobe / chloe / frame denim / handbag capsule / mansur gavriel / poolside / rebecca minkoff / summer 2020 by

handbag capsule wardrobe summer 2020

Summer 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe from left: yellow tote bag / straw tote bag (you can customize the message on the tote for under $250!) / black and red bucket bag / metallic Chloe mini bag / soft and large clutch / red baguette /

A bag for every occasion! My summer 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe touches on the practical handbag trends of the season; not the huge over-sized bag trend. I will be skipping that one.

Summer 2020 has a lot of handbag trends. This hot weather season we are looking at huge, over-sized bags, bright colors, ’90’s baguette’s, mini bags, hobo bags, straw or natural fiber bags, large and soft “pouch” clutches, and the return of the bucket bag. This summer 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe reflects the best of these trends.

Did you invest in a Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag six years ago? If not, this is the time to grab one! It went from being an affordable IT bag, to a classic, must-have IT bag. It is part of the classic handbag capsule wardrobe along with the LV Neverful, and the 2.55 Chanel shoulder bag. The black with red “flamma” interior is the ultimate classic from the collection, but any color that moves you will do. I plan on using my Mansur Gavriel bucket bag as my everyday bag this summer. It feels good to bring it back into the rotation. It’s a strong and sturdy bag; which happens to have IT status as well as hitting the bucket bag trend this summer. Love that!

This straw tote bag is a summer staple. I bought it last year, and it’s proving to be a summer must-have. While the message on it was perfect last summer, I won’t be jet setting anywhere this summer due to the pandemic. It will still be fun to tote it around though! You can put any message on there you want on the bag, in any color you choose! You can check it out online here.

I am loving this little yellow tote, and this red baguette, for everyday wear this summer. They both reflect the pop of color trend; and the baguette reflects the ’90’s baguette trend. They are both practical and fun. Love!

Of course the puffy, soft and slouchy clutch is not a hands-free bag, but it is perfect for looking on trend and fitting a ton of things! It’s bigger than it looks! This adds a little bit of practicality to it. Wouldn’t you agree? I love it for dining out at an outdoor restaurant this summer. I have already worn it quite a bit this spring, so I am sure I will wear it lot this summer too!

Of course my little Chloe is my summer evening bag. While mini bags and metallic bags are hot for daytime too, I have found it works best for me at night. It is great for dinner and going out in the evenings. Love!

Shop my summer 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe online:

I hope this handbag capsule wardrobe helps you pull the best handbags together for summer!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy