As I talked about previously, my one new irritation with Spirit Airlines is the carry-on policy.  I know that I talked about using a backpack, but when I checked out the backpack when I got home, I was concerned about the shape and my clothes staying somewhat nice while I am transporting from one airline to another.  I know I could also bring my mini-steamer that I raved about, but again it’s just excess space that I really don’t have.  To save you time looking up the size of the bag that must got underneath the seat in front of you, its 16X14X12 which is the strangest size ever.  But of course it gave me a reason to shop for my travels, so I decided to find a cute carry-on bag.

The adventure began at Target (because that’s where ALL my adventures begin) and unless I wanted to channel my youth and purchase a Strawberry Shortcake duffel, I knew I might be in some trouble…All the cute adult ones were too big, I didn’t want a sports gym bag, because what is the fun in that and everything else was for a four year old, so let’s just say I began to get disgruntled early on.  I went to Dillard’s, but considering the deal I got on the flights I just couldn’t get myself to spend the same amount on two different flights on a carry-on bag, yes I do travel to the Pea’s a lot and it would be of use for future, but it was the fact of the matter.

Which brings me to the big reveal…I can’t help it, but I am a closet Vera Bradley lover (particularly of the Mod Floral Pink persuasion).  I don’t know what it is about the quilted bags, but they fit EVERYTHING…and for some reason the quiltedness of the bag distributes the weight of the items in a way that it seems to be holding nothing at all!  I really really love these bags and in the Mod Floral Pink color, I really have gone into overkill…I have the Hipster, cosmetic bags, ID wallet, amongs a billion other things that I cannot recall right now, and the large backpack that I use for school, weekend getaways, and what I had planned to use for the North Carolina excursion with the Pea.  Not to mention the many items that I have in the Java Blue color (such as bowler bag and clutch).  Also in Symphony Hue I have the Mini Laptop Case, which the gentlemen suitor got for me and I positively love it.  It is quite possibly my favorite of the items not to mention one of my most favorite things that he got me…I told you I am not the jewelry girl, but more of the techie girl..and mooooore digression….It holds the mini laptop that Pea and I got for blogging when on our travels (not having to tote a big laptop has been fantastic and my back thanks me everyday), plus it has this small cushioned/zippered front which perfectly holds and protects my kindle wonderfully, so its two birds one stone and when I do check baggage, this is the only bag I need for a carry-on besides my purse….it makes traveling a cinch!

For some odd totally ridiculous don’t understand it at all reason,  these bags really haven’t caught on here in South Florida…However, if you travel to the Northeast, I would say at least 2 in every 5 girls of all ages has something on them that is Vera Bradley related…and this is why I will always be a Boston/Maine girl at heart…well amongst about a billion other things, like the Red Sox (hollah)…I swear I am getting back on track right now…

So I decided to see what they had available for carry on type pieces on the site.  Lucky for me, I stumbled across their Summer Sale (many of the items are on sale for 25%off), which also brought a tear to me in eye in that I saw they were retiring my beloved Mod Floral Pink, this however was bittersweet in that the fabric was also on sale, so that I could snatch up some items as well…and then my prayers were answered…one of the items although not listed through the color section was a small duffel bag….Hark! Are those angels singing? Again? You actually have to search the word small duffel bag in the vera bradley search engine.   They have a large variety with the newer colors and the normal prices of the bags and the second section of colors are the ones on sale…If you are just looking for bag and do not care about the colors or patterns, you can click around since some of the older patterns are less than others…I was lucky to spot the Mod Floral Pink small duffel bag for a fetching price of $45…although I was looking to spend less, it was considerably less than the ones I liked at Dillards, I would definitely be using it again and helllooooo….I totally have the matching set now and if that is not a me thing, I do not know what is!  Oh not to mention it’s not a black nylon gym bag with no feminine appeal whatsoever…into the virtual shopping car it went…sold!

The size of the bag is 18¾” x 8¼” x 8½” –15″ strap drop, which I believe is in the means (again, terrible at math), but I figure it’s a quilted bag and like hell it is not going to fit…trust me it will and by any means necessary…even if I have to put my sweater over it and cover the parts that are sticking out…yes that’s my trick and don’t let it get out!

I will post pictures of the bag and what it looks like packed, so you can get an idea of what it looks like once packed…and then I will also post pictures of what it looks like once under the actual seat…until then, cross your fingers for me!

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