27 and Counting...

On Monday I turned 27, which means I am now in my late twenties...I think I am okay with that. I feel very grown-up, actually, so it's probably a good year to graduate from law school. To celebrate, my husband and I went out to dinner at Supper, conveniently located a block away from our place. Prior to heading out, we took advantage of a new outfit, bag and the good lighting and took some photos.

I assure you, my chihuahua does not normally spend him time outdoors being carried in a bag. He is much more of a 'paws on the ground wreaking havoc' kind of guy. He just happened to fit in the bag, the first of my purses he could actually ride in, so it's more of a joke than a daily occurrence.

The bag is a 'vegan leather' carry-all by Shiraleah. I found it randomly at a small shop that we went to just to pick up chocolates and cut-flowers. It works perfectly as an alternative to my regular school bag, fitting my lap top and large legal tomes. Because it is a polyurethane blend, rain simply beads off of it, unlike leather, which would be devastated by Philly's inclement weather. There were several more neutral colors available, however, as I tend to gravitate towards a neutral palette in my outfits, I opted for the bright raspberry shade and it has been a fantastic offset the blacks, grays and browns that I don almost daily.

As for dinner, it was a tasty mix of small plates enjoyed in the company of our hilarious neighbor, who reminds me of my mom in best of ways. Had I not been 3 sheets to the wind, I might have remembered to take photos of the food or bugged my husband to do so for me, but as it was two cocktails later I was too giddy to be bothered with the details. All in all a fine birthday.

Matt & Nat

I have a lot of love for animals and for brands that manage to make products without hurting animals; I also own leather shoes and handbags and find that many cruelty-free brands make items that are horrifically ugly.  It seems paradoxical, I know, so when I find a company that manages to make gorgeous pieces, thus allowing me to feel both aesthetically satisfied and ethically virtuous I am a happy girl: enter Matt & Nat.  Their innovative materials and both classic and edgy designs will satisfy many different palettes and cater to people who are looking to save the wolves, as well as those simply looking to find the perfect bag for their outfit.  My personal collection of items includes this lovely (source: Matt & Nat): 

It goes with so many different types of outfits, holds a million items and gets lots of compliments.  On my light class days, I will throw my laptop right in the bag along with one casebook and avoid having to lug my backpack to school.  

My only concern?  This vegan leather 'Japanese Paper' bag is not the most durable of materials when facing the elements.  I was unexpectedly caught in a downpour and my mini umbrella did little to protect my bag from the forceful showers of Mother Nature.  After that, I noticed some wearing on the side exposed to the rain.  As it is not a practice of mine to make my handbags endure inclement weather, this will hopefully be the only extreme exposure that it suffers.  Overall, this bag in particular and the brand in general are definitely worth perusing.