52 Pick-me-up: Rust / Impasse

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I could go on and on about All the Things breaking down. The car's console (I either have blasting AC or nothing). The iMac (thank goodness I did a backup hours before it died and I have a laptop to work on). The Great Tree Massacre at work, causing a lack of shade for my lunch in the car.

Is it the universe telling me to stop and consider a different route? Or is it simply things going wonky?

Let's ignore all that and proceed to my autumn leaves outfit accessorized with my Soul Carrier cowhide clutch with rust-colored accents.

Can't fit much in there. Maybe that's a good thing.

Ah. I feel MUCH better.
I got the clutch through a Kickstarter. I was sent a pitch to help get the word out, which I neglected to do. (Oops). Jenn recently wrote that she has a few of these clutches left in inventory ($175). There are also two leather tote styles are available for pre-order on her website, soulcarrier.com that are quite handsome.

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday [later today]
and Fun Fashion Friday on Fashion Should Be Fun

I'm probably in denial about my Impasses.
How about you?
Rust / Impasse, link and tell!

iSpy Product Review: the Wrapurse Handbag Protector

"What's living on the bottom of your purse?"
This provocative question opens the splash page of Cyndie Heap's website for her invention, the Wrapurse.
She goes on to say, "I’m a single mom of two very active and athletic boys. I’ve sat on bleachers, benches and fields cheering on my kids’ teams. Generally I have my purse with me. I won’t leave it in the car, but who wants to hold it in their lap the entire time? So…I put it down. Right on the bleacher...
Later that day, I found a sticky, dirty, chewed-up piece of bubble gum stuck to the bottom of my Coach bag. I was so mad. As I tried to scrape it off, I started thinking…I could see the gum…what else was on there that I COULDN’T SEE??? After ruining several expensive bags with mud, rust and unknown sticky gooey stuff stuck to the bottom­–not to mention all those gross germs–I thought, “There has to be something to protect my beloved bag???”
Right???
WRONG. With that, Wrapurse was born."

I thought this was a very interesting concept and asked for a sample to give it a try.
The wrapurse arrived nicely wrapped in tissue.

Cyndie sent me a black Medium 5 x 19" one. It came in a compact 4.5 x 5.5" pouch with a snap closure.

I don't own any high-end purses, but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned about where I'm setting down the ones that I have! 

I first tried the Wrapurse on my sparkly black soft bag:

It was a little bit large (the base of my bag is 4 x 10") and I tucked the poking out ends into an inverted pleat. I then looked for a gross environment to place it in, and went to our sad desiccated back yard which is a bunch of dirt with a few resilient weeds.

The purse stayed clean!

Next, I tried my "tape measure" bag from G.O.D., Hong Kong
(Base is 5 x 6")

I tried to get Lou interested, but he would have none of it.

He thought the catnip stash in the closet was WAY more compelling.

I should have left the Wrapurse on the bag -- later on, Severo and I went out to hear some favorite bands play at Molly Malone's. I could have used it for my butt! I sat down on the carpeted bench seating ringing the club. Drinks had been spilled so it was all wet (and it was too dark to tell beforehand). Gross!

Cyndie is currently running an Indiegogo campaign [until 9/9/2015] to help raise production funds.
Go check it out and make a pledge -- I did!
Wrapurses can also be ordered on the website, for instant gratification.
They come in black [midnight], chestnut, or merlot, in a variety of sizes, and retail for $17-$23 depending upon size.

Full disclosure: I was sent a free Wrapurse for review. 
All verbiage is mine (except for the italicized quotes at top), not vetted by Wrapurse.

52 Pick-me-up: Holiday Ornaments and Mixed Metals

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED/ 

Merry Christmas to everyone that celebrates!
To everyone else, it's Wednesday, and the 52 Pick-me-up Show goes on.
This week, GET SHINY!
Nothing shiny in your closet? How about accessories? Or look around the house -- your kitchen is FULL of shiny objects! Or steal something from the Christmas tree. Or your goofy New Year's Eve hat (which you can also share on Style Crone's January Hat Attack). Or find some glitter and dump it on yourself. I authorize you to get creative and/or silly!

I will keep the linky up an extra week, so you won't have to fake your New Year's look. Aren't I generous? [No sketch decided until 1/7/14]. Multiple links encouraged. Instagrams, Twitter pix, (hashtag #52pickmeupstyle) -- have at it.

I wore this shiny ensemble to my department luncheon last week (that's called planning ahead):

Wait. You MUST see a close-up of the purse:

I purchased it for $5 at Pic N Save (RIP). Don't you love the ball on the zipper pull? There used to be two, but one of the cats chewed the other one off.
Probably Chuey. He has that name for a reason!

"Who, me? I'm innocent!"

Come on everyone, get your shiny on!