It's in the Bag!

I was tagged by the South Dakota cowgirl at Whoa My Horses! blog for a tag game called "What Purse are You Carrying Now?" Be still my heart....who created this? How fun!!

Here's the rules:

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are using today - not last weekend when you and your hubby went out to that fabulous restaurant. No cheating!!!
2. Tell us how much it cost. This is a no-judgment zone -- there will be no ridiculing or eye rolling here. And, if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I'd love to hear it.
3. Then tag some friends.

I also noticed that other purse taggers had been showing what is inside their purse, so I will participate in that as well.

As you might remember, I got this great animal print cowgirl purse from my parents for Christmas.


This purse has no "brand name" on it anywhere. It was also a gift, so I have no idea how much it was!

This bag is a lot smaller than what I typically carry. Amazingly, my handbag is rather clutter-free, but you wouldn't think that from looking at my dining room table or kitchen counter!

{wallet}
The first thing in my bag is a black nylon faux Prada wallet. Sorry I do not have a picture, but for some reason I couldn't get a decent one and it is a typical black wallet.

{blackberry}
Next up is my little red Blackberry curve. I got the BB last summer so that I could access my email quickly, and use the calendar feature so that I could be more organized.

I just noticed that you can see the reflection of my camera! A picture of My Boy is on the wallpaper screen, of course!


{planner}
Ironically, I am still addicted to using this little plan book from the dollar store and have yet to set up my BB calendar! Umm, yes, I have a hard time with change.


{notepad}
Here is a cute notepad and pen set which I got at Barnes and Noble. Just in case I see a cute cowboy and want to write down his number. Yea, right!

{make-up bag}
I got this in Palm Springs a couple of years ago and it has held up well.


Here is what inside this little black bag on any give day.....

{excedrin}
This is what I take 75% of the time I get a migraine and it usually works quickly.


{hand lotion}
I got this as a gift and love it, it makes my hands super soft and smells yummy, too!


{lip gloss}
My sister gave me a boxed gift set of like 15 lip glosses from Lancome for Christmas a few years ago, and this is the one I have been using the most, it's kind of basic and goes with everything.


{hand sanitizer}
This stuff is great for use after I pump gas, or before I eat at the mall...or anytime I feel I've touched something grubby and germy! But not my horse. Why is that? I never consider my horse grubby and germy, interestingly. Just humans!

{gloves}
Because it is winter, I can't be without gloves. Typically I have my favorite pair in my coat pocket, but this is just an extra little pair that I stash in my purse.

{bag balm}
This is my miracle goop! I get it at the co-op and have this small tin in my purse which I use for my lips. I also have a little tin in My Boy's tack tote to use for him. And a HUGE tin in my bathroom, which I use on my dry cracked fingers in the winter. It's heals them up quickly!


Other things floating around in the bottom of my handbag......

{zicam}
Whenever I feel like I'm getting the scratchy throat that accommodates a cold, I start popping these every 3-4 hours. I still get sick, but usually for a much shorter duration and I swear it keeps sinus infections at bay!


{mints}
I bought these while on vacation because I loved the tin! Look at the quote on the top: knock out stubborn breath. Even when I am done with these mints, I plan to just refill the tin and keep using it because it is so darn fun!

Even though this is "tag, you're it," I'm tired and don't feel like running (hee hee), so I'm not going to tag anyone specific. But if you want to play, please let us know in the comments so we can stop by your blog and check out your handbag!!

Somehow, this post ended up turning into more of what's in the handbag, rather than about the handbag itself! On that note, My Boy wanted to play! Last spring, I did a post about what is in my grooming tote bag last spring. I posted a link to it on my sidebar.

Happy Friday everyone!

p.s. No, I am not crooked, I don't know why all of the objects in my photos are tilting to the left! Says something about my photography, I think!

A Special Day

My birthday was a treat. Thank you all, for your sweet, sweet messages!

I got hugs and cards from the kids at school, phone and Facebook messages from friends and family, and even a birthday blog post (thanks mom!)

I also got chocolates.


And roses.


My friend gave me framed art, of sepia-toned western scenes.


My co-workers gave me an Amazon.com gift card! Oh, what shall I buy?


I went out to dinner with my dearest and oldest friend and we had pizza and root beer.


I got this award from my friend Meg over at Lucchese to Louis Vuitton.


I got the cutest horsey card from my cousin.


And this is her thoughtful message inside:


I highlighted the "kisses from your pony."

I didn't quite get kisses. Rather, I got the tongue.


But I did get to see my pony. Despite a lot of wind and some rain and a fairly cranky pony, the farrier came and My Boy got his shoe on.

My birthday has been the highlight of my week, and I still have celebrating to do this weekend, yeehaw!

So far, what has been the highlight of YOUR week?

Someone Is A Year Older Today!

Yep, someone had to change the age on their sidebar today.

If you want to see some really hilarious baby photos of this person, whose initials are "P.G.", you can check them out here.

Really though, check them out just to see that person's dad's rockin' 1070's hairdo!

So, who else has a February birthday out there??

A Scaredy Cat, A Squirrel, and A Lost Shoe!

The last few days of my visit at my folks' place was fun.

One afternoon while I was in the guest room at my laptop, reading blogs, Bogey the cat wandered in. He is not usually allowed in the guest room, but I let him hang out with me.

He made himself at home on the bed. He stretched out his legs and began to knead his claws on the faux fur throw. He was really workin' it here!

Then he heard the neighbor's dog barking, and perked up on high alert.

Then he ran out of the room in the flash of his tail!

That afternoon it was sunny, so my cousin T and I took her niece the "Pink Pirate Princess" for a bike ride. I took Rosie the dog along as she just loves to go for walks.

She spotted a squirrel in this tree. She even leaped several feet up the tree with all four legs a few times.....I thought she was about to start climbing!

Friday night, my mom, my aunt, her grand-daughter, and I went to the barn. I was their photographer using their cameras, so all of my pics will end up on their blogs! My mom rode her gelding Dusty and my auntie Cowgirl's Grace rode the Arabian gelding she leases, Albert. My mom showed me how she is working Dusty on leg yields at a trot, and my auntie showed me Albert's perfect slow western pleasure jog.

I was sad to leave. But it was time to head home and see my own spotted stinker!

But when I brought him out, this is what I discovered!

My stinker had lost a shoe! He has never done that. The farrier was booked for the day (at least what was left of the daylight, and we don't have outdoor lights) so we had to reschedule.

Since I couldn't work him on that tender hoof, My Boy got hand walked on the soft grass.....then got to eat some of it! He's doing a good job of keeping the back lawn mowed at the Painted Creek these days. Earning his keep, I guess.

After I put him away, I searched high and low for that dang lost shoe! Goodness, for over half an hour. I figured it got sucked out of a soft hoof (due to our recent warm and wet weather) and ended up somewhere in the muddy lower part of My Boy's pasture.

However, I could not find that steel puppy anywhere! Perhaps it got buried back over. I will check again next time. Oh well, at least I picked rocks as I went. I can't wait to get out there with the wheelbarrow once things dry up and pick up the rest of the rocks the winter mud has drudged up. I just hope my boy does not step on a nail from that shoe....all I need is for him to get a hoof abscess!

Was my shoe in here, Pony Girl?

It was a busy and fun week with family, horses, cats, dogs, and shopping!

Simple Sunday

I know that the costs of horsekeeping are skyrocketing.

However, I didn't know that people had resorted to....deerkeeping?

Although, I suppose those yearling fawns could have futures as hunter/jumpers?

Thrift Store Treasures

Anyone that knows me well knows that I love a good bargain. I think I learned this from my thrifty family. We like antiques, we like vintage things that have some character.

On Monday Paint Girl and I intended to do some thrift shopping, but because she was sick we postponed it for another day.

On my way home from the Painted Creek, I stopped in a local thrift shop. I did not find much, but I did spot this small wool blanket.

It has a roadrunner on it and I just love the color scheme- taupe, rich orange, browns, and red. Very earthy, like the colors of a desert sunset.

It was touted as a "wall hanging." Of course to me, it screamed saddle pad!

I carried it around trying to decide if I thought it might work as a saddle blanket. I finally asked the lady at the front counter if I could borrow a measuring tape. It's 30x36 so should be fine, it just can't be doubled and I will have to have a liner under it, of course.

The woman at the counter said it was a nice one, and tightly woven. Oh goodness, the poor thing would have had a coronary if she knew I was buying it to put on my hairy, little spotted horse!

Unfortunately, you won't be able to see the cool bird under the saddle. However, I do think these colors will look fabulous on my pony. I will give it a try this coming weekend and if it doesn't work.....well, I can always hang it on my wall!

My cousin and I, shopping in our comfy Twisted X boots!

Today, my cousin, Auntie "Cowgirl's Grace", my mom, and I hit the pavement in search of antique store treasures.

This saddle seat saddle was $150. I thought how fun, Paint Girl could ride that half-Arab of hers a little country pleasure!

I was on the search for vintage boots. Found these beat-up ones, bummer they weren't my size.

I love, love, love this kind of dishware. It has slipped my mind what you officially call this metal ware. Help me out! It's very rustic and ranch campy. I love the blue. It's not cheap, though!

You might remember my obsession with roses in blue green mason jars. This shop had quite the collection!

My Auntie found me this belt and I bought it for $14. It's tooled leather. I wouldn't wear it with jeans like this (it won't fit through belt loops, anyway) I am just modeling it. In fact, oh goodness, I might be wearing it upside down!?

I envision it over a tank top and a flowy skirt this summer. What I like about funky finds like this is that they are unique and nobody else will have one like it!

The back of the belt.

And these little crocheted cowboy booties were too adorable to pass up for a friend's baby shower gift. Her hubby is from Wyoming, they are having a little boy doing a vintage cowboy themed nursery. Before I leave town I'm going to show them to my grandmother, I imagine she could crochet or knit a pair of these fairly easily. If not, I may have to keep them for my own future 'lil cowpoke!

My mom laughed and tried to straighten up this guy's head for my picture but he insisted on laying sideways (maybe he had a headache?) Someday, I'd like to have a trophy head (is that what they're called?) in my house. Just one. Too many more than that and I get a little weirded out.

And for an early birthday present, I did buy myself this- a chunky cross necklace!

This one is great because the cross can easily be removed and put on a different chain or leather cord, so it is very versatile.

Last but not least, a little zebra. Of course! This little stool was actually topped in real zebra hide. I'd almost prefer faux, just in case it was obtained in a manner that involved poaching. But it was adorable! It didn't come home with me this time.

It was a whirlwind day, but fantastic fun. Besides, in a good pair of boots, I could shop all day!

What has been one of your favorite thrift/antique store finds?