Stefani Goes Designer

.

I don't know who was more excited about going shopping last night, me or Simon. He has always been the shopper of the family, into clothes, fashion, designer labels. Apparently a few years ago I mentioned that if I was ever going to care about owning designer anything, Vera Bradley was right up my alley, all colorful and quilty.

This is the year Simon decided I needed to step up my game., as he puts it He was going to buy me something that's part of their pink ribbon program which donates something to breast cancer research because he knew I'd like that. Then he decided I should pick out my own thing.

So last night we went to The Olive Garden for dinner first.

Holy crap, these Lasagna Frittas are good. Parmesan-breaded lasagna pieces, fried and served over Alfredo sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. I had manicotti, which was delish, but a little too much ricotta. I like a lower pasta to cheese ratio, if you catch my drift. But it was all good, including a chocolate dessert thing to freakin' die for.

Then it was over to Eastview Mall, Crabtree & Evelyn for the Vera Bradley shopping.

I chose the Little Betsy. There was another purse I liked the shape of a bit better because it was more unusual, but Little Betsy won because of all her interior pockets.

I couldn't find a good close-up of the design - but check it out. Is there any mystery as to why I chose this?? The only thing better would have been if it was a bit more lime green, than Kelly green. Still. It's Stefani all day long, don't you think?

Simon also insisted I buy a wallet of some sort. Confession: in my former purse, because I could never find a wallet small enough that worked, I kept my money and coupons in a snack size Zip-Loc bag. No one ever saw it - it functioned perfectly! So I upgraded to this Hope Garden Wristlet. Love the pocket for my cell phone. The other side has a window for one's driver's license. (When I've had a driver's license window before, I've usually inserted a photo of Simon instead but I realized last night that my most recent photos of Simon are from high school, 3 years ago. Guess I should take some new ones, huh?)

You'll be proud of me - I never once checked the price tags of this stuff. (Though I had been on the website, gathering a little pre-shopping intel.) Simon kept telling me to pick out whatever I wanted, saying to the clerk helping us, "It's my mom's birthday and she never buys anything for herself so I really want her to step up her game." The woman, a bit older than me perhaps, said several times, "Wow, we don't hear that from boys very often in here and never from girls! That's quite a son you have there."

She offered to wrap it in a gift bag with tissue and ribbon and as she was doing that, I felt sooo in the moment and how much I love Simon, that by the time she handed me the bag, wait for it . . . I had tears in my eyes. Yeah, I know, big fat surprise, right?

There was more to our shopping trip but I'll save that for the next post.

We came home to find these flowers from DJ. You haven't heard me mention him in a while but he is Steve's nephew who became Simon's best friend. He spent a ton of time with us during his high school years, practically lived with us for the summers. He and his former girlfriend had a baby last December. DJ moved in with us a few weeks ago. We love him. He left me this card with the flowers, which included an iTunes gift card.

C'mon, altogether now: I teared up at his thoughtfulness.

Yesterday I remembered to take a picture of the flowers Mom brought to my office on my birthday. (My phone takes remarkably good pictures, I'm always amazed.) When she gave me the card with the check enclosed . . . ha! No, I didn't cry! Fooled you! Okay, I did get a lump in my throat. Maybe if I hadn't been at work I would have teared up.

I don't know what's with me and the waterworks lately. (Lately??) That's just how I roll.

.