Okay, so I finally did it. Went through my old Vera Bradley handbags. It felt like a whole project, honestly.
For years, they just piled up. You know how it is. You get one, then another, maybe a gift, maybe you saw a pattern you just had to have. Then suddenly you look in the closet, and there’s this big, squishy mountain of floral fabric staring back at you.
Getting Started
First thing, I just pulled them all out. Every last one. From the top shelf, the back of the closet, that storage bin under the bed. Laid them all out on the floor. It was… a lot. More than I thought.
Seeing them all together like that, it was kinda funny. So many different patterns, different shapes. Some I used constantly, others maybe once or twice.
The Sorting Hat Moment
Then came the hard part. Deciding. I had to be honest with myself. Which ones did I actually still like? Which ones were just taking up space? Which ones were, let’s be real, looking a bit tired?
I made three piles:
- Keep: Only a couple made this pile. The ones I genuinely still use or have a real soft spot for. Maybe one classic tote, you know?
- Donate: This was the biggest pile. Bags that were still in good shape, clean, perfectly usable for someone else. Just not for me anymore.
- Maybe Toss?: A very small pile. Ones that were really worn, stained, maybe a broken zipper. Stuff that probably wasn’t worth donating.
Cleaning Up
For the donate pile, I gave them a quick check. Wiped them down if they were dusty. Made sure they were empty – found an old lip balm in one, ha! Wanted them to be decent for whoever gets them next.
The ‘maybe toss’ ones… yeah, I looked them over again. One I managed to clean up enough for the donate pile, but a couple were just past it. Snip snip with the fabric maybe for crafts? Nah, just let ’em go.
Bagging and Boxing
Packed the ‘donate’ bags into a big box. Felt good, like they were off to a new adventure somewhere else. The few ‘keep’ ones? Found them a proper spot, not just shoved in the back anymore.
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t exactly rocket science, retiring those bags. But it was something I’d put off for ages. Felt good to finally tackle it. The closet looks better, feels lighter. It’s weirdly satisfying, clearing out stuff you don’t need anymore. Makes space. Not just in the closet, you know? A little bit in your head too. Done and dusted.
