Grab Bags

This is another trip-prep post, and this time it's about travel bags.

Due to the high-risk of pickpockets in Italy, I knew my normal one shoulder purses would not be ideal for our vacation and that I would need to search for a crossover bag. I also brought up the idea to Dave that he might also want to invest in a bag or satchel of sorts as well, to which he just scoffed at first. However, after enough of Dave's coworkers and clients told him tales of pocket slicing and wallet stealing from their European travels, specifically in Rome, he was finally convinced that a "man bag", a "murse" or whatever you call it, might also be a good investment for him. As long as it wasn't called a "fanny pack" I think I could convince him to wear it (which by the way, we found out they still sell under the more modern name "lumbar packs"...lol)

I plan to use my camera bag as my purse for day-to-day tourist activities, and I think it will work nicely. It is a Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home Photo Bag, in a limited edition olive green/orange color combo. It closes both with very strong velcro & a clasp, fits my DSLR camera body, regular lens, zoom lens and still has a secure pocket or two for personal items, cash, etc.

It looks like this:

But I really wanted to bring one more slimmer bag to wear to dinner, for when we are casually strolling sans the big ol' DSLR and may be just carrying a point-and-shoot, if that.

So this weekend we both went shopping and I found a cute, yet practical bag at Macy's on sale for 25% off that I had previously scoped out on Zappos, but believe it or not with the sale it was cheaper at Macy's than at Zappos, even with our sky-high sales tax. I got the Franco Sarto Big Top Crossbody bag in "Golden", which is a mustard color, and it comes complete with a mini coin purse and tiny travel umbrella. All for $48 total on sale after tax.

I really like the look and the size:

It actually looks a little larger on this mannequin then it does on me in real-life, but maybe that's because of the size two "model":

And the cute polka dot pattern inside:

That matches the polka dot pattern of the cute umbrella:

I like that it zips and crosses my body and I think I'll also get use out of it back in the states when going to summer festivals, concerts, etc. Also, I probably could have gone more practical and picked the black or beige color they had at the store, but then again I always enjoy adding a pop of color with my accessories. In fact, I just realized that I don't think I even own a black purse, which seems crazy and that it should be a staple for most women. Oh well :-)

Dave on the other hand, wanted his man bag to be as dull, masculine and understated as you could imagine, so BLACK it is! Men's bags were very hard to come by when we were out and about. Macy's was a bust, and here in Chicago That's Our Bag had the best selection for guys. He tried on a few there, mostly Timbuk2 small messenger styles, but he didn't fall in love with any. So back home and back to Zappos it was for him!

We ordered two online for him to try, and will just return the one he doesn't choose. He went for the Patagonia Single Shot '09:

And this security-feature-rich Pacsafe Metrosafe 200 bag:

We'll see which he likes best.

And best of all... we are only 2 weeks away from our trip!

Our New Camera

It's been a month since my big Kentucky Derby win and I decided to put my winnings to good use by finally ordering our new DSLR camera online!

I settled on a Pentax K200D SLR Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens and purchased it online from B&H Photo with no tax and free shipping!

I did a lot of comparison shopping and comparative research, and ultimately settled on the Pentax because:

a). I've owned a Pentax point-and-shoot in the past and it lasted me 6 years with amazing quality photos, I have yet to find a comparable replacement.

b). It's equipped with Pentax's Shake Reduction mechanism, which reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images.

c). It's body is sturdier than most I compared it to, with dust-proof, water-resistant construction.

d). This Pentax will accept ANY Pentax lens ever made, even from decades past. No, I don't own old Pentax lenses right now, but I like that I have the option to find many interchangeable and affordable lenses in the future, new or used, that will extend the life of my camera body, hence making it less likely to become obsolete to me.

The best news is that it is supposed to me delivered TOMORROW. I can't wait to open it up and try it out this weekend. I know I have a lot to learn but it will be a fun process.

I'll be sure to start posting many more photos very soon!

'Mine That Bird' is buying me a Camera!

I have had just about the luckiest year in sports that a girl can ask for. So far in 2009, I won our office "Super Bowl Squares" Pool, I won our office NCAA March Madness Pool and then to top it off I just won big this weekend at the Kentucky Derby!

My coworker, Emily, goes to the Derby each year, and on Friday on her way to catch her flight she asked if anyone wanted to give her money to bet on a horse. My coworker T gave her a $20 bill and I handed her a $10 and that was that. She instructed us that we could review the horses on Saturday morning and text her our picks. Well, when the horses were announced, she texted me to tell me that there was a horse called "Mine That Bird" that she was going to bet on for me, being that I am a tiny bit obsessed with birds. I wrote her back and said, "Perfect!"

WOW! It was perfect indeed! A minor obsession of mine really paid off big. 50/1 big! (And, man I should have given her a $20!) Talk about a major ROI in this crappy economy.

So thanks to Mine That Bird, I had a nice chunk of cash sitting on my desk this morning when I arrived at work. And that unexpected cash payout is going to go towards a new DSLR camera! (heck, it will almost cover the whole thing!)

I seriously feel so lucky to even be posting about this right now, and am happy that I will hopefully be able to learn to use my soon-to-camera before our trip to Italy!

I have been following some blogs, doing some research on my own and also asked two of my photog friends their advice for an amateur like moi, and have all but settled on a Canon Rebel XSi. But I could be talked into another model/brand if anyone wants to steer me in another direction. For instance, I had really good experience with a Pentax digital point-and-shoot in the past; does anyone have experience with Pentax DSLR's?

Also, where is the best and most reputable place on the net to find a camera? I'd love the advice of any owners out there!