Yes, this is 2013.  So 98 Degrees has a new song called "Let Go of My Heart"... and at first I thought, "Hmm this is why the boy band era died..." (Correction: temporarily rested) But I have a feeling in a week, I'll be obsessed.  Do you like it? 

This is my absolute most favorite place in the whole world. 

Asheville, NC, is a BEAUTIFUL city and only about a 6.5 hour drive! Perfect for a long weekend (like, say, Memorial weekend?).  My best friend lives there, so I took my dog and escaped for a few days!

Asheville is quite the hippy/artsy town, so you'll always get a dose of inspiration just when you need it!

My favorite part - The Jam Man! Okay I don't know his real name, but outside my favorite restaurant (Early Girl Eatery), there's a guy selling locally made jam and apple butter.  I always have to stock up on so much apple butter, I could probably bathe in it daily without running out. (Or maybe that's an exaggeration.)

Where are YOU from?  Looks like Tuscaloosa has visited a few times!

So pretty.....

"It's not that it goes too fast, it's just that it goes at all..." Until next time, Asheville. *sigh*

Where's your favorite place to go for a quick weekend trip? Tweet me some ideas for Memorial Day! @KaciKruz

BACKSTORY: About a year ago, I saw this beautiful Michael Kors bag at TJ Maxx. And when I say beautiful, I mean it was the PERFECT bag. Big enough to hold all my stuff (because I can't go anywhere without 3 magazines and a book), but small enough to be easily carried. And it's neutral, so it could be used with any outfit and dressed up with a fun scarf on the handle. 

**Behold, the Perfect Bag**

See? Beautiful.  Unfortunately, my checking account was screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" so I passed it up.

I've regretted it every day since.

Literally, once a week (at least!) since then, I've stopped by TJ Maxx to see if they got it back. I even tried to distract myself with the Coach Factory store, but nothing in the past 43 weeks has compared. Nothing.  The purse section keeps pulling me in, alluring me with fresh new bags that are almost as good... but not quite as heart-stopping. I leave with a twinge of sadness every time.

And then yesterday.................... I saw it. There it was, outshining every other bag like it's been waiting for me this whole time.  I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!  I ran over to it and snatched it off the shelf, smelled the intoxicating leather, ran my finger across the zipper, held it close to my body... I really had my way with the bag!  I carried it all around the store, updating it on the past almost year of my life like we'd been best friends forever.

But then something strange happened... I put it on hold.  I didn't buy it. I began to realize it's not the Great Love I lost at the Greenville, SC TJ Maxx all those months ago. It was a different color than the original, and a lot bigger.

The Bag... next to my current little one.

Be honest - is this obnoxiously big?

Should I buy it??? It's on hold for me until close today, HELP!  Comment or tweet me @KaciKruz.