Charlie Tamara Piper

I'm back from a long break with my latest post all about backpacks! I made the switch from shoulder bags to backpacks a few years ago and have been in love ever since. I love being completely hands-free and my shoulders don't hurt in the way they used to when I lugged around a shoulder bag.  There are a ton of great backpack options on the market these days as backpacks have gone from school kid style to working professional chic. Here are my fave four backpacks for carrying my items in style no matter where I'm going: My floral Eldi backpack by Vince Camuto is my newest addition to my backpack collection but it's earned a spot in the favorites already. It's the largest one that I own but it still manages to retain a slim enough profile to not be too overwhelming. It's got plenty of storage pockets and even a zipped back pocket for storing a laptop or iPad. Plus, the design is colorful and playful enough to make it a really fun accessory on top...

Summertime is in full effect and we're all thinking about adding to or refining our sunglasses collections. Protecting our eyes is important all year long - sunlight can damage our skin and vision over time, so while this is the time of year that we think about picking up a new pair of shades we should be in the practice of wearing them every day.  I've started to experience light sensitivity which is a first sign that I need to do better about wearing my sunglasses. And hitting up a few favorite stores can give me a fantastic designer sunglass collection at a fraction of the cost.  The lead photo shows you all 10 of my sunglasses. I'll share each pair in more detail and provide links to purchase them if I can find them (I've owned a few long enough that I'm not sure if they are still being manufactured or sold.) But first, here are my favorite tips for buying sunglasses: Shopping Tips and Tricks: Save money by buying cheaper versions of tre...