{"id":233,"date":"2010-03-02T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2010-03-02T00:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raebelle.wordpress.com\/?p=233"},"modified":"2010-04-04T22:26:50","modified_gmt":"2010-04-05T03:26:50","slug":"taking-a-chance-on-be-pewter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.raebelle.com\/blog\/2010\/03\/02\/taking-a-chance-on-be-pewter\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking a Chance on BE ….. Pewter"},"content":{"rendered":"

“If you change your mind, I’m the first in line.\u00c2\u00a0 Honey I’m still free.\u00c2\u00a0 Take a chance on me”
\nThose great opening lyrics from ABBA came to mind when I took a chance and ordered the Pewter Rock Me Midi from the BE 3 day sale in January 2010.\u00c2\u00a0 Frankly, Pewter scares me.\u00c2\u00a0 It looks so blingy and bright.\u00c2\u00a0 How is it going to work in my wardrobe?\u00c2\u00a0 Rather than completely freaking out and running away, I took advice from some great ladies on twitter (MommyMentor<\/a>, Moonfancy<\/a> and of course JackieCawthra<\/a>).\u00c2\u00a0 I’m taking a chance on BE … Pewter!<\/p>\n

Jackie said that it takes a week or so of use for the shine to wear in and softens up.\u00c2\u00a0 This post is a diary of 13 days of using the bag. The pictures are thumbnails, click on them for a full size version.<\/p>\n

Thanks to all the snow the Mid Atlantic of the United States received in the beginning of February (Snowmageddon), my Rock Me Midi was delayed arriving.\u00c2\u00a0 I was getting impatient to receive the bag, but knew that it was no one’s fault and I’d get it soon enough.<\/p>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 1<\/strong>
\nMy Pewter Rock Me Midi arrived today.\u00c2\u00a0 Holy Moly is the pewter bright & blingy!\u00c2\u00a0 What on earth was I thinking?!\u00c2\u00a0 Can really carry something that attracts this much attention?<\/p>\n

Refocus.\u00c2\u00a0 Everyone said that I can pull this off.\u00c2\u00a0 I just need to try it out.\u00c2\u00a0 So I fill the new bag up with my items and snap a few pictures.\u00c2\u00a0 Now that I’m looking at the pictures, it really doesn’t look that bad.\u00c2\u00a0 I can totally do this.\u00c2\u00a0 Major plus, the Rock Me Midi comfortably holds all my stuff!<\/p>\n

Without Flash
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With Flash
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A close up of the tags
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…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 2<\/strong>
\nToday in the filtered sunlight the pewter isn’t quite so shocking and rather pretty.\u00c2\u00a0 In the direct sunlight it looks more silver than I’ve seen before.\u00c2\u00a0 So maybe my first step is to avoid direct sunlight.<\/p>\n

My husband surprised me with a trip to the mall to get a new iPod Touch.\u00c2\u00a0 I took my Pewter Rock Me Midi with me.\u00c2\u00a0 With my leather winter coat on, the Midi doesn’t comfortably fit on my shoulder.\u00c2\u00a0 Wonderfully the midi came with a messenger strap.\u00c2\u00a0 I was able to carry the bag on my shoulder with the strap and it worked great!\u00c2\u00a0 Wonderfully I didn’t feel like people were staring at me like “look at the freak with the shiny bag”.\u00c2\u00a0 Rather the looks my bag received were appreciative like “nice bag!”\u00c2\u00a0 This really helped me feel a little better about the pewter.<\/p>\n

A plus, my new iPod Touch matches my bag.\u00c2\u00a0 It has a purple case \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 3<\/strong>
\nI’m starting to appreciate the shimmer to the leather.\u00c2\u00a0 It looks really pretty in many lights.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m still a bit shocked by the intensity of the leather in direct sunlight.\u00c2\u00a0 But in the filtered sunlight or indoor lighting it’s not as bad.<\/p>\n

Direct Sunlight
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Filtered Sunlight
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Natural Light
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…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 4<\/strong>
\nI’m getting more accustomed to the pewter, though it still shocks me quite a bit.\u00c2\u00a0 Tonight while I was watching hockey, I saw the fairy lights reflecting on the bag and was stunned by it’s beauty.\u00c2\u00a0 All of the colours reflected on it, but it wasn’t pure reflection.\u00c2\u00a0 The leather took the colours and made them it’s own.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a stunning effect, and sadly impossible to accurately capture with my camera.<\/p>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 5<\/strong>
\nA full day planned today and my Pewter Rock Me Midi is going to be by my side for most of the day.<\/p>\n

Up first, lunch!\u00c2\u00a0 My husband and I went to one of our favorite restaurants, Fennici’s of Hershey<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Since Italian food can sometimes get a little messy, I covered by bag with my leather jacket.\u00c2\u00a0 I highly doubt marinara matches well with pewter leather, and I’d rather not learn.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch was very filling and delicious (as it always is at Fennici’s) and neither my Rock Me Midi or leather jacket met marinara.<\/p>\n

Next, a very short drive over to Zoo America<\/a>. Zoo America features animals found in North America, so no tigers or monkeys here.\u00c2\u00a0 The Rock Me Midi with the messenger strap (worn on my shoulder) was great for walking around the zoo and carrying everything I needed, including my camera so I could grab some great pictures.\u00c2\u00a0 Visiting the zoo in the winter is such an experience.\u00c2\u00a0 A lot of the animals are more active in the winter, which does make for a more enjoyable time.\u00c2\u00a0 On this trip I saw a prairie dog alerting it’s colony to a predator, a hawk.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve never heard a prairie dog issue a danger alert before.\u00c2\u00a0 It was rather fascinating.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m happy to report that after the alert, all of the prairie dogs hid and the hawk didn’t make off with any!<\/p>\n

After a lovely time at Zoo America, we were off to the Hershey Lodge<\/a> to check into our hotel room for the night.\u00c2\u00a0 We live near Hershey, but it’s always fun to have a night away from home.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a very Belen Echandia trip!\u00c2\u00a0 I fit everything we needed for the weekend in my wonderful Port Take Me Away Weekender.\u00c2\u00a0 I had to snap a picture of my bags together.\u00c2\u00a0 The pewter is starting to grow on me.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s looking a bit more muted now.<\/p>\n

With Flash
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Without Flash
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Our last big adventure of the day was a trip to the Hershey Bears<\/a> vs the Lake Erie Monsters game.\u00c2\u00a0 My Pewter Rock Me Midi got to spend that part back at the hotel room.\u00c2\u00a0 New bag and nachos are not a combo I want to risk.\u00c2\u00a0 I emptied the Rock Me Midi out and transferred everything to my Hershey Bears bag.\u00c2\u00a0 The Bears game was unbelievably fun and I’m very glad I didn’t have my Rock Me Midi with me.\u00c2\u00a0 The nacho cheese was very messy!<\/p>\n

After the Bears game (they won!) we went back to the Hershey Lodge to grab a little dinner at the Forebay.\u00c2\u00a0 Dinner was excellent and I was able to catch a little Olympic hockey on the TV at the bar.\u00c2\u00a0 While I was without my Rock Me Midi, I had my Red Glossy Protect Me was safely tucked into my bag all night to keep a little BE with me.<\/p>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 6<\/strong>
\nThe Pewter really isn’t scaring me as much today.\u00c2\u00a0 I didn’t feel out of place yesterday and this morning the shine didn’t shock me as much.\u00c2\u00a0 This is great!<\/p>\n

I switch everything back to the Rock Me Midi, which is really a great size.\u00c2\u00a0 I have some extra room so it drapes nicely, but it’s also so easy to find everything in the bag.\u00c2\u00a0 And we’re off to check out and grab some breakfast.\u00c2\u00a0 In the lobby I spot some of the Hershey characters.\u00c2\u00a0 I wish I had the courage to have my picture taken with the Hershey Kiss.\u00c2\u00a0 It would have gone so lovely with the pewter!\u00c2\u00a0 Another time perhaps.<\/p>\n

As we were getting into the car to head home, I spilled hot chocolate.\u00c2\u00a0 My coat took the hit of hot chocolate, and my bag was saved.\u00c2\u00a0 I do know that some Belen Echandia leathers stand up quite nicely to hot chocolate, but I’d rather not test out the pewter.<\/p>\n

I noticed today that the messenger strap is starting to mold nicely to my shoulder.\u00c2\u00a0 Since it looks like it will be chilly here for quite a while, it’s lovely to see this happening.\u00c2\u00a0 It makes carrying the bag on my shoulder that much more comfortable<\/p>\n

After we get home, I settle my Rock Me Midi beside me for a long day of cupcakes and hockey (3 of each).\u00c2\u00a0 It makes quite a pleasant companion and I do find myself looking over to admire it.\u00c2\u00a0 YAY!<\/p>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Days 7 – 11<\/strong>
\nI’m still using my bag every day.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m really getting used to the leather.\u00c2\u00a0 I haven’t found that it clashes with anything I’ve worn it with yet, including my newly highlighted hair.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately with the snow and feeling sick I haven’t been able to get out as much as I’d like with my lovely bag.<\/p>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 12<\/strong>
\nToday was a busy day of chores and my Pewter Rock Me Midi was by my side all day.<\/p>\n

We had to make a trip to the Post Office, where I had all of the paperwork I needed in my Rock Me Midi.\u00c2\u00a0 This was super handy as I was also carrying 3 packages to mail.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately the post office was so crazy busy, it was almost scary.\u00c2\u00a0 We decided to come back later.<\/p>\n

Off to the local ice arena to sign up for some lessons.\u00c2\u00a0 The pewter did look nice with all of the shiny skate blades, though I think next time I go I’m leaving this bag at home.\u00c2\u00a0 It looked much too dangerous for a lovely bag like this.<\/p>\n

Next up was a lunch, it’s becoming habit for me to cover up my bag with my jacket when there is a food danger around.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t want anything to happen to one of my beautiful Belen Echandia bags.<\/p>\n

After a very filling lunch of eggplant parmigiana, we went to Dicks Sporting Goods so I could buy a tool to help me lace skates.\u00c2\u00a0 Last time I tried to lace my skates, my fingers hurt for days.\u00c2\u00a0 This small, inexpensive tool will save my fingers and help ensure a good fit.\u00c2\u00a0 And it fit perfectly in my Rock Me Midi.<\/p>\n

We were off to Best Buy to browse.\u00c2\u00a0 I found a movie I’ve wanted for a while on sale!\u00c2\u00a0 Which was great.\u00c2\u00a0 After checking out I popped my it into my bag so I didn’t have to worry about it further.<\/p>\n

Back to the post office to send the package and finally home!\u00c2\u00a0 I really didn’t think about the pewter part of the Rock Me Midi other than to think how nice it looked.\u00c2\u00a0 So I really think I’m less scared of the leather.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s still very shiny, but I have learned to appreciate it.<\/p>\n

…<\/span>
\nI’m very happy I took the wonderful advice and went for it. Some final pictures from my learning experience<\/p>\n

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“If you change your mind, I’m the first in line.\u00c2\u00a0 Honey I’m still free.\u00c2\u00a0 Take a chance on me” Those<\/p>\n

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