vera.

oh my gosh, it was another fun vera weekend! i look forward to this trip each year, and this year was definitely no different. the first weekend of may, for now the 3rd year, my bff kyle and i headed over to fort wayne for the annual vera bradley outlet sale. it's always a great girls weekend away.

we had planned to leave at 6 a.m. on saturday morning, but after reading the horrific reports from people who attended the earlier days of the sale, we decided to leave at 2 a.m. saturday morning. (this turned out to be a good choice). i did not get any sleep that friday night, so i was running on adrenaline, and excitement, and nerves (not knowing what lines we would fine when we got there after reading the reports from others). kyle was able to get a short nap in before she came to my house to pack up my car and head west!

we did well with our timing of everything and didn't endure the horrific waits others had to deal with. we got there in the rain around 6:15 a.m., and only waited outside for maybe 20 minutes. we were lucky enough to be in a group who got to wait indoors until they started letting us into the sale, just after 8.

we shopped til our arms were sore! got some good deals, and saw a lot of puccini, which is one of my favorites, but it was overwhelming to see it all piled up there!

after shopping we headed to get some lunch, popped into old navy and tj maxx (i was good and got nothing!) then to check into the hotel. once we got into our room we sorted out all we bought and just breathed in the vera. ahhh! after awhile it was time to eat dinner so we went to the hotel restaurant and enjoyed some burgers. later on, we decided to go do a short workout in the fitness center, then took a dip in the pool. by then we were so tired, it was time for bed! i went on 36 hours with no sleep! it was fun though! then we were up bright and early sunday morning to go do it again. we arrived at 6:30, prepared to wait out in the rain (which thankfully had stopped) with our snacks, umbrellas, and magazines. again we were lucky to get to wait indoors, til they opened the doors to the sale. this time it was a 4 hour wait, as sunday's hours were different. after more fun shopping and a good lunch we headed back home. i can't wait til next year!

here in pictures is our little weekend away. we go in with no expectations and are always happy with what we find.

waiting inside (out of the rain!) at 7 a.m. saturday!

the not so lucky people who had to wait in the rain

round one complete!

kyle and the bags of bags

packing it in.....

we were worried, as we had a smaller car with us this year!

plus my suitcase was in there! not bad!

shutting it in, it all fit today, but what about tomorrow?!

pushing the cart of vera bags in the hotel.

we carried/pulled the overnight bags!

kyle in her pile of vera.

(it's not all hers, she had quite a few lists from friends back home)

we both did get a nice, good pile for ourselves as well.

waiting in the line for round 2 at 6:30 a.m. sunday,

at least the rain stopped.

(i am in the blue jacket, next to our spread!)

it's this girls fault that i am addicted to vera. :)

it's a good addiction though. i think?!

i do love puccini.

there was plenty there.

the sea of puccini.

after this sale, i think my puccini collection is complete.

the piles i brought back.

it's not all mine.

the other end of the pile......most of it i did not keep.

it went to others who couldn't go to the sale, and to

set aside for gifts this year.

addy proudly modelled the lanyards

i am excited for next year! it's just so fun!

get ready, kyle!

and yes. it all fit in the car. good thing it was just the 2 of us though. the back seat was loaded, just like the trunk!