Many of us are raised to pick neutrals for outfits and room paint because they coordinate with everything and will stand the test of time. But I reject that!

I’ve always loved color. I named my gray cat Rainbow when I was four (we later called her “Puss”), and my middle school-era room was painted purple. And obviously I love VW Bugs, the MegaBug being a cheerful shade of green and Aquarius being light blue.

I’ll never forget when Shelby took me to Montreal in the winter and I stood out against a backdrop of gray buildings and black pea coats with my bright red parka.

It was a similar experience that inspired the founders of Vera Bradley to create their bright and cheerful line of bags. While at an airport in the 80s, the friends found themselves sifting through a sea of black luggage, trying to pick out their suitcases when they realized the place could use some color.

Vera Bradley’s bold colors and energetic patterns attracted me to the brand, and the practicality of design is what’s kept me a customer since I bought my first bag with my first paycheck at age 14!

My collection spans all shades of the rainbow and has pieces for various occasions. Crossbody bags for the everyday, a backpack for transporting my laptop to and from the studio, totes for when I need to carry a little extra, weekenders for local trips, and plenty of accessory bags for packing.

I like to think of myself as minimal, but NOT when it comes to Vera Bradley!

But following the philosophy of KonMari, we’re supposed to keep things that “spark joy,” and yes, having five of the same bag in different patterns sparks some serious joy for me.

So when Vera Bradley announced their ambassador program, I had my application submitted within the hour!

As a Vera Bradley ambassador, I’m kept up to speed on the latest, qualify for giveaways, and I get to share a coupon code with all of you! (It’s MISSMEGABUG10, and the code will get you 10% off your online order!). I also receive a cash commission whenever anyone uses my code, which is certainly a perk!

I’ll be sharing more about how Vera Bradley fits into my life over on Instagram, and how I use their products in my business!

For now, checkout their new recycled cotton collection (I received a Campus backpack in Citronella Glow as an Insider, another one of their programs!). The company is on a mission to update all of their fabrics to more sustainable alternatives by 2025, which I think is totally groovy.