My birthday is coming up (on the 24th)! I was talking on the phone with my grandma last night and she told me that I’m going to have to “buy my own” birthday gift. I insisted she didn’t need to worry about it, but knowing how she is, she’ll send some birthday money. I was thinking what I might get with it and then I remembered the Namaste bags that my LYS recently got in stock…

They had the Laguna in hot pink and the Malibu in lime (or maybe it was vice-versa). They’re beautiful bags. Everyone in the shop was drooling over them, I think. The materials they’re made from are so soft and luscious and they just feel so well-made. Unfortunately, they also have a price-tag reflective of that. Not to say they’re not worth every penny, but I couldn’t justify spending money on one right now.

BUT I’m thinking if I can use birthday money to pay for most of it, I don’t have to feel nearly so guilty, right?!

And I’ve also been thinking: they’re such handsome bags that you really could carry it for a purse, so it’s doing double-duty. As it is, I carry a purse and a tote-bag everyday to work. My purse has my cellphone, car keys, wallet, and assorted lip-balms and such. My tote has my planner, my iPod, a book to read at lunchtime, and whatever other miscellaneous things I might need/want for the day. I think I could easily fit all those things into one of the Namaste bags and still have room to carry a knitting project too! I’m thinking I could put my “purse stuff” along with my planner, book, and iPod on one side of the center divider and carry a knitting project on the other side. I just love the idea of having a knitting project with me everywhere I go! (Never know when you’re going to have a long wait, ya know?)

But now I have to figure out which bag… My first impression was that the Laguna (pictured above in the Olive color) looked a little too “bowling bag”-like for my taste. But the more I look at it, the more I have to admit that I do like the structure. But I’m still leaning toward the Malibu (pictured to the left). It just seems like it would be more comfortable to carry. I’ll have to look at them again at the LYS the next time I stop by.

I can’t decide on the color either. The bright colors are lovely (especially the lime!) but being that I plan to use this as a purse and knitting bag, I’m wanting to go with something more subdued and practical. I’m thinking charcoal or saddle. I love the rich color of the saddle but if I’m going to carry it to work, I tend to wear more black than brown… so I don’t know. Olive is another option that I like. The Malibu bag in saddle would be awfully lovely though, I think…

Does anyone have these bags already? How do you like them so far?