Top 5 Vera Bradley Picks for Graduation Gifts

Tis the season to graduate! It feels like yesterday when I was heading off to college... Then I look at my kids and feel a hundred years old! I never received Vera Bradley for graduation gifts, back then Vera wasn't as geared to younger ladies. Now there are so many possibilities for those graduates with style!

Please note on all of these, like the Mother's Day Guide, take extra care to find out the graduate's favorite colors and/or dorm décor. Vera Bradley comes in all colors of the rainbow and then some! She will definitely appreciate that extra touch if you get her something in her favorite colors.

Vera Bradley has also expanded their collegiate line. Although I'm not holding my breath to see if my small Alma Mater gets picked up, many schools are now included. The items included are the Zip ID Case/Lanyard, Front Zip Wristlet, Triple Zip Hipster, Vera tote, Campus Bacpack, and the XL throw (which is more luxurious than the regular line of throws).

1. Vera Bradley Jen Zip ID Case ($18) with Lanyard ($12) and/or Gift Card –  The Jen Zip ID Case is such an all-around gift, perfect for any occasion. Stocking stuffer? Check. Easter basket? Check. Teacher's gift? Check. Same for the graduate! The Jen Zip ID Case seems to be more popular with the younger crowd than the original Zip ID Case ($12). It is a little larger and only $6 more than the Zip ID Case. I included the Lanyard with it because many colleges require students to carry their college ID's with them. The collegiate line as the Zip ID Case and the Lanyard together as a set ($38). Of course, you can always slip in an additional gift card into one of the cases.

2. Vera Bradley All in One Crossbody for iPhone 6+ & Wristlet ($54) – This is such a versatile piece! It can be a wallet, a wristlet, or a small Crossbody bag! It's compact, but organized. The one complaint is that the iPhone doesn't fit well with a bulkier case; however, many college students don't use tanks to protect their iPhones like their mothers' do. Not to mention, Vera Bradley keeps revising this piece to accomadate the ever-changing size of iPhones. Two years from now, you could possibly buy this piece for an iPhone 8, 9, or whatever number they come up with next.

3. Vera Bradley Travel Cosmetic Set ($58) – This is new piece from Vera Bradley, although they've had plenty of versions of this in the past. The reason this one is different, and why I chose it, is because the outside is made of PVC. How handy! She can take this to the showers on her dorm floor, and not worry about spilling stuff on it in her crowded room. Inside the PVC case, it has three cosmetic bags, perfect to organize her cosmetics and hair accessories. I really wish I had this when I was in school!

4. Vera Bradley Campus Tech Backpack ($108)  –  This is a great backpack for campus! It has a place for her laptop, as well as a trolley sleeve if she needs to use rolling luggage for travel (or maybe she just needs to lug around that many books, yikes!) If you can spring for more, you could get her the Keep Charged Campus Tech Backpack for $148. It has a built in cell phone charger. If it was my daughter graduating, I'd buy the Keep Charged so I don't have to worry if her phone goes dead. The collegiate line has the Campus Backpack ($108), but I wouldn't surprised if they switch to the Campus Tech. The Campus Backpack doesn't have a place for a laptop, nor a trolley sleeve.

5. Vera Bradley Throw – ($49)  Vera Bradley throws are very popular and famous for their softness. The colors are eye-popping and fade-resistant.  She will definitely want one! My husband sleeps with at least two of them every night. Vera Bradley has some bedding, but I feel that it's her choice as to what bedding she wants. However, a nice throw to coordinate with her new bedding will be appreciated!

“A Colorful Way of Living” Book Review by Stacy DeRose

Being an avid Vera Bradley fan, I couldn't wait to read Barbara Bradley Baekgaard's new book, “A Colorful Way of Living.” The book exceeded my expectations. I was surprised to learn fun facts, such as her unconventional manner of hiring people based on if she would dine with them and giving the scarf off her neck to a flight attendant who admired the way she tied it. Overall, it's an easy, inspirational read.

Don't cheat yourself and buy the Kindle version. If you love Vera Bradley, you will love the color in this book! It pops! Both interior and exterior patterns are featured, and some with different color schemes. I know hard copies seem to be the way of the past, but there is no way you can capture Barb's true love of color with an electronic copy. The book is definitely worth the space on your bookshelf and not filed away in your e-reader!

Barb's quote, “There's room for everyone,” is my new mantra. I've recently started a YouTube channel and it's quite intimidating to jump into a site where 72 hours of content are already being loaded every minute. Taking from her experience of reaching out to those within her niche, instead of not watching others within my niche to deny them views, I now watch and learn from them. Now I see them as complimentary to me, not as competitors. There's room for everyone. I thank Barb for that.

I admit it, while living in Fort Wayne, I was mildly jealous of Barb. My husband's uncle worked for her first husband and actually carried bolts of fabric in his business for Barb and Pat in the beginning. I knew the nice neighborhood where she met Pat. I knew she had always been from money. She isn't a rags to riches tale, she's a comfortable to riches tale. I thought she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and she was, comparing her to my and my husband's families. To her credit, she doesn't deny that in her book. Since reading this, I've learned more not to judge a book by its cover, pun intended. She's had her fair share of tragedy. Money doesn't take away life's cruelties. She's went through a divorce, lost friends to breast cancer, and lost the love of her life to a terrible disease. I admit it, I cried when I read this last part. She is a real person with an amazing and refreshing look on life, learning from both success and tragedy.

Reading about her colorful life, you see the master plan. It all fell into place through a spark of an idea in an airport, fueled by chance meetings and lucky misunderstandings. You'll learn as you read this book that she opened herself up to people, and if there was doubt, she carried on anyway. I love her “ready, fire, aim” attitude, and I can relate to that! I jump in with two feet and then figure out the rest.

She speaks on almost every page about her family, whether it's memories while growing up or moments with her grand children. If you're familiar with Vera Bradley, you'll see familiar names that the company has used in their lines. How many other multi-million dollar businesses use the names of the co-founders' children, grandchildren, and friends in their products? What a unique and genuine touch! Doesn't make you want to run out and buy a Vera Bradley bag? Not to mention, work for Barb. I've had a few former coworkers be hired by Vera Bradley, so I know Barb's stories about making employees family are true.

I'm so glad she wrote “A Colorful Way of Living.” Now the previously unknown stories of what shaped a successful business are shared with the public. Learning about the background of the pattern Tavern on the Green and laughing about the magnetic mishap with a prototype are events that aren't necessarily world-changing, but add richness to life. These are stories that I will forever think about. I rarely reread books. This one I will be reading over and over. For inspiration, for confidence, for assurance that if Barb can “ready, aim, fire,” I can too.

Top 5 Picks for Mother's Day Gifts

With Mother's Day around the corner, it's a no-brainer to share with you my top picks for Mother's Day. I'm a mother of three very active children and even though I have these items below in my possession, that doesn't mean I don't need more Vera Bradley! Especially number one and number 5! I hope my husband is reading this....

Please note on all of these, take extra care to look at her wardrobe and/or décor. Know her favorite colors! Vera Bradley comes in all colors of the rainbow and then some! She will definitely appreciate that extra touch if you get her something in her favorite colors.

1. Vera Bradley Zip ID Case with Gift Card (or Car Key) – This also makes for a great teacher's gift! Vera Bradley Zip ID Cases retail for $12, or you can pick up a Disney Vera Bradley one for $15. In the clear ID window, simply insert a gift card to her favorite store, Starbucks, spa... the possibilities are endless! If you want to step it up a notch even further, attach the key to her new car to the handy silver logo key ring and REALLY surprise her!

2. Vera Bradley Hipster – This is a crossbody bag, so it's perfect for busy moms to keep their hands free! There are lots of Vera Bradley crossbody bags, but this one is the classic Vera Bradley bag. They retail for $60, but you can find them in retired colors for less if that's a bit salty for you. They are lightweight and have adjustable straps, which make it a good choice for moms who have neck, shoulder, and/or back pain. They are great for errand-running, shopping, taking to the ballpark, etc. Make her life easier with a Hipster!

3. Vera Bradley Preppy Poly Bags – Really any bag in this line will work. Preppy Poly is lightweight and water proof. I personally use my Preppy Poly Tote as a diaper bag for the gym and church. Kids spill all sort of things, and this material will let Mom worry less about that happening. The material is easy to spot clean and very durable. Preppy Poly comes in lots of colors and select patterns. The purses start from $50 on sale to $158 retail, but you can also often find these cheaper on Vera Bradley's eBay store. I paid around $30 for my generous sized Tote there.

4. Vera Bradley Throw and Book – This one comes with a warning. Throws ARE ADDICTIVE! Vera Bradley throws are very popular and famous for their softness. The colors are eye-popping and fade-resistant. You will want one, two, or three for yourself! My husband sleeps with at least two of them every night. Regular sized throws range from $24-$49 and the extra large throws start at $40 on eBay. Now if she's going to curl up with a comfy throw, you need to get her the new book by the cofounder of Vera Bradley, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, “A Colorful Way of Living.” Don't cheat her and get the Kindle version, this book pops with color! The best price is on Amazon for $17.24. It's an easy, fun read, and very inspirational.

5. Vera Bradley Weekender – If you really want to wow over your special lady, get her a Weekender to surprise her with a weekend getaway! (That's if you didn't wow her with a new car already, but there's room for both!) The Weekender is a great bag for those quick trips. It has a sturdy base, rolled handles, and a removable strap. In my opinion, it's easy to carry than the Large Duffel. It retails for $98, but, again, you can get it cheaper if the pattern is retired.  As a Mom, I couldn't tell you how utterly happy I would be if I got a weekend getaway! It doesn't have to be expensive, a couple of nights in a hotel away from the kids already sounds like heaven! Sleeping at night, lounging around, eating HOT meals, catching up on ME time... wow. I'm really hoping my husband reads this!

Saving Money on Vera Bradley

I very rarely pay full price for my Vera Bradley pieces. There are only 2-3 items I can think of where I decided it was worth it. Not that Vera Bradley isn't worth the money, but let's face it, money doesn't grow on trees. Plus the more I save, the more Vera Bradley I can buy. At least that's my philosophy, and it's not share by my husband. I did pay full price for my husband's IU collegiate throw; the collegiate line never goes on sale and is always excluded from coupons (boo!). I also couldn't resist the a fw years  back. It was a limited edition line and I never saw it on sale.

Let's check out the myriad of ways you can avoid paying full price on those gorgeous Vera Bradley bags:

1. Coupons – these used to be so wonderfully abundant! Back in the hey day of blissful mass ordering, 2011 – 2013, Vera Bradley had $20 off $75 coupons galore. They primarily send coupons through online purchases. Ladies were ordering like mad, especially with the free shipping of $75 or more. Now they have scaled them back, coupons are now $30 off $125 and you're not guaranteed to get one in your order. These coupons are only good on full-priced items. These coupons can be used online or in a store.

2. Birthday coupons – be sure to sign up with Vera Bradley to get their best coupon, the birthday coupon! It used to be either 40% off one item or 25% off your entire order, but now it seems to consistently be 25% off your order. It still does not include the collegiate line and I don't believe the full priced leather. However it does include most full priced items! You can use this online and in the store. You can not be able to use it for a hot holiday sale at the outlet stores, but check first. Vera Bradley is very inconsistent with sending out birthday coupons. I didn't receive one for about four years and then started receiving them again. Just call customer service and they will give you a code if you didn't receive your coupon during your birthday month.

3. Retirement – you may be really itching to buy something in that newly released pattern, but good things come to those who wait, If you can wait until the pattern/item retires, then you will get a better deal than when buying when the pattern/item is current. Vera Bradley retires patterns/items about 3-4 times a year. They will announce ahead of time what patterns are going to be retired. However, they don't annouce style retirements. The best way to see if a style is going to retire is to check out the style when there is a new pattern release. If the item is not showing up in the newest patterns, there's is a 99% chance the style is going into retirement.

4. Sales/Promotions – Vera Bradley has a lot of promotions throughout the year. You can sign up for text alerts to stay on top of them. I have also signed up for their email list, but their emails are not consistently sent out and don't usually announce sales. Typically their emails only talk about new patterns/styles or remind you of what you recently browsed on their website. They often have great holiday sales, especially at their outlet stores. My favorite is when they offer a free item with purchase on top of a sale.

5. Price Adjustments – if you find the same item you purchased is now cheaper, you have 10 days from the date of your purchase to contact customer service for a price adjustment. You will receive a gift card for the difference.

6. Vera Bradley eBay store (Vbay) – a few years ago Vera Bradley started selling on eBay directly. They had a lot to learn in the beginning! Shipping wasn't free as it is now, and they tried to treat it as an extension of their website, instead of as an eBay store. A lot of negative feedback resulted, but they have since learned their lesson. It's a great place to find deals! They often have slashed prices, free shipping on everything, and often have additional discounts depending on how much you spent. They update their eBay listings a few times a year. Their eBay store does include the “factory exclusive” items that are made for their outlet stores, but now Vera Bradley states this in the listings. Pay attention! You won't find current items, but you can get a steal on retired ones!

7. Ebay, Amazon, and Etsy, are all popular websites to buy Vera Bradley from. On these, excluding Amazon, you can find great prices on both new and used Vera Bradley. Amazon only has new Vera Bradley. If you're buying used, please make sure to read the listing, see all the pictures, and know exactly what you're getting. If you're buying from a person who's selling out of their house, make sure the home is smoke free, and if you have allergies, pet free. It's really difficult, but not impossible, to get smoke smells out of fabric bags. Be sure to check out the eBay Completed Listings in Advance Search to see how much items are selling for. The green price means it sold at that price. Search by Recent First. You don't want to over pay!

8. Department Stores – Vera Bradley has branched out to department stores in the last couple of years. I never thought I'd see that happen, they used to be so strict with their brand control. You can even sometimes find retired Vera Bradley at Sam's Club! Discount retailers like Stein Mart and TJ Maxx now often have Vera Bradley retired pieces. They also now sell current items in the big department stores like Macy's and Dillards. When those stores have promotions, they often include Vera Bradley. This can be a great way to get new items at discounted prices. Vera Bradley also has patterns that can only be found at the large department stores, like Winter Palace.

9. Outlet Stores – Vera Bradley now has their regular stores and outlet stores. You have to be careful with the outlet stores because they sell their “factory exclusive” items here and the quality, in my opinion, is a little lower than the regular stores. For instance, the factory exclusive bags have nylon lining instead of the interior patterns. However, around the holidays, the outlet stores can have great sales. They also accept phone orders and orders over $75 are shipped free. The outlet stores also have outlet exclusive patterns like Chandelier Floral, Fiesta Floral, and Pirouette Pink.

10. Annual Outlet Sale – I LOVE this sale! Granted, prices were lower in previous years, but if you're around Fort Wayne, you have to go. This sale is every April. Prices are around 40%-60% off, sometimes more. If you go early, you can find some current items (probably seconds), hard to find limited releases, and unique items they used for photo shoots/advertisements. If they offer a coupon for the Annual Outlet Sale, it's usually found in the local Fort Wayne newspapers and in the Indianapolis Star. You can't use regular coupons, birthday coupons, nor gift cards. There are no returns nor exchanges with items purchased at the Annual Outlet Sale. If you're interested in going, please check out the most comprehensive guide to the Annual Outlet Sale here in my blog!

11. Third party websites such as QVC, eBags, Zappos, and Zulily have Vera Bradley. QVC even has exclusive patterns like Meadow Garden, Raspberry Banana, and Key West. QVC also has Easy Pay for Vera Bradley from time to time.

12. Online rebates – these are a no-brainer for anyone who shops online! There are several out there, like eBates, Mr. Rebates, and TopCashBack. Simply register at one of these sites, then go through them to get to where you are shopping. With Vera Bradley, you'll usually get 3%-5% back from your purchase. Once the order is comfirmed, the money is processed into your account. Then once it's available, you can withdraw it. You may have to accumulate a certain dollar amount to be able to withdraw it, like $10. These rebates do take a little time to be available, but what's the harm? You'd be leaving money on the table otherwise. You can use these online rebate sites to also shop the department stores and third party websites that sell Vera Bradley. I've personally received over $2000 back over the years.

13. Facebook groups are a great way to not only find deals, but to connect with other Vera Bradley fans and learn more about the brand. They are a great resource to find sales, learn about upcoming patterns/styles, and where to shop. I highly recommend joining Vera Bradley Buzz to stay on top of the latest Vera Bradley news. You can't sell there, but there are lot of other Vera Bradley Facebook groups you can buy and sell in.

14. Craig's List/Garage Sales/Estate Sales – I'm from Indiana, the home of Vera Bradley, so I'm used to seeing Vera Bradley at garage sales and estate sales. If items don't sell at garage sales, you'll find them on Craig's List. I've found a lot of cheap Vera Bradley on Craig's List. I've lived in places where Vera Bradley was popular so you could find a lot of it, and I've lived in places where Vera Bradley wasn't popular. I didn't find a lot, but what I did find was cheaper because the people selling it wasn't familiar with Vera Bradley. These are fun places to find vintage Vera Bradley! Just use common sense and stay safe.

15. Goodwill/Salvation Army/Thrift Stores – the down side of living in Fort Wayne was that the local thrift stores sold their Vera Bradley inventory at crazy high prices. However, now that I don't live there, when I find Vera Bradley, I can find it crazy cheap. Also check out second hand stores like Plato's Closet and Clothes Mentor. Most of my Vera Bradley jewelry collection came from one stop at a Plato's Closet! I've even found new cheap leather wallets for $35, new in the box!

16. Poshmark, Mecari, LetGo, Tradesy, Vinted, Threadflip, Listia, ThredUp, and other countless reselling apps are so easy to shop from! My favorite and most trusted is Poshmark, and I've bought from Mecari, too, with no issues. You can find lots of sellers just looking to get rid of their Vera Bradley, listing it, and not doing their homework to find out how much their Vera Bradley is worth. It can also be on the flipside, I once saw a used cosmetic bag for sale for $90! Used!! However, you can make offers and bundle to save more money.

Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale – as Explained by My Sister

My sister penned her top 10 reasons to go to a Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in response to my Outlet Sale Tips articles. Of course this in jest, but it highlights the absolute craziness that can happen there. My commentary/defense is in red. :)

10. Purses as far as the eye can see. - Enough said.

9. Waiting 4+ hours to get in and then another 4+ hours to check out. - Oh yes, this can happen! One reason is because of point 8. She wasn't with us when we waited 6 hours to check out at the Charlotte Outlet Sale. That was the longest wait. Good times.

8. Praying the Vera Bradley point-of-sale system crashes and you get one free item no matter what. - This happened one year on a Sunday afternoon. The sale was starting to close and the line wait was long. If you had cash, you could check out easily. Well, we didn't have cash, so we had to wait. Some people left. We stuck it out. Our efforts were rewarded with one free item of our choice as an apology from Vera. We each chose the Cupcakes Pink Garment Bag as our free item. Vera bliss!

7. Watching your sister instruct her father, husband, brother-in-law, and male coworkers on what to get and them understanding to not argue nor make smart aleck (not the word she used) comments. - Ok, I can explain this. I was under A LOT of stress! I was two weeks post-partum with kid #1 and had had a C-section. I couldn't carry much, heck, I wasn't even allowed to drive yet! My family and friends stepped in to help me and I am forever grateful! However, I, understandably, wasn't quite right in the head at the time. Did I also mention I was also trying to breast-feed?

6. Praying your mother doesn't kill you on the way with road rage. - My family lives 5 hours from Fort Wayne. It's pretty much a straight shot for them. It's not hard. Unless you're my mother.

5. Praying your sister doesn't kill you with her road rage and random u-turns. - Yes, I admit it. I have road rage combined with NO sense of direction. I lived in Fort Wayne for six years and it never got better. In my defense, there are three rivers in Fort Wayne and sometimes when you cross one the road name changes. I once may have went east in Ohio to back to Indiana. Instead of arriving home in 45 minutes, I may have taken a lovely, scenic, 2.5 hour drive up to Cedar Point. To get back to Fort Wayne.

4. Eating a whole box of donuts is perfectly acceptable. – When is it not? She's the skinny sister, apparently our levels of acceptance are different.

3. DeBrand's chocolate soda and desserts. - I've written about this slice-of-heaven-on-Earth a few times in my blog. You have to go to one of their three locations. The closest one to the Coliseum is about 10 minutes away on Coldwater Rd. Besides, you'll work it all off while shopping anyways.

2. Watching your sister get punched over a purse. - Yes, I was THAT sister. To this day, I have NO idea why I got punched! And it wasn't over a purse, it was over a Pink Elephants Large Backpack. There were literally a ton on the table, and pattern placement doesn't really matter with Pink Elephants. Side note, I got the bag. And a souvenir bruise on an arm.

           1. Sleeping on the sidewalk in the middle of a thunderstorm. - That was their experience, not   mine! I got to stay in the car and nurse my newborn while they waited in line. Just to let you   know, it was their decision to go out, I did not coerce them. Wait... would they rather sleep outside in a thunderstorm than stay in the car with a slightly emotional, stress-out new mom? Good thing I'm done writing this, I have a call to make.

Local Restaurant Recommendations for the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne

Where to Eat in Fort Wayne

Local Favorites Near the Coliseum

1. Casa Mare - this is right across the street from the Coliseum and a Fort Wayne favorite. This family-owned chain has four locations around the city. All have a fantastic house salad, fresh ingredients, and fantastic desserts. The Stellhorn and Dupont locations have wood-fired pizzas. You won't break the bank here!
2. Mr. Coney – also serves breakfast! A very cheap Fort Wayne staple!
3. Don Halls – they have 13 restaurants around Fort Wayne and the surrounding area, ranging from a burger joint to Japanese (Takaoka) to upscale dining. They also have a hotel within 10 minutes of the Coliseum and it's pretty affordable. The Factory Restaurant and Triangle Park are the closest Don Hall restaurants to the Coliseum. The Factory is an American sit down restaurant in the mid-priced range and Triangle Park is more upscale.
4. Cosmos – serves breakfast and lunch
5. Cebollas
6. Bandidos
7. Cookie Cottage – the most amazing cookies!
8. DeBrand Fine Chocolates – the best dessert place in Fort Wayne. There are three locations, with the one on Coldwater being the closest to the Coliseum. They have sodas, hot chocolate, ice cream, as well as assorted chocolates. And they ship!

Fast Food Near the Coliseum

1. Taco Bell
2. McDonalds
3. Five Guys
4. Wendy's
5. Rally's
6. Food Court at Glenbrook Square Mall – Charley's Subs, Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Ruby Thai, Mexi Grill, Sbarro, Sarku Japan, Subway, Shawrma Mediterranean Grill, Eats Diner

Chain Restaurants Near the Coliseum

1. Ruby Tuesday's
2. Chipotle
3. Dos Margaritas
4. Red Robin – attached to Glenbrook Square
5. TGI Fridays – attached to Glenbrook Square
6. Panera
7. Starbucks
8. Pizza Hut
9. Buffalo Wings & Ribs
10. Red Lobster
11. Bob Evans
12. IHOP
13. Olive Garden
14. Baker Street Steakhouse
15. Granite City Food & Brewery – try their Two Pull if you like craft beer!

The restaurants I mention below are at or within walking distance at Jefferson Pointe. By walking distance I mean literally in the parking lot surrounding the shopping area. You won't cross any streets to reach these. I'm sticking to walking distance, assuming you're arriving via the bus from the Outlet Sale.

Local Favorites at Jefferson Pointe

DeBrand's Fine Chocolates – it's a smaller location, but there is some seating for some serious dessert eating!

Fast Food at Jefferson Pointe – There used to be a food court here, but now it's a Pepsi vending and play area. These two fast food places are in the parking lot.

1. Chick-Fil-A
2. Burger King

Chain Restaurants at Jefferson Pointe

In the shopping area:

1. Panera
2. Chipotle
3. Flat Top Grill – a stir fry place where you pick your own ingredients and how you want them cooked. So yummy! A little pricy.
4. Tucanos Brazilian Grill – fancier Brazilian place where they bring the meats to your table to serve. You're ok in jeans, though. A little pricy.
5. Starbucks
6. Cold Stone Creamery
7. Red Mango

In the parking lot surrounding Jefferson Pointe

1.   Biaggi's – Italian, and one of my favorite restaurants in Fort Wayne! Try the                  Fettucini with Lobster and the Creme Brulee. A little pricy.

2. McAlister's Deli – known for their excellent sweet tea! Very decent deli that won't break the budget.
3. O'Charley's – I dream of their loaded potato soup and hot rolls!
4. Logan's Roadhouse
5. Eddie Merlot's – one of the most expensive restaurants in Fort Wayne, but I hear it's worth the price!
6. Smokey Bones – great BBQ