Update on Ilya Peckerman Foundation for Wegeners Disease & How to Carpe Diem with Julia Child: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Thank you to everyone who has emailed me or reached out to me via Facebook to send their good wishes. Michelle and I have started a cause on Facebook to promote the Ilya Peckerman Foundation for Wegeners Disease. Please visit the page, which will soon be updated on how you can help and where exactly your dollars will be going.

Over the past few weeks, I've struggled to get out of bed, focus on work and function. I'm not the only one who has ever lost - I'm sadly not even the only one to have lost someone to Wegeners. That, of course, doesn't make me feel any better. There have been a few key things that have kept me peaceful and even brought a smile to my face:
1. my two musketeers - mom and sister - we do a good job of balancing each other out. When we sense one is down, the others go into overdrive of talking, distracting or just plain goofing around.
2. my husband - words can't even express the calming, patient force he has been. And I do so love his reminders about getting my hair done, going out of the house to work from a cafe, and shopping. The latter part has brought several key items into my life: Joie over-the-knee flat black boots ($200 on sale at Saks.com), a black Herve Leger dress (also on sale $600 at Saks.com ) and a magenta beaded Milly cardigan (yup, on sale $110 at Saks.com). Not bad for a gal that has had a serious case of shopping anxiety for nearly a year!
3. watching Julie&Julia - oh what a charming, well editing, magically crafted movie based on a delightful book (of which I only read 50%). I watched it Saturday with my mother-in-law and once again on Sunday with my mom. Then I bought Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1. Today, if the force is with me I'll make Filets de Poisson Bercy aux Champignons (a fancy way to say fish filets pouched in white wine with mushrooms). I may even cook in pearls and by 50s-inspired dress from Unique-vintage.com.

Before I go, I'll add how I plan to carpe diem today - remember my last post!! I'll carpe diem by working only until 5pm and devoting time to cooking - what I'm certain will become - world famous Filets de Poisson Bercy aux Champignons fait par Pamela Pekerman. How will you Carpe Diem today? Make it your mission to ask yourself that every single morning!

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman
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Launching of the Ilya Peckerman Foundation for Wegeners Disease

Dear Bagistas,

I never use this blog to discuss anything that’s personal, unless its purseonal. However, it’s with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my amazing father Ilya Peckerman. My daddy passed away from complications associated with Wegener's Granulomatosis, a rare auto-immune disease affecting the vascular system. It’s a disease few doctors ever see, so its not always easy to diagnose. My sister, mother and I knew something was up when his intense sinusitis wasn’t going away and with some force and leg work got him diagnosed in late May 2009. With the help of serious medication and a strong will for life, my father was making a recovery and was able to walk me down the aisle in August and enjoy my wedding. After going to work for about three months, he had a relapse in late November. He passed away December 18, 2009 and not only did I lose a father, but a great friend. I’m sharing this with you because from such hardship, my family hopes to help others. Over the coming weeks, Michelle and I, along with our mother, will be launching the Ilya Peckerman Foundation for Wegeners and Vasculitis Disease. We want to bring awareness and increase education about this disease, help those who need medication to fight it, and assist in funding new research. We are in the process of finding out the legal aspects of launching such a foundation and I’ll be relating information as it comes. In the mean time you can learn more about this disease here at vasculitisfoundation.org. It’s not easy putting these words out there to the world, but I’m hopefully that a lot of good will come from it.

On another note, I want to share some of my father’s everlasting energy and spirit with you. He was a man that, although being very meticulous and organized, loved spontaneity. He was the social director of his family and friends with a wonderful zest for life. It wouldn’t be far fetched to say his motto was “Carpe Diem”. And so, I wish to share with you – and to remind myself – to “Carpe Diem”. Don’t put off watching a movie with your mother, cooking with your spouse, reading a book to your niece, taking a mini vacation to Boston, actually watching the sun set, leaving yourself 30 minutes each day to read a book, stepping away from your desk on nice day to enjoy lunch outside, taking the longer walk to school, popping into an unusual art gallery, creating an at-home spa day, taking your grandma out for sushi, using your gym membership, testing out a vespa, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, learning to play the piano …
How will you Carpe Diem today?

Have a healthy, bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman

Jetting to Miami, Talking TJMaxx Fashion, Viewing LaLucca Bags, Drinking with Adriana Castro: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

I’m living the jet set lifestyle, well, sort of. At 8am the hubby dropped me off at the airport where I left my fabulous fur behind and slipped into a neon yellow, open cardigan from Express. Three hours later I’m in muy caliente Miami! By 3pm I’ve purchased new flipflips (this was a serious BudgetFashionista-style mission, documented on twitter) and had lunch just in time to meet with the wife-hubby team of Luara and Alex of LaLucca handbags. I was really excited when they gifted me a one-of-a-kind clutch! LaLucca is truly a marriage of art and fashion and very Miami. Each bag really has a soul and a story to tell. (More of LaLucca coming up on BagTrends.com probably in two weeks or so.) By 5pm I was at TJMaxx picking out a few more bags for tomorrow’s NBC6 segment on holiday clutches and snagging a two fashion pieces for myself – I can’t help it. By 9pm, after several hours of working from my hotel room and having dinner, it was off to have drinks with Adrian Castro and her husband, Luis, at Sushi Samba. Talking about exotic skin handbags, plans for a double date in New York, and new Adriana Castro ventures for 2010 isn’t a bad way to cap the evening. Oh, of course, I didn’t forget to light my traveling menorah! At left, see my day in pictures.

It’s an early call time (8am) tomorrow for my NBC6 segment, which should air on December 16th in Miami. I hope you like all the affordable holiday clutch options up to 60% off department store prices. You'll recognize plenty of designer goodies.

Until tomorrow, as they say in Spanish ...

Tenda un dia bag-a-licous!
Pamela Pekerman

BagTrends Presents Party for CETTU Bags with Dress for Success:BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

What a week! Michelle and I have been working hard to make sure the final BagTrends party of 2009 is fabulous. Great leather bags under $400 -check. Sleek Manhattan showroom location - check. Wine - check. Holiday music - check. Gifts with purchase - check. Wicked savings exclusively for BagTrends Bagistas - check. You having a great time with us - requires an RSVP!




Join us next week, December 15th, and please don't forget to bring a used/new handbag to donate to Dress for Success. Dress for Success is an amazing charity organization that provides clothing to women who are about to go on a job interview. Let's make sure they have the full professional, bag-a-licious look!

If you want to learn more about CETTU, here's a Behind The Bag video I shot at their NYC showroom with a brand representative.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman
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Better TV, Radley and Matt Bernson Spring 2010 Previews and My Royally Fab Cettu Tote: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Yesterday was crazy. At 10:30am I shot a segment for BETTER TV (which airs next week). Then it was off to work from Cosi (my faux office in the city) on 2010 BagTrends calendar of events and other loose ends. 2:30pm I went to preview Radley London's Spring/Summer 2010 collection - super cute, review posting here on BagTrends.com in a week. I picked up the most adorable umbrella - best swag of the week!! Then is was back to Cosi for some more work and then downtown to preview Matt Bernson's latest shoes. The evening capped off with dinner with my pr friend Malorie of CameoPR and then we popped into the Atelier Minyon jewelry shop to drool over baubles. A special thank you to Nichelle of StyleMom.com for inviting me to the presentation. I'll post a few images later on this week.

I can't, of course, let this verbal diarrhea post go without mentioning the bag I wore yesterday. My new CETTU tote, pictured below, got nine compliments throughout the day. It's really a stunning piece and for $400 a fabulous investment. (You can get yours for 25% off December 15th at the BagTrends Party for CETTU Handbags). This tote does come in chocolate, but i just love purple. It is of course the color once reserved for the royals, and aren't we all the princesses in our lives?

Have a bag-a-licious day!

Pamela Pekerman

What My Floor Looks Like Before I Shoot a TV Segment: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

This is what my floor looks like the day before a TV shoot. Actually, this is after I've edited out lots of other bags - which will probably live in my work closet and only get returned in early January. HELP! I so need an intern.

The segment I'm taping tomorrow is for BETTER TV about holiday handbags. The four groups are: "little luxuries" from Saks Fifth Avenue under $75, "affordable clutches" from TJMaxx under $150, "secondary lines" from Elle Nicole/Danielle Nicole and Carlos Falchi for Target/Carlos Falchi, and "smart splurges" from Kooba, Be&D and Katherine Kwei. The Kooba London tote (at right with python accent) is amazing. I've been itching for a good olive bag and it took all my professional strength not to wear this one! But, back to reality. The best part of this segment ... every one of these handbags will be given away via BagTrends.com. Details will be posted December 14 and the segment will air December 15. Check your local listings or watch it at Better.tv.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman
handbags, bags, Bag Guru, Handbag Guru, Bag Expert, Handbag Expert, Accessories Expert, Bag Trends, BagTrends, My Bag-a-licious Life, bag-a-licious, accessories, fashion, handbag trends, handbags , bags , purse trends , bagistas , bagista , Pam Pekerman , Pamela Pekerman , Kooba, Kooba bags, Kooba handbags, Be and D, Katherine Kwei, BagTrends giveaway, Kooba giveaway, tjmaxx, tjmaxx bags, clutches, holiday clutches, holiday gifts, party clutches, affordable clutches, little luxuries, little holiday luxury gifts, Carlos Falchi, Carlos Falchi Target

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Brahmin Handbags December Giveaway on BagTrends.com: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

We have a hot new handbag giveaway on BagTrends.com. The December Giveaway is Brahmin Handbags' Pin Tuck Tote in red ($395).

Brahmin is a wonderful, family-owned brand, based in Boston, Massachusetts, with many of the bags made in the good-old USA. The bags, many of which are croc embossed, have a sophisticated appearance and reflect back to the name"Brahmin" which was used in the 1800s to identify high-society, Bostonian men and women. To learn more about Brahmin, I interviewed the brand's CMO, James Bunn, in our latest BagTrends TV series Behind The Bag.

To WIN the Brahmin Pin Tuck Tote you must be a registered member of BagTrends.com. A winner will be selected on January 2, 2010.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman
handbags, bags, Bag Guru, Handbag Guru, Bag Expert, Handbag Expert, Accessories Expert, Bag Trends, BagTrends, My Bag-a-licious Life, bag-a-licious, accessories, fashion, handbag trends, handbags , bags , purse trends , bagistas , bagista , Pam Pekerman , Pamela Pekerman , Brahmin, Brahmin bags, Brahmin handbags, Boston Brahmin, Brahmins, Brahmin handbag giveaway, BagTrends giveaway, pin tuck tote, red bags, red handbags, croco handbags, handbag giveaway, bag giveaway

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