Tweet us your favorite boss lady bags @BritandCo!
Tweet us your favorite boss lady bags @BritandCo!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
I live for a purse that has a pop of color or pattern that complements what I’m wearing, but mom life has taught me there’s beauty in a simple black tote bag. They’re a chic way to elevate your t-shirt and sneakers, making them the most multifaceted accessories you can own.
Here’s a little secret though: black tote bags may look similar at first glance, but they aren’t all created equal. Little details like the texture, stitching, and lining of one can give it a different vibe from another. It’s likely that you love paying attention to detail which is why I have 8 amazing options to share with you!
And P.S. You don’t have to be a mom to rock one (or two) of these black tote bags!
Shop Our Favorite Black Tote Bags
Coach Willow Pebble Leather Tote
I'm biased, but Coach has the best black tote bags IMO. This design features subtle gold details that give it personality without overwhelming the bag. Also, the pebble leather and internal fabric lining means you don't have to fret about carrying something you won't be able to wear longterm. It even has a special place your cell phone so you'll know where it is when you need it.
Anthropologie Faux Leather Commuter Tote
Everything about this sleek black tote bag is calling our names! Okay, I'm exaggerating here. What I will say is you'll be surprised at how easy it is to clean it. All you need is a damp cloth and you'll be good to go! Plus, you'll get a more expansive outer pocket that'll allow you to slip your favorite book club read in it or your kindle!
Madewell The Zip-Top Medium Transport Leather Tote
This team loves Madewell's bags, and the Zip-Top Medium Transport Leather Tote is no exception! The leather is great quality, the shape allows for plenty of storage, and the double straps offer carrying versatility. Classically cute and subtly sophisticated to say the least!
CALPAK Haven Laptop Tote Bag
This laptop tote bag is HIGH on my spring wish list because it's like it was designed for specifically for those of us who carry our laptops around. If you work from home and need to get out of the house, you can place your laptop in it and head to your local book store. What I especially love is that the laptop sleeve is removable and the shoulder strap is adjustable. It doesn't get any better than this!
Everlane The Recycled Nylon Tote
If you decide to get some done in your apartment complex's resident lounge, all you need is this medium-sized tote by Everlane. It's designed to fit a 13" laptop along with a couple of notebooks if you need them. The extra padding inside helps keep your technology safe from bumps and bruises while the pockets help you store your writing utensils.
If that didn't catch your attention, the fact that this tote bag is certified by the Global Recycled Standard will! It's made of recycled nylon and polyester so you'll have something sustainable on your arm.
Rebecca Minkoff Megan Large Leather Tote Bag
Want to have something that's subtly chic? Reach for Rebecca Minkoff's larger leather tote bag. It comes with shoulder straps that'll fit comfortable on your shoulder and it has an open top with a magnetic strap. Inside you'll find an internal divider that helps you organize your items a little better. There's a chance you may still throw things in your bag, but at least you'll know to look on a specific side!
Reformation Medium Vittoria Leather Tote
This slouchy black tote bag from Reformation is absolutely everything! It gives effortless, it gives put together, it gives...plenty of room for whatever you need to pack for the day! Plus, the bow on top is the perfect finishing touch that's both timeless and on trend!
Tory Burch Ella Tote
Tory Burch is another classic brand that knows how to creative simple yet effective designs that fit seamlessly into your everyday life. Instead of a zipper, this tote bag features a magnetic closure that makes opening and closing it easy! There's also two different pockets to store or separate your items!
I'd personally wear this if I'm running errands and want to look put together while wearing one of my casual spring outfits.
Dreubea Soft Faux Leather Tote
This faux leather tote may look pricey but it's actually less than $20! The price alone makes it a viable option for anyone who's a part of the chic on the budget club. The other thing I love about it is that it includes a bigger pocket inside and a smaller external one. For easy access, slip your lip oils in the outer pocket when you need to moisturize your lips throughout the day!
MANGO Faux Leather Shopper Tote
Have a little more to spend? This $50 tote from MANGO is so chic with its adjustable straps and longer body. I love how you can get that pebbled leather look for so much less!
Subscribe to our newsletter for more spring shopping inspo!
Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Header image via CALPAK
Brunch is a decadent ritual. Late mornings full of sticky syrup and bottomless mimosas (!) are all fun and games until you receive the dreaded bill from your local spot. It's not that the food's not good, it's just expensive. We're here to *happily* report that you can save some dough and take the brunch party inside by hosting your own at home! Here are the best recipes and brunch party ideas to enlist for your next brunch time shenanigans!
What do you serve at a brunch party?
Any dish you can break up into smaller servings or finger foods are good for serving at a brunch party. Think mini pancakes, sausage links, breakfast sandwiches, and more.
What activities do you do at brunch?
Playing games, serving food, drinking mimosas, and visiting with friends and family are all activities that you can do at brunch.
How do you throw a casual and fun brunch party?
Keep things low-key for throwing a fun and casual brunch party – first, send out some simple invites to your inner circle and set a realistic budget for the party. You don’t have to necessarily go for a theme or full-fledged party. As long as brunch foods are involved, your guests will feel welcome.
What are some easy brunch party ideas for hosting at home?
You could organize a pancake bar, a coffee station, or a decorate-your-own donut set-up for an at-home brunch party.
Brunch Party Recipe Ideas
Here are some of our favorite recipes for when you wanna be the brunch hostess with the mostess!
Ultimate Spring Brunch Board
Let your brunch party guests have at it. This sharable brunch board hits all the marks – with sweet and savory bites included. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Easy Vegan Strawberry Tart
These single-serving tarts make feeding a crowd unbelievably easy, especially since they're made with only 10 ingredients. (via The Edgy Veg)
Breakfast Fruit Salad
Luckily, there's not much to making fruit salad. Just toss your favorite fruits in a massive bowl with a ladle, and consider your brunch party side dish done! (via Live Eat Learn)
French Toast Casserole
This *iconic* french toast casserole is made in one pan, plus there's an option for the lazy hosts to let the dish sit overnight before baking. So, if your A.M. routine feels like a Manic Monday every day, all you need to do is pop the prepped casserole in the oven, and voila! (via The Girl On Bloor)
Stuffed Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
This breakfast sandwich truly delivers the best of both worlds. Each stack is comprised of savory bacon, egg, and cheese, plus sweet waffles and syrup for that *ultimate* flavor balance. For a brunch party, simply prep all of the ingredients, then let your guests build their own sammie! (via Rachel Mansfield)
Breakfast Potatoes
Dressing up some diced potatoes with bell peppers, onion, and jalapeño spruces up a familiar brunch recipe that'll please pretty much everyone at the table. Bonus points for making big batches for your brunch party! (via This Wife Cooks)
Lemon Sugar Rolls with Vanilla Cream Cheese Icing
You know (and love) cinnamon rolls – now get ready for something even sweeter and tangier: lemon rolls! This ooey-gooey recipe is ideal for a brunch party because it brings some good 'ol share-worthy pull-apart goodness to the table. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Shakshuka
Hear us out: you could host a dippable brunch party. Sounds tasty, right? First up on your menu should be this shakshuka recipe, a prime dish to dip some toast into for those hard-hitting morning munchies. Next up, dippable biscotti cookies! (via Brit + Co.)
Funfetti Biscotti
Coffee + pastries is the *best* breakfast combo on the weekends, so why not opt for a coffee brewing bar paired with a bake like these colorful biscottis? Your weekend warrior pals will totally dig it! (via Barley & Sage)
Ricotta Biscuits
These luscious biscuits recall Southern home cooking in every good way possible. Each bite is equal parts cushy and crunchy, the perfect contender for a hearty gravy bath at brunch. (via Cozy Cravings)
Sheet Pan Pancakes
This sheet pan recipe is a *total* time saver when it comes to a brunch party! It beats pouring out individual pancakes and waiting for each one to cook by miles. Just don't forget the syrup! (via Feel Good Foodie)
Japanese Fruit Sandwich (Sando)
Japanese sandos are prime picking for brunch because they carry a light, airy, and fruity flavor that just makes mornings better. No matter the type of fruit you use, you can always count on this dish to taste balanced and refreshing. Plus, it's painfully easy to make. (via Takes Two Eggs)
Sausage Hash Brown Casserole
If you're up to feed a large group, casseroles are the #1 move. This brunch-forward recipe idea compiles cheese, sausage, hash browns, and more to form a creative (and communal) dish. (via Culinary Hill)
Millionaire's Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
This brunch party recipe did not come to play. It mixes sticky sweet icing in with caramelized bacon that makes every decadent mouthful feel truly fit for a millionaire. Take care to make extra dozens for your party's company! (via Brit + Co.)
Easy Breakfast Yogurt Bake
We have to admit, we've never thought of baking yogurt, but now we see the light with this recipe. The dish brings a beneficial amount of protein to any brunch function, plus it can easily be cut up into individual portions for serving the whole table. (via Rachel Mansfield)
Citrus Fruit Cups
These fruit cups are genius for brunch party spreads. It's as simple as staging as many cups as you need for the party the night before, storing them in the fridge, and serving! (via Amanda Wilens)
Berry Bulgur Breakfast Bake
Bulgur is extremely similar to oatmeal or grits, making it a supremely healthy pick for a brunch party! Cook a large amount for your guests to eat on over time – this recipe calls for blueberries and strawberries, but you can add whatever you're feelin' in the moment. (via Live Eat Learn)
Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins
Starbucks' egg bites? Never heard of 'em. This recipe toes the line of being a copycat, except *totally* better than what you can get your hands on in the drive-thru. The cups are prepped in a muffin tin, so you can create countless numbers of the savory breakfast bite. (via Salt & Lavender)
Healthy Breakfast Cookies
Cookies for breakfast have to be the best thing since sliced bread, TBH. What's even more desirable about this recipe is that it's health-focused, so you don't lose track of your goals at breakfast. Make some for your brunch party guests to take home once the festivities are done! (via The Endless Meal)
Ultimate Breakfast Tacos
Because only a crazy person would say 'no' to breakfast tacos. For your brunch get-together, you can prep the additions separately, then have your attendees build their own tacos! (via Cozy Cravings)
Sign up for our newsletter for more recipe ideas!
Header image via The Girl On Bloor
Home decor and wellness creator Kelly Marcelo always wanted to be her own boss. “I never really wanted to have a job where I wouldn't be in control,” she says. She started a wedding photography business in college, added a photo booth rental business, and launched a t-shirt business with her brother. When the pandemic put events to a halt, she found herself at a crossroads. What to do next?
She decided to pour herself into her passion for home decor. She started posting several times a day on TikTok and finding a new outlet for her creativity. Within a few months, she had 10K followers, steadily built her following and hired a manager, and was recently chosen to decorate the White House for the holidays. “You have to ask that question, well, why not me?,” she says.
Check out Kelly’s colorful and creative world and how she’s making every move count in her business with the help of TurboTax, so she can focus on what she loves to do!
Don’t Wait for Perfection. In the first month of launch, Kelly’s goal was to post three times a day. “I was really trying to focus on getting as much out there at first, but then also being able to get that information to see what worked with people,” she recalls. That market research allowed her to build an audience, learn what her audience craved, and focus on the wins. “It was very intense at the beginning, and then I eased back. I'm like, ‘Okay, let me breathe, because it was not sustainable at all.’”
Refine and Strategize. To avoid burnout, she slowed her pace and stepped back to focus on the bigger picture. “I didn't pressure myself once I was on solid ground. I decided to focus more on refining the content, making it for the fun of it, and focusing on the strategy part.” Step back and analyze your learnings and decide how you want to move forward and grow.
Invest in Your Growth. Kelly joined a business accelerator for underrepresented creators in the middle of her journey that proved to be a smart strategic move. “I feel like that changed the whole course of where I am now, because once I was able to get support from them and talk to people directly after the program, that's when I got my biggest brand deal.”
Be Brave. “For me, it was recognizing that the fear was always going to be there,” says Kelly. “If you want to live a creative life, you're going to have to do something that's scary, and it's probably going to require steps that you don't want to take. For me, being on camera was very scary.” Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to take on moves that push your boundaries and help you develop new skills. Remember that being brave doesn't mean being fearless. It means acknowledging your fears but choosing to move forward despite them!
Photos: Courtesy of Kelly Marcelo
Ready to take your business to the next level? Make your moves count with TurboTax!*
*Experts only available with TurboTax Live. See details at turbotax.com/guarantees.
It's almost time to officially celebrate the moms in your life, but we know moms are worth celebrating every day. While you prep for Mother's Day with cute cards and brunch menus, sometimes a kind and inspiring word really makes all the difference in a day. While your moms, sisters, and gal pals have perfectly good advice, we think a little extra words of encouragement can't hurt. With that in mind, here are 16 motherhood quotes to send to the moms you know and love — or to screenshot and save for yourself. Big hugs, mamas!
"I was lucky enough to get to have one woman who truly helped me through everything." — Emma Stone
"You're going to get advice from a lot of people...but you know innately what your child needs. You should trust that." — Lucy Liu
"My mother and I are so close, and I always prayed that I would have that type of relationship with my daughter." — Beyoncé
"Become a mother has made me next-level confident. I've never felt more empowered." — Kelly Clarkson
"As a new mom myself, it really was important to hear positive compliments from people just being like, 'Hey, you're doing a great job.'" — Shay Mitchell
"Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, worry, all mixed together." — Kate Middleton
"No one's really doing it perfectly, I just think you love your kids with your whole heart, and you do the best you possibly can." — Reese Witherspoon
"There is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." — Jill Churchill
"There's no such thing in the world as a supermom. We just do the best we can." — Sarah Michelle Gellar
"'Oh, I'm just a mom,' you heard women say. Just a mom? Please! Being a mom is everything. It's mentorship, it's inspirational, and it's our hope for the future." — Sally Field
"I've approached many things in my life with such intensity that I want to approach motherhood with dedication and focus." — Drew Barrymore
"Motherhood has helped me stop overanalyzing things." — Idina Menzel
"When I had my children and I felt that type of love...it made me understand there was a purity to love." — Jennifer Lopez
"I try to call my mother with more regularity because I think, what if Hazel didn't call me for two weeks? I'm able to see her mothering now from a different vantage point." — Julia Roberts
"If you're confident with what you're doing even if that's some weird, bizarre parenting technique that you know works for your kid or you feel happy about it, do it." — Kristen Bell
"I am completely changing since being a mom. I'm much more open, I'm much more accepting of myself, I'm much more thoughtful." — Pink
Be sure to check out our other mom quotes to help remind you that you're doing the best you can on your motherhood journey.
Lead image via olia danilevich/Pexels
May the Fourth be with you! To celebrate Star Wars Day, we're bringing you a tasty take on a classic cocktail you already know and love – the Old-Fashioned. Crafted with Breckenridge Port Cask Bourbon, this intergalactic drink honors Obi Wan with robust flavors and a strong sip. If you're feeling in the spirit, prep some Star Wars sweets to pair. Scroll for the easy cocktail recipe!
Ingredients for May The Fourth Obi Wan Old-Fashioned
Photo by Jessie Unruh / Breckenridge Distillery
For the Obi Wan Old-Fashioned:
- 2.5 oz. Breckenridge Port Cask Finish
- .5 oz. raw simple syrup*
- 2 dashes of barrel-aged bitters or Angostura Bitters
- Luxardo cherries, to garnish
For the simple syrup*:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
How to Make The Obi Wan Old-Fashioned
Instructions for the Obi Wan Old-Fashioned:
- Stir all ingredients with ice and strain over one large ice cube.
- Mix the sugar and water over medium heat. Simmer and stir until dissolved.
Sign up for our newsletter for more stellar drink recipes!
Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.