1. Do some homework. Visit brimfieldshow.com and brimfieldexchange.com for a list of fields and opening days and hours. The sites will also tell you which fields –– if any –– have an admission fee. Most are free, but some charge on certain days.

　　2. Expect to buy. Bring tote bags or a small shopping cart to stash your finds. If you don’t have your own cart, they are often available to rent at the show. For a fee, porters will haul things from the fields to your car.

　　3. Time it right. For the best selection, go on the first day. To avoid crowds, go on a weekday. For the best deals, go on the last day.

　　4. Bring cash. Many vendors do not accept credit cards or checks. Those who do might be willing to accept a lower price if you can pay in cash. If you run out, there are several ATMs within the show grounds.

　　5. Dress for success. You’ll most likely be walking for hours, so wear sneakers. And you’ll probably score a better deal if you’re not wearing pricy jeans or toting a designer bag.

　　6. Expect to pay $5 to $8 for parking. It’s prohibited along Route 20, but there are many pay lots along the show route.

　　7. If you are shopping with a friend, you’ll most likely get separated. Pick a place and a time to meet.

　　8. Accept the fact that even if you spend the entire day at the show, you won’t be able to see everything.

　　9. If your heart is set on something, buy it. There’s a good chance it won’t be there when you get back. If you’re undecided, write down the name of the field and the booth number so you can return if you want to.

　　10. Ask questions and enlist help. Don’t hesitate to talk to dealers about something they’re selling or you’re searching for. Most do this for a living and are quite knowledgeable.

　　Miu Miu continua a svelarci le borse della nuova collezione invernale, dopo aver visto quelle caratterizzate dai trend di stagione, oggi vi presentiamo un modello classico, direi quasi un cult per la griffe italiana, una tote in pelle decorata con borchie. Miu Miu sa bene come conquistare noi donne, la nuova Studded leather bag è una tote spaziosa e capiente, adatta a chi cerca una borsa nuova da portare sempre con se, in ufficio, all’università, la sera o per uscire tra amiche, insomma è una borsa davvero indispensabile.

　　La Studded leather bag di Miu Miu fa parte della collezione autunno inverno 2010 2011, è realizzata in morbida pelle di vitello nera, è spaziosa e capiente, una borsa perfetta per tutte le occasioni in cui volete una bella borsa che vi consenta di portare con voi tutto quello di cui avete bisogno.

　　La nuova tote di Miu Miu è semplice ma glamour, abbiamo il design classico delle tote Miu Miu e delle decorazioni con borchiette di forme, dimensioni e colori diversi negli angoli bassi e lungo il bordino superiore.

　　La borsa Miu Miu presenta la chiusura con la zip, l’interno foderato in tessuto nero ed una comoda tracolla amovibile in dotazione, la parte hardware è in metallo dorato e richiama in parte il colore delle borchiette. Le misure sono 38 x 30 x 20 centimetri ed i manici misurano 10 centimetri. Il prezzo è 1,350 euro.

　　You’ve been bad. Very bad. You know it, and you told me so.

　　You’ve crammed your purse with way too much “stuff”— you had another more expressive word for it — and now you’ve got the exhaustion, sore shoulders and aching back to prove it.

　　”Am I the silliest woman on earth carrying all this?” asked Sherilyn Neal, stopping on Michigan Avenue to put her purses on a scale I set up on a table bedecked with a big sign asking, “How much does your purse weigh?” (Short answer: too much.)

　　Neal was carrying just under 10 pounds, split between the Chicago account manager’s purse and her purse annex, an ample tote filled with an extra pair of shoes, a just-in-case umbrella and a hardcover library book by the author of “Eat, Pray, Love.”

　　”That’s a light book. You should have caught me when I was carrying the ‘ Harry Potter’ books,” laughed Neal.

　　Although Neal’s load was at the high end of my weigh-ins, it was nowhere near the top. Mostly women, plus a trio of 20-year-old guys visiting from Ukraine, weighed in.

　　Neal was a lightweight compared with accountant Suzanne Fisher, 43, of Western Springs, who was hauling a back-breaking 20.4 pounds (in two bags) along Boul Mich, including a hefty leather calendar that she cannot let out of her sight. “This is my life,” she said as she let me weigh the thing (2.5 pounds).

　　With a stylish white monster hanging off her left shoulder, tiny Ana Rodriguez, 46, said, “I told my husband yesterday I need a smaller purse. It is heavy, and I had back surgery,” said the homemaker and mother of four from St. John, Ind. Her wallet alone weighed 1.5 pounds, and her makeup bag wasn’t far behind at 1.1 pounds.

　　Believe me, any purse over 5 pounds feels heavy, “especially when you’ve been walking for four hours. It gets heavier,” said one woman who was weighed down by her bejeweled 6-pounder.

　　”I’m always picking up my patients’ purses and asking, ‘What the hell do you carry around?’” said Dr. Susan Dugan, a back pain expert and associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center.

　　”Big purses are ‘in,’ and they’re beautiful, but if you carry a smaller purse, you have to prioritize. So choosing a smaller purse would be a good solution,” says Dugan.

　　(For a peek at my personal purse psychosis, see opposite page.)

　　Dugan says there’s no specific weight limit women should shoot for, but she had two ways to measure whether your purse needs to slim down. If you have trouble lifting it off the seat next to you with one hand, you’re in trouble.

　　And: “If you will not let other people pick up your purse — ‘Oh, no, I’ll get it. It’s too heavy’ — then it’s time to purge.”

　　Some people prefer to carry their prints rather than wear them. So on these occasions, a tote covered in an attention-grabbing pattern is welcome. Stussy’s Future Cat Travel Tote has the shape of a lady’s purse but a haphazard print that is non-conformist. The bag is a nice addition to a simple jeans-and-T-shirt look or a casual LBD. Plus, it’s large enough to store all the daily necessities and then some.

　　A Jensen Beach man hopes an unusual multi-purpose black mesh tote bag he invented in February to help reduce consumers’ use of plastic bags will find its way to store shelves by the end of October.

　　The fabric bag, which can be used to carry everything from groceries to laundry – or even a few cold six-packs plus a picnic lunch – is called the Camel Sack, and for good reason.

　　It holds as much as a shopper could fit into four paper bags full of groceries. The bottom, which can be unzipped to drop down and function as an attached cooler bag can be removed to use as a stand-alone cooler with its own lid.

　　“I started working on this in February of this year,” inventor Brent Meldeau said. “This is an idea whose time has come all around the world. People are aware of the damage plastic bags do to the environment and to wildlife. Cities and countries are banning plastic bags. Stores like Walmart, Whole Foods and CVS have committed to reducing the use of plastic bags.”

　　Meldeau, 41, hopes to begin with a local Walmart stocking them, followed by sales at an independent grocery chain and direct-to-consumer sales through a home shopping network and website, The website will be completed by late October. Tentative prices are $17 for a smaller Camel Sack and $24 for a larger one.

　　“Right now we have samples being made up in China, and we are meeting with a company that can distribute them to stores and consumers,” he said.

　　The Camel Sack, which will be sold by his start-up company Earthly Goods International in Jensen Beach, will be made of 80 percent recyclable material – including recycled plastic bottles – with a lifetime guarantee.

　　“If anything goes wrong, we’ll replace the bag,” Meldeau said.

　　Features include a foam-padded shoulder strap that can quickly be shortened to allow hand carrying, a 50-pound capacity, the ability to separate meats and cold items from everything else by placing them in a removable cooler bag that can be washed, and an additional small carry bag that it can be folded into for storage or before use at a store.

　　“My passion is to develop a product that help people,” he said. “I think we can help to save the planet one plastic bag at a time.”

　　The beginning of the semester also gives students an opportunity to reinvent themselves, but with spending hard earned summer savings on apartment accessories, textbooks and other back to school essentials, spare cash can be scarce.

　　Updating your image doesn’t necessarily mean buying an entirely new wardrobe. A change in personal style can be achieved by buying one or two new pieces that can affect your overall look, and these pieces can usually be found for under $20.

　　Change Your Hairstyle

　　Believe it or not, doing something as simple as getting a haircut can transform the way a person looks. When using your hair to update your look, go with radical differences, so the change is noticeable. For example, if your hair has always been long, cut off as much as you need to donate to Locks for Love, which should leave you with a fun short style. The middle part is making a comeback, so if you’re sick of your bangs, now is the time to grow them out. If cutting your hair is too much of a change for you, dying it is another way to update your appearance. If you have fair skin, try dying it a lighter color, and if you have darker skin go with a darker shade. Remember to choose a color within the fall color palette such as a dark, honey blonde, deep red-orange or chestnut brown.

　　Change Your Face

　　Changing the way people see you doesn’t require going to great lengths like getting plastic surgery; it can easily be done by altering the way people see your eyes, by switching to glasses or contacts. If you’ve worn glasses your entire life, stop covering up your face and switch to contacts. Still attached to glasses? Try a new pair of frames in a different color or shape. This year, large framed tortoiseshell glasses are in. Even if you don’t have poor eyesight, you can still sport fun glasses. Attitude glasses, glasses with clear, nonprescription lenses, are sold at stores like Claire’s and Urban Outfitters for around $10.

　　Change Your Bag

　　Time to get rid of that ratty, old backpack and upgrade to a mature briefcase or laptop bag. A smart, sophisticated leather satchel is the perfect bag for fall, and will give your style a professional, urbane edge. A caramel colored leather shoulder bag, complimented by hunter green or deep orange wool detailing makes the perfect autumn carryall. Leather purses and backpacks are also a stylish way to tote your stuff around campus. The right purse or laptop case can be the finishing touch to pull your outfit together. When you carry your books in something chic, you’re sure to look and feel ready for that A+. To get a great deal on any leather apparel, try a secondhand or vintage shop for some gently used, affordably priced pieces.

　　Lindsay Lohan looked in good spirits wearing cuffed blue denim Daisy-Dukes, a black tank top, and high heels as she returned to her West Hollywood condo driving an Aston Martin on August 27.

　　She wore a red plaid shirt atop the top and accessorized with aviators, tan high heeled pumps, and a blue tote. She also carried a black office bag.

　　Lindsay got her driver’s license back on Wednesday, August 25. It was suspended following her 2007 DUI arrest.

　　Since regaining her freedom on August 24, after 23 days in UCLA rehab and 13 days in jail, Lindsay has been out and about town, but skipped the premiere for her film Machete on August 26.

　　One of the first things that Lindsay did following her release was to slam the paparazzi over her Twitter account.

　　”Clearly.. Paparazzi shouldn’t be allowed to take pictures or video while someone’s driving or at a stop light. 4every1′s sake #trafficpolice” she tweeted on August 26 afternoon using the hashtag for traffic police.

　　Lindsay’s mother, Dina Lohan, had said on the Today Show on August 13 that she will take Lindsay back to New York, but that is not to be. The judge laid down some pretty stringent conditions to ensure Lindsay continues to tread the straight and narrow, one of the conditions being that she cannot leave Los Angeles until November 1.

　　A Jensen Beach man hopes an unusual multi-purpose black mesh tote bag he invented in February to help reduce consumers’ use of plastic bags will find its way to store shelves by the end of October.

　　The fabric bag, which can be used to carry everything from groceries to laundry – or even a few cold six-packs plus a picnic lunch, is called the Camel Sack, and for good reason.

　　It holds as much as a shopper could fit into four paper bags full of groceries. The bottom of it, which can be unzipped to drop down and function as an attached cooler bag can be removed to use as a standalone cooler with its own lid,.

　　“I started working on this in February of this year,” inventor Brent Meldeau said. “This is an idea whose time has come all around the world. People are aware of the damage plastic bags do to the environment and to wildlife. Cities and countries are banning plastic bags. Stores like Wal Mart, Whole Foods and CVS have committed to reducing the use of plastic bags.”

　　Meldeau, 41, hopes to begin with a local Wal Mart stocking them, followed by sales at an independent grocery chain and direct-to-consumer sales through a home shopping network and web site. The web site will be completed by late October.

　　“Right now we have samples being made up in China, and we are meeting with a company that can distribute them to stores and consumers,” he said.

　　The Camel Sack, which will be sold by his start-up company Earthly Goods International in Jensen Beach, will be made of 80 percent recyclable material with a lifetime guarantee.

　　“If anything goes wrong, we’ll replace the bag,” Meldeau said.

　　Features include a foam padded shoulder strap that can quickly be shortened to allow hand carrying, a 50-pound capacity, the ability to separate meats and cold items from everything else by placing them in a removable cooler bag that can be washed, and an additional small carry bag that it can be folded into for storage or before use at a store.

　　“My passion is to develop a product that help people,” he said. “I think we can help to save the planet one plastic bag at a time.”

　　 As grocery shoppers prepare for the possible plastic bag ban coming up in 2012, local grocery stores are doing what they can to help in the transition that may have the option of “paper or plastic” gone for good. Racks of reusable shopping bags made from earth friendly materials can be seen near check stands throughout most stores in Visalia including large chain stores like SaveMart Supermarkets. The bags can also be found at WinCo Foods in west Visalia, Food4Less on North Dinuba Blvd and at Best Buy Market, a locally owned grocery store.

　　A bill that has already been approved by the state Assembly would ban all carry out single-use plastic bags from supermarkets, convenience stores, drug stores and liquor stores. Although the plastic will be banned, customers will have the option to either bring their own bags or use recycled bags provided by the store and have a per-bag-charge of five cents for each paper carryout bag distributed at the point of sale. The ban does not apply to meat or produce plastic bags.

　　If made law, it would take effect at smaller retailers in 2013.The AB 1998 that was introduced by assembly member Julia Brownley to ban the bags received the “unprecedented support” of stakeholders; including the California Grocers Associations.

　　Skip Nugent, owner of Best Buy Market, is greatly concerned about where the per-bag-charge will go.

　　“If it’s going back to the environment, that’s one thing,” he said. “If it’s going back to the government, that’s another.”

　　Best Buy Market is just one of many grocery stores that are joining the trend of selling its own reusable bags in-store, with its own logo, while offering money back on purchases. Nugent’s store offers a green tote bag for 99 cents but gives back five cents to every customer who uses the Best Buy Market reusable bag.

　　“We want to give customers another option to benefit them,” he said.

　　The plastic bags are going to be a big impact on everybody’s business, Nugent added.

　　As people raise concerns about the cost of the consumer’s grocery bill going up, customer Bernadette Branco of Visalia said that because of the possible per-bag-charge, she has already started using the reusable bags for her grocery shopping. Whether the bill passes she plans on using reusable bags for future shopping trips, even outside of grocery retailers.

　　“I’m glad they are getting rid of the plastic bags,” she said.

　　Branco bought five reusable bags, and said that it’s plenty for her family of three. She is not worried about the per-bag-charge, therefore leaving the transition from plastic to reusable easy for her.

　　Chris Solis, an employee of nine years at Best Buy, said that so far she only sees around two to three people a day utilizing reusable bags and that although there is a lot more attempting to use them, more often than not the customers simply forget them.

　　Solis said that despite possible job losses in the production of plastic bags, she would still like to see it pass in order to help preserve the environment.

　　Brownley reported that it costs the state of California $25 million a year to collect and bury single use plastic shopping bags in landfills, a figure disputed by opponents of the bill. Of the 19 million single-use bags discarded annually in California, only 5 percent are recycled, another point of dispute. If passed, the bill would ban all of the single-use bags that have been polluting oceans, waterways and threatening marine life, she reported.

　　The central theme of the Creative Use of Space also lies at the heart of the practical luggage solutions available from the MINI Lifestyle Collection. The items in the Collection are designed to meet the full range of travel requirements. Functionality and stylishness are guaranteed, in customary MINI fashion. MINI Rooftop Collection. The robust MINI hard-shell suitcases from the Rooftop line can take anything you throw at them. The Rooftop Cabin Trolley, for example, represents a stylish and reliable means of carrying your kit. Decked out in either the Union Jack or Racing Stripes, it has an extending telescopic handle, two strong carry handles and smooth-running wheels.

　　The main compartment is fitted with packing belts and a net divider, while the centre section has two small side pockets. Also provided are a protective transportation cover, an integrated lock and a nameplate to help the trolley make it home in one piece should – perish the thought – owner and case become separated.

　　The white Rooftop Pilot with black Racing Stripes is a hard-wearing item of travel gear for business and leisure, and comes equipped with a retractable telescopic handle, robust carry handle and easy-rolling wheels. Inside the case are organised compartments for clothes, documents and your mobile phone and pens. These can be joined by a laptop case, which allows you to keep your computer separate when travelling. Reinforced edges and a rubber-coated base make this hard-shell case extremely durable, and the integrated lock and transportation cover deliver the requisite protection. Plus, the nameplate ensures that the case is easy to retrieve in the event of it being mislaid in action.

　　The MINI Travel Belt, an adjustable suitcase strap in Racing Check style with metal fastener, offers an extra layer of security should your trolley case unexpectedly open. And the MINI Travel Bag Tag, a luggage tag with metal fastener, adds another element to this all-round worry-free package for trips away.

　　MINI Black Jack Collection.

　　The design of the extensive Black Jack luggage line from MINI stands out with its classy black finish and tone-in-tone Union Jack motif. The spacious Black Jack Trolley, for example, comes with an extending telescopic handle and a pair of strong carry handles. Two wheels mimicking the classic MINI rim design guarantee swift progress. The main compartment has a practical partition, a net divider and four small pockets for cosmetics, and the front face of the suitcase features two easily accessible small pockets and a large compartment.

　　An extra lock with MINI Wing logo takes care of security, while reinforced edges and a rubber-coated base enhance strength and stability. The Black Jack Cabin Trolley performs the same functions to impressive effect, but its smaller dimensions mean it can be taken onto aircraft as hand luggage. The Black Jack Briefcase adds a briefcase to the range. Two compartments and inside pockets for a mobile phone, pens and business cards ensure you have everything you need for a day at the office; your laptop slides away securely into a separate padded compartment. With its adjustable and detachable carry strap and padded handle the case sits comfortably in your hand, but should it prove too heavy to carry it can be simply fixed to the trolley’s telescopic handle with the help of the slide-in pocket on its reverse side.

　　The Black Jack Duffle Bag, a trendy sports and travel bag with a detachable carry strap, is perfect for leisure use. In addition to an ingenious inner compartment system, this item also includes an extra pocket compartment with a magnetic closure on the reverse side. These are joined by two neat side pockets, one of which has an integrated net to accommodate drinks. The small Black Jack Ammo shoulder bag is another impressive member of the range and features a front zip pocket, several inside pockets and a side pocket with net insert for drinks bottles. The Black Jack Washkit, a wash bag with one large and two small waterproof compartments, will become an indispensable element of your travel armoury. It also has a front pocket with zip closure. The high-quality leather Black Jack Wallet, meanwhile, provides a fine home for your travel funds with its classic notes/credit cards compartment split, plus a separate area for coins.

　　MINI Shout Collection.

　　MINI delved deep into its classic photo archives to create the Shout accessories line. With striking black-and-white retro MINI motifs, the Shout items recall some legendary moments in the brand’s history. As the name suggests, the design of the Shout Small Doctor Bag takes its cues from a traditional medical bag. A classic Mini Rallye Monte Carlo print stands out from the front, and the structured compartment division and comfortable carry strap ensure that it never becomes a pain to carry. The bag’s red inside creates an attractive contrast. The Shout Bucket Tote with cool Swinging London print offers a large inner compartment for papers and a small pocket for a mobile phone, pens, etc. A contrasting colour is provided by the red twill lining.

　　A short upper carry strap and an additional adjustable strap allow it to be used as a shoulder bag or handbag, as desired. Elsewhere, it’s not only bicycle couriers who will appreciate the virtues of the Shout Messenger with classic Mini motif. This shoulder bag with clever inner design and velcro-type fastening cuts an equally dashing figure in your day-to-day routine and on your travels. The Shout Wallet Simple Organizer and Shout Wallet Medium Organizer offer a secure hideaway for credit cards and notes, and have a separate zip pocket for coins.