Many of you have heard of my love for Vera Bradley bags. I have been collecting and gifting their beautiful patterned bags in all shapes and sizes since the mid-’90s, but what I didn’t know and many of you may not realize either is that Vera Bradley has designed special breast cancer awareness patterns and colors to celebrate their commitment to the cause.

This year’s pattern is Hope Blooms (you can see it here). It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes- “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” by Lady Bird Johnson. Not only does that really encapsulate the overall feeling of 2021 as many of us hold onto hope as we return to some form of our pre-pandemic lives, but it also evokes images of the wonderful gains we are seeing with breast cancer research and treatment.

And speaking of breast cancer research, if we are connected on the gram you may have seen my IG story highlight or my feed post about the influencer trip I took with Vera Bradley. I shared several IG story slides from the Vera Bradley Foundation’s Classic that I attended in Fort Wayne, IN last month. The Classic is a multi-day event that features the largest women’s amateur golf charity event in the nation! The 2021 Classic raised over $1.5 million completing their pledge amount of $37.5 million to breast cancer research. Yes, you read that right… millions of dollars have been donated by the Vera Bradley Foundation to significantly change the work being done for breast cancer treatment and prevention. You can learn more about the foundation here.

Playing in the Classic golf event was one of the highlights of my influencer career. Influencer trips always have the appeal of having an opportunity to engage in fun activities -remember that time I filmed dolphins jumping up next to our boat while toasting off of the Florida coast? The fun stuff is always memorable but the most important part has always been the chance to meet and bond with other women from all over the country. This trip had those same elements and I was grateful for the experience, but it was also an opportunity for me to be a part of something so much bigger! Not only was I able to be a part of an event created to push the boundaries of positive change, but having the exposure left me feeling changed too. I’ve always had an affinity for brands and organizations that give back but I am more inspired than ever to do what I can to give back too. 

I know I’m not alone in that feeling and that’s why I’m so excited to share this year’s Vera Bradley breast cancer awareness pattern with you. The new Hope Blooms pattern is a beautiful way for anyone to show their support for such an important cause too.

5% of the purchase price of anything Hope Blooms or Hope Blooms Pink goes straight to the foundation! You can also support this important initiative by making a donation directly to the foundation : https://www.verabradley.org/donate

Again you can find it here and even use the code CHICLIFE15 for 10% off.

Thank you for reading and supporting, friends! 

Until Next Post, 

Xo Tonya Parker