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My Betsey Johnson Backpack: A Fashionable Love Story

A person in sunglasses and a pink cap smiles on a sunny beach. Bright sun and clear blue sky in the background, creating a cheerful mood.

December of 2018... I had completed my advanced fellowship and received board certification in Anti-Aging, Metabolic, & Functional Medicine. At that time, I was fairly certain that it was ridiculous to fly to Vegas for a fellowship graduation ceremony.

The work was already happening. Life was full. I didn’t feel like pausing for the “official” moment.


My mom was not having it.


She convinced me to go anyway, and because she did, we had one of those ridiculously iconic mother–daughter trips: a one-day turnaround to Vegas.. Graduation.. Seeing the Cirque du Soleil show, “ONE..” Barely catching our flight home.. Laughing the whole way through.

Right before we left, we set out on a mission to find me a backpack to take on the trip. One that I could carry as a notebook/laptop tote and pack a change of clothes in as well. We found her at TJ Maxx.

A practical choice that became a constant

At the time, it wasn’t particularly sentimental; even though when I think about it now, there was a tad of 'love at first sight' magic going on when I saw her unique animal pattern amongst the other hanging shoulder storage options available.

I was running a business. I had kids. I’d gotten good at getting everything done without remembering exactly how I'd managed. This bag, for this trip, was aligned and worked so well for that wild 24 hours which included:


  • Fellowship Graduation (A4M/MMI)

  • Dr. Pamela Smith presented my certificatons (FAAMFM & ABAAHP)

  • “ONE” - the Cirque du Soliel show inspired by the music of Michael Jackson

  • sprinting through the convention center "movie style" to and through an airport ✈️

  • laughing like we were getting away with something 😂

Betsey Johnson backpack sitting on park bench, open with books. Warm ambiance.

And then life kept moving. There were client wins, talks of expansion, contracts, trips, and shifts in philosophy. There were notes, games, meetings, recommendations, and agreements.

After choosing to sell our home, and then after a string of events that made me quietly question the whole concept of “stability”...


My backpack became my "go to" without conscious awareness. I began to carry her everywhere with me, as she carried all I desired.

I’ve always found safety in the things that help me track reality: books, research, notes, journaling, and being prepared in a way that lets my nervous system breathe deeply.

So, she filled up with the essentials: notebooks, markers, books, talismans.. plus, whatever the day asked for (a soccer ball, a water bottle, the whole human life of it).


She was always slung over my shoulder, giving me this subtle sense of space for balance, like: "Okay… I’ve got what I need."

And then it started becoming a pattern.

I was rarely without it.

Over time, “my backpack” turned into my everyday accessory.


(Click here to check out the full photo gallery)


Woman in glasses writing in a notebook at a cozy café. She wears a colorful top, with plants and wooden furniture in the background. Warm ambiance.

She was there for:

  • Beach days in Costa Rica from Cabuya to Marina Ballena

  • Bike rides downtown Austin for soccer & picnics @ Zilker

  • Strolling along the San Antonio Riverwalk New Year's Eve

  • Flights ... Trains ... Busses ... Ubers. ... and so many walks

  • Streets of Madrid, KRS-ONE Concert in Almeria

  • Walking the kids to school in Aguilas (and castle tours)

  • Zipping from here to there on the monorail in Kuala Lumpur

  • Long, seaside walks, quick trips to the pool, and coffee shop meetings





Appreciation blooms in many unexpected spaces and honestly, that kind of consistency does something to you.


Eventually, the zipper burst open.

It happened while leaving Águilas for Málaga. From there, I was continuing on to Malaysia for a few months and thought for sure I'd find a 'replacement' while there.. And I remember thinking, Okay… maybe this is where we part ways.


I tried to replace her.

Nothing compared. Like, not even close... 'the lining isn't cute enough, the material isn't soft enough, the color is off, the straps aren't even close to as perfect as hers'....

So I risked it and brought her back to Texas, (even carrying her full to the brim on the flight from Malaysia- she only faltered twice) where my mom said she could (and DID!) sew the bottom of the zipper back together.

A small repair. A huge feeling.


So when I left Texas for Costa Rica last year... My Betsey Johnson backpack not only rode along with me, she's on my shoulder every day - in fact we went to the pool together just this morning :)


Person wearing glasses holds a coffee cup, tumbler, and phone in a bright room. They wear a pink shirt with large black text, IDGAF, looking amused.

Lifestyle is a beautiful term. It’s loving the small choices.. Finding support that actually feels supportive.. Having your “go-to” things that allow you to breathe easier.

Stability in what you prefer. Adaptability in how you move.

Style that supports your life.

Comfort in being prepared.. your way.


And let’s be honest… Betsey Johnson is a vibe. Our choices carry energy, and I’m happy to keep choosing loyalty to a stylishly supported lifetime. From December 2018 to now, this has been less a purchase and more a relationship... built on trust, repetition, and showing up prepared in ways that feel calming.


If you enjoy this lens on lifestyle, coherence, and the small choices that carry us over time, you’ll love The Resonance Report. It’s my ongoing love letter to the patterns that support a well-lived life. Sign up at VisionaryIntuitiveProductions.com.



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