September Contest Winners

For this contest, we asked Miche Bag fans to submit a picture of themselves that reflected why they loved living in their state, providence, or region. We received an overwhelming amount of fantastic feedback, which made it difficult to select only five winners for this contest! Below are these women’s wonderful entries. Check it out!

Kristen Powell, Colorado

This is a picture of my little family in front of some aspen trees.  I always think of Colorado when I see aspens. They are so lovely in the fall.  We drive up into the canyons to see the colorful palate of colors. We’ve lived in Colorado for a little over three years now.  We love it!  We moved here from beautiful, sunny, warm, beachy, Southern California.  I was born and raised there – I never even went away to school.  I never thought I’d leave.  But we did and I love it here in Fort Collins, Colorado.  It’s so beautiful.  We’re close to the gorgeous mountains and rivers.  I’ve loved having the four seasons.  It snowed here on our first Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I don’t even mind the snow, though my husband is the one who always shovels.  Plus living in Fort Collins where CSU is located has been great.  There’s always something fun going on.

Victoria Martinez, California

I could list the beauties of California, such as the diversity of the people, the glorious sunshine, the glowing orchards, the luscious vineyard of Napa Valley, world famous Hollywood, the amazing Golden Gate Bridge, California’s crown jewel Yosemite National Park or the outstanding UC Campuses. Even though all are equally beautiful in their own right, one stands above all others in beauty. It is The California Courts. The rooms are cold, the walls are gray, the carpets are dark blue and there are no windows with a view. The very same court allowed us the privilege of adopting our daughter, Samantha. The smile on her face out shines all the beauty listed above & that moment was breathtaking. The California Courts granted a little girl her wish that day, for a family to love, respect & guide her. So even though the California courts don’t hold the same physical beauty as the rest, they hold a very special place in my heart that makes them even more beautiful, beyond compare.

Emi Infantino-Thornton

My picture is of me at Super Bowl 42 when the New York Giants (my home team) defeated the New England Patriots. I was born and raised in Long Island, NY. Due to my husband being a soldier in the U.S. army I’m currently living in Hawaii. Although Hawaii is known to most as paradise home will always be where my heart is. The feeling I get when I step off the plane at JFK airport is indescribable. I love everything about New York. The food, the weather, taking the train into the city,. When I’m in New York I feel like I can do anything. I just feel so alive and ecstatic. To me fall is absolutely beautiful on Long Island. The multicolored leaves that fall from the trees are almost breath taking. I could go on for hours about New York. There is no where else in the world I would rather be. I even have Strong Island tattooed on my right arm (that’s what us Long Islanders call home)  If I win this contest I will be one happy homesick New Yorker.

Grace R. Stancati

I’m standing next to my ‘tita’ (Hawaiian sister) in front of the ocean at Nimitz Beach on Oahu, Hawaii. I chose this photo because it was of the time in our lives when one of us was emerging on a new beginning and the other was losing what was once a feeling of “home.”

On this day, we were at my tita’s “going away” (beach) party. After her 49 years born & raised in Hawaii she was recently married and relocating to upstate New York – yes, you read that correctly – a Hawaiian girl was moving to the ice cold weather in New York!

I was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Hawaii in 1973. I’ve lived in many places. Colorado, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Hawaii. I’ve traveled all around the world but this woman was like HOME to me and despite our diverse back ground her Ohana ‘family’ and friends embraced me, loved me, and took me in as one of their own.

The culture and ALOHA spirit of the Hawaiian people fullfilled my desire to learn about their wonderful history. It was difficult to let her go yet it was a new life adventure and even though she was frightened, I encouraged her to learn about the new people and places and things she’ll experience.

So, as in life (and “Miche” handbags) everything must change ….and so it has!

Katrina Journeaux

Oh how I LOVE Tennessee! In my opinion it is the BEST place in the country to live! Where else can you swim in the lakes, go tubing down the rivers, explore the mountains and countryside, go camping under the stars, or play at Dollywood!?!

I live in Oak Ridge, TN, known as the “Secret City.” It is where the first atomic bomb was built! That may sound like a bad thing but its really quite amazing. The story is even told at our local Museum of Science and Energy. The location of my town is centrally located to everything that TN has to offer and it’s all right here at my fingertips!

In all directions there is something wonderful to see and do! I can drive down the road and be in the mountains breathing in the freshest air. There are places everywhere that I can take my four children camping and spend some QUALITY time with them without the distraction of TV’s, cell phones and computers. I can jump on the highway and make a quick trip to Nashville, the country music capital of the world. I can go back in time to the days of kings and queens and explore a REAL castle at the TN Renaissance Festival. I can even take a drive to Memphis and visit Graceland where Elvis, the “King of Rock and Roll” lived!

I am also surrounded by some of the nicest people you will ever have the privilege to meet and I have made wonderful and genuine friends throughout my life here as well as my husband of ten years, the best man I have ever known. It has been the most wonderful place to raise my four children. They don’t yet know how lucky they are to be living here, but I know one day they will understand just how blessed and beautiful their lives are! We can hop in the car, even if its just for a trip to the store, and see the gorgeous mountain scenery outside our windows everywhere we turn! Its an absolutely beautiful state and I honestly don’t think you could find as much beauty and wonderment as Tennessee has to offer in any other state in our nation!

The beauty, love and opportunities that I am surrounded with has made Tennessee the place where my affection, my heart and my home is. I feel blessed every single day as I wake up, pull the curtains back and see nothing but trees and wildlife! We even have a family of deer that live in my backyard! I have lived in Tennessee since I was a child and although I have visited many different states and countries I simply couldn’t imagine living anywhere else!