Little Black Bag 8 to....10? (I lost track!)

Well, life got super busy for a bit there!  Obviously the holidays came and went, which is a busy time for anyone...but my sister left her job (we worked together) to go on a trip to Australia, I got a promotion, and work has been crazy.  My blogging got put on hold for a bit, but I'm back with several boxes worth of LBB goodies. :)  Because of course, even during the chaos that has been the last few months, I found time to trade.

So this is going to be a hot mess of pictures of items that are probably not available on LBB anymore.  I apologize in advance and just hope you enjoy all the pretties.

Let's start out with bonuses!  Here's a sampling of what I've gotten...I've definitely received more than this though, especially the S-Factor hairspray.  I love the way that stuff smells and the full size is expensive, so I've been stocking up!  It smells like...raspberries.  Yum.

Some bonuses!  The S-Factor hairspray is my favorite.

Beauty time.

Oh, Pixi.  If it weren't for you, LBB, I never would have found these lovelies.  The darker balm is a dark berry color lip balm/stain.  It doesn't really STAIN my lips, but it leaves behind a nice pinkish stain.  Its more slick, moisturizing and glossy than a usual stain but doesn't last as long as I'm used to.  Still, a nice lip product if you don't mind reapplying to keep the color strong.  The Magic Tink Tint is awesome though!  IT looks crazy baby pink, but it actually goes on clear and then adjusts according to your PH balance, similar to Smashbox O-gloss.  All I know is that it turns my normally darker blah lips into a lighter brighter pink...it looks natural and its pencil shape makes it super easy to apply on the go.  Both of these are automatic pencils so you don't need to sharpen.  Love it!  You can buy Pixi products at Target.

Top: Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in bitten berry, retail $16
Bottom: Pixi Magic Tink Tint, retail $16

Michael Marcus blushes are really nice!  I received two of them from LBB and were, luckily, fairly easy to obtain (as opposed to the 7 Cargo blushes I traded for awhile ago, where I had to trade at least $10 over retail to get).

Michael Marcus blushes in Exciting (left) and Too Much (right).  retail $26 each

Exciting is a pretty darker pink-mauve and Too Much is a darker peachy-bronze color.  They are both very finely milled and VERY pigmented...a little definitely goes a long way here.  They are also large enough to fit a larger blush brush head, which is nice.


Love me some Smashbox lipstick...at least, their new formula.  Very creamy (almost to the point of toooo creamy) and doesn't dry out my lips.

Smashbox Be Legendary lipstick in Posey Pink, retail $19

Pretty color, right?  This one ends up being a very nice pinky natural color on me...and since I feel my lips are kind of blah and dark, this perks em right up.  Glad I was able to try the new lipstick formulation (out since the beginning of 2012), since I've been eyeing them in Sephora for awhile now and couldn't pull the trigger on the $20 price tag.


 On to miscellaneousness...


Dye Ties!  Love that these hair ties don't leave creases in my hair when I tie it up, and the colors are very pretty.  I still don't get why they retail for so high (all of these non-creasing hair ties are always mucho $$), so getting them from LBB is great.  I may have to get elastic and make my own sometime.

Bundle of 5 Dye Ties, retail $10

Love me some bird wall decals, and these have some mirrored birds!  Unfortunately, we may be moving in a few months so I am saving them for our new apartment. :)

Lot 26 Studio Birds on a Wire Wall Decals, retail 

IRL, so you can get an idea of the size. :)

Here's another item that I'm waiting to move to use!  Each frame from this frame clock holds a photo that is 2"x2" and is like a mini shadow box about 1" deep.  You can hang them in any pattern or shape (round, X, T, line...) with small nails.  I'm excited to use these, still deciding what pictures I want to put in the frames.

Present Time Photo Frame Clock, retail $56

More headphones!  This makes the 3rd pair I've gotten from LBB and these are my new favorites since they match everything.  The black and silver and wood are unisex, too, so I have to make sure these don't get kidnapped by the guy. :)  Comfy, good sound for $30 headphones.  Happy.

Grass Roots wood headphones, retail $30

Yay for bonuses!  This Nila pink cosmetic pouch is actually quite large, which is great for the bracelet storage it has become.  Its see throughness is always a plus for me since I can get to what I need at the bottom so much more easily.

Nila Anthony cosmetic case, retail $15

 I have two of the artwork scarves...the berry and maroon one and the muted mint and purple-indigo ones.  The pics below are as close as I could get to the actual colors, they were surprisingly difficult to photograph! They are super huge and will be great for traveling...used as scarves, shawls, coverups.  Very versatile.  And the pattern looks modern and grown up enough for work, too.

Briannefaye artwork scarf, retail $38 on LBB, $58 other locations

Briannefaye artwork scarf, retail $38 on LBB, $58 other locations

LOVE THIS SCARF.  This Steve Madden orange Aztec print scarf was a first pick, and I'm glad I got it.  It was trading super duper high!  I was able to get another one too in a later bag, but I traded it for a $98 multi. :)  It would be too greedy to keep two of these awesome scarves, when someone obviously wanted just one, haha.

Steve Madden Aztec scarf, retail $44

I love this double zip tote!  It was not trading well when it was available on LBB so I was able to trade for it fairly easily (close to around value) but it is great in person!  The zipper and stitching details on this bag are gorgeous and make the bag look expensive.  The handles are long enough to get on my shoulder, but the crossbody strap option is nice, too.  A great work and casual tote.

Miztique double zip bag in camel, retail $78

Interior.

Detail.

 Another not that good trader but a great basic tote!  The Sadie tote is a really nice faux leather taupe that actually matches some boots I have, so that was a plus.  I hope I can get my hands on some other colors of this, sometimes a girl needs a more basic bag.  It does have a zip top, so I can throw it around without worrying about everything falling out of it.

BCBGeneration Sadie tote in taupe, retail $68

Interior.

Detail.

One of my new favorite babies, my taupe studded duffle!  I actually bought the black studded duffle from someone via Facebook LBB Traders, I like this bag so much.  It is a nice dupe of the Alexander Wang Rocco bag, but faux leather and much, much lighter.  As you can probably tell, I like simple, structured, and studded bags...and this meets all three of those likes. :)

Street Level studded duffle in taupe, retail $88

Interior.

Back.

Detail.  Dime for scale.

Cone studs are so pretty.

 This bag is HUGE!  The Izzy and Ali grommet bag is my first from this brand, and if they are all as nice as this one it won't be my last.  It is a full 15+ inches wide and can fit your bowling ball, kitchen sink, and more. :)  Great bag for work for me, although I wish it had an exterior back zip pocket for my cell phone.  The tassel is easily removable on a hook and the grommet detailing is actually a second layer of faux leather making up the front panel, so it is very well made and sturdy.  I like that it keeps its shape when I put it on my desk.

Izzy and Ali romy grommet satchel, retail $95

Interior.

Detail.  Grommet layer is over another layer of faux leather, very nice. :)

The black Mazzie with gold studs and hardware!  This bag is beautiful, but I ultimately sold it to someone because A. I have a similar bag with gold studs that I like more and B. the strap on this baby is LONG.  And by long, I mean when I wear it crossbody, it hangs below my hip, almost below my butt...and I'm 5'4" and curvy.  I would have either had to shorten the strap or use a new strap....or carry it as a clutch (and it has a separate wrist strap to use the bag as a clutch, which was nice).  Also, the rhinestones, the square studs, and the round studs combined ended up being almost too much awesome for me. :)

Lionel Mazzie crossbody, retail $68

Interior.

Back.

Detail.

I'll post this for now and add the jewelry later since I'm running out the door. :)  Just wanted to share some pretties with you all, I'll add the rest later tonight!  And as always, if you're interested in opening a LBB, please use my referral link, I'd appreciate it!

Little Black Bag 7! (end of October/November)

This round was a regular bag with an extra item. :)  Was loving a few items so for once I opened twice in a month (still haven't officially opened for November though!).  Also, my trading time for this bag was GREATLY extended.  The site was having issues on two separate occasions so I ended up getting an extra 1.5 days of trading, which helped SO much since I've been really busy lately.

First up!  The Street Level two- way studded backpack!  This one was SUPER SUPER popular, since its a more unique item for LBB.  This bag has 5 places to hook the 2 straps it comes with, so you can wear it a bunch of different ways.  I will probably be going between the two variations pictured below:  as a hobo or as a backpack.

Street Level two-way studded backpack (as a hobo), retail $88

Check out those blingy studs!

Backpack style, from the back.

Backpack style, from the side.

 My guyfriend thinks this bag is hideous.  Therefore, I love it all the more.  The studs, the studded tassel-like zipper pull, and the stitching around the bottom makes it unique.  It also has a floral lining that I forgot to take a picture of.  Very well made and loving how its SO different from all the bags I usually get.


Next up is the Steve Madden quilted crossbody in cream/taupe!  This bag is so freakin' cute!  I really wanted something quilted for once...I love the look but for some reason never got on board.  Guess I really wanted a Chanel quilted, haha.  Since THAT is not happening anytime soon for me, I'll settle for an inexpensive fun quilted bag.

Steve Madden quilted crossbody, retail $58

Pretty lining. :)

This bag is that glossy, faux patent leather type material and the bag is pretty small, making it a nice going out bag.  I'll probably get some mileage out of it over the holidays....it looks so cute with my favorite plaid scarves.  I like the partial chain strap that keeps it from getting too heavy and it it IS long enough to wear as a crossbody (yay).

Jewelrytime!  The Kenneth Cole beaded bangles are super pretty!  The stones ARE slightly blue/grey tinged, which I like.  They are also...mushable since they are triple strands of jewelry wire, so they will fit anyone's wrist.  I have just under a 7 inch wrist and they fit very nicely (they ARE bangles, after all, so they shouldn't fit that closely).  Each of the bangles is different, too.  Really pretty and delicate. :)

Kenneth Cole beaded bangles, retail $45

Action shot!

These earrings I actually super love and aren't getting that much LBB love, so they should be easy to trade for!  Always love simple gold jewelry...not EVERYTHING needs to be an in-your-face statement piece, especially if you work in a more conservative work environment.  These earrings are substantial enough without being too heavy and the chains are good quality.  Tempted to get a second pair to gift. :)

Mata Traders chain loop earrings, retail $18

Quarter for size reference. :)

On to some beauty!  I am very disappointed by this next product so far, the Baroncasa Cali coffee soap bar thing (sorry, can't remember the actual name!).  Mostly because right out of the box, I'm not smelling coffee. :(  I was promised espresso and caffeine in the soap, so naturally I was expecting a stronger coffee smell but its pretty faint.  Its not too strong or girly though, so I'm sure it'll get used by the guyfriend.  And who knows, it might magically change when it gets wet! (doubt it, though.)  I certainly wouldn't spend $8 on this soap based on scent alone.

Not-really-sure-of-the-actual-name espresso soap, retail $8

LaVanila, you smell so yummy.  I like most of the LaVanila scents, so I was super stoked to get this Vanilla Passionfruit rollerball.  It would cost me $19 at Sephora, so LBB is a steal when I get it in a bag full of other goodies. :)  Smells just like I expected, very vanilla-y and warm with passionfruity notes.  May have to pick up some other LaVanila on LBB after I smell them at Sephora!  The candles and body washes are mighty tempting...

LaVanila vanilla passionfruit rollerball, retail $19

On to techie toys!  Soooo....I've gotten 2 (matching!) iPhone cases already from LBB, but I couldn't resist when I saw this stripey goody hit the site.  My whole family now has iPhone 4/4ses so I'll either gift my other (more durable) spare case or this one to someone in need of a prettier case. :)

iWave zebra iPhone 4/4s case, retail $25

This iWave zebra case does not wrap around the front, it just snaps onto the back so it would not be good for a constant phone-dropper.  Luckily, I am not one of those.  :)  Its a smooth plastic that snaps onto the phone tightly.  WHY do iPhone cases retail so high, anyway??  Thank goodness for LBB/Ross/Marshalls/TJ Maxx and their plethora of affordable options.


FINALLY!  MY iWave purpley goodness headphones arrived!  After the mix-up from my last bag (got the wrong color) I was getting antsy for these.  They are BEEEEEAUTIFUL!  Love the purple cord and the fact that the earpieces are black (they'll look newer longer).  They are perfect for tuning out people at work, haha.  Or to wear around my neck as localized speakers so I can hear people sneaking up behind me.

iWave purple chevron headphones, retail $25

I'm a sucker for a good candle, and this vanilla candle is HUGE!  And it smells yummy.  Guess its pretty hard to mess up vanilla though, right? :)  I like that its a double wick and that the cap is metal.  I may gift this for the holidays.

Goose Creek Candle Co. vanilla candle, retail $18

Finally, some candies for me and my guy.  :)  He wanted sours, I wanted chocolate.

Sugarfina bonus candies!  Sours, chocolate marshmallow eggs, and pearls.

I gifted the rest of the items for next time.  My next bag is already being processed by LBB, so stay tuned!  Any thoughts or questions, let me know. :)

Little Black Bag 6.2 (still October)

So here's the things I shipped from opening my gift from LBB 6.1 and trading!  Sorry it took so long to blog, but here are the pics!

Here is the Steve Madden Tassel crossbody in Cognac and I am really really happy with this bag.  It is a smaller crossbody but perfect for every day.  Has a large front pocket, a smaller zip pocket (cell phone perfect!) and is long enough to wear as a crossbody.  Hate it when the long strap is too short!  Luckily, when worn crossbody this bag rests on my hip (I'm 5'4").

SM Tassel Crossbody, retail $78

Pretty tassel and stud details!

Hooray!  Love me a back zip pocket for my cell phone. :)

Surprise!  There's TWO compartments, something you couldn't see on LBB.

Pretty lining too.  Love light linings to find the things in my purse more easily.

 I. LOVE. SCARFSES!  So this one is a great addition to my collection of around 100 scarves...its square and it goes with my red Swanky O+J bag perfectly!

Collection 18 red floral scarf, retail $28

Jewelries!  So I loved these two pieces so much, I wanted seconds.  The beaded necklace is perfect (gave the first to my mom) but the crystal drops....not so perfect.  One of the earrings came broken, the dangly stone came apart from the stud.  Soooo....

All The Rage beaded necklace, retail $26
Spring Street crystal drops, retail $30

I pulled out my trusty jewelry tools and turned them into studs!  I just used wire cutters to snip off the loops flush to the fittings to make the crystal studs.  LOVE them as solitaires, I wear them more than the original double stone pair!  And the dangly bottom stone that wasn't ruined i turned into a pendant by just adding a jump ring.  The broken bottom stone I may mount to a ring blank to make a ring.  That means I would have 3 jewelry pieces from the 1 broken pair of earrings, hooray!

Some jewelry frankensteining leads to studs and a pendant!!

I wanted this Briannefaye bracelet the first time it came around and didn't get it.  This time, I made so many offers, I ended up with both pairs that were in the gallery, lol.  I found a home for one with a fellow LBBer and shipped this baby to me.

Briannefaye geometric bracelet, retail $18

 I have just under a 7 inch wrist, so it is by no means tiny.  BUT!  This guy is pretty big.  On the smallest clasp setting its just right for me, w lots of extra chain that I will probably just take off w my pliers.  Its a great simple bracelet.

SUPER roomy.  But much better than too small!

So this next one is a LBB booboo. :(  I was supposed to get the purple pair of headphones and found these in my box instead!  Luckily, LBB customer service is so awesome, they put a purple pair in my already open bag.  So happy they weren't sold out!

Zig zag headphones, retail $25

And finally, my fish babies!  I originally wanted a whole school of fish shakers for my book case, but my guyfriend put his foot down. :P  What a party pooper.  Instead, I have my bookshelf kissing fish!  So glad they made it to me safe and sound.  They are very very cute.

Fish shakers, retail $14

::MUAH!!::

The rest of my items I regifted...so that means everything here cost me only $5 to ship.  Yay.  Gifting will be going away soon, but it is a nice no pressure way for me to trade when I'm really busy.

Already have my next LBB, as soon as I get a chance I'll post it. :)  Thanks for being patient!