My Final Little Black Bags!

If you haven't heard, Little Black Bag is going out of business.  They say that they're "merging with Pose," but LBB as we know it will no longer exist after May 5th.  They've been holding crazy sales the past month or so, and I took full advantage and purchased two final bags.  This review is for two separate shipments, but it'll be my last LBB review ever!

My first bag consisted of six items and cost me $49.64.  Right after I closed that bag I opened another for $20.90 during the handbag sale, and that bag had a total of six items as well.  I was very happy with both shipments and was glad that I could go out on a good note with no missing, broken, or out of stock items.  I am very thankful that I never got the dreaded "out of stock" email from LBB that so many other users have had.  That's one of the main reasons why I'm not surprised LBB is going out of business -- they've been screwing up too many things for far too long!

Anyway, let's start with the jewelry and beauty items I got:

• Bindy Multi Beaded Bracelet - I actually got the black/brown one with this shipment.  The crystal one was from a previous bag (not included in this review), but I forgot so I took a photo of both and included both in my video review.
• Lydell NYC Triangle Bangle Set
• Stephan & Co. Bar Pendant Necklace
• Stephan & Co. Bee Earrings - These can be seen in a separate photo further down in the post
• Madison Reed Shampoo and Conditioner - This was a beauty extra

Watch my video review to see the rest of the items and my full thoughts on all of them:

Bottom Line: It's probably better for me and my wallet that LBB is going out of business!  Now it'll be easier to show some restraint when it comes to purchasing handbags.

See more photos of my items after the "read more."

March Little Black Bag Review (Bag #2)

I ordered two Little Black Bags in March (the first of which I wrote about here), and I'm finally getting around to writing the review for the second one!

This bag cost me $55.90, and since trading was so bad I didn't end up with anything too great.  I liked the items, but there wasn't anything I was too crazy about.  My main item was the Olivia + Joy Carlyle Double Handle Satchel.  I put it offers on a bunch of different bags but no one was accepting, until finally I was able to get this one.  It's a cute bag, but I ended up selling it on eBay because I didn't love it and it was just taking up space.

As you can see, including the bag I only was able to get four items total.

• all the rage Elephant Stone Necklace - This necklace was released on one of my final few days of trading and I never thought I'd be able to get it, but someone actually traded with me!  I love it.  It's so cute and goes well with a shirt I got from Golden Tote.
• Archipelago Botanicals Paramour Candle - I wanted to try one of these candles because they'd been on the site for a while and I am a candle fanatic.  I was particularly interested in this one because I liked the scent notes (pomegranate, papaya, and mango), but it doesn't smell as nice as I was hoping.  It doesn't smell bad, it just smells really artificial.  Jo from The Little Dandy said that it kind of smelled like a bathroom air freshener in her review, and she's totally right!
• Michael Marcus Eyeshadow in Seductive - Trading was really bad.  I like brown eyeshadows, but I wasn't excited to get this.  I haven't used it yet because I think I might try to swap it in the future (plus I already have a ton of neutral shadows and it would be pointless to open up another one).  A photo of what the color looks like is below.

Bottom Line: Overall, this wasn't the greatest Little Black Bag I've ever gotten.  I do really love the necklace, but everything else was just so-so.  I purchased two more bags after this one that were much better, and I'll be posting a review for those soon!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

March Little Black Bag Review - Bag #1

I shipped two Little Black Bags in March after not having bought one since January.  I was mostly bored and they started having sales (since they're "merging" with Pose, but basically they're going out of business.  Read more about it on their Tumblr).  This bag wasn't my favorite, but it only cost me $26.43 overall.

I ended up with four items total.  It only cost me $15.90 to open the bag, and then I added the rings for an additional $10.44.  I know the photo above has terrible exposure, but the dark black bag and the white other items made it difficult, and I was too lazy to really play around with it.

So the first item, the main item, was the handbag.  It's the Nila Anthony Studded Bucket Bag.  I figured it would be good for summertime, since it has a crossbody strap and is pretty big (but not too big).  This is the perfect type of bag to wear on day trips to the zoo, or any other place where I want to pack a few extra things like sunscreen and a water bottle but I don't want to lug around a heavy bag on my shoulder.

I had been eyeing the Cargo Argentina Lip Gloss Quad for a while and was finally able to trade for one.  I've heard a few horror stories of people getting used beauty products in their bags so I was keeping my fingers crossed that it wouldn't happen to me.  I had also seen some reviews that said this quad was overpriced and not the greatest quality, but I liked the colors and I wasn't paying full price for it anyway so I still decided to ship it.  The glosses themselves are very soft, so don't jam your finger or brush into them.  Aside from that, they give a sheer color that I do enjoy and aren't too sticky, so I'm glad I got this.

I also was able to trade for the SPL Chai Latte Travel Tin candle, another item I had been wanting.  SPL is LBB's brand, and in my opinion all of their items are ridiculously priced.  They put the retail value of this candle at $20, but my question is -- if you're making them specifically for the site (where everything is on discount), isn't the retail value what you're actually selling it for?  Aside from that, this does have a really nice, warm scent.  The quality of the candle isn't the best--I found that it burns down but not all the way to the rim, so you end up with a bunch of the wax still along the sides.

Last, but not least, is the Catherine Stein Designs Owl Midi Ring set, which I absolutely adore!  These were released a day or two before my bag was going to close, so I just added to bag because I wanted them and didn't want to mess around with trading.  I think they're so cute and small enough that I can still wear them to the office and not look too crazy.  Since they're midi rings, they sit above the knuckle instead of below it.  Below is another photo of how the owl one looks on.

Bottom Line: This wasn't the best LBB I've ever shipped, but it certainly wasn't the worst.  I can't complain that I only amassed four items because the entire thing was so cheap overall.  My favorite item was definitely the owl ring!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

January Little Black Bag Review

 I actually purchased this Little Black Bag at the tail end of December, but since I received the items in January I'm calling it a January bag (not that any of this really matters, anyway).  This bag only cost me $25.90 with shipping, so I was pretty happy with what I got for that price.

I ended up with five items total, but two were beauty bonuses (but still full-sized products).  I had been wanting a new, practical crossbody, so the handbag was a perfect fit.  I also love scarves, and the pattern on this one was really pretty so I was happy with that, too.  I wasn't jumping for joy about any of the items, but for only $26 I couldn't complain.  I do wish trading was the way it used to be because I definitely could have gotten more items in the past, but oh well.

I love this Tri Color Infinity Scarf by The Accessory Collective.  It's really soft and the colors are just beautiful.  I got quite a few compliments on it when I first wore it out.  There was a similar one also on LBB at the time that had blues and browns in it, I think, but I liked the mauve/white/gray combo a lot better.

The Danielle Nicole Adeline Crossbody is the perfect size for me.  I like the practicality of crossbodies, but I also don't like ones that are too tiny, so I picked this one because I wanted to still be able to fit my wallet and a few other items into it.  I also liked that the top zipped shut--the flap does open up to expose a pocket underneath, but the main compartment is accessible through the top.

If these Robert Rose Oval Stone Drop Earrings look familiar, it's because I shipped the silver pair in the my December bag.  I would have preferred to get something different, but again, trading was moving really slowly and no one wanted to trade me anything for them.  I also got the NYX extras in the two colors I wanted the most, so that was good.  The lip balm is in the shade "Shukran" and the eyeshadow is "Suede."  I don't care for the cream eyeshadow because it dries too quickly and feels like glue once it's dried, but I like the lip balm.

Bottom Line: If this bag hadn't been so cheap overall I probably wouldn't have been so happy with it, but I'm pleased with the scarf and the handbag so it was worth it to me.  The earrings will get good use as well.  The beauty extras are just that, extras.  Basically this wasn't the best LBB, but not the worst, either.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

December Little Black Bag Review

I decided to open a Little Black Bag for December (I actually bought two) because I only open when there's a purse I really want.  This time it was a Deux Lux crossbody, and if you've been around my blog for a little while you'll know that Deux Lux is one of my favorite brands!

I received a four item bundle that cost me $45.90 after shipping (I also got a Goose Creek candle that isn't pictured above).  I really love the purse, and the socks and earrings will be put to good use as well.

The Deux Lux Laurel Canyon Small Messenger in Teal is the item I opened with, and it has a retail value of $115.  I bought another small messenger from Deux Lux (the Bowery B-Sides) off of eBay shortly before receiving this one, and it has basically the same shape.  I was a bit concerned because the top flap of the Bowery doesn't lift up very far and the bag itself doesn't stretch too far, but this one is roomier.  The bottom has a zipper that expands, so I'm able to fit a lot more into it.  I'm really happy with this bag!

I know that the Lemon brand socks have been pretty popular with LBB users, but I was never really that interested in them.  I shipped this pair because trading was horribly slow, as usual, and I couldn't really trade for anything else.  These are the Lemon Farmhouse Herringbone Knee-Hi socks and they are really nice quality.  They're super soft and I do like them, but I can't say I would have bought them otherwise.

Another item I received because I couldn't trade for anything else was this pair of earrings by Robert Rose, the Oval Stone Drop Earrings.  They only retailed for $8 I think, so clearly no one was willing to trade down that much, but I'm actually very happy with them and didn't mind shipping them because I think they're pretty.  I don't like to wear earrings that are too long, and these dangle but are just the right size so that they don't get in my way or irritate me.

My final item was the Goose Creek Candle Co Winter Splendor Large Jar Candle.  I love it!  I'm a total candle hoarder and I've gotten other Goose Creek candles from LBB before, so I knew they were good quality.  This one smells just like Christmas--the notes I can pick out the most while it's burning are pine and a slight hint of spice.  It's 26 oz and has a burn time of 150 hours, so it will last me for a while.

Bottom Line: In the past I would have been able to get a better bang for my buck and more items on LBB, but I'm still happy with this bundle.  All of the items were good quality and things I'll use, so I can't complain too much.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.  Post contains referral links.

Click the "read more" for more photos of the Deux Lux bag.

December Little Black Bag Review

There once was a time when I was buying a Little Black Bag every month, sometimes more than one a month, but those days are long gone.  Now I only open if there's a bag I must have, and even then I hesitate because the site is just not what it used to be.  But no one wants to read about my gripes, especially because they're the same ones that most other frequent users of the site have.  Anyway, I did open a bag for December and I'm really happy with what I got.

All together this LBB cost me $93.17, which is way more than I have ever spent on that site.  The reason why I was so happy with my items and why it cost so much was because I added three items to my bag outright instead of trying to trade for them, which is not something I do often.  But hey, I worked hard for my Christmas bonus and I wanted to treat myself!

The item I opened with was the Deux Lux Luna Tote ($140) in black, and the bundle cost $55.90 after shipping.  It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Deux Lux, and I've gained an appreciation for sequins from the brand.  I liked that this tote was fun and sparkly but not overly-obnoxious.  It's a large tote (19" x 7" x 15"), so it's perfect for carrying all of my miscellaneous things to and from work.  I'm also going to use it when I go out of town on the weekends to see my boyfriend.  I have a bunch of Deux Lux's smaller totes, but I'm glad I was able to snag this large one.  It was getting a lot of great offers (I originally opened with the purple one), but I wasn't ready to trade it for anything.

Next up is the Steve Madden Basket Weave Infinity Scarf ($32).  I opened my bag during the "buy a bag, get a bag free promo," knowing full well that I was going to get one of the hideous bags that LBB was desperate to get rid of (it ended up being the Big Buddha Heylon Tote, in all its blue faux-snakeskin glory), but I was okay with that because I figured I could trade down for something I really wanted.  Luckily I was able to get this scarf, which is really pretty in person.  It's a bit poufy, but I just twist it a bit when I wear it so it protrudes less.

I had had my eye on the ncLA Dead End Gorgeous ($16) nail polish for a while but hadn't been successful in trading for it, but at the very end of my trading period someone accepted my offer of a Cargo eyeshadow.  I was a bit disappointed with it once I got it, though, because it's a bit too dark for me.  I would have preferred if the glitter was more apparent without light shining directly on it.  I think I'm going to end up trading this to someone in the LBB Traders group for a different cosmetic item.

I love this Nutcracker Designs Brown Frosted Leaf Candleholder ($14)!  I actually haven't burned anything in it yet, but I think it'll end up giving off a beautiful effect, what with the shiny interior.  It's bigger than I envisioned, and it's the perfect size for one of my many Bath & Body Works mini candles to fit inside.

And now for the add-to-bag items...first up is the Mata Traders Gatsby Necklace ($28), which I added for $6.09.  This was another item I loved but was never able to trade for, so when LBB put a bunch of items on sale for Black Friday I quickly snatched it up.  I couldn't argue with the cheap price, and I'm glad I bought it because it's really beautiful in person.  Mata Traders makes great jewelry, and I love them even more because they're a fair-trade company.

I also added the Deux Lux Glitter Empire Card Case ($35) for no reason other than I really wanted it.  It cost me $15.74 to add, and I didn't think that was too outrageous of a price at all.  I was previously keeping a Vera Bradley 3-in-1 Wristlet in my purse for when I wanted to go somewhere and just take my license and debit cards, but it was too large at times and I wanted something smaller.  This is perfect for the job, and I love the spike on it!

My last item was the Goose Creek Candle Co Glass Pumpkin Candle ($24), which cost me $15.44 to add to my bag.  I love all things pumpkin and I'm also a candle hoarder, so I really wanted to get my hands on one of the Goose Creek pumpkin candles (either this one or the large jar that wasn't shaped like a pumpkin).  This popped back into the gallery toward the ending of my trading period and I snatched it up.  It smells delicious and the jar is really pretty.  It's also a hefty candle at 26 oz, so it will last me quite a while.

Bottom Line: I think that if you really want a few specific things from the LBB gallery, it's best to open with a single item and then just add the other things you want to your bag (that is, if your budget allows).  It's not something I often do, but I had a little extra money this time around so it was less frustrating to just add to bag instead of trying to trade.  I wish LBB could be like it used to be, but unfortunately I don't think those days will ever return.  Either way, it can still be a good deal if there's something on the site that you really want!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Check out a few more photos of my items after the "read more."

August Little Black Bag Review

I haven't posted a Little Black Bag in a long time.  I actually received a shipment in June or July, but I just never wrote a blog post about it.  LBB is definitely a lot less exciting than it used to be.  A lot of us in the LBB Traders group agree that trading is so painfully slow that the fun is pretty much gone.  I was able to get my best bag yet for August, but only because I had it open while they were moving their warehouse so I had a full two week's worth of trading.  I have one more bag being shipped to me, and then I probably won't open any more unless there is a purse I absolutely MUST have.

I ended up with seven items total in this bag, including the beauty bonus and the Big Buddha handbag that's not pictured above.  I think at one point I had 10 items in my bag, which is way more than I've ever been able to amass before, so it gave me a lot more wiggle room when it came to trading.  Aside from the two weeks of trading, I was also successful because I simply got lucky on a few trades.  For example, I had a Nila Anthony clutch at one point that was only worth $60 or $70 and someone offered me a $120+ multi so I snatched that up right away!

Before I get into reviewing my items, I want to talk about this new warehouse business.  LBB previously shipped from California, which was probably great for those on the west coast, but I'm in New York and it used to take forever for my bags to get to me, even when I paid for the faster shipping.  I had just accepted that fate, though, because it was worth it to get such good deals on merchandise.  There were a lot of customer complaints about poor shipping practices and broken items upon arrival, so LBB moved their warehouse to Ohio.  I'm happy about this because now it (in theory) shouldn't take so long for my boxes to get to me!  The actual packaging of my items didn't seem any different to me, other than that they included about 200 times more paper than was necessary (which really bothered me, because it's so wasteful).  This bag did get to me within three days, but it took a whole week to leave their warehouse because they were backed up with orders.  I could understand that it would take longer to ship out everything after the move, but in that case don't "promise" everyone that their box would leave the new place within 48 hours.

So, moving on.  My favorite item in this shipment was the Big Buddha Granada Hobo ($95).  This bag is huge and wonderful and I absolutely love it!  The retail value seems a bit overpriced to me, but I've seen it on flash sale sites and at Marshall's for anywhere from $50-$70 (so I definitely still got a good deal).  The braided detail is really pretty and I think this is a great bag for fall and winter.  I'm also a big purse girl, so this one is just perfect for me!  LBB made a mistake and released these as a bonus item with an add-to-bag price of $20, so they got snatched up really quickly.  I didn't add-to-bag, but I was able to trade for it and I'm very happy that I did.

The item I opened with was the Hello Kitty Vintage Apples Tote ($70).  This wasn't popular on the site, but I had had my eye on it for a while and I finally just decided to buy it because it was too cute to pass up, plus I needed a new tote bag.  It's much nicer quality in person than I was expecting.  On the site the vinyl handles looked a little cheap, but they're actually pretty sturdy.  My favorite part about this bag is the cute little drawings that make up the background.  I proudly carry this to work, I don't care if I'm "too old" for HK!

I also got another Deux Lux Skipper Wristlet ($40) in green/pink.  I already have the blue one with pink sequins, which I bought from someone on LBB Traders, but I accepted a trade on this because I just love DL and I kind of wanted another.  I had an Izzy & Ali clutch that I was never going to use, so I figured I'd trade down for something I actually liked.  These wristlets are a great size and I think the sequin details are so fun.

My last few items were jewelry and miscellaneous.  I traded for the Bindy Wrap Bracelet ($24) in pink/silver and the Geranium Leaf Drop Earrings ($23), both of which I really like.  I actually ended up selling the Bindy to someone on Traders because she really wanted it and I liked it but could part with it, and I haven't worn the earrings yet.  They're really pretty up-close (sorry that the photo above is a little blurry) and are an interesting design.

I also got a pack of the peach set of the Jolie 3 Pack of Hair Ties ($24), which you can see in the first photo I posted, just because I was curious to see if they were strong enough to hold my thick, Asian hair.  They're decent, but not something I would buy more of.  If I was to get more, I'd probably just buy the fabric and make some myself.  Lastly, the beauty bonus I received was the Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Mask.  I kept refreshing my stylist picks to get the pumpkin mask because I already have a ton of scrubs and I didn't need the jojoba scrub.  I like this mask a lot, and I like the Michael Todd brand.  It actually contains real pumpkin, which I know sounds dumb of me to say, but the only other experience I have with a "pumpkin" mask didn't have that as the first ingredient.  It's nicely exfoliating and I would definitely recommend it.

Bottom Line: I'm happy with this LBB.  I got $252 worth of product (not including the mask sample) for around $55.  I also forgot to mention that I opened with a $100 referral credit, so that helped, too.  So far I am impressed with their faster shipping, and I'll consider the week it took for my bag to leave the warehouse a fluke because of their recent move.  This is probably one of my last bags for a while, though, just because the site is not what it used to be.

Check out more photos of my items after the read more.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Mini June Little Black Bag Unboxing

I opened up a second Little Black Bag in June because I had an exchange credit from my defective Lionel Francis satchel.  It wasn't a true bag in the sense that I picked a starting item and had stylist picks; I chose to just open up with the exchange item and keep the bag open for a week in case anything was released that I wanted to add to my bag.

I ended up adding only one item, but I would have purchased more if the summer sale hadn't started while I was working!  Usually the sale items are a bunch of ugly items that no one wants, but this time they actually had a lot of nice bags that I had been wanting, so of course I would miss them.  I suppose it's better off that way, it saved me probably somewhere around $50!

First, let me talk about this bag - the Big Buddha Marin Hobo in Coral.  It is gorgeous!  I don't think it was a very popular bag on the site, probably because it's more on the plain size, but I absolutely love it.  I had been eyeing it for a while, but since not a lot of people ever had them in their bags it was hard to trade for them.  The retail value on this is $90 I think, so the fact that I didn't have to pay anything other than shipping was definitely a win (well, not counting whatever the prorated value of the Francis satchel was).  The faux leather is very soft, the color is perfect, and I absolutely adore the chain detail on the strap!  The only downside is that since the chain is so heavy, when I set the bag down anywhere it kind of caves in on itself under the weight of the strap.  There are 10 of these left in cobalt in the gallery and one left in coral, so if you like what you see I highly recommend this bag.

 Next up are my crazy lady cat shoes!  I think these are so funny and I love them, regardless of how ridiculous they are.  They're the C. LABEL Judy-1C Oxford and I know they're a knockoff of some other, more expensive brand, but I just liked them because they're cats.  I didn't love them enough to ever open with them, but when they went on sale for $10 I said, "yes, please!"  The original retail price was $50, I think.  I wore them out to dinner the day that I got them, and I found that they're a bit uncomfortable to wear.  The hard tops don't have a ton of give, so my toes ended up hurting a little bit.  I'm not sure if this will go away as I break them in more, but even if it doesn't I don't really care because I just love them anyway.  They make me laugh.

Bottom Line: This is probably one of the more boring Little Black Bags I've ever shared, but I like I said, it wasn't a "real" bag that I traded for.  The entire bit cost me about $16, so I can't complain.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Check out more photos after the "read more."

June Little Black Bag Review and Unboxing

My June Little Black Bag was the first one I ever purchased that didn't have a handbag in it!  I opened with the Sicura Italian Designs Parisian Love Jewelry Holder for $23.90, and then added an item to bring my total to $39.64 for five items and a beauty bonus.

My jewelry stand is not pictured above because it was too large to fit into the frame with the other items without looking awkward (keep scrolling for pictures of it).  I was very happy with this bag, and I think I got a pretty good deal for just under $40.  I probably could have traded for the owl votive holder, but I just really wanted it and the add-to-bag price was low enough that I didn't mind.

• Sicura Italian Designs Parisian Love Jewelry Holder ($25) - I love it and I'm so glad I opened with it!  I knew I wasn't going to trade it away for anything, so I just kept passing on offer after offer.  When it was first released it was trading pretty high, too.  I think the highest offer I got was somewhere around $50.
• skyn ICELAND Glacial Cleansing Cloths ($15) - I needed more cleansing cloths and I was stuck with some jewelry that I didn't want, so I traded them for these.  I'm glad I got them because they're wonderful.  They smell fantastic and they do a good job of removing my makeup, and they're also cruelty-free.
• Raj Imports Two Tone Animal Scarf ($28) - I over-offered like crazy for this because I just wanted a scarf instead of three jewelry pieces I didn't like.  When it arrived it smelled kind of funny, like it had been left out in the rain or in the washing machine for too long.  Overall, though, it's light and airy and a cute print (I got the pink version).
• Geranium Stone Bow Necklace ($19) - This necklace is really cute and semi-dainty, which I like.  Normally it isn't a style that I would wear, but for some reason it caught my eye.  I'm going to wear it with a peplum top tomorrow.
• Two's Company Vintage Owl Votive Holder ($23) - I love, love, love(!) this!  I love owls and anything bird-themed, so I knew I had to have this to add to my bird collection.  I already have a Scentsy warmer and another votive holder in the shape of an owl, so this guy fits right in.  It's nice and heavy and good quality, and my little mini-candles fit perfectly inside.
• First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser ($4) - I didn't really want this, but I ended up with it because I couldn't trade it away.  At one point I had three FAB items in my bag, but I was able to trade up two.  I like that this brand is cruelty-free, but I already have a ton of skin care and this face cleanser contains a few semi-synthetic ingredients that I'd rather avoid.

Here's the jewelry stand!  Most of my necklaces are too long to hang on it, so I got it with the intent of using it as a bracelet holder.  I think it looks so pretty on my dresser (I moved it away from where I display it for the purposes of a clearer photo here), and I love the bird detail.

Bottom Line: I'm very happy with this Little Black Bag and I'm not as sad as I thought I would be at not having a handbag.  The items are all great quality and I would definitely recommend them!

Check out more photos of my items after the "read more!"

May Little Black Bag

My May Little Black Bag was a let down; the purse I got was defective.  I've only gotten one other item that I suppose could be classified as damaged, my Olivia and Joy Swanky Structured Satchel in my October bag, but those were more minor damages and I ended up keeping the bag.  This time, I loved the purse I got but I had no choice but to send it back.

I got four items this time around, and I think it cost me something like $35.  I opened with the Raj Imports striped blue scarf and also had a referral credit, but the referral items are always crap.  It helps for trading though because you obviously start out with one more item you can trade or combine into a multi.  I also used the "add to bag" feature for the first time ever with this bag.  Overall, I'm disappointed with this bag because I had to send the purse back.  If it wasn't defective, I think I would have been pretty happy with it all considering what it cost.

I'll start with the Lionel Francis Satchel.  This became available during the Memorial Day sale they had, and I really wanted to get a purse in this bag.  I had six or seven items in my bag, and they were all jewelry and things that I had no interest in keeping, so I made a whole bunch of multi offers.  No one was biting, though, and I was getting bummed because I didn't want to get stuck with a bunch of items that I didn't want.  Finally, on my second-to-last day of trading, someone accepted my offer for this satchel.  Even though it was a sale item, I really liked it and was happy to get it.  I didn't have any white purses, so I figured it would be good for summer.  Unfortunately, it arrived with a defective zipper so I had to send it back.  As you can see in the photo above, it did that thing that zippers sometimes do where it doesn't actually connect the two sides, therefore rendering it useless.  LBB's customer service team sent me a pre-paid label to ship it back and promised me an exchange value of $98.  Normally a sale item exchange would give you the sale price (to keep people from adding sale items for $10 to their bags, sending them back, and unfairly getting to exchange it for a $50 retail item, etc), but they promised me the full $98 due to the fact that this bag was defective and that was out of my control.

I added the Hello Kitty I Love Nerds Composition Coin Bag to my bag because I didn't want to mess around with trying to trade for it and I just really wanted it.  The retail value was only $20, and the add-to-bag price was $12.95 or something like that.  I know that a lot of people on LBB and in general think Hello Kitty is juvenile, but I really like her and I think this is so cute.  I got it because it's actually a pretty functional wallet and a good size for when I use smaller crossbody purses.  I have more photos of what it looks like on the inside at the end of this post.

My final item is this pair of Robert Rose Stone Burst Earrings.  I like them, but I haven't worn them yet because I don't really know what to wear them with.  They're more vibrant than anything else I own, so I'm not sure what color to pair them with.  Their retail price was $22.

I also received a Pixi Nail Polish in Evening Emerald in this bag, which was considered a bonus item.  I love nail polish, though, so it's a more substantial item than a 1 oz. shampoo bonus or whatever.  The shade is pretty and it applies nicely, but I don't have any photos of it to share (other than the first one in this post).

Bottom Line: I really wish the Lionel satchel wasn't defective because it was such a perfect bag!  It was just the right size for me and the detailing was really pretty.  Hopefully LBB will provide me with some good bags in the exchange gallery once my exchange is processed, because I don't want to end up with some ugly bags that no one actually wants.  My experience thus far with the exchange gallery is that they only put items that don't trade well in there because they want to get rid of them.  But oh well, I guess I'll find out!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

See more photos of my items after the "read more."

April Little Black Bag (Bag 2 of 2)

I opened two Little Black Bags in April, and I'm finally posting what I received in my second bag.  I think the trading for this bag went pretty well and I was happy with all of the items I got.  To see what I got in my first April bag, click here.

I received five items total in this bag and I think it cost me around $34 after tax and shipping.  I'm so glad that LBB is no longer charging sales tax for NYS customers, so now my bags will be a little bit cheaper!

• MMS Design Studio Striped Crossbody ($30) - I love this little bag!  I opened with it and traded it away, but then I decided I wanted it back so I offered the same multi I had taken on it and was able to get it back again.  There was also a blue and white version that I think was more popular, but I liked the colors on this one better.  It's the perfect summer crossbody.
• Melie Bianco Eyeglasses Wristlet ($14) - These debuted in the gallery the day I was closing my bag and I was luckily able to grab one.  There was also a pink key and a green key design, but I like the glasses one.  The retail on this was only $14, and it's a pretty big wristlet considering that price.
• Mata Traders Macrame Necklace ($26) - I love this necklace!  I wasn't sure if I was going to like it in person, but it's beautiful.  It's handmade and fair-trade, which is even better.  I originally had the pink/coral one but someone accepted my trade for the turquoise one on my last day of trading.
• All The Rage Triangle Necklace ($16) - I like that this necklace is a little bit edgy but dainty at the same time.  There was a blue/turquoise version but I liked this pink and red one better.
• Carol Dauplaise Fringe Hoop Earrings ($18) - I had been wanting these earrings for a while but I ended up returning them for an exchange credit because the stones were too big.  The design was really interesting and I liked the colors, they were just too clunky for my personal tastes.  Plus I wanted to see how the new exchange system worked.

The total retail value of my bag was $104, and $86 after I returned the earrings.  I'm happy with that, considering I only paid $34 for it all!  I have a May bag on its way, so keep an eye out for a review for that, too.

For more photos of my items, click the "read more."

April Little Black Bag Review and Unboxing

I bought two Little Black Bags this month and here's the first of them.  I was so curious to see what the new system would be like, and like most users there were some things I liked and some I didn't.  I'm not going to boycott the site or anything (obviously), and the pros here heavily outweigh the cons for me.  I really like that the prices are more graduated now, so I can get a handbag for less than the original $49.95 price.

Since I actually got these items a while ago, I can't remember the exact names of the earrings.  Anyway, I'm really happy with these items overall.  The crossbody is adorable and just the type of bag I wanted for summer.  I think this bag ended up costing me around $54 after tax and shipping, which was a bit cheaper than the previous price, which would equal around $60 for me.  Here's the list of what I got:

• Deux Lux Bowery B-Sides Mini Messenger
• Lydell NYC Hexagon Drop Earrings
• Spring Street Spice Market Earrings
• BeFine Packette Box
• Lemon Socks

The socks and packette box are bonus items, but they're pretty decent bonuses.  I especially like the packette box.  For a more in-depth review of my items, watch my unboxing video:

Overall, I do like the new LBB.  I know there was a lot of commotion when they first changed to their new shipping and billing practices, but after it settled and I really analyzed the situation I think the changes are for the better.  I still don't quite understand the point of the charging $9.99 a month to get $10 in credit, so I'm just going to skip each month and then just purchase a bag on its own when I feel like it.  I know they advertised it as "getting free money," but a free $.12 a year isn't going to do much for me.

Aside from that, I like that the price of the bundles reflect the price of your first item, so you can pick a bag like the crossbody I got (retail value of $71) and pay somewhere around $50 after shipping, or you can pick a $24 necklace for something like $18 (this is an approximation, since I haven't picked an item that low to start with yet).  The shipping increased by a dollar, but that doesn't bother me.  The exchange policy was a bit wonky at first, but they did a good job of listening to customers and they've since implemented a much better system.  The only thing I really don't care for is that they have shoes now.  I'm not a shoe girl, and I wouldn't order them even if I was because I wear a size 5.5 (meaning shoes rarely fit me, even if they're marked as that size) and having them not fit and needing to return them is more of a hassle than I want to deal with.

Check out more photos of my items behind the "read more."

March Little Black Bag Review

Ah, I've been so lazy about posting recently!  Sorry about that.  I had filmed an unboxing video for this Little Black Bag but I didn't like how it turned out and I didn't end up filming another, so a regular blog post will have to do.

The items I received in my March bag were excellent and this has been my favorite bag yet.  Trading went really well and I was able to amass a total of five items, not including the two bonus products I got.  The above photo is of my smaller items; my main item was the Pink Cosmo Studded Barrel Satchel ($65).  It's the item that I opened with and I intended to break it down into a multi offer (which I did), but in the end I ended up trading for it again because it was really the only bag I wanted at the time.

I love this purse.  It's pretty big--I imagined it would be the same size as the Street Level Basic Satchel I had gotten in my second January bag, but it's wider and longer.  They had it available in a bunch of colors and I know the light blue one was pretty popular, but I love black bags and this one is perfect for me.  I'm not too big into the studs trend, but I liked this one because the studs aren't too crazy.  The faux leather is also really soft and I like how it's got those marks in it (I don't really know how to describe them, but you can see them best on the left side of the purse in the photo above) because it makes it look more like real leather.  Overall, the bag seems really well made.  I just hope none of the studs fall off, because I know that's been a problem with other Pink Cosmo bags.

The other items I received were:

• 'ZAD Owl Stud Earrings ($16) - These are so cute!  I really like owls, and birds in general, but I wasn't sure if I was going to like these since they seem a bit more appropriate for a younger girl.  I think I can still pull them off, though, because they're nice and small.  My favorite part is that the eyes are made of pink rhinestones (you can see them better in the photos after the "read more").
• Danielle Nicole Davina Mini Crossbody ($28) - This is the perfect little crossbody!  I was really excited to get two bags in one LBB because it was the first time I've been able to do so.  I know it only retailed for $28 and it isn't as big of a deal as getting two $80 purses, but I'm still really happy with it.  It's definitely small and not very wide, but I'm going to use it over the summer for when I go to festivals, the zoo, etc.  It's got enough room for my phone (iPhone), some chapstick, and my cards and cash (which I'll put in my Vera Bradley zip ID case).
• Flea Market Girl Key Rope Bracelet ($12) - I love this bracelet!  It's cute and dainty, which is my favorite type of jewelry.  I got it on my last day of trading and was unsure about it because I was afraid the rope would be too thick, but it's perfect.  The rope is super soft and the charm is adorable.  It works well for layering.
• All The Rage Stone Collar Drop Necklace ($22) - I stepped outside of my comfort zone with this one and I'm so glad I did.  I think this necklace is so pretty, and a good first foray into statement jewelry for a person like me.  I've only recently gotten into experimenting with accessories, and I like that this is versatile enough to wear to work or just out to lunch.  I know it kind of looks like a bra in the photo above, but when I'm wearing it I don't think it conjures up that imagery as much.
• FusionBeauty Illumifill Line Filling Luminizer (bonus item) - Everyone who opened a bag in the beginning of March got one of these.  It's a full-sized item and retails for $49, but I can't imagine ever paying that much for it.  I tried it and I don't like it -- the applicator is clunky and it stinks as a luminizer.  I don't have any lines to worry about at the moment so I can't comment on how well it helps those, but it was barely visible as a highlighter.  I don't recommend this product at all.
• Vosges Haut Chocolat Peppermint Bar (bonus item) - I do recommend this one!  I've always wanted to try Vosges, but I was never willing to pay $7 for a candy bar, so I was happy when I was offered this in a multi trade.  It's delicious, but still not worth $7.  You could definitely find a comparable chocolate for cheaper.

Bottom Line: I was so happy with this bag!  It was a $49.95 bag, but that doesn't really matter now because they have the new system in place.  But anyway, the overall retail value was $143, not including my bonus items, which is a pretty good haul I think.

More up-close photos of my items after the "read more."

February Little Black Bag Unboxing and Review

I purchased a $29.95 Little Black Bag for the month of February and was able to trade up to a handbag and two other items, which I think is pretty good for only three days of trading.  I usually prefer the $49.95 option because you have a longer time to trade, but the fact that I've been able to get a handbag with all of my $29.95 purchases has made it worth it for me.

At first I wasn't sure if I loved the handbag I got.  It looked really cute on the site, but when I got it in person I considered sending it back.  But since LBB isn't always great with giving equally valued items for exchanges (meaning they might give me a bag similar in monetary value, but it's one of the sale items or just something that doesn't trade well at all), I decided to keep it.  I figure I can always sell it on eBay in the future if I get sick of it.  But anyway, here's the list of what I got:

• Olivia and Joy Expose Hobo, retail is $88
• Geranium Leaf Cuff, $14
• Goose Creek Candle Co Pillar Candle in Burning Oak, $12

I know that for most LBBers this seems like a pretty measly haul, but I'm satisfied with it.  I wouldn't be so thrilled to get only three items with a $49.95 bag, but I'd rather have one big item (a handbag) and a few smaller ones that I'll actually use than five or six jewelry items that I won't wear.  I'm pretty picky about my jewelry and I don't often find a great amount of pieces on LBB that I like.

For a more in-depth look at my items, watch my unboxing video:

More photos of my items are available after the "read more."

January Little Black Bag #2

As I said in my last January LBB post, I caved and bought a second bag at the end of the month.  But they were both $29.95 bags, so it was still only a little bit more expensive than if I had gotten only $49.95 bag (and I was able to get a high value of items in both bags, too).

I got three items in this bag for a total retail value of $148.  I was pretty happy with it all for the price, but I can't say I would have gone out and paid full retail price for any of these items.

• Street Level Basic Satchel, $88
• Mocha Swirl Embellished Earrings, $28
• Cejon Aztec Neckwrap, $32

Check out my unboxing video below for my review of the items.  One thing I'd like to mention that I forgot to add in the video was that I paid a little extra this time to get the 2-5 day shipping, and it wasn't any faster (so I won't be doing that again).  It still took a week because they ship it through UPS Standard, as opposed to Economy with USPS.  Since UPS doesn't doesn't ship on Saturdays like USPS does, my wait was still just as long as if I had picked Economy.

I skipped my bag for February since I bought two in January, and I may or may not purchase one in March.  LBB is a lot of fun, but unless they release a purse that I absolutely must have I'm going to try to hold off on buying them just because I want to focus my money elsewhere for a little while.

More photos of my items after the "read more."

January Little Black Bag Review (Bag #1)

I ended up opening two $29.95 Little Black Bags this month--I have a problem!  This is the first time I've ever opened two bags in one month, and will probably be the last.  I usually limit myself to one a month at most, but this month had a special promotion.

But before I get ahead of myself, here is what I got in my first bag:

• Street Level Domed Satchel in Burgundy, $88
• Tatcha Aburatorigami, $15
• Goose Creek Candle Co. Pillar Candle in Sugar Plum, $12

I was happy with this bag, but it wasn't my favorite one I've gotten.  The bag was not my first choice, I couldn't trade for one I really wanted, but I do like this one quite a bit.  I don't have any red bags so I liked the color, and I like the shape because it can be professional or fun.  It's constructed well, but it had a big dent in the front (watch my unboxing video for more details on that).



If you're interested in Little Black Bag, please consider using my referral link.

More photos of my items after the "read more."

December Little Black Bag Review

I wasn't going to open a Little Black Bag for December, but then they had a promotion where you could have 12 days of trading and I gave in.  I figured that if I opened a $29.95 bag with 12 days to trade I could get the same value of items I'd get with a $49.95 bag.

This was my first experience with the $29.95 bag, but I can't really "count" it I guess because normally you would only get three days to trade with that price.  Trading was really slow, it seemed like not a lot of people had bags open--most probably opened them earlier in the month in order to receive them before Christmas.  But even still, I was happy with the items I got.

The total retail value of my bag was $120, so to get it all for $37 (with tax and shipping, tax because I live in NY) was definitely a good deal!

• Goose Creek Candle Co. Pillar Candle in Moroccan Spice - $12
• Collection 18 Collegiate Square Scarf - $28
• Flea Market Girl Snake Ring - $12
• BCBGeneration Sadie Tote - $68

I'm pleased with the quality of all of the items and the scarf is my favorite.  Watch my unboxing video below for a more in-depth unboxing:

• If you'd like to try Little Black Bag, I'd love if you could use my referral link!

Check out more photos of my loot after the "read more."

November Little Black Bag Review

Oops, this is definitely a late post, but here's what I got in my November Little Black Bag.  I had made an unboxing video but I didn't like how it came out and I had already eaten my candies and burned the candle (it'll make sense if you keep reading), so I didn't film another one.

This was my best bag yet in terms of items received.  I don't even remember what I picked for my first item, maybe that Melie Bianco tan bow bag?  Yeah, I think that was it.  I wasn't attached to it at all, but I wanted to get a bag I knew I could get good multi-item trades for.  I swapped bags quite a bit and ended up settling on an Olivia + Joy bag, which I was hesitant about because my last bag was from them and it was terrible quality.  But first, here's a list of what I got:

• benefit Cabana Glama Makeup Kit - $36, but you can find them for cheaper
• BRIANNEFAYE Cascade Necklace - $33
• LAVANILA Healthy Candle Vanilla Grapefruit - LBB said $16, but it's $12 on Lavanila's site
• Olivia + Joy Lavish Lady Belted Satchel - $92
• sugarfina Pocket Posies - LBB said $5, but it's actually $4.50
• sugarfina Heavenly Sours - $4.50
• Total value: $183

My last experience with an Olivia + Joy bag didn't go so well, so I was apprehensive about closing my bag with another one.  I really liked how this bag looked, though, and I found pictures of it on other sites for comparison and I wanted to give it a chance.  I figured that this time I wouldn't remove the tags before a thorough inspection, and if it wasn't up to par I would just send it back.  Luckily it ended up being gorgeous and I am completely in love with it!  It's the perfect size and shape and I love black bags in general.

I wasn't going to open a bag for November, but then LBB released the benefit kits into the gallery and I had to have one!  I was bummed that I missed out on the September Pop Sugar Must Have Bag because they had these kits in it (along with some other great stuff), so I was really intent on trading for it.  They were trading crazy-high when they were first introduced; my offer was worth over $70 (a Nila Anthony clutch and something else, I don't remember).  I was getting offers of the same value in the beginning, but as trading went on the value of items offered dwindled.  If you weren't able to get one but wanted one, they're on sale for $18.99 at benefit's website right now!

Not everyone is a fan of the candles in the LBB gallery, but I am a candle hoarder and I really wanted to try one of these Lavanila ones.  I got my first choice of scent, Vanilla Grapefruit, and it smells so nice.  I considered returning it because when I got it the outer tin was dirty (more pictures of that after the cut) and the wax inside was broken into pieces, but I kept it because after paying shipping to send it back the refund amount wouldn't have been worth it.  It doesn't have as strong of a scent as I would like, but I still enjoy it and it's a great scent for wintertime.

I looooove this BRIANNEFAYE necklace!  I had been eyeing it for a while and I was finally able to trade for it.  I would have preferred silver, but the gold is still very pretty.  I had found an identical design on etsy once, but it was being sold for $100.  I think I definitely got a good deal on this!

These sugarfina candies were quite possibly my favorite items, haha!  LBB had originally introduced them as bonus items during the end of October for Halloween, but I had already bought a bag that month and I didn't want to open another one just for some candies.  I was really glad that some of them were still around, though, and I was able to snag my top choices.  The Pocket Posies had a great flavor but were really hard to chew (I expected them to be much softer), but the Heavenly Sours were amazing--great taste and nice and soft, too.  I will definitely be ordering candies from sugarfina again in the future.

Bottom Line: I loved my November bag.  Every item was one I really wanted, and they all turned out to be pretty great.  It was discouraging at first to receive a dirty candle, but it wasn't damaged inside so it wasn't worth the hassle of returning it.  I did cancel my recurring monthly subscription to LBB for now (so I don't have to go in and skip a bag each month), but maybe in a few months I'll open up a bag again.

More photos behind the cut.