Nail Polish Collection

I know this is a lot of polishes (that are way too similar), but I am trying to get rid of the ones I never use. Really, I am thinking of something.

OPI 595 Pinking of You,  H18 Heart Throb, D16 Make Love..., V06 It's Sheer Love, R39 Rose Petals, I48 Get Me to the Taj On Time, W42 Lincoln Park After Dark, D01 Lincoln Park At Midnight, R52 Siberian Nights, C92 You Ottaware Purple, T02 Black Onyx, R53 Never Lon-Done Shopping, I08 Hong Kong Sunrise, A44 Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It, N25 Big Apple Red, H08 I'm Not Really a Waitress, M03 Dusk Over Cairo, I45 Monsooner Or Later

Essie 383 Innocent, 442 Boat House, 265 It's Delicate, 258 Gladioli, 12 Bordeaux, 237 Well Red, 462 Brilliant Ball Gown, 63 Marshmallow, 218 Brandie Alexander, 446 Plaza Sweet, 43 Germanium, 384 Mademoiselle, 259 Intimate, 50 Honey Bun, 592 E-nuff is E-nuff, 464 Red Carpet Glam

China Glaze Linger 70669, Station 136 Butterscotch, Q.R.S. Unknown

My nail polishes are all pretty similar in colors because I am such a boring person. I think I will do a swatch test on all of them for comparison one of these days. As you know, I love OPI's Lincoln Part After Dark, so I got Siberian Nights and Lincoln Park at Midnight because they look really similar in the bottle. Verdict? They're not close enough and Lincoln Park is still going to be my fall color.

My polishes are all OPI and Essie with the exception of three. I wore the lavender purple Q.R.S. polish last week but I seem to have lost the sticker that it came with so I have no idea what the color is called. I am wearing China Glaze's Linger today. I also have a Station polish in Butterscotch, which is a total disappointment. It's too thin and orange for my taste. The saving point of this polish is that it doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde or any of that junk.

I am wearing China Glaze polish in Linger #70669 today.

I have been steering clear of pink polishes since my pink nails and French tips days, but this color brought me back. It's a true pink, not one of OPI's sheer princess pink. I use to love those colors, but I am so done with them. I say this China Glaze one is a keeper.

I'll try to get clear swatches for you soon. Tell me what nail polishes you like to use.

Some Beauty Favorites

I've put together a collage of some of my current beauty favorites.

I have been searching for a good night cream for some time now. I don't think I've found it yet. Currently, I dab some Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Serum on my forehead and expression lines and then apply Neutrogena's Light Night Cream all over my face. Since I am quite young, I don't know if the serum is actually doing anything, but I think the lines near my cheeks and mouth are less noticeable now.

I know there must be something better than the Neutrogena light night cream though. It moisturizes pretty well for the night, but I would like something with some sort of enhancement. You know, one of those things that not only moisturizes and repairs your skin, but also magically smooths out your face and gives you that perfect baby glow. Because I don't suffer from an acne problem, I want to venture out to find something amazing.

I have these obvious expression lines on my forehead when I raise my brows or make a face. I wonder if there is anything that is made for that. Any recommendations? I am also looking for a good eye cream that prevents/reduces fine lines. What is your skincare routine like?

August MAC Giveaway

CLOSED - Check Out New Giveaways!

These are the prizes for this month's giveaway.

I started this blog not too long ago and yet I have already gotten so many good followers and readers. I would like to thank everyone for their support. It means a lot to me to get your comments and feedback. You encourage me to keep writing and blogging. And to show my support for my followers, I have decided to do monthly giveaways.

Some months will have more winners and prizes and some months will have less. It will depend on how I am doing financially that month. Regardless, you'll win things every month. And this is open internationally!

You just have to be a follower and leave your email below. I will use random.org to generate a number and pick the corresponding winner. If you don't want to publish your email, make sure you leave your blog address or some way for me to get in contact with you. I will announce the winner at the end of the month.

All I ask of the winner is for some feedback on how you like your prize. I want some input so I know what my followers would like as future prizes. You can leave me a comment or blog about your experience with the prize you receive. Regardless, I hope the winner enjoys her prize!

For August, I am doing a MAC giveaway. I think most of my giveaways will feature some MAC products because I know a lot of my readers like using MAC. I hope you like the prizes. The 187 is my favorite MAC brush.

PRIZES: Colors will be subject to availability. All brand new of course.

1st place winner will get to choose either prize pack a or b:

a. MAC 187 Duo Fiber Brush

b. MAC Paint Pot, Eye Shadow, Lipstick

2nd place winner will get a MAC Eye Shadow of her choice

Jordana Eye Primer Base Review

Jordana Eye Primer/Base $1.99

Brightens & Illuminates

Prolongs Wear of Eyeshadow

Dual Purpose, Use as a Base & Highlighter

Made in USA

I bought this primer from Cherry Culture about a month ago for $1.99. It comes in a 0.07 oz round container with a twist off cap. It comes in only one color, 01 Eye Primer. It is basically a light nude color with pink undertone.

I use this primarily as an eyelid primer/base. It is advertised as a highlighter as well, but I really don't see how that would work since it is quite matte, drying and gives no real lightening effect or shine when blended in (it does not blend smoothly).

The primer appears to be creamy at first, but you will soon notice that it is very drying. I find it almost powder-like by the time I finish blending it. I have to constantly scrape the primer out with my finger to apply to my lid. Part of the reason for that is that the primer applies thinly and you will need a lot of it, but also because it is more solid than creamy so it's difficult to get a lot of it on your finger.

It's not all bad though, because this primer gives your eyeshadow more color and vibrancy. It is a good base for your eyeshadow to adhere to, allowing a thick coverage. With this base, the true eyeshadow color will show on your lid more than it would alone without a base. I compared the primer with an ordinary concealer (Covergirl coverstick concealer) and the Jordana primer still gives the eyeshadow more color.

Victoria's Secret Brown to Earth Eyeshadow on different b

The primer definitely helps your eyeshadow last longer, but the vibrancy continuously fades. The vibrant color that you initially see will last maybe a few hours before it fades into a dullness that will resemble your eyeshadow without a base. Your eyeshadow will, however, stay intact throughout the day with little creasing.

The Jordana primer works better than a concealer - and definitely superior to a baseless lid. At $1.99, it is worth the purchase. Don't think that it will the staying power of a MAC Paint Pot, Urban Decay Primer Potion or Two Faced Eyeshadow Insurance though. Those are still better buys if you are willing to spend the money. If you are not using a primer right now, you might want to give this a try.

For best results, use this base over another primer. This is more of a base color than a primer itself. It's like a MAC paint pot, except drier, not as pretty, and more difficult to work with.

Do you use an eyelid base? What works best for you?

NARS Freebies

If anyone here is interested in NARS Cosmetics, I found a little deal today. With a $25 purchase at the NARS website and the following coupon codes, you can get free shipping, 3 mini lip glosses and a half size nail polish in the color orgasm. Best NARS deal I've come across.

temptalia - Complimentary Lip Gloss Mini Trio: Turkish Delight, Greek Holiday and Gothika
karla - Complimentary Mini Orgasm Nail Polish
25freeship - Free shipping with orders of $25 or more

Use the free shipping code last or it will not be applied. This worked as of July 27, 2010. I am not sure how long this promotion will last so make your purchase soon if you want to use these coupons.

I purchased a blush and the order ended up totaling to about $27. I think that is totally worth it for a NARS Orgasm blush, 3 mini lip glosses in adorable colors and a pretty nail polish. The mini nail polish is exactly half the size of the original, which costs $16 in itself. Not too bad a deal.

If you do not like what you order, NARS has an excellent return policy. You can just contact them and they will send you a prepaid FedEx label for you to return the item.

Like the codes? What great deals have you come across lately?

.edit// I just realized that this is a US only promotion. Sorry my international readers. I also have a code E10427 at Eyeko.com for a free gift if you'd like.

Dupes: Mulberry Alexa

The Mulberry Alexa comes with soft oak leather, postman's lock closure, plaited top handle, adjustable leather shoulder strap and Mulberry rivet detailing. It's no wonder it also comes with a price tag of $1,150. Sure, you can find deals from time to time, but chances are the authentic bag won't be sold for much less than one thousand.

Here are some bags that are similar in design without being similar in price:

ASOS Leather Twist Lock Satchel - $117.92

This bag was pretty much made with the Alexa in mind. ASOS bags are well crafted and this one is 100% genuine leather. Sure, it's missing the Mulberry emblem, but it isn't missing genuine leather quality and good taste.

Topshop Medium Leather Buckle Satchel - $100

Topshop Washed Two Tab Satchel - $70

Topshop comes out with great designer inspired bags for a decent price. Just look at the bags above: genuine leather and from a reputable and fashionable source. How can you go wrong with a Topshop bag?

Proenza Schouler PS1 - $1595

If you aren't looking for a cheaper alternative but just something different, let me divert your attention to the Proenza Schouler PS1 bag. A medium bag runs somewhere from $1500-1600. Not cheaper, but pretty darn similar to the Mulberry Alexa.

Which bag do you like? Don't you just love finding a stylish designer-styled bag without the designer price tag?

I Buy Stripes

I have been really into stripes lately. As in I notice myself picking out large numbers of striped tees and tanks. I think stripes are so relaxed and stylish. And despite what they tell you, stripes worn right won't make you look big. It'll make you look confident good.

American Apparel Unisex Pigment Striped Jersey Short Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt $28.00
ASOS Stripe Elasticated Waist Bodycon Skirt $16.85
ASOS Superdry Cute Striped Cardigan $41.17
ASOS Unconditional Organic Cotton Stripe Distorted T-Shirt $92.65
Charlotte Russe Art Deco Ring $4.00
Charlotte Russe Striped Romper $18.00
Forever 21 Striped Handkerchief Hem Top $15.80

The love the color of that Charlotte Russe romper. It really shows that there is more to stripes than black and white. And the ASOS skirt is super cute with its bold contrast and black patches on the side.

What kind of patterns have you been into lately?

July Handbag Desires

I absolutely adore handbags. I am trying to do a monthly handbags I desire kind of post. I say desire because I just don't deserve these bags. But a girl can always want things and I always want designer bags.

Michael Kors Darrington Distressed Leather Tote - I love distressed leather. The color, design and texture of this bag is just wonderful. I think this new distressed version by Michael Kors was made just for me. Too bad I don't need more bags. If you have not checked this bag out yet, definitely take a look at Saks. It's sweet, sweet eye candy.

Prada Leather Stripes Tote Bag - I have to admit that this is my least favorite of the four. I like the slouch of this bag, but it isn't as appealing to me as it used to be. It was always just something I figure I should get one day in the distant future. Silly Kat, Prada is for grownups.

Balenciaga Giant Part Time - No one does distressed lambskin better than Balenciaga. I have the Giant City in black so it isn't like I need a variation, but the Giant Part Time has always been my ideal. And Balenciaga's anthracite is the most amazing color. I have wanted this bag for so long. I want to tote it around with the handles on my arm while letting the shoulder strap dangle like the celebrities do it. 'Cause you know, that's what cool kids do.

Mulberry Roxanne - I fell in love with this bag as soon as I saw it on Fleur. I love the size, the thick leather and the sturdiness of it. My only complaint is that it does not come with a shoulder strap. I think that this bag can be of a reasonably affordable price if you get it on sale, but I can't even find a place to purchase it in the US. It isn't even listed on the Mulberry website.

Are you a handbag fanatic? What is your ideal bag?

Today's Makeup Routine

I had a little extra time this morning, so I thought I would describe my makeup routine for the day. It is pretty standard, but I think this is a good chance to give my two cents on the products I use.

I start with a freshly cleaned face and apply a generous amount of moisturizer. During the day, I always use my Neutrogena SPF 15 moisturizer. 80-90% of skin damage is caused by the sun. (97% of all statistics are false.)

After my face absorbs the moisturizer, I apply a concealer under my eyes. I am currently using the Maybelline Mineral Power concealer. I apply a dab under my eyes and use my ring finger to gently blend it in. I have pretty heavy dark circles some days and this concealer is perfect for my skin. It has a yellow undertone, which is great for dark, black spots. I also spot any blemishes or redness if necessary.

I follow up with the MAC Studio Mist foundation. I shake the bottle and spray it onto the back of my hand and use a flat foundation brush to apply the foundation all over my face, down to my neck.

To set the foundation and concealer, I use a powder brush to apply my Maybelline Mineral Power powder. The powder has SPF 18, which means my lazy self won't have to reapply sunscreen. The powder is a little dark for my skin, which I kind of like because I apply sparingly. Sometimes I sneak a little extra powder on my brush and use it as a bronzer. (I know, bad, bad girl.)

I then apply a generous amount of primer on my eyelids all the way up to my brow bone. I am using a Jordana primer I picked up from a Cherry Culture haul with my cousin last month. I think it was about $2-3, which is great because it works just fine. It is no Urban Decay Primer Potion or Two Faced Shadow Insurance, but it works great as an eyeshadow base. It is not as pretty a base as a MAC's paint pot, but not any worst in quality.

I take a light beige color from my Color Palette with my eyeshadow brush and apply it all over my lids. I then take a darker brown color to the crease of my eyes. I use a small fluffy brush to blend the the shadow so there is no harsh line. Sometimes I add a darker color to the outer corner of my eyes, but I am trying to go more natural today. I use a Sephora's Aspen Summit eyeshadow to highlight my brow bone.

Next, I use my Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in onyx to line my upper lid and lower waterline. Then I curl my eyelashes and apply one coat of Prescriptives False Eyelashes mascara in plush black. My eyelashes suck at curling, so I have to hold for about 10 seconds twice for each eye. Still, they curl does not hold for long. I am going to try using Dior's eyelash conditioner to help my lashes grow and curl. Let's see how that works.

I pencil in my eyebrows with a Bobbi Brown brow pencil in Mahogany.

I moisturize my lips with Softlips lip balm and apply MAC's Creme d'nude. I love nude lip colors. For a bit of added color throughout the day, I apply NYX lipgloss in coral. The consistency sucks, but I love the color. I don't use lip liners unless I am going somewhere special. I don't think it's worth the hassle.

That is my routine for the day. I usually love to I contour and bronze up my face, but not today. It's Sunday and I just want a fresh face. To highlight, I usually use Benefit's High Beam or ELF's Shimmering Facial Whip in lilac petal above my cheekbones, on the bridge of my nose, under my chin and on my cupid's bow. I will no longer buy High Beam because the Shimmering Facial Whip is $1 and is one of the best highlighters I've come across.

Products Used:
Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Ivory
MAC Studio Mist Foundation in Light Medium
Maybelline Mineral Power SPF 18 Powder in Shade 4, Nude
Jordana Eye Primer/Base
Color Palette Eyeshadow in Light Beige
Color Palette Eyeshadow in Dark Brown
Sephora Eyeshadow in Aspen Summit
Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Onyx
MAC Creme d'nude Lipsick
NYX Lipgloss in Coral
Maybelline Eyelash Curler
Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara in Plush Black
Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil in Mahogany
Body Shop Foundation Brush
ELF Studio Powder Brush
Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush
EcoTools Blending Brush

My Perfume Collection

I am going to be doing a quick review of my perfume "collection" today. As you will soon see, I am not much of a perfume person. I only own a few that I use year after year. I tend to grab whatever is at hand.

1. Calvin Klein: Eternity, CK One, Obsession and Escape
2. Chanel: Chance
3. Chanel: Coco Mademoiselle
4. Rue 21: Revert Eco
5. Tommy Hilfiger: Tommy Girl

Someone gave me a Calvin Klein perfume set last Christmas. I love this kit because I can just put one of those 1.5 oz bottles in my bag and go. I have to say that of the four bottles in the kit, I only use Escape. It is not like I don't like the other ones, but I just never get to them. I don't use CK One out of sheer laziness. I like the smell, but it does not have a spray. I am not really sure which of the other scents I prefer. They are all pretty light and wearable.

I love the Chanel Chance. I have to say that it is one of my all time favorite perfume. The smell lasts forever. It has a strong but subtle scent. I think it's quite classy so I like to wear it out at night.

To be honest, I haven't even opened Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. I have tried the scent and love it. I just don't want to unwrap it before I use up the Chanel Chance. I will give a more thorough review next time around.

Rue 21 Revert Eco smells a bit like grass, but much more pleasant. As advertised, it has a natural and light kind of scent. I use this for casual hangouts or going to class. It's just perfect for those days when you want to smell nice, but are not actually dressed up. Let's just say I think it goes well with my sneakers.

Oh, I love the Tommy Girl perfume. I have used it for years and I still love it. I think it's a very buildable scent. You can spray a little for everyday use or spray a lot for a stronger effect. It is a mix of classical floral and citrus aromas. It's fresh and clean like Spring mornings. This is my go to perfume when I am going out during the day but not exactly running to class.

St. Moriz Tanning Mousse Review

So I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered myself a St. Moritz tanning mousse a few weeks back. I have used up the entire bottle and would like to sum up my experience with this product. I have mentioned this over at heartmycavies, but figure I should attempt an in depth review on the beauty blog now.

First of all, I would like to clarify that the bottle I bought is labeled "St. Moriz" instead of "St. Moritz" like I thought it should have been labeled. I initially thought that the manufacturer made the typo on a bunch of these bottles, as I saw others with the same problem. After never seeing one St. Moritz bottle, I am just going to assume that they are just spelled that way.

I ordered a 200 ml bottle from Ebay for about $9 including shipping from the UK because they just don't sell them here in the States. St. Tropez, sold at Sephora, costs $40. People say they're comparable, but I have never tried St. Tropez for myself. I believe you can get St. Moriz from Boots or some department stores if you live in the UK. 

Anyway, the application was simple. After getting out of the shower, I pumped the mousse out on my hands and just applied from the bottom up. I washed my hands after each leg application and so on. My hands were a little stained, but since I wish my hands often the stain quickly faded. I like the consistency of the mousse and had virtually no streaks. That may also be because it applies so light that there was not much color. The color that appeared on my skin was a nice light bronze, no orange at all.

It comes out a dark chocolate color, a little runny.

My skin is pretty pale because I constantly avoid the sun. I was expecting a lot of color to show. The initial application of St. Moriz left me dissatisfied and disappointed. I thought to myself, I just will avoid too much washing and apply again really soon. Well, by the next morning, I noticed that the color had intensified. Rather than fade, it continued to grow darker within the next two days of application.

Because I only had one bottle of tanning mousse, I was reluctant to scrub and exfoliate my tan. I wanted the color to last as long as possible. It faded gradually after the second/third day. I had no problems with blotches or streaks despite not exfoliating. The color completely faded after about 6 days.

My hand stained even though I wiped it, took picture and then went to wash it.

Overall, I would say that I am pretty satisfied with the St. Moriz tanning mousse. The smell is not all that bad and goes away in one shower. It is not orange or streaky. It develops well and fades well (for me). I have heard that the fading process was bad for some people. lollipop26 seems to have had a problem with blotches and streaks. I am not sure why it did not happen to me. Maybe it just works with my skin. Anyway, at this price and value, I am sure to repurchase.


So have you tried this? How was your experience with it? Other recommendations?

Smashbox Naked Beauty 2010

Oh why, oh why did I not buy products from this collection earlier in the season? I have been looking at the highlights/creamy cheek color for awhile now but never had quite the incentive to make a purchase. I am not lacking makeup in any way. If anything, I should be clearing my makeup space. (Discount blog sale, anyone?)

Anyway, after reading about the cheek color over over at Chic Profile, I have been really wanting it. Well, it is sold out over at Smashbox and I don't see it at Sephora either. :( What's a girl to do? It probably is a good thing. I should not buy anymore makeup. I should buy books. Books!

I know this highlight blush duo won't be all that I make it out to be, but I can't help but want to blend its creamy smoothness onto my cheeks to give me that natural flush. It just seems all so perfect in my mind. Never mind that I don't even like to use blush. Bronzer has always been my thing.

The current "cream" blush I use is a mixture of Neutrogena moisturizer and pinkish powder blushes that I've mixed together in a small container. But really, it is still a powder blush and doesn't glow like that one advertised by Smashbox. No matter what they tell you, advertisements work.

Has anyone tried this or any similar cream blush? Any thoughts?

Fishtail Braid

My mother used to braid my hair every morning for about nine years as I was growing up. She said it was neat, clean and cute. Needless to say that I am pretty sick of the traditional braid. If you, like me, are tired of the traditional braid, then you should give the fishtail style braid a try. It has that romantic and innocent feel of the braid with an added elegance and charm.

Picture Credit: Cosmopolitan. Sean Cunningham/Backstage Beauty/Hearst

I learned how to do the fishtail braid recently so I have been braiding my hair all week. It's too bad I dyed my hair black recently and had some layers added. Anyone with layers knows how difficult it is to keep braids intact. And without the highlights, the fishtail braid just doesn't shine like it should.

To start out, you can opt to tie the top with a hair tie or clip it in a ponytail form so all the hair keeps together neatly. You can do that and remove the clip later, or just leave your hair as is. Seeparate your hair into two equal sections, one section in each hand.

You now have two hair sections: the left section and the right section. Take a small portion of hair from the outer right side of the right section and add it to the right side of the left section. You then take a small potion of hair from the outer left side of the left section and add it to the left side of the right section.

Remember to keep the hair in place with your thumbs and hands. You should still have two sections of hair in equal proportions. Continue the braiding in this same manner until you get to the end. Tie it with a hair tie or whatever.

Keep practicing and you will get used to it. You will develop a sense of how much hair to use for the braiding. You can also start this style of braiding from the top as you would with French braiding.

Handmade Gold-Filled Earrings

I have extremely sensitive ears that usually can't handle earrings less than gold-filled. I love the cheap fashion earrings from Forever 21 and local stores as much as the next girl, but my ears usually won't tolerate those earrings for more than a few hours. They become irritated and itchy and that is just unacceptable.

Recently, I have been searching for cute, affordable earrings that won't irritate my ears. I mostly search on Etsy, but cute gold-filled post earrings are not easy to find. Some had gold-filled posts but not backs or vice-versa. Some are too expensive for my liking. I want to change my earrings up a bit, you know. I can't get stuck with an expensive pair I have to wear year after year. Then I thought, why not make my own?

A friend of mine had mentioned that fusionbeads offers free delivery for US orders with no minimum. I snooped around the site and added a few items to my cart. I have never shopped here before, so I was very picky (aka cheap) about my order.

Some items I spotted on fusionbeads.com

The post pins and backs are both gold-filled so they will not bother my oh-so-sensitive ears. As for the body of the earring, I chose a gold-plated design to cut the cost. I figure it would not come in contact with my pierced ear much with the flat pin in the way and all. It totals up to $5.92. Now all I have to do is use the glue gun to put it all together.

I may look around at other websites for other designs for my custom earrings. I could even use a few old buttons. My options are nearly unlimited at this point. I am super excited and will keep you updated once I make my earrings.

*Notes for your reference
In the US, the gold content in any gold-filled jewelry must be at least 1/20 the weight of the total item. For items labeled gold plated, the item is plated in gold without a limit to the thickness or thinness of the gold plating. Needless to say, gold-filled jewelry will last much longer than gold plated ones.

Paper Clip and Ring Bracelet

I bought a batch of wholesale fashion rings from eBay a few years ago. They were wonderfully simple rings that I did not wear. What does a girl do with a hundred rings? Here is what I did: (I also happen to have an enormous collection of paper clips.)

The paper clip ring "bracelet" on my wrist.

I basically attached a few paper clips and rings together and folded it into a bracelet. The rings a silver on the outside with some different colors on the inside. It gives a subtle bit of color and shimmer to a fabulously unique bracelet.

I don't wear this often, but I get a few compliments and inquiries when I do. I think it is something cute to pair with some cute and boringly casual clothes. It spices an outfit up without too much spice.

Unfolded form and a closeup.

It can also be worn as a necklace, but I think I would need to add some more paper clip to give it that long, layered kind of look.

This is nothing fancy, but I'm here to throw ideas out. What do you think?

Unionbay Handbag

Unionbay has been around since 1981 and their bags are guaranteed 100% handcrafted. I am not all too familiar with this company, but one of my favorite small handbags is from Unionbay. I say small because although I like this bag, I have never been a fan of small bags. On the other hand, I love toting around oversized ones.

An overview of the Unionbay bag.

This is a beautifully patched bag with colorful patch/plaid fabrics. The handles and sides are made from thick brown leatherette. I love a bag made with thick leatherette. It gives quite a sturdy, chic kind of feel.

The Unionbag tag on the front and on the inside.

I apologize for the crap photos. I promise to get a real camera soon.

Where the handle is stitched onto the body of the bag.

I love the details on this bag. It is crafty yet subtle. It's truly an affordable and stylish bag. I think I bought this at a local Mandee about two years ago, yet I still wear it all the time.

The side leather and workable button.

This side has buttons that can be "popped" to make it a little roomier so you can hold more things. Although I call this bag small, it is by no means cramped. It is spacious enough to hold my makeup, cellphone, wallet and sunglasses without me having to pop the buttons. I say I could also fit a small jacket inside if I wanted to expand the bag.

On a closer look at the interior of this bag, it does state that although handcrafted, this bag was handcrafted in China. That bit of info is for people who are interested in the origin of their bags. As for myself, this will remain one of my favorites.

The same bag in a different color.

Needless to say that this exact bag is not sold at Mandee anymore. To be honest, I don't know if you can get it anywhere. I saw the same style bag in a different color pattern at Key West Styles the other day, but  that is about it. I am glad to have this bag to hold onto.