Got a lot to Carry? Do it in Style with Big Buddah Handbags! #Review & #Giveaway

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The sun is shining! What is it about springtime that seems to just wipe the grey away? Once the weather starts to become even the slightest bit warm, I want to get out into that fresh air. Running errands seems to be so much more enjoyable when the weather is super gorgeous! When I run errands, I usually have a lot to tote around with me, so I try to have the very best totes and handbags in my personal collection as possible. Not just any handbag will do, either- my handbags have to pass my personal test, or else they stay in the closet, never to see the light of day again!

I knew that Big Buddah was going to make me very proud to be a new owner of their handbags. I happened upon Big Buddah a little over a month ago, and fell head over heels for them when I saw them! Big Buddah is a small, fashion-rooted handbag company in California. Big Buddah aims to connect women with affordable, fashionable handbags that are suitable for everyday use, or a night out on the town! You may be familiar with Designer Steve Madden, who I have been a fan of for many years (love his shoes, especially!). Steve Madden actually acquired Big Buddah in 2010. Madden is constantly connecting with companies like Big Buddah, and doing amazing things! This collaboration has led to a powerful line of fashionable handbags for women, meant to carry them from a day with the kids to work, school, or whatever their day may bring!

I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to team up with Big Buddah for our Spring Style Guide, because I know how important it is for women to have fashionable handbags that work for all sorts of occasions, and are comfortable to tote around, functional, and are affordable, too. I was able to select a couple of styles

My first choice- the Greenwich in Taupe

I really love big handbags. They really come in handy when our busy little family is out and about or on the road. I hear 'Hon, will you carry this for me in your purse?' way too often, so when we're headed out for a few hours, bringing a bag along that's large enough to carry my essentials, hubby's whatevers, and B's add-ins is a must!

The Greenwich Tote in Taupe is a multi-colored dream come true! It's large, and lovely with its striking orange and taupe color blocked outside. The leather bag is soft and lightly textured for a little added pizazz!

The inside of the Greenwich tote features a beautiful turquoise contrast, and is so roomy!

There is also a small, square pocket inside of the Greenwich Tote, which zips closed.

This pretty tote is everything a girl could hope for! It's so roomy that I could carry my laptop around in it, along with my tablet, a notepad, and then my essentials, like my wallet, makeup for touch-ups, etc. I can even easily clip my keys to the inside! Basically, this is now my stylish go to bag for those days where I really need to get out of the house to work on MBP stuff, and am found sitting in a coffee shop, typing away... all cliche like.

If the sheer beauty and functionality of this bag isn't enough for you, check out this awesome bonus...

Perhaps the best surprise the Greenwich Tote offers, is that it has a second bag inside of it! The bonus bag can be left in the tote, as a divider, or an inserted pocket, to hold things you may not want to have loose, rattling around in your tote.

A tote with a deep inner pocket, or two bags in one!

Awesome, right!?

The inner bag can easily be detached from the large Greenwich Tote. I actually had no idea that this was a 2-in-1 handbag when I chose it, so imagine my delight that I was actually getting two bags! The inner bag is in the lovely taupe color, and has a convenient shoulder strap for effortless carrying! To use both bags together, the inner bag simply clicks into place, and it's good to go.

The Greenwich Tote is the perfect style for a casual day out, and has all of the room needed to tote along everyone's belongings.

The gold chain accents and corresponding color tassels give this bag a little extra flair, too!

The inner bag is also a great choice for everyday running around. It has enough room to hold the essentials, has an inner zip pocket, and a long shoulder strap, making it easy to carry when juggling a three-year-old, and whatever else you may find your hands full of. The bag has a cute inner lining, which can be shaken out and wiped down for a quick cleaning.

Bonus bag- nice and roomy, too! I love the Big Buddah print lining!

Perfect messenger style bag for your daily running around!

The Greenwich Tote in Taupe will be available in April, and comes in various colors, so be on the lookout for this one in a couple of weeks! It's definitely a wonderful bag that's easy to carry, and worth having in your spring and summer collection!

JAlycee Satchel Top Handle Bag

The second bag I received from Big Buddah, has also quickly become one of my favorites. Every gal needs a nice lightly colored handbag to use after Easter. I try to stay away from wearing a lot of white- including shoes and handbags, from Labor Day to Easter. Call me old fashioned- I still go by that rule. White bags are a must to have as part of your handbag collection, and they have to be pretty, as well as functional. When you get to be my age, and you have a family life, etc- you need way more than just a little clutch purse that your wallet barely fits in.

The JAlycee Satchel Top Handbag is a true beauty! It sits upright, and features tan leather accents and gold trimmings, throughout. There are two top handles, and there is also a shoulder strap, which allows you to wear the bag different ways.

The JAlycee Satchel is a beautiful accent to any springtime outfit...

The JAlycee Satchel is not only beautiful, it's pretty unique, as far as handbags go. The bag features two little outer pockets, which zip closed (the perfect place for B to hide his Hot Wheels). It also features three separate inner compartments... one in the very middle of the bag, which snaps closed, and then two more- one on each outer wall of the bag, which zip closed. Since this is a satchel bag, that means that it's tall and sits upright, so the pockets are also tall, which is wonderful! They offer plenty of room for a working gal to carry along her day planner, folders, a tablet, etc.

The main inner (middle) pocket of the JAlycee Satchel bag...

Plenty of pockets to hold cell phone, pens, lip gloss, as well.

...and here's a little peek at how the bag splits open and divides into three zip compartments!

This bag also features a vibrant Big Buddah printed lining, which can be wiped clean. I like to think that the JAlycee bag is also a 'bonus' bag, because of how many pockets it has! I'll never run out of places to put things in this bag, which is great! This means that I can have a pocket for my stuff, a pocket for snacks for B, and an extra pocket for hubby's things, or incidentals while we're out and about. I'd really rather not junk this bag up with everyone else's stuff, but it happens, no matter how hard I try to avoid it!

Super stylish, chic, comfortable and classy!

The JAlycee Satchel is available in black, white, fuscia, and turquoise, and retails for about $94.95.

If you love these bags that I chose from Big Buddah, you might like these other styles, as well...

Tristen Shoulder Bag

Goldie Shoulder Bag

Mellow Top Handle Bag

Georgia Tote

Sicily Tote

It's easy to see why so many women have fallen in love with the sleek designs of Big Buddah Handbags. They are beautifully designed, with you in mind! Big Buddah knows that women juggle so many different roles, but deserve stylish, affordable and functional bags that work for their everyday lives. The price of each Big Buddah bag is most impressive to me. It's hard to find such a beautiful designer bag for such a wonderful price. I love the styles I chose, and will be placing Big Buddah on my wish list. Big Buddah bags would make a thoughtful Mother's Day gift, birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just because gift. A Big Buddah bag would also be a lovely graduation gift for any young woman who is graduating from high school, or graduating from college and about to enter the work force!

Want It? Buy It!

Head on over to Big Buddah to learn more about their beautiful handbags, or to find out where you can purchase a Big Buddah Handbag for yourself! You can also shop the Big Buddah shop on Amazon, and be sure to check Zulily from time to time, where Big Buddah often has a flash sale! Big Buddah has been featured in style magazines such as Glamour, so keep an eye out for mentions of Big Buddah bags in your favorite magazines! Big Buddah is social, and would love to connect with you through Facebook and/or Twitter.

Want It? Win It!

One lucky MBP reader will win their very own Big Buddah Handbag- the Ibiza in Ocean (pictured above). This bag features gorgeous details and is perfect everyday use, plus the ocean blue color is beautiful! Giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and older. Just use the handy dandy Rafflecopter entry form below to enter to win!

Special thanks to our friends at Big Buddah Handbags for allowing me to experience their beautiful handbags, firsthand, and for offering this wonderful giveaway for our readers!

Good luck!