Stitch Fix: 4th Fix, 1st Reveal!

My "dark neutrals" fix: love at first sight!

Last year a colleague of mine told me about a clothing subscription service, called Stitch Fix.  I tried it once last year, and then this year tried it 3 more times. I'm hooked!  Like many other Stitch Fixers, I decided to start doing a "grand reveal" with each fix.  Presenting my 4th fix, my 1st reveal!  (Never heard of Stitch Fix?  Check out my post, "The Joy of Stitch Fix," for an explanation!)

(Please keep in mind this is my 1st reveal.  That means the selfie poses are awkward, the lighting is bad, and my hair and makeup are a mess!)

First, let's start with my note.  I don't have an exact copy of it anymore, but basically I asked for cute tops for date nights, a dress or two, maybe a cardigan, and silver earrings.  I emphasized that I like wearing "dark neutrals."  It's important to focus on the positive in your notes, not on what you don't want.  Since it's a computer algorithm that "reads" your note first, you don't want it to misinterpret "no jeans" for "must have jeans"!

I also pinned several pieces on my Pinterest board.  Some of my pins were specific Stitch Fix pieces, others were just pinned to give my stylist a general idea of what I like.  I also left a note on each pin, letting my stylist know what I liked about each piece: color, style, price, etc.

This fix definitely kept me waiting...my box didn't arrive until 3 days after it was supposed to.  I really resisted and didn't peek on the app, but it wasn't easy!  Finally, the day arrived...

It's here, it's here!!!

Since I didn't peek ahead of time, I had no idea what was coming.  I was so thrilled when I opened the box and saw everything was black or white or navy!  My favorite store is White House Black Market, and most of my closet is black, with individual pops of color.  I'm very classic and simple when it comes to clothes, and my stylist Tara delivered on my request for "dark neutrals."  I had Tara for the last fix and I requested her again.  Even though my last fix was only a 1/5, I figure it's better to stick with the same person, so she can get to know me and what I like.  It was obvious from the note below that Tara read my note, looked at my Pinterest, and really made an effort to style me accordingly!

The note from my stylist, Tara

 And without further ado, here's the fix!  First up: Papermoon Danyela Knit Maxi Dress!

I was so excited about trying on this dress!  I loved the black and white print, and I do love a good maxi dress.  And then I put it on.  Yikes.  This dress did nothing for me!  First, the top of the dress cuts in, leaving my bra straps showing.  I don't like to bother with lots of different styles of undergarments, so if a piece of clothing doesn't work with what I already have, then it's out.  This dress also clung at all the wrong places on me, so my hips were emphasized in a not-so-great way.  This really was a great dress, but not a great dress for me!  Verdict: back in the box!

Papermoon's Danyela Knit Maxi Dress

 Up next: 41Hawthorn Sugar Dot Print Dress!

I was soooo excited to see the 41Hawthorn Sugar Dot Print Dress in my box!  I had this dress pinned on my board, so I was pleased to see my stylist was able to find it for me.  As I picked it up out of the box, I could feel what great quality it was.  The dress was multi-layered, and the material was so smooth.  I couldn't wait to try it on!  And then I did (try it on, that is!).  Yikes again!  I have a long torso, and the waistline of this dress just didn't hit in the right spot.  Because of this, I ended up with a very undesirable looking roll, right where I don't want there to be one!  I might have considered sizing up on this one, but I also wasn't a fan of how the arms cut in at the top.  In pictures I found online, it looked like they were more straight, not curved in.  Might have been the way it fit on me, but sadly, I knew I had to say goodbye to this dress.  Verdict: back in the box!  :(

41Hawthorn Super Dot Print Dress!  And I just realized the mirror is doing a weird reflection thing with my head in this pic, lol!

Item #3: Skies are Blue Astaire Split Back Blouse

I loved the color and print of this top as soon as I saw it!  Navy blue: good!  Sweet polka dots: good!  This blouse has two layers.  The top layer has larger white polka dots, is flowy, and is split open in the back to reveal the bottom layer.  The bottom layer is fitted and has smaller white polka dots.  The split back is a new style for me...I have nothing else like this!  I styled this one with the Romolo Willa Bar Drop Earrings from this fix (discussed below), the Bancroft Trisha Clover Charm Layering Necklace I got from Fix #2, and Apt. 9 jeans from Kohls!  I really like the fitted/flowy fit of this top!  Verdict: It's a possibility!

Skies are Blue Astaire Split Back Blouse (and again with the weird mirror/head thing!)

Don't look at me...look at the back of this top!  Split back!

Next up: Romolo Willa Bar Drop Earrings!

My stylist Tara really paid attention to my requests, and she sent me this sweet pair of silver earrings.  They are a simple bar drop, perfect since I like my jewelry to be silver, simple, and sweet!  I have several pairs of silver earrings that are versatile, and these would be a great addition to my collection!  The only thing that makes me question these earrings is that the metal is not completely smooth.  It is a little rough, almost like an older pair of earrings you've had for a while and worn a lot.  Verdict: These are a possibility!
 

Romolo Willa Bar Drop Earrings

And last but not least: Pixley Martina Slub Knit Open Cardigan

I was super excited to see this in my box, too!  I had asked for a cardigan, and this was one of the cardigans I had pinned!  I loved the fit and feel of this cardigan.  It had long sleeves (which is awesome for my long arms!), it had pockets, and it was soft and light.  Unfortunately, it was so light that it was see through.  That would be okay if it was a darker color, but since I would always be wearing this with a darker or brighter top, I wasn't loving that it was so thin.  Also, while the cardigan is white, it isn't white-white.  It's just slightly off-white, and I knew that would bother me.  I styled it with the earrings from this fix, the same clover necklace from above, and the split back blouse from this fix.  While I love the way it looked, the thinness of the fabric and the slight off-white color were enough for me to think twice.  Verdict: back in the box!

Pixley Martina Slub Knit Open Cardigan

In the end, it came down to the Skies are Blue Astaire Split Back Blouse and the Romolo Willa Bar Drop Earrings.  While I wanted to keep both of them, my wallet wanted me to be a bit more reasonable.  Since I already have several pairs of versatile silver earrings, I decided to keep the blouse!  I have already worn it several times, and I've gotten multiple compliments on it!  Thanks, Stitch Fix, for keeping it fun, and thank you to my stylist Tara for keeping within my general likes/dislikes but stretching my comfort zone a bit!

Would you like to try Stitch Fix?  Click here to be referred to the website, where you can sign up and get styled!  (Disclaimer: I get a credit for referring you to the site.)  

What do you think about my fix?  Do you have any of these pieces?  Do you love them?  I'd love to read your comments below! 

Flashback Friday Post! "Important Things I Learned This Week, by Rosie (18 months old)"

This is one of my favorite posts!  First I posted it on my never-used-anymore My Space page.  Then when I joined Facebook, I posted it as a note.  And now, it's here for my first Flashback Friday post! I first wrote this about 8 years ago when I had an especially "interesting" week with Rosie. She is still a crazy, lovable, test-the-limits kind of kid. But that's what makes her my Rosie!

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Important Things I Learned This Week--by Rosie (18 months old)

1. An important difference between a crayon and eyeliner is that Mommy will yell much louder when you use her eyeliner to draw on the bathroom tile.

2. If you want to see how fast Mommy can run, stand on the kitchen table and begin to twirl around.

3. The amount of time you spend crying during the day is directly proportional to the number of times Mommy mutters phrases like "early bedtime" and "I need a drink".

4. A good way to avoid getting Easter portraits taken is to fall and hit your cheek on the coffee table. The black eye that develops takes at least a week to go away.

5. Despite best efforts, one Mommy and one pediatrician are strong enough to hold a toddler down during an exam.

6. Another good way to avoid getting Easter portraits taken, once the black eye has faded, is to trip on the driveway and land face-first. Yes, it hurts, but the abrasion that follows will delay Easter pictures by at least another few days.

7. When shopping, a good way to get Mommy’s attention is to "cart dive". This is when you attempt to fling yourself up and over the side of the cart seat head first. This does not always guarantee that Mommy will let you get out of the cart, but it is fun and will draw the attention of other shoppers.

8. If Mommy is not in the room and you need her attention, begin yelling "uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh" repeatedly. This will bring her running almost as fast as when you twirl on top of the kitchen table.

9. In a shameless attempt to market items to toddlers, Dora appears on any number of products in the grocery store, from cereal to popsicles to diapers. Yelling "ORA" at the top of your lungs for 75% of the shopping trip does not, however, guarantee that Mommy will purchase these items.

10. And finally, the most important thing I learned this week is that even when I use her eyeliner as a means of creative expression, even when I dance on the kitchen table, and even when I make shopping a miserable experience, at the end of the day Mommy will still give me a hug and a kiss and tell me that she loves me before she tucks me in for my early bedtime and heads downstairs for her drink.

My Rosie!

Happy Friday everyone!!!  TGIF!!!

The Joy of Running (Seriously!)

I do not enjoy running.  I have bad memories of having to run during gym class, which usually ended up with me trying to walk off the developing stitch in my side.  As an adult, I've seen friend after friend discover the joy of running, to the point where they post things on Facebook like, "I haven't run in 2 days, I'm dying to get back out there again!"  You won't ever see me post something like that, lol!

But in the last few years, I have been running.  Willingly running!  And in the last few years, I have run in seven 5Ks!  Not bad for a non-runner!  So why have I, a self-professed non-runner, been lacing up my sneakers and joining races?  I'd like to thank a little after school program called Girls on the Run. 

Girls on the Run (GOTR) began back in the 90s in North Carolina, and in the last 20 years, it has expanded to offer programs in all 50 states.  The GOTR mission is simple: "We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running."  Their core values include intentional decision making, embracing differences, expressing joy and positive intent, and "standing up for ourselves and others."  The GOTR program is open to girls in grades 3-5, and they've recently introduced their grades 6-8 program, Heart & Sole.

Here's how it works: Girls in the program meet with their coaches 2 times a week, after school.  The first part of each session is a lesson, based on developing the core values of the program.  Lessons might include things like "plugging into the positive and unplugging the negative," and activities might include writing affirmations on post-its and sticking them on classmates' lockers or working on a community service project.  During the second part of each session, they run, building up their endurance for the culminating activity: the 5K! 

When Jelly Bean first came home in 4th grade, asking to join GOTR, she informed me that for the 5K, she needed a running buddy.  And she wanted me to be her running buddy.  How could I refuse?  Trying to shove the bad memories of gym class aside, I enlisted the help of my running friends, downloaded the Couch to 5K app on my phone, and started training.  What I found was that while I never did develop a passion for running, I found a tolerance for it. I built up my endurance.  And when the 5K (3.1 miles, btw!) rolled around, Jelly Bean and I stood at the starting line with 3 goals in mind:

1) Finish!

2) Don't be last!

3) Have FUN!

Well, we finished and we weren't last.  And we had so much FUN!  GOTR isn't about who is the fastest, although they do time you and at some of their 5K events there are prizes awarded for finishers in various age and gender categories.  GOTR is about supporting each other and finding joy!  When you show up for a GOTR 5K, you'll find girls getting their hair sprayed in a rainbow of colors.  You'll see participants of all ages writing positive notes on stickers that they stick all over themselves and others, to keep everyone inspired while they run.  You'll notice participants in a rainbow of colors: tie-dyed shirts, wacky socks, and even tutus.  Even running buddy Dads will join in the fun--I've seen several wearing tutus themselves!  During the race, you'll hear cheers not only from the spectators, but from the volunteers spread throughout the course (many of whom have pom poms!), and from the runners themselves.  Coaches, running buddies, and the girls themselves cheer each other on, encouraging those around them to keep going and reach the finish line.  It doesn't matter whether you run or walk (we usually do a mix of both), it's about setting a goal and meeting it--together.

Jelly Bean and I just finished our seventh 5K, (6 with GOTR), and now Rosie joins us, too!  She's been a Girl on the Run and has run in four 5Ks, and Jelly Bean is now a part of the new Heart & Sole program at our school.  We've added to our list of goals above, trying to beat our time at each race.  We don't always reach that goal (there have been some hot and humid races that have slowed us down!), but we have fun trying.  One of the best parts is the friends we see each year at the 5K.  As the program continues to expand, more and more schools in our area offer GOTR.  It's not unusual to run into friends from our neighboring schools at the 5K, and that just adds to the fun!

I still don't love to run.  I probably will never post about the joy of the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, and the open road stretched out ahead of me.  In the month before each 5K I have to fire up the old C25K app to get myself back in running shape.  But I will continue to do it as long as my girls continue to be a part of this fabulous program.  Everyone who I speak to about GOTR has such positive things to say about the experience, for their girls and for themselves.  I am blessed that my girls are a part of this inspirational program, and I'm happy to have (sort of) discovered the joy of running!  

Would you like to learn more about Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole?  Click here to read more and discover programs in your area!  Leave a note below if you've had a joyful experience with Girls on the Run, Heart & Sole, or running in general! 

 

    

The Joy of Stitch Fix!

Some people love to shop for clothes.  Others, not as much.  For me, I do get a lot of joy when I clothes shop, but I just don't have the time that I used to.  If only I had a stylist, like celebrities do!  You know, someone who knows what I like, picks out clothes and accessories, and brings them directly to me to try on.  Well, I'm no celebrity, but I have found a way to pretend I'm one!  Enter Stitch Fix!  Stitch Fix is an online company that helps busy girls like me try the latest fashions in an easy-peasy way.  For a $20 styling fee, you'll receive 5 pieces (clothing and/or accessories) to try.  Keep what you love, and return what you don't!  The fun and suspense of what you will receive each month can bring some joy to your day!

Here's how it works:

Step 1: Visit Stitch Fix and set up your account and your style profile.  (You can use this referral link to get started.)  When setting up your style profile, you will be asked for your age, clothing sizes (tops, bottoms, shoes), and style preferences.  You'll be shown several collections of clothes and asked to identify whether you love it, like it, or hate it.  Answering these questions truthfully (especially when it comes to size!) will help ensure that the items in your fix are best for you!  You can also leave a note that will stay with your profile.  Include anything you want your stylist to know about you!

Step 2: Schedule a fix.  You have two options for this.  You can set up fixes on an automatic schedule and designate how often you'd like a fix (anywhere from every few weeks up to every few months).  Or you can log on whenever you want and schedule one fix at a time.  Just know that there are no last minute fixes!  Whenever you log on, the earliest fix time is usually at least 2 weeks away.

Step 3: Leave your stylist a note.  In addition to the note in your style profile, you can leave a note for your stylist that is specific to the current fix.  Do you want an all-dress fix?  An outfit for an upcoming special event?  How about a "Carrie Bradshaw SATC-inspired" fix?  Let your stylist know what you are looking for, and if there is anything in particular you want your stylist to know.  Your stylist will do her best, based on inventory, to accommodate your requests. 

Step 4: Wait patiently (or not so patiently!) for your fix!  While you are waiting, make sure you set up a Pinterest board and share the link on your Stitch Fix profile.  You can pin fashions you like, so your stylist can continue to get a better idea of what you like.

 Step 5: The package arrives!  In the box you'll find a set of style cards, which show you various ways to style each piece, a listing of each item, including details and cost, and 5 pieces, wrapped neatly in tissue paper and sealed with a Stitch Fix seal.  When your Stitch Fix box arrives at your door, you will have 3 business days to try everything on.  And you should try everything on...even if you don't love the way it looks on the style card or in your hands.  You never know!  Part of Stitch Fix is stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something you may never pick up in stores.  Try everything on (I like to try everything on twice) and decide what you want to keep and what you want to return.

  
Step 6: Once you've decided what to keep and what to return, it's time to check out.  Go online, log in, and leave feedback for each item.  This is important...leaving feedback about style, fit, color, etc will help your stylist get to know you even better!  The more feedback you leave, the better things will be next time.  You'll select which items you want to keep, and you'll pay for them online (your $20 styling fee is subtracted from the cost of any items you keep).  Put the unwanted items in the pre-paid package and mail them back.  Easy!

Step 7: (I had to have a step 7.  I love odd numbers, and plus, it's lucky number 7!)  This is the best one...have fun wearing your Stitch Fix clothes!  I can't tell you how many compliments I've received when wearing my Stitch Fix clothes.  Use the style cards for inspiration and make the look your own.  Have fun with fashion!

In future posts, I'll be sharing some of my fixes, including what I loved, what I hated, and my notes on each item.  Feel free to ask a question about Stitch Fix, and give it a try!  Click here to get started today.     

The Joy of (Rocky) Music in the Morning

The Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art!

Mornings in my house can be rough.  Really rough.  Jelly Bean, Rosie, and I are all night owls, so our mornings (okay, my mornings) usually begin with multiple hits of the snooze button.  And because I'm always paranoid about oversleeping, it's not just the clock by my bed, but also the alarm on my phone, that add to the cacophony in the morning.

Once I finally drag myself out of bed, then it's time to get the kiddos up.  Rosie is the challenge...she's a deep sleeper and does not enjoy getting out of bed!  And honestly, it doesn't get much better once we are all awake and vertical.  Between getting dressed, making lunches, gathering everything, and trying to get out of the door on time, our mornings can be stressful. (And yes, I've read all the articles about prepping everything the night before.  I always manage to do that before the first day of school, but by day 3 I'm back to leaving everything to the morning!)

So with all this stress, it's important to try and find the joy.  Music is always a great source of joy for me, and especially so in the morning!  Today it definitely did the trick.  Today was field day at school, so I wanted to have a little fun with waking up the kiddos.  What better way to wake them up on field day than with the Rocky movie classic, "Gonna Fly Now"?  (You can listen to the song here.  C'mon, you know you want to!)  I started off standing in the hallway, loudly announcing, "It's time to wake up!!!  It's Field Day!!!" and then I played the song.  Never mind that neither of the kiddos have seen the movie...it's still a great inspirational "get your butt out of bed" kind of song!  And amazingly, it worked!  They popped out of bed much more quickly than normal, and it definitely started the day off right.

Mornings in my house have the potential to be a decidedly non-joyful time of day.  So thank you Rocky, for bringing a bit of joy to our morning today.  You revved up the kiddos for a fun day at field day and revved me up for an exciting day of sitting in front of a computer all day at the office (where I listened to showtunes to keep the joy going!).

What kind of music brings you joy?  I'd love to hear from you!  (And please feel free to leave tips for me on how to make mornings run more smoothly! I'd especially love advice that doesn't require much extra effort on my part, lol.)   

The Most Important Eight Minutes of the Day

"Mom, can you braid my hair?"  It's my 13 year old, Jelly Bean, asking if I can french braid her hair before she goes to bed.  Not just one french braid...two french braids.  I pause on the steps, my arms overflowing with laundry.  I glance behind me and see the sink still filled with the dinner dishes.  And my head is swimming with all the other things still on my to-do list for the evening...bills, reports for work, and more laundry.  Always more laundry.

Honestly, I don't want to do her hair.  It's just one more thing to add to my list.  I need to get the laundry put away.  I need to clean up the kitchen.  I really need to get my reports done for work.  But I put all that aside, drop the laundry on my bed (I wasn't really going to put it all away now anyway), and I head into her room to do her hair.

A few months back, on one of the many nights when I was braiding her hair, Jelly Bean asked me, "How long does it take you to braid my hair?"  I asked her why, and she said one of her friends asked her.  So, we timed it.  The total amount of time it takes me to put two french braids in her hair?  Eight minutes.  That's it, just eight minutes!  That kind of surprised me.  I guess after all this time, I've gotten pretty good at it.  But really, eight minutes just not that much time out of my whole day. 

What I came to realize that night is that those eight minutes are some of the most important minutes of my day.  Because guess what happens during that eight minutes?  Yes, of course, Jelly Bean's hair gets braided.  But guess what else happens?  We talk.  I get a precious eight uninterrupted minutes with my teenager.  Granted, she's usually got her phone in her hands.  But I use whatever it is she's doing on her phone as a chance to have a conversation.  She's texting or snapchatting with a friend?  I ask her about how her friendships are going.  She's playing Minecraft?  I let her narrate to me what she's doing in her latest world (which honestly I don't understand at all, but she loves it and I want her to know I'm interested in what she's interested in.) Sometimes she's watching a show or movie on Netflix, and it gives me an opportunity to see what she's watching and chat with her about it.

Rarely are we silent during these eight minutes, but even if we are, it's still valuable time spent.  Sometimes it's the only time she and I have, alone, together, during the day.  My 9 year old daughter Rosie is usually tucked into bed at that point, so it's just Jelly Bean and me.  And I know that even though I have a thousand other things I could be doing instead of braiding her hair, this is where I need to be.  Before I know it, she won't want me to braid her hair anymore.  Even now, she doesn't ask me every night.  Before I know it, she'll move on to some other hairstyle, or she'll figure out how to braid her hair herself.  Before I know it, she will not want to spend those eight minutes with me anymore.  I'm lucky she still wants to now...she is closer to me than some of her peers are to their moms.  I need to soak in every minute she's willing to give me.  

So I put down the laundry basket, remind myself that the dishes can always get done later (I'm an excellent procrastinator anyway), and mentally plan another time to get the work reports completed.  And I head upstairs to spend the most important eight minutes of the day with my daughter. 

Jelly Bean's braids! (obviously this pic was not taken at night!)

I'd love to hear from you, dear reader!  How do you carve out special time with your loved ones? Comment below!