Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Stitch Fix #18 - December 2016

I ordered a December delivery because Stitch Fix was having a contest.  Of course I didn't win, but I can always come up with more clothing requests.  My fix arrived a week early and was supposed to be due back on December 24th.  I requested an extension because I had planned a certain delivery date for a reason.  Here's the usual quick rundown about the service:

Stitch Fix is a service that will send you five articles of clothing (or purses, scarves, jewelry, and now shoes) picked by a stylist at whatever interval you choose based on a style profile you fill out about yourself.  You pay a $20 styling fee for each box, but that money goes toward anything you keep.  So as long as at least one item works for you, there's nothing to lose.  And if you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount.

You don't have to sign up for a certain time period between fixes.  You could try it one time and never get another fix or get another one 2 years later!  There's no cost commitment until you schedule a fix.  When the box ships, that's when you are charged the $20 styling fee.

You can create a Pinterest board dedicated to your style and put the link in your style profile so that your stylist can see what items you like and why.  I love when I receive something I actually pinned or something very similar to a pin on my board!

Here was my note to my stylist for Fix #18:

 Same stylist (Anne) please! Would like some pants that have a boot cut for my work shoes. Also, I'm going to New York in January, so I would like some warm and cozy clothes!

Anne was unavailable this month, but here is what Amy sent me:

(1) Liverpool Harper Bootcut Pant - $88

 
I wanted pants to wear with my Danskos for work, since the black pants I bought about 10 years ago are a little worn out.  It's also hard to wear my skinny pants with flats and no socks in the winter!  Here's what they look like paired with my shoes and the Market & Spruce Galapagos Dolman from Fix #17 (photo taken by my 5 year old):


I also wanted to try something dressier to see if other shoes would work with the pants.  Here they are with some black pumps and my Creative Commune Vandalia Blouse from Fix #7 :

I also sported my Zad Martin Cuff from Fix #10.  They are a tad bit long, but I think they will work.  At least I'm not stepping on them.

(2) Papermoon Kanyi Pullover Sweater - $68

I love this sweater because it is semi lightweight and not itchy.  I don't love the lack of color, but it seems long enough and fits well.  Also it covers my rear enough that I might be able to pull off leggings and boots like my stylist suggested.


(3) Skies are Blue Simeon Cargo Vest - $78


I have had a week to fall in love with this vest, but I think I need a medium just for a little extra room to button over my layers.  I was hoping to exchange and tried to check out while on MARTA today, but the site timed out on me.  Now I keep refreshing hoping to get a medium back in stock.  It is so warm and has a hood and pockets.  I still have until the end of tomorrow to hope another medium shows up.  I tried it with a top also sent in this fix as suggested.

I also tried it with my Market & Spruce Colibri Shirt from Fix #9, since I don't think I am keeping the shirt from above.

Praying for a medium to appear so that I can keep this cute vest!!

(4) Laila Jayde Busby Cowl Neck Zipper Detail Knit Top - $58

I could tell by looking at this one that I wasn't going to be a fan.  I like the deep green color, but the sleeves are too short, and the material is too thin to wear it without something underneath.

This top is definitely going back.  I couldn't get the zipper cowl to look right either.

(5) Skies are Blue Avena Split Neck Top - $54

I saw plaid and got excited, but it's a sheer material which does feel nice but is not very warm.  The sleeves seemed great on this one, but the sides slit, and when I lifted my arms over my head, you could see my belly.  No thank you.  I did try to get a picture of the split neck detail.

And here I am wearing it with my Just Black Jimmy Skinny Jeans from Fix #7:

So a mix of hits and misses on this fix.  I am obsessively checking for a medium vest and waiting to the last minute to check out even though I've already had an extension.  Any feedback from my lovely readers is also appreciated!

Now I fill out a checkout survey to give specific feedback on each item so that my next fix can be even better.  Then I put the rejects in a prepaid envelope and drop it off at the post office.

Click here to sign up using my code!  I get a referral credit, and you get to join in on the fun!  Playing dress up has never been so easy!

Maria at Crazy Together has posted her monthly link up, so if you want to read other Stitch Fix blogs, click the link to check them out!



Thanks for reading!







Saturday, November 26, 2016

Stitch Fix #17 - November 2016

I took a little break from Stitch Fix, mainly because I was loving too many items!  I would tell myself that I was only going to keep one item and then end up liking the whole box!  So after a couple months off, I figured it was time for some new clothes!  Here's the note I sent to my stylist:

Same stylist (Anne) please! I need a top for a New Years Party that is indoor/outdoor. I also need a tunic or top that is long in the back to go with olive leggings.

I love that Anne really listens to my requests and tries to deliver.  If you have no idea what Stitch Fix is all about, here's my quick summary:

Stitch Fix is a service that will send you five articles of clothing (or purses, scarves, jewelry, and now shoes) picked by a stylist at whatever interval you choose based on a style profile you fill out about yourself.  You pay a $20 styling fee for each box, but that money goes toward anything you keep.  So as long as at least one item works for you, there's nothing to lose.  And if you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount.

You don't have to sign up for a certain time period between fixes.  You could try it one time and never get another fix or get another one 2 years later!  There's no cost commitment until you schedule a fix.  When the box ships, that's when you are charged the $20 styling fee.

You can create a Pinterest board dedicated to your style and put the link in your style profile so that your stylist can see what items you like and why.  I love when I receive something I actually pinned or something very similar to a pin on my board!

And here is what I received in my 17th shipment:

(1) Erica Taylor Karen Printed Straight Leg Pant $88

Anne suggested I pair these pants with a shirt and jacket (2 & 3) from this fix for a New Years outfit.  Here is everything put together:



I also tried pairing the pants with my RD Style Cold Shoulder Sweater from Fix #12.


I like the pants but not sure if I like them enough to keep them.  They have a comfy waistband and no zippers or pockets.

(2) Market & Spruce Galapagos Cross Bar Dolman Knit Top $54

I wasn't sure I liked the cross bar on the back of this shirt, but it has kind of grown on me.

 I tried it with my Just Black Skinny Jeans from Fix #7.  I like the purple color and the comfort of the shirt. 
My daughter wanted to join in the fun, so she jumped into the photo shoot.  At least it makes a cute pic!  I am trying hard to find a top to go with my Lularoe leggings that I bought.  The shirt has to cover my rear since that is my least favorite part to show off!  None of the pictures of the back of the dolman top were very flattering, so I'm still unsure about this top.

(3) Edyson Maisha Ponte and Faux Leather Jacket $88

My daughter is in love with this jacket.  She tried it on, told me to keep it, and wants to try it on again!  It's not something I normally would go for, but I think it actually looks good on me.  I also threw it on over a shirt from this fix (4) and my Gilli Skirt from Fix #4.


(4) 41Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse $48


Anne suggested I try this blouse with my leggings.  It does cover my rear, but I don't think I like the combo.

I also tried it with my Kut from the Kloth Boyfriend Jeans from Fix #14 and my Crochet Toms from Fix #15

I think I like it better with jeans than the leggings or skirt.

(5) Renee C Laverna V Neck Tunic $48

This top is gorgeous!  I thought it would be perfect with my leggings...until I tried it on.  My hips are way too big for it!!  I thought about trading it for a larger size, but I think that the top part would then be way too big.  Sadly, this one has to go back.

Overall, I'm not sure about this fix.  I think I need some advice from my readers!  Which item(s) do you think I should keep?  This fix arrived a week earlier than I scheduled too, so I have to take pics, write my blog post, and return my unwanted items all during my work week, which is hectic to begin with!

I have until Monday to choose which items to keep and which I will send back.  I fill out a checkout survey to give specific feedback on each item so that my next fix can be even better.  Then I put the rejects in a prepaid envelope and drop it off at the post office.

Click here to sign up using my code!  I get a referral credit, and you get to join in on the fun!  Have a wonderful weekend! 






Another new month, another link up!  Click here to visit Maria at Crazy Together and find other blogs about Stitch Fix.  There's also a $1000 gift card contest going on!





Friday, September 9, 2016

Stitch Fix #16 - September 2016

I cannot believe it is still 90 degrees in September!  I'm glad I didn't order a fall fix because it would be awful to take pictures outside!   We have exactly 9 days until we are in Disney World.  We have a couple of nights out while we are there, so I thought Stitch Fix would be the way to go!  Here's the note I sent to my stylist:

Same stylist (Anne) please! Going to Disney at the end of the month. Would love some lightweight dresses for a date night and my daughter's birthday at the castle!

Here's a quick rundown on how the service works:


Stitch Fix is a service that will send you five articles of clothing (or purses, scarves, jewelry, and now shoes) picked by a stylist at whatever interval you choose based on a style profile you fill out about yourself.  You pay a $20 styling fee for each box, but that money goes toward anything you keep.  So as long as at least one item works for you, there's nothing to lose.  And if you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount.

You don't have to sign up for a certain time period between fixes.  You could try it one time and never get another fix or get another one 2 years later!  There's no cost commitment until you schedule a fix.  When the box ships, that's when you are charged the $20 styling fee.

You can create a Pinterest board dedicated to your style and put the link in your style profile so that your stylist can see what items you like and why.  I love when I receive something I actually pinned or something very similar to a pin on my board!

And here is what Anne sent in my 16th Fix:

(1) Hailey 23 Kerrigan 2fer Knit Dress $78

The top of this dress looks a lot like my maxi dress from Fix #15.  But as I first tried everything on yesterday, it was the one item that screamed keeper.  My stylist recommended a dainty necklace to wear with the dress on our date night in Disney. 


(2) Pixley Jacobsen Textured Knit Dress $68

Anne recommended this dress for my daughter's birthday dinner.  She suggested a red skinny belt to give it a Minnie Mouse vibe.  I only have a black skinny belt, but I threw on a red necklace to see what it looked like.  I don't like the waistline of this dress--it seems to poof out too much. It's also a tiny bit shorter than I would like.




(3) Market & Spruce Austin Polka Dot & Striped Mixed Material Shirt $44


I like the contrasting patterns of this shirt, especially the pocket.  Unfortunately, when I tried it on, the back is MUCH longer than the front and it almost completely covered my shorts.  Anne suggested the Pistola shorts from Fix #15.  This top is also one of the most inexpensive clothing items I've received, but I think it's going back.








 (4) Loveappella Keetin Contrast Shoulder Knit Top $44


I think Anne just sent me this top because it's very "me."  She didn't comment on how to style it at all, so I paired it with my Dear John shorts from Fix #3 and my boyfriend jeans from Fix #14.  I love the coral color and am always looking for cute tanks!




(5) Street Level Talula Backpack $68



Can I just start by saying, I know backpacks are making a comeback, but they are not my thing.  I do like the brown that would go with everything, but this is so not my style, and definitely not worth the price (for me at least)!  Anne had suggested it for hands-free at Disney, but I think my Osprey will work just fine!


So, I'm thinking about only keeping (1) and (4).  I have been keeping a lot lately, so I'm trying to spread my fixes out more and only keep what I love or what makes more sense financially.  I have until Monday to choose which items to keep and which I will send back.  I fill out a checkout survey to give specific feedback on each item so that my next fix can be even better.  Then I put the rejects in a prepaid envelope and drop it off at the post office.

Click here to sign up using my code!  I get a referral credit, and you get to join in on the fun!  Playing dress up has never been so easy!  Feedback and comments are always appreciated!  Have a great day!

Maria at Crazy Together is hosting another blog link up, so visit her page to see other recent Stitch Fix reviews!








 

Monday, August 15, 2016

August Triathlon Update

After my first triathlon in June, I decided to sign up for another sprint triathlon--The Georgia Peach Women's Triathlon in Acworth on August 28th.  I didn't do much training in June except for running because I had signed up for the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th.  I ran that race and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I didn't try for a PR and tried not to let the heat bother me.  Here's a photo of my patriotic race day outfit:

I ran with my Camelbak for hydration and made it to the finish to get the coveted shirt!  I like that this year's shirt is blue...I have so many white/tan/off-white shirts from my 7 years of running it, so it's nice to have some color!


After the Peachtree was out of the way, it was back to full on triathlon training.  I have started to find new paths to take my bike out on.  At first I found the Forsyth Greenway, but some of the planks on one of the boardwalks are out, which only allows me to get about a 7 mile ride in.  I then ventured a little farther south to the Big Creek Greenway, where I was able to bike almost 14 miles.  My ride in the triathlon is 13 miles, so this will probably be where I do most of my training rides until then.  Here I am at the start:


And here is where I reached Roswell and decided to turn back:



 Meanwhile, I ran over my Garmin Forerunner when it fell in the parking lot.  Luckily it was only the strap, so the actual computer portion still works.  I tested the charger just today, and it also still works!  My Garmin VivoSmart also recently died on me, so I think it's time to start looking for a new fitness watch.  If anyone knows of one that works well for swimming and indoor cycling, let me know!  I also used Strava for the first time the other day.  Since I always have my phone with me on bikes and runs, it's nice to have an app that will keep track of everything for me.  My favorite feature is that it automatically pauses if I get off the bike or stop during a workout. 

Another trail I recently checked out for the first time last week was the Silver Comet.  It is very flat and has no speed limit, so it was a nice place to test out my biking skills.  I ended up going on my longest ride ever with a friend.  We made it over 19 miles!  And the best part is that I was not very sore the next day!  I did learn that padded shorts are a must when I tried to spin the next morning.  I just ordered another pair of Coeur shorts in black in a longer length so that I can also wear my tri shorts to the gym!  Here's a picture after my Silver Comet ride.  (I know they all look the same, but I am very proud, so I wanted to share!)


And finally the swimming.  I have been bringing my husband and daughter up to the pool after dinner about once a week so that I can swim laps.  Now that my swim length has doubled (from 200m to 400m), I have to swim 16 lengths of the pool to get that distance.  I have been wanting to do an open water swim as well since this next race is not in a pool like my last one.  I joined a group on Facebook that posts when they'll be doing open water swims at a beach on Lake Lanier.  My friend who started me on this whole tri thing was looking for someone to go with her last Sunday, and I jumped at the chance to go with people I know.  She is training for a HIM (half ironman), but her husband is doing a sprint for the first time in October.  We paired up and went out together for our first open water swim.  We did about 500m in about 12 minutes, and I felt really good about it.  I ordered a swim buoy from Amazon and was able to try it out for the first time.  It is an inflatable that also has a dry pouch.  You just attach the buoy to a belt you wear around your waist.  I didn't even notice it was there!  I also had to work on sighting the buoys in the water as we swam.  There were quite a few times I had to correct my path, but I was not very fatigued afterward.  It went much better than expected.  Here's a pic of us after finishing our swim:


I hope to be able to go out a couple more times in the next 13 days (EEK!) before my race.  This beach is only about 20 minutes from my house.  I can't believe I had no idea it was there!

So that's where I'm at.  I did a 5K run and spin class this morning at the gym.  I'm also going to try to get in a few more "brick" workouts before the big day.  I plan on going to Big Creek Wednesday to ride 13 miles then put my bike up and run 3 more.  We'll see how that goes!