Stitch Fix #3 September 2014 (and a little blurb about #2)

If you're wondering what happened to Stitch Fix #2 (from July, I think??) I'll just say it was a disaster! I'm thinking maybe they got my profile mixed up with someone else's. I did take one picture of the items I got...

From the top:
#1 - The top items is a very cute shirt asymmetrical front top that was obviously placed in the box by accident and I did end up keeping it, it's very cute for work or weekend. Since I kept something I didn't lose my styling fee of $20. :-)
#2 - a shirt that fit so hideously that I didn't even take a picture wearing it. Not for my body type at all.  The color was awesome, kind of a haphazard striped bright blue
#3 - chevron maxi skirt in the most disgusting color combo I've ever seen and I'm thinking my stylist misread my height (at a towering 5'3") as 6'3".
#4 - white maternity-looking open front cardigan that was way overpriced and just not. flattering. at. all.
#5 - a pair of Kensie WHITE jeans (if you'll recall from SF #1 the Kensie jeans I got were totally awesome so I was bummed about sending these back). I loved the fit but the color? Um...not so much. White jeans takes me all the way back to middle school and not in a good way. Most days I went to school wearing a spotless pair of white jeans and would come home wearing a dingy, ketchup stained, ball-point ink covered (and I STILL accidentally mark on myself pretty much daily with my pen at work) pants. Miraculously my mother could always get them clean but I'm not so confident in my laundry skills so I just had to say no to these.

Ok, enough of sad sad box #2...let's move on to box #3!!

Because of my disappointing experience with my second box it took me a while to get the courage to risk another one but I'm really glad I did! It looks like I got a new stylist, Whitney, so I'm wondering if my harsh comments about my last fix prompted that. She sent a very nice note and I could tell she had actually looked at my Pinterest board and read my requests.

Item #1 - Since I've been having no luck with my Wantable accessories boxes I decided to change up my preferences and allow them to send me jewelry. I really like the necklace they sent and think I will wear it a lot because it's a dressy everyday kind of necklace, which I like. I also that a necklace rather than another piece of clothing brought the total cost of the box down and made it more, ahem, affordable (?). The hubby wasn't so fond of it and I won't repeat what he said about it so just make up something inappropriate and un-"PC" and you're probably close to what he said. ;-) 

 

Item #2 - Pomelo tunic and cream camisole. I was thrilled to see that Whitney had actually looked at my Pinterest board and sent me a shirt I had pinned! It is a different design but I know it's the same shirt and I actually prefer this print, to be honest. It also came with a camisole to wear underneath since it's pretty sheer. Double win!

Item #3 - 41 Hawthorn blue tunic. This was just too big for me. I'm in between sizes right now (which I DID mention in my comments for the fix) and I felt this was just too loose in the shoulders and too low cut without something underneath. The color is really pretty and the material was very soft and flowy but it just doesn't work for me.

Item #4 - 41 Hawthorn polka dot blouse. love! love! love! This is a perfect shirt for Fall and for me too!  It's really soft and for some reason I have a thing for navy and polka dots. :-)

Item #5 - These Kut From The Kloth pants took me a little out of my comfort zone. Ok. Backup. These pants took me a lot out of my comfort zone. Before I tried them on I was like "What the..." BUT after actually putting them on my body I never wanted to take them off! The are super comfy and stretchy (but not in a nasty pajama way...I hope, at least) and the color is growing on me (I think it's a good Fall color and I am SO ready for Fall).

This Stitch Fix wasn't as successful as my beloved first but it was pretty darn close. If  the 41 Hawthorn blue tunic had been a size smaller it would have been perfect!

As always, if I have inspired you to get your own "fix" please, please, pretty please use my Stitch Fix link so I get a $25 credit! :-D

If you have already clicked on my link to purchase a fix, thank you!! How did it turn out? Who was your stylist? I want to know ALL about it!

******** https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3653331  ********

March 2014 Stitch Fix

Here is it by popular demand!! I know it took me way too long but I have finally completed my Stitch Fix review! :-) :-) :-) :-)

So I can't even begin to describe the excitement I felt when I was waiting for this box to arrive. I tracked it incessantly and on the day it arrived I turned around and drove back home to get it when I was already half-way to work when I discovered it had JUST been delivered. I. Am. Not. Joking. It was like Christmas morning when I was six years all over again. I cannot remember the last time I was this excited! Ok...enough of my crazy ramblings and proof that I'm a little kooky. On to the goods...Oh, and stay tuned til the end...there's a surprise ending!!

Stitch Fix is a box of surprise clothing items picked out by a stylist that you can order once or set up a recurring delivery (choices are every 2-3 weeks, monthly, or every other month). There is no monetary advantage to setting up a recurrent shipment other than you are guaranteed a delivery when you want it. They seem to becoming more and more popular and wait times can be several weeks long making a last minute box ordering for a special event or just because nearly impossible. Trust me, when you become addicted to this place, like me, you will want a recurrent delivery! I have mine set up for every other month because I can't afford them more frequently than that! Of course you can cancel anytime or skip deliveries.

When you initially sign up you are taken to an EXTENSIVE quiz called your "style profile" where you answer questions detailing your body size, shape, and personal style. I got the impression that they're really trying to understand what you like to wear and what will look good on your body type. There is even a question asking about the types of clothing you want to receive (business casual/work, cocktail/wedding/special, laid back/casual, or date night/night out). They ask about what you don't like as well (colors, prints, jewelry, clothing items etc.)You can also add links to your own personal websites including a Pinterest board that your stylist can use for inspiration and to get a better idea of what YOU like. Here's mine - holgad's pinterest style board. This is also helpful if you'd like to lavish me with gifts or want to adopt my personal style as your own. Like I said, the questionnaire is quite extensive and could take a while to complete. Thoughtful and honest answers will assure that you get a box most suited for you so take your time! You can edit your style profile answers anytime.

The last box on the style profile is for you to add your own comments. This is a great place to tell your stylist anything you feel is important for the perfect customization of your box. You can also tell them anything you hate or do not want or anything that wasn't covered in the style profile quiz that you feel is important.

My final comments read:  I love to mix up my style with classic yet edgy and chic pieces. My style is a little bit like me - eclectic and fun and casual. I am a mom and a professional so I can't wear anything too daring or revealing because I have a reputation to uphold! ;-) I'm rather self-conscious about my legs. I think I have a nice shape overall and like to emphasize my small waist.


You do have a limited amount of room for the comments, unfortunately.

One downside is that you have to pay a $20 "stylist fee". If you keep anything from the box the $20 goes toward the cost of the clothes. If you don't keep anything from the box you don't get the $20 back. This is why it's so important that you take your time with the style profile! You want to make sure you get at least one thing you like so you don't lose your $20. There is also an advantage to keeping the whole box...but I'm getting ahead of myself...

The box comes all nicely sealed up and wrapped. Also included is a postage pre-paid envelope for mailing back anything you want to return. 

My stylist included a nice note about the items she selected for me and I could tell she really listened to my comments and had thoroughly read my style profile. Attached to this note was a set of style cards for each clothing item with suggestions on how to wear them. 

Now on to the pictures of the clothes. I will offer this disclaimer, I am no model. I hope you get a good idea of the clothes and how they fit...just ignore the awkward posing. I'm no fan of the selfie or posie. :-)

My first item was the Renee C knit top (size M $48).  I have to admit, I did not care for this top when I opened my box and saw it in there. It seemed a little "old lady" and I felt very disappointed.  However, after I put this on my body (and have worn it a few times) it is my favorite thing I got! It feels so soft, is a versatile black and white pattern, and has a relaxed fit through the shoulders but is fitted around the waist and sits slightly off shoulder without being too scandalous or inappropriate for work. I'm attempting to show you the lose fit above in my picture above.   

Next up is the Tart thermal knit top (size M $54). This top is very soft and has a cute cut-out detail in the back. It was an early favorite for me because of the color and fit. It can easily be dressed up or down depending on what you pair it with. 

I am also wearing another item I got in the box with the Tart top above and the Lily top below.  Kensie Sophia skinny jeans. (size 8 $88).  If you are a curvy girl, like me, you know that the term "skinny jean" isn't a word often in your vocabulary (unless your comment is regarding disgust at how they look on you or jealousy directed at skinny bitches who look fabulous in them).  I can not say enough great things about these jeans. They feel great, look pretty good (although I think they'd look even better if I could lose 5-10 pounds, but hey, they do fit on my body and I can wear them and still breath and move at the same time so IMO they fit!), and at $88 I think they are extremely affordable for a pair of nice jeans.  **Plus, keep reading to get to the surprise at the end**

 Next is the Lily gathered sleeveless top (size M $74).  This top costs WAY more than I would ever consider spending on a shirt but it fits so well and is so cute and versatile (I should probably get out my thesaurus...I've used that word way too many times).  I've gotten lots of complements on this top and figure that after several years of not buying any clothes that 1. I deserved this and 2. it was totally worth it.  

This is the Toss chevron canvas traveler ($36) and I won't say much about this except "ick".  I instantly hated this when I opened my box and really wanted to kick myself for not saying NO bags in my comments section.  I hate everything about this bag - the chevron print, the size, and the fact that it has no handles or straps!  I prefer to NOT pay $36 for my "cosmetic bags" (as this bag is referred to on the official Toss website) thankyouverymuch. **Please note: on my invoice shown below you will see that the price of this item was erroneously printed as $54. When I went to the official Toss website they are selling this bag for $36 and when I sent a quick email to Stitch Fix's customer service pointing this out they responded quickly and efficiently apologizing for this mistake and offered to refund me the difference ($18!).  Great customer service!**    

Here is the invoice for the items.  Since the price for the bag was incorrect the actual total was $300 NOT $318. Now for the BIG SURPRISE ----- if you keep all items in your box you receive a 25% discount off of everything! So with this in mind I decided to keep everything! What? Ok, here's the breakdown:

• If I had sent back the hideous, God-forsaken Toss bag I would have had to pay full price for the clothes I decided to keep (let's assume everything since I loved everything). My cost would have been $244 ($318 - $54(price of returned bag)  - $20 (styling fee)).
• If I kept everything my cost was actually cheaper because of the 25% discount - $205.50 ($223.50 (as listed on the invoice) - $18 (refund for incorrect price of bag)).   

Don't let the math bog you down.  You can easily determine if you'd be saving $$ by keeping the whole box by asking "Is the 25% discount MORE than the cost of the items I'm sending back?  If the answer is YES keep the whole box!

I would also caution you about something else when looking over your invoice. 1. Unpack your items FIRST before even looking at the invoice.  The price of items could detract or change your opinion of them.  Try them on, feel them, ask your husband's advice before you look at the price.  If you're like me and NEVER shop for yourself and plan to get a Stitch Fix box a few times a year it is totally worth it to spend a little more on a item that fits well, you love, and is unique.  The alternative is going to the mall for hours (maybe with whining kids in tow) and trying on countless items that just look "so-so" on you...this is why I never go shopping! 

I'm so happy to be able to share this experience with anyone who actually read this entire thing.  After two kids and turning the big 31 this past December I'm not as confident about my body as I used to be and have found that shopping for clothes can be a very discouraging and disheartening experience.  Using Stitch Fix has given me hope that I don't have to resign myself to MuMu's and "Mom jeans" and I actually found it to be a more enjoyable process than shopping at a mall or even online.

If you feel inclined to give Stitch Fix a try please use my referral link: http://stitchfix.com/sign_up?referrer_id=3653331.  I get a $25 credit for anyone who signs up and if my boxes continue to be this awesome I'm going to need it! ;-)  

Wantable - April 2014 Accessories box

I have found myself in a little bit of a predicament. I am officially obsessed with monthly "box" subscriptions! I tried the Wantable Intimates box for the first time last month (sorry no review on that one but I'll be happy to share what I got in my March or April boxes if anyone is interested) so I was really excited to try out the Wantable Accessories box this month! I thought it might be fun to document my box adventures through photos and my blog. :-)

Wantable is a website with a really cool idea and is really simple to use. Here's how it works:

• First you choose a category - makeup, accessories, or intimates.
• Next you take a "personal style quiz" to customize your box. 
• Then you receive a personalized box in the mail based on the quiz answers!! (Obviously, this is the fun part)  

You have two choices when it comes to ordering. You can order a one-time box for $40 or you can sign up for a monthly subscription for $36. You can cancel at any time and can even place your subscription on hold a month at a time.  

I found the quizzes to be very thorough and easy to complete. I like that you are able to mark things that you dislike and can be guaranteed that you will not receive any of that particular item or style. My current dislikes are Classic, Boho, rings, and gold tone but I can always re-take the quiz and change my loves, likes, and dislikes down the road. I'm thinking it is good to frequently update and change your quiz so you get the most variety! Also a plus, you can send the entire box back for a full refund, no shipping costs and no questions asked. Partial refunds are also a possibility if you don't like all the items in the box but I have found that if you like some items in the box you might as well keep everything and give it away as a gift or try to like it because you aren't going to get much money back if you do send it back. It's also a little bit complicated so I'm not even going to try going into it. Bottom line IMHO - you should either keep the whole box or send the whole box back.

Now, on to the good stuff...

The box is super cute and secure. 

Upon first opening it looks promising...

This paper is always included with your shipment and details the items you received with retail value and a summary of your loves, likes, and dislikes.

The jewelry comes packed in these nifty little jewelry bags and are great for traveling or storage!

I can't say I'm digging the scarf. But I think this is a circumstance of I'm just not a scarf person and, in hindsight, should have probably said dislike for scarves. I have seen some other box reviews where the colors were a little more neutral so maybe if I hadn't received such a brightly colored scarf I may have liked it better.

OMG. I love love love these earrings! They are totally me! Did I mention I love these earrings??

I am completely horrible at this picture taking thing and my pictures do not do this necklace justice. It is gorgeous! My favorite thing in the box, hands down!

The pictures here make it appear to have a red tint but it is actually purple and gold. It's pretty heavy and fancy. My only complaint would be that it's not an "every day" type of necklace. Guess I'll just have to plan more fancy outings for myself so I can wear it! ;-)

Overall, I think my first experience with the Wantable Accessories box was a success. I've got some ideas how I need to tweek my preferences and I'm already eagerly awaiting my May boxes arrival!!

You can check them out here - https://www.wantable.com/invite/W64E_XJ7Y7M

They also have a pretty sweet referral bonus of $10 so I get a $10 credit if you join through my link! :-) 

Have you tried Wantable? What do you think??

 

Bullying

So you can't really understand the true pain bullying causes until it happens to your baby. Over the last several months Chloe has been the target of bullying so severe and so often that she comes home in tears most days. She has been called racial slurs so horrible that I won't even repeat them on here. She has been told she was ugly, has chipmunk teeth, and had repeated barrages of cuss words thrown at her. She has had sexually inappropriate comments made toward her that would get any person working in a professional environment fired. Did I mention she's 10 years old. T.E.N. As a parent I want to personally go to each and every one of these little shits who have nothing better than to cause misery and pain for my little girl and to make them cry and to make them hurt.  As an adult who has to deal with outlandish behavior from co-workers, acquaintances, and even complete strangers I want her to learn the important life skill of how to deal with difficult people. Sadly, these kids who feel the need to terrorize her get the message loud and clear that this kind of behavior is ok. It is put in place, most likely, by parents or other family members who either hold strong prejudices themselves or frequently verbally abuse someone in front of them. It is reinforced by teachers and other authority figures who don't do more to stop it and ensure it doesn't continue. If bullying is to be stopped there has to be strong consequences for the bully that are enforced consistently. We have sent email after email to teachers and staff at Chloe's school voicing our concern and nothing is done. We have talked to Chloe about appropriate ways to try handling the situation herself. Right now my heart is breaking for Chloe and any other child who has had to go through this kind of treatment. It's not right and it has robbed my little girl of some of her sweet ten year old innocence. Sadly she is learning the lesson that not everyone is nice and not everyone gets the treatment they deserve - whether it be punishment or respite from abuse. She is learning that life is unfair. She is learning that treating others as you would like to be treated doesn't actually work in the real world. But through the disappointment and the pain I hope she is also learning how much she is loved and how deserving she is of better treatment. I hope she is learning how to love others and not hate or abuse them. I can only hope and pray that when this is all over and resolved in whatever way it will be that she emerges the beautiful, smart, and kind young woman that I know in my heart she is. 

The beginning of the end

When I first learned that my grandmother had pancreatic cancer in 2008 I had no idea what an impact her disease would have on my life. Of course, I knew that it was a death sentence for her the second my mom told me the news. My mind immediately fast-forwarded to an indefinite time in the future where she would not be and to say I was devastated would be an understatement. I remember living in a haze for weeks after I heard the news and it was almost like I had gotten news that she had actually died. I took a few extra days off from work and went home immediately to be with her. We sat at her breakfast table the morning after I arrived and looked at her lab values and scan results. Just a pharmacist and a nurse looking over some poor soul's unfortunate turn of events....tumor markers are low...that's good..."possible evidence of lesion on the liver"...what does this mean?...is it metastatic?...LFTs look good so it must not be too advanced in the liver...do you think it could actually be metastatic breast cancer instead of pancreatic cancer?...breast cancer is curable...this conversation was not painful for me. It was almost like I was back in school looking over a patient case and I was able to discuss these things without any emotion. What was painful for me was how she made a point to get up that morning and fix biscuits and gravy for me because she knew her gravy was my favorite. Every bite was excruciating and with each one I could feel a little bit of her slip away down into the inescapable pits of my stomach and my mind.

Spending time with her became extremely painful. I would wonder to myself if it would be the last Christmas I would spend with her or if it would be the last time she would come visit me at my house or if we would ever go to a restaurant again together. I was not able to stop my mind from always going to the worst possible thoughts. Chloe will forget about her, any other children I have will never have the chance to know her, the majority of my life will be spent without her. I can't figure out why the mind enjoys to continue torturing you when you're already in your worst imaginable mental hell. Thinking about terrible things seems to breed more terrible thoughts and it's a vicious circle.  

back by popular demand

 So I got called out on facebook for slacking on my blogging so I figured I'd get to it.  I really can't believe it's been so long since I've written but I've been SO busy.  Luckily, I've had the kind of week that was really inspiring for all kinds of blogs...some of which might be a little inappropriate...even for me.

What in the world is up with the ridiculous obsession with age these days??  I was having lunch with a friend from high school today and we were laughing about how old we are...even though we really aren't.  It's definitely not that I think I'm old, by any means.  It's the exact opposite.  This week alone I had at least 5 discussions/comments made to me regarding my age.  For example, in treatment team yesterday (one MD, two nurses, one social worker, one health care technician, two occupational therapists present) I made a comment relating to a lack of resources for a patient who is not allowed to use the internet (don't even ask why. Trust me you'll wish you hadn't).  "Lack of resources" meaning the state's unwillingness to purchase such items and NOT that I actually believe that the only resources available to anyone, anywhere for any purpose are only to be found online.  One of the nurses actually made a snide comment to me that just because I was too young to have ever used printed material doesn't mean they don't exist. WTF. Seriously.  I might be young but I'd like to hope I'm not a complete and total dumbass.  I also have a running joke with one of the physician's downstairs that I'm actually a genius since I am a teenage pharmacist after all...he still can't get over the NC Board of Pharmacy letting a teenager become a pharmacist.

The thing is, I think I look older than I ever have and I definitely feel older than I ever have.  Why does it even matter what my age is in the first place??  Why can't anyone look at my accomplishments and the quality of work I do?  Basically, I'll probably spend the majority of my young adulthood striving to be respected and take seriously and then once I have it I'll be desperate for some Botox to make myself look young again.

Real Simple Essay Contest

So I had high hopes of entering this essay contest that's in the magazine "Real Simple" (awesome mag by the way) and bringing home the grand prize. The topic for the essay? "When did you first realize that you had become a grown-up?" Now as soon as I read about this I immediately started thinking about all the different times that I could write about. You know, all the cliched times I "realized" I was finally an adult.  More or less it would have been me writing a bunch of crap that some frou-frou lady who edits a magazine section would be enchanted by and publish and give me $3000 and send me off to New York city for 2 nights.

But believe it or not this was not as simplet as it sounds. I started working on this little project immediately after reading about it in my August issue nestled in between the All-Bran ad and some boring piece by some lady (a creative writing professor at a college in Portland, no less) who is searching for a quiet place to work but discovers that quiet isn't even what she wants. Can you say pointless? Yep, and BORING too! I mean, come on. I can't believe they actualy pulished that mess in there. I expect way better from Real Simple. People don't want to read about crap like that. People want to read about innocent 19 year old girls getting knocked up by the ass-hole of their dreams and life as they know it ends forever. They want to read about the perceived struggles of a single moms getting themselves through college after leaving the aforementioned ass-hole. People want to read about trials, tribulations, heartbreak, and tradgedy...and then they want to hear heroic stories of the people who pick themselves up and dust off and go on to discover Viagra or cure cancer.  I could have easily written about all of these things IF they were actually true.   

My problem with this whole essay contest is that I honestly cannot pinpoint a time in my life when I said "Self, you are now a grown-up. Congratulations." This only leads me to the conclusion that I am, in fact, not a grown-up yet. I guess to the untrained eye of the outsider I might actually appear to be a grown-up. I have a 6 year old daughter (who is absolutely wonderful if I do say so myself), a decently good career (even on days when I leave and have to either drink massive amounts of alcohol when I get home or go straight to bed), a nice house, and a great husband (I've been told by many that he's nice to look at and I'll have to agree). So outwardly I really do look like a grown-up but I just don't feel like one inside.

Since the essay is actually due today I guess that my big debut in Real Simple isn't going to happen. I'll be keeping an eye on those contests though because I'm sure sooner or later they'll come up with something that is all for me.