stitch fix : pre-holiday fix!

Okay...so I might actually be addicted to Stitch Fix.

I only say that because  I literally checked our front porch about fifty times on the day my Fix was scheduled to arrive, hoping I would see the brown box with aqua Stitch Fix packing tape on it.  It is not like I never go shopping in actual stores.  I do.  

However...there is nothing like surprise clothing in the mail!

Come on, ya'll...it is fun.

But hey - I'll be honest : I know ladies who have tried this personal styling by mail service and didn't love their Fixes.  In fact, they used the word "hate" and "ugly" when telling me about their experiences. 

So...clearly this is not for everyone.  I understand that some women know their style already and have very specific taste and expectations about clothing.  For some women, even busy mamas, it makes more sense to just go out when they get the chance and pick out items from stores they love and not risk hating every single item (if you don't keep any of the items you lose your $20 styling fee...but if you do it is applied back toward your purchase if you keep even one item.) 

I can only say that, while I have not loved/kept every single item sent to me, I have loved at least one and have always had a ton of fun with this personal styling service!  I enjoy giving honest feedback on my fixes, pinning clothes to my Pinterest style board and wondering how my stylist will interpret it.  I also love that I get to try on the clothing with my own wardrobe, seeing what works on my figure and what doesn't, and getting to decide in a leisurely manner if the piece actually is needed in my wardrobe.  I don't know about you, but sometimes when I am in a store I get a little "try-on crazy" and end up buying a bunch of cute stuff I really don't need.  With Stitch Fix, I am limited to the five items the stylist chooses for me and I can actually look at my closet and justify whether or not to keep it.  

So - I actually have been making more mindful clothing purchases since starting Stitch Fix.

Prior to Stitch Fix I was buying a LOT of cheap clothing from Target.
I justified it because each item cost $15-$30...so I really didn't have to LOVE it.
Nor did it have to last very long.

Now, because I'd like to perhaps purchase a few more expensive pieces that I really LOVE, I have cut way back on Target impulse buys (because that adds up!)

Now I ask myself...

What do I need?
(meaning : what key pieces is my closet lacking?)

Does this flatter me 100% - or is it just "okay"?
Will I wear this on a regular basis?
Does it go with items I already have?
Can I wear it different ways?
Do I LOVE it x$$$ worth?

Okay, let's get down to it.

What did I get in this pre-holiday fix?

My note to my stylist included requests for:  a bold top to wear to holiday gatherings long enough to wear with skinny jeans or leggings/boots,  an army green military jacket, sweater top with a lacy bottom layer.  I also mentioned wanting a chunky, bright Aztec cardigan.  I know that trend is overplayed and I do have one already in a thin material...but I just adore the look and wanted one a bit heavier in weight.  I also basically said "no pants" as I am just hard to fit when it comes to my bottom half and I already have what I need for winter in that department.  

Below are the items my stylist (Jill) picked out for me.

You be the judge as to whether she did a fabulous job (or not!)

I'll give my opinion at the end...

#1 Benzer Mixed Material Sweater (Market and Spruce)

#2 Dorrian Graphic Knit Draped Cardigan

#3 Shasta Striped Infinity Scarf (Look by M)

#4 Candice Embellished Tie Waist Tunic (41 Hawthorn)

#5 Hebah Sherpa Lined Faux Fur Hood Anorak Coat (Tulle)

So - what do you think?
What items do you think I should keep?

The Aztec cardigan is my favorite - it is a definite keep!  It is actually exactly like one that I pinned!!!  The bright, almost neon colors make me happy and really make a statement.
The burgundy sweater is flattering and classy.  Burgundy has always been one of my favorite colors to wear. I really like the simple layered style of this - especially with my pleather pants, as it definitely tones down the "biker" look. :)
The scarf, for me, is simply "eh." It is cute but I have a lot of scarves and this one doesn't give me any thrills.
The navy embellished tunic...yeah...not my style at all.  I don't like the beading or the material.  Unless I am on the beach - and this could definitely pass as a beach cover-up.  But it doesn't work for me as a bold, dressy top for the holidays, which is what I need right now.
The olive anorak coat - ah!  I am a total sucker for coats and this was so cozy and warm and I wanna keep it sooooo bad!  But, it was a little more wintry than what I was envisioning.  I really would like a lighter weight and more fitted canvas coat in the same color/style,  as I already have a brown puffy coat with a fur-lined hood (albeit nine-years-old) and I just bought a cute ($30) tweed vest from Target with a fur-lined hood.  One can only have so many fur-lined hoods.  Riiiiight?

Well, there is my Fix...
and I think Jill did an awesome job picking out items I might like!
I am so excited to wear a couple of these pieces for various holiday get-togethers coming up!  As always, I had a blast with the whole process.  (Thank you for humoring my lame attempts at fashion photos.)

Been wanting to try Stitch Fix?
Helpful to read the FAQ's here before you get started.
If you do decide to do it, click HERE - and let me know how it goes!!!!
I love talking clothes and seeing what other friends/readers receive.
:)

****TIP: Even if you are not a blogger take photos of yourself in the pieces.  Mirror selfies with your phone work fine.  It actually gives you a different perspective of the fit.  Don't dismiss them right out of the packaging.  Wear them with your own stuff and get a sense of how it all fits together.****

HAVE FUN!!!

{PS : I receive nothing from Stitch Fix for blogging about my experience...I just love writing about it and sharing with you what I get!  :)  However, if you want to try it...use me as your referral by clicking on this link and getting started.  If you do decide to try I get a $25 Stitch Fix credit whenever you receive your first shipment of lovely clothes! I would adore you for this! Plus, if you refer others you will get the same awesome incentive! :D}

beach vacay : part two

After a lovely day and overnight our friends' house in Georgia we journeyed on to our Florida destination - Treasure Island.  This is a tiny town adjacent to St. Petersburg which neither of us had been to.  It was lovely!

 Our three days staying in Hubby's parents' condo basically went like this:
- Breakfast
-Walk to beach (slightly less than a mile each way...so we got a little exercise)
- Play at beach 1-2 hours
- Go to beach playground/snack shop and let kiddos play while mama + dada sit watching...oh, and enjoying an ice cold beer.
- Walk back to condo for lunch.
- Naps (for everyone!)
- Get up and find some local fun...basically, a park.  I mean we have toddlers.  :) We found a couple good ones!
- Dinner meant takeout, except for the one night we ate together at a restaurant.

always nice to find a giant statue to climb on!

We had one "romantic date night."  With the kiddos.  It was actually not so bad.  We found an Italian restaurant with cheesy decor and insufficient lighting (perfect!) They offered paper tablecloths with crayons, and sat us in a big booth next to huge fish tanks, which entertained the kids about fifteen minutes until Finola took one of the crayons and began drawing all over one of the fish tanks.  Oops.  Thankfully no one noticed - or at least didn't curse us openly while we were there.

Being on the beach with the babes went amazingly well.  Seriously...we were amazed.  Though we had dark premonitions of irrational fear of the water, sunscreen getting in eyes, and sand being stuck to every square inch of their bodies -- none of that happened.   Cormac loved the calm waves of the Gulf and actually went in quite a bit!  Fin allowed us to bring her in and float her around a bit, but she seemed way more interested in the sand and the seagulls and running away from us along the beach to chase the seagulls.  We brought a big bucket of sand toys and they were entertained for several hours each day.  We always went after breakfast and before lunch so we didn't have to try to eat on the beach (I gave them snacks in the stroller on the way there and back.)

I told her to lay with me on the towel and that is what she did.

this little one fell asleep before getting to the beach one day.  her schedule was kinda off the whole time.

Finola found some boys playing football and they basically gave it to her.  I mean, who could resist?

finola doing her 'hanging trick' at one of the nearby parks we found 

The final night we drove to nearby St. Petersburg to explore Fort De Soto state park.  Cormac loved the cannons, while Finola enjoyed wandering around the grounds finding trees to sit under and pick plants.

hiking around

the cannon 'firing room' - declared his favorite room, even though it was locked.

enjoying nature and contemplating life.

Finally we walked on the pier at sunset and were treated to a beautiful orange and pink sky.  We walked among the many people fishing quietly off the long pier and enjoyed the stunning views and sound of the ocean.

The next day we bid farewell to Treasure Island and the beach.  I didn't take any photos the rest of the trip because it was such a whirlwind of marathon driving and we were anxious to get it over with. 

 We drove to Atlanta and spent the night with Hubby's good friend Marc from high school - was so nice to see him and for them to hang out a bit!  So thankful for the hospitality of friends - especially a bachelor willing to let two toddlers invade his amazing condo for a night!!!  

We got up at 3am the next morning and finished the drive.  We were home by around noon, and it was kind of nice to have the rest of the day (and then weekend!) to recover.

Was a fantastic first family vacay.

I think we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

Cormac kept saying for a week after that he wanted to live at the condo.

If he keeps waking me up 3-4 times a night due to "bad dreams" I just might let him.

;) 

Happy Monday!

beach vacay : part one (the drive + georgia fun)

Before all the memories fade away I need to post about our beach vacation to Florida.

Our very first family vacation ever.

As in, just us.  

Without grandparents there to help.

I went into it a little nervous.  I'm a pretty selfish person when it comes to vacation.  I have it in my head that it is a time for me to relax.  Contemplate life.  Enjoy the scenery.  Re-charge.  Have romantic time with my husband.  Eat fancy food.

Not so when you have two little ones.

Totally different sort of vacation.

Well, I guess you can do all those things with babies along...it is just more difficult.  (Unless you bring along a babysitter.  Which we didn't.)

Despite being different, we actually had a really awesome time together!

We started our journey on a Friday afternoon.   Our hope was to leave at nap time, the kids would sleep a couple hours, and that we would make it down to my friend Kristina's house in Georgia by about 9pm.

our dog travelled with us the first couple hours.  then the grandparents got him.

Well, let's just say this: minimal napping happened, a dinner stop at Chik-fil-A somehow stretched to almost two hours, and we didn't arrive at our friends' home until 1am.  

Trying to situate two kiddos in a new sleeping situation at 1am is not so fun...but it all worked out in the end.  Sleep happened for all.

Then we had a really great Saturday with our friends!  Kristina made amazing pumpkin pancakes, we walked around their sweet Southern neighborhood and played with the kiddos at a park, then the girls grabbed coffee and had a lovely time touring downtown and antiquing in the afternoon.

cormac + lincoln enjoyed a few meals at their own private table

I sort of fell in love with this painted brick wall.

I took photos of random mansions.

The night involved a babysitter putting all the kiddos to bed while the adults got a light dinner (ps -never eat a big salad before a race!!!!)  and then ran in a 5K in their sweet little town.   I was pretty nervous because I hadn't done a 5K race in years and had no idea what my time would be.  So I bounced around with all my crazy energy and psyched myself out and then ended up running much faster than I anticipated!  The course had some crazy hills but since Kristina and I had driven the course earlier I was somewhat prepared (even though I am not a good hill runner.) 

My time ended up being 22:45 (or close to that...under 23 for sure) and I got third place overall female -- I've never placed before so pretty exciting!  Yay for small town races!

pre-race.

 

about to cross the finish line - beast mode! (ps I hate running pictures of myself.  I never look cute.)

top three female finishers - a first for me!  we won fabulous travel mugs :D

the male and female top finishers.  um.  I feel old. 

top guys in their division -- my Hubby(c) and Kristina's hubby Mike (r)!!!!

enjoying some cold brew after the race.

The next morning we bid farewell to our friends and continued on our road trip.
The following pics are at a pretty rest area in Georgia.  I have an appreciation for interesting and scenic rest areas (oh, and clean ones!!!) Some rest areas are boring and horrible.  (There were a few of those on this trip.)  This one had huge area for the kids to roam, a path shaped like a snake (I guess there are a lot of snakes in GA?) with a beautiful grove of Spanish moss trees.  I kind of fell in love with these trees...and so did Finola.  She grabbed a huge glob of Spanish moss off the ground and carried it around for about twenty minutes.

It wasn't long until the kiddos (and us!) were ready to finally be at the beach.  Even a McD's stop didn't help.  We were restless!

                                 

But finally, at about 8pm we arrived in Treasure Island, tired from our journey and just happy to pick up some pizza and get settled into the condo.

Beach adventure post Monday!

+ + + + + + 

Hope everyone has an awesome Halloween night!