Stitch Fix #1 Review

Today it finally arrived...my beloved and long-awaited Stitch Fix box!  It wasn't supposed to arrive until this Thursday, but it came early and that is just fine with me.  When I checked the tracking information and saw that it was on the truck and out for delivery, I was stoked!  And I seriously wanted to hug the FedEx man, but he dropped off the box and away he went before I could even get to the door.  (I'm judging by the speed of his quick delivery that he may have been hugged while delivery Stitch Fix boxes to other style-challenged and excited gals.

If you haven't heard of Stitch Fix, let me enlighten you!  Stitch Fix is an online styling company that will pick out 5 items for you (usually 4 clothing items and 1 accessory depending on what you request) and send you a box however often you would like one (aka how often you can afford one). The sign-up process is pretty in-depth so that your stylist can get a good feel for your size, body shape, and style.  Once you have answered those questions you have the opportunity to request certain things and/or tell your stylist about your likes or dislikes.  For my first box, I requested a dress or two that would be appropriate to wear to a wedding I am going to next month.  I also said that I liked to wear blues and jewel tones.  As you will see in the pictures to follow my stylist listened! 
After that, you schedule your first fix.  Be forewarned that if you are thinking of scheduling your first fix, do so NOW because I scheduled the fix I received today in May and this was the first date available!  (Also, if you are interested in scheduling your own fix, please, please, please use my link HERE and if you do, I will get a $25 credit towards my fixes!)  The cost for each fix is a minimum of $20 (for a styling fee).  If you hate all the items in your box, you just pay the $20.  If you decide to purchase any items, the $20 is deducted from the total cost.

Once you receive your fix, you have 3 business days to decide what you want to purchase via online checkout.  At checkout, you also have the opportunity to rate each item and tell your stylist how well you liked it, how well it fit, and if you liked the price, as well as any other comments about the item.  This will help your stylist to make each fix better and better.  Once you checkout, you keep the items you paid for and then you stick the rest of the items in a plastic mailer with a prepaid shipping label and you put it in your mailbox or drop it in a USPS dropbox. Easy Peasy!

Enough chit chat, time to see what I received! Because I was so excited, I took some pictures...

Isn't it pretty sitting on my doorstep? 

 

 The style cards that come in each box...one for each item of clothes/accessory that show two different ways to wear the item.  This is great for people like me who are a bit (ok, a lot) style-challenged.  The top right card is actually a note from my stylist telling me why she picked these items for me and how excited she is to pick out thing especially for me.  (She is my new BFF)

 

 Here's what I saw upon opening up my box.  Let the fun begin!

 

 Dylan and Rose Dovette Draped Detail Dress - $68

 

I really like this dress.  The fabric is super light-weight which would be great for the wedding next month.  It's also super comfy!  It's hard to tell in this picture but this dress has sort of a sash of extra material that runs from my left shoulder to the right side of my waist.  I have seen others who received this dress wear it with a thin belt and it looks cute that way too. 

Verdict:  Like it, but not sure I want to pay $68 for it...however I could see many uses for this dress because it could be casual or dressed up a bit with jewelry.

 

41 Hawthorne Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan - $48

 

This cardigan is also lightweight and super comfy. 

Verdict: Undecided...really like this one but it depends on what I decide about the dress above.  Update:  I kept the cardigan and love it!  The only thing I DON'T love about it is that it is handwash only!  Bleck.

I think this cardigan looks super cute tied at the hips too!

 



 

 

Kensie Jeans Sophia Tall Length Skinny Jean - $88

1 Hawthorn Eldridge Star Print Wrap Scarf - $28

 

Let's just get something out in the open...I do not have skinny legs.  And I am self-conscious about them.  So me and skinny jeans have never become friends.  So I was a bit nervous about trying these on.  First of all, they fit way different than my normal Maurices Curvy jeans.  The best way to describe it is that they were swallowing my calves!  I could have used an installation tool to get these on.  The waist fit fine...but the legs were way tighter than I am used to and can tolerate.  Not to mention, the price is more than I want to pay if I don't really like them.  When I modeled them for a friend, she assured me that I can pull skinny jeans off, but I am not yet NOT wearing them. 

Verdict:  Buh-Bye

 

I was excited to receive a scarf (mainly because I wanted there to be something on the cheaper side in case I didn't like anything else so I didn't lose my $20), but I do not like the color of this scarf.  It says it's pink but it is more of a peach....a color I NEVER wear nor look good wearing.  The design itself it sort of cute and the fabric is super thin and cozy.  Despite the color, I also have a hard time wearing scarves...especially in the warmer months. 

Verdict:  Sending it back.

 

Allie, however looked really cute in this scarf! 

 

41 Hawthorn Roni Geo Detailed Lace Sheath Dress - $88

 

This one surprised me.  When I saw the lace I was instantly disappointed.  Lace is not something I normally wear.  Ever.  When I think of lace, I think of old church ladies or something.  When I tried it on, it wasn't as bad as I thought.  It's a little more fitted than what I would like and it's above the knee which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.  This dress has a polyester lining with a layer of lace on top.  The back of the dress has a section of unlined lace at the top with a single button and keyhole opening.  So far everyone likes this dress the best, but it's a bit too warm to wear to an August wedding and it's also a bit too fancy for my tastes.  I can't think of another place to wear it other than a wedding. But it did make me feel pretty!

 

Verdict:  Since it's too fancy for 99% of my life and it's $88, pretty sure I am going to send this one back.

 

At first I was disappointed in my box...mainly because of the two $88 items and the fact that everything with the exception of the scarf was blue.  I was hoping for a bit more variety in color.  But then I remembered that I had told my stylist that I liked to wear blues and, since she probably suspected that I wouldn't purchase both dresses, she sent two blue dresses.  The more I tried the items on, the more I liked them...or was at least more open to wearing them instead of instantly hating it.  I was hoping for more shirt options, so I think I will ask for more shirts in my next box. 

 

All in all, I think was a really fun experience and hope to get more fixes in the future!

Hellllo SUMMER! (Finally)

Ahh...Summer is here!!  School let out last Friday for summer break and we've been loving that summer is finally here after a VERY long winter and a weird, cold rainy spring!  We spent the weekend doing summer things like opening our swimming pool and weeding and planting the garden.  On Sunday we hosted my daughter's 10th birthday party with some of her friends and grandparents and it was really nice.  We set up tables in the yard and the kids swam while the adults chatted. 

 

Monday I got up at 6 with my husband to get him off to work on time, then sat down in my comfy chair to do some reading before the kiddos go up....and I started falling asleep!  So I snatched up the opportunity to crawl back into bed and SLEEP IN!!!  I woke up at 8:30 and it was nothing short of glorious! 

 

Yesterday was my daughter's actual birthday and I didn't want it to feel like a let-down compared to Sunday's birthday fun since I had absolutely nothing planned for the day, so when she mentioned wanting to go shopping, that's what we did!  We headed to the outlet mall about an hour from home and she had so much fun shopping with her birthday money!  The rest of the evening was spent at a 4H meeting and more swimming, as well as ice cream sundaes and a late night movie.  (I'm still trying to decide on a reasonable summer bedtime for the kiddos)

 

This morning I got up early with my husband again to pack his lunch for work (and even got a thank you for it today!!) then went for a 2.5 mile walk/run.  My inner whiner was really telling how I should just do other things instead, or workout tonight, but I overcome and the whiner was silenced as I walked out the front door!  It felt good to get out and move despite the extreme humidity!

 

Every summer I have great plans to keep us all on a daily routine, but have yet to actual follow through with it.  Last night I sat down and decided to make up a tentative schedule to keep things running smoothly and to make sure that our chores and housekeeping items were being taken care of too.  Here's what our schedule looks like:

 

9am:  Breakfast

 

9:30am:  Get dressed/Make Beds/ Shower/ Brush Teeth

 

10am:  Feed animals (and divided up the animals amongst the 3 kiddos)

 

10:30am:  Bookwork/School work (The older two will work on their 4H books and the youngest will work on writing a letter to a friend in Texas.)  Eventually I will give them worksheets with math skills on it to keep up their skills over the summer.  During this time I plan to do some bookkeeping for our business.

 

11am: Housekeeping/Laundry Chores (I have a weekly cleaning schedule that we will refer to and assign tasks according to what needs done)  During this time I will also work on folding and putting away some laundry.

 

Noon:  Lunchtime & meal cleanup

 

12:30 - 2:30pm:  Free Time (to swim, play outside, make a craft, play a game)

 

2:30-3:30pm:  Quiet Time (this time will be used to unwind a bit and take naps or read a book silently)

 

3:30-4pm:  Read Out Loud as a family.  I have always wanted to read a book   together as a family, so this will be a great time to!  I picked up Little Women and WOW is that book BIG!

 

4-5pm:  Dinner Prep (I will try to incorporate the kiddos in helping with setting the table, and helping prepare the dinner meal.  I would also like to start to teach them to make simple meals themselves this summer so they can cook when needed.)

 

6pm:  Dinner

 

6-9pm:  Family Time

 

I am really hoping this works out well for my family this summer!  So far, our summer is off to a GREAT start!!

Why Date Nights are Important

I am a firm believer in dating my spouse.  If you work and/or have kids, you know that life can get crazy.  Very crazy in fact.  And my life is no exception.  It is so easy to feel disconnected in your marriage and feel as if you are living in a roommate situation instead of living as husband and wife.  And when your marriage reaches that point, it's easy to withdraw from your spouse...not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.  I have been there too many times.  Sometimes I simple date with your spouse can turn things around and bridge those feelings of disconnect. 

My hubby and I have come to realize the importance of dating each other.  We try to have at least 1 or 2 dates a month.  We need them and would do them weekly if our schedules allowed for them more often!  Most often we go to dinner, but sometimes we see a movie.  And since there is a Lowe's store in the nearby city where we most often go to eat, we almost always end up spending a portion (and sometimes far too long) in Lowe's shopping for supplies for whatever our current project is.  Is that romantic?  Nope.  But we are spending time together (trying to find mirror hangers when even the sales associate doesn't know where they might be), making decisions together (should we paint the porch swing in Gentle Wave or Aqua Ocean?), focusing on a common goal (on how to make more functioning storage in our master closer), dreaming together (of the deck we want to build sometime in the future).  And somehow in the midst of all those paint swatches and 2x4's, we find our spark again.  The spark that so easily gets buried under busyness, unmet expectations, laundry and lawn-mowing.  The spark that reaffirms that we are in this together, and together we can overcome anything that comes our way.  The spark that gets us through until our next date. 

If your marriage is feeling strained or just lacking excitement, I urge you to give dating a try.  I know some parents of young kids (and sometimes even older ones) have a hard time leaving their kids to spend time together....they want to take the kids along.  DON'T!  Don't feel guilty and don't take them along!  I promise you that you will not get the same benefits as you would if it were just the two of you.  One of the best things we can model for our kids is a healthy happy marriage.  Kids feel secure when they see that their mom and dad love each other!  And when our marriage is thriving, it naturally trickles down into our parenting, our homemaking, our friendships and other relationships in our lives.  And dates don't have to consist of leaving your home or spending money.  Sometimes we get a sitter for the kids and just stay home, make pizza or popcorn and watch a movie.  You could take a walk around your neighborhood.  You could just go our for dessert instead of paying for the price of an entire dinner.  Go hiking at a nearby state park.  Take a bike ride on the nearby rails-to-trails.  Make a fire in the outdoor fire pit and have s'mores.  Lay in the hammock (or the kids' trampoline) together and look at the stars. 

In addition to our one day/night dates we also try to go away for a weekend alone together at least once a year, but try to shoot for twice.  Our most recent weekend getaway was to Latrobe, PA.  This was our second year in a row visiting here!  We went two years ago and stayed at the Willow House Cottage, which we fell in love with upon walking in the front door. (Not to mention, the owner is super nice!) 

That year, we saw a waterfall, natural water slides, and learned some history about Ohiopyle, PA, and toured Fallingwater. 

 

One evening we had amazing candlelit Italian dinner at Denunzio's which is located inside Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and our table overlooked the runway.  Here is where I also found my most favorite wine ever from Stone Villa Winery!  During that trip we also visited Johnstown, PA and toured the flood museum.  And I even conquered (ok, not really) my fear of heights by riding the Inclined Plane.

 

So this past year we decided to go back because we were craving that Italian meal and to stock up on some wine, as well as to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial.

  I am almost out of wine already, so we should probably plan another visit back there soon!  As I type this, those fond memories flood my mind and I am reminded of just how important those weekend getaways are to both of us!  Next year, celebration of our 15 wedding anniversary, we are planning to take a trip to Punta Cana for a WEEK!  We have only ever gone on a week long vacation without kids (besides our honeymoon) one other time, but it revolutionized our marriage.  We don't take those week long getaways as often as I'd like to, but I would need to get a 2nd or 3rd job in order to finance them! 

My hubby and I had a date day yesterday.  We were both off of work and spent the entire day together.  We really enjoy each other's company and he truly is my best friend.  And the example from Lowe's listed above?  Yep...those were the decisions we were making in real life!  We probably spent 2 hrs in Lowe's, but I didn't care (that is, until my stomach started letting me know it was lunchtime).  We were together.  And that's the best place to be.