STITCH FIX REVEAL #7 { THANKFUL FOR MY STYLIST }

I know I said after my last box that I was going to limit myself to one fix per season but I just couldn't wait and decided I needed a Thanksgiving box. This means I need to wait until Spring for my next box. I'm crying already. My stylist, Kaleena, has been hitting it out of the park and I think this may be yet another 5/5 box. I'm constantly amazed at how someone who has never met me can consistently pick pieces that I love so much and that fit like a glove. 

For this fix, I asked for a pair of boyfriend and baby bootcut jeans. I also asked for festive sweaters to glam up casual holiday get-togethers. Finally, I requested a polka dot skirt that I have been coveting for a while. Kaleena came through as usual. So without futher ado, let's get to the fashion show...

1. Skies are Blue Mosahari Embellished Shoulder Blouse

2. Kut from the Kloth Kate Distressed Boyfriend Jean

These seem to be THE Stitch Fix boyfriend jean. I have seen them time and again in other's boxes. Currently, I own one pair of boyfriend jeans and I wear the heck out of them. In fact, the once cute distressed knee is now a big gaping hole. So I really needed these. And they fit perfect.

STATUS: KEPT

On to the embellished shoulder blouse. Oh, this top! It's so cute. And check out the back detail:

Love it! This would be so perfect for a holiday girls night out. And hey! I have one of those coming up at a swanky downtown lounge. Sweet! Only problem is that this top is super tight across the chest. I'm am going to email Stitch Fix CS and see I can get an exchange. If so, then this is definitely a keeper!

STATUS: KEEPING PENDING SIZE EXCHANGE

3. Kut from the Kloth Simmons Bootcut Jeans

After years and year of wearing pretty much only skinny jeans, I busted out of that rut this fall with a fabulous pair of flare jeans. I love them but they are long so I have to wear wedges or heels with them. So when a friend got a pair of baby bootcuts in her last fix, I decided I needed some too. I was hoping for the Mavis she got but I'm pretty happy with these KFTK. They fit like a glove and the length is perfect. I'll probably keep them. 

STATUS: PROBABLY

4. RD Style Donno Embellished Neckline Sweater

This is sweater is just lovely. It's got a great seed stitch texture (the knitter in me loves that!) And then there is this fun embellished neckline. This will perfect for casual holiday parties. I love it paired with this pencil skirt but it would work equally well with a pair of cigarette pants or even jeans. 

And again, there is a fun backside so they will love me coming and going lol. I wasn't sure about this open back but Mr. MMH loved it so I think this is another keeper.

STATUS: KEPT

5. Pixley Hanneli Polka Dot Swing Skirt

Last but certainly not least, the polka dot skirt I've been lusting after for a while. I love this skirt! I already have so many ideas for styling it. I think I may twirl every time I wear it. Unfortunately, it is pretty tight in the waist. Like muffin top-inducing tight. I can't decide if I want to see size up. I think I'll see if they have a large size and then decide but this one if definitely a keeper!

STATUS: KEPT

So that's it. Another great box from my fabulous stylist Kaleena. With Thanksgiving coming up, I have to say I am thankful to her for keeping this mom hip!

It's easy to get your own personal stylist too. Simply sign up, then complete a style profile that lets your stylist know your preferences, body type and size. It is very helpful if you create a Pinterest board to share with your stylist. Pin a few looks that you love so she can get a better sense of your personal style. Then schedule your fix and type a short note to your stylist letting her know what you would like in your first box. Your card will be charged a $20 styling fee, which is then credited to the cost of any items you keep.  

Once your fix arrives, try on all the items in the comfort of your own home. Take a few days to decide what you love and what you want to return. Then, check out online, put your returns in the included postage paid envelope, and drop it in your mailbox. That's it! 

If you would like to give Stitch Fix a try, I'd love it if you would use my referral link. I get a small credit to use towards future fixes, so I can keep sharing all my finds with you here. Let me know if you decide to try it. I'd love to see what you receive!

STITCH FIX REVEAL #6 { WAIT! IS THIS MY BOX? }

After receiving a 5/5 box in July and another winner in August for our trip to Chicago, I decided to stick to one box per season for now (although I totally reserve the right to change my mind!) I have been pinning new fall trends for the last month and narrowing down the pieces I wanted to add to my wardrobe. Flare leg jeans are a big trend this fall, and all I have anymore are skinnies, so I knew that was a must. Plaid is also all the rage right now so I requested a plaid scarf as well. I am part of a Facebook group that shares their fixes and I have seen the striped Corinna dolman top often in their boxes. I decided it was time I have my own (because I don't have enough stripes in my closet already...not.) Printed blanket style cardigans are also on point for fall. This look is a little outside my comfort zone but for me, Stitch Fix is about stretching your fashion boundaries so I decided to give it a try. Finally, I requested a small 41Hawthorne Jace Chevron dress to replace the XS I received by mistake in my last fix. 

I was so excited to receive my latest fix and I decided not to peek for the first time since my very first fix over a year ago. Unfortunately, my box was a day late but I held strong. So you can imagine my disappointment upon opening my box and finding a note from the stylist addressed to someone else, and a style card with none of the items I had requested. I was so confused! However, upon closer inspection, I realized that the box DID contain all the items I had requested, it just had the wrong note and style card. So I commenced trying on and styling the items. 

1. Level 99 Dahlia Flare Leg Jeans

2. Market & Spruce Corinna Dolman Top

The first piece I decided to try were the Level 99 Dahlia flare leg jeans. The $119 price tag gave me a bit of sticker shock and I hesitated for a moment, afraid that once they were on, I would love them. And I did! They fit like a dream and were so comfy. I paired them with the Corinna Dolman top. The cuffs on the sleeves were very tight but otherwise, it fit perfectly. I styled it with some grey wedge booties and a long chevron necklace. Status: KEPT

3.  RD Style Giana Open Drape Cardigan. 

Although this is not what I had in mind when I requested a blanket style cardigan (I had pinned an Aztec printed one) this is so soft and cozy, and in a neutral color, that I know I will wear the heck out of it. Status: KEPT. 

4.  41 Hawthorn Jace Chevron dress

I have been coveting this piece for a while. I received it in my last box but they sent me the wrong size by mistake. And then I mistakenly asked to exchange a different dress in my fix. So I requested this dress again. They sent me a small this time but it was still tight in the bodice. Luckily I was able to exchange it for a medium. I absolutely love how I styled it for fall here, with my Frye boots, a colorful scarf,  and my Market and Spruce Chaplin Anorak (from fix #2.) Status: KEPT

5. Look by M Timber Vintage Plaid Infinity Scarf

I have to say I didn't love this out of the box. The colors looked rather dull. This is a bulky and very warm scarf. While I didn't really love it, I like it enough that it was worth it to keep it and get the whole box 25% discount. I love pattern mixing so I styled it here with my $19 striped dress from Old Navy and a thrifted Chico's denim jacket. 

So, what started out as a disappointment ended up being one of my favorite fixes yet. I really love my stylist Kaleena. I think she totally get my style and I can tell by her personal notes that she actually looks my Pinterest board and reads my requests and feedback. 

It's easy to get your own personal stylist too. Simply sign up, then complete a style profile that lets your stylist know your preferences, body type and size. It is very helpful if you create a Pinterest board to share with your stylist. Pin a few looks that you love so she can get a better sense of your personal style. Then schedule your fix and type a short note to your stylist letting her know what you would like in your first box. Your card will be charged a $20 styling fee, which is then credited to the cost of any items you keep.  

Once your fix arrives, try on all the items in the comfort of your own home. Take a few days to decide what you love and what you want to return. Then, check out online, put your returns in the included postage paid envelope, and drop it in your mailbox. That's it! 

If you would like to give Stitch Fix a try, I'd love it if you would use my referral link. I get a small credit to use towards future fixes, so I can keep sharing all my finds with you here. Let me know if you decide to try it. I'd love to see what you receive!

Out on a limb

Oh my, it's been a full month since I last posted here. I'm sorry! I keep meaning to but I'm tired at the end of the day and just don't feel up to it (or I'd rather just read or knit or whatever.) We've been busy. Jason had a conference this month in Washington, D.C. The boys and I went to visit some dear friends in Northern Virginia while he was there and then we met up with him in DC for a few days. I need to sort through my pictures from our trip and get them up here but for now, I just had to post these pics my mom took today in our backyard of the boys climbing a tree and swinging from the branches like the little monkeys they are.

Enjoy! And I promise I'll try to get back to posting regularly!

Another day, another arboretum

We visited our second arboretum of the week today. OK, full disclosure...not every week is as fun-filled as this one was, but it's summer and we're making the most of it. Today we visited Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA. It was our first time. Luckily, our Morris membership got us in for free. The current exhibit is "Totally Terrific Treehouses." It was really amazing; ten tree houses scattered through the woods, each unique, incredibly fun for kids, and most built with sustainable or reclaimed materials. The boys' favorite was "Strummin and Drummin," a tree house made to look like a giant guitar and drum. Inside were all manner of musical instruments for them to play. Let's just say it was a little loud.

We also visited the butterfly house, where Dex decided to be a butterfly too.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Despite my grand intentions of planting a real garden this spring, it never happened. However, while visiting a local organic farm, I bought three tomato seedlings on a whim. Once I got home, I wasn't sure what to do with them. I didn't have a raised bed and the space next to the garage and shed where I thought about planting them is backed by pressure-treated wood (not something you want next to your veggies.) What I really wanted were those Topsy -Turvy upside down tomato planters. But I didn't really want to shell out the $60 it would cost to buy them. So, a little Googling and I found directions to make my own, using 2 gallon paint buckets.

Basically, I cut a hole if the bottom, put the plant in upside down through the hole, added planting soil, and then I planted some petunias on top to make it look nicer. Hubby added the brackets to the outside of our shed and, voila, DIY upside down tomato planters.

I planted these really late in the season (um, late June) so they are just started to bud but I do finally have some little green baby tomatoes on there. I can't wait for their ripe juicy goodness.


A while back, Luke expressed interest in making our own pickled cucumbers so about two weeks ago, we did. They had to cure in the fridge for one week but we broke into them this weekend and oh my, were they good. And yes, I'm speaking in the past tense because they are already gone. Um, all 5 jars. Anyone who really knows me knows I likes me some pickles. These were out of this world good. I can't imagine eating store-bought pickles again, but unless I learn to can for real, I'll have to eventually. But for now, I've got another 5 jars that we made today, sitting in my refrigerator. I can't wait til next week.

What's in a name?

I came across this on the Today's show's website:

"Writing in Social Science Quarterly, Shippensburg University professor David Kalist says giving newborn males oddball, girly or strange first names may just help land them in jail.

In alphabetical order, the Top 10 “bad boy” names, according to Kalist, are Alec, Ernest, Garland, Ivan, Kareem, Luke, Malcolm, Preston, Tyrell and Walter."

See, it's not our fault he's such a hellion. It's his name that's the problem. Maybe we'll ask for bail money for his birthday this year.

Tree Huggers

We spent the day at a local arboretum. We love this place. It's only about 15 minutes from home and it's easy to spend a whole day there. We've been there a gazillion times and still we find new things on each trip. Today, we met up with a friend and her two boys. It was their first visit and we had fun showing them around one of our favorite spots.

The boys had a blast throwing rocks in the creek for well over an hour. The two older ones decided to build a dam. It was great fun watching them work. So serious!

Navigating

Planning the dam

The damn proud dam builders

Dirty feet: The sign of a good day of play

Butterfly bush is aptly named


Me and my boys in the treetops