Stitch Fix #3

My third StitchFix arrived just as I was packing for our Thanksgiving vacation.  The timing was actually perfect since I figured I might have something fun to pack.  This being my third fix, I was hoping issues with how things fit would be resolved and that I would love at least one item to put the $20 styling fee to use.

Here is my fix!  The box was lighter and less full than the previous ones.  

Amy was my stylist this time.  I guess my feedback from each order gets saved centrally and I should expect to always have a different stylist.  She mentioned in her note to me she was sending some blouses that would go great with jeans and a different blazer to try.  Since I had previouslyshared a link of my Pinterest board with styles I like, one of the dresses she included was one I had previously pinned in a different color.  Here are the items in my fix:

Missy Polka Dot Tab Sleave Blouse by 41Hawthorn ($58)

I really liked this print.  Unfortunately, like the other blouses I've received from stitchfix previously, the fit was too boxy in the body.  41Hawthorn is the house brand for stitchfix and I think I need a size down in their blouses.  I made sure to include that in my feedback. The fact the fabric was very sheer was not something I was thrilled about, but if the fit would have been great I would have been happy to always wear a tank top under it. Status: Returned

Capitola Fit and Flare Tank Dress by 41Hawthorn ($78)

This was the dressed I had pinned on my Pinterest board, so I was excited to see it in the box.  It was also nice to know the Pinterest board actually gets looked at by the stylists.  Even though the version I had pinned was in red, I was very excited for this shade of blue.  The fit was perfect.  (Sorry for blurry photo! :-(  ) Status: Kept

Ivy Lace Printed Tab Sleave Blouse by 41Hawthorn ($68)

I liked the color, but the fit of this blouse was the same as the other one.  Too big.  Status: Returned

Joede Asymmetrical Sheath Dress by Miilla ($68)

The asymmetry was part of the draping on the back which I couldn't manage to get a good photo of. I felt like the dress was kind of shapeless and didn't do much for me.  Maybe I should have tried belting it, but I didn't particularly care for it enough to consider it. (Another blurry photo. Sorry!!!)  Status: Returned

Toshi Contrast Long Sleave Blazer by 41Hawthron ($88)

While the blouses by this brand are too big, this jacket was too small. They are both the same size but I would have needed a bigger size in this.  I also didn't love the contrast cuffs. Maybe a blazer is something too difficult to estimate the right size for.  Status: Returned

Overall I liked the styles I was sent, but the fit just wasn't right for most of the items this time around.  I ended up keeping the dress since it's a peice I know I'll wear and the price was very reasonable (especially when putting the styling fee to use).  In addition to my feedback regarding the sizing, I requested my next fix not include dresses.  I'm really hoping to add some great separates to my wardrobe with my next fix.  #stitchfix

Interested in trying stitchfix?  Please use my referral link!  https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3184070.   

November 2013 Barkbox

Elvis' favorite box arrived this weekend!  As much as we love the toys and treats in every Barkbox, Elvis has not been able to finish all his treats by the time the next box arrives.  After our 6 months are up (January will be the last box), we're going to put Barkbox on temporary hiatus until we need to replenish our treat supply again.

With that said, the November box did not disappoint!

The first item has already become one of Elvis' favorites.  It's a plush Zucchini by Pet Lifestyle and You (P.L.A.Y)  (retail: $9.50).  This toy is eco friendly and also seems pretty durable.  It's squeaky and  it's pretty funny to watch Elvis carry around something that is the size of a real vegetable.  (apologies for the action shot being a bit blurry)

The next item is a 2-pack of N-bones (retail: $4.50).  These are supposed to help with proper oral hygiene which is great because I'm embarrassed to admit Elvis won't let me brush his teeth.  Elvis already enjoyed one and ate it pretty quickly.

Next we have some mac-and-cheese treats from Bocce's Bakery (retail: $9.50).  These only have four ingredients: organic barley flour, cheese, turkey bacon, and truffles.  Interesting all the ingredients also claim to be "human grade."  Elvis is going to go crazy for these.

Still more treats!  Happy Howie's Turkey Sausages (retail $3) can be cut into smaller sizes.  These will be great for training or to take on walks.

Elvis' actually got TWO of the last item of the box.  He got a bonus Etta Says Deer 7-inch Chew (retail: $3 each --> $6).  Sometimes Elvis likes these types of treats but sometimes he doesn't know what to do with them.  I guess we'll see how this one turns out.

Overall a great barkbox with a total value of $32.50.  There are too many treats for Elvis to consume in 1 month though so it makes sense to put this box on hiatus for a while after January.  Does anyone else find that Barkbox delivers more treats than can be consumed in 1 month?

If you are interested in trying Barkbox, please use my link!  You'll get $5 off and Elvis will also get a free box.  https://barkbox.com/r/NGWIVP3PQE

#Barkbox

November 2013 Birchbox

It's Birchbox time!  I can happily report that as I write this review I've already tried all the items in the box.  That's definitely a sign it was a good one. :-)

The first item is a Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil by Chella (Full size!!!! - $18).  I haven't really used highlighter pencils before but supposedly this can be applied 10 different ways.  I need to do some YouTube research this weekend to see its full potential.  This morning I used it to perk up my lower eyelid a bit and it definitely made my usual eyeliner pop.  

The next item is a Color Club nail polish in the color "top shelf" (full size - $8, sample size $4).  I'm super excited for this shimmery nude color.  All the color club polishes I've gotten previously have been great. 

My third item was Crema da Mani in Cleopatra by Tocca (full size: $20, sample size: $5). This smells amazing. It's a soft grapefruit and cucumber scent and the lotion is super moisturizing.  I love the way my hands feel after using it. 

Also in the box was BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator by Vasanti (full size: $34, sample size: $5.67).  I'm picky about my face washes, but this was provided a very nice gentle scrub.  It left my skin feeling very soft but not overdone.  

The final item was the lifestyle extra.  It was a Chuao Honeycomb Chocopod (pack of 8: $9.95, sample value: $1.24).  I speak of this in past tense since I already ate it last night.  And it was delicious.  

The total value of my November box was $33.91.  A great value for $10 - especially because I will use every item.   This is one of the best birchboxes I've received in a while.  

What did other people get in their Birchbox this month?  If you are interested in trying Birchbox, please use my link to sign up!  referral 

#Birchbox

Popsugar Musthave November 2013

Here come the November Boxes!  Today my second Popsugar MustHave box arrived.

Popsugar is a popculture/fashion website.   They have a monthly "must have" box for $35/month.

The items in the box are divided into categories for food, beauty, fashion, and home.  There weren't any home items in October's box, but they made up for that in this one.

Here is the box:

Must Have Fashion

Michael Stars Folk Art Wrap ($42)
I love this wrap.  It's soft, seems warm, and I've really been wanting to try to rock the big scarf look this season.  The colors make it neutral yet interesting.  I can't wait to try it out tomorrow.  This item pretty much makes the whole box worth it for me - the rest will be a nice bonus.  

Must Have Beauty
The Soap and Paper Factory Shea Butter Soap ($8)
This soap is "Roland Pine" scented.  The smell reminds me of the holiday season.  The pine scent might be a little strong for me, but I'm willing to give it a try.  If I don't like it, there is always a chance that D will.  Pine is a gender neutral smell right? ;-)

Absolute A! Nail Polish Remover in Spring Fresh (32 pads) ($1.99)
I got the lavender scent of this oil-based nail polish remover.  The instructions say one little pad removes polish from 10 fingers.  I didn't imagine this would be possible due to how many cotton balls I use to get all my polish off usually.  Amazingly, one little pad did the trick.  And the smell was great.  This little container will last me 31 more removals, but this is something I will definitely consider purchasing in the future.  

Must Have Food
Maison de Monaco Strawberry and Blackcurrant Cream Preserves ($6)
Sounds good to me.

Must Have Home
Illume Candle (6.2 oz) ($15.75)
Looks like I got the "Naughty" candle. ;-)  It has a spicy wooded scent which I love.  It will be great for our apartment.  Other people apparently got the "Nice" version of the candle which has a sweet vanilla fragrance.  

Canvaspop Gift Card ($30)
This is a gift card to use at Canvaspop which is a company that transfers photos onto a canvas.  Since we have plenty of photos in many different formats right now from the wedding, this the one item in the box I don't see myself using.  Luckily I have a friend who was planning to print a photo on canvas so I'm happy to give her this.

Lands End Single Canvas Wine Tote ($19.50)
I can't tell if this is useful or not.  It's sized to hold a single wine bottle.  We don't go to many BYOB restaurants and even if we did I can't imagine carrying this around the city.  Maybe as a gift when bringing wine to a party?

Special Extra
Barefruit Crunch Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips ($1)
Yum.  These won't still be around tomorrow.

Overall the total value of this box is $124.24.  It definitely has some great items - especially the wrap, candle, and nail polish remover.  While it's a pricier box, I feel like the value of the items make it worthwhile.  

What's your favorite item in this month's box?  Interested in subscribing?  Please use my link!  http://popsu.gr/ndbC  Also, save $5 on your first box by entering code REFER5.  I can't wait to see how they top this box in December!


#popsugarmusthave

Monday Musings 11/11/13

Exciting news!  My Monday Musings are on time this week!  Here are some random thoughts of mine as the week gets started.

1.  Does anyone else always seem to have printer drama?

We have a wireless printer connected to our home computer.  I'd say I have the need to print something maybe once every 2 weeks or so.  For whatever reason, it seems like I frequently find myself having to reset/redownload/reconnect something.  Before I know it, I discover that it's taken me 45 minutes to print one page.  I have no idea why this seems to be a persistent issue.  On a positive note about the printer, I figured out (with D's help) how to transfer an address book into Word and print labels.  That was a huge printer success, so I guess I should be happy with that.  

2.  I'm obsessed with Candy Crush  

I'm one of those people who is totally obsessed with this silly game.  Anytime I'm alone with my phone, it seems I'll play a level or two.  I thought for sure I would be tired of it by now, but the levels continue to keep me engaged.  There is both a sense of pride and embarrassment when I admit that I'm on level 285.  

3.  ARTPOP

There are plenty of people expressing their opinions of Lady Gaga's new album so I figured I'd join in too.  ARTPOP contains the eclectic mix of randomness found on her previous 3 albums, but I find myself being intrigued by how all the tracks fit together.  Many of the songs lack the typical pop catchiness found in most other mainstream releases.  The album seems to work best when listening from beginning to end, but there are a handful of songs that I predict will end up doing well as singles in the long run.  My favorite tracks are Aura, Venus, Do What U Want, Dope, and Gypsy.

4.  Sick people should NOT go to the gym

This morning I went to spin class.  Everyone was ready to get their week started with a good workout when someone came in right as the class was about to start and took the last available bike.  In addition to her water bottle, this woman arrived with a large stash of Kleenex.  She started coughing.  She didn't stop coughing for the entire 45 minutes.  Everyone in the room was giving her dirty looks, but it accomplished nothing.  As soon as class was over, everyone else in the room pretty much ran straight to  the hand sanitizer.  All the coughing and risking getting everyone sick was bad enough on its own, but it was also apparent that through the whole workout everyone else in the room was looking around being worried about catching whatever illness this sick person had.  I'm not a crazy germ-a-phobe, but I really wish those with un-controllable coughs would wait until they are feeling better before going to gym.  

That's all for now.  Feel free to add your thoughts on any of these Monday Musings!

November 2013 Birchbox Man

I wanted to gift D a subscription to Birchbox Man for Christmas since he always comments on how many boxes come to the apartment.  I figured the first box would arrive in December so that would be perfect.  To my surprise, the November box arrived today so D's Birchbox is now a "just because" gift instead of being one of the presents under our Christmas tree.

Birchbox Man is a men's lifestyle box for $20/month that includes both grooming and lifestyle items.  It's a larger box than the women's version.  

The November box has a theme of "More Good" and mentions its support of the Movember mustaches in support of cancer research.

Here is what arrived in D's first Birchbox Man Box!

Notting Hill by English Laundry (Sample value: $1.75, Full size: $70-$85)

This scent is citrus-y which different from what D usually wears.  I liked it. Hopefully future boxes won't all include a fragrance sample. 

Protective Matte Moisturizer by Earnest Supplies (Sample value: $3, Full size: $25)

Before even trying this product, I thought it was nice that it has a nozzle to close it and use it more than once.

Shave Cream by Proraso (Sample value: $0.66, Full size: $10)

This is a perfect size sample to take on an overnight trip.  

Pomegranate SPF 15 Natually Smooth Lip Balm by Yes To (Full size!!! $2.99)

D thinks this looks like girl lip balm.  I think its meant to be gender neutral.  D is manly enough to rock a pink chapstick, but the lip balm itself is clear.  

Transit Issue Travel Candle by Apolis (Full size!!! $30)

We like candles and this one smells great.  It's very "manly"and home-y and I think it will be nice to take with us when going on vacation or going away for a weekend.  

Overall we thought this first box was just ok.  The candle is the best item, but we would have liked to see some larger sample sizes of the other products.  What did other people get in their Birchbox Man boxes this month?

Interested in giving Birchbox or Birchbox Man a try?  Please use my referral link!  http://birch.ly/13uUfhH

#birchboxman

Monday Musings 11/4/13

My "Monday Musing" post is a little late this week, but I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel and call it "Thoughts on Tuesday" just yet.  Here are few of my random musings as November gets started.

1.  Halloween time seemed to last forever this year
I love any chance to dress up (especially in costume), so I've always been a fan of Halloween.  This year though, it seemed like the Halloween season was never ending.  I can't quite logically think of why.  Of course it extended even longer since the actual day was on a Thursday so D and I continued to see people dressed in costumes all weekend.  Perhaps people celebrated extra this year after Sandy ended much of last years festivities?  I'm convinced people are just starting to celebrate holidays approximately 1-2 months early.  That brings me to my next thought.

2.  Apparently the Christmas season begins on November 1.
The Christmas season beginning early is not a new phenomenon, but now it really seems like as soon as Halloween is over (and in some cases even before) it's time to start getting ready for Christmas.  There have been Christmas commercials on TV for at least 2 weeks now and many stores have already decked the halls with boughs of holly.  As I start to hear Christmas carols, I secretly fear holiday festivity burn out.  I'm going to do my best to keep my distance and continue to enjoy the beauty of a November autumn (and pumpkin season!) before I start drinking egg nog.

3.  Why are all the best TV shows on Sunday night?
Maybe it's just in this house, but it seems like on Sunday night there are too many things on TV especially when it seems like there is nothing on the rest of the week.  There is also football to watch during the afternoon.  Thank goodness for DVR.  Clearly this is a first world problem, but it is truly amazing that there aren't many shows we regularly follow that don't originally air on Sunday nights.  This leads to....

4. Yes, I have been watching Teen Mom 3.
I don't know why, but I continue to watch this show.  It seems like the families on this season have even more problems than usual.  I know there have been critics of the show saying how the show glamorizes the situation these people live with, but I really don't see how that's possible.  I end up feeling bad for all of them.  :-(   It's actually quite a downer to watch (again - why I keep watching, I have no idea).  Good thing the season is almost over.

5.  I may have messed up boxed brownies.
Usually I do all my baking from scratch, but I decided to give a batch of boxed brownies a try since we found a box while cleaning out some cabinets over the weekend.  I don't know if it's our taste buds who have gotten picky or if I possibly added too many walnuts (D asked for them to be nutty), but they ended up being a disappointment.  Has this happened to anyone else?  The texture was perfect, but the chocolaty taste was lacking.  Looks like I'll have to make another batch from scratch soon for a scientific comparison.... ;-)

6.  Instagram makes me feel like an old person.
I have an Instagram account and I'm going to make a real effort to begin posting on it - hashtags and all.      Since I seem to only be using it as a way to post random photos like I do on Facebook, I'm sure I'm missing the boat on how to use the app at its full potential.  Any tips would be appreciated.

That's all for today!  Hopefully November boxes will begin to arrive any day now!

#mondaymusings