StitchFix #3 Review - August 2015

It's that time again!  If you haven't heard or tried Stitchfix yet, I highly recommend it. If you are not sure of what Stitchfix is, it is a the "personal styling service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle that helps you look and feel your best everyday." Pretty much you fill out an extensive fashion profile of clothes you are interested in and what your budget is.  They also utilize your Pinterest page so that you can let your stylist know what type of styles you want to try.  It is $20 a month for a styling fee which is applied towards anything you buy and you receive 25% off of your total if you choose to keep everything.  This is my third fix and I love the whole experience!

JUST BLACK #9697-405

Dean Skinny Jean

$78.00

I can never find jeans that fit this perfectly!  I love them.  The rise is a little short for me, but I'm keeping them!

BAY TO BAUBLES #9602-488

Avalon Daisy Statement Necklace

$28.00

I don't have any necklaces even close to this style and I love the way it looks with dressy and casual outfits!

GILLI #9139-017

Kadence Cowl Drape Front Dress

$64.00

The color was very pretty and the fabric was super soft.  I just was not in love with it enough to spend $64 on it.

DAHLYA #9116-986

Shelina Embroidered Top

$48.00

The vertical lines on the shirt just didn't fall right for me.  It also did not help camouflage any tummy imperfections.

PAPERMOON #9594-910

Wynn Blouse

$48.00

I really liked the color of this top and it worked perfectly with the necklace.  The problem I had was that it was a little too tight across the shoulders.  Also, I felt boxy in it.

Stitch Fix July 2015 Review - Fix #2

My absolute favorite package arrived!  If you haven't heard or tried Stitchfix yet, I highly recommend it. If you are not sure of what Stitchfix is, it is a the "personal styling service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle that helps you look and feel your best everyday." Pretty much you fill out an extensive fashion profile of clothes you are interested in and what your budget is.  They also utilize your Pinterest page so that you can let your stylist know what type of styles you want to try.  It is $20 a month for a styling fee which is applied towards anything you buy and you receive 25% off of your total if you choose to keep everything.  This is my second fix and I love the whole experience!

Every fix you receive a personal letter from your stylist addressing what you asked for.

Market & Spruce #8388-063

Alan French Terry Asymmetrical Zip Cardigan - Grey

There were quite a few "close, but no cigar" items in my fix this month.  I had pinned this cardigan and hoped.  Look how cute it looks on her!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173036810660047049/

On me it fell a little flat.  Open it looked cute, but I have a ton of cardigans like that.  Closed it just didn't work.  I couldn't get it to lay right when it was zippered.  Sadly, this was a miss.

Returned :(

Moda Luxe #8299-636

Venice Zip-Detail Crossbody Bag - Navy

Here was another one.  I wanted a crossbody bag.  I pinned a few, my stylist noticed, but something about this one wasn't right.  The color?  The size?  The detail?  What ever it was it didn't make me want to keep it.

Returned

41Hawthorne #8855-547

Walt Skirt - Black

Looking back at these pictures, I actually look better than what I felt at the time.  The material of the skirt was great, but with horiztonal stripes across wide hips and not being very forgiving around the "self-conscious" areas, I decided to return it.

Returned

Dear John #8915-529

Marson Wide Leg Denim Trouser - Navy

I went back and forth over these pants multiple times.  As I read on someone else's blog (sorry I can't remember which), Stitchfix has a crazy way of sending jeans that fit perfectly.  This was also true for me, other than the length.  I have a rough time finding jeans that fit well because of my hips and thighs, but these complimented very well.  The problem?  They were about 3" too long.  I would have needed to get them hemmed for them to be worthwhile.  In my state of mind when trying them on, I kept finding flaws and decided to send them back.

Returned

LAILA JAYDE #4376-965

Jalissa Knit Top - Dark Gray - $48

There is not enough amazing things I can say about this top.  I love it so much!  It's light weight, it's relaxed, but fitted, it's the perfect length.  I even just decided to wear it to work for casual Friday before I even really tried on or decided on the rest of the box.  It does require something underneath it, but I think that could give it a little more diversity wearing a really bright colored tank with it.

KEPT!

Out of Comfort Zone: Level Skirt - Day 4

I don't wear skirts to work. It just doesn't happen. Whenever I decide to wear something nice, that's the day I'm crawling all over the floor in the manufacturing shop, but the goal of this is to push myself outside my comfort zone. So I pushed and wore a long black maxi skirt to work. Looking back, I think this outfit was a little much and I probably won't revisit it, but I tried. I was also pretty proud that I pulled the khaki jacket and the belt out of my closet and I've had both for years. This experience really is helping me figure out the best way to work with what I already have.

I don't have to run out and purchase an entire wardrobe, even though I want to. I can make my current pieces more fashionable with a few tweaks.

Nadine West Review - July 2015

*UPDATE*

Nadine West is no longer a free service.  They now charge $6.50 and then credit you back if you buy anything.  I am not pleased with this and have canceled my subscription.  I have no problems with paying a fee, but I do not like the false advertising.

For those who are unfamiliar with Nadine West, it is another monthly personal stylist subscription.  This site seems to be much younger than sites such as Stitch Fix.  This service is completely free, there is no styling fee and no shipping fees.  They currently only do tops and jewelry and the prices for each piece average between $10 and $20.  At least from the ones I have received.  You receive 4 items in each shipment and only pay for what you keep.

This is my second shipment.  My first shipment was horrible (don't have pictures).  Their style matching is much less sophisticated and in depth as Stitch Fix, but it is entirely free unless I keep something so I'm sticking with it for a little while.

 This orange top was horrible!  The material felt cheap and the fit across my shoulders was all wrong.

Returned!

I did love the long heart necklace.  I don't own anything like it.  It's also reversible with rhinestones on one side and cutouts on the other.  It looks way better with other looks!

Keep!

This picture doesn't do these cute earring justice, but they are cute little balls of rhinestones.  Can you guess if I kept them?

Keep!

 This bracelet did not fit my wrist, wasn't comfortable, and wasn't my style.  I really only ever wear my pandora bracelet.  Not really a fan of others.

Returned!

Adulting Our Living Room

It has been longer that I care to admit since I have lived in one location for longer than two years.  With breakups and new relationships and new jobs and marriage, everything has been up in the air for years.  I think I subconsciously don't worry about putting the effort into fully making an apartment a home since it is just a waypoint to the next place.

We just signed our lease renewal for another 15 months and my husband said he would even be interested in another year after that.  So it seemed time to start settling in to our current place.  It's only been 10 months!

This was our living room.

An absolute disaster area.  This picture doesn't even do it justice.  Cords everywhere, not enough space for anything.  Game systems just shoved into places, a rickety DVD rack that I picked up on freecycle while I was still in college.  Not an adult apartment at all!

Saturday night, we spent hours at IKEA trying to find a fix for this "problem" we had.  We ended up with "Besta" I believe it's called, since it was completely customizable.

After many many many hours and only a few disagreements, we ended up with this.

I feel so much better just looking at the picture.  Everything has a place now and it's wonderful!

Adulting for the win!

Hero's Journey 2.0: The Armory (Day 3)

http://darebee.com/programs/hero-journey.html?showall=&limitstart=3

On Day 3 we visit the Armory and choose which weapon will help shape our character throughout the journey.  Because of my personal goals, I chose Magic Ring, which works on strengthening the core through different planks.

180.3 lbs
40.1 %BF

20 sec Plank
20 sec Elbow Plank
20 sec Side Plank
2 min Rest
3 full sets

I felt like a warrior because I went out to dinner with my husband and my best friend and got home at 10:00pm.  Instead of throwing the day, I got prepared and did my weapons practice for the day!

Total Daily Points: 100
Total Journey Points: 300

First Steps into Acessorizing - Day 3

I an doing research on how to change up my wardrobe and make my clothes more stylish. Apparently belts can help with making your look more pulled together. Today was the first day that I didn't have a "new" outfit to wear so I tried the belting my shirt underneath my cardigan. I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?

Hero's Journey 2.0 - Stranger at the Crossroads (Day 2)

As you make your way along the path of your journey you see a stranger in the crossroads.

Choose, but choose wisely:

• Mind your own business
• Get involved

Well I looked at the exercises associated with each choice.  Of course I didn't realize that even at Level 1 I needed to do 5 sets, but getting involved made me feel like a warrior.

Day 2
180.2 lb
40.0 %BF

60 High knees

20 Jab + Jab + Cross + Squat

Rest no more than 2 minutes, repeat

After huffing and puffing and sweating, I completed the five sets and felt like a winner.  Day 2 happens to have a Karma symbol which means I get to click onto another page to see if I have chosen wisely.

*Spoilers Below*

Credit: http://darebee.com/programs/hero-journey.html?showall=&limitstart=67

Working hard paid off!  Whatever the Oracle has in store for me on Day 7, I'll be ready with a friend and one less set!

Total Daily Points: 100
Total Journey Points: 200

This workout is from Hero's Journey 2.0.

Engineering Fashion - Day 2

Here is my outfit for Day 2 of my fashion adventure. Last week I went shopping at Macy's and picked up some new things. The top is Calvin Klein sport and I love their stuff! It's so soft and the color is so bright and unique. I'm wearing my crop jeans and dark green flats. Comfy but put together for work.

Hero's Journey 2.0 - Press "Start" to Play (Day 1)

I am a member of the Nerd Fitness Academy.

"This isn’t a get-fit-quick scheme: those things are designed for one thing only: to take your money. Instead, it’s a fun, step-by-step blueprint and a philosophy that focuses on actual results.

We call it the Nerd Fitness Academy: a fitness course that allows you to gain experience, complete quests, and level up your life."

I am learning to make small changes that stick instead of "quick fixes" that last for about two weeks and then go back to old habits.  It has been a very slow journey and I wish I could just pop some magic pill, jump on the treadmill and have myself be my high school weight again.  That doesn't work for me.  I've tried every crash diet I could find and none have stuck.  I usually end up back where I was, or heavier.  So the academy is teaching me patience.

Some of the lovely ladies over at the Nerd Fitness Academy Facebook group suggested that we all try Hero's Journey 2.0.  It works through like a role playing game that gives you different challenges and quests everyday which correspond to your workouts.  I am going to track my progress and my story here.

Day 1:
Press "Start" to Play
180 lbs
40.0 %BF

This workout is the beginning of our quest.  It consisted of four basic exercises.  They seemed simple enough: Side leg raises, squats, toe tap hops, and climbers.  Also simple instructions to follow, pick a level and do that many reps of each exercise.  You can do them all at once or split them up into sets that work for you.  I'm no stranger to working out, but our relationship has been "on a break" for about a month now.  This workout was a whole lot harder than I expected.  I was dripping sweat and had my heartbeat racing the whole time.

Here's how the workout ended up for me:

Side Leg Raises: 10, 10, 10, 5, 10, 15
Squats: 20, 20, 15, 5
Toe Tap Hops: 20, 15, 15, 10
Climbers: 10, 10, 10, 10, 20

I did them in super sets.  Did as many of one exercise that I could and then moved on to the next until I reached 60 reps of each.

I completed Level 1 for Day 1.

Total Points for the Day: 100
Total Points: 100

Engineering Fashion - Day 1

My name is Kristin and I am a female mechanical design engineer.  I was recently married in April 2015.  I struggle with my weight.  I struggle with being an adult.  I struggle with what to wear.

I've never been particularly stylish.  In high school, my friends always helped me dressed.  I learned makeup from down playing stage makeup.  I am learning in my own way to "dress for the job I want."  I want to be taken more seriously as an adult in life and in my career.  So this is my journey.

Where I work, most days are business casual, which includes jeans.  Today I wore, a grey tank top, a teal cardigan, cropped jeans, and black flats.  I feel like it was a nice put together, nice style.  The cardigan matches my eyes and it was very comfortable.