Stitch Fix Fun

We've been having all sorts of fun with our own "personal stylists" from Stitch Fix so I thought I'd finally share about it here.  I randomly decided to sign up for it back in March after reading a blog entry about it.

I cannot explain the excitement from finding this on your doorstep...

Here's a brief explanation I found from another blogger who does it.

You fill out a TON of questions online about your style, what you like and don't like, your sizes, body type, and price point.  You can even link to your Pinterest boards if you'd like them to see your boards.  (I'm not a regular pinner and really never pin fashion items so I didn't do this.)  

It does cost $20 for the stylist "fee" but that goes toward your order, so I figure I'm just prepared to always buy at least one thing.  I have selected "the cheaper the better" on all of the categories.  They say that the pieces average $55 each.  

They send you 5 pieces each time, 4 pieces of clothing and one accessory.  You get a 25% discount if you purchase all items, which I have never done.  

Honestly, it can be a little pricey.  But you just have to keep your head about it.  You get to decide what  you keep and don't keep.  For me, it's very exciting to have the pieces picked out for you.  It gets me outside my comfort zone, I feel more hip and trendy, and it gives me fashion inspiration.  

You can choose the frequency of your "fixes" as well.  I am currently doing it once a month, but I won't do it that often forever.  Once I feel like my wardrobe is built up and I'm over it, I'll stop.  

I could stop at any time...I'm not addicted.  

Okay...I am a little addicted.  So I'll stop when someone stages an intervention, I suppose.

If you're looking for a way to liven up your wardrobe and don't have much time to shop, or maybe just don't know what to buy when you shop, I recommend you give it a try!  Sign up today!  Relish the excitement of that package arriving at your door step!

So a little about my past "fixes"...

First, let me warn you that I cannot figure this fashion selfie-thing out for the life of me.  Also, I didn't always take pics of pieces that I didn't keep in the past.  So just go with it...

Fix #1

I purchased two shirts from my first fix which totaled about $60.  I thought that was well worth the cute shirts and all the fun of getting it in the mail.  

I've paired this with everything from red skinny jeans to these pink shorts.  It is fun.

I wear this with a cardigan and skinnies or a pencil skirt.

Both shirts were items I wouldn't have usually picked but I've worn them a ton already.

Items I did not keep were: 

-some random heart earrings (I've said it once, I'll say it again, I dislike hearts and butterflies)

-a very winter-y long-sleeved shirt (this was April) that was $68 that I didn't $68 love

-some blush colored skinny jeans that I big-puffy-heart loved.  But they were too small.  Which was my own fault on my sizing info.  I made the correction online when I gave my feedback and sent the items back.  And I've been on the look-out for blush skinnies ever since!

Fix #2

They say the fixes get better each time as you give them feedback, but my second one was a disappointment.  I only kept one item from my second fix, this blazer that had me at hello.

This cost more than I would usually pay so it was the only thing I kept even though I did like a couple of the other items.  This jacket is so comfy and so cute and fits so well.  (I'm definitely still up for suggestions on what else to pair it with.)  

Items I did not keep were:

-a flare dress in blah colors and I didn't really know where I would wear it

-a cute cream colored top that had some fun detailing

-a way over-priced bracelet

-jeans...why would you send me plain jeans?  Looking for variety and show-stopping pieces here, people.

Now the fixes get much better.  Mainly because of the addition of J & D.  They jumped on-board like great friends do, and we scheduled our fixes to arrive on the same day.  And we may get a little Instagram happy on these days...

Fix #3

Jamie linked to her Pinterest boards, and loved all her pieces.  But she already had something similar in her wardrobe for EACH thing.  Her fix was TOO good.  Dang it!

Trophy Wife stepped out of her comfort zone and kept some fun pieces. She did have to remind them in her feedback just how blessed she is in the chest...

I kept three pieces.  The floral top has some awful flutter sleeves so it went back.  I cannot do flutter sleeves.  I let my stylist know.

If you've seen me this summer, chances are I was wearing this outfit.

Fix #4
My phone died at our box-opening party.  Rookie mistake.

D served excellent food, as always, and kept the wine glasses full.  We take turns opening our items, like Christmas, and oooh and awww over the pieces.

Everyone had an amazing fix.  Seriously, great pieces.  It's so fun to see what everyone gets and start brainstorming what they should pair it with.  Jamie loved all of hers and took advantage of the 25% discount by keeping it all.  I wanted to so badly...

This one was a tough one for me.  They sent me a shift dress in the exact same fabric of my beloved blazer from fix #2.  Weird, right?  I mean, I'm not supposed to wear that together, right?  90s suit?
 

The dress was comfy but WAY too short for work or church or anywhere I frequent.  Good-bye 25% discount.

Piece #2 was maybe my favorite piece to date.  Love this fun shirt!

Piece #3 was a fun shirt as well that could be paired with many different colored cardigans to school.

Piece #4 was the teal skinnies, which I love and #5 was the cross-body bag which I also really like.

So, the conundrum is that it's pretty ridiculous to keep four pieces because without the 25% discount it costs more than keeping all five.  But I didn't want that shift dress.  So I decided to give up piece #3, the blue and white polka dot shirt because it was pretty expensive and I thought surely I could find something similar at Loft, Forever 21, or even Nordstrom for less.  So I took the inspiration and sent the shirt back.

The prices are listed in an invoice separately from the items (read: not on the tags) so we like to play a game, as you open your pieces you have to decide how much you're willing to pay before you see the price.  Like, "I $35 like that necklace."  This helps keep it in perspective.  Unless we peer-pressure each other into it, of course.  

Another thing I love about it is that they send you these "style cards" with suggestions of what to pair the pieces with.  I keep all of the style cards, even if I don't keep the piece, just for fashion inspiration.  They've helped me pair different existing pieces that I have together just by inspiring different color combinations.

And finally, the box comes with this bag to return your items that you're not keeping.  

So you get your package, try all the pieces on, figure out what you want to keep, and "check out" online.  Then simply drop your bag in a mailbox within 3 days of receiving it.  

Very fun.  I know you want to try it...

Come on, Aud, join us in September?

Beach Bums

We have been so lucky to experience two wonderful family vacations as part of "Phase 2" of the greatest summer ever!  I've been sorting through over 1,000 pics of these adventures!  A bit overwhelming--but I'm finally ready to share some with you--just don't ask me how my Shutterfly albums are coming...

I think my mom discovered a gem when she happened across Carillon Beach when planning our family beach trip.  It's the white, sugar-sand beaches of the Florida gulf coast without the crowds!  It was a perfect little gated-community with beach houses, cottages, a hotel, shopping area, parks, and pools.  The neighborhood has something to offer for every budget, size of group, or length of stay.  We definitely hope to return!

Bonus!  We were close to MaKenzie who is spending the summer in Panama City Beach.  She welcomed us warmly.

The kids love flying in "the blue planes."  Don't we all?

We had two short flights and then we were there!  The kids did well.  I'm always a bit nervous when traveling with the kids--which just goes to show I care way too much about what other people think.  Even strangers!  We looked ridiculous going through security with our double stroller, two car seats, two young kids, four carry-ons filled with every imaginable activity, and enough juice and fruit snacks to feed the whole plane.  We checked the stroller at the gate and used the car seats on the plane.  Even though it's a trick to get down the aisle, I really like flying with the kids in their car seats.  They can see easier and they don't ask to get up and jump around.  They expect to be buckled in because it's what they are used to.  The flights were so quick, we didn't really have to dig too deep into all the new books, stickers, and marker sets I'd purchased for the trip.  As far as checked bags, Matt and I each packed a large rolling suitcase and we put the kids' small suitcases inside of ours.  Was much easier to only roll two bags around but still be able to separate their stuff from ours quickly when unpacking.  Matt worked his bag-packing magic as we brought beach towels, puddle jumper floaties, clothes and toiletries for everyone, kids' cups/plates/forks, the first aid kit, etc.  We made it!

First stop, the ocean!

This was a much-anticipated return to the beach for our crew.  Cade is our beach bum!  He's been in love with the ocean since our Hawaii trip.  Reese hates the sand.  Who knew she was such a clean freak?!

Perfect beaches!

Casa del Sol, great location close to marketplace area, pools, and beach.

Casa de Keeley

Great way to start each day...off to the pool!

The pools were always the perfect temperature and never too crowded.  Reese preferred the pool to the beach.

Then back to the house for lunch and naps.

Many home rentals include reserved chairs and bikes for the week as well.  Nice!

Followed by the afternoon at the beach!

Can you find Gentry?

My Beach Bums

Master Architect

Cade the Crab

Scott was always a good sport.

Cade was telling us all about how God made the ocean and the waves and all the creatures--right on, Cade!

I apologize for cropping Gentry and Scott out of the pic, but it was more important to keep this view of my thighs off of the internet.  I'm sure they understand.

Take me to the pool!!

After the ocean, we typically ended with a swim in a different pool, the ocean-view pool.  I love being in a pool while seeing the ocean.  Heaven.

It rained a couple times while we were there but it never really interfered with our plans.  Was always a quick, light, shower.

The evenings often consisted of wrangling various animals, thanks to Scott, a.k.a. Mr. Science.

Turtles

Frogs

Lizards

We also did some crab-hunting after dark on the beach.  Cade LOVED it!

The marketplace was right across the street from the house.  

Shiver me timbers!

Impersonating those Pi Phi pics my mom and MaKenzie are always doing.

We cooked most meals at the beach house which worked out much better than wrangling the kids at a restaurant each day.

What a treat to spend some time with Aunt Kizzie!

Entertaining the kids after all the beach and pool fun was sometimes tricky, but we found things to keep us busy in the somewhat-less-than-kid-friendly house.

On about day 3, I purchased a bubble gun at a nearby CVS.  Game-changer.

We were a bit sickly on the trip as Matt slept the first 2-3 days of the trip from being sick and then Cade woke up with what looked like Pink Eye on about day 5.  

Headed to Gulf World for the exhibits and dolphin show

Petting the sting ray

Also a super-exciting part of the trip...Gentry's Engagement Scavenger Hunt!!  Scott had called at the end of May to ask if we'd play a role in his proposal to Gentry.  We were so excited!  I pretty much had to avoid talking to Gentry for about 2 weeks so I didn't spill the beans.  I think she was expecting it...but wasn't expecting all the work he went to which made it so special!

Amazing Race-themed day of fun!

Complete with a sweet ride for the day!

Convertible fun!

Our "leg" of the scavenger hunt was at Pier Park where we shopped and got henna tattoos.  I'm pushing for a real "sisters" tattoo of some sort...that will be much, much, much smaller.

We are all so excited for Gentry and Scott!  P.S. her ring is HUGE!!!

Very picturesque surroundings at Carillon.

My new favorite pic.  Something about blondies on the beach...

The week seemed to go by quickly but we all enjoyed everything that Carillon Beach had to offer!  Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come along on such a wonderful trip.  Nothing beats memories like this made together!

Feel free to check out Gentry's trip recap as well!  (She's a more colorful writer and actually puts pics in collages.)