Reviews – A Sprinkle of Life

Giving Stitch Fix another try – February 2023

February 26, 2023 No Comments

If you read my last post, you know I decided to request a fix, after quite some time away from the company, to get some pieces for my first business trip since Covid began. Well, my fix arrived, although it did come a couple days later than I had requested, so I was worried we were already off to a bad start.

What I asked for:
– Flare jeans (no distressing – dark color)
– Possibly a dress with short sleeves
– Some tops for work
– A resort set that I saw advertised in a Facebook ad

I also mentioned I was up for some pieces that were more fashion forward that could expand my style, continuing to reference the ads that the company is displaying on Facebook, which looked like great Fixes compared to some I’ve gotten before.

In my last post, you also know that I decided to give the “preview your fix” feature a try this go around, and picked 3 items from the stylist’s initial pull and left 2 items to be a mystery. Let’s dig into my box and start with the items I already knew were coming from the preview email I received before shipment.

Kaileigh – Jaylee Jumpsuit
This jumpsuit that screams spring with its green and floral details retails for $58. It’s meant to be a cropped leg look, similar to a length you’d expect with capris.

The jumpsuit itself was fairly comfortable, but it was a bit big on me. I probably could have gone down a size since the fabric is so loose and stretchy. The chest opening was also in desperate need of a hook and eye closure. The wrap section around the chest wasn’t very form fitting or had any elastic to hold it in place, which led to it being pretty revealing at times.

Monday Fun – Kearny Henley Top
This flowy top in light blue retails for $44.

This style of top is nothing new from Stitch Fix. I’ve seen this cut and style dozens of times, and have kept some of the tops over the years. What drew me to choosing this from my preview was the color. I love light blue and I thought the accents of white drops of color were pretty. I wasn’t too sure from the photos of the item what the pleating on the front would look like. When I pulled this out of the box, it was super wrinkly, so I steamed it in order to take pictures and to try to get it looking somewhat decent. This is definitely not a top to pack in a suitcase.

What bothered me about this top was that it doesn’t do anything for your body. It literally makes you look boxy and heavy. It’s not flattering and just hangs there. Now I love a loose top, especially in warmer weather or for commuting, but this top just didn’t scream “young” or “fashionable.” It didn’t give me the vibe I was looking for.

Nine Britton – Billie Tie Front Brushed Knit Top
For $40, this was the cheapest item in my fix this go around.

This top stood out in my preview since it was a great neutral color, and it looks like it’d be pretty comfy. The fabric on the outside of this top, or what I’d call a lightweight sweater, is super duper soft and creamy. Probably one of the softest pieces of clothing I’ve tried on. The inside of the top isn’t as soft as the outside, but that’s probably because it’d heat you up and make you sweat based on how decadent the fabric feels. I also liked the little knot detail at the bottom, giving it a little something different from a regular long sleeve top.

Heatherly – Loretta Tiered Blouse
You can make this hot pink number yours for $46. This top was also the first of two mystery pieces in my fix.

In your Stitch Fix profile, you’re able to dictate what colors you don’t like or want items to be in. I’m pretty sure hot pink is one that I’ve said is a no go for me, but alas, here we are. Immediately when I pulled this out of the box, I knew I wasn’t going to be in love. The chest area has a weird detail where it outlines each breast and it just looked horrible holding it up. When I tried it on, I wasn’t surprised how unflattering it was. I had to pull the top up a bit in the photo above, because a large amount of my bra would otherwise be exposed. You can see some of my bra is still poking out after I hiked it up a bit. I don’t know how you’re supposed to wear this, but either your bra is going to be on full display, or if you go braless, this is going to look even worse than it does. The fabric was also super cheap. I don’t know if I’ve had a worse piece in a fix before. This is certainly not worth the price, and is not something I could wear to work.

Democracy – Kathryn Ab Solution HIgh Rise Itty Bitty Bootcut
Our last item was something I requested, a dark wash jean. This pair retails for $88.

When I requested a dark pair of jeans, I asked for a flare pant. I was thinking more of a traditional bell bottom type pant, so when I saw the word “bootcut” I was worried that it wasn’t going to give me the look I wanted. First off the bat, the color is great. Dark washed jeans like this can go with anything. The flare of the jean wasn’t too large, and wasn’t too small, so I felt it was pretty close to what I was hoping for. The jeans also feel an itty bitty loose around the waist line, which I don’t mind. They are comfortable, and while a smidge on the long side, I think they’ll work fine with sneakers. Also, side note, why do jeans need some a crazy long name?!

Now that I’ve tried everything on, it’s time to decide what stays and what goes. Overall, I have to say I was disappointed in this fix and the quality of the items. Some things weren’t super terrible, both nothing blew me away either.

In the end, I decided to keep the jeans and the comfy tan tie front top. I could easily pair these two items together, and wear them with other pieces. The top would look great with a white pant, and the pants will look great with everything from sweaters to t-shirts and tanks.

I was originally on the fence with the jumpsuit, since I love a romper and jumpsuit for ease of packing and comfortability, but it was too big and I didn’t feel like trying my hand at sewing in a snap or hook and eye closure to make it workable.

The other two tops were cheap in feel and design, especially the disco sleeved full expose hot pink piece.

When I saw the recent Facebook ads, I thought Stitch was looking more fun and elevated than ever before. In the second picture you can see the resort wear set I fell in love with that led me here.

I didn’t get anything as fun or fashionable in my box, and when I went to review my fix on the site, I felt kind of let down. I used to love Stitch Fix, and it made my life easy, but after this box, I’m not sure I’d rush back anytime soon. Maybe there’s something else out there worth checking out instead…

If you have any suggestions of companies worth checking out, or brands that are great for those of us in our 30s, let me know!

Reviews, Style

A Stitch Fix Preview – Choosing Items Before Delivery

February 12, 2023 No Comments

It has been quite a while since I ordered a fix from Stitch Fix. With my first work trip coming up since Covid began, I’ll be traveling to a new office and seeing some of my team members in person for the first time. It seemed like a great time to see what Stitch Fix has to offer nowadays.

I decided to try something new this time, and give the “Preview Your Fix” feature a go. Stitch Fix didn’t always offer this functionality, so when I first started getting fixes this wasn’t a thing, making me accustomed to a surprise every box. When I got the email this time around, I figured “what the heck,” let’s see if I can help make my fix as successful as possible since it’s been a hot minute.

If you still want to be surprised, like I usually do, just archive or delete the email, and wait for your fix day.

For those of us feeling a bit curious or impatient, when you click “select your pieces” you’re brought to what I would call a little curated shop just for you. You can see your stylist’s name, and several pieces they thought would be a good fit based on your fix note when you scheduled your box.

You don’t have to choose 5 pieces, which is super helpful because I wasn’t in love with most of the items in my fix preview. The nice thing is you can either like an item, dislike it, or just ignore it. When you like an item it’s included automatically in your fix, but what about the things I didn’t dislike or like, do they go off into oblivion?

My fix preview included 10 items for me to review and select from. A range of dresses, tops, two bottoms, one bag and a romper.

Nothing stood out as super amazing or exciting to me in the fix, but there were a few pieces that I thought could possibly be my style. I figured I’d do a mix of trying some of the items from my preview, selecting less than 5, to see what happens with the rest of my box.

I wonder what the 2 mystery items will be!? Will they be brand new items I didn’t see in my preview? Will they be the items I didn’t click “dislike it” for? Thankfully, I only have a few days to wait before I find out.

Stay tuned for my fix review!

Try it out for yourself in the meantime.

Reviews

Blood work at home – Getlabs Review

January 15, 2023 No Comments

I’m not a fan of any sort of medical procedure. Just going to the doctors office for a physical got my heart rate through the roof. Mind you, it was my first physical as an adult. The last time I went to a normal doctor was right before college, many years ago.

As expected, my doctor wanted to run some tests and get some blood work done. This was not good news to my ears. The only time I have ever had blood work was several years ago when I was living in California for a year, and it was an absolutely horrible experience.

My doctor’s office is a small little local practice, but she has a lab come in on most Fridays to take blood. Since I had to fast for this appointment, I would need an early slot because I know I get hangry and lightheaded. Unfortunately, all the slots were taken up for before lunch, so I started on a hunt to find a lab on my own.

One night, my significant other found a company online called Getlabs. This company will send someone directly to you in your home (or office) to do your requested labs. It seemed like an interesting idea to me. After thinking it over, and seeing their availability, I decided to make an appointment.

While the website claims that appointments start at $35, I never saw the cost that low. Every day and slot I personally saw was for $79, which to me still seemed worth it as someone terrified of blood draws and hoping for a more intimate personalized experience. It’s worth noting, my significant other saw some slots of $35 really late at night for a next day appointment show up just once on the site, so maybe keep checking at night?

Scheduling an appointment was very easy. You share pictures of your insurance card and script from your doctor, and off you go! I booked my appointment the night before, and there was plenty of availability and the slot I wanted was still there.

The day of my appointment I received a text with an estimated time of arrival of my phlebotomist, which was smack in the middle of the 2 hour slot I chose. The person showed up maybe 20-30 minutes after the given estimate. Not sure how they calculate the estimates, but I didn’t fault the person since they were still there on time according to my slot.

We got set up on my dining table, I turned my head to not watch, and she got to work taking my blood.

I informed my phlebotomist that people have had trouble finding a vein in my arm, so she immediately, without question, switched to using the top of my hand instead. While this probably is more painful, it’s more comfortable for me since my veins are front and center on my hand, and I would rather this than them poking and prodding me multiple times.

I did start to feel faint at the end, but since I was home, right after she left I was able to eat and drink something and lay down on the couch. From start to finish, everything took maybe 10 minutes?

My experience with Getlabs was really positive. The phlebotomist was nice and gentle, and did a great job making sure I was comfortable. I’m proud to say there were no tears this time around.

The Pros:

No phone calls! As a millenial, I don’t like to call to schedule appointments.
Privacy in your own home. You can be comfortable in your own setting and don’t have to go and wait at a facility or hospital.
Technology oriented company. You get notices via text and email, and can do all your scheduling on the site.
When I emailed the company after my appointment with a quick question, I got a fast response.
Mask was worn by phlebotomist

The Cons:

The listed $35 price doesn’t seem to be the norm from my experience checking out dates and times.
No text response when I texted them with a question the night before. I figured the phone line would still be working since they just texted me with confirmation, but it looks like they have limited texting staffing hours. I didn’t get a response in the morning either.

Would I choose Getlabs again?
Absolutely. This experience was hands down a whole lot better than my first blood work experience.

Is it kind of “bougie” since I’m scheduling an at home out of pocket expense that not everyone can justify? Sure, but for me the cost was worth it.

Getting my blood work done at home made me feel a lot more comfortable, and provided a patient and private experience. I didn’t feel rushed and I didn’t feel embarrassed to be nervous. If you’re like me with difficult veins, bad previous experiences, or just plain afraid of blood work, I would definitely recommend considering an at home service! I feel proud of myself, and braver for having gotten through it without any issues.

Reviews

A Real RealEats Review

January 10, 2022 No Comments

I’m not much of a cook, and I grew up in a household where family dinner time wasn’t really a thing, and the fanciest we got on a weekday might have been a bowl of pasta and sauce. My family also doesn’t conform to stereotypical or old fashion gender roles, so it wasn’t like my mom was expected to cook, and some of my more favorite meals were often created by my father.

Today, I’m in my 30s and in a modern millennial relationship where no one is expected to be the chef of the household, and we often do our own thing on our own time for dinner due to work or workout schedules. However, I’ve been wanting to branch out a bit and have a few more meals that aren’t packaged up frozen dinners. We’ve been meaning to try another meal service and I just so happened to come across one on Facebook of all places that looked decent, and when I checked the menu, there was actually several options that both of us would enjoy, so I took a chance on a company called RealEats.

It’s a subscription service, but you can skip weeks or put it on hold, so you can avoid being charged week over week, which is great for testing them out on the first week. I placed my order mid/late last week and it arrived today.

For our first testing of RealEats, I went with the 6 meals options, figuring that would give us 3 nights of meals this week, and then we’d do our usual pizza night and friday night takeout adventures. There was a promo so we got 40% off but it looks like the regular price would be around $80 for this regularly, which is a bit pricey, but not too terrible since it would sustain us for most of the work week. I should note there were options for less meals, and more, plus you could buy individual items instead of a whole packed meal.

Tonight we gave it a try. I had the Grilled BBQ Chicken, which comes with Spring Veg Medley, and Fork Mashed Potatoes. Brian had the Simply Cooked Chicken with Green Beans in a Spring Pesto and Herb Roasted Baby Potatoes.

Grilled BBQ Chicken and Simply Cooked Chicken Breast – RealEats

Prep and cooking was super easy. Just boil a big pot of water, place the meat, in this evening’s case it was chicken, into the pot for 6 minutes, and the sides for 3 minutes.

I found after my first 3 minutes were up and it was time to put in the sides in, that the water stopped boiling a bit, so I was worried that the cook time may be off. To be safe we each cooked our meals for 7 minutes total, not the recommended 6. For the sake of this review, we’ll just focus on my meal, but it’s safe to say Brian approved of his since he cleaned his whole plate.

After the 7 minutes were up, I grabbed the bags with my tongs, put them on a cutting board and took scissors to open them up. The chicken was the first thing I opened, and the sauce went everywhere, including my white sweater. Yes, there was probably some user error, but the sauce was very thin and liquidy, so I don’t know how much I could have avoided making a mess of at least the plate without draining it in the sink first.

Exhibit A, my plate of beauty. You can tell I’m just an average, non-experienced person in the kitchen based on my plating skills 🙂

The sides were fairly easy to get out, but the mashed potatoes were a little bit of a pain since the bag was hot and I had to squeeze the bag like a tube of toothpaste to get it all out.

Now it was time to eat!

I love mashed potatoes so I was excited for them, but unfortunately I found the temperature to be too cold, so I ended up microwaving my whole plate for a few seconds to try and heat them up. I probably should have done it for a bit longer since they were luke warm when I went to eat again, but at least they had good flavor.

Based on the temperature of the potatoes and Brian’s plate of veggies too, I’d recommend putting the sides in for a bit longer than the recommended 3 minutes. I might be as bold to say in the future I’d cook mine for 5-6 minutes total, but I really like my food to all be really hot. I haven’t tested this yet, but that’ll be my plan next time.

I don’t really like many green veggies, but I tried some of the green beans, and they weren’t terrible. One reason I wanted to try this service was to try and expand my pallet and try new things in the comfort of my own home as a picky eater.

The chicken breast itself was nicely cooked, very easy to cut and it was nice and juicy. The sauce however was a bit strong for my liking. It was a bit more spicy than I anticipated. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not too into spicy food so the amount of sauce was a little strong for me.

I’d say for people who don’t cook and rely on the microwave for quick meals or just throw a pizza in the oven, that this was one of our fancier eating at home adventures. We eat simple things, so this was very adult feeling for me at least.

I’m looking forward to trying some of the other meals we got. There’s another chicken dish or two, and two pasta and meatballs. We’ll have to see how the rest of this week’s dinners play out! Hopefully I’ll stay a little cleaner this time around.

If you want to join me in this meal adventure but in the comfort of your own kitchen, give my code a click for 50% off.

Reviews, Style

Saying Goodbye to Infinitely Loft

April 17, 2021 No Comments

For the past ~2 years I’ve been using the rental service Infinitely Loft on and off. I took a several month long break for quite a while during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic and in the midst of us moving into our first house. I figured I could save a little bit of money while I spent a bucket load setting up my new home, buying furniture, and working from home that I didn’t really need to get all dressed up for the time being.

Fast forward to a couple months ago when I resubscribed. I had been working from home for almost a year and decided why not do something for myself and get some cute outfits here and there to spice things up a bit.

It worked out well until a month or so ago when the announcement came that Loft would be shutting down the service due to Covid-19 difficulties. To this day I’m still not sure if that means Infinitely Loft is done for good, or just for a few months or so until they figure out what’s going on in the country pandemic wise. The good news is that vaccines have been rolling out more and more so maybe that will make things come back to life?

When I got the news I was saddened since I had just gotten back into the groove and excitement of getting new items every week or so. Knowing that my time with the program was limited, and seeing that they were giving more discounts off if you wanted to buy an item, I decided to use this time to my advantage and request items I really loved the look of and wanted to possibly buy.

I threw in items for Spring and Summer, even though it was still in the 40s around here, thinking why not see if I can get some of my favorited items for really cheap!? In the past, I’ve had really great success buying some of the items I’ve rented. I’ve never had a problem with the articles of clothing being damaged, looking used, etc.

Here’s just a sampling of some of the items I snagged for 85% off during my last month on the service.

Trellis Garden Ruffle Jumpsuit In Whisper White – Infinitely Loft
$15.00

Tortoiseshell Print Belt Strappy Romper In Black – Infinitely Loft
$13.50

Flutter Romper In Whisper White – Infinitely Loft
$13.50

Summary:
In total, I rented 123 items throughout my time on the program.
Of the 123, I purchased 17 items.

What I enjoyed most about Infinitely Loft was that I was able to try a variety of new styles that I might not have otherwise. From jumpsuits to maxi dresses, there was something new and exciting always available to rent. I also got to play around with colors that I typically don’t purchase or wear because of my coloring as a redhead, but found some colors I really enjoyed (burnt yellow/mustard).

I’ll be crossing my fingers for the program to return in the near future. I know I’ll be happy to sign back up, especially as life starts coming back to normal and return to the office will be coming soon.

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