Disclosure: This post contains Stitch Fix Affiliate links, and I may receive compensation.
What’s Stitch Fix: An amazing fashion company that provides you with your own personal stylist who picks out pieces based on your style profile, requests, budget and your figure!
We all know how passionate I am about Stitch Fix, so I’m so thrilled to announce that Stitch Fix has expanded their offering to include plus sizes for ladies! If you’ve ever wanted to try Stitch Fix before, but weren’t sure their pervious size ranges would work for you, you’ve got to give it a try! Starting today Stitch Fix offers sizes from 0-24W & XS-3X.
The plus size line is stylish and fabulous thanks to Stitch Fix’s Curvy Style Council, compiled of 3 wonderful bloggers who were selected to help represent “the real needs of real bodies,” according to Stitch Fix. We’re not all built the same, and we should be able to explore new styles no matter what our size or shape may be.
Photo provided by Stitch Fix
You’ll be sure to find great pieces from Junarose, Think Eloquii, Slink Jeans, Kiyonna, and many other designers!
Schedule your Fix today, what have you got to lose!? I’ve already seen some ladies post some of their Fix pieces on Instagram and they’re looking amazing!
If you’re new to Stitch Fix, check out my quick tips below for a successful fix:
Be very specific. If there are certain pieces or types of clothing you really want, provide that in your styling note to your stylist.
Create a Pinterest Board. Stylists will check them out if you keep mentioning them in your style notes.
Call out designers or names of actual articles of clothing . Your stylist may not provide those exact items but they’ll start to get a better sense of what style you’re into.
Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Boards for more Stitch Fix fun!
Hi there! It’s been a little while since I’ve posted so I wanted to provide just a quick post that I hope helps you a bit with the everyday bustle of life.
I’d classify myself as someone who is easily stressed or carries a fair deal of stress around with them. However, I’ve found some things that have worked for me to help lower my stress that I wanted to share with you:
Exercise can be a great way to relieve stress even if it seems intimidating or just something else to add to your long list of things to get done in a day.
I’m recommending a particular exercise that will be easy for you to fit into your schedule because you don’t need to leave your home, and you don’t need any equipment – Pop Pilates. You can find it on Youtube, participate in the comfort of your own home, and it’s free!
For those looking to take on more of a challenge, I’m currently participating in Piit28 brought you by the same instructor as Pop Pilates. This program does cost money, but once again all you need is your own body, no equipment, and less than an hour of time a day (6 days a week).
I’m feeling more energized now and less in a funk because I have something else to focus on.
P.S. I’m doing a big review of Piit28 when I complete it at the end of this month, so stay tuned!
Meditate
A couple years ago I took a course at work that was about searching yourself, finding out what made you tick, and learning how to relax, breathe, and yes meditate. From that class I was introduced to a great app called Headspace. It’s a subscription service (monthly, yearly), but you can try it out for 10 days free first.
I’ve found that going through a guided meditation, even if it seems all hippy dippy, is so relaxing, and really helps my brain relax and learn to let go emotions and stressors in times of need.
Read
If you read this blog you know I love to read – check out my reading challenge posts! If you need to escape reality, cuddle up with a book and before you know it you’re mind will be off dreaming of some fantasy world. Last year at the age of 26 I decided to sign myself up for a library card, something I hadn’t had in probably over a decade, and it’s been great!
Use a Planner
I subscribe to FabFitFun and in my last box I received a Moleskine Weekly Notebook.
I can control my schedule, capture events and projects all in one handy spot and the ability to cross of days is quite empowering.
I bought start stickers at the Dollar Tree that I can use to spice things up and track things like days I did Piit28 or meditated.
Hope you find a little time in your day to stop, breathe, and take your mind off of all that you’ve got going on to enjoy some peace and relaxation.
I’ve grown up being a picky eater, I mean really picky, I eat like a child. Besides being picky with my food selection, I’ve also had a fairly sensitive stomach for as long as I can remember. Certain foods would always leave me feeling a little under the weather. For my birthday my boyfriend surprised me with a Food Sensitivity Test from EverlyWell. I didn’t know such a thing even existed, but I was excited at the prospect of finally getting some clarity on why I can’t eat certain foods without stomach aches.
My excitement quickly waned when I found out exactly how I would be getting those results – via a blood test.
The Food Sensitivity Test from Everylwell comes with everything you would need, three lancets (needles!), biohazard bags for your blood samples and to throw away your lancets, a card for your blood samples, an easy to follow guide, an alcohol wipe, and a bandaid. Earlier kits seem to have come with lollipops, which I probably could have used 🙂
Does pricking your finger hurt?
I’m pretty sensitive to pain and afraid of needles so I might be a little more chicken than you, but it did hurt a bit, like a tight pinch or a bee sting. I found my finger was stinging for a couple hours afterwards, a bit sensitive to touch.
It took me a good 30 minutes to be brave enough to finally poke my finger. Once I got enough courage, I was disappointed to see only one blood drop come out. I had to poke myself for a second time. Of course that would happen to me. The second time around I used my ring finger, verses my middle. I recommend using your ring finger, because the blood just kept on flowing!
The card you’re given to place your blood sample on requires 3 out of the 5 circles to be as completely filled as possible. You must let the blood drop into the circle, you can’t smear your finger around. I was able to fill three dots pretty successfully after a second prick of the finger.
Once you’ve survived the sample extraction, it’s time to mail it back! You’ll receive a prepaid package to mail your sample back in.
After a quick 5 days my results were in. EverlyWell will email you when your results are complete and then all you have to do is login to their site where you can see a breakdown by food group or reactivity.
Results Your results are displayed by showing you what level of reactivity you may experience when consuming certain foods. The ranges are Low Reactivity (you can eat these things), Mild Reactivity (you probably won’t notice any sensitivities), Moderate Reactivity (it might be good to limit), to High Reactivity (you should cut some foods out and see how you feel).
Going into my results I was expecting to see certain sensitivities pop up, mainly dairy. Whenever I eat dairy, particularly cheese, my stomachs feels a little rumbly. But what I saw on the screen truly shocked me.
Screenshot taken from EverlyWell Test Results
Apparently, dairy isn’t my issue and I only have a low reactivity to those products. Now I was really confused. What’s been making me feel sickly all these years?
Well, it turns out my highest level of reactivity was given to a food group I never would have suspected, grains!
Screenshot from EverlyWell Test Results
I couldn’t believe it! Most of my favorite foods are part of this food group. Pizza and pasta are what I live on and apparently they’ve been making my belly not feel its best.
Some other surprise results, just to name a few, were that I’m moderately sensitive to white potatoes (my favorite vegetable on earth), carrots, black pepper, cinnamon, and chicken (WHAT, I love chicken nuggets).
Seeing these results was extremely eye opening. Will I change my diet? No, not completely, but I might try some gluten free items in the future to see if I notice a difference in how I feel. Overall, I’m really glad I was brave enough to take the test because now I can truly understand what foods might make me feel not so great.
I highly recommend giving EverlyWell a try, especially if you’re like me and you’ve experienced tummy pains and upset stomach for years. You mighe be caught of guard just like me.
Disclosure: This post contains Stitch Fix Affiliate links, and I may receive compensation.
What’s Stitch Fix: An amazing fashion company that provides you with your own personal stylist who picks out pieces based on your style profile, requests, budget and your figure!
Stitch Fix used to be all for the ladies, but a few months ago they launched a service for men! When I heard they were now including guys, I really wanted to get my boyfriend or dad involved in the amazingness that is Stitch Fix. Lo and behold for Christmas my boyfriend received a Stitch Fix gift card from his brother (smart guy!).
For my boyfriend’s first fix, Brian received two collared shirts, a hoodie, a pair of pants, and a peacoat. Let’s take a closer peek!
#1- Jachs Madison Spread Collar Shirt The Jachs collared shirt was a great color and the plaid design was really nice. I could tell style wise it was something Brian would approve of, but style and fit are two different things! While the overall cut and fit were decent, the sleeves caused some frustration. “The sleeves were too short” says Brian. For tall guys sleeve length is important. I’d say if you’re just around 6ft or slightly shorter this top would be great, but if you’re over 6ft tall I’d pass on this shirt if you worry about your sleeves rising up a bit on the wrist. Brian opted to return the shirt because of the slight shortness in sleeve length.
Jachs Madison Spread Collar ShirtJachs Madison Spread Collar Shirt
#2 – Alternative Apparel Marathon Hooded Pullover
Hoodies are popular amongst women and men, but not my boyfriend. For whatever reason he’s never been a fan of hoodies so I was curious to see what he thought of the hooded pullover he received from his stylist. According to Brian, “It was only a decorative hoodie.” While the hoodie was cute, and I felt the coloring went well with the above plaid top he received, it really didn’t add any warmth and seemed more like an accessory piece than something to keep you warm. He ultimately decided to return the hoodie just because he’s not a hoodie guy, but I probably would have kept it if I was him because it looked really great and added a bit of oomph to the outfit we put together from his Fix.
Alternative Apparel Marathon Hooded PulloverAlternative Apparel Marathon Hooded Pullover
#3 – Hawker Rye Essential Wash Long Sleeve Shirt
Solid button up shirts should be a staple in any man’s wardrobe. They make a look come together effortlessly and can be dressed up or down. This Hawker Rye shirt comes in a really great blue hue that will surely make blue eyes pop 🙂 Comparing this top with the first long sleeved top in his Fix, Brian felt “The sleeves were a little longer and the top fit nicely.” The cut of the shirt was nicely done, not appearing baggy or oversized like some button ups can. If you’re a guy on the slimmer side, like Brian, this shirt will fit great and add a nice bit of color to your wardrobe. You’ll be able to pair it with an assortment of pants colors from brown to black and even jeans.
Hawker Rye Essential Wash Long Sleeve ShirtHawker Rye Essential Wash Long Sleeve Shirt
#4 – Ben Sherman Reading Twill Trouser
Finding a pair of great fitting pants can be a challenge for taller guys, and I wasn’t sure Stitch Fix was going to be up for the challenge but they succeeded with this trouser from Ben Sherman. “They are very long, which is nice.” For tall guys (6ft +) finding pants that fit in the waist and then have enough length to not be high waters are hard to come by and highly coveted. I think we’ll be checking out Ben Sherman more in the future to see what other great pants they have to offer. One of our favorite things about this pair is how they’re well fitted around the legs, providing a skinny pant look without being tight.
Ben Sherman Reading Twill TrouserBen Sherman Reading Twill Trouser
#5 – Marc New York Chesire Pressed Wool Peacoat
Coats can be a hit or a miss. You never want to look like a marshmallow or like your coat is wearing you. While I’m a fan of black peacoats on men, they need to be really well fitted. Unfortunately for Brian, this coat didn’t fit super well. “It was a little baggy, and it’s strange having a zipper inside of it.” Zipper you say? Yea, this peacoat actually had a zipper at the top where peacoats tend to have an opening, which was a bit unexpected. The zippered section will definitely add warmth so if you’re looking for a warm coat, give this one a try. The zipper made Brian feel like he was wearing two different coats and didn’t give off a traditional peacoat feel. It was back to Stitch Fix with this coat.
Marc New York Chesire Pressed Wool Peacoat
Brian, or shall we say batman, wanted to bring a little mystery to the photo shoot.
Marc New York Chesire Pressed Wool PeacoatMarc New York Chesire Pressed Wool Peacoat
Final Thoughts from Brian: It was great getting some clothes without having to do any work myself, which was nice for a change. Yet, I’m not sure how personalized the experience was, but looking forward to ordering another fix.
Final Thoughts from Katie: Overall I was pretty impressed with the Fix Brian received. I liked all the pieces minus the coat and was happy to see none of the items were too fashion forward for Brian’s first box. I hope that Stitch Fix continues to carry long length items (tops and pants) so that we can see what else Stitch Fix has in their inventory.
Photo courtesy of Stitch Fix
Don’t forget Valentines is under a month away! A Stitch Fix gift card would be a great treat for your loved one. Sign up for Stitch Fix today and see what pieces you might fall in love with.
Disclosure: This post contains Stitch Fix Affiliate links, and I may receive compensation.
What’s Stitch Fix: An amazing fashion company that provides you with your own personal stylist who picks out pieces based on your style profile, requests, budget and your figure!
My next fix was scheduled to arrive the week of my 27th birthday so I asked my stylist to provide a surprise box of goodies to celebrate because who likes to know everything they’re getting for their birthday!
Surprise boxes from Stitch Fix can either be a hit or a miss but I wanted to have a little fun this month.
My surprise box contained a knit top, a boatneck top, a quilted vest, a pullover and a tunic. Let’s unwrap!
#1 – Papermoon Mauly Mixed Material Knit Top Papermoon is one of my favorite Stitch Fix designers and I’ve always loved their pieces. Let’s be honest, this knit top is really a pull over sweatshirt. What I love about this Papermoon top is how cute and comfortable it is. It’s not your everyday sweatshirt thanks to the mixed materials used. The sleeves are so silky and smooth and when you slip your arms through them you’ll just want to wrap your arms around yourself. The only thing I would change about this top would be to make it a bit longer, as it cuts a little shorter on the torso than I tend to prefer, but it’s still a great piece for lounging around and running errands in.
Papermoon Mauly Mixed Material Knit TopPapermoon Mauly Mixed Material Knit Top
#2 – Market and Spruce Evella Boatneck Top When my eyes spotted this top on Pinterest I had to pin it right away in hopes my stylist would notice, and lo and behold she did! This top is absolutely perfection from the neckline to the color combination. The best part is how it looks like you’ve layered two tops and put more effort into the look than you actually did. This is an absolutely effortless and classy style. The sleeves can be rolled down or up, but I recommend wearing them folded up so that you can get a beautiful pop of color to bring this look together. I have a feeling this is going to be my next go to top for work.
#3 – Market & Spruce Wilco Solid Quilted Vest Occasionally I like to rock the preppy look and what’s more preppy than a quilted vest? What I love about this vest in particular is how lightweight it is. It hardly weighs anything but it’s got a bit of warmth to it, and would be perfect for layering under a jacket since there’s no bulk at all. The color is so cute and seems to go wonderfully with my first two pieces from this fix. Texture wise, I don’t think you could find a softer vest out there! It feels just like delectable whipped frosting (hey this is a birthday box after all). If you’re looking for a vest to wear into winter and into early spring, you need to request this one, you’ll fall in love!
#4 – Renee C Brockman Two Pocket Tunic While I did request a surprise birthday box for this fix, I did ask for there to be a top or two that I could wear with leggings, but it had to be long enough in the front and the back. My stylist provide this Renee C Tunic, but it didn’t really have a tunic feel to it. The color is a very dark green that looks too black for my liking. Cut wise, the tunic felt very boxy and it looked like I was wearing a man’s dress shirt. Sadly, the color and fit just didn’t cut it and I decided to return this piece. I made sure to take a quick photo in the top to show you what it looked like on before I shipped it back so you can see just how masculine it appears.
Renee C Brockman Two Pocket TunicRenee C Brockman Two Pocket Tunic
#5 – Salt and Jekyll Gleana Stitch Detail Pullover It’s winter so sweaters are always great to add to your wardrobe, and last winter I received a pretty sweet sweater from Stitch Fix so when my stylist’s note mentioned a winter white sweater was included I was excited to give it a try. The color was cute, and I don’t really have a winter white sweater in my collection, but the shape and design just didn’t stand out as something special. I feel I could buy this sweater off the rack somewhere and I tend to use Stitch Fix for the opposite of that. On top of the sweater not screaming “keep me” to me, it had a pulled thread right on the chest which is a disaster waiting to happen. Would I have kept it if it didn’t have a pulled thread? Maybe. However I already knew I was definitely going to return one piece and it made sense financially to send back two items so fate just had it out for this sweater.
Salt and Jekyll Gleana Stitch Detail PulloverSalt and Jekyll Gleana Stitch Detail Pullover
Final Thoughts: Market & Spruce was on point this month. The two pieces I received from them were too cute for words and perfectly preppy. I loved how my box was randomly pinked out for my birthday box, just like my birthday cake 🙂 While it’s been awhile since I had to return items from a Fix, I’m happy with the choices I made and feel the items I returned were better off being returned or else they probably would have just sat in my closet unused.
Coming Next: Coming up I’ll be sharing my first ever Men’s Stitch Fix Review!! My boyfriend got his first Fix this month and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Do check back in later this week 🙂
As always, suggestions for a better fix:
Be very specific. If there are certain pieces or types of clothing you really want, provide that in your styling note to your stylist.
Create a Pinterest Board. Stylists will check them out if you keep mentioning them in your style notes.
Call out designers or names of actual articles of clothing . Your stylist may not provide those exact items but they’ll start to get a better sense of what style you’re into.
Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Boards for more Stitch Fix fun!
