Stitch Fix -- February 2016

Yay for another box from Stitch Fix!

Boo for the lack of blogging in general lately.

But let's focus on the positive.

First, here's a Stitch Fix 101 paragraph for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about:

{about stitch fix}

Stitch Fix is an online styling/shopping service. For a $20 fee, they send you five clothing or accessory pieces that a personal stylist has chosen just for you, based on your style profile, special notes to your stylist, and even your Pinterest boards. When you receive your box, you can choose to buy as many of the items as you want, and then return what you don't want in your return bag (postage is prepaid!). Your $20 styling fee applies to anything you purchase, and if you love everything, you get a 25% discount on your entire box!

You can choose to receive just one box (no subscription required!), or you can subscribe to receive boxes every 2-3 weeks, monthly, every other month, or quarterly. So pretty much whenever you want.

I've loved using this service. Some boxes are better than others, and it's required a shift in how I think about spending money on clothes, but I've received some really great pieces. It's also just kind of the best thing ever to have clothes show up on your doorstep, am I right?

Stitch Fix also offers petite and maternity options now. Having just gone through the maternity thing myself, I was able to use the maternity styling services for a few months, which you can check out here, if you want: months 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.


{my stitch fix - february 2016}

January's box was a big fat success (P.S. I kept the cardigan and have worn the heck out of it already), so I was pretty excited for my next fix. I actually requested some specific things in my note to my stylist this month, and I requested the same stylist. I mentioned that I loved the knit tops from my last box and those things could keep coming all day long. I also said I wouldn't mind some nice, dark, skinny jeans (I'm struggling with good jeans right now, guys), or maybe even some white ones (I have four kids. Don't ask me to explain why I would ever wear white pants.). I also mentioned that I maybe kinda sorta want a denim jacket. I used to have one (and my husband always said he loved me in it), but it was pretty dated and just didn't fit well anymore, so I threw that on my wish list. Let's see what the Stitch Fix folks came up with...

Gilli Ryland Maxi Dress ($78)

first impressions: After sneak peeking this dress, I discovered that I would probably get one of two color options. I loved one, and hated the other. And I got...the one I loved! (And the crowd goes wild!)

on me:

thoughts: Oooh I'm pleasantly surprised by this dress! The v-neck is flattering, and I thought it would be too deep but it's totally covering my LDS garments (a must for all my clothing). It's soft and flowy and comfortable. And it's nursing friendly -- what?! I could see myself wearing this to church, or on a date, or out shopping. 

So it's undoubtedly an awesome dress. The biggest question mark is the price. Maxi dresses aren't hard to come by, but ones with sleeves are, and cardigans are a total no-go in an AZ spring and summer....and okay, most of fall. So this might be worth it, even with the high price! UNDECIDED.

Skies Are Blue Donavon Crochet Detail Knit Top ($54)

first impressions: Pretty color. But wait...is the crochet detail on the front see-through?! NOOOO!

on me:

thoughts: I love this color! And I love the detail on the sleeves. Buuut...who thought it was a good idea to put a see-through crochet pattern down the front of a shirt? I mean...it's just weird. I could wear an undershirt with it...but I really don't want to. Sorry. RETURN.

Kut from the Kloth Diana Skinny Jean ($78)

first impressions: Like I mentioned above, I requested a pair of jeans for this fix. I've always been impressed by the jeans Stitch Fix has sent me, but never been able to pull the trigger. Well, I've been having a hard time finding good washes at American Eagle (my go-to for jeans; I love how they fit!), so I decided to see what Stitch Fix could contribute. Hard to tell how these will be right out of the box, but I have high hopes!

on me:

thoughts: Oooh, swing and a miss. It's really too bad that the one time I committed to buy some pants from Stitch Fix, I was sent my least favorite pair of pants they've ever sent me. The fit of these was weird, especially below the knee. They were too loose, so it gave the illusion that I have fat thighs and skinny calves -- and I totally don't have skinny calves. They were also way too long, by a few inches. 

My stylist said they didn't have any distressed denim to send me this month, but I should definitely keep requesting it for future boxes. I'll probably keep checking my beloved AE (my go-to for jeans) in the meantime to see if they get any washes I like in. I guess the jeans saga is to be continued, but these are a RETURN. 

Olive & Oak Mulliken Raglan Striped Knit Shirt ($48)

first impressions: This is the shirt I've probably seen in more Stitch Fix boxes than any other. It's kind of a right-of-passage shirt in the Stitch Fix world, if you will. I actually have it pinned on my Pinterest "Outfits" board...twice. I've seen it in many different color options, and I got maybe not my favorite, but maybe my second favorite.

on me:

thoughts: Okay, so this isn't the greatest picture of this shirt. But there is so much to love about it. We all know I'm a sucker for stripes. I love the bright colors and I love the 3/4 length sleeves. It's very soft and lightweight. But...something...I don't know. Is it worth it? TELL ME, GUYS. UNDECIDED.

Just USA Anjuli Dark Wash Denim Jacket ($58)

first impressions: Yay, I got a denim jacket, just like I asked for! I love the dark wash and the slight distressing. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the price. I really, really, really, really hope it fits well.

on me:

thoughts: Oh yes. This is just what a denim jacket should be. It has good structure, but also a little stretch, so it's flattering and comfortable. It fits perfectly! I'm going to be wearing this a lot until it gets way too hot. And then it'll be my movie theater jacket (you have one of those, right?). KEEP.

{verdict}

Honestly, the denim jacket alone makes this box a win for me. But I kinda want to keep the dress and the striped shirt, too! What you do think, huh?

Little (actually little) disclaimer for you: My links to Stitch Fix are referral links. If you want to give Stitch Fix a shot, signing up through those links gives me a little referral credit, and makes you awesome. Correction: makes you more awesome, because let's face it, you're awesome already.

Trying New Things: The Oreo Edition

You all ready for this?

I honestly have a few things I could have talked about for my "Trying New Things" post this month, but having a special Oreo Edition seemed very fitting. Why? Because I have not one, not two, but THREE new Oreo varieties to discuss with you today. 

Perhaps someday, I'll learn that not every Oreo variety is absolutely necessary for me to try, and I'll walk out of the store with only a pack (or two) of Double Stuf, confident that the old classic is more than good enough for fulfilling my sandwich cookie needs.

But it is not this day. Behold:

Good lord.

Filled Cupcake Oreos. Red Velvet Oreos. And Cinnamon Bun Oreos. Cuh-razy. 

Lest I start gushing/waxing poetic/drooling on my keyboard, I'll try to keep these reviews fairly short and sweet. Kinda like Oreos. #seewhatididthere? #fullcircle

Cinnamon Bun Oreos: These. These are ridiculously yummy. I honestly don't even really love cinnamon buns (gasp!), but that apparently doesn't matter when it comes to these Oreos, because these are kind of my favorite of the bunch. 

The cookie is where the cinnamon lives, and then the creme is kind of sweeter and creamier than normal Oreo creme. (Confession: I just Googled it to see if the creme is supposed to be flavored at all, and it is actually supposed to be "frosting" flavored, which totally makes sense. The package says "cinnamon bun flavored creme," and that doesn't make sense, because I really only taste the cinnamon in the cookie. But the frosting flavored creme -- yes.)

These have all the integrity of an original Oreo with a dash of cinnamon goodness thrown in. They're perfect with milk. Love love love.

Red Velvet Oreos: These actually debuted last year, and were apparently popular enough to bring back. They're good. In my opinion, they're very sweet and also pretty rich. The cookies have a very distinctive red velvet flavor, and the creme has that creme cheese frosting thing going on. 

Don't hate on me or anything, but they're a little too much for me. I can eat them one at a time, but I tried indulging in a few (okay, four) at once with some milk...and I wasn't a fan. Too rich! It seems like a weird thing to say about four Oreos, but somehow, it's true. 

I will say that my husband looooooves these. He really, really does. So maybe I'm the weirdo? It wouldn't surprise me, tbh.

Filled Cupcake Oreos: I...just....don't get these. From what I gather, they're supposed to taste like a Hostess "cupcake," so pretty much a chocolate cake with some vanilla creme inside. But do you know what a regular Oreo is? It's a chocolate cookie with vanilla(ish) creme inside. So...you're kind of trying to make an Oreo taste like something it pretty much already tastes like, which is kind of like...huh?

I'll give them this: the chocolate flavor of the creme does come through. BUT the vanilla part does not. So...it kind of tastes like eating a chocolate Oreo. Which is great, I guess, but kind of makes the "special flavor" a letdown. 

And there you have it! The lowdown on the three latest Oreo flavors from a self-proclaimed Oreo connoisseur. 

And bytheway, did you see the Oreo Vault? I'm thinking of installing one in the back of my pantry.