Stitch Fix Numba' 3!!

I had the day off Friday, October 2nd...so I had the front door open, waiting on Stitch Fix #3! And it was delivered around noon. I had a busy day that day - prepping for a yard sale. Yippee! So I didn't get to open it until Saturday afternoon, after the yard sale. My mom and sister were there to help me open it! They even tried on a few pieces!

Obligatory front door photo.

If you've read this far and have no clue what Stitch Fix is, you can read my previous posts, or head over to their website. Basically, you complete a personal style profile & a stylist will select 5 fashion pieces (clothes, purses, or accessories) that she thinks will suit you. Stitch Fix suggests creating a Pinterest board with all your favorite seasonal trends. It just helps them envision what styles you like.

Anyway, here's my 3rd experience with Stitch Fix. As usual the box is adorned with their well-known teal blue stitched dot. Just adorable! And when you open the box, they lay out the instructions - so incredibly simple!

Katy styled my Fix this time again. In case you forgot, I kept all 5 items last time! I really only liked 4 of the pieces, but kept the 5th shirt to get the 25% discount. That's the tough part about this service...you get 25% off all 5 pieces IF you choose to keep all 5.

And the piece(s) you don't particularly like you get to send back in an already-paid-for USPS envelope! You have 3 business days to return your items.

You will receive 2 envelopes: one that includes the price sheet & another that includes the style card.

Stitch Fix is so personal - I just LOVE it! You can see a better photo of Katy's note to me here:

Now, onto the actual style show, right?!

First off, we have this darling burgundy-colored Moda Luxe "Broadway Convertible Satchel." 

Love the color for Fall! Love the size - not too big and bulky. Definitely KEEP!

Second is the Papermoon "Salen Knit Top" in light grey.

Nah. Nothing special about it. Colors are drab for Fall. I can go to Target and find something more worth my money.

Return.

Next up is the Mystree "Adeline Scoop Neck Cable Knit Sweater" in the color grey.

First of all - hole in neckline. Not appealing. Must've snagged on something during shipping. Even so, I don't like this sweater. Drab color, baggy fit. Nothing to write home about. Return.

To see more pics of the satchel, I paired this sweater with a Fall scarf. Looks cute, but not cute enough to keep :-)

Next is the 19 Cooper "Clemency Split Neck Tunic" in the color white.

Nope. Way too long, almost dress-like. Snug around the top. Awful pattern for Fall. Just doesn't appeal to me.
Return.

Also pictured are the Lysse "Whitley Sueded Leggings" in black. They are SO soft! Great quality - thick, sturdy - not see thru like most leggings. I did request a nice pair this time. However, price point is WAAAAY over what I would pay for leggings. So these are a Return. 

As you can see, I am returning 4/5 items. This is a bummer. But I knew it was bound to happen at some point. It's all good, though. It's all for fun, anyway, right?! I had $30 credit, so the satchel will be discounted.

I'll be dropping those other 4 items off in the mail tomorrow, also leaving all my feedback on Stitch Fix's site. What's cool about the process is that you can review what was sent, the fit, style, & price. That way your stylist will (hopefully) listen to your advice for future Fixes.

Stay tuned for next month's Fix! If you'd like to try, use this link >> Refer Allison When you sign up, you receive your very own referral link. When your friends schedule their 1st Fix, you get $25 credit to use towards your purchases! (It's not a pyramid scheme where you have to keep that friend under you...it's a one-time referral!)

Facebook me with your questions! I'd love to help you receive your 1st Stitch Fix!

See you next round,

Allison

Kiwi Crate Numba' ONE!

It arrived 2 days early! My sister, Cassie, said they were all eating breakfast early this morning and the mail lady walked across the porch and placed a box on the bench. Shaylen immediately said, "What was that?!" She knew.

Her 1st Kiwi Crate!

Shaylen turned 5 years old on September 7th. As a special gift, I thought it'd be neat to try out Kiwi Crate. This is how the company describes it...

Our Story

Kiwi Crate was built out of a passion for hands-on fun that encourages creativity and curiosity in children. I had a deep appreciation for these projects, but often found that my greatest intentions fell short. It was tough to find the time to come up with engaging hands-on activities, let alone get the materials.

So, as I started to develop creative projects with my kids, I thought, “why not share them with friends, who are also busy?” At playdates, the kids had a bunch of fun, and the parents appreciated having all of the materials and inspiration for the projects provided. Several parents mentioned, "I wish I could do this at home with my kids!"

Kiwi Crate was created to fulfill that wish and to celebrate kids’ natural creativity and curiosity. We want to make it fun, easy, and delightful to spend time building, exploring and creating together. Since its inception, the Kiwi Crate team has grown. We've added creative parents who dream up the projects, valued experts who review them, and a community of kid testers who keeps us on our toes and ensures the projects are fun and engaging.

We love working on Kiwi Crate and cherish the involvement that our kids and friends have in bringing the product to life. We're excited about the opportunity to help provide these types of experiences for your family to share too.

Here's Shaylen excited to open it up!

Voila!

As you can tell, Kiwi Crate's mascot is a little bird, named Kiwi.

Let's get started on our 1st Kiwi Crate review! It is recommended for children ages 4-8.

Every Kiwi Crate includes two age-appropriate fun activities. Here you can see that a nice pair of scissors was included. It's the little details that are important!

Here is the 1st activity, called "Marble Run." The card to the left has simple instructions for the kids to follow. Great way to teach sequential order (and to follow instructions to get a successful result!).

Here is Shaylen completing the activity. 

And the final results! You can see the little marble at the bottom of the board. It travels the path of the brown logs down the river. Neat!

By the way, Shaylen has a 2-year-old sister who loves to "help" too. In case you didn't know, this company also creates a toddler box, called Koala Crate (ages 3-4). They also create Tinker Crate and Doodle Crate for kids aged 9-16+.

Anyway, here is Shaylen digging in to the 2nd project, called "My Forest Friends." 

"That's not all folks!" In my opinion, the sparkling gem in all Kiwi Crates are the magazines they include. This Crate, Shaylen received a 17-page-long magazine, which is a mini-version of the Highlights magazine for kids.

Here's what Cassie had to say about the magazine:

"We also have a small magazine that has a story, draw-it-yourself section, info about hibernation, DIY build-your-own burrow, a picture that has animals at the bottom and you have to find where they belong, woodland hunt where you find hidden items, build-your-own binocular instructions, a diagram of a beaver lodge, maze, how to make wild animal trail mix, and at the end, you can make an animal mask! 17 pages long - very neat!"

As if you can't tell already, Shaylen LOVED it! Cassie said everything was so very simple, age-appropriate, and the materials were all high quality. She said that Kiwi Crate thought out every detail and made sure the children (and parents) weren't overwhelmed with frustration.

How cool?! It's an awesome treat to give your kids, nieces, nephews, and/or grandchildren a way to spend their days inside completing brain-stimulating projects.

To try it out, go to Kiwi Crate's website.

Any other questions, please feel free to contact me on Facebook!

Allison

Stitch Fix Numba' 2!!

Waiting for the postman to deliver my Stitch Fix #2 was painful this morning. Considering today was the day after Labor Day, I knew the mail would arrive slightly later than normal. After obsessively watching for the mailman to arrive, I shut my front door (in sadness) and took a quick trip to Staples to pick a couple of things... Low and behold, when I returned home 1/2 hour later, it was sittin' pretty on my front porch!

Box was a little bigger this time!

Picked it up, took it to my kitchen table, and ripped it open...gently, of course. As usual, Stitch Fix doesn't disappoint when it comes to the little details.

Inside every box - simple instructions.

Ta-da! Every item is folded neatly, wrapped up in white tissue paper, sealed with the Stitch Fix logo. Makes my joy sparkle extra bright!!

My stylist's name was Katy this round. Thanks, Katy! You rocked it!

By the way, here's the link that Katy suggested for me to learn how to do the half-tuck. 

Half-Tuck

I failed to mention in Stitch Fix #1 that with every shipment, they include a prepaid USPS return envelope for you to return any disliked items. How convenient is that?! They give you 3 full days to return your unwanted items. Just pack it up, seal it, and drop it off at any USPS site - either your local post office, or you can even use the stand-alone drop-off sites.

 

At this point, I already knew I'd love it all. Yikes. We'll see.

You're dying to see them on, right?! Ain't no fun in seeing them deflated.

Market & Spruce "Bernadette Lace Overlay Raglan Top" in blue
This top is just OK. Fits fine, but doesn't "wow" me. Quality of material is great - so so soft.  KEEP (more-so to just keep my 25% discount)

Also, the jeans - LOVE! Just Black "Paislee Distressed Straight Leg Jean" in blue
Serisouly - so SO soft. Fits like a glove. Love the distressed patches - don't own anything like this. They are a tad long, but Katy suggested cuffing them...or I could hem them. KEEP!

41Hawthorn "Queensland Dolman Jersey Top" in dark purple
One of my favorite colors for Fall. Fits nicely. I love the dolman cut. KEEP!

Kut From the Kloth "Maisha Ponte Drape Front Jacket" in brown
Guys. Seriously. How can you NOT like this?! Fits nicely - love the draped front. Made of pleather/rayon/polyester. Back sits right above the hips. Cute button detail on the wrist. Absolutely KEEP!

4 ways I styled it. Pulled a comfy pair of brown fleece-lined leggings, the dark purple dolman top, some boots, and 4 different scarves. Hello, Fall!

Pixley "Kindley Henley Blouse" in off-white
When I first put this top on, I didn't care for the drape...It was a little boxy on me.
However, I paired it with a black mini pencil skirt and heels, did the half-tuck, and voila! Cute!
Perfect for church or a meeting somewhere.
KEEP (my mom and I are sharing this shirt)

Stitch Fix also does the work for you. Each Fix includes a style card that suggests ways to wear your item. This really helps me envision an outfit!

In preparation for this Fix, I had 3 requests: a Fall jacket, something plaid, and distressed jeans. The jeans and jacket fit the bill! The blue lace top and the plaid off-white top weren't my faves, but I can make them work. And the dark purple dolman was a nice staple for the Fall, so I kept! This Fix would be called a 5/5.

Stitch Fix.

• $20 styling fee with every shipment
• Ships every 2-3 weeks, every month, every other month, or every 3 months - YOU decide.
• Fill out a personal style survey - sizes, style preference, what colors/patterns to avoid, etc.
• Select a ship date
• Wait for delivery!    <the tough part

That $20 fee is applied toward your cost IF you choose to buy anything.

Oh, and you get a 25% discount if you choose to purchase all 5 pieces!

And because I had 3 friends sign up using my link last Fix, I was credited $75! ($25 per referral) They deducted $20 for my styling fee - that left me with $55 to use toward my purchase this Fix! So cool!

To try Stitch Fix for yourself, use this link > Stitch Fix Me!

See you next Fix!

Blessings,

Allison

Stitch Fix Numba' 1!

Does style really matter in life? Nope.

Does it really matter if you wear the latest trends? Nope.

At the end of the day, clothing is just a blend of fabrics used to conceal our bodies.

Simple as that.

In our "world-of-excess" here in America, we are conditioned to think it does matter. I recently traveled to Zimbabwe in southern Africa, and believe me when I tell you - the smile on those children's faces is the BEST accessory. It made 0% difference to them what shirt they had on, the color of their shorts, the style of their shoes...it covered them. Purpose fulfilled.

It seems odd that I bring all that up, right? My intention of this post wasn't to be all emotional & stuff. I just found this to be an awesome stress relief. That's right. Stress relief! It's a fun little treat I was introduced to by a dear friend, Michelle (thanks, girl!)

Just a light-hearted little service called...

Stitch Fix Have someone shop for you. So you can spend your time doing things that matter more. Like running the kids to soccer. Going to school activities. Preparing for the work week. Volunteering at church.  Running errands at lunch. Meeting a friend for dinner. Managing your home. Investing your time with your kids who are only little for so long.

Because I currently don't have kids, I actually have some time to shop. But I don't LOVE to shop. Drive to the shop. Get out of the car. Walk inside. Meander around for an hour. Try on a handful of clothes. Looks good on the hanger - not so much awful on me. Get re-dressed. Head towards the door to leave...glance at a few more things. Go to try on...repeat cycle a billion times. (exaggerate much?)

Oh - and in the meantime, you're watching the time. Gotta get back home to make supper - get ready for the next day's events. So all this fuss over trying to find the perfect piece to add to your closet. (again, doesn't really matter in life, but it's all in fun)

H  a  s  s  l  e. I don't HATE shopping. I just get so frustrated. Nothing fits - they don't carry my size - don't have enough time to make a wise decision...blah blah blah.

OR - maybe you don't even know what your "style" is - I have trouble sometimes knowing what would look good on me...or what size...or color. Stitch Fix provides options for you in a creative way - maybe even allowing you to step out of your comfort zone. 

Stitch Fix.

• $20 styling fee with every shipment
• Ships every 2-3 weeks, every month, every other month, or every 3 months - YOU decide.
• Fill out a personal style survey - sizes, style preference, what colors/patterns to avoid, etc.
• Select a ship date
• Wait for delivery!    <the tough part

That $20 fee is applied toward your cost IF you choose to buy anything.

Oh, and you get a 25% discount if you choose to purchase all 5 pieces!

Here's a few pics of the 5 items I received on Friday, August 14th! 

Front door delivery!

Opened the box - directions conveniently right inside the box.

A note from my stylist, Marian! How personal?! If you find you enjoy the pieces every Fix, you can even request to keep the same stylist. Also, you always have the option to tell your stylist what you'd like to see in the next shipment. I've requested Fall pieces for my September Fix: plaid/flannel, a jacket, and distressed jeans. Can't wait to see what she found!

Packaged just like a Christmas gift! Be still my heart.

Bam! Pop of color! So much fun!

Keeping this! Simple top for Fall. Love the way it drapes and fits. And OH SO SOFT! Great quality!

Returning...only because it didn't 100% WOW me. LOVE the color, but not the way it draped.
Just a little too "boxy" for me. But still very cute!
Also, the jeans - oh. Golly. They are SO SO soft and fit like a glove.
But WAY over my price range. Hate to return.

Returning. Gorgeous necklace - just too expensive. Already own a necklace similar.

Returning. Way WAY too long. Cute skirt, but no way to make it work.

Style card - sent with every shipment. How awesome?!
The stylist coordinates outfits based on the pieces she sends you!
Such a neat aspect of this service!

So - in a nutshell...only keeping the Corinna Striped Dolman Top. Total - $31.36 (including the $20 styling fee + tax)

Tips to help me decide:

1) Are you 100% wowed by it?

2) Do you need that piece in your wardrobe? Do you already own something similar?

3) Is it within your set price range?

4) Don't keep something just because you get the 25% discount. Nice incentive, but you cannot save money by spending it!

5) Be specific to your stylist. Don't worry about "hurting her feelings." Honesty is the best policy! Especially since it's your own hard-earned money that's on the line.

6) Set yourself some "guard rails," just as I did. (see below)

It's very important to me to keep this whole "Stitch Fix thing" in perspective. It's a privilege to be able to partake in this type of service...I will never complain about receiving "bad fixes" or get irate at the stylist for not sending me the perfect Fix. There is no reason to take this so seriously - it's ALL IN FUN!

I told myself I'll give it 6 tries (6 months). IF I find that I am returning way more than keeping, I will stop Stitch Fix. (Cannot imagine that actually happening!!) I will then use that $20 to go toward an organization we already support, either Bring Love In - making families out of widows and orphans; or Project Hopeful - supporting children and mothers across the world living with HIV - educating, encouraging, and enabling them to live with hope in an otherwise hopeless situation; or Compassion - a child sponsorship program.

Perhaps you'll consider doing the same.

Hope you learned a bit from this post. Want to give it a trial run?

Use this link >> Stitch Fix Me Already!

Blessings to you!

Allison