Monday, July 31, 2017

Stitch Fix Show Off

11 comments:



This poor post is actually nearly a month late - I'm showing off my haul from the Stitch Fix box I received back at the beginning of July.  Unfortunately, I also developed a horrible case of bronchitis right around the same time that I am still not fully over, so about the last thing I was in the mood for was taking pictures. (Or, honestly, getting dressed at all.)

On the plus side - this was the first time that I hit the jackpot with Stitch Fix, and decided to keep the entire collection!  I'd asked my stylist, Elizabeth, to focus on some solid colored basics that I could mix and match with some of the pieces I'd already received, and also mentioned wanting to add a lightweight kimono throw to my wardrobe, and she came through perfectly!

So, even though I was too sick to show off what I got, there was plenty of time for picture taking, since I wasn't on a timeclock for getting anything sent back.



The first two pieces are the Andrew Marc Perfomance Marina Straight Leg Capri Pants ($68) and the Bishop + Young Flin Kimono ($48).

The Capris were too large but I could tell that the style and texture were really appealing to me, so I tried to exchange them only to find out they weren't in stock a size down. I was crushed!

Making things worse - I knew I really wanted the whole box which means I'd get a 25% discount, and it was going  to wind up costing more to return them than to just keep them.  And is there anything worse than hanging on to clothing that's too big, just in case you gain weight?

I kept them - and sadly explained my woes in their feedback form.  To my surprise and delight, they found some in my size and sent them out to me, asking that I just return the others.  Happily!

I am very impressed that they were able to make this right for me, and they are so cute and comfortable that I've been wearing them nearly constantly all month.  The navy blue fabric is lined and very lightweight, like parachute material, and there are drawstrings at the waist and the cuffs.

The kimono is an adorable off-white bit of floaty material that makes a great throw on when I want a bit of sleeve - it pairs nicely with casuals, and has some great visual interest.  I'd like another that lays longer because I really like it when my outfits are less structured.

A sidenote on this  - when I'm out, I often get compliments on my blue hair.  It's an odd thing (I am firmly of an age where women tend to be 'invisible') but something that always adds a lift to my day.

The other day, I wore this kimono out and was approached by a young woman who called out "I really like your..."  I was all ready to hear 'hair' but then she finished. "...your kimono!"  How fun is that?!

The floral print is an orange-red, black tan, and pale green and blue, which allows for several possibilities for a simple top underneath.  Here, I just wore a plain v-neck tee from my drawer.


Speaking of going out - this was July 1st, the day my box arrived and also the last day this month I felt well! I decided to wear a couple of pieces to a live performance of Hedwig & the Angry Inch we were attending at the Kennedy Center.

We try to get up there as frequently as we can afford to, but I have learned that in several of their theatres, the seating can be very tight quarters, so something comfortable as well as attractive is critical.

The performance was ammmaaaaaazing. But I also am really sure this was where I got sick.

As for what I wore, this is the Realm White Kay Skinny Jean ($58) and the Teal Green Daniel Rainn Ingleside Short Sleeve Top ($58).

They're calling that teal green, but it's totally a turquoise blue, which is one of my favorite colors.

It lays as if it's a wrap around, although it isn't really, and is both casual and would be just right for work paired with a skirt.  I love the way it looks with the white jeans.

I also really love the white jeans.  They are very, very slightly too large on me, which is fixable with a belt, so that's fine, and I hate when things fit too small.

The fabric is stretchy, so they're comfortable, and while I do live in terror of staining them, they truly are an all-purpose perfect summer basic.


(Sooo much humidity in my hair!)

The last item is this wonderful top - the Statement Tazzi Chambray Henley Top ($54).  The fabric is soft like buttuh and very cool to wear on a hot day. I've worn it with both the white jeans and the navy capris, and it works well with both.

The side seams on this are interesting - The bottom front seam is a large foldover that curves and continues up the sides to the armhole. The back part has a normal seam and connects to the underside of the front half.

I'm not explaining that well at all, but it adds an interesting effect and, I think, also helps it lay well.

Here again is a perfect basic piece that can be paired with almost anything casual and dressed up a bit with some color and a jacket or sweater.

So, my final cost for all these pieces, after taking the 25% discount and knocking off the $20 styling fee was $194.00  With each of these pieces being classic basics, I'm confident I'll continue to enjoy them not only for the rest of this season but next year as well.

If you haven't already tried Stitch Fix, you should!  I highly recommend their service.

Note: I was not given anything in exchange for this post, however if you sign up using my referrer code, I will earn $25 credit toward my next Fix.

https://www.stitchfix.com
https://www.facebook.com/stitchfix
https://twitter.com/stitchfix
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https://www.pinterest.com/StitchFix


Sunday, July 30, 2017

Unboxing: Anime Bento

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As many of you know, I get a lovely goodie box from Anime Bento every month. For those who don't know what Anime Bento is, it is a subscription box that delivers anime themed goodies and Japanese treats. Each box contains, on average, five or six items, including a tee shirt and the snack.

This month's box included a Re:Zero Rem figure, a Yuri on Ice metal book marker, a Bungo Stray Dogs charm, a Chomusuke silhouette tee shirt, and for a treat, a Pokemon chew candy.



The tee shirt features characters from the anime KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! In the silhouette of Chomusuke, a feline familiar to one of the characters. While I've not yet started KonoSuba, an anime in which a teenage boy has decided to be reincarnated into a fantasy world, I do have it on my to watch list!

As with most of the tee shirts I've gotten through Anime Bento, it is incredibly soft and great for errand running or even just lounging around the house.

Arguably my favorite item in this month's box, the rubber charm from Bungo Stray Dogs is roguishly adorable.

I'm not familiar with the anime, but I found this little dude with his hat and jacket and impish smirk so adorable, I had to use my google machine to find out more!

This anime follows a teenaged orphan who finds his way to working with a supernatural investigation agency, and sounds like it might be right up my alley, so it has been added to the list!

My new phone buddy's name is Chuuya Nakahara, and is a member of the Port Mafia, hence his fedora.

It is items like this, which introduce me to anime I may not have been exposed to otherwise, that makes me really love getting the Anime Bento Box every month.


Yuri on Ice is an award winning sports anime that follows the relationships between competing ice skaters. While I've heard wonderful things about it, I have only watched a couple episodes, preferring my anime to be more sci-fi or fantasy instead of real life.

That, however, does not stop me from appreciating the lovely metal book marker in this month's box. It has a nice weight to it, and I'm not afraid of accidentally bending it while fiddling as I read (all my bookmarks have to be either scrap paper or very substantial because I fiddle with them constantly as I read).


The item with easily the most recognizable anime character in this month's box is the chew snack featuring everyone's favorite electric mouse, Pikachu!

While the sticks of candy look like chewing gum, they disintegrated very fast, leading me to think that it's actually just a chewy candy. When I think of chewy candy, I usually think of fruity flavors like cherry and orange.

This candy was actually cola flavored, and was so surprising that I snapchatted my friends about it after my first piece!

The last item in the box was a cute little figurine of Rem from Re:Zero. If that name sounds familiar, it's because a few months ago I got the first of the light novels in that series in another Anime Bento box!

This series follows a boy who has been transported to another world and was gifted the ability to time travel....except he has to die to do so (kind of like a save point in a video game).

The figurine is of Rem, a maid who is in love with the main character Subaru.

She makes a very kawaii addition to my figurine collection!

If getting a monthly delivery of Anime and Japanese goodies to your house sounds great to you, or maybe for someone you know, you can get a subscription here, starting at $35.00 a month.

I'm looking forward to next month's box already!




http://www.animebento.com/
https://www.facebook.com/animebentous/
https://twitter.com/AnimeBentous
https://www.instagram.com/animebentous/





Thursday, July 27, 2017

Awesome Life Friday #122

5 comments:
Welcome to Awesome Life Friday!

We're so looking forward to seeing what you've been cooking, creating, growing, decorating, reviewing, giving away, and thinking about this week!

While you're here, leave your posts at the other link up we co-host here - Party in Your PJs!  It starts on Tuesday evenings, and runs through Sunday.  I hope you'll join us there as well!

Here's what we've been up to this week - I hope you'll go check them out!




So, now our favorite part - the FEATURES !  If you're one of our featured posts, we'd love it if you'd grab a button, and thanks to all of you who shared with us last week!



Little House Living // How to Make Butterscotch Sauce
"Summer is here and that means it’s time for all things cold!  Snow cones, watermelon, ice tea, and homemade ice cream!  And what better to go with your homemade ice cream than a delicious butterscotch sauce?"




The Boondocks Blog // Kefalonia in Blue - Enjoying the Beaches of the Island
"Every month I like to share photo essays of my life here in Greece...  this month I have asked my daughter to help me out.  She had gone on a trip with her friends to the Ionian Island of Kefalonia and came back with lots of photos."




The Monday Box // Almond Sand Dollar Cookies
"Almond Sand Dollar Cookies are crunchy, buttery treats that look remarkably like a treasured beachcombing find."




Resin Obsession // How to Make a Beach Picture Display Window
"Have great pictures from your last beach vacation and no way to display them? Turn an old window into a gorgeous beach picture display with a few craft supplies."




KBB Crafts & Stitches // Seashell Hoop Picture  
"I haven't been to the beach yet this summer, but I do have lots of shells around the house to put me in a seaside state of mind. I also like to create beach-inspired needlework designs, like this scallop shell hoop art. The materials and skills required for this project are minimal."



Penny's Vintage Home // 25 Creative Ways to Display Plants
"Those little plants that you started growing in the spring are now big....lush....beautiful plants,   so lets display them!"




If you are one of our FEATURED bloggers, this button is for you!





Thank you all so much for sharing your awesomeness!


Are you all ready to party?  If you like, we'd love it you'd help spread the word by grabbing our button:





Here we go!


CozyPhones Review/Giveaway

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I first learned of CozyPhones around Easter when a friend of mine posted the obligatory night before Easter basket pictures. Many people commented inquiring about the adorable headbands that were draped over each of the four baskets.

Based on those comments, I think she helped CozyPhones make many sales that Spring!

As for me, I was so ecstatic to get the chance to try them for my own kiddos as well! So, what are they?

CozyPhones are just as they sound-- cosy headphones that fit snuggly and safely over the ears!

I have two kids, 7 and 2, and I can't even tell you how much I needed this product without knowing it existed. We are a technology fueled household. Between just the kids there are laptops, and MP3 players and tablets.

Particularly with kids, technology comes with NOISE. My older one is ok with a pair of earbuds but often complains that they fall out too much.

They are made for adults after all, and even then rarely fit inside ears comfortably.

But without headphones, we are always ushering kids to their rooms due to volume levels while playing on them, and dread when they want to take them into the car.

Thanks to CozyPhones, those days are over. Play on, children!

With many styles available, CozyPhones are one size headbands made of super soft fleece.

I will say I wish they weren't entirely 'one size'.

Both of my kids have fairly small heads, or so I thought but its pretty stiff on either of them. I'm hoping that over time they loosen up, but fleece isn't exactly stretchy.

A younger child as well as older child size option would be great.

On the inside of the back there is a slit where the cord comes out. The headphone unit is completely removable for easy washing.

The headphones themselves are ultra thin inside the fleece and super simple to move around to lay flat wherever your child's ears fall. The headphones are good quality with braided cords. One thing I'm not sure of despite searching their website is if they sell replacement headphones.



Each of the styles currently in stock range in price. For the few months I've been watching this company, they have had a retail of around $30 lined out with a sale price ranging from $14-$20.

CozyPhones aren't just for kids either! But perhaps you don't want the pink bunny with floppy ears on your forehead.. That's ok! They have three difference styles available for adults.

The first two are a soft fleece. The Original series comes in black, grey or violet as well as leapard print or camo print, and would be perfect for sleeping with.

The newer Contour series version comes in black, grey or violet and includes a more contoured shape so they'll stay put while sleeping and is made with a cool mess lining so you don't overheat when the weather is warm.

Both of these are usable as a sleep mask as well by simply moving them down over your eyes.

The second is a lightweight lycra mesh sure to make your next workout perfect!

Nothing sucks more than having to stop on the elliptical to catch fallen ear buds that never want to stay in place!

The  lycra mesh version even comes with a handy drawstring pouch perfect to throw into your gym bag.

In addition to relaxing and gym use, I also love to listen to my podcasts in the car (as a passenger - don't wear headphones while driving!) or while doing dishes and other housework, and some of the subject matters aren't particularly kid friendly.

Cozyphones let me do my thing without disturbing others or having to constantly readjust earbuds.

The Lycra Mesh Cozyphones are available in black with 4 trim choices: black, blue, white or pink.

The downside for me? I have the same complaint about this one as I did with the kids version – They seem a little tight and a pain in the butt to get on.

I like to throw my hair up in a bun for the gym and I feel like I have to put my headphones on beforehand or it will mess it all up trying to put on.

Oddly, although they feel tight getting on, they are almost too loose once in place. Since they are a lightweight slippery material I kept feeling like they were going to slip down, yet they didn't.

I think it just takes some getting used to.


Also, I really disliked the company label on them. I'm all for advertising yourself but how about putting it on the side or back?? Right smack on my forehead felt super dorky.

This style retails for $29.99 but have been on sale for $19.97 for as long as I've been watching.

I have washed all three of our pairs, the Active Wear ones more than a few times, and I'm not seeing any damage done or shrinkage. I lay them flat to air dry as instructed.


Regardless of my issues over size, I truly love this company! My kids couldn't be more happy with their adorable accessories and I'm happy to not hear Super Why on loop non-stop as they so very seem to enjoy.

Cozyphones are just great for road trips, airplane rides, the gym, or just around the house, and you just can't beat the cute factor of the kids versions!

And yes, we have a giveaway! Cozyphones will send one of our readers worldwide a Cozyphone of their choice, adult or child version - read on to see how you can enter to win!





One winner worldwide will receive a a pair of CozyPhones in the style of their choice from among those currently in stock at the end of the giveaway.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning. (If you don't leave a comment, any additional entries will be void.)

This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE and will end just before midnight ET on 8/11. 

The winner will be notified by email 24 to 48 hours after the end of the giveaway by email. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Party in Your PJs #167

4 comments:
Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to the Party in Your PJs Link Party, where your posts will be seen on three different blogs each week.

You'll also find the Awesome Life Friday link-up here at RCHReviews, every Thursday evening at 8pm ET so we hope to see you there as well.



Are you ready to party? I can't wait to see what you've brought to share!




 Meet the Co-Hosts


Nina @ Grandma Ideas 



Lynda @ Reviews, Chews & How-Tos 

Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Instagram






The rules for the group board include:
1. Limit of one pin a day.
2. Just like the party anything goes, but clear wonderful pictures with great descriptions are most successful.
3. Please no Spam ( Spammers will be deleted without warning)
4.  If you pin to the Pinterest Board, please link to the Party in Your PJs Party also, the party runs from 7 pm Tuesdays-Midnight Saturday (Central Time)
5.  Finally have fun and share this group board  with blog friends and followers!  The more success the group board is the more success you will see from your pins.

Want to be added to the group board?  Follow our Party in Your PJs board and email Kim at thecookiepuzzle@gmail.com

Lynda's Features!


 to see their features - we each pick our own!




All links are pinned to a Party Board...you can follow the board on Pinterest...feel free to follow the board, there is lots of inspiratioPn to be found there.

Ok...let's party!

Rules -Link to post, not your home page
-Link to something YOU made, wrote or thought
-No Etsy or Business Pages
-Link Parties, Roundups and Giveaways welcome
- Don't Link and Run! Please visit other links, make friends, learn something new, leave a comment.