review

02/12

It Was Me All Along // Book Review

If you had asked me a few years ago what my favorite genre of books was, I would have told you murder/mystery. It’s still mostly the case, but last year when I made a concerted effort to read more, I realized I have another genre I really like…memoirs.

I’d tried to read memoirs before. Back when Oprah was still on TV and she would rave about certain books, I was pulled to read a couple…or at least try to. I started A Million Little Pieces and loved it, but when I was about three-fourths of the way through, it came out that the author embellished a little (or a lot…I can’t remember). Anywho, after that I was sort of bummed out that what I had been reading wasn’t all true. I think it would have been different if I’d know from the beginning, but after reading the bulk of it, I felt duped. So I never finished it. Then came the massively popular Eat, Pray, Love. UGH! I tried reading that particular book several times, but it was so B.O.R.I.N.G that I eventually gave up trying. I didn’t read a ton at the time, but I was completely turned off from memoirs after the second memoir let down. I figured I’d just stick to what I know I like and what didn’t usually let me down.

Last year’s reading threw me for a loop though because some of my favorite books from the year were memoirs. I loved Brain on Fire, Glitter and Glue and Wild so when It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell was one of my book options on Blogging for Books, I snatched it up before they were all gone.

It Was Me All Along, a memoir // Andie Mitchell, the author of the wildly popular food blog, Can You Stay For Dinner?, writes about her mind and body journey of losing 100+ pounds, keeping it off and also keeping her love of food. I’ve never struggled with the emotions or feelings she writes about and I don’t have 100lbs to lose, but I still found her journey inspirational and captivating. The book opens with a binge session, goes right into her early childhood and follows her through the teen years and into adulthood. I really enjoyed reading about her journey from rock bottom to the woman she is today.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. All views in this post are my honest, unbiased opinions.

posted by katiehigg 1 Comment
Filed Under: bookworm, review Tagged: andie mitchell, bloggingforbooks, can you stay for dinner, it was me all along, memoir

02/08

Minted + Freckled Latte

Back when I was a newlywed (all of 20yrs old) I couldn’t wait to send out holiday cards at Christmas time. I had a paper address book of friends and relatives and I would go to Hallmark to search for the perfectly adorable card to send to all my loved ones that I could sign, “love, Katie & Eric” and feel like a full on grown up.

I know the holidays are over, but bear with me a minute. I do have a point I’m getting to. 🙂

Over the years I felt less of a need to feel like a grown up and sending holiday cards fell by the wayside. It started feeling more like a chore and life got busier as we started growing our family so I just stopped one year. Then when I got more interested in photography and saw all the beautiful cards my peers and mentors were sending out, I felt the need to send dazzling photo holiday cards that I created myself. Back then there weren’t a lot of pre-made photo card options. Shutterfly was one of the few places that had designs readily available, but no self respecting photog was going to send out a Shutterfly designed card. Oh no. It had to be masterfully designed and printed at only the top quality printers. (warning: no offense to anyone who uses or used Shutterfly, this was likely just been my delusional thought process at the time) 😛 Unfortunately creating photo cards to send to the printer was a huge ordeal. It required photoshop and clipping masks and digital elements and creativity! Creating my own cards lasted about 1-2 years and then the work of putting together the cards outweighed the act of sending them out so I stopped again. At the time, we didn’t receive a ton of holiday cards so I didn’t feel bad about it or feel the need to send cards out.

Well, this past holiday season that changed. It was the first time in years that I was bummed I hadn’t sent out any cards. As the beautifully designed cards started rolling in, I noticed a theme. A lot of them had one little word, in small print, on the back…Minted.

What is Minted?

In their own words, “Minted is community of independent artists and designers creating beautiful, customizable products”

In short, they sell customizable holiday cards, birth announcements, wedding invitations, wall art, party supplies, planners and more! They print on heavy premium card stock and will even print addresses on the card envelopes for you.

Here is just a small sampling of my favorite designs from the site…

Forget to send out holiday cards? Send New Years ones!

left :: right

Having a baby? Check out these adorable shower invitations…

left :: right

Getting married? Check out Minted’s awesome Save the Date cards!

left :: right

One of my favorite products that Minted offers is wall art! I’m always looking for ways to decorate and they make it so easy! They sell just the prints themselves or with a frame! They have original art, but also customizable art. These are a couple of my favorites that use photos…

left :: middle :: right

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to use Minted for my next event/holiday or wall art purchase!

**Full Disclosure :: I was compensated for this review, but all views in this post are my honest and unbiased opinions. I really do think all of these products are super adorable and you should definitely visit Minted for your stationary needs!

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: review Tagged: minted, review, sponsored

12/18

Stitch Fix Delivery // 06

After my last fix, I didn’t have super high expectations, but since I still had a little credit on my account, I went ahead and scheduled my 6th fix, hoping to get lucky right before Christmas.

Well, my friends, for the first time in my Stitch Fix history…I kept every.single.piece!!!

I was a tad fickle during my decision process. I’m aware that there are times I’m not necessarily in the mood to try clothes on at the mall and usually when I go despite my mood, I don’t usually have much luck finding anything. But I always thought it was just coincidence that nothing looked good. Turns out that it might have been more than just coincidence. Apparently your mood is VERY important when trying on clothes. At least it is for me.

I got my fix last Friday and of course, opened it immediately! I was super excited to see all the colors and prints. They were all right up my alley…navy, mint, grey, blue, black, mustard! Colors I’m always drawn to when I’m out shopping. My stylist, Raina, definitely hit it out of the park this time!

I was busy when the box came so I wasn’t able to try anything on right away. Later that night though, despite the fact that I was tired, had dirty hair, no make-up and wasn’t really in the mood to play dress up, I couldn’t handle waiting any longer so I dragged myself to the bedroom to quickly try on all my new clothes.

I hated everything! Good colors and prints, but I just wasn’t loving any of it. I declared the box a bust, changed into my pj’s, put the clothes back in their box and didn’t think about them again until Sunday.

On Sunday I pulled all the pieces out to take photos for the blog. With my hair and make-up now done and in a better mood, it was like trying everything on for the first time. It was the craziest thing. Suddenly everything looked 10 times better than before!

Enough with the back story though, let’s move on to what you came here to see. Since I ruined the suspense and already told you I kept all the pieces, I thought it’d be fun to put my thoughts during both times I tried them on. You can see how different my head space was on most of them.

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Bixby Dot Print 3/4 Tab Sleeve Blouse (Pixley), $48

(actual color is closer to the photo on right)

1st try-on: Ugh! This had such potential! I love the colors and print, but it’s just lifeless. It’s got no shape and it doesn’t flatter me at all.

2nd try-on: Is this the same shirt as before? I love it! It looks super cute with these jeans & boots! There are some pieces you try on and think, “I’m not leaving without this!” This is one of those items!

When I was unboxing my fix, this blouse was the first piece to catch my eye. It’s navy with mint and if that wasn’t enough to make me giddy…it has polka dots!! I thought the price was great too! Very competitive.

<<<<< >>>>>

Alan French Terry Asymmetrical Zip Cardigan (Market and Spruce), $68

(actual color is closer to photo on right)

1st try-on: Eh, it’s just okay. It’s kinda bulky in the midsection and a little fitted in the arms. I like it, but I’m not sure I’d pay $68 for it.

2nd try-on: Look how cute this looks with a white tank. I can’t wear a loose top under it, but who cares! It’s so comfy! I can wear it and look nice and put together, but I can also wear it to just lounge in!

This zipper cardigan is pretty much perfection. It’s grey (my favorite neutral), it’s got a little edge to it by being asymmetrical, and it’s super comfortable! I’ve already worn it twice this week!

<<<<< >>>>>

Jax Sleeveless Lace Jacquard V-Neck Dress (Uttam), $128

(actual color is closer to photo on top right)

1st try-on: Okay, this is a solid maybe. It fits great so that’s a plus. It’s a little more conservative than I usually go and it’s $128, a little more than I wanted to spend. But, we have that holiday work dinner thingy and I think the hubs would think this dress was awesome. I’ll ask him what he thinks about it.

2nd try-on: Hmmm, I feel pretty in this now. Maybe black Louboutins and a sparkly necklace were all that it needed to feel a little more “me”.

I requested a holiday party dress and Raina delivered it in spades with this pretty little number. I love the colors and print! The style is a teensy bit more conservative than I usually go, but my husband loved it and once I dressed it up, so did I! Plus with my hubs’ company dinner party coming up…it will be perfect for the occasion! It was a little on the pricey side, but the material has a nice feel to it and when you factor in the convenience of saving me a trip to the mall during the holiday season, I’d say it is worth every penny.

<<<<< >>>>>

Shasta Striped Knit Infinity Scarf (Look by M), $34

(actual color is closer to photo on right)

1st try-on: Love that it’s an infinity scarf, but not digging the colors.

2nd try-on: Maybe I should wear more colors like this. It probably looks good with my hair. It’s warm and cute!

An infinity scarf is always a good idea, but I’m more of a black/grey girl instead of brown tones. Since I was keeping the other 3 pieces though, it wasn’t in my best interest to send it back. I’ve already decided that it will make a great Christmas present for someone on my list!

<<<<< >>>>>

Hanlee Airy Knit Raglan Sweater (Under Skies), 38

(actual color is closer to photo on right)

1st try-on: Love the color, but ughhhhhh, why’s it gotta be short?! And it’s not a close knit so even if it were long enough, I’d have to wear something under it anyway. Bleh.

2nd try-on: Okay, I still don’t love it, but it might grow on me. It doesn’t look as bad as I remember it.

Great color and great price, but this is the piece that I like the least from my fix. It’s not bad, but it’s a little short for my taste. However, it was basically free when you factor in the 25% discount you receive for buying all 5 pieces in your fix! Plus, now that I’m looking back at the photo, I think I might like it a little more.

What do ya’ll think? Yay or nay?

<<<<< >>>>>

The end!

Am I the only one whose mood affects their decision making this much? I wasn’t in a bad mood really, just not in the mood to try on clothes. Yet another perk of using Stitch Fix! You don’t have to decide yes or no in the small amount of time that you’re in the dressing room. You can’t let the pieces simmer, try them on multiple times and pair them with shoes and accessories to see how it all looks together.

I don’t work for Stitch Fix or get compensated in any way for these reviews. I like reading about other bloggers Stitch Fix experiences and I wanted to possibly be a help to others by blogging about my own. If you enjoy my reviews and you want to try Stitch Fix out for yourself, please consider using this link to sign up. It doesn’t cost you anything, but I get a $25 referral credit towards my next box. 🙂

If you haven’t seen my previous reviews, you can check them out here…#1, #2, #3, #4, #5

And, in case you don’t know how Stitch Fix works, here’s the lowdown…

Sign up and fill out your online profile/questionnaire (be as honest and detailed as possible)
Schedule your Fix ($20)
Wait (impatiently) for your personal style selections to arrive
Play dress up in the privacy of your own home
Decide what you want to keep/send back (if you purchase all 5 pieces, you get a 25% discount!)
Check out online! (your $20 Fix fee gets applied to anything you purchase, but you forfeit the fee if you choose not to purchase anything)
Mail back your unwanted items in the included prepaid shipping bag within 3 business days

Feel free to comment with a link to your latest Fix! I love to read and see what others are getting! If you haven’t tried it yet…what are you waiting for?! 🙂

Disclaimer: this post includes referral links. By clicking them you help me out on my next fix, but it costs you nothing in return.

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Fashion, review Tagged: asymmetrical zip cardigan, bixby dot print blouse, hanlee knit raglan sweater, jax sleeveless lace jacquard dress uttam, sleeveless lace jacquard dress, stitch fix, stitch fix december 2014, stitch fix review

11/29

the kitchn cookbook // review

Y’all, I love to eat (who doesn’t, really?). However, I’m not totally in love with cooking. It makes a mess and most of the time, I wish I could have just skipped the whole preparation part and gone right to the eating part. Which is why it’s so weird that I constantly find myself drawn to cookbooks. Whenever I’m out browsing at the bookstore, I inevitably make my way over to the recipe/food section.

Seeing as I have this unlikely obsession with cookbooks, when I got the opportunity to review this book from Sara Kate Gillingham and Faith Durand of Apartment Therapy’s amazing cooking site and blog, The Kitchn, I jumped at the chance!

UPS dropped this little beauty on my doorstep last week. I couldn’t wait to tear open the box and start flipping through it’s 285+ hardcover bound pages splattered with gorgeous photos! Being pretty to look at meets one of my requirements, but the real question was whether it has great content or not.

First, a little about the book (via Random House)…

From Apartment Therapy’s cooking site, The Kitchn, comes 150 recipes and a cooking school with 50 essential lessons, as well as a guide to organizing your kitchen–plus storage tips, tool reviews, inspiration from real kitchens, maintenance suggestions, 200 photographs, and much more.

“There is no question that the kitchen is the most important room of the home,” say Sara Kate Gillingham and Faith Durand of the beloved cooking site and blog, The Kitchn.

The Kitchn offers two books in one: a trove of techniques and recipes, plus a comprehensive guide to organizing your kitchen so that it’s one of your favorite places to be.

For Cooking:
·         50 essential how-to’s, from preparing perfect grains to holding a chef’s knife like a pro
·         150 all-new and classic recipes from The Kitchn, including Breakfast Tacos, Everyday Granola, Slow Cooker Carnitas, One-Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry, and No-Bake Banana and Peanut Butter Caramel Icebox Cake
For Your Kitchen:
·         A shopping list of essentials for your cabinets and drawers (knives, appliances, cookware, and tableware), with insider advice on what’s worth your money
·         Solutions for common kitchen problems like limited storage space and quirky layouts
·         A 5-minute-a-day plan for a clean kitchen
·         Tips for no-pressure gatherings
·         A look inside the kitchens of ten home cooks around the country, and how they enjoy their spaces

The Kitchn Cookbook gives you the recipes, tools, and real-life inspiration to make cooking its own irresistible reward.

My thoughts…

The book is separated into two parts. Part one is “the kitchen”. It talks about setting up your kitchen,suggestions on where to put things, the tools you might include, and how to care for your kitchen. The great part about this is that they don’t tell you this is how you have to do it. They give suggestions on how and why and then encourage you to think about how you use your kitchen and how you can make it more efficient for you. They want you to make your kitchen YOURS, not a carbon copy of theirs. They show lots of examples of different real life kitchens (hello pretty photos!) and talk about how each family has them set up and why. Then they go into cleaning and organizing your kitchen. Sounds pretty basic, but I love that they suggest using natural cleaning products and even include a few basic DIY cleaning products.

Part two is “how to cook well”. In this section the ladies go over some basic tips for stocking your pantry and planning meals. Then, before they dive into the recipes, they give you 50 essential skills that you’ll need for the kitchen. Things like “how to thicken a sauce”, “how to adapt a recipe to the slow cooker”, and “how to use a meat thermometer”. Sure, if you are experienced in the kitchen, you will know most, if not all of these “skills”, but I appreciated even the very basic “how-to’s”. While I knew about half of these skills already, it’s nice to have them in one place that’s easy to refer back to quickly!

The recipe section looks heavenly! There are some basic recipes such as homemade granola and buttermilk pancakes, but also a Bolognese Pasta Sauce, Slow Cooker Carnitas and Black Bean Edamame Burgers. I thought there was a great mix of simple and complex dishes. I’m more of a simple gal so I was drawn to the easier ones with fewer ingredients. Even if I could easily find simple recipes online, I love having them all together in one book.

The last chapter of the book dives into hosting a dinner party or gathering. It’s not too in depth, but they give you advice on everything from mood music to dealing with special dietary restrictions!

Bottom line…it’s a keeper! If you, like me, need step by step directions on navigating your kitchen, this book will not disappoint! As someone who has started to weed out kitchen books I’ve accumulated over the years, I can tell you that this book will be staying! It’s an insanely good book for someone just moving out of their parents house or someone who wants to learn their way around the kitchen. It’s also good for those who may know a few things, but still have a lot to learn. And let’s not forget that even if you already know all the tips/tricks for the kitchen, there are still 150 recipes to drool over!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. All views in this post are my honest, unbiased opinions.

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: 30-day challenge, bookworm, NaBloPoMo, review Tagged: apartment therapy, blogging for books, book review, the kitchn

08/27

Stitch Fix Review // 05

It’s that time again! I’ve been so MIA on the blog over the summer that it seems like I just did a Stitch Fix review. So sorry if you’re getting bored with these. I promise to start posting more now that the kids are back in school.

I completely forgot I had a Stitch Fix scheduled until I got the “Your Stitch Fix is on it’s way!” email in my inbox.

Honestly, it wasn’t really the best time, but it was a nice little spot of sunshine in my otherwise grey week. I also found out the day I got my shipment that I had not just one, but TWO referral credits waiting for me to spend them!

**Shout out to my amazing link clickers for gifting me $50!! I don’t know who you are, but I love you!! Thanks so much for clicking my referral link!**

My fix.

Didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it this time around. I need to remember to put “no jeans” in all of my notes to the stylist, but overall I liked the patterns/colors (GREEN, yay!!) and the mix of items.

<<<<< >>>>>

Ventura Abstract Chevron Keyhole Detail Tank (Renee C), $38

Thoughts: Not loving the see through material. I’m lazy. I hate putting on a cami under shirts unless I’m dressing up and going somewhere. I might have been able to get away without a cami since it was a dark shirt, but the fit and colors weren’t right anyway.

Ultimately: Sent back. Maybe because it was overall too small, but it was too short for me and it bunched up weird in the bust area.

<<<<< >>>>>

Kaleigh Ankle Biter Skinny Jean (Kensie Jeans), $88

These jeans are also seen in the photos with the shirt above and the shirt at the end. Click the pic to see larger.

Thoughts: Nice mid rise jeans with a good stretch to them. They were pretty soft and felt a lot like jeggings.

Ultimately: Sent back. Great jeans, just not in the market for anymore right now. They would have needed to make my butt look amazing for me to have kept them.

<<<<< >>>>>

Cersei Halter Dress (Tart), $114

Thoughts: Super comfortable dress and it fit great, but although I do like pink, I mentioned previously that it wasn’t the best color on me. I don’t think it flatters me to be dressed in all hot pink. Not to mention that the price is pretty high for what it is.

Ultimately: Sent back. Style was a winner, but price and color were not.

<<<<< >>>>>

Chandler Beaded Drop Earrings (Zad), $32

Thoughts: I knew right away these weren’t for me. I’m not a fan of the beading.

Ultimately: Sent back. Not my style, but that’s okay.

<<<<< >>>>>

Hilly Crochet Detail Chevron Print Tank (Fun2Fun), $44

Thoughts: I was drawn to this top right off the bat! Loved the colors and pattern. The back is kinda long, but I dig it.

Ultimately: Kept! Since I had referral credit, I was totally willing to send everything back if I didn’t 100% like it. Fortunately, I didn’t have to because I loved this top.

<<<<< >>>>>

That’s it! I don’t work for Stitch Fix or get compensated in any way for these reviews, but I like reading about other bloggers Stitch Fix experiences and I wanted to maybe help others by blogging about my own. If you enjoy my reviews and you want to try Stitch Fix out for yourself, please consider using this link to sign up. It doesn’t cost you anything, but I get a $25 referral credit towards my next box. 🙂

If you haven’t seen my previous reviews, you can check them out here…#1, #2, #3, #4

And, in case you don’t know how Stitch Fix works, here’s the lowdown…

Sign up and fill out your online profile/questionnaire (be as honest and detailed as possible)
Schedule your Fix ($20)
Wait (impatiently) for your personal style selections to arrive
Play dress up in the privacy of your own home
Decide what you want to keep/send back (if you purchase all 5 pieces, you get a 25% discount!)
Check out online! (your $20 Fix fee gets applied to anything you purchase, but you forfeit the fee if you choose not to purchase anything)
Mail back your unwanted items within 3 business days in the included prepaid shipping bag

Feel free to comment with a link to your latest Fix! I love to read and see what others are getting! If you haven’t tried it yet…what are you waiting for?! 🙂

Disclaimer: this post includes referral links. By clicking them you help me out, but it costs you nothing in return.

posted by katiehigg 1 Comment
Filed Under: dressing room tales, Fashion, review Tagged: stitch fix, stitch fix august 2014, stitch fix review

08/13

ProCakes | Review

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing some of my favorite fitness blogs and I ran across a new product.

ProCakes

A high protein pancake mix with no added sugar, wheat and gluten free!

Sounded promising!

I finally got a chance to try them out last week so I’m sharing it with you all!

They were super easy to prepare.

The batter smelled delicious…a yummy hint of cinnamon to it!

I haven’t cooked pancakes in awhile, but from what I remember, they were just like cooking an all flour, gluten filled pancake.

The packet made 3 nice size pancakes (only 2 are pictured because I jacked up my first one and it wasn’t so pretty). I decided to add blueberries to the pancakes and top them with a greek yogurt spread and a little drizzle of syrup.

Completely delicious!

No gritty or weird flavors

Fluffy texture

This mix is definitely a “love ’em!” If you’re looking for an easy, protein packed pancake that’s gluten free, low sugar and carb friendly…this is your answer. Do they taste like normal pancakes? Not completely, but no protein pancake does (IMO). That doesn’t mean that they aren’t good, just delicious in a different way. I’ve made my own protein pancakes before that were pretty dang tasty, but it took some preplanning on my part because it required ingredients that I may or may not have. Plus, I had to get the blender dirty, it took longer to prepare them and they had way more calories/carbs/fat than the ProCakes mix. ProCakes is premixed for you so it’s super EASY & FAST to prepare! I’ll definitely be ordering a bag soon! If you’re an Amazon prime member, you can get free shipping, but even ordering directly from ProCakes, the shipping is very reasonable.

ProCakes Nutrition (mix only) Calories: 165 | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 185g | Carbs: 22g (14g net) | Protein: 13g

disclaimer: I was gifted this sample packet of ProCakes, but I was not compensated in any other way and all views in this post are my honest, unbiased opinions!

disclaimer (2): This post contains an affiliate link. By clicking, you help me and this blog out, but this is at no cost to you! It’s a win-win! 🙂

posted by katiehigg 3 Comments
Filed Under: Feed Me, review Tagged: are procakes good, high protein pancakes, procakes, procakes review

07/05

Stitch Fix Review #4

Woot woot…it’s Stitch Fix time!

I’ve had a bit of a mixed bag of Fixes since I started. Some pretty good (one not so good), but this time, my stylist, Valerie…

NAILED IT!

Last Fix I was pretty disappointed, so I decided that I needed to be a little more specific on the notes for my stylist this time. Part of the problem was that I wasn’t really sure of what I wanted when I first started requesting fixes. I knew what styles I liked/didn’t like, but I wasn’t really sure what I wanted. I just expected Stitch Fix to read my mind and magically give me pieces I would love. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that that was a silly idea.

So, I sat down and really thought about what worked and what didn’t with my last Fixes. What I wanted to see when I opened my box. — I love jeans and I kept hoping to get a pair of really awesome ones that I love, but in reality, jeans rarely fit me that easily and I have a bazillion jeans at the moment so I was just wasting space in my box to keep getting jeans. Also, I like to dress up and I like to have pieces I can wear to a more formal meeting/gathering, but in reality, I don’t wear these clothes 90% of the time so again, I was wasting precious room in my box on clothing pieces I don’t wear that often. I changed my style profile to reflect how often I wanted to receive these pieces and then I wrote a note to my stylist concerning my next fix that requested no jeans, no work pieces and maybe some maxi’s.

Let’s get on to the Fix shall we?

One look at my box and I could tell that Valerie paid attention to my requests and my Pinterest style board! I was super excited to start trying everything on!

<<<<< >>>>>

Casper Solid Spaghetti Strap Tank (Fun2Fun), $38

Thoughts: One of my immediate favorites from the box! I had been avoiding this style of shirt, but recently found myself being drawn to it more and more and the color was right up my alley! You can tell from the upper right pic that it’s somewhat of a tunic length so it could be worn with leggings or belted or ??? Lots of styling options!

Ultimately: Kept it! Even though I was immediately drawn to it, I was worried the pink wasn’t a good shade for me, but in the end, I loved it too much to let it go! The price was excellent as well!

<<<<< >>>>>

Mirena Zip Pocket Top (Kut From The Kloth), $68

Thoughts: I have a couple of shirts in this style, but none in this color. Blue is a color that goes well with my skin tone so I knew that if it fit, it would be a winner. I love the zipper pocket detail too and surprisingly enough, it’s an actual little pocket, not a fake pocket. 😉

Ultimately: Winner winner, chicken dinner! It fit and as I was trying clothes on, my daughter and my husband said it was one of their favorites.

<<<<< >>>>>

Antoni Diagonal Mixed Striped Maxi Skirt (Gilli), $68

Thoughts: Another piece that I was immediately drawn to right off the bat! Black striped maxi..what’s not to love?! It’s high waisted (above right pic), but it’s such a soft material that you can easily fold the waist down if you prefer (below photos). It was all stretchy material so it was super comfy on.

Ultimately: Sent it back 🙁 It was one of those, it’s-not-you-it’s-me moments. I thought the skirt was great. Good price point, great fit, classic style…but while I know that there are many ways I could have worn it, I didn’t have a ton of options in my closet and I wasn’t in the mood to try and make it work.

One thing that I love about Stitch Fix is that you can try things on in the comfort of your own home and wear them around a bit before making a decision. This can also be a bad thing because I may say yes to something if I even halfway like it because the checkout process is so simple that I think, “well, it’s already here and it’s one less thing I have to send back!”. In an effort to try and curb that thinking, I tried to think logically about it and just decided that it was a “no” this time.

Although as I’m typing this I’m already second guessing my decision! 😛

<<<<< >>>>>

Harvey Mini Clustered Stone Necklace (Bay to Baubles), $32

Thoughts: With that price tag, I knew this was a keeper as soon as I saw it. I loved the color & style!

Ultimately: Kept! Colors that will go with anything and a bit of a chevron-ish look to it…definite keeper!

<<<<< >>>>>

Perry Mix Striped Crossfront Racerback Maxi Dress (LA MADE), $98

Thoughts: I was pretty excited about this dress. It’s a maxi (what I requested) and I don’t have anything like it in my closet. I liked the style of the top and I liked the comfy material. Trying it on, I wasn’t especially keen on the side slit or the little half slip underneath to make it less see through. Although, I definitely appreciate the designers thoughts because there is nothing worse than finding a great piece, but realizing that you can see right through to your undies! I may have overlooked those two things if it would have fit better, but it was a little too big in the bust area.

Ultimately: Sent back. As much as I wanted to love it, it just wasn’t right. I don’t feel like the quality justified the price either.

<<<<< >>>>>

Shew! If you made it all the way to the end, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the detailed unboxing and item reviews. My hope in doing these is that it helps answer some of your questions about whether Stitch Fix is the right fit for you. I don’t work for Stitch Fix or get compensated in any way for these reviews, but I appreciated reading about other bloggers Stitch Fix experiences and I wanted to maybe help others by blogging about my own. If you enjoy my reviews and you want to try Stitch Fix out for yourself, please consider using this link to sign up. It doesn’t cost you anything, but I get a $25 referral credit towards my next box. 🙂

If you haven’t seen my previous reviews, you can check them out here…#1, #2, #3

And, in case you don’t know how Stitch Fix works, here’s the lowdown…

Sign up and fill out your online profile/questionnaire (be as honest and detailed as possible)
Schedule your Fix ($20)
Wait (impatiently) for your personal style selections to arrive
Play dress up in the privacy of your own home
Decide what you want to keep/send back (if you purchase all 5 pieces, you get a 25% discount!)
Check out online! (your $20 Fix fee gets applied to anything you purchase, but you forfeit the fee if you choose not to purchase anything)
Mail back your unwanted items within 3 business days in the included prepaid shipping bag

Feel free to comment with a link to your latest Fix! I love to read and see what others are getting! If you haven’t tried it yet…what are you waiting for?! 🙂

posted by katiehigg 11 Comments
Filed Under: #whatiwore, dressing room tales, Fashion, review Tagged: harvey mini clustered stone necklace, is stitch fix worth it, kut from the klocth, spaghetti strap tank, stitch fix july, stitch fix review, stitch fix striped maxi dress

06/18

Save Me, San Francisco (part 1)

We dropped the dog and kids with my mom, packed up the car and headed out. We drove about 30 minutes south and then stopped for dinner before it got too late.

With a full belly of yummy mexican food, I kicked off my shoes, pulled my feet into the seat and settled in for our 2 hr drive.

I had my iphone set to shuffle and I was singing along as usual, when the words suddenly hit me. “Hey!” I exclaimed, “How awesome is that?!” as I pointed to the dash.

Pretty fitting, considering we were about to hop on a plane to that very place!

We’ve taken plenty of trips as a family, individually, trips with one kid/one parent (hello France!), but it’s been 7 long years since the hubby and I took a real trip without the kids. The last one was to Hawaii in 2005!

I have been dying to go to San Francisco for years. I wanted to fit it into our Cali trip we took a few years ago, but it didn’t happen. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked to be checking it off my bucket list. We picked a super rad hotel called Hotel Zetta for our stay. It’s only been open about a year and from what I read online, it sounded right up our alley. (*check out my review at the end) These shots are a little glimpse of what it was like inside…

I’m kicking myself, because I didn’t get many shots of our actual room. It was small, but very modern and nice with wood flooring and modern/minimalistic furniture (actually it looked pretty close to this one, but arranged differently). The hotel had a meeting area downstairs in the lobby with a huge couch to lounge on, some tables & chairs and a full service bar. There was also a huge game room on the second level that had shuffle board, a pool table, a large plinko game and plenty of other games to entertain you!

I wasn’t too excited about the weather being chilly, but I finally understood how all the fashion bloggers wear all those cute layers of clothing 365 days a year! I bought this utility jacket and some TOMS booties in preparation for our trip and I can honestly say they were the PERFECT purchases! Pretty much my San Fran uniform.

I also bought the above scarf from lululemon before the trip. (funny story – Eric didn’t really pay attention to what I bought until I was actually wearing it and after he saw the different ways I was using it, he started calling it a “thneed“. You know, from the movie, The Lorax. Now the stupid name has stuck though and I keep calling it a thneed! lol) I probably used this thing at least half of the trip and it especially came in handy the last night we were in town when I went out to make a City Target run and grab dessert at 9pm. Brrrrrr! It was also particularly useful on the plane!

………………….

Of course, the Golden Gate Bridge was one of my must-do’s for the trip. We took photos on three different days because it looked different each day (thank you fog) and from several different viewpoints.

So many pictures of the same bridge. You’d think this was it, but no…there’s more…

But, you’re going to have to wait until the next post!

**Hotel Zetta Review – Where oh where to start?! I already told you about the awesome game room and lounge area downstairs. Our room itself was on the small side, but that’s to be expected in the middle of the city! We didn’t have a problem with the size at all. Being that the hotel is sandwiched between two other buildings, if you’re looking for a scenic view, this isn’t the hotel for you. I, personally, quite liked the close buildings. It reminded me of NY or something. I don’t know. It felt cozy. We did have to be careful when and if we chose to open the blinds though. 😉 The whole hotel is modern/minimalistic in it’s design and interior decor…which we loved! Our room had a king bed with a large wood/leather headboard, two small side tables, a minimalistic desk area with a stocked fridge (so don’t plan on using it for leftovers!), a tv on a small minimalistic tv stand, a modern sitting chair and wood flooring throughout. The bathroom was gorgeous! No tub, only a glassed in shower. As far as the service, I don’t have many complaints. The one thing I read over and over again was that the staff was very friendly and helpful and I would definitely agree with that. The only thing that was a little “eh” was that I was expecting our room to have been cleaned/replenished by 2pm when we returned back the first day, but she was just getting to our room. They offer a small incentive if you choose to forego the daily maid service, but we had a couple of things that we wanted them to take care of. I would probably say the only real “con” to the hotel would be the parking. They don’t have their own lot you can self park (although there are a couple close, but they aren’t much cheaper and they aren’t really meant for taking your car in/out daily) and to valet it’s a whopping $50 a day! Ouch. On the plus side, it was super nice to just call down to the front desk when we were getting ready to leave and have our car waiting for us outside! I loved the location of the hotel and even though we had a car, there were plenty of places nearby to walk to. Some of my favorites were Blue Bottle Coffee, Dottie’s, zpizza, Peet’s coffee, City Target…not to mention all kinds of other restaurants, it’s literally RIGHT next door to the Westfield Centre shopping mall, and there is a cable car stop only a block and a half away! This hotel isn’t for everyone, but I’d definitely recommend it if you don’t mind the few things I mentioned.

posted by katiehigg 2 Comments
Filed Under: My life, review, Travel, wanderlust wannabe Tagged: golden gate bridge, hotel zetta review, how to wear a utility jacket, san francisco, toms desert wedges

04/14

Stitch Fix Review #3

Yay! Stitch Fix time! I was super excited to get my 3rd fix this past week. I scheduled it a week before my birthday so it would be like an early birthday gift to myself if I decided to keep one (or two or three) pieces from it.

Unfortunately, that extra funds allocation won’t be necessary this time. :'( They aren’t bad pieces per se, just nothing that excites me or that I need/want. Possibly partly my fault. I haven’t been very vocal beforehand about what I want/don’t want. Partially because I don’t want to miss out on a great piece because I said I don’t want *insert random clothing piece* in my box and partially because I don’t want to be a PITA. Live and learn I suppose!

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41Hawthorn Bindy Fit and Flare Ponte Dress, $78

Thoughts: Not loving the thicker material and long sleeves seeing as it’s 80 degrees outside right now. It fits nicely though. Better than I expected actually and the color is beautiful. But, I don’t wear a ton of dresses and it’s pretty hot and humid here 8 months out of the year, I would be sweating like crazy in this!

Ultimately: Sent back. I’m looking forward to summer and wearing flowy, lightweight dresses/skirts.

<<<<< >>>>>

41Hawthorn Toshi Contrast Detail Longsleeve Blazer, $88

Thoughts: I wasn’t too excited about this one since I already have a black blazer in my closet and the fact that I don’t wear blazers that often in the summer. Surprisingly it fit pretty nicely and the polka dots on the lining are adorable!

Ultimately: Sent back. I might have been tempted to replace my current blazer with this one, but the inside lining seemed to stick to my clothing a little and get discombobulated so I had to pass.

<<<<< >>>>>

Kensie Jeans Sophia Distressed Skinny Jean, $88

Thoughts: I would have died for these not too long ago, but I just bought a pair of deconstructed denim a few months back. I tried them on anyways and while they weren’t bad, the fit was a little tight and they were too long.

Ultimately: Sent back. I like the Old Navy rockstars I just bought better.

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Kut From The Kloth Marquis Slub Knit Dolman Sweater, $48

Thoughts: It’s not amazing, but I like that it’s lightweight and loose fitting. I could see myself wearing it over my bathing suit maybe with a pair of shorts. But it’s still a sweater..in Florida..in April.

Ultimately: Kept. The top 3 items were definite no’s and seeing that I didn’t want to forfeit my $20 box fee, it was between the sweater or the necklace below for the piece I kept.

<<<<< >>>>>

Bay to Baubles Toby Gem Stone Statement Necklace, $36

Thoughts: The gold is kinda brassy, but the colors are pretty and it’s different from anything I have in my jewelry box.

Ultimately: Sent back. I don’t see myself wearing it. Plus, I let my husband choose which one I should keep between the necklace and the sweater above…he chose the sweater. 😉

<<<<< >>>>>

So, there you have it. Now you understand what I meant when I said they weren’t bad pieces, just not for me. I’m not hatin’. I still love Stitch Fix. I just think I need to tweak my profile for next time. I’ll probably request no more jeans and maybe no more workwear/business pieces.

You can check out my previous fixes here…

Stitch Fix Review #1

Stitch Fix Review #2

So, tell me…Have you tried Stitch Fix? What has your experience been like? Do you request the same stylist? Are you vocal with what you want/don’t want?

If you haven’t tried it…

Sign up and fill out your online profile/questionnaire
Schedule your Fix ($20)
Wait (impatiently) for your personal style selections to arrive
Play dress up in the privacy of your own home
Decide what you want to keep/send back
Check out! (your $20 Fix fee gets applied to anything you purchase)

posted by katiehigg 5 Comments
Filed Under: Fashion, review Tagged: 41Hawthorn, april 2014, bay to baubles necklace, kensie jeans, kut from the kloth, marquis slub knit dolman sweater, sophia distressed skinny jean, stitch fix april review, stitch fix review

02/20

Stitch Fix Review #2

Happy Valentine’s Day to me! I was excited to get my second Stitch Fix shipment yesterday and it did not disappoint! Conveniently, I was all showered and ready to play dress up when my box arrived.

Colors & patterns galore! There was only one piece I wasn’t immediately drawn to, but we’ll get to that in a sec. 🙂

Let’s get started!

Tart Yusuf Embellished Shoulder Striped Top, $58

Initial impression: Ooooh, navy stripes! Mama likey!

Thoughts: At first glance I was super excited about this shirt. It had some bling on the shoulders so it was different than any of my other striped shirts. I was a little leery about the thin shoulder pads that were under the bling, but after trying it on, I barely noticed the pads.

Ultimately: Sending back. Sadly, this shirt was a little snug and not quite long enough.

<<<<< >>>>>

41Hawthorn Moni Stud Detailed 3/4 Sleeve Blouse, $58

Initial impressions: Oh no, gauzy material shirt again. Not sure about this one, but I’m willing to keep an open mind.

Thoughts: I liked the color and the interesting details. The sleeves are very unique and I thought the shirttail hemline was flattering on me. When I first slipped it over my head I was worried it was going to be a little tight, but once I got it on all the way, it was a perfect fit!

Ultimately: Keeping! I don’t have anything like this in my closet and the fit combined with unique details, make it a WINNER!

<<<< >>>>>

Sanctuary Rizzo Skinny Ponte Pants, $88

Initial impressions: Meh, black pants. With my luck they probably won’t fit.

Thoughts: Sorry for showing you my buttocks up there, but I wanted to show that the pants have fake pockets so they look like jeans (click photo to make bigger), but they are comfortable like leggings. The material is quite thick so there’s no sheerness to it at all. They’re a teensy bit long, but they can easily be hemmed or rolled up (please ignore my uneven roll job above. :P).

Ultimately: Keeping. The cost was a bit on the high side, but I could tell that they were good quality and they fit me like a glove! I foresee these being worn a LOT.

<<<< >>>>>

Lily Josefina Knit Chevron Pencil Skirt, $68

Initial impressions: This skirt was the one thing that I was not feeling at all, but I reserved complete judgement until I tried it on.

Thoughts: It’s made of a stretchy material so it’s very comfy to wear, but not only was I not digging the print or the color, it was a little longer than I like and maybe just a smidgen too big.

Ultimately: Sending back

<<<< >>>>>

41Hawthorn Lara Bicycle Print Infinity Scarf, $36

Initial impressions: The first thing to catch my eye. Great color & print!

Thoughts: It’s a light weight summer scarf and the bicycle print is to.die.for! I super duper duper love it, BUT…I’m not a summer scarf girl and I’m just not sure how often I’ll wear it.

Ultimately: Sending back. This one actually makes me really sad to send back. I haven’t packed it up yet so I may still decide to keep it. I don’t know that I can part with these adorable bicycles! Thoughts? Yay/Nay? Am I crazy to love it so much? Update: I begrudgingly sent it back. 🙁

<<<< >>>>>

SO, there you have it! The unboxing of my second Fix. I thought it was amusing that the two items that I wasn’t sure about were the ones I ended up loving and keeping. Which is why I love Stitch Fix! I get to try on pieces that I wouldn’t normally have tried on before.

Just to refresh your memory…

Sign up and fill out your online profile/questionnaire
Schedule your Fix ($20)
Wait (impatiently) for your personal style selections to arrive
Play dress up in the privacy of your own home
Decide what you want to keep/send back
Check out! (your $20 Fix fee gets applied to anything you purchase)

posted by katiehigg 8 Comments
Filed Under: Fashion, review Tagged: 41Hawthorn, bicycle scarf, sanctuary rizzo skinny ponte pants, second stitch fix, stitch fix february, stitch fix review, Tart striped embellished top