A Sprinkle of Life – Page 2 – A Sprinkle of Life

Stitch Fix Birthday Box

January 21, 2017 1 Comment

Stitch-Fix-Personal-Stylist-Box10 — Photo Courtesy of Stitch Fix

Disclosure: This post contains Stitch Fix Affiliate links, and I may receive compensation.

What’s Stitch Fix: An amazing fashion company that provides you with your own personal stylist who picks out pieces based on your style profile, requests, budget and your figure!

My next fix was scheduled to arrive the week of my 27th birthday so I asked my stylist to provide a surprise box of goodies to celebrate because who likes to know everything they’re getting for their birthday!

Surprise boxes from Stitch Fix can either be a hit or a miss but I wanted to have a little fun this month.

My surprise box contained a knit top, a boatneck top, a quilted vest, a pullover and a tunic. Let’s unwrap!

#1 – Papermoon Mauly Mixed Material Knit Top
Papermoon is one of my favorite Stitch Fix designers and I’ve always loved their pieces. Let’s be honest, this knit top is really a pull over sweatshirt. What I love about this Papermoon top is how cute and comfortable it is. It’s not your everyday sweatshirt thanks to the mixed materials used. The sleeves are so silky and smooth and when you slip your arms through them you’ll just want to wrap your arms around yourself. The only thing I would change about this top would be to make it a bit longer, as it cuts a little shorter on the torso than I tend to prefer, but it’s still a great piece for lounging around and running errands in.

IMG_20170116_142917 — Papermoon Mauly Mixed Material Knit Top

#2 – Market and Spruce Evella Boatneck Top
When my eyes spotted this top on Pinterest I had to pin it right away in hopes my stylist would notice, and lo and behold she did! This top is absolutely perfection from the neckline to the color combination. The best part is how it looks like you’ve layered two tops and put more effort into the look than you actually did. This is an absolutely effortless and classy style. The sleeves can be rolled down or up, but I recommend wearing them folded up so that you can get a beautiful pop of color to bring this look together. I have a feeling this is going to be my next go to top for work.

IMG_20170116_142524 — Market & Spruce Evella Boatneck Top

#3 – Market & Spruce Wilco Solid Quilted Vest
Occasionally I like to rock the preppy look and what’s more preppy than a quilted vest? What I love about this vest in particular is how lightweight it is. It hardly weighs anything but it’s got a bit of warmth to it, and would be perfect for layering under a jacket since there’s no bulk at all. The color is so cute and seems to go wonderfully with my first two pieces from this fix. Texture wise, I don’t think you could find a softer vest out there! It feels just like delectable whipped frosting (hey this is a birthday box after all). If you’re looking for a vest to wear into winter and into early spring, you need to request this one, you’ll fall in love!

#4 – Renee C Brockman Two Pocket Tunic
While I did request a surprise birthday box for this fix, I did ask for there to be a top or two that I could wear with leggings, but it had to be long enough in the front and the back. My stylist provide this Renee C Tunic, but it didn’t really have a tunic feel to it. The color is a very dark green that looks too black for my liking. Cut wise, the tunic felt very boxy and it looked like I was wearing a man’s dress shirt. Sadly, the color and fit just didn’t cut it and I decided to return this piece. I made sure to take a quick photo in the top to show you what it looked like on before I shipped it back so you can see just how masculine it appears.

#5 – Salt and Jekyll Gleana Stitch Detail Pullover
It’s winter so sweaters are always great to add to your wardrobe, and last winter I received a pretty sweet sweater from Stitch Fix so when my stylist’s note mentioned a winter white sweater was included I was excited to give it a try. The color was cute, and I don’t really have a winter white sweater in my collection, but the shape and design just didn’t stand out as something special. I feel I could buy this sweater off the rack somewhere and I tend to use Stitch Fix for the opposite of that. On top of the sweater not screaming “keep me” to me, it had a pulled thread right on the chest which is a disaster waiting to happen. Would I have kept it if it didn’t have a pulled thread? Maybe. However I already knew I was definitely going to return one piece and it made sense financially to send back two items so fate just had it out for this sweater.

Final Thoughts: Market & Spruce was on point this month. The two pieces I received from them were too cute for words and perfectly preppy. I loved how my box was randomly pinked out for my birthday box, just like my birthday cake 🙂 While it’s been awhile since I had to return items from a Fix, I’m happy with the choices I made and feel the items I returned were better off being returned or else they probably would have just sat in my closet unused.

Coming Next: Coming up I’ll be sharing my first ever Men’s Stitch Fix Review!! My boyfriend got his first Fix this month and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Do check back in later this week 🙂

As always, suggestions for a better fix:

Be very specific. If there are certain pieces or types of clothing you really want, provide that in your styling note to your stylist.
Create a Pinterest Board. Stylists will check them out if you keep mentioning them in your style notes.
Call out designers or names of actual articles of clothing . Your stylist may not provide those exact items but they’ll start to get a better sense of what style you’re into.

Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Boards for more Stitch Fix fun!

Haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet? Sign up with my Stitch Fix code!

Reading

2017 Reading Challenge

January 7, 2017 No Comments

I’m challenging you to explore a new world, escape reality and find a character you love in 2017. That’s right, I’m challenging you, and myself, to a reading challenge.

What you’ll get out of it:

Stress relief
Escape from reality – everyone needs a break from the everyday grind
Learn new words!
Fall in love with new literary characters – you might just be inspired to change how you see the world

This past year I discovered that a site called Goodreads was offering a 2016 book reading challenge. Basically, they make it easy for you to track books you’re currently reading, want to read, or have already read and to add a little bit more fun, they create yearly challenges so that you can create your own reading goals.

I participated in 2016, with a goal to read 16 books. I didn’t find the challenge until Feb/March so I was a bit behind schedule 🙂 In the end, I’m happy to announce I reached my goal, and even surpassed it by one book – 17 books in 2016!

screen-shot-2017-01-07-at-3-14-37-pm — Photo from Goodreads – Year In Books

screen-shot-2017-01-07-at-3-15-15-pm — Photo from Goodreads – Year in Books

screen-shot-2017-01-07-at-3-15-25-pm — Photo from Goodreads – Year in Books

This year I’m pushing myself to read 20 new books in 2017. I’ve already finished one book, and started a second! Will you join me?

Suggestion to get started: The Queen of the Tearling
I just started this three part series recently and it’s amazing! Highly recommend if you like series like Hunger Games and Harry Potter.

Reviews, Style

Get Cozy with Stitch Fix

December 18, 2016 No Comments

stitch-fix-personal-stylist-box23 — Photo courtesy of Stitch Fix

Disclosure: This post contains Stitch Fix Affiliate links, and I may receive compensation.

What’s Stitch Fix: An amazing fashion company that provides you with your own personal stylist who picks out pieces based on your style profile, requests, budget and your figure!

I decided it was time to request another Stitch Fix since it’s been getting chillier here in the NYC area. There was nothing in particular that I was looking for or had found on Pinterest lately, so I requested a surprise box with only one rule, no pants. My pants drawer is getting out of hand so I’ve decided to not request any bottoms for a while.

Surprise boxes are usually my favorite, even though you’ll find most Stitch Fix users suggest being as precise and explicit as possible to get your best Fix. My stylist has been with me for over 10 Fixes now, so I know she’s really gotten to understand my style and what unexpected pieces might open my eyes to something I never knew I’d love.

This time around I received a 1 blouse, a dress, crossbody bag, a pullover top and a lightweight “jacket.” I’ll explain why I put jacket in quotes further into the post.

#1 – 41 Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse

This blouse is a beautiful berry color. It’s very lightweight and ever so slightly see through depending on what you wear as bottoms (black pants and leggings might show a bit) or as a bra/undershirt. This top is great for fall/winter and even spring thanks to it’s cheery color and breathable fabric. Pair it with blue or black jeans and you’re good to go for a casual and comfy look.

41 Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse – Stitch Fix

img_20161217_153927 — 41 Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse

#2 – Pixley Millie Textured Knit Dress

I’ve been dreaming of this Pixley Millie Dress for a very long time now. I’ve seen it pop up on Pinterest several times and I’ve always thought it looked so flattering on all the Stitch Fixers. When I opened my Fix to find this beauty I was surprised and oh so excited to finally try it on. Pixley didn’t disappoint once again. This dress is so cute, comfortable, and dainty. The royal blue coloring is lovely, and the see through neckline makes it so you don’t even need a necklace to dress up this look. I only wish it was warm out so I could take this dress out on the town!

Pixley Millie Textured Knit Dress – Stitch Fix

img_20161217_155044 — Pixley Millie Textured Knit Dress

#3 – Kensie Mally Ponte Jacket

It was love at first sight when I slipped my arms through this Kensie jacket. It’s so soft and luxurious with the way it drapes over your body, plus the color is to die for. This is a perfect piece for the holidays! While jacket is in the title, my stylist suggested wearing this indoors – perfect for around the office – or as a middle layer for colder days. This jacket isn’t heavy enough for the winter season, but I think it could definitely be a great transition piece between seasons!

img_20161217_154210 — Kensie Mally Ponte Jacket

#4 – Revolution Fletcher Messenger Crossbody

This bag perfectly fit with my Fix pieces. Not only does the color compliment the 41hawthorn blouse, but it’s great for pairing with the Kensie jacket. The material is so soft, there’s great zipper sections and while it’s a decent size there’s hardly any weight to it. I love that it’s big enough to fit a tablet. There’s so much space in this crossbody I think I need to figure out more stuff to tote around with me 🙂

Revolution Fletcher Messenger Crossbody – Stitch Fix

img_20161217_154556 — Revolution Fletcher Messenger Crossbody

#5 – Amour Vert for Stitch Fix: Kaitlyn Striped Drawstring Pullover

At first look, this pullover didn’t seem to exciting. The colors were dark and well it was a pullover, but let’s be honest I needed some sweaters for the current weather so I was happy to get something warm. First impression aside, after I tried it on I understood why my stylist sent this piece, it’s absolutely comfortable and perfect for lounging around and weekend excursions. Pair this pullover with black jeans for a crisp look or wear blue jeans for some contrast. Try this sweater on and you’ll feel nice and toasty!

img_20161217_153749 — Amour Vert for Stitch Fix: Kaitlyn Striped Drawstring Pullover

Final Thoughts: I don’t know how she did it again, but Kim provided me with another 5/5 Fix. All the pieces are so easy to wear and I love it. Sometimes simple pieces are all you need to make you feel great. I can’t wait to see what Kim has in store for my surprise birthday Fix next month!

There’s still time to gift someone their own personal stylist this holiday season with a Stitch Fix Gift Card! Stitch Fix is open to both men and women of all shapes and sizes and is a great way to let someone explore new pieces and designers. Note: As a Stitch Fix Influence I’m eligible for compensation for every gift card sold and any Stitch Fix signup through my affiliate links (above and below)

stitch-fix-gift-card-holiday-gift-guide9 — Photo courtesy of Stitch Fix.

As always, suggestions for a better fix:

Be very specific. If there are certain pieces or types of clothing you really want, provide that in your styling note to your stylist.
Create a Pinterest Board. Stylists will check them out if you keep mentioning them in your style notes.
Call out designers or names of actual articles of clothing . Your stylist may not provide those exact items but they’ll start to get a better sense of what style you’re into.

Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Boards for more Stitch Fix fun!

Haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet? Sign up with my Stitch Fix code!

Get Crafty

Easy Homemade Candles

December 16, 2016 No Comments

It’s the holiday season and the time for giving. I’ve always been a fan of providing homemade gifts along with store bought goodies to really show some extra thought and appreciation to those in your lives. A few years ago I decided I was going to try my hand at creating homemade candles, and it was a success. Every year since, my family looks forward to receiving a candle in their favorite scents. Since candles are always a safe gift idea, I wanted to create a simple 7 step how to guide on how to make your own candles so that you can give a little something extra this year.

Supplies:

Wax pouring pot (4lb)
Wax (Soy) – Soy is easier to find and has great scent throw.
Wicks
Wick stickers
Wick tabs
Metal Wick Bars
Jars
Infrared thermometer
Scents
Scale (you can use a food scale)
Wooden Spoon

Optional Supplies

Dye/Color chips for your wax

Where to buy candle supplies:
You can find candle making supplies all over the place, from craft stores, ebay, Amazon, and everywhere in between. Most of my supplies have come from a small company in Massachusetts called Candle Chem. They’ve gots tons of dyes, wicks, jars, scents beyond your wildest imagine and every other supplies or accessory you could ever need for candle making. They’re great and I highly recommend them! For fast wax supplies, I use Amazon.

Making your own candles:

Step 1: Begin by prepping your jars. I’ve picked up some mason jars from the Christmas Tree Shops and little glass jars with lids, typically used for candies, at the Dollar Tree. Wash the insides of your jar with a damp paper towel and let dry.

Step 2: Prep your wicks. If you don’t buy the already put together wicks, you’ll need to fasten all the pieces together. Cut your wick into 6-7 inch pieces for mason jars, and 4 inch pieces if you’re using the Dollar Tree glass candy jars. You want to leave extra room so your wick doesn’t fall into the wax.

Thread the wick through the metal wick tabs and leave a little extra at the bottom.

You’ll now cover that left over wick string with a wick sticker that will attach your tab and wick together, and it’ll keep your wick in place inside your candle.

Step 3: Place your wick into the center of your jar and use your wooden spoon to stick the tab into place. It can be tricky to get the wick right in the center. It’s ok if it’s not perfect, it won’t make your candle any less pretty or less functional!

Step 4: Slide wicks through metal wick bars to keep the wicks in place. If you don’t use something to keep the wick in place, it’ll move all around the heated wax and have trouble staying upright. If you don’t have metal wick bars, fear not – use a straw and some tape!

Step 5: Measure out your wax. I use a little portable food scale. Since the wax fills up my container pretty quickly, I usually fill the scale up twice with around 7 oz of wax each time for a standard mason jar. I recommend always having a bit more wax than you expect because you never want to pour and then realize you don’t have enough wax to fill your container.

For other containers, a great trick for figuring out how much wax to use is to fill the container with water and then weigh it to see how many ounces you’ll need.

Step 6: Melt your wax. I use a 4lb wax pouring pot that you can get at craft stores and online. I usually work with 1 lb at a time because I like to make small batches of scents. Use your wooden spoon to stir and help melt the wax quicker.

Each wax will be slightly different, but in general soy wax should be heated up to 155 degrees fahrenheit, ensuring all wax chunks are completely melted down, no one wants to pour a lumpy candle 🙂 I recommend using a infrared thermometer for keeping track of your wax’s temperature, plus it’s kind of fun pointing it at random things and seeing how hot they are.

Once your candle is around 155 degrees fahrenheit, it’s time to add any dyes and scents you want. I occasionally color my candles, trying to match the scents I’m working with (i.e. Apple = red or pink), but it’s easier to just use the natural wax color giving you a beautiful white candle. If you used a colored jar there’s no need to dye your wax. If you add a scent or color, I recommend stirring them in for a minute or so until everything is fully blended. It’s recommended to use 1 ounce of scent for every pound of wax.

Cool the wax down to around 125 degrees fahrenheit before pouring it into your jars. I typically set the pot on the counter to cool down, stirring every now and then.

Step 6: Gently pour wax into your jar. Be careful not to bump the wick bar.

Step 7: Let your candle cool for 24 hours and try not to move it so it settles correctly.

During this process you may notice some of the sides of the candle seem kind of frosty, this is known as frosting and happens due to crystallization and is typical in soy candles. It doesn’t affect the candle at all, and can be avoided by making sure you don’t pour your wax at a high temperature. I’ve learned to embrace frosting when it happens and it usually goes away after burning the candle during use.

After your candles are fully cooled and have sat for 24 hours, cut the wick and enjoy your creation!

Reviews, Style

Stitch Fix – Falling into Style

November 7, 2016 2 Comments

Fall is my absolute favorite season, so after my first great fix of the Fall came in, I just had to try my luck again and see if I could pick up any other great fall pieces missing from my wardrobe.

What I asked for this time around: I was still on the hunt for a lightweight cargo-ish jacket, so of course I put that in my note to my stylist. Besides that, I kind of left the playing field open. I suggested keeping in mind my past boxes, Kate Middleton (my style icon), and the season (crisp weather in the New York region).

#1 – Unpublished Athenia Button Back Top

When I pulled this top out of my box, I immediately said out loud, “nope, this is definitely not going to be a keeper.” Plaid, on me!? Ok, ok, so if there’s one lesson Stitch Fix has taught me, it’s to give things a chance, and don’t judge something right out of the box. I tried the top on, and was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know if it was the color combination or untraditional cut of this top, but I started to really like what I was seeing. I recommend pairing this top with black skinny jeans – I picked up a pair at Old Navy. Pairing this top with a solid color pant like blank instantly makes this top pop! I find that the white lined with the lighter blue make the colors appear neon, which actually looks quite cool. The back is pretty neat too, so I included a picture so you could get a better sense of the button up situation (this top is a button up in the front, and the back). Maybe plaid is ok after all, when done right 🙂

#2 – 41Hawthorn Arava Knit Dress

This knit dress from 41Hawthorn is a keeper! The deep burgundy color is accented with a beautiful diamond pattern in blue and black. However, the best features are the pockets! I don’t know about you, but there are not enough dresses out there with pockets, so whenever I find a dress with them I can’t pass it by. As with all my other 41Hawthorn dresses, this one doesn’t disappoint, is super comfy, and in such a flattering cut.

#3 – Koda Split Neck Blouse

I’ve been admiring polka dot blouses on Pinterest for quite a while now, and even pinned a few to my Stitch Fix request board. I was so excited to pull this blouse out of my latest Fix box. The polka dots are nice and big. The blouse itself is super lightweight which makes it a teeny bit see through in some photos depending on the lighting, but overall it’s perfect. The cut of the blouse is in a hi-lo style with the back being longer than the front, which is great if you like to wear leggings or prefer a bit more coverage. For this top, I paired it with the next item in my Fix, which my stylist suggested.

#4 – Edyson Hampton Corduroy Skinny Jean

Cords?! That was my exact thought when I pulled these pants out of my box. The last time I willingly wore corduroys was when I was a child and my dad picked out my outfits. I can’t say that I’ve thought about purchasing corduroys in my young adulthood, so this was certainly a pick I would have passed by in stores. According to my stylist, corduroys are on-trend for Fall, so I’ll take her word for it 🙂 What I love about these pants is the color, they’re a super rich green that I think will be perfect for the holiday season. Another thing I was reminded of when I tried these on, besides running around on the playground, was how soft corduroy is. I feel really comfy and warm in these pants. Maybe, just maybe, cords will be ok to rock.

#5 – O&O Loklay Cargo Trench Jacket

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the O&O cargo jacket I’ve been waiting for. Alright, I hadn’t explicitly requested this jacket, but I have been tirelessly requesting a cargo-ish jacket for a couple months now. When I picked up my box from the front desk this month I noticed the box seemed heavier than usual. Was I going to get my hopes up again, or did I really just receive a jacket finally? Thankfully my hopes were not let down with this O&O beauty! I love this coat. It’s super cute, has just enough weight in it for crisp October and November weather here in NY/NJ, and comes with a cute hood and roomy pockets. The detailing on the jacket is great, from the red zippers, to a tie waist you just can’t go wrong with this piece. I’ve worn this jacket almost every day I’ve had it, and I’ll be sad to hang it up once the snowy weather starts coming our way.

Final Thoughts: Overall, this was a pretty successful Fix. My mind was opened up to new styles like plaid and corduroy that I would have most certainly passed by in stores. It’s boxes like these that make me excited to keep getting fixes because I get to try something that I never would have thought would work for me. Did you get your Fall Fix yet? If not, there’s still time!

As always, suggestions for a better fix:

Be very specific. If there are certain pieces or types of clothing you really want, provide that in your styling note to your stylist.
Create a Pinterest Board. Stylists will check them out if you keep mentioning them in your style notes.
Call out designers or names of actual articles of clothing . Your stylist may not provide those exact items but they’ll start to get a better sense of what style you’re into.

Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Boards for more Stitch Fix fun!

Haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet? Sign up with my Stitch Fix code! Disclosure: As a Stitch Fix Affiliate I receive compensation when someone signs up using my code.