STITCH FIX

For those of you who missed my first social media blast about my latest addiction, you haven't completely missed out-- this blog post is just for you. I would be a bad friend, daughter, facebook friend and blogger if I did not share this with you. All you need to know is two words: Stitch Fix.

Soo what is the hype all about? What is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is a personal styling service where you can tell them what styles you like and what your budget is. They then package up a present of 5 items and send it to your door. The items are hand picked for you and you keep what you like and send back what  you don't.

 To sum it up, let's call it ballin' on a budget. It is a way that us ordinary people, for just one moment, can feel rich, famous and fabulous. It's having a personal stylist on speed dial (not quite, but pretty close). I'm going to show you the clothes first, let the excitement build, and then show you how it works :)

Below are the contents of Fix #2, and yes-- I kept them all!

Two adorable sweaters, just in time for fall....

• The striped one is a unique burnout "cheese cloth" type of fabric, perfect for the warm fall weather we have in Virgina-- I absolutely loved it right out of the box, and even more once I put it on. Can't wait to pair it with a pair of black skinnies and boots.
• The other is a preppy elbow patch look-- preppy not usually in my wardrobe but I think I can add a "rockstar" flair to this with some blinged jeans so I kept it.

A polka dot chambray button down and a gray pair of skinnies...

• Again, not usually for the preppy look but I kept the chambray shirt because I WANT this to be my style.
• When I schedule my fix, I asked for a pair of grey skinnies- you ask and you shall receive.

A dark green riding blazer lined with polka dot silk 

• I also had requested a blazer in this Fix, when I first pulled it out I was a little disappointed-- the picture doesn't do it justice. I absolutely loved this once I tried it on and can't wait to wear it with leggings and boots. 

One of the best parts-- a style card comes with each item telling you how to wear the outfit and a picture of how to "dress it up" or "dress it down"... can they make it any easier?

Alright so here is what you need to know-- the "how it works"...

1. Sign up and complete a style profile (styles you love, styles you hate, colors you won't wear, how you like your clothes to fit, do you have pierced ears, what you want to start incorporating into your wardrobe, and how much you spend on various pieces of clothing, you can also link your style profile to a Pinterest board-- in my first Fix I received a bracelet I had totally pinned on Pinterest, whoa)
2. Pick a date (select when you want your first Fix to come, they send you a box filled with 5 items, the styling fee is $20, if you keep anything the styling fee gets applied as credit to whatever you buy)
3. Package arrives (warning-- you might fee like a kid on Christmas morning, you try everything on and decide what you want to keep and what you don't, *I have not sent an item back to date, shipping and return shipping is all free)
4. Finalize your Fix (login to your account and finalize what you are keeping, if you keep all 5 items you get 25% off, make notes in your style profile for the things they sent that you loved and what you didn't and why)
5. Schedule your next Fix

Another amazing thing they do is give you $25 in referral credit for every friend that signs up, I encourage you to do it and tell your friends!

Stitch Fix - Sign Up!

Check out all of these other reviews where people share what they got in their Fixs-- you know its good when all these people (including myself) are sharing the good news, without being compensated in any way by Stitch Fix.

Stitch Fix Reviews

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

Tonight's glass is a classic under $10 bottle- Excelsior Chardonnay from South Africa. My favorite thing about this glass is that it was poured at a lovely chilled 54 degrees thanks to my new wine fridge, ohh the little things in life. 

twenty five

I spent my early twenties celebrating my birthdays in typical bar star fashion. My 21st birthday was a trip Vegas with two of my very best friends. It felt like a right of passage and I spent the birthdays to follow celebrating in similar style. I've now officially crossed into my mid twenties and the shots of tequila are fewer and far between. In fact it near makes me cringe thinking about the days where I would refuse to take them with salt and lime-- and would force the people with me to also partake in putting their big girl panties on and throwing back straight shots of the awful stuff. I spent my early twenties feeling a tad hard core and frequently channeled my inner "rock star".

I like to think as I enter my mid twenties I'm still a bit hard core, just hard core in an entirely different way. At 25, I've spent years being driven. I made it through college, grad school, a CPA certification and landed a great "big girl job". At 25, I've owned my independence. Last year I purchased my first home, 12 hours away from "home". At 25, I'd now like to set the cruise control and bask in life a bit. It's time to focus a little less on "achieving" and "doing" and focus a little more on just "being".

Below is a perfect example of what 25 looks like. My birthday dinner this year consisted of staying home and cooking; pineapple turkey burgers with pepperjack cheese, homemade mac & cheese, easy bruschetta from my Brilliant Eats Kidney Cookbook and a pear cider to top it all off.

25 feels like a milestone -- possibly the bridge between young immature early twenties and real adulthood. 25 feels tiring -- reflecting on 25 years of life; man I've done, felt and seen a lot. I've traveled to amazing places around the world, I've made amazing lifelong friends, I've loved, I've lost, I have hurt and been hurt. 25 feels satisfying -- I've made it this far, great memories, a few regrets and baggage in tow, and I'm ready for the road ahead.

Cheers to 25 years!

Sincerely,
Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

Stepping away from the wine for a glass of Blue Bee Apple Cider. Now this isn't really me being adventurous-- it definitely tastes more like a sparkling glass of wine. Blue Bee Cider is Virginia's first 'urban cidery' and is located in the heart of downtown Richmond's Old Manchester District. This new Richmond business was featured in the Richmond magazine several months back and after hosting a work event here, I am totally hooked. This particular cider is 'Argon 1904', check out the link if you want a glass too --> Blue Bee Cider. Cheers!

(Heart)Breaking News: FDA Responds to Tolvaptan New Drug Application

Waiting for me in my inbox the other night was this email from the PKD Foundation...

It's hard for me to put into words at the moment how I felt reading this email. For tonight I'll keep it short and sweet. To put it simply, I'm reminded of the Addison Road song- Hope Now.

"Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow"

Everything. Rides. On. Hope. Now.

This is by no means the FDA’s final decision on drugs for PKD. For now, this is just part of the process, not the end.  I find peace tonight in knowing that of the 157 written testimonies that they read and considered, one of those was mine. I may have a disease that will be a burden and a struggle and a fight, but I am sure going to make it count.

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What’s in my glass…

An interesting twist on your typical white wine, a bit sassy ;). A delicious, light and sweet white I picked up at a liquor store the other day in good ole Bowling Green, KY.