Stitch Fix Reveal - Birthday Edition

I'm so excited to share another Stitch Fix box with you. This box arrived just days after my birthday in January (don't ask...I'm really old) and I once again requested the same stylist I've had over the last year. Every box with her seems to get better and better, so I was excited to see what she'd pull together for my birthday. I request a few of my "favorite things" in this box - anything bright and colorful (bonus points for something yellow), anything with polka dots, ruffles or peplum, a vest or jacket and an amazing pair of jeans. JessicaV got the job done and hit all my requests. I was so excited to pull out each piece and know she really paid attention to what I asked for. I was extra picky this month, so I only ended up keeping 1 out of the 5 items, but I honestly could have kept them all and been happy with them. After I adjusted my sizes last month, everything fit so much better and I'm already looking forward to my next fix. 

And speaking of "next fix" -- if you want to win an AWESOME giveaway for a $150 gift certificate to Stitch Fix for your next fix, make sure you read all the way to the bottom of this post!

41 Hawthorn Norden Lattice Detail Blouse

This was probably my least favorite item in the box, but looking back at the photos, I kind of wish I would have kept it. When I tried it on the first time, I didn't love the color. It looked very garnet, and while that's my birthstone, I just don't love that dark color on me. I love bright red, but burgundy/wine...not so much. However, once I got outside the color was so much lighter/brighter - more of a raspberry color and I loved it so much more. I also really loved the v-neck on the shirt and the length. However, I just couldn't get on board with the lattice/cut-out look and felt like the body of the shirt just hung boxy on me. Maybe I just needed to steam it or something. Like I said, looking at these photos, I'm not sure I see that and now I'm kicking myself a little bit for sending it back. 

RETURNED

Daniel Rainn Bethanie Lace Yoke Knit Top

Next up, yellow! While I prefer bright lemon yellow, this mustard color was so pretty! Perfect for fall and winter. The length was great and I loved the softness of the knit, but the lace on the top just turned me off. I love wearing camisoles under shirts (and non-strapless bras) - both of which would be impossible with this top. And I felt like the lace was a little too old lady and dated me a bit. I felt the same way trying on lace wedding gowns - lace just doesn't work on me. 

RETURNED

Market & Spruce Anella Puffer Vest

Gah! How cute is this little black and white polka dot puffer vest?? I wanted to love this vest so much, but it just didn't do anything for me. So much potential and then it just looked plain and boring when I put it on. I don't know! It's sporty and casual and so me! I tried it on with a number of different tops in various prints/patterns/colors/styles and it just didn't look as cute on me as it looked on the hanger. I also have a number of black/grey puffy vests very similar to this one, so maybe it was just looked too much like what I already have to stand out. Maybe next time I'll ask for faux leather or shearling or something a bit more exotic? 

Pistola Tory Distressed Ankle Zip Skinny Jean

Another one that was SO close, but just barely missed the mark. These distressed jeans were so comfortable, with just the right amount of distressing in a great color. They fit perfectly around the middle, however, they were just a teeny tad bit too short (that never happens!!) - they hit right above my ankle - and I thought they'd look ridiculous with heels. I almost kept them anyway to wear with with flats and boots (as pictured), but then the ankle zip part of the jean was really uncomfortable when tucked in. The zipper hit right on the bony part of my ankle, making them impossible to wear with boots. Womp womp.

RETURNED

Market & Spruce Elissa French Terry Moto Jacket

I was not expecting to love this jacket as much as I did when I first pulled it out of the box. Heather grey usually washes me out, but this jacket was just too good to pass up. The black leather details on the jacket made it just a tad bit edgy/modern, while still being really warm and comfortable. I loved the cross-body asymmetrical zipper and the collar and thought it looked just as cute zipped up completely as it did half-zipped. This is one of those items that's casual enough to wear with jeans and boots on the weekend and can also be dressed up with a pair of black slacks and black heeled booties to work.

KEEP

What do you think of this fix? 

Did I keep the right pieces?

New Website Survey

Hello friends! 

I've received a lot of questions lately about the launch of the new website, Run Wild My Child (and whether that's still happening). I just wanted to pop on here and let you know that we're still a GO for a late Spring launch date! Woo hoo! 

Content is being developed (or at least brainstormed), the website is being finalized and I'm working on building a social media presence online. There's so much to do! I'm also trying to figure out how to celebrate the big launch in the proper way (obviously champagne will be involved, but gifts and prizes would also be nice). This project has been a labor of love and has taken longer to finalize than I was expecting (because, you know...life), but I'm hoping to have everything up and running for you by the time school lets out so you'll be ready for summer outdoor adventures with your kids. 

As I prep and plan, I'd be absolutely thrilled if you'd do me a huge HUGE favor and completed this little 10 question survey. Basically, I just want to know what you're interested in and what type of content you'd like to see. Pretty please and thank you in advance!!! (if you have trouble with the survey below, you can click here to go directly to the survey site)

Create your own user feedback survey

In the meantime, until we're up and running, you can follow us in the following places:

Instagram

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

I'm so excited to start this adventure and I really hope you'll join me on the journey! Until then, GO OUTSIDE and play! 

Anna Maria Island

A few days after Thanksgiving, after eating all our leftovers and emerging from our turkey coma, we packed our bags and headed down to the beach for a few days of sunshine and Florida fun. We tried a new (to us) location this time - Anna Maria Island - which we've heard wonderful things about. We rented a charming little bungalow, right off the beach, with a heated pool out back and plenty of lizards running around the yard to keep the littles entertained. The waves were cold, but the sunshine was warm, the sand was so soft, the tidepools were teeming, the seafood was savory and the light was absolutely Lovely (with a capital L). Plus, the beaches were nearly deserted and we felt like we owned miles of white sandy stretches. Basically, the whole place was a photographer's dream, so it's no surprise that I took a million photos. I had a very hard time narrowing it down to less than 100 to post today! 

Every morning we'd take the kids to the beach at low tide to check out all the fun creatures in the tidepools. We found all kinds of crabs, sea slugs, conch, sharks teeth, hermit crabs, puffer fish, whelk, minnows, snails and every type of shell imaginable. We watched pods of dolphins swim by, skipped sand dollars, chased seagulls, fed heron, fished off the beach (caught a shark!), made sandcastles, found buried treasure, collected shells and just splashed in the waves. Evenings were also lovely, with some of the most spectacular sunsets I've ever seen. It was a really wonderful little getaway and someplace I'd love to go back to and explore a bit more. 

Until we meet again, I'll be dreaming of the islands...