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The 6 Unsung Heroes of the Holidays

Jesus. Santa. Hanukkah Harry.

This time of year I feel like some people get all the spotlight!

Not…

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#Blogtops Challenge: Routine

A’ight y’all.

I think you can all sympathize with my plight of last minute work projects before…

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#Blogtops Challenge: Confessions of a Music Convert

Do you guys remember those survey forwards that we used to get in middle school and send around to…

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27 (semi) Earth-Shattering Realizations for my 27th Birthday

You guys. I think it’s time I come clean.

I recently had my birthday. I’m 27.

My thoughts exactly,…

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After much thought, #upandcoming #quarterlifer will be moving to Word Press. 

upandcomingquarterlifer.wordpress.com

All of my old content has been moved and you can find it all at the new address! 

I will still be utilizing Tumblr to publish my posts but from now on, I will be using Word Press as my primary blogging platform. Plus, it looks way better! So, I suggest you follow me there to get the full extent of my #millennial sass!

#StitchFix Review: Fix #2

Rollin’ right along with blogs this week. Making up for lost time.

Thanks to my workplace, in addition to getting Thanksgiving off, we got Friday off as well! When I found out that my Stitch Fix would likely get here on the same day I was ecstatic! For once, I wouldn’t have to make the hurried drive over to FedEx (or UPS, or USPS) to pick up a package that I couldn’t sign for during the day. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side with this fix.

Juju helping me open the box.

Like a good nosy Scorpio, I had Googled the names of all the pieces as they had shown up on my Stitch Fix account. As such, opening the box I had a pretty good idea of what I’d be getting for most of the items. So, I started with the one I hadn’t been able to find a picture for, the necklace.

On my Pinterest, I had pinned a fair amount of the types of things I was looking for, in the hopes that my stylist would see it. So, when I saw that I was getting a necklace in this fix I was really hopeful. Once I opened the box though, I knew it wasn’t right at all. 

$28, Bay to Baubles. Cabochon Bugs Parade Necklace.

The name already had me on edge and sure enough, the little things on this necklace did look like bugs. Creepy. The color and shape looked kind of Grandma-ish to me. Plus, I don’t even like gold all that much and had already relented on a gold colored necklace in my last fix. I sadly put it in the ‘no’ pile. 

Then I looked with trepidation at the thing that I was the most scared of when I had searched for it online. It didn’t look like my style from the pictures I had seen and, unfortunately, I turned out to be right. 

$58, 41Hawthorn. Lachlan Cross Front Long Sleeve Blouse.

Seriously? Ew. Horizontal stripes? Horrible muted color palette? Short torso? No. No. No. There was nothing at all right about this top. I showed it to the bf, who described it as a grandma quilt drawn in a comic book. As it turns out, grandma’s quilt is also made of Kleenex. Um, guys? I live in Minnesota.  To make matters worse, the sleeves were too small, causing the all too familiar phobia that I would rip this thing any second. Nothing like feeling like a fat oaf to give you a good confidence boost.

Continuing the trend was this little number…

Just kidding…

$88, Kensie Jeans. Kaleigh Ankle Biter Skinny Jean. 

Ok. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit. These skinnies actually went on pretty easily. However, the cut below the knee was MUCH too tight and almost vulgar looking. Could probably have worn with boots but for $88 dollars I could find something WAY better. They looked more like tights than jeans. Say it with me people, “tights aren’t pants." 

With my slightly bruised ego, I then looked for something to raise my spirits. 

$68, 41Hawthorn. Florence Colorblocked Dress. 

Finally something I could tolerate! I’m typically a big fan of color blocking as it’s a good alternative to patterns, most of which I can’t stand. The thing with this dress was, again, the fabric. 100% polyester and not machine washable? What’s up with that? For me, this dress was an *almost* but not quite worth the amount of money. 

I then reached for my last hope–the thing that looked the comfiest

$48, 41Hawthorn. Aleah Heathered V-Neck Dolman Top

Ding ding! Finally we have a winner! Green isn’t normally a color I wear too much. Blue yes. Teal yes. Blue-green yes. But straight up green, not really. This top was sort of an evergreen color. I was unsure of the sleeves on the Dolman style top but it actually looked pretty good on me! And, left plenty of room for my wide back and shoulders. I also liked how it was more fitted at the bottom. 

In general though, I was pretty disappointed with this fix as compared to my last one and made sure to let Stitch Fix know when I checked out. Here’s to hoping for a better experience next time. 

Interested in Stitch Fix? I get money if I refer you! Check them out here! 

#Blogtops Challenge: The fam fam !

In order to catch up with the #blogtops, this post will just be a photo collage, showing my different families of all sorts. Enjoy! 

“BlogTops” are weekly blog posts that myself, my good friend Dave, and hopefully you will join us in discussing topics that we feel the majority of millennials are dealing with or have dealt with in their lives. To keep it creative we pick one specific word for the weekly topic and then we are letting our imagination and creative writing take our blogs in whatever direction we so choose. It could be anything from generalizing the topic, to specific memories, to something serious, or funny. It’s anything goes! If you want to join along tag your posts with BlogTop on Twitter, WordPress, Tumblr, etc. and we will be sure to promote your blogs on social media!

#Blogtops Challenge: Stereotypes

I know. I know. 

I’ve been very neglectful of you, my loyal readers (all 10 of you :P ). However, I’m not a quitter–at least not when it comes to friends like my good pal, Dave. So, even though we’re almost 2 weeks late here’s my weekly #blogtop for the topic, Stereotypes. 

One time, when I was working at the coffee shop, a gentleman came up to me, ordered, and then in an attempt to make small-talk asked me the question that I’ve been getting for as long as I can remember: “What are you?”

Having had to answer this question for many years, I knew what I meant and gave him the answer he was looking for, the one that would place me in a comfortable box in his head. “I’m Chinese and White." Nodding, satisfied with my answer, he replied: "I love Chinese buffet.”

This is just one of countless examples of people thinking that it’s their business/privilege to be able to categorize me in their mind–almost as if the absence of  stereotype scares people so much that they NEED it in order to form the basis of a relationship.

As someone whose racial background is mixed I’ve at different times in my life found myself being subject to different stereotypes based on my appearance. I’ve been hit on by guys who call me “native.” I’ve learned to recognize certain other Living in China, I was immediately sized up and was often asked: “你是哪国人” , Ni shi na guo ren? or Where are you from?

Living in Minnesota, where the dominant group is Caucasian and the largest Asian racial group is Hmong I never truly found belonging in either place. For the small community of Chinese folks, my brown (not black) and curly (not straight) hair immediately give me away as not Chinese enough and I am considered ‘White’. With my white friends, sometimes they find it cute to draw attention to my Asian-ness to which I’ll laugh and identify with, all the while thinking in my head, “You guys know that I’m white too, right?’

I often feel like I have to throw myself into one category or the other, rather than show the full extent of my identity as a biracial woman. Something that I often tell those close to me is: The problem with stereotypes isn’t that they aren’t true, but that they’re incomplete.

Sure, it may feel easy to categorize people by what you view as their dominant characterization: "My gay friend” “The fat guy” But what we really do when we do this is but a barrier between ourselves and our deep and intimate understanding of that person. 

I think, too, the damage of stereotypes is that by continually reflecting back what you view of a person, that person begins to view themselves in that same, narrow light. For instance, just recently I was talking with a friend about my desire for books that talked about being biracial. She asked me if I had read books about being Hapa. After 27 years of either being white or Chinese and very seldom fully understood as a mixture of both, I had no idea what that even meant and thought it referred to strictly Hawaiians. 

While I’m still unsure if I’m willing to label myself as Hapa, the fact that I didn’t even know that referring to myself in that way was an option, while also showing my own ignorance, I think is also a testament to the world I see around me. 

We’re seeing an increasing amount of media attention around stories that are similar to mine. A few weeks ago I posted this link, which depicts the Changing Face of America. Here are just a few:

A few months ago, the following Cheerios ad was met with equal parts celebration and controversy:

However, the fact that things like these become so sensationalized means that they aren’t truly being accepted as the norm. I remember when gay marriage was first legalized, a few friends indicated to me being excited for their first gay weddings, to which I replied: “Why don’t you just call them weddings?”

Despite the fact that we continually move toward greater and more complete understanding of all of the people who we intersect with, I still think there’s more work to be done in order to overcome the incomplete stereotypes that we bring to our interactions with one another.

The key, I think, is to focus on building relationships with all people that you meet. When you meet someone and have an impression or stereotype of them, I think it’s ok to acknowledge it, but don’t allow that to turn your ears off to their stories and experiences that are what make them a whole and complete person. 

“BlogTops” are weekly blog posts that myself, my good friend Dave, and hopefully you will join us in discussing topics that we feel the majority of millennials are dealing with or have dealt with in their lives. To keep it creative we pick one specific word for the weekly topic and then we are letting our imagination and creative writing take our blogs in whatever direction we so choose. It could be anything from generalizing the topic, to specific memories, to something serious, or funny. It’s anything goes! If you want to join along tag your posts with BlogTop on Twitter, WordPress, Tumblr, etc. and we will be sure to promote your blogs on social media!

#Blogtops Challenge: Dear Fei and Dave

Who knew that Diet Coke vs. Coffee debates would stir up such controversy? My only regret is that I did not spend more time building an excellent case for my favorite heavenly beverage. Kudos to Dave on his far superior blog post. 

Since it seems that posts that show diverging options and views on the world tend to be the most enticing to you all, we thought we’d continue the trend this week with some #advice. That’s right, for this week’s #blogtop some lucky advice-seekers get two sets of advice for one! We’re not trying to sell ourselves as experts here, by any means. But, we figure, with two of us, at least one of us is bound to be helpful right? The question is, who’s advice will you take: his or hers? 

Let’s see…

“Dear Fei and Dave,

It’s nearing the end of the semester and I have NO motivation! I’m so checked out of school! How can I stay focused?”

- Kirin, 20 from GA

Oh, girllll I have been there! I remember so many times during college when I’d be sitting around in my dorm room, just watching YouTube or procrastinating by walking to the cafeteria and then finally sitting down at around 12 a.m. to write a paper that was due the next morning. Not sure when November became the “end of the semester,” but I digress…

I think that sometimes when don’t feel motivated, it’s really just our little defense mechanism saying that we are overwhelmed by the amount of work we have in front of us. Instead of buckling down, we tell turn to apathy because it protects us from the terrible truth: F.I.N.A.L.S or Fuck, I never actually learned (this) shit. 

This is inaccurate since that child is clearly Asian. 

My first piece of advice is to be honest with yourself. What are the things that are most likely to distract you from the work you need to do? Remove them. If your laptop has fun games and stuff, go to the library and use their computer. Do you get distracted by some roomies aka bad influences? Get out of the dorm and go down to the coffee shop.

It also helps to surround yourself with an environment conducive to getting your work done. If you keep getting distracted trying to study at your dorm desk with music, don’t keep trying it. Mix it up! Try different places and techniques until you find something that works. My senior year of college, I finally settled on studying in the student union building in a giant booth to myself with a box of Wheat Thins and a Diet Coke. A conducive environment also includes people who motivate you. Ditch those distracting friends and find some who also are trying to buckle down and create your own personal work commune.

Finally, make a schedule for all the work you have to do, break it up into manageable chunks and then reward yourself once you complete those chunks. “Once I write a 2 pages I can go get a snack” or “Once I get through these flashcards I can watch a YouTube video.” Keeping the tasks small will help you to keep the motivation.

Above all, my favorite mantra to tell myself is sometimes: “Either way, tomorrow/that test/the end of the semester will be over soon.” If things are tough, remember that in the grand scheme of things you will make it through!

“Dear Fei and Dave,

I need some tips on how to keep my home clean and organized.”

- Meagan, 26 from MN

I have a confession. I know exactly who wrote this question and the fact that she is asking ME for advice on cleaning and organization is truly laughable, particularly when my apartment currently looks like this: 

Replace the tiddly winks with cat toys and the stuffed animals with shoes and this is pretty accurate, down to the stack of papers hiding under a frog toy. 

I have a fairly busy lifestyle and don’t really have the time or desire that’s required to keep a pristine living space that I’m barely in. That said, I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: “A place for everything, and everything in its place.”

The best thing I’ve found is to keep lots of containers. Document boxes, hampers, jewelry trays, fabric bins galore! To me, they are the happy medium between uber-organized filing and labeling and the total absence of a system. Something that I’ve found helpful is making each container be associated with the action that you have to complete with the items inside, rather than the actual item. Think about your kitchen, you don’t have a whole drawer just for spoons or a whole cabinet just for flour. The drawer is, “shit that I eat shit with” and the cabinet is “stuff I use to bake stuff.” This same strategy can apply to your whole home. For example, my hamper becomes “crap I need to clean,” one document box may be “crap I need to deal with” and one might be “stuff I should save.” For me, it strikes a good balance because I’m not spending forever labeling or creating a new place for something. 

Another helpful tip is, as much as possible, digitize any important documents that you need and then shred the hard copies. I’m sure Boomers and even Gen-Xers would probably shudder at this but, you’re a Millennial! Do you really think all those huge companies are saving the hard copy things you send them? If electronic things are good enough for them, why not you? Credit card statements, bills, and other stuff can all be stored on your computer and eliminates yucky paper clutter. Plus, if you upload to an online saving system, you can have those things wherever you go. So, if someone steals your credit card on vacation you can have all the info you need to cancel it on your I-Pad or smart phone. 

I happen to know that the person who wrote this question is fairly recently cohabitating with a partner and is likely dealing with the headaches of merging possessions and living habits. Sit down and figure out a system that works for both of you. Maybe you pick out 2 days a month where you order pizza, turn on Netflix and get cleaning. Put it on a calendar, because if it’s not on a calendar it’s easy to forget or plan over. Maybe it works better for both of you to do a half hour “power clean” each day after work. Either way, figure it out together. It’ll make it feel like the space feel TRULY yours and avoid the feeling that one person is bearing all the burden. 

“Dear Fei and Dave,

How do I handle the stress that comes with being broke?”

- Bill, 25 from IL

This question really hits home with me, friend. Make no mistake, I know that even when I was  collecting unemployment and working at a coffee shop I was nowhere near as destitute as I often felt. Still, I remember crying looking at my heating bills in January, trudging to the bus stop at 5:00 a.m. in a blizzard to avoid paying for parking, and on top of it all having to PAY when tax season came around. 

My first piece of advice is that it’s ok to freak out sometimes. Just know that the fact that you are freaking out means that you are actually thinking about your situation and being careful with your finances. 

That brings me to my second piece of advice, which is to create a budget for yourself and know your numbers. When money is tight, it’s imperative that you know how much you have for certain aspects of your life. First, figure out how much you’re taking in after taxes as income. Next, determine your essential fixed costs, which for me, are things that I know I will have to pay, in-full, come hell or high water. For me, this is rent, essential amenities (heat/electric/water/stuff not included in rent) a cellphone, insurance costs (car, medical etc), and student loans (if you have them).

Then, determine the categories for essential variable costs (in my mind, things that you need, but can finagle by using cheap substitutions, going without, and using creative solutions) such as food, clothing, savings, laundry and gas. Then, if needed, brainstorm ways to bring these costs down . Finally, determine categories for not-so-essential costs like cable, internet, other entertainment. 

Again, what goes into each category may be different for you. For example, maybe you need an internet connection to do your job, which would make it an essential fixed cost for you. However, keeping the categories is what’s helped me to feel like I know where I stand. Knowing your numbers will help you feel like you are armed with the information to make good decisions. Think of it as a money diet–you can make healthy choices most of the time and then cheat every once in a while when you plan it out. 

Which leads me to my last piece of advice, strike a balance between cheap entertainment and calculated splurges. Nothing makes you feel poorer than sitting in the dark and staring at a wall while your friends go out to the bars and drink the night away. Entertain yourself cheaply by renting Red Box movies or researching cheap/free activities in your neighborhood to do with your friends. Are any local colleges or universities hosting lectures or meetups? Sometimes those things have free food and you can actually learn something! And, if you do that enough you’ll have extra to spend if you do decide to go the traditional route of hitting the town. 

It’s all about the Lincolns, baby!

Most of all though, don’t lose sight of and feel like you can’t have  the things that make you feel good and spiritually rich. Chase those feelings and not the material things you think you need to achieve them. Do you love gorging yourself on extravagant dinners? Go on pinterest and learn how to make some yourself! Do you love the feeling of putting on some new duds? Host a clothing swap with some friends. Get creative! You could surprise yourself. 

“Dear Fei and Dave,

How do I know if I love someone of if it’s just lust?”

- Bryan, 25 from IN

Dang, these questions are getting hard. How does Abby do this?

My stock answer here is that everyone’s different, and ultimately what determines what you feel for someone is sort of defined by how you feel about people before and after that. 

I’ll use myself as an example. When I was in 6th grade I was CONVINCED that I was in LOVE with Michael Knutson. I did all of that creepy girl shit that you do when you like someone that I won’t repeat here because we’re FB friends and OMG what if he reads this?!

At the time I was SURE it was love because I’d NEVER felt like that before. Since then, I’ve understandably had my fair share of relationships of different kinds. So, while my 12 year old self may have been in love as she defined it, through my worldly and wise 27 year old eyes, it was really more like puppy lust. In other words, it’s really about context.

When you think about this person what do you think about? Do you fantasize about how they look or what they might be like in bed or do you think about what your life might look like together?  My guidance for you might surprise you when I say that both of these things are lustful thoughts: one for the person and one for the life you might have.

I know it’s not as fun to do but imagine all of the not-so-fun stuff about being in a relationship. Financial troubles, whiny kids, and weird and creepy relatives. Do you still see this person standing next to you through all that or does the thought of being with them become really unattractive all of a sudden? If that’s the person you see supporting you through all the yucky stuff, to me, that is love. 

The other thing I want to bring up is that I sort of feel like the love that happens between romantic partners involves a give an take and a true understanding of one another. While I think it’s possible to lust after someone physically as well as emotionally from afar, I think that love really needs two people to work. I think that’s why, at least for me, I have a history of falling for my friends, because there is a constant back and forth of emotion and sharing of one another that builds over time. The trouble I think comes into play when people have differing definitions of what love looks like.  

Remember though, labels aren’t really that important. If you enjoy someone’s company and they make you feel good, then who really cares what it’s called. Only question when your feelings start to turn sour. In other words, call it whatever the heck you want, but don’t call it late for dinner. 

“Dear Fei and Dave,

I just turned 25 and I feel conflicted. I feel young at heart, but I don’t want to resist the transition into actual adulthood. How do I know when I am ready? I like being young, crazy, and single. But I also like the idea of marriage, starting a family, buying a home, and all of that. I’m afraid I will regret moving too fast. Is anyone ever "ready?”

- Stephen, 25 from CA

Oh jeez. 

I mean, I feel you. And, I think that a lot of us #quarterlifers feel the same way. Like, if they didn’t nobody would be reading this blog. 

I do think that as #quarterlifers, we sometimes struggle with finding that balance between our old party selves and our more adulty selves. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have the energy to drink the night away each  weekend. And, when I look at the people around me I just feel out of place and even when I manage to keep up with the kiddos I just feel empty and like it doesn’t hold the same mystique that it once did. At the same time, when other people talk about car seats, and bottles, and whatever else, I can’t stop myself from getting bored as heck. (Shout out to all my mom or soon-to-be mom friends out there. I love you, but just can’t relate).

At this stage of our lives though, I think it’s important that we not view ourselves as “in transition” and as waiting for the next big milestones in our lives. We have to work to carve out a social niche for ourselves. Being a #quarterlifer isn’t just your pit-stop on the way to adulthood. It’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.

To find people in your same boat, meet-ups and young-professional groups work well. Don’t see something you like? Make your own! Travel! You may never have this same freedom again! Now’s also the perfect time to throw yourself into excelling professionally because you’re young, teachable, and have energy and skills. Nobody’s waiting for you at home, so stay late and climb the ladder so that you can feel comfortable when you want to make those choices to settle down later on. 

Don’t forget, though, to make time for yourself to do all the things that make you feel alive. I think that sometimes, it’s easy to mistake things that sort of numb us out (alcohol, junk food…) for things we actually enjoy. What excites and exhilarates you? What ignites your passion for life? Spend this time, when you have nobody to answer to, exploring those things and looking for people who are energized by those things as well. 

I don’t know that you are ever really “ready” to grow up. I remember when I was a youngin’ the thought of one day being in HIGH SCHOOL was unfathomable to me. All those LOCKERS! And other kids! And DANCES! When I was in High School, it was SO hard for me to imagine being in college. The key was, these milestones happened, regardless of whether or not I was ready. 

It’s important to keep future things in mind if you want them in your heart of hearts, but not at the moment. It’s also totally find if you don’t want them. In my experience though, life choices will find you regardless of whether or not you’re looking for them.  Just remember to avoid making choices out of fear. Don’t turn your back on a potential future, because you’re afraid to let go of your more youthful self. At the same time, don’t rush into having a family and things just because you see other people doing it and feel left behind. Unless you look around one day, and find yourself the 40 year old trying to party it up at an 18+ night you don’t really need to worry. Ultimately, whatever time those choices find you will be the “right” time for you to make them. 

“BlogTops” are weekly blog posts that myself, my good friend Dave, and hopefully you will join us in discussing topics that we feel the majority of millennials are dealing with or have dealt with in their lives. To keep it creative we pick one specific word for the weekly topic and then we are letting our imagination and creative writing take our blogs in whatever direction we so choose. It could be anything from generalizing the topic, to specific memories, to something serious, or funny. It’s anything goes! If you want to join along tag your posts with BlogTop on Twitter, WordPress, Tumblr, etc. and we will be sure to promote your blogs on social media!

#StitchFix Review: Fix #1

Even though I dedicated an entire blog post to personal style I must confess that I, for the most part, hate shopping. Crowds, tiny fitting rooms,and the humiliation of those full-length mirrors that are always lit with unflattering fluorescent light is enough to make me don my thread-bare, too-big, out-of-style garb and just throw a trusty cardigan or scarf over the whole thing. For my inner fashionista, this situation was simply unacceptable. 

Enter Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service. You just go online, answer a few short questions about your style, size, and budget preferences, and they send you a package of 5 items to try for $20. If you hate everything you send it back. If you like stuff you pay for it (the $20 fee applies to the total) and get a 25% discount if you buy all 5 items. 

Now before I talk about my experience I just have to get out of the way that trying on clothes comes with a certain amount of trepidation for me. I blame it on the years of magazine-order circus and dance costumes, where even the XL had to be altered to fit me. I can recount several painful experiences where I had to go to “costume fittings” where I had to stand in front of a group of people all starting at my fat bulging out and the seams screaming only to be told I’d have to wear something “different” as if it was all my fault. Consequently, any time I’m trying on something there’s a little voice inside my head, bracing me for the terrible truth, that whispers incessantly: “This isn’t going to fit you." 

So this was my mindset as I opened my first Stitch Fix box in the safety of my boyfriend’s room. I looked at the pieces and could feel my heart beating. I’d only just recently lost enough weight to even be eligible for Stitch Fix size-wise so knew that if these pieces didn’t fit I’d be out of luck; just another ill-fitting costume and another reminder of how big I am. 

$88, 41Hawthorn Toshi Contrast Detail Blazer. Still need to work on my clothes photography skills.

I went for what I thought would be the least likely to fit first: the blazer. Besides a total complex for clothing, the other thing that years of circus and dance has given me is a huge upper back and shoulders. Anything super structured on top usually is usually met with the "Hulk syndrome.”

Me, trying to fit into a structured top. 

As I feared, I could barely fit my arms into the blazer and once I did I felt with one shrug I probably would have ripped it in 2 pieces. A shame though because it was exactly my style and would have been awesome for the office.

$78, Kensie Lonnie Lightweight Slub Knit Sweater. Juju is judging…

I then went to the thing I thought was probably the ugliest. Seriously what the heck is this thing? Absolutely no shape, no color, pretty see-through…not even Juju likes it. And whoever named Slub cotton? C'mon that’s just dumb. The only good thing about this shirt was it was too big (I think, but who could tell..), which was kind of a nice ego boost. 

Then I turned to my favorite piece. The only piece that I could find a good picture for when I had googled the names of the pieces online when I got my Fix preview. 

$78. Kensie Dashiell Raglan Lurex Sleeve Sweater. Seriously, you guys. I now will never underestimate the difficulty of a perfect full-body selfie. This is hard. Jeans from the closet of my friend, Meagan Beck and the tank top underneath is mine from American Eagle. 

Loved it! It was comfy, cozy, warm, sparkly, and fit which makes a winner in my book. It was a yes immediately. 

Next came the piece that it took me a while to love and probably frightened me the most looking at it.

$78. Kut  From the Kloth Jonathan Corduroy Skinny Pant. Big toe photobomb.

When I first put these on, I was initially relieved because they slid on easily. Then bf said the words that every girl loves to hear: “You look like a Christmas elf.” I have to admit, I did look pretty dopey wearing them  along with my workout t-shirt. I looked at the note card that came along with my package which indicated that the cords would go with the blazer (that was a bust) and the dumb sweater I had already nixed. I tried it on with the sweater and to my surprise it actually looked like an outfit–maybe for some hipster living in uptown, but not for me. 

The more I wore them around, though, the more I liked them. They were soft, warm and something I didn’t already have in my closet. Also, fairly flattering, which isn’t something that I can usually say for skinnies. And, when I thought about it, I had a plain blazer and numerous cardis in my closet that could go with them. Ultimately, more than anything, I was becoming a Stitch Fix convert and wanted to participate in the process and so decided to splurge and get them. 

The last item I don’t really have a good picture for and am too lazy to take one.

Necklace stand in for. $32 Bay to Baubles Enamel Flags Necklace.

The necklace is actually more gold than this, with more flags. And, the green is more of a seafoam color. It’s simple, but fun and I’ve been looking for some shorter, funky necklaces to add to my wardrobe since my long, party necklaces always hit my desk/keyboard while I’m typing. 

All in all I purchased 3 of 5 items from my fix. Not too shabby! The price point was a little high for me, and told Stitch Fix so when I checked out. I splurged a bit, but would prefer more affordable items in the future. For now, though I’ve got some cute new items, that actually fit, and that I can work into both my work and casual life! 

Interested in Stitch Fix, too? I get free money if I refer you! Check it out at this link! And don’t worry if it says the next available date isn’t until February. Keep checking back and something is bound to open up! 

Red Skinnies from the Fix. I’m wearing the necklace too, but you can’t see it. Blazer is from The Limited, Gray tee from Old Navy, Tank top from American Eagle. Blue cat toy my mom got from a friend .

Can’t wait for my next fix!