How Stitch Fix Works
It is a personal styling service for women that sends you clothing items by mail. You fill out a questionnaire that includes questions about your style, size, and budget preferences, what you want and what you don’t want. They use that info to pick out five items (tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories, coats, etc.) and mail them to your door, so you can try them on at home and see how they work with pieces you already have in your closet. I love the chance to see what outfits I can make using items I have in my closet and making sure I don’t already have something similar.
You have three days to decide what to keep or send back in the prepaid mailer they include in your box. There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order, and that is charged whether you keep any items or not. If you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount on everything. You are only charged once you “check out” at Stitch Fix.
You can see my unboxing and initial reaction to the items here:
And here’s how they actually looked on:
Kassidy Faux Wrap Dress by 41Hawthorn
Verdict: Keep!
I’m leading with this because it was my favorite item in this Fix. I had pinned it to my Stitch Fix board on Pinterest in a different color and my stylist, Meredith, said they didn’t have the color available but sent me this navy and red combo instead. I’m so glad she did, and I like this dress even better than what I had pinned.
Mazzota Cut-Out Flats by Nine West
Verdict: Undecided
Did you know that Stitch Fix has shoes now? Very fun!
These were cute. Meredith said she sent them to go with the Kassidy dress and I love her vision, but the shoes are really orange-red, and didn’t come close to matching the true red of the dress.
I really like these, but I don’t really need them and wonder if it wouldn’t be better to put the money toward real red shoes that would match the dress. What do you think?
Violeta Scallop Detail Blouse
Verdict: Undecided
As I approach 40, I often wonder what’s age appropriate and while cut outs seem like they could be in the “don’t” category, I loved that this blouse made it seem okay. And I love scallops. The photos may not have turned out as well as I would have liked, but my 13 year old photographer had to scoot to dance class. It felt really good and would work well on its own and as a layering piece.
Elaine Ikat Print Pocket-Front Knit Shirt
Verdict: Returned
My stylist sent me this shirt because she saw I had pinned it on my Pinterest board. I love that she checks there and tries to give me what I want. I don’t love that I apparently don’t know what works well for me. I liked the colors of the shirt and thought a print would be a fun way to liven up my rather uninspired t-shirt stash.
This was fine, but it was not nearly as cute as it was in the photo I pinned. Just not a lot of wow factor when I’m wearing it. And at $44 for a t-shirt, I’m going to need to love it. It was a touch big and seemed to just hang and do nothing for my shape – perhaps it’s a good example of how petite sizing can go a long way?
Odell Textured V-Neck Dress by London Times
Verdict: Returned
I shall refer to this item as the Mullet Dress. It worked well in the front, but was a hot mess in the back. I had asked for items with sleeves, and so my stylist sent me this, saying that in addition to having sleeves, it is a figure flattering shape.
And it was, until I turned around. Then, not so much.
In addition to just being too small, the pleats in the back were at perhaps the worst possible place for me. And the horizontal striping in the textured fabric didn’t help. I did like the v-neck and the color, which was a bit brighter than in the styling card.
Check out my other Stitch Fixes:
February 2016 Stitch Fix Review: Valentine Edition
January 2016 Stitch Fix Review: Stylish hibernation is a thing, right?
Stitch Fix Review November 2015
Stitch Fix Review September 2015
Stitch Fix Review August 2015: Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo, it’s off to work we go
Stitch Fix Review June 2015: All the clothes that are fit in prints
I received no compensation for this post. If you sign up for Stitch Fix using my referral link here, I get a couple dollars toward my next fix and you get immense gratitude. Thank you!
The Jungle Cruise is a classic ride in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, and while it’s always fun, it’s become even more enjoyable for us as our daughter has grown up and been able to comprehend the puns, the jokes, and the hilarity of the experience. It’s now a family favorite, so we were very excited to hear that there was a new restaurant in Adventureland based on the ride, the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Restaurant. (We’ll call it the Skipper Canteen.)
We were very excited to get to check it out on our Disney Tweens trip earlier this month, and it did not disappoint. It seems that all ages enjoy the restaurant, in part because the food is definitely not your usual theme park food, but we also loved the story and the humor woven throughout the restaurant, which I think make it an especially great option for families with tweens, teens, and older kids.
The Atmosphere
Suggestion: If you can ride the Jungle Cruise shortly before dining at the Skipper Canteen, do so. We did, and it was great because the background story was fresh so we could pick up on a lot of the call backs to the ride. It also helped make sure that we were in the mood to be punny, as my eighth grader likes to say. They’re right near each other so it’s not out of your way
The story is that the restaurant is run by Alberta Falls, granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls, who founded the Jungle Navigation Co. You can read about her and him here:
Skipper Canteen is both beautiful and richly detailed. No surprise, Disney did a great job with the theming. There are three dining areas: the Crew’s Mess Hall, the Falls Family Parlor, and the Secret Meeting Room of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (also known as S.E.A.).
The Mess Hall is the largest area.
I love the stained glass parrots on the light fixtures in the Falls Family Parlor.
We were seated in the Secret Meeting Room of the SEA.
It’s worth a quick spin through the restaurant on your way out to see the different rooms and the gorgeous detail along the way, like this stained glass light.
My daughter really wants to return and sit at this table. I may have the same wish. Love the zodiac signs in the light in addition to the gorgeous butterflies.
And our waiter/skipper played his role perfectly. He was very funny, but not overly so, and the gentle ribbing never seemed too much. (Always good when you have tweens in tow, or just tired or overstimulated travelers who may be a little more sensitive than usual.) We may have the odd tradition in our family or trying to blow our paper straw wrappers at each other and he quickly applauded our use of poison darts. His comment has made me smile every single time we’ve had any occasion to use a straw since our meal at the Skipper Canteen.
There are a lot of great jokes that happen at your meal, but I don’t want to ruin them for you. Suffice it to say that me, my husband and my daughter laughed often during our meal.
The Food
The food at the Jungle Skipper Canteen comes from the rivers that make up the ride, so there are African, Asian and South American dishes.
To start, the bread and the dipping sauce are amazing. There was a joke at our table about how to say it, and in case you were wondering, no, there is no “z” in that. There is a fair amount of spice in both that make them unique and yummy, but not actually spicy, which is a good thing in my book.
There are a few fun drink options, and I love that there are images from the ride included on the menu.
We each got an entrée. I had the Char Siu Pork (our skipper/waiter made a great comment about me really pigging out). They were good, and the Chinese broccoli was particularly tasty. A delicious vegetable in a theme park? Yes, it is possible!
My daughter ordered the A Lot at Steak Salad. She thought it was very good and ate every last bite. While I enjoyed my meal, if I had it to do over again, I would order this.
My husband had the noodle bowl. He said that it was very tasty, but perhaps not the easiest to eat. My cousins dined at the Skipper Canteen a few weeks later and confirmed that the salad was a bigger hit than the noodle bowl with them as well.
The Skip’s Mac n Cheese, which is an Egyptian take on the dish and not at all like the kind Kraft produces, also got positive reviews.
Others with us got the arapas, an appetizer, and gave it two thumbs up. My cousins enjoyed the Shu Mai. And I’m going to do a better job of remembering that appetizers for lunch are a really good way to go.
So how do you get in to the Jungle Skipper Canteen? Right now, they don’t offer Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) but you can make day of reservations on your phone. Walking up to the restaurant won’t work, they will tell you to make reservations using the My Disney Experience App.
We ate there for lunch. Given that we were were headed out to Space Mountain afterward and feeling pretty full already, we passed on dessert, but options include Kungaloosh and Sugar-Crusted Congee Pudding. That’s just a reason for us to head back to the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Restaurant next time!
You may also like: My family’s 6 favorite things to do at Disney Springs
Prior post: Quotes about the month of April
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]]>Here’s my latest Stitch Fix Review, August 2015 edition. I’d love to hear what you think should stay and what should go back.
Birdie Hi-Lo Dress by Loveappela
This dress is really comfy. Although I’m not typically a fan of hi-lo dresses, and have been known to call them “mullet dresses” in the past, this one isn’t quite so high, and it’s a bit less dramatic. I actually really liked it. It’s really comfy and while it’s a bit tighter in the photo than I had realized in person (note to self: time for a new bra), it doesn’t show any cleavage.
This does feel like it would transition between seasons decently with the jean jacket as shown or a sweater, which is nice. I’m wondering what shoes to wear in the cooler weather.
Keziah Shirt Dress by 41Hawthorn
One word: pockets! I love pockets. Probably more than I should. I liked the peach and navy combination of this dress a lot, and it’s really lightweight, which is great for the dog days of summer.
It was fun to see that I have wedges that are the right shade of peach to match. Getting to scope out what I already have in my closet that works with what my stylist sent me is one of my favorite parts of Stitch Fix
I like the notched neck, but I’m a little confused as to what do for jewelry. My stylist said that it would be fun with a statement necklace but all the ones I tried obscured the fun detail. Going to have to work on that one.
Junson Crew Neck Blouse by Collective Concepts
This one is a bit tricky. Horizontal stripes scare terrify me. And this is a hi-lo blouse, with a bit of a peplum. I know, took me a minute to wrap my head around, too, but it was rather figure flattering, meaning it made my waist look small and was longer in the back than the front, enough so to cover my behind. I think it would work with the skinny jeans as suggested by my stylist. In this photo I’m wearing skinny jeans (I refuse to call them skinnies, though I’m not quite sure why) that I got in a prior fix. Sorry that you can’t see how low it goes in the back. My daughter/photographer is awesome, but not a professional.
The exposed zipper up the back isn’t something I usually go for, but I didn’t mind it on this shirt. Maybe it’s a fun way to mix things up a little?
Manzee Crochet Detail Top by Daniel Rainn
Ah, another loose, flowy top. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be a Stitch Fix without one, and my friends who are also devotees confirm that this is true. One friend has said she’s bailing because she just can’t handle the loose tops. I didn’t mind the looseness as much as I worry about the little sleeves that seem to stick out. Not so awesome for the arms, I’m afraid. That said, the bright orange is a nice pop of color that I wouldn’t have picked out for myself.
Crystal, my stylist, suggested either white or dark denim. The white wasn’t on the style card, but I liked it.
I don’t know that I would normally keep this, but I’m tempted by the other items and if I keep 4 items, it’s cheaper to keep this a well rather than send it back because if you keep all 5 items in your fix, you get a 25% discount.
Dita Sleeveless Ponte Dress by 41Hawthorn
I saw this dress online and liked it so much that I requested it in the notes for your stylist that you can fill out when scheduling a fix. I really appreciate that my stylist included it. She said that she thought the cobalt blue would look good with my complexion. I have a similar top that I recently wore when visiting my parents and my mom said she really liked me in that color, so I considered this a score.
The bad news: There were issues with the zipper, hence why there are no photos.
The good news: Customer Service at Stitch Fix responded quickly and is sending me another one.
I really appreciated the prompt reply and the help. In the past I’ve asked for other sizes and been told they are unavailable, so I’m really grateful that this wish was granted by Betsy, the customer service rep who I called my fashion fairy godmother, especially because I’d love to have this dress to wear to an upcoming conference.
How Stitch Fix Works
It is a personal styling service for women. You fill out a questionnaire that includes questions about your style, size, and budget preferences, what you want and what you don’t want. They use that info to pick out five items (tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories, coats, etc.) and mail them to your door, so you can try them on at home and see how they work with pieces you already have in your closet.
You have three days to decide what to keep or send back in the prepaid mailer they include in your box. There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order, and that is charged whether you keep any items or not. If you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount on everything. You are only charged once you “check out” at Stitch Fix.
UPDATE: I kept it all. It’s the first time in years of Stitch Fix that I’ve done so. The discount was pretty fun and make it worth keeping the orange top that I wasn’t so sure about – it was cheaper to keep it all than to send that one item back. This fix was my successful one ever!
My Other Stitch Fix Reviews:
Stitch Fix Review June 2015: All the clothes that are fit in prints
Disclamer: Although I included affiliate links in this post, it was not sponsored and I received no compensation. I paid for my fix and I pay for the clothing on my own, and wanted to share the company with you because I enjoy the service and I enjoy looking at what others get in their fixes. I do get a small credit towards my fixes if you sign up using my referral link here, and some affiliate links are included. I am grateful for your support!
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]]>Let’s cut to the chase. My review of the S’mores Frappuccino at Starbucks is that the drink is good, but not great, and certainly not life changing. My husband tried it as well and agreed. We didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t fall head over heels in love like I did the first time I had a pumpkin spice latte. I think this is a case where the real, solid food is better than the liquid version.
How do they make the S’mores Frappuccino?
I share this because I think the assembly of the drink is where it may fall a bit flat.
The baristsas start with marshmallow-infused whipped cream, then a layer of milk chocolate sauce. That’s topped with a layer of graham-cracker flavored coffee Frappuccino, which is then topped with more marshmallow-whipped cream and graham cracker bits.
Sounds amazing, but the layering makes it tricky to get all the flavors in one sip.
How does the S’mores Frappuccino taste?
It’s good. It’s very sweet. My issue is that the layering that makes up a real, solid s’more is that you get to taste each layer in pretty much every bite. With the drink, though, it felt more like working my way through each layer. I missed a bit of the synergy that comes from the blast flavors at the same time.
I guess the answer to that would be stirring it up. But that makes me wonder why they don’t do that to start. Hmmmm…
I really liked the crushed graham cracker on top but as you can see from the photo, I didn’t get a ton of it. The hint of crunch was fun, but more would be better. The graham cracker gets a bit soggy pretty quickly. It could be fun to add some chocolate on top with the graham cracker to try to get the melding of flavors that makes an actual s’more so special.
In addition to not capturing the flavor mix of the real food item, the drink also misses a few other highlights of real s’mores, including the temperature contrast of the hot marshmallow with the other ingredients and that “toasted” taste that just doesn’t come through in a beverage.
I’m not sure you would want it to, but that has me wondering if s’mores was really the best summer taste treat to liquify. If you want to avoid the campfire, though, it’s a good option.
The drink was really rich – I was feeling full and didn’t completely finish my tall because the marshmallow whipped cream at the bottom was a bit too much. I understand why this is a warmer weather drink but think it would be too heavy on a hot day.
Is the S’mores Frappuccino healthy? What’s the calorie count?
The nutrition stats place it firmly in the category of special splurge; it is definitely not something my metabolism can handle on a regular basis. Because there are lots of different permutations to a Starbucks drink, your best bet is to check out the nutrition information on the Starbucks website here.
My tall S’mores Frappuccino was not amazing enough to make it worth the 330 calories, in my book.
If you get a Venti, you’re looking at 600 calories and 22 fat grams. Ouch. I didn’t make any of my usual substitutions (whole milk to skim, for example) because I wanted the full experience, but even that wouldn’t have helped much.
I’m also thinking that I could probably make myself a real s’more for 14 fat grams, and quite possibly less. It’s another instance of the real thing is the better way to go.
If you want to try the S’mores Frappuccino for yourself without breaking the bank, Starbucks is offering them half off as a happy hour special between 3-5 p.m. from May 1st – May 10th. You can also buy the bottled version in your grocery store.
I’d love to hear what you think of it – please share your review in the comment section!
(Note: My review is of the blended coffee. If you have kiddos dying to try it out but you don’t want them to have the coffee, opt for the S’mores Frappuccino Blended Creme option)
You May Also Like: Review of the Starbucks Lemon Bar Frappuccino (or, Why I’m Tired)
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]]>I’ve been a fan of Stitch Fix for a while and have received several boxes over the past couple years. It’s been a fun way to spruce up my wardrobe and get a few items that I wouldn’t normally pick off the rack. Stitch Fix is a great way to break out of clothing rut and venture outside your comfort zone, if you want. A box of clothes from Stitch Fix is one of my favorite things.
How Stitch Fix Works
It is a personal styling service for women. You fill out a questionnaire that includes questions about your style, size, and budget preferences, what you want and what you don’t want. They use that info to pick out five items (tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories, coats, etc.) and mail them to your door, so you can try them on at home and see how they work with pieces you already have in your closet.
You have three days to decide what to keep or send back in the prepaid mailer they include in your box. There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order, and that is charged whether you keep any items or not. If you keep all five items, you get a 25% discount on everything. You are only charged once you “check out” at Stitch Fix.
What I Got (and your chance to tell me what should stay in my closet and what I should send back)
I really like my stylist, Crystal. StitchFix tip: you can request a stylist you like to style you again. I asked her to send me some good transitional items that will work in the Midwestern spring (read: every kind of weather) and perhaps a few fun items for my upcoming trip to Florida for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Here’s what she sent my way, and I’m hoping you’ll share your opinions on what I should keep and which pieces I should return. (I apologize in advance for perhaps that whitest post-winter legs you have ever seen.)
Item #1: Sondra Faux Wrap Dress by Gilli $68
I don’t think I would have picked this item off of a rack. I’m not sure the window pane print skirt is the most flattering, and white on the bottom scares me, especially with black on the top. That said, it was comfy and could work well as a transitional piece until the weather makes up its mine to be nice. (I’m looking at you, Saturday, with a high of 46 and rain.)
Item #2: Slater Pleated Button Down Top by Daniel Rainn $58
This color makes me very happy. I love the pleating on the shoulders of this shirt, and that they carry on to the back. I worry that it’s a little big but think that a loose shirt can be nice and cool in the fall. With my skin cancer history, I’m trying to be better about wearing sleeves for sun coverage, even in the warm summer weather.
Item #3: Seneca Dress by Pink Martini $74
My stylist noted that I prefer v-necks and full skirts, and I love that they pay attention. This had both. I wasn’t sure about the color at first, but the light blue could make it perfect for Disneybounding as a certain time-challenged princess at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I’ve been debating whether Disneybounding is a good idea, because I want something that looks professional and put together. I feel like this dress might be in that sweet spot, but would love to know your thoughts.
Item #4: Minal v-Neck 3/4 Sleeve Solid Blouse by Daniel Rainn $68
The buttons on this top look like studs, which my daughter wanted me to know are very on trend this season. It’s very comfy. I usually try to wear things that show my waist but it seems like that’s just not the things this season and it feels like this could be a chance to disguise the fact that I’m so short waisted.
Item #5: Rilo Button-Up Blouse by Collective Concepts $68
Not sure about the fit on this one, either, after seeing this photo. It felt fine on, but amazing how much you can learn from taking a photo. I think the coral color a lot but also love that it’s got a bit of blue in it as well and isn’t a solid. I have a lot of solids. I do like that it buttons all the way so I could leave it open over a tank top, which could be good for layers. I also love the button tab sleeves so it can be long or short sleeve. I’m thinking it would look better with white pants or lighter jeans.
I’d love to have your help deciding what to do with this Fix. Tell me what I should keep and what I should send back!
You can sign up for Stitch Fix using my referral link here.
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]]>After using the app for a few minutes, my daughter asked, “Can I play this some more?” Safe to say, the app was a big hit at our house with all ages. Here’s our Frozen: Story Theater app review.
There are endless possibilities of how to put together different stories, which my daughter said was her favorite part of the app because “no two stories ever have to be the same.” As a parent, I appreciated that this app walks kids through the elements of a story, with big focus on both setting and characters, and the chance to be as creative as they like with all of them. The parents section offers ideas and activities for promoting early literacy skills. And I’ll admit, I had fun playing on it, too!
There are two different ways to use the app. “Story Play” is a more structured, guided option that walks little users through the process with step by step and keeps choices pretty limited. My daughter liked that it wasn’t overwhelming. She didn’t love the narrator in this section, but I think it would be great for kids who are beginning readers.
The “Free Play” option is more open-ended, giving more room for creativity but might be a little trickier for younger users, too. For older kids, though, it’s great, and offers a lot more characters. My daughter made this image with many of the available characters. Anyone else excited to see the Duke of Weselton?
The characters aren’t static. I liked that they they blink and their faces move, making them seem less like paper dolls and far more like truly animated characters, the ones we know and love. It was a fun conversation starter about different traits of the characters, protagonists and antagonists, their conversions, the idea of primary and secondary characters, etc.
What really makes this app for my family are the sound elements of the app. They really mesmerized my daughter. She loved that she could record her voice for all the characters. (For this to work, the microphone on your device must be enabled.) I have to say, I was surprised at how good her Anna impression was. Her Olaf may need a little work but was still cute. It would be fun to play as a family and have different people do different voices.
Parents should know that kids can save their completed story and email it. While I’m a big fan of little ones being able to share their work, parents may want to keep close tabs on that part of the process, both to make sure they know how to do it (my daughter needed a bit of help) and to make sure they don’t send it to your boss. Than again, if your boss is an Olaf fan, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.
Another thing parents should know is that the app contains advertising for the Walt Disney Family of Companies. Probably not a big issue, but always good to know what your kiddos are seeing.
Frozen Story Theater is a premium app that costs $5.99. The App Store says it is intended for ages 6-8 and that seems right, though my daughter is a bit older and loved it. It is available across iOS platforms. Get it on the App Store: iPhone | iPad.
Speaking of iOS platforms, my one tip would be to download prior to announcing the app to your kiddo. It’s possible that we needed to update our iOS (hangs head in shame) and that downloading the app took far longer than I anticipated, leaving my child to wonder why I’m so technologically inept. I assured her I wonder that myself. The fact that I can use this app without issue is a great sign that it will work for pretty much everyone!
This is a great way to tide Frozen fans over until the animated short “Frozen Fever” comes out in a few weeks and to let kids get creative and use these well-loved characters to tell new stories from their imagination.
Disclaimer: I was given a code for this app free of charge so that we could test it out and see what we thought. I received no other compensation from the app provider. The opinions expressed are my own or my child’s.
You may also like: 9 Fun facts about the movie Frozen
Prior post: Spicy lentil soup recipe and a story about lasting friendships
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