Stitch Fix #5

Well box #5 has now come and gone. When I opened it, I thought I might end up keeping it all. But after taking a look at some of the prices and trying things on, I decided against it. Here are the details:

1. Top left- Navy blue terry shift dress

This was a good looking dress. It was very simple but had a great fit and was oh-so-soft. However, the $84 price tag just seemed too much for what it was. And so I sent it back. 

2. Top middle- Aqua and white birds on a wire infinity scarf

This was cute but I'm not in scarf season. It's too. hot. in AL to even think about scarves.

3. Top right- Off white chevron crochet tank

At first I didn't think I liked this top but after trying it on several more times, I had a change of heart and loved it. This was the one piece I kept out of this box and I can't wait to pair it with my mint green skinnies. 

4. Bottom left- Orange and white striped tank

I came really close to hanging on to this one. It had a good fit and, like the terry dress above, was super soft. But once again, the price tag just seemed too high for what I was buying. 

5. Bottom right- Chevron maxi 

I loved this skirt. And I wanted to keep it. But after trying it on multiple times, the fact that it was see-through never went away. It wasn't the kind of see-through you could hide or ignore. Obviously I didn't keep it. 

So that's a wrap on box 5. I'm still loving Stitch Fix and highly recommend it to anyone teetering on the edge of ordering one of their own. 

Here is the referral link just in case: http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3492278

Stitch Fix #4

These were the contents of my 4th Stitch Fix box that arrived in June. I once again loved the contents of the box but only kept 1 item. Here are the details:

1. Top left- Black & White striped cardigan with hot pink accent

I liked this but didn't really love it and decided I don't really need it. 

2. Top middle- Chambray coral necklace

This just wasn't really my style. It was cute but really chunky for a necklace. 

3. Bottom left- Beige blouse

I came close to keeping this peasant style blouse but in the end decided it hugged too tight around the mid-line. The sleeves on this top were super cute but not enough to move it to the keep category.

4. Bottom middle- Pink Chevron swing skirt

Didn't like this one. At all. 

5. Far right- High-low tribal print dress

When I saw the "high-low" part I thought I'd hate this dress but I was so very, very wrong. I love everything about it. The print is awesome, the fit is perfect, and it's hardly a "high-low" style dress. I kept it. And I love it. 

So that was my fourth box. I'm still loving all of the different things the stylists pick out for me--so far they've done a pretty stinkin' good job. If you're ready to take the plunge and order a box for yourself, here's the link: http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3492278 You really won't regret it! 

Stitch Fix #3

I am once again incredibly late in posting my review of Box #3 but we will blame it on the fact that I've been out of the country (more on that later!). Anyway, I loved my third fix and am definitely still hooked. So here is what I received in my box: 

1. Top left: skinny jeans

This is the first time something hasn't really fit at all--way too tight. Easy decision to send them back. 

2. Top middle: blue chevron 3/4 sleeve dress

The fit was a little funky on this too--just a bit too big. It was a pretty cute dress overall but didn't fit well enough (nor was it quite right for our hot summer coming up) to keep. 

3. Top right: coral lace/pleated top

I didn't like this one much. It just didn't do anything for me. 

4. Bottom left: floral tank

I LOVE this top...like really really love it. It had a great flowy fit and the print is absolutely gorgeous. I wore it on my vacation and felt fabulous! Here it is on: 

5. Bottom right: navy striped tank

I also quite like this shirt. Same sort of flowy fit as the shirt above and super cute with skinny jeans! I can't wait to wear it. 

If you haven't tried Stitch Fix yet, you definitely should. You will NOT regret it. I know I have several friends that have signed up in the past month or so and they are loving it as much as I am. 

Here is my referral link should you decide you want to take the plunge: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3492278

Stitch Fix #2

I'm a little bit late updating on Stitch Fix #2 as it arrived around April 15 or so but better late than never right? I am still pleased with all of the items that came in my box and ended up keeping two of the items this time around! So here is what I received: 

1. Top left--Terry cloth beige and black striped blazer. I loved this. I really did. I came oh so very close to keeping it (ask my sister, I even called for her advice!) but I decided in the end that it's about to be too warm for a blazer AND I already have 3 others. I hope I don't regret it.

2. Top middle--Chevron striped cap sleeve top. This was by far my favorite piece. I love it. It's a great fit, great material, and super cute. Since I live in Alabama I'm sure people will claim it's "Auburn" colors but your wrong it's actually a deep pink and navy. So ha! I kept this one and have already worn it!

3. Top Right--Deep Orange (think coral really) cropped trouser. I thought I would hate these. Seriously. They have no zipper, they are sort of stretchy type material and you just pull them right on up. So I gave them a chance, and I ended up keeping them! They were a bit of a splurge but they are so unlike anything else I own. It was also the only piece that I would have NEVER picked out for myself.

4. Bottom Left--Eyelet dress. Meh. I'll be honest I didn't like this one that much. Sent it right on back.

5. Bottom Right--Black skinnies. These were cute but I really already have a pair that I love.

So I would say it was another success for Stitch Fix! Box #3 is set to arrive in May just in time for our big trip to Rio. If you still haven't taken the plunge, here's my referral link:

http://stitchfix.com/sign_up?referrer_id=3492278

You will not regret it! (and keep me posted once you get it...I love seeing what other folks get in their boxes)

Lent, the rest of the weeks...

(A photo from our Maundy Thursday service this year. We ended the evening in our courtyard as a representation of praying together in the garden. It was beautiful and holy.)

We failed pretty big time at our Lenten practice this year. 

But I suppose in some ways, that's part of the point of it all, right? That we try something new, that we experience sacrifice in new and different ways, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  

And I'm ok with that. 

So while we perhaps didn't actually keep to our list (turns out we do better with 1 task rather than changing it up every single day for 40 days), I think we did indeed still live in the darkness of Lent for a few weeks. We spent a lot time thinking about death and sacrifice as we said goodbye to our Maggie. But we also spent a lot of time reflecting on our belief that death does not have the last word. We mourned the pup that we loved so much, but we also celebrated the promise of new life as my sister and brother-in-law announced that they are expecting their first child. We spent time in our dead (for the winter), ugly, weedy yard and over the weeks have watched it slowly transform into the beautiful garden we know and love. We planted two new apple trees and have watched them root into their new home and blossom. We have watched, experienced, and felt the season change from cold and gloomy to days filled with sun and warmth. 

And so, yes, we did not follow our well intentioned list of practices. But I think that we still learned a lot during this Lenten journey about what it means to love and to lose, to trust that death is not the end, to cry and yet be at peace, and to live into the beautiful promise of resurrection in our every day lives. 

We hope you and yours had a very Happy Easter! 

Apple Trees for Maggie

Last week we decided that we wanted to plant something in memory of Maggie Mae. For those of you that have been following the blog for a while or just know us in general, you know that each year we plant a garden and relish in the beauty that is our backyard. Maggie LOVED the garden...she loved helping us plant and following me outside each spring and summer morning to water and check the progress. As we thought about the best way to remember her, we could think of nothing else than to plant something special for her in the backyard. While driving home one evening, Matt had the wonderful idea that we should plant an apple tree. 

Mags loved to eat apples--straight off the core nonetheless! 

And so the decision was made.

We had actually been looking at fruit trees at Home Depot last week so it wasn't a wild and crazy thought at all. But it turns out you can't really just plant one--like many other fruits, apple trees produce better (and more) fruit when you cross pollinate. And so we walked away with TWO trees!

Our Fuji apple tree

And our Gala apple tree (my all time favorite)

In addition to the apple trees this year, our backyard is also now filled with the beautiful sounds of the Corinthian chimes my parents gave us for Christmas. I love them. When we kept the house quiet last Tuesday morning to grieve and rest it was so comforting to hear them blowing in the wind. 

Next up in the backyard? Planting garden #5! 

Why Maggie was so important to us

Like I said in my previous post, Mags was with us through some of our happiest and scariest of days together. She was by our side through so much of our life thus far it's been difficult to figure out life without her. This post is mostly for Matt and I to remember. So here's a list of some of the major events Maggie lived through with us:

-my graduation 

-Matt's first job (after he deferred his first appointment and we weren't really sure where life would take us because of that)

-our engagement!

-our marriage!

-both of our ordinations 

-both of our first positions in ministry

-our travels around the world (including Spain, Japan, South Africa, and Australia)--and of course we always brought her back souvenirs :)

-Matt's appendectomy only 1 month after we married

-our move from Atlanta to Birmingham

-buying our first house and helping us love it and love it well

-painting and making minor renovations to our new home

-our first several gardens

-Matt's transition to pastor at Church of the Reconciler (which was a very difficult transition)

-my dad's near death sickness and road back to health

-my sister's wedding

-many trips to and from Texas

-my sister's and then my parents' move to Virginia 

-Matt's 3 hospital stays for pancreatitis (I seriously don't know how I would have made it through some of those long hard nights at home alone without Maggie by my side)

-bringing home our first puppy, Lennon

-many sick days, rainy days, and snowy days 

-many days filled with sunshine and working in the yard 

-thousands upon thousands of car rides--which were her favorite thing ever! 

She was my best bud and kept me company even in times when I didn't feel like I had many friends. She was Matt's greatest comfort when he didn't know how the road ahead would play out. She was our biggest cheerleader and she knew just how to make us smile. We will carry pieces of Maggie with us for the rest of our lives because she was with us for so many pivotal moments in our life as a young family. She taught us so many lessons about life, love, and being family. And for this I am forever grateful. We love you Maggie Mae! (the link is to the first time I introduced her on the blog)