I’ll share a few of Emily’s style tips + A TOUR OF HER BEAUTIFUL HOME at the end. But first, my Stitch Fix results…
RESULTS:
Before the reveal, I threatened my kids – absolutely no interruptions! I had to completely be in this moment. Once behind closed doors, I opened it up…
My first reaction…. hmmmm, I like!
My five pieces unpacked!Beatrice Exposed Zipper Dolman Top ($58): Great basic, flattering, comfy. Loved the exposed (gold) zipper down back. Steph Layered V Pendant Necklace ($38): Have several shorter statement pieces but not many longer ones. Liked the look/movement of this one.Kahlo Embroidered Racerback Tank ($48): My least favorite (not something I’d be drawn to) but ended up keeping. Have actually enjoyed wearing + already received several compliments.Cheli Stiped Maxi Dress ($68): Worn several times – from casual to grocery to a night out. Super easy to just throw on and go. Stripes on bottom half aren’t quite horizontal – like the skinny illusion that gives. Nice top coverage: no bra strap worries. My favorite!
And not “modeled” – see group pic, above: Teal Selena Skinny Leg Jean ($98): Good fit, and while I wasn’t crazy about the color, I realized teal is the color of our NFL football team (Go Jags). I could support my team (in a stylish way:) … so ended up keeping. Plus, if you keep everything you get a 25% discount. Smart incentive.
LOVED! A style card shows various ways to wear my new stuff. While I like to look stylish, I’m not always successful pulling it off! This helps. (Thank you, Kathryn… my SF stylist!)
ALSO LOVED! SF customer service: ALL touch points have been great. Including letter from Katrina Lake, Stitch Fix Founder + CEO: Katrina did a fab job turning a negative (delayed time in receiving fix) to a positive (due to extreme demand – which made me want even more – will take a little longer than usual so customer receives a “truly personalized” fix).
Take-aways:
1. Take note of what you love. Pinterest is perfect for this. This process helped me become even more aware of the style I’m going for.
2. Selfies can actually be useful! Even better – have someone else take a full length shot of you. I had (made) my boys take a few head to toe pics and it was quite an eye opener. (For example, when I wore the green & white stripe tank, I looked MUCH better with my hair up in some way. Too much going on otherwise.)
3. When considering your budget (not just with fashion), don’t simply look at the dollar amount. Take into consideration your (valuable!) time and energy. I can’t stress this enough! Delegating things you aren’t best suited for – or simply don’t enjoy doing – can be well worth any bit of extra money spent.
WILL I GET ANOTHER FIX?
This process made me really think about what I love, what looks good – and not so good. I’ll definitely do again, and this time will add my Pinterest style board to my SF profile. If you’d like to try it, check out Stitch Fix here! (BTW, if you’ve tried Stitch Fix, would love to hear about your experience!)
QUICK STYLE TIPS FROM EMILY
This pic was even fuzzier than the one I ended up using (at top) so I wasn’t going to include. But while we were chatting about this framed portrait that hangs in her home, Emily threw out some good tips – too good not to share!
Photo Shoot: Hired a photographer to come to her home for photo shoot. Love because kids are WAY more comfortable at home (not to mention you don’t have to pack them up!) + quick style changes easy since all of your stuff there.
Photo Blow Up: Made bigger at Walgreens for $38 (may not be optimum quality but good enough!)
Frame: Found gold frame at antique store for $25. Spray painted in black gloss.
Antiquing: Check out antique stores in smaller towns. Great finds that haven’t been found yet. And lots of super deals.
Great Gift: She had done before the holidays and it made perfect gifts for loved ones (alone would have been just fine – she’s just too generous so this was one of several:)
Wishing you a holiday season filled with peace! {photo courtesy of Calde luci di Natale}
Because I help others organize their homes and lives, most must think I have:
not only my gifts purchased but wrapping wrapped up;
Christmas cards addressed, stamped and ready to be mailed the day before Thanksgiving so they arrive in boxes the day after Thanksgiving; and
my home decked out for the holidays by the time Thanksgiving dinner is cleared from the table.
The truth? As I write this:
Other than one{!} gift, I’ve yet to buy anything;
I have no clue what we’ll do for our Christmas card {much less what we’ll even wear!}; and
I probably won’t have holiday decorations out until after December 1st.
As the holidays approach, the building of excitement often begins to be overtaken by the escalating stress that inevitably takes over. While I attribute some of my lower stress these days to the overall shift to order I’ve made in different areas of my life, do these three things today to feel an immediate difference:
#1: ASK: What’s on your {and your family’s} list?In general what are your favorite parts of the holidays – what do you want to experience? During dinner the other night, I asked my family what they most wish for for the upcoming holiday season: emphasizing I wasn’t talking gift wish list! Here’s part of what we came up with:
Attending the Nutcracker {something we used to do but hadn’t gone to in a while}
Making peanut butter balls {a holiday favorite – we ran out of time & didn’t make last year}
Spending an evening viewing Christmas lights
Walking through a nativity scene at a nearby church
Doing something to help others
Bringing holiday style to my window boxes
Decorating Christmas cookies {trial & error last year; learned some great tips – will share later}
Reading our favorite Advent book together each night {helping to keep us focused on what Christmas means to us}
Just getting to know what each family member wants to experience can sometimes be an eye opener. It helps to know what to prioritize and can slide.
#2: Establish a budget. Maybe not the most fun part, but a crucial one.
A. Know how much you have {are willing} to spend {without going into debt}.
B. Make a list of what you’ll need to purchase, including:
gifts
cards, stamps, pictures
decorations
entertaining {if you’re having a party, all of the expenses involved with this}
travel
groceries {above & beyond what you normally would spend}
wrapping supplies
special event tickets
C. Allocate amounts for each.
Tips:
I do my holiday budget in an Excel spreadsheet. I list every item in one column and put a budgeted amount in the column next to it. Using the auto sum button, I add the $ column and then play around with budgeted amounts for each item until the sum is where I need it to be.
After the holidays, indicate how much you actually spent {you can add an “actual” column}. Also, note other expenses you didn’t anticipate.
Next year, you can pull up that spreadsheet, “save as” that new year, tweak slightly and your new budget will be complete! {Last night I did my 2011 one in five minutes.}
Pocket file folder I use to keep organized during the holidays {this one is from Amazon; I got mine for a few dollars at Target}
#3: Make – and use! – your own Holiday Organizer: I use a Five-Pocket Letter File to keep me organized during the season. My tabs include:
Ideas: Ideas I tear out of magazines are kept right here.
Coupons: I’m not a huge coupon clipper but do clip during this time of the year.
Receipts: ALL of my holiday receipts go in this ONE place. {In an upcoming post, I’ll share what I do with my receipts and how it kept me under budget the last two years!}
Cards: My Christmas card mailing list – along with a few extra cards, stamps and addressing pen – goes here.
List: My specific list of whom I need to shop for. I print out my budget list {above} then, using a pencil {which I keep in my organizer at all times!} I jot down ideas and cross off when that person is taken care of.
Tips:
Take some quiet, focused time to set up your own organizer – customize to best fit your needs.
Keep it with you. {I have mine with me throughout the season. I’ll take out what I need for that store, leaving the actual folder in the car.}
Before running out to shop, sit down and look through what you need. Visually think through where you’ll need to go for what. Do a little on-line research prior to leaving home to keep from having to run from place to place.
If you end up going over budget or find something else you’d rather give, you’ll have your receipt right there so you can return original item. {Know return policies from the stores you purchase from.}
Plan trips out when stores are least crowded. Or do you shopping on-line.
Streamline whenever possible!
Do YOU have a favorite way to stay organized during the holidays? I’d love to hear!