Shopping, Swim Suiting, and Stitch Fixing

Sometime early last year I basically stopped shopping for clothes. Stopping at a store on a weekend or running errands at lunch used to be a fun way to spend a little time alone when my kids were little, but now that I can spend time alone in my own house when they're awake, it held less of a draw. I had done some wardrobe updating the year before (turning 35 made me think maybe I didn't need the shorts I wore in college?), I wasn't actively losing weight anymore so it wasn't as fun and continually surprising to try on new things, and we had finally paid off all our school loans (over $300,000 in payments y'all, that still blows my mind) and were making serious strides in new areas of savings beyond the "short term," "401k," and "529" buckets we already filled (mutual funds FTW!) and instead of getting less anal about money I got more. Add in the fact that by summer I had gained a few pounds that weren't going away and shopping was just no longer something I found fun. I unsubscribed from all store emails and only went to my usual haunts when my mom came to time 2-3x/year. It was our sacred bonding activity and became a special treat.

Shopping for Maggie obviously excluded

But! We're going on a Caribbean vacation in a month and I didn't buy much of anything last summer and I really did want a couple things to spice up my closet for our trip and the upcoming change of seasons.

Tarrant County Public Health waiting room;
the kids read all the travel magazines and planned 10 years of trips

And a Typhoid shot, per the CDC's recommendation, which we all got at the Tarrant County Travel Center yesterday.

I spent a little while swimsuit shopping on Amazon over Christmas break, looking for at least two one-pieces that made me feel confident, contained, but still maybe a little sexy? Oh and I didn't want to spend more than $30.

A tall order, but I settled on this long-sleeve I already posted and this one-piece that I really quite love.

Claire and Cora also got long-sleeve suits and I think they'll be great for all the time we plan to spend snorkeling.

In addition to my two one-pieces, I got a new simple navy bikini to wear under my rash guards, all of which involve blue. My old bikinis are so worn and I wanted one that didn't tie into a knot in the back, so it would be more comfortable to layer. I'd still like a fun, long cover up before we go, but we'll see.

not modeling this one myself, but it's cute and supportive!

Somewhere along the way, I got an email from Stitch Fix letting me know I'd gotten a referral credit! This was a shock since I haven't written about Stitch Fix in more than a year (thanks referral friend!), but it made me think I should try it again to shake up my summer wardrobe a bit. As I've noted before, Stitch Fix often disappoints me in the pricing and style (I'm picky and quite capable of finding less expensive clothing of equal quality), but it is GREAT for getting me wardrobe staples and separates that I always pass over in stores (I find the dress section in stores to be the least intimidating and it's wear I always head). Looking at my old Stitch Fix posts I can tell you that I wear the black jeans, skinny eggplant pants, soft burgundy blazer, and black knit blazer ALL THE TIME and I would never have bought any of them on my own. So I updated my profile and decided to give it a whirl. And for the first time ever, I kept my whole box!

So, without further ado and with a wish for better lighting in my master bedroom hallway closet: here's my Stitch Fix #10!

1. MIX by 41 Hawthorn - Donaya Keyhole Tank, mustard
Size S, $38 ($28 after the "keep it all" 25% discount, even less after referral credits)

Cute, simple, the kind of things I like to layer under a cardigan at work. I like the colors very much (mustard, navy, dark red) but I wish it didn't have the narrow neckline because I can't wear strapless bras (my adhesive allergy has grown so bad that even the small silicone-like strips along the edges of my strapless bra to help hold it in place give me massive welts within 15 minutes of wear, but if you know of a strapless bra without that let me know!!)

cannot wear anything like this; halp

But I can wear it with a regular bra if I don't take my cardigan off at work and with the discounts it seemed worth keeping. I've also ordered a bralette I think can wear with it. I do really like the colors.

Verdict: KEPT

2. Just Black - Romeo Distressed Cuffed Frayed Shorts, blue
Size 6, $58 ($43)

also wearing above

LOVE. Seriously love. I'm always shocked when a total stranger manages to pick a pair of shorts or jeans for me and sends 1 pair at 1 size and they actually fit. And these fit perfectly.

Verdict: KEPT

3. Cupio Blush - Branley One Pocket Knit Top, white
Size S, $30 ($22)

This is a simple white shirt and nothing I'd normally be drawn to, but that's exactly why I'm keeping it- I don't own a single plain white shirt. I'm such a magpie for color and pattern that I don't have any basics. This is soft, not see-through, and I know I need it in my life. I can also throw it over a swim suit on vacation and wear it with my shorts. Why didn't I already have this?

Verdict: KEPT

4. Nine Britton - Peggie Back Detail Knit Dress, olive
Size S, $44 ($33)

This is cute, VERY soft, and has pockets (and a cute keyhole back I didn't picture). It fits well and will be easy to throw on in the summer. The halter neck isn't great for me, again because of the strapless bra situation, but the cream halter bralette I ordered for the top above should work here too. If I wasn't thinking of keeping the whole box I'd probably send this back, but since I was, I figured I'd put it in my closet. I'll probably end up surprising myself and wearing it a bunch during our 100 degree Fall days. I do really like the colors.

Verdict: KEPT

5. Moda Luxe - Ela Fold Over Crossbody, olive
$48 ($34)

In my updated profile I asked for a cross-body bag to use on vacation. I'd like to pack it in my bigger travel purse and use it when we're out and about on the island. And though I didn't specify anything about color or style I really love this one! I love a neutral that isn't boring black or cream and this will be great for travel. I'm wearing it in the white tee pic above.

Verdict: KEPT

So I'm pretty happy with it. After the discount and referral credits I didn't realize I had stored I got the whole set for $88 which seems quite great and I really have found that some of the things I'm uncertain about are the ones I end up wearing all the time. And I'm really excited about the shorts. They fit and make me feel good and are worth all the dollars.

After forcing myself off chewy.com for several months, Maggie's food got low and I needed to order her another gigantic bag of tiny kibbles (she's missing most of her teeth, poor girl and eats tiny cat-like food). And then I accidentally ordered her purple fuzzy leopard print foot pjs along with it. (And a 4th of July dress and Christmas ensemble but they were like $4 each and what I am supposed to do? Resist?) She LOVES her footie pjs and they helped her survive our sub-20-degree temps of last week.

Maggie the cold-blooded lizard bulldog deserves to be cozy.

In a final shopping topic, I ran out of my moisturizer last week and thought I'd update my skincare list. I'm very happy with my routine right now and a twice this week got glowing compliments on my skin, both days when I wasn't even wearing makeup, and nothing makes a nearly-37-year-old who's really been working on her skincare routine feel better than that. (A plug, always, for complimenting people when you think something nice about them because my heart feels like it's exploded with rainbows and unicorns anytime someone gives one to me. It makes my whole day and I've made a 2020 goal of verbalizing at least one compliment a day to someone I'm not related to and it's had the bonus of making me feel happier and more connected to my fellow humans too.)

Other than moisturizers, which I'm still playing with to find something I love as much as my other categories, I'm very set on my products. I'm a believer in paying for really high-quality active-ingredient products, like your Vitamin C serum and Retinol, and then getting simple cleansers and moisturizers to support them. One of my struggles in finding my perfect moisturizer is I don't want one with Retinol, scents (never with scent, they're just drying agents), or any other active ingredient. I want my moisturizer to moisturize and let my other products do their work. But my skin is pretty sensitive, so while I need something rich to combat the dryness from the Retinol, anything too heavy clogs my pores. I really liked the Skinceuticals Emollience and Daily Moisture, but I'm not sure if either of them is The One. And it's so nice to have found The One in all my other products. I find they generally last me 9-12 months and then I just rebuy that exact thing. It's all pricey, but it helps that I spread out their repurchases and often get deals at my dermatologist for the fancy stuff.

Morning
1. Cleanse (CeraVe SA Cleanser)
2. Vitamin C serum (Skinceuticals CE Ferulic)
3. Moisturize (just ran out of Skinceuticals Emollience; liked it a lot, but now trying Tarte Double Duty First Step Prep Cream because unlike almost everything else in this routine, I'm not 100% committed to what I've tried so far)
4. Eye Cream (Clinique All About Eyes)
5. SPF and/or makeup (Elta MD Clear for sunscreen; IT Cosmetics CC Cream for makeup)

Evening
1. Cleanse (same as a.m.), but with my Clarisonic brush
2. M,W,F,Su only: Retinol (Skinceuticals 0.5 Retinol; someday I'll get to 1.0, but this is a step up from 0.25!)
*** WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINUTES *** (you have to let your Retinol soak in and do its thing; this is also why buying a moisturizer with Retinol mixed in is never going to do much for you)
3. Moisturize (about to try Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream)
4. Eye Cream (Clinique All About Eyes)

Weekly
1. Mask 1x week (Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask)

Speaking of compliments, Claire has always left me notes and now Cora has taken up the cause. They never fail to make me smile.

And speaking of Cora, she was named Wrangler of the Month for February! Right on the heels of her sister being picked for January and after a few unhappy faces sent home from school on her conduct chart (and some talks, apology notes to her teacher, and extra chores at home in response) and she got it! And she was THRILLED. She unveiled the news with all due drama and suspense and then insisted we call Papa and Gigi to tell them too.

Her teacher encourages the kids to practicing their writing on the back of their worksheets if they finish early. Cora is a prolific writer and this week's sheets all had variations of the same theme:

I can't believe I am Wrangler of the Month

We celebrated with cookies, courtesy of a Venmo from Papa and Gigi, and she was just delighted to be the cause of a treat night.

Valentine-ing

I'm off to teach barre, James and the girls are working on their Valentine's boxes, and Landon is over at a friend's house eating lunchables he bought with a Target gift card he got for his birthday last July (because I took 4 kids to Target earlier today and the girls and I spent an hour in the dressing room trying on swim suits and the boys did I have no idea what but it ended in them buying a stack of lunchables). I leave you with this picture of Cora, absolutely killing it in an outfit (and accessories) she selected herself for our children's play at Casa Manana last night.

Never mind that it was 55 degrees and cloudy, she's got rocking her Third Baby style and no Stitch Fix box is going to top that. Oh and if you have any recommendations on where to get a long, flowy, fun cover up suitable for a beach vacation, let me know!

~ ~ ~

Note/Disclaimer: The Stitch Fix link has a referral code ($25 for you, $25 for me) but all others are just links. I have no idea how to do affiliate links to products, so there aren't any, but I will continue to highly recommend Ebates, now called Rakuten. I've racked up $3,300 in rebate checks over the last few years and it's literally just free money with a check mailed to you every 3 months to go cash/deposit!