Stitch Fix #2

This lovely package arrived on my doorstep last Friday.  Sadly because of travels I was unable to break into it until Monday.

Gold-Hearted//Cream Rope Bracelet

I was indifferent about the bracelet.  I love that it's simple & casual.  I just wasn't sold on it especially because it's something I could easily make.  It certainly is not something I would even look twice at from a store, but isn't that the point of your fix?

Okay, so straight out of the box I liked the skirt.  I didn't love it but it's definitely something I'd wear.  You'll find me in a maxi on any given day in the summer. Dilemma…I have a TON of maxi skirts, do I really need another one?  I slipped on the bracelet that was included in this fix & paired this skirt with a fitted blank spaghetti strap tank top from H&M, black flat t-strap sandals I picked up in Australia & a beige faux fur vest from Target circa 2005.  LOVE! The more I started playing around, the more I loved the skirt. It definitely screams summer but you could easily pair it with boots, ballet flats, a slouchy sweater or fitted jacket & make it work for now. You don't have to be literal either, locking yourself into just pairing it with black & khaki.  I played around & put on a long sleeveless burgundy button up vest from Urban Outfitters & a pale pink off the shoulder hi-low sweater from American Eagle & it totally worked.

I died when I pulled this top out!  I love everything about this top!  I am obsessed with the print...LOVE the colors & love that it's shorter in the front, longer in the back. I knew exactly what I'd pair it with immediately.  I wore this with cobalt blue skinny jeans from JCrew, a skinny leather black belt from the GAP, feather earrings from Forever 21 & black Kensie booties.  Because the day I wore this was a bit chilly, I threw on my black leather motorcycle jacket.  It would look awesome tucked into a black pencil skirt, cuffed jean shorts with lace detailing, dark denim.

I wasn't sure what to think about the dress. I was slightly annoyed at first…another summer item? It's only February & there are definitely a few cooler months left, what am I going to do with a jersey dress?  Every pair of cool weather shoes looked terrible with the dress & because the dress is slouchy an over sized cardigan made me look frumpy. A structured jacket didn't work because it hid the layers of the dress & really the dress is too casual for a structured jacket.  Out of pure silliness I grabbed one of my summer beach hats…it could work with a pair of flip flops (I am wearing in the picture but you can't tell). I put on a fitted braided leather belt from the GAP & tucked the top layer of the dress behind it & liked the dress a whole lot more. I threw on some Dolce Vita strappy wedged brown sandals & it completely changed the look.  The dress even looked good without the belt & the wedges. Personally, I think the dress is more of a stand alone.  Maybe dress it up with a chunky bracelet but it's comfortable & casual.

I was so not a fan out of the box & on the hanger.  I like the chiffon details but where am I going to where this? I paired it with light colored skinny jeans that I cuffed, a brown pair of booties from Old Navy & a cream/coral sheer tank from Forever 21. Obsessed! I LOVE the way the jacket fits.  I love the creamy color, I love the structure…LOVE LOVE LOVE.  Totally became my favorite piece. This should be a staple in everyone's wardrobe.  

So what did I do with this order? Surprisingly I kept EVERYTHING! I could have lived without the bracelet & maybe even the tiered dress but completely LOVED everything else in the box.  Taking away the dress & the bracelet would have made me loose the 25% discount you get when you purchase all the items & it didn't make sense to send them back.  So….I kept them all. There really are endless opportunities with all the pieces.

Once again they nailed it. Like I said in my first review, if you are going to spend the money anyway, why not take a chance to find some really unique items that you may have overlooked in the store.  I would have walked by the Aryn K blazer, not even remotely considering it & it wound up being my favorite piece.  

If you are interested in trying it out for yourself here is a referral link Stitch Fix

Wake Up Call

So lately this is our wake up call. 

Does it make me a terrible mum that instead of going in to get her I snickered and barely could keep my hand steady recording her incessantly yelling "mumma?"

Parent Steps

Friday & Saturday was a BIG deal for us.  Like, a really big deal.  Addison is nearing 18 months & we had never spent the night away from her.  We did this past Friday night. Sure we have individually; I do when I work overnight & Philip does when he is out of town, but never at the same time.  It's not that we don't trust anyone else to keep her…well, maybe just a little, but we weren't ready.  I am surprised by the dumbfounded looks & jaw dropping awe followed by "are you kidding me?" when we tell people we have never done it before. It's one of those BIG parent steps without a timeline. It's one of those things YOU have to be ready for (I am going to post something later on this week about tips for making your first night away easier).

view from our hotel room in New Bern, NC

Pallet Project

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This was probably the easiest project I've tackled yet, for two reasons. #1, it was a few quick cuts & drilling into place & #2, I was the "project manager" & didn't actually have to do anything.

We have this angled alcove in our entryway hallway. It's sort of awkward because it's super tall & narrow, leaving decorating it a challenge. For the last 4 years I have changed out flower arrangements, had pictures, candles, etc, but have never been happy.  We have tons of pallet wood in the garage that I stock pile as they are building new houses in our subdivision that I have been dying to use.  I was inspired but this use of pallet wood on Pinterest:

Mandy Jean Chic

All Philip did (with the assistance of my Dad) is take the pallet apart.  Cut the pallets into various sizes using a skill saw & drilled the boards into place. He alternated long & short boards with no particular pattern to give it a little more interest.

Now my boring "stock home" alcove has a little character.

Valentines Day 2013

Kiwi Crate

Okay, this whole mystery box thing is becoming an extremely way to shop.  It's kind of like Christmas.  You know you are getting a gift & you anxiously wait in anticipation to open it.  Kiwi Crate has jumped on the bandwagon.  For a subscription of $19.95/month you receive a crate filled with creative ideas & the materials to execute those ideas. If you aren't into the monthly subscription thing or you need a creative gift idea, you can choose a single themed crate for $19.95. 

sample crate

I totally love this idea.  Addison is a little young for it right now but as she approaches the 2 year old mark this will be excellent.  

First CrossFit Competition in Review

I participated in my first CrossFit "competition" this past Saturday.  It was a partner's competition composed of 3 WOD's in various divisions: Rx Women, Rx Men, Rx Co-ed, Scaled Men, Scaled Women, Scaled co-ed.  Renee & I were team "Girls Gone Rx" & competed in the Women's Rx division.  

WOD #1 was a 3 min AMRAP (as many reps as possible), ground to overhead.  The team choose their own weight & the movement(s) used to get the bar from the ground, overhead with arms fully locked out.  Points were awarded by reps multiplied by weight plus parters.  Renee & I power snatched our weight.  Our strategy was to go light, 65 lb & 55 lb, banging out as many reps as we could.

 WOD #2 was a 10 min AMRAP of box step ups with toes to bar. Partner 1 completes 2 20 inch box step ups while holding 75 lb in the front rack. Once the step ups are complete the bar is passed to partner 2. Partner 2 must hold the bar in the front rack while parter 1 completes 2 toes to bar. Once toes to bar are completed Partner 2 may begin box step ups, increasing reps by 2.

Renee rowing & me cheering her on

cheering Renee on while she rows

WOD #3 was a 5 MIN AMCAP (as many a calories as possible) rowing. Partner 1 rows for 2:30 then Partner 2 completes the remaining 2:30.

It was a great experience, especially for my first competition.  We did great…we Rx'd it & not many female competitors did so that made me proud in and of itself.  I learned that every rep truly counts.  We were literally within reps of teams that beat us.  I learned that our minds are powerful & dangerous. I learned that we are so much more capable then we believe ourselves to be. I already knew my workout partner was awesome & competing reminded me how awesome she is!

Child seat requirements change with 2014 rule

THIS IS SERIOUSLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM USA TODAY  FOR ANYONE WITH CHILDREN 3 AND UNDER & FOR THOSE PREGNANT.

I am literally posting the entire article:

Parents of many children ages 3 and up who should still be in child-safety seats will be warned not to use a federally required child-seat attachment system when a new rule takes effect in early 2014.

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  Insurance Institute for Highway
  Regulators are "dismantling" their own child seat rules, a safety advicate says.

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The rule requires child-seat makers to tell parents not to use the lower anchors required in cars since 2001 if children and their car seats have a combined weight of 65 pounds, because the strength of the anchors cannot be guaranteed.

Child seats typically weigh 15 to 33 pounds. So the new rule means some children as light as 32 pounds might not be able to use a system designed to make child seats easier to install and, therefore, safer. This child-seat system is known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children).

Joseph Colella, one of five child-safety advocates who petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to change the rule, says the anchor requirements are based on old child seats and outdated recommendations on how long kids should be in child seats.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers sought the change in the rule because limits weren't factoring in how much seats weigh. Colella says carmakers aren't able to guarantee the safety of heavier kids given the strength of LATCH anchors. The alliance was not available for comment.

The advocates say the minimum strength requirements should be increased.

LATCH use and awareness are already low. A study last summer by the advocacy groupSafe Kids Worldwide found child-seat checkpoint technicians were using the lower anchors to attach seats only about 30% of the time. And Safe Kids found just 30% of parents use the top tether straps, which prevent head injuries in crashes.

"Disconnecting tethers when their use is needed … could lead to a tragedy," says Stephanie Tombrello of advocacy group SafetyBeltSafe, one of the petitioners.

Colella's 3-year-old niece died in a 1994 crash in a child seat that didn't fit the car. That prompted him to push to make child seats more compatible with cars, an effort that resulted in the federal panel that recommended LATCH.

LATCH is considered easier than a safety belt to tightly secure a child seat.

"While LATCH makes it easier to properly install car seats in vehicles, it's important for parents and caregivers to know that securing a child seat with a seat belt is equally as safe — and that they have the flexibility to use either system," says Transportation Department spokeswoman Lynda Tran.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children use car seats with harnesses through age 8. AAP's recommendation and supporting research led child-seat makers to design more seats for children 65 pounds and over.

ORIGINAL SOURCE USA TODAY

{Review} Piggy Paint Polish

Every time I sit down to paint my nails, Addison sits down beside me and plays along. She wipes her toes with dry cotton swaps, pretends to apply color with unopened polish and watches every move I make. I found myself starring at Addison's little toes yesterday and thought "it is time"; her tiny toes are big enough now that I can actually paint them. I painted them with a clear coat that had pink sparkles in a while back but have never actually painted her nails.  I purchased Piggy Paint, a natural, non-toxic, odorless polish made especially for those sweet piggy toes.

I was able to keep her entertained with sealed bottles of my own polish. She sat patiently like a big girl squealing "ooooooohhhhhh" every few seconds. She was super good, squirming a bit here and there but for the most part she sat perfectly still.  

So, my thoughts on the polish. It went on smooth and covered her nail in one coat. There was no odor. The color was bright and the brush size was perfect for itty bitty toes.  The downside is it took FOREVER to dry.  I could only keep Addison in the chair for so long and because of that her toes smudged BIG time. Is it the polish or a restless 17 month old?!? Either way, I would think that polish designed for a little one would dry significantly faster than an adults.  1 Coat of my OPI Nicole Purple polish was dry before an entire foot applied at least 10 minutes before.  

I am going to give it another shot because I have read awesome reviews. Her toes are still toe cute even if they have pink smudged polish on them.

10 Things on Tuesday: Fashion Inspiration

From casual chic to event ready here are 10 things currently inspiring my wardrobe. If you follow me on Pinterest (gracebefore) then you have probably seen a few of these things pinned on my style board.

1// I am dying over this outfit. The unexpected pairing of the grey slouchy sweater & cream tulle skirt totally work. It's perfect for a casual cocktail party, bridal/baby shower

2// I love everything about this! The loose bun, big sunglasses, plaid shirt with popped collar. This would be perfect with a pair of torn skinny jeans and a pair of simple sandals. 

3// OMG the subtle sexiness of this dress...the way the back is exposed without truly having a truly exposed back…LOVE! This would be great for a date night, Valentines Day dinner or cocktails with friends.

4// This oversized button up blouse totally works tucked in & is paired perfectly with worn skinny jeans. Perfect everyday outfit.

5// First off, her hair is to die for! I am not usually a fan of ombre highlights but hers are killing me. Love the thick bangs & beachy waves. She is totally rocking everything…the solid blouse with criss cross detailing. I would totally wear this to lunch with friends.

6// Black on black on black….yes! So sophisticated and elegant and paired perfectly with a statement necklace.  If I worked in an office setting this would be perfect. This totally works for a night out too.

7// I love this just as much as number 1. Mix prints of floral and stripes. Mixed metals with chunky gold watch & stone bracelet. LOVE LOVE LOVE. This is the perfect casual but cute everyday outfit.

8// I love all things navy & burgundy. This is a super simple outfit that is perfectly causal chic. The lace blouse pops underneath the complimenting colors. Again a perfect everyday outfit.

9// Chunky scarf, leggings, slouchy boots & oversized sweater.  It doesn't get much more casual than this. It's trendy but still sophisticated. You can wear this for any casual day.

10// Love her beachy wavy & simple black tank. Um, can summer hurry up & get here! Perfect for the beach