Tag Archives: wednesday

Five Favorites: Vol. 2

five-favorites-moxie-wife-1

1. Refashionista Blog

images-2

I am just about finished reading “Overdressed,” a book about the fast and disposable fashion industry. Toward the end, when I am feeling bits of despair (Will fashion ever be the same?!) the author mentions the Refashionista Blog. In this blog we meet cute-as-a-button Jenni and we get to witness the magic she weaves using thrifted finds and a little imagination. I’ve been reading this blog for the last few days and I can’t wait to have time to hack apart some dresses in my closet!

2. My semi-homemade Mocha Chocolate Inferno Cake

I call this cake semi-homemade because it starts with a cake mix in a box and the frosting is a buttercream style using chocolate pudding rather than confectioners sugar. You can make the cake more intense by adding more cayenne pepper.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake Mix in a box

Ingredients needed for said cake (usually water, eggs and oil)

1/4 t cinnamon

1/8 t cayenne pepper

small box chocolate instant pudding

1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted

milk

instant coffee/ espresso

To make cake:

1. Mix cake according to box instructions

2. Add spices to batter

3. Bake as instructed

4. Cool before frosting

To make frosting:

1. Mix together pudding mix, butter and 2T strong coffee

2. Add milk in small amounts until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency

3. Frost Cake

4. Eat cake!

3. Tiger Balm

Unknown-3

I decided to start swimming again (first time in over 3 years) and so I joined the Masters Team at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. (Little side note: Masters does not imply that you have mastered the sport, rather that you are over 18.) My first workout started with a 1000m (1km) warm-up swim. Yeah. Needless to say, by the end of the hour long practice, I was sore. Thank you Tiger Balm for helping my muscles.

4.

Warby Parker

images-3

If there were a central location for hipster glasses, this would be it. But I can’t help it… I love them. Our vision insurance only covers frames 1x per year and I had to replace my prescription sunnies this year so I’ll be paying for new eyeglass frames out of pocket. Most items here are $95… that includes frames, lenses and delivery.

Sweet.

5.

Shrunken Pea Coat by CAbI

Unknown-4

A few weeks ago, I was invited to a CAbI party… basically a traveling trunk show and I fell in love with this shrunken pea coat. It’s made of French Terry (so soft) and it’s a great alternative to my flowy cardigan. Polished. Tailored. Comfy. Love.

So that’s what I’m in to this week. Head over to Moxie Wife to read more!

————————————————————-

 

Karianna Heart

Post to Twitter

Five Favorites: Vol 1

five-favorites-moxie-wife-1

1.

Call the Midwife

Unknown

Have you fallen in love with this show yet? If you are a “Downton” Fan, you will most likely become addicted to this show as well. Set in the East End of London in the 1950s, it is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. The series follows the joys, sorrows and trials of midwifery. **Trigger Warning** Season 2, Episodes 4 and 5 were really hard for me to watch (One deals with parents’ reaction to their disabled child; the other with a mother who decides to terminate her 9th pregnancy.)

2.

Arbonne Baby Sunblock

Unknown-3

Living in SoCal, we are blessed with beautiful sunshine most of the time (and believe me, we pay for it in our taxes!) All of that sun needs a great sunblock and I love this one for the littles. It smells light and you can really tell when it is on your skin because of the Zinc Oxide (you can actually see it sitting on top of the skin.) Now, the Environmental Working Group did flag this sunblock because of the retinal palmitate, so… yeah.

3.

Kate Young for Target

Unknown-1

I love it when Target pairs with designers and I absolutely fell in love with this necklace! (The funny thing is that, The Boy is entering into “grabby paws” stage so necklaces are kind of a no-go, but I still love it.)

4.

Knit Picks’ Knitting Needles

images-2

Last night, I sat down and for the first time in a long time, pulled out my knitting. I did not realize how much I missed knitting until it had been out of my life for so long. Personally, I knit with circular needles and I really favor the ones from Knit Picks because you can take the tips off when (if you are like me) you get bored with one project and want to start another!

5.

Trinket Trays 

images-1

I’ve been seeing more and more of these Trinket Trays around town here in Pasadena and I can’t get enough of them. I love how cute they are and how I don’t fear my rings falling down the drain or getting lost because I have a perfect place to put them when I am not wearing them!

——————————————————————————————————–

Head over to Moxie Wife for more favorites!!

Karianna Heart

Post to Twitter

StitchFix (Thanks, Modern Mrs Darcy!)

Back in November, Anne over at Modern Mrs Darcy wrote about a fantastic service for people who hate to shop called “Stitch Fix.” She does a fantastic job detailing how it works so I will not re-hash what she wrote, but I will say that it is a fantastic service for people who love to shop but just don’t have the time and/or desire to take little kids shopping!

I love to shop, I love the thrill of the hunt, being able to see and feel the fabrics under my fingers but honestly the thought (and past experience of) trying to shop with a preschooler and an infant makes me shudder with fear. After reading Anne’s take on her experience, I figure no harm in trying. I filled out my style profile and scheduled my first fix. I have an event to attend in a few weeks that is calling for a 1920s dress, so in my notes section I mentioned that I was looking for 1920s dress and accessories.

3 days later, a box was plopped on my doorstep.

Got my first Stitch Fix!

Inside were 5 items, a note and a return envelope. The note was from my stylist and explained that they did not have any 1920s attire or accessories and so they instead sent items that best matched my style profile.

4 going back

1. Navy and White Maxi Dress: LOVE this. In fact, I love it so much that I already have one. (Returned.)

2. Cream Tank: On my style profile I indicated that I wanted items a little looser fitting (due to post-baby body) but this was a bit too shapeless for my taste. (Returned)

3. Grey Cowl Neck Tank: I so wanted to love this one, but it just did not hang right on my body. I thought that the neckline was so fun, but it really emphasized my belly. (Returned)

4. Green, White and Navy Striped Sweater: This one had a weird fit. It was tight in the yoke and lower (not upper) arms. (Returned)

But there was one winner in the box:

Keeper blue wrap dress

Hard to tell in the picture, but it’s a blue short-sleeved wrap dress. It falls just ABOVE my knee (scandalous!) and it is the softest jersey knit. I am so in love with this dress.

Here’s a pic of me in the dress:

Blue wrap dress

 

Overall, my first experience with StitchFix has been fantastic and I can’t wait to do it again!

If you want to try StitchFix, here’s how you go about it:

1. Sign Up: When I signed up, there was a waiting list, but I was accepted in about 2 days.

2. Fill Out Your Style Profile: This is the most important part. You have to be HONEST. Do not say that you like Bohemian Style because it’s the cool thing to wear. Do not say that you are a size S when you are really closer to a L. The items that are sent to you are based off of that style profile… including the price of the items.

3. Schedule your Fix: StitchFix only sends you items when you request it.

4. Wait for the goodies to arrive!

And a Special Thanks to Anne for blogging about Stitch Fix in the first place!
________________________________________________________________

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Post to Twitter