Monday, April 25, 2016

Getting my Stitch Fix

It took me a while, but I finally tried it:


All you do is take the online quiz about your style and measurements, and just like that a stylist sends clothes and accessories picked just for you.  You keep what you want and send back what you don't.

I'd been doubtful about it, but when I saw the first Fix my MIL received, I was kinda sold.  Truth is, I need a style infusion.  I've (sadly) grown out of some clothes and what remains feels like...blah.  A few cute pieces is just the inspiration I need.

And when I got my first shipment?  I love this service!!!  I would wear every single thing that was sent to me. Each piece was cute and even better...it all fit!  Want to see what was included? (Sorry about the quick iPhone pics, I'll do better next time).

Skies Are Blue Leslee Shirt Dress
Market & Spruce Careen V-Neck Dolman Knit Top

Street Level Kaelyn Laser Cut Two-Tone Reversible Tote

Just Black Adorra Skinny Jean

Daniel Rainn Kal Henley Blouse

So...what did I keep?  This time I just kept one thing: the Skies are Blue Leslee Shirt Dress. Budget is definitely a factor for me (although I'd say these clothes are well priced!) so I chose the one item that I will amp up my style and which I will wear a ton this summer.  I just packed everything else back up in the included envelope and -bam!- sent it right back (free of charge).


Want to try it for yourself?  Please click through using this referral link.  That way, I get a credit for sending you their way and you get to try your first Fix!  AND you'll get your own referral link after your first Fix, yay!

Things to know: you are charged a styling fee of $20 for each Fix, which is then credited against whatever you purchase.  If you buy all five pieces, you also get a 25% discount.  And like I said, if you refer friends you get a credit.  So give it a shot! I was so happy I did:)  Tell them I sent you!

Love,
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Tuesday, April 19, 2016

What Brings Me Peace

Pretty Little Coco
Last week I had to make the painful decision to put my 12-year-old cat to sleep.  She had been pretty sick for the last couple of months, and I knew this day would come.  The vet said she was 100% sure it was time, and I know it was the merciful thing to do.  Yet...the rawness of the loss is still so hard.  It was hard to lose her, and hard to be reminded of what loss feels like.  I wept a lot that day. Prayed grateful prayers that God showed me when it was time.  Hugged my puppy extra hard.

Last week I also had a chance to visit not one but two botanical gardens.  Those visits ended up being like a balm to my hurting heart.  You know what cheers me up?  Flowers.

I took these pictures at the Orchid House at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens:










I took these at the McMillan Greenhouse at UNC Charlotte: 




Being in the presence of such exquisite natural beauty sets me on a path to peace. I hope my pictures today bring you a little peace, too.
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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

New Kitchen Faucet (and Why it Saved My Sanity)

This post contains affiliate links, but as always all opinions are 100% mine.

Our homes are bursting with little things that make a big difference in our day-to-day.  Just think about your kitchen faucet, for example.  Is it pretty?  Is it functional?

Mine was neither.  It dripped.  I could literally lose my single remaining shred of sanity listening to water (also known as money) dripping steadily down the drain.


In the case of this sad, bedraggled faucet, it would drip constantly, but if you shut off the hot water and then pulled the handle back toward you, say an eighth of an inch but not as much as a quarter of an inch, it would stop.  Well, sorta stop.  It would drip every 20 seconds instead of two.

This fun little feature rendered me insane.  It gave me the hilarious nervous tic of pulling every and any handle ever so slightly toward me, whether I was in my kitchen or the Walmart bathroom.  It also gave me the endearing trait of running up behind everyone who ever used the kitchen faucet to adjust it for them.  It was *great.*

Hubs had done what he could.  My plumber (who was here for an equally fun job involving water pouring through my ceiling right before Christmas) said the faucet wasn't even worth repairing.

Enter: my new faucet.
I love you, awesome new faucet.
After hours of research, I finally settled on the Kohler Cruette pull-down kitchen faucet, in the Vibrant Stainless Steel finish.  It was reasonably priced, very well-reviewed, and has this amazing "Sweep Spray" function (and a "pause" button on the sprayer!) which you can see in the video here.

It looks pretty good in here, right?

Here's a close-up on the sprayer--it is so ergonomically correct and has that great pause button.

So you can get a feel for the large size of this sucker.
Cue the angels singing.  It took about a week, but my nervous tics resolved.  More than that, I am appreciating the beauty of something designed well that performs well.  It does what I ask, when I ask, and there are no. more. drips.  Fairly simple change, sanity saved.

Where in your home could a simple change make a big difference?  One thing I learned from my last home is that we made a lot of improvements when it was time to sell, and that just stinks.  Much better to improve on things while you're still around to enjoy them!  Admittedly, sometimes cash is tight and we all have to make do.  But if you have the means to make a simple change sooner rather than later, especially for something you use constantly, it might just be worth saving your sanity.

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