Free Stitch Fix in March

I recently heard of a Stitch Fix discount and wanted to share it with you here. This is big- Stitch Fix almost never gives a discount, so take advantage of it while you can! I make no promises, but here's my understanding:

Schedule a fix for the month of March (hurry, it's almost over!). After you receive your clothes and go to check out, you can enter the code RISKFREEMARCH in the promo code box. They will deduct $20 (the styling fee) from your total. If you don't buy anything, then the experience was free. If you do decide to keep any clothing pieces, you're only paying for the clothing. If you were thinking about trying SF anyway, this may be a great opportunity! 

Stitch Fix February Review

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. They send you 5 items that are tailored to your personal style profile. You can link your Pinterest board and even give special requests. The 5 items are sent to your front door, saving you the time and hassle of a shopping trip.

I apologize about the quality of pictures later on in the post. They aren't the greatest. Good thing to know for next time! Also, I really do have a face, but it wasn't very pretty the day I look the outfit pictures. I'm sorry about the disembodied torso. :)

Cost: Stitch Fix charges a $20 styling fee to curate your box. If you order an item, the $20 goes toward the price. If you order all 5 items, you get a 25% discount. The price range of items really varies and is based off your cost preferences on your style profile.

Filling out the style profile was really fun. It made me stop and really think about what I liked and what my style actually is. It was super easy and pretty quick. Readying my Pinterest board took decidedly longer. :)

My first Fix arrived ahead of schedule. They emailed me when it was shipped so that I was expecting it. I like that so that a package isn't sitting on my porch for days before I notice it. You have 3 business days to try on the items before deciding to keep or send them back. Returns are super easy- Just throw everything in the prepaid envelope and throw it in the mail. Then you log on to the site and tell them what you're keeping and what you're sending back. They charge your credit card for the items you're keeping. Voila! That easy!

You get a personalized note from your stylist. It was obvious that Rachel took the time to really look at what I wanted. This time around I requested tops that could transition from Winter to Spring. I asked to not get any pants or dresses, because I'm good to go on those right now.

My goal this time around was to hopefully try on items that I might not normally try in the store, while still staying somewhat within my comfort zone. I knew that Stitch Fix items tend to be a bit more expensive than I typically spend, but I'm willing to pay a little more for the convenience if the item is decent quality.

You receive a sheet detailing each item and the price if you decide to keep it. As you can see, the average price for my items were about $50.  The total price for my order would be $225 if I kept everything.

Stitch Fix includes a styling card for each item that shows 2 ways to wear it. This was super helpful. The items aren't necessarily meant to wear together. They want you to try to incorporate them into your wardrobe and mix it up with what you would normally wear.

The clothes were really nicely packaged. Little details like this really show the time they take to make this box stand out above other subscriptions.

The first look was great, but I was still a little worried about fit. Stitch Fix only goes up to size 14 right now, and I was a little worried. I'm right at that size and have recently gained a little extra weight. I wasn't sure that anything would even fit. 

Market & Spruce Striped Dolman Top ($48)

This fit great and the top was SO comfortable. I would have kept this, but there was a small hole in the arm near the cuff. I was pretty angry that they included a top with a hole in it, but I understand that things happen. 

I emailed Stitch Fix and told them about the issue. They got back within 15 minutes and apologized for the oversight. They offered to deduct 15% from the price to compensate for repair costs. I didn't want to hassle with repairing a brand new shirt though. I asked for a refund of my styling fee instead so that I could try it again. They happily obliged. RETURNED

A close-up of the rip.

Bowie Solid Dolman top ($58)
After trying on the green striped top, I was really excited about this one. The color was beautiful, and I always love a V-neck. Unfortunately, it just wasn't very flattering. It was also sort of see through in the bust area, since the fabric was really sheer. RETURNED

Abbot Crew Neck Elbow Patch Sweater ($108)
I forgot to take pictures of the elbow patches, but they were a faux brown leather. It was a really cute detail. I'm not a fashionista, but I've never called this a crew neck- always a cowl neck. What would you call it? This wasn't even a tiny bit flattering on me. I think I needed a size down. It was really itchy, too. B loved it on her, but we just weren't willing to pay $108 for a sweater. This thing would need to be made of unicorn fur for that to happen. RETURNED

Burgdorf Diamond Print Henley Blouse ($38)
The shirt is actually much more pink than this picture shows. I'm wearing the sleeves down here, but they could be rolled up and buttoned to make this 3/4 sleeves. I was really excited about this being included, because I've been wanting to find a shirt like this that fits. Unfortunately, it was SUPER tight across my bust, even though it fit well everywhere else. I'm not a huge fan of the hi-lo shirt, and unfortunately this was no exception. If it had been slightly less of a pronounced difference from the front to the back, I might have overlooked that. The price on this was great, but I don't think it was very well made. Upon close inspection, there were tiny threads showing through the button holes and on various other seams. RETURNED

Alan French Asymmetrical Zip Cardigan ($68)
I've been drooling over a really similar cardigan on ModCloth for a while now, and I'd pinned on Pinterest. I was so disappointed when this one didn't work out. The fabric was really thick and it was really comfortable. It was cute when I had it open, but not so much when I zipped it. Sadly, I sent this back. Here's the one I liked on ModCloth: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/sweaters/airport-greeting-cardigan-in-charcoal. I might just try that one. RETURNED

None of my items worked for me this time, but that's okay. Even with the ripped shirt snafu, I was really pleased with the service overall. It met my goal of getting me to try new things while staying somewhat true to my tastes. My stylist really got my style and took the time to make sure the items were something I'd like. I appreciate that. 

I'll definitely be doing this again. I'll likely wait until later in the spring. We are buying a house right now, and with all that craziness I don't want to mess with buying new clothes that I don't absolutely need. I think I'll shoot for late April or early May.

Disclaimer: This post contains a referral link. If you use it to sign up, I'll receive $25 toward my next Fix. I paid for this Fix and did not receive any compensation for the review. The opinions in this post are my own.

Petbox Review

A while back I saw a deal on Groupon for Petbox and decided to try it. In September, a beautiful calico adopted us. Luna has been a wonderful addition to our family, and I decided to spoil her a little. 

Petbox offers quite a few different choices. The Groupon I ordered was for the Deluxe edition. It is normally $19.99 a month, but I got it for $11.99. You can set up an automatic subscription, but I chose to just do a one-time box. You can either choose items, or elect to get the surprise box. Luna's a bit picky (aren't all cats?), so I decided to pick the items. 

Cost: Petbox offers different sized boxes. The prices below are for the one-time option. You can save a bit by signing up for a longer subscription. Shipping was free.

Snack (one surprise treat) $9.95

Deluxe (2-3 items) $19.95

Premium (4-6 items) $39.95

Multiple Pet (7-12 items) $59.95

These are the items I chose for Luna. When you choose a box they list item limit (2-3 for the Deluxe), but that's a bit misleading. They actually give you a number of points to spend (I had 400). Each item you can choose from has a specific number of points based on it's value. You fill your cart until you've used up your points. I decided to focus on toys and a few catnip and treat items.

The items were packaged really nicely in their original packaging. These are two of the bigger toys.

Can you tell that she likes my choices? These kept her busy for HOURS! She wasn't too crazy about the treats, but she loved all of the catnip toys. I think she has a bit of a 'nip addiction.

I'm not really sure how to value the items, since it was all done on a point system. I could go try to find values of similar items from other stores, but I won't take the time. I'm satisfied that I got my $12 worth of treats and toys. 

I don't know if I would do this on a monthly basis. My cat and dogs don't play with toys enough to justify the expense. It would be a great gift or once in a while treat, though.

Disclaimer: I paid for this Petbox and did not receive any compensation. There are NO affiliate links in this post. All opinions are my own.

February Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a monthly subscription that sends 4-5 beauty samples every month. It allows you to rate your items and earn points that can be changed into cash to spend in the Birchbox store. This is my 3rd Birchbox and I've already earned $30 to spend in their store by rating my items. It's already paid for itself! Birchbox also has a great referral program. For every friend you refer, you receive 50 points ($5 in the store).

Cost: $10/month

I love how they address me! 

Birchbox often lets you choose between a regular, randomly chosen box of items or a specially curated box. I usually like the surprise of the regular box, but when I looked at the choices this month, I decided go with the special box. This month Birchbox worked with Rent The Runway to come up with this grouping of items. It included a coupon for $30 off a $70 purchase on Rent The Runway. I have a wedding coming up, so I could potentially use this. We'll see.

An information card is included to explain how to use each product. I love when boxes do this. Sometimes the products are pretty straightforward. Some have very minimalistic labels or are in a foreign language, which make them much harder to figure out.

First look: When there are smaller products included, Birchbox puts them in a special holder. 

Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo (Value: $6.93)
I've used Fekkai products before, and they're really high quality. I've been on a dry shampoo kick lately, so I'm always excited to see them in a subscription box. This was the main reason I chose this specially curated box.

dermaE Anti-Wrinkle Scrub (Value $3.19)
I really love how thick and creamy this scrub is. It's exfoliating, but not too rough on my skin. I would definitely purchase the full size of this.

the Balm Read My Lips gloss-Rose Pink (Value $4)

This was just okay for me. I like the Balm cosmetics, but this was one of the least favorite products of theirs that I've tried. I'll throw it in my bag to have on hand, but probably wouldn't buy it again.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner (Value ~$5)

This is shockingly bright navy blue. I'm sure it looks great on some people, but I'm not even going to try it. I'm passing this on to my sister or a friend.

Not Soap Radio Pheromone Activation Bubbles (Value $1.75)

This smells really great and was a good choice for a February/Valentine's day item. We are in process of buying a house with a huge soaking tub, and I'm saving these to use after we move. I've never used a pheromone activating bubble bath. Hopefully it works. :)

Birchbox is still one of my favorite subscription boxes. They're affordable, consistent, and easy to use. I love how organized their website is compared to other subscription box services. This is one of the ones I'll definitely continue in the future! 

Total value: $20.87

This isn't one of the highest values they've had, but it's still well worth the $10 investment.

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links. If you click through and order a subscription, I will receive points to spend in the Birchbox store. I pay for my birchbox subscription with my own money. No compensation was received for this review. My opinions are my own.

FabFitFun Winter Subscription Box Review

FabFitFun is a subscription box sent out four times a year by the Fabfitfun.com team. It includes health, wellness, and beauty items with a value of at least $200. 

Cost: $49.99 per quarter (FREE shipping)
Use the code NEW5 to receive $5! If you sign up for a full year's subscription, you can save $20. 

Zumba Max DVD (Value ~$22.50) 
Zumba.com Giftcard ($25)
I haven't ever done Zumba before, but I've heard it's really fun. I'm a little scared to take my lack of rhythm to a Zumba class and shake my booty in front of a group of people. I haven't tried this DVD yet, but I'm excited to try it in the privacy of my home. I wouldn't have bought this myself, so I'm glad I got it. I looked around the Zumba.com shop and I think I'll end up using this for some fitness towels or a water bottle. You can never have too many of those!

Saltedtv.com 3-month membership (Value $29.97)
I'm super excited about this. Salted is described as the "Netflix for cooking." I love to cook, and I'm always excited to try new techniques. Is anyone else addicted to watching Chopped? Yeah, me neither. :) I'm hoping that this doesn't expire any time soon. We are hopefully moving in a few months and I'd like to wait until we get into the new house to try it out. 

AHA Hand Creme (Value $18)
This is some of the thickest, most nourishing hand cremes I've ever used. I get really dry skin in the winter, and this has done an excellent job of moisturizing. It doesn't have much of a smell, which is nice. 

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel (Value $39)
Admittedly, I haven't tried this yet. I keep meaning to, but get distracted or just forget. I expected it to smell like green apple, but it's decidedly more mediciny than I had hoped. This is a little more than I'd normally pay for a facial peel or mask, so let's hope it lives up to it's price tag.

Daniel Stone Candle- Gardenia (Value $42)
Never in my life have I paid $42 for a candle, so I probably wouldn't buy this on my own. Gardenia isn't my favorite scent, so I'll probably gift this. That being said, it's still a great addition to the box.

HalfUnited Necklace ($34)
Half United recycles bullet casings and turns them into jewelry to fight hunger. For every product purchased, they give a week's worth of meals to hungry child. It's a great cause and a neat necklace, but it's just not my style. I get the bullet concept, but I think I'd feel weird wearing it around. My sister loves to hunt though, so I think it will make a great gift for her.

Passport2Beauty Tibetan Goji Berry Eye Serum (Value $88)
I'm trying to get better about using anti-aging eye cream. There are so many choices in stores that I get  a little overwhelmed, so I was excited to see this included. It goes on really smooth and it's a bit cooling at the same time. I don't know if it will keep me younger, but it at least makes me feel like I'm doing something.

Organic Valley Protein Shake- Vanilla Bean (Value ~$4)
I hate to be negative, but this was just plain gross. I wanted to like it, but it just didn't happen for me. I'm not a fan of protein shakes or protein powder in general though, so it might be good to someone who actually enjoys protein shakes. 

Justin's Almond Butter (Value $0.60)
This is a great travel size snack. Almond butter is always a great thing to have on hand so I don't make an unhealthy choice. (Here's looking at you, donuts!)

Special K Salted Pretzel Chocolate Bar (Value ~$0.50)
It's a diet version of salted caramel, so it tasted about as good as you'd expect. I'd eat it again, but I probably wouldn't go in search of these.

Fashion Project Gift Card (Value $30)

Fashion Project is like a thrift store for lightly used high-fashion items. They have some great clothes and accessories, but $30 won't buy much on the site. Since it's a secondhand store, sizes and styles are limited. Many of the clothes were in the size 0-4 range, which I most definitely am not. I might surf around and hope to score a scarf or something small like that. 

YourMinerals Mineral Eyeshadow- Swedish Winter & Lavender Dream (Value $42)
Mineral eye shadow is always a great addition to subscription boxes. This white shimmery color must be really popular this year, because I've seen it everywhere. It's a great color to add over the top of others or just to wear alone. The Lavender color is nice, but doesn't look great on me. I'll probably set it aside for a giveaway or gift it to my sister. 


I was really pleased with the FabFitFun box overall. 

What I loved: 

• Great customer service! When I looked at the information card (which I forgot to take a picture of), I realized they had left off my eyeshadows. It wasn't a big deal, but I contacted them using the form on their website. I had a reply within a day and my eyeshadows within a week. 
• Great variety of products, including some I wouldn't normally choose for myself.
• Great value. Even without the products that I will give away or didn't like, I more than doubled the value of my subscription. I'll definitely get this box again. 

What I wasn't crazy about:

• I'm not crazy about their website, but hopefully they'll improve that as even more people use the service.
• A few of the food choices were gross or just so-so for me. That may just be a preference thing, though. 

Total value of this box: Approximately $375!

Disclaimer: This post includes an affiliate link. If you click it and sign up, I'll receive $15 off my next box. I paid for this subscription and did not receive any compensation for this review. All opinions are my own.

January Graze Box Review

January Graze Box

Graze is a foodie subscription box that sends you 4 different snacks to try. Each box is a surprise- you can't pick your exact items, but you are able to customize it somewhat by opting to not receive certain items. One of the things I like about Graze is that you can decide how often you want to receive your boxes. They can be sent as frequently as once a week, or you can pause them to come less frequently. I decided to do mine once a month.

Each box costs $6.99.

I thought this was pretty cute. I'm definitely glad to receive the warning so that I didn't dump the snacks all over. I guess it wouldn't matter too much though, because they're all sealed in plastic. One of my favorite things about Graze is the packaging- it's simple, clean, and recyclable. Yay for being yummy and eco-friendly!

Graze has a great rewards program. When you refer a friend and they order their first box, you receive a box for free. You can share instantly on social media using your individual link, or you can hand out these little cards. When your friend signs up, they'll receive their 1st and 5th boxes for free.

Graze includes a nutritional information card. This is great if you're watching what you eat. I receive what Graze calls their "Calorie Counter" box each month. Every snack portion in the calorie counter is under 150 calories. They also have a regular box, and are going to be debuting a "Sharing Box" very soon. 

The four snacks are individually wrapped so that they don't spill, and so that all smells/flavors are contained. I'm not sure that it always happens this way, but both of my boxes so far have had 2 savory and 2 sweet options. 

Fruity Mango Chutney- This was really tasty and I would definitely eat it again. I liked the balance of spiciness and sweetness from the mango. The little peppered dippers they included were okay, but nothing to write home about. I wish that the chutney was a little bit more uniform. I liked the chunkiness, but there quite a few chunks of really spicy pieces of something. It wasn't a happy surprise.

Tropical Daqiuiri- We didn't like this one at all. The rating in the picture above says I want to try it, but after taking the screen shot, I trashed it. The fruit had a very artificial lime flavor, like a cheap piece of hard lime candy. Yuck. 

Mississippi BBQ Pistachios- This was our favorite snack of the bunch. It might have been all in my head, but the pistachios tasted like really clean, great quality nuts. I like bbq, but I'm not always a fan of other bbq flavored foods. (I hate bbq potato chips.) These didn't have an overwhelming bbq flavor. It was more of a subtle smoky taste. I would order these on their own, and I'd be happy to get them again. 

Jelly Doughnut- Who doesn't like a jelly doughnut? This was an interesting blend. It had little fruity pieces, fruity ropes, nuts, and cookie wafers. The overall flavor was good when you ate it together, but I wish there were a few more of the cookie pieces.

So far I've really loved receiving our Graze boxes. We've enjoyed it as an at home mini-date night opportunity. I would highly recommend this for yourself or even a friend. A warning though- the snacks aren't enough to really fill you up if you just graze on them bit by bit. They just offer a fun tasting opportunity. If you want to sign up, you can click here and get your 1st and 5th boxes for free. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I pay for this subscription box, but the post does contain referral links. If you sign up, I will receive a free box. That works for me if it works for you!

January Ipsy Review

Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that sends 4-5 items curated around a central theme and the user's feedback. The cost is $10, and shipping is FREE. 

This was my first time getting an Ipsy delivery. I've been on the waiting list for over a month, so I was pretty excited when I got an email saying my glam bag had shipped. 

The bright pink bubble mailer is pretty eye-catching. I definitely saved this to use for the future. (Yep, I'm that person... at least in the case of shiny pink office supplies.