Month: July 2017

4th Of July Meal Ideas

Once we studied what actually happened way back on July 4th, 1776, the Fourth of July holiday took on a whole new meaning for my family. Sure it’s fun to celebrate any happy occasion with great food and fireworks, but when you know why you’re celebrating, it can make it all the more sweet. If you don’t know why we celebrate every July 4th, why don’t you find out? It’s a pretty exciting story.

I know you’re not here for a history lesson, so let’s talk about food!

When I’m planning my Fourth of July menu, I always think grill. When it’s hot out and I want to relax a bit, I try to keep the menu simple. A classic burger and dog combo is perfect for us. We might do lettuce wraps for the burgers or I may get fancy and make my AIP approved burger buns (really just a great big fried plantain). These “buns” are unexpectedly delicious and everybody loves them. Plus, it lets you feel like you’re eating a real hamburger you can pick up with your hands just like the rest of the world.

Thankfully, the Fourth lies right in the middle of prime garden season, so in addition to those burgers and dogs, we’ll have a whole bunch of whatever vegetables I picked that morning. Most likely it will be squash or zucchini, which I will slice and grill. There will be fresh off the vine tomatoes too. And probably also a stir fry of odds and ends – a few green beans, a bell pepper, a handful of okra. Oh yeah, and cucumbers! How could I forget the cucumbers! For years, my cucumber plants died a painful death before producing any fruit, but last year and this year we’ve enjoyed a bumper crop. I still have pickles from last summer in my fridge. And my son eats them for lunch almost every single day. We made a lot of pickles. I really should have set up a produce stand at the end of my driveway!

Other recipes that would make a great addition to your Fourth of July festivities:

Fresh Strawberry Salad – use a combination of blueberries and strawberries for an extra festive look

Grilled Broccoli (and lots of other veggies) – You can grill just about anything, you know. Just pay attention to the time required for different items and you can keep all the cooking outside! Just hang out on the patio with friends and family. We have a Weber grill and love it. They’re more expensive than some other brands, but you get what you pay for. Here is Weber’s grilling guide, which is not comprehensive, but covers the basics. We’ve found it to be spot on with the temperature and timing recommendations. If you’re going to be grilling meat, you must have a thermometer to ensure you don’t turn that steak into rubber or serve way underdone meat to your guests. I have one very similar to this. It’s easy to use and is very accurate.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes – With bacon and onions and all the smokiness from the grill these are amazing and so simple to prepare. You have to try sweet potatoes this way!

Paleo Low and Slow Baby Back Ribs – Keeping with our everything grilled theme….ribs! You start these inside, either in the oven or in the Instant Pot and finish them on the grill. If you serve these ribs you might end up with company for dinner every night!

Fresh Strawberry Pie – I know it’s not fresh strawberry season anymore in most of the country, but you can still find them in the grocery store….throw in some blueberries and top with a little whipped cream or coconut cream and you have a very light, refreshing and festive dessert.

I have tons more recipes for you to choose from. Just check out the recipe index. You’re sure to find something that will please your family and friends.

Happy Independence Day everyone. I hope you enjoy a fun-filled day with those you love.

Summer 2017 Stitch Fix Review (and a few random thoughts)

It’s Stitch Fix review time again! If you want to catch up on my previous fixes, you can check out these reviews from last fall and winter. I actually did receive a fix in the spring, right before Easter, but just didn’t have time to get that review out to you. I’m getting a head start on this one so you should see it before the leaves start to change.

I hope you hear me when I say this – I love my children and I consider it one of the biggest blessings that I am able to stay home with them, homeschool them, shape their little minds, etc. etc. but I LOVE, absolutely LOVE the week during the summer when they are both at camp at the same time. I have a full NINE hours a day for FIVE days in a row in my house by myself. It is glorious. There might be some singing and even potentially some dancing going on.

I’ve just spent some time cleaning out the school room, sorting through books, deciding what to keep and what to give away, and bundling up the important papers from the year. All of a sudden and quite unexpectedly, I was overcome with so much sadness. Luke just finished 7th grade and Kate just finished 4th grade. I know it sounds so cliche, but where has the time gone? Homeschooling is hard. As a teacher, you’d think I could come up with a better word than hard, but that’s what fits. It’s just hard. In lots of ways. But it is so filled with joy, love, fun, togetherness and great memories. The fact that I break down in tears while packing up their math worksheets from the year is telling. This thing we’re doing here is bigger than school, it’s bigger than math facts and diagramming sentences. Don’t waste a moment.

Ok, introspection time over and onto shopping!

My husband and I have our annual weekend get away coming up in mid-July. This year, we’re headed to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia for what we hope is some relaxing, hiking, biking and general enjoying of the great outdoors in a little less heat and humidity that we’re experiencing here in good ol’ North Carolina. Consequently, I asked my stylist for casual, weekend away appropriate wear. Those were the only guidelines I offered. I wanted casual and fun stuff only.

To see what I typically wear when we go away for the weekend, see this Virginia Creeper recap from last year. Hint: there is no fancy foolishness involved.

The whole reason I do Stitch Fix is so that I don’t have to go shopping and think about what I might like, what will fit well, what is unique. Here’s my introduction to Stitch Fix and how it works with my paleo lifestyle.

I want my stylist to send me things I wouldn’t normally pick for myself, but still things that are really great fits for my lifestyle, budget, and taste.

(Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, including my Stitch Fix referral link. We receive a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of our links, which helps to support the blog.)

Since I have the time this week, I thought I’d show you a few things I would pick out for myself if I were to actually go shopping :

A casual white denim skirt (maybe medium wash denim too, but right now I’m more in the mood for white): I like this [eafl id=”3352″ name=”Forever 21 Contemporary Denim Mini Skirt” text=”Forever 21 Contemporary Denim Mini Skirt”]. I would size up so it would sit a little lower on my hips. I’m only 5’3″ so this wouldn’t be so short on me.

As I was searching for shorts, I kept finding rompers, rompers and more rompers. So what bothers me about this trend is how easy/difficult it is to use the bathroom. Seems unnecessarily complicated. Nonetheless, this one seemed cute and comfortable and easy enough to get on and off. [eafl id=”3349″ name=”Women’s Socialite Tie Waist Romper” text=”Women’s Socialite Tie Waist Romper”] The back is really cute and I love the bright pink color option, but of course, black and white stripes are a classic as well.

I’m really more comfortable in dresses and skirts than shorts, so I went looking for a casual dress I could wear for daytime sightseeing and possibly even dress up for a dinner out. This one seems basic, super comfortable and comes in some fun colors. I would most likely not choose black, but rather the green or pink: [eafl id=”3358″ name=”WOMEN’S LEITH RACERBACK SHIFT DRESS” text=”Women’s Leith Racerback Shift Dress”]

Then we have dinner out attire. My husband and I are not fancy people. I think that I enjoy getting dressed up, but in reality, I enjoy thinking about getting dressed up and maybe planning to get dressed up, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather be in workout wear. But alas, we do need to put real clothes on sometimes, so for a nice night out, I’d choose something like this boho-inspired dress. It looks fancy enough, but still comfortable (with room for dessert – priorities people).

[eafl id=”3342″ name=”Off white boho dress” text=”Off White Boho Knee Length Dress”]

Because I still secretly wish I were Rainbow Bright, I love accessories with lots of colors. I almost never wear much jewelry and when I do, it’s usually the same piece over and over again. I choose items with multiple colors so they will coordinate with lots of different outfits. The tassel accent is a big trend this year and whereas I don’t really care for tassel earrings, I like the long necklace trick. This beauty has enough color that it can liven up a plain white or black dress and also go right along with lots of different colors:

[eafl id=”3365″ name=”LYDELL NYC FRESHWATER PEARL & MIXED BEAD TASSEL NECKLACE, MULTI” text=”Lydell NYC Freshwater Pearl and Mixed Bead Tassel Necklace, Multi”] (I just saw that this one is now sold out, but if you click the link, there are lots of similar options still available.)

Since we can’t just wear pants and no shirts, I picked out a couple different tops. I do tend toward  the basic solid color tees and tanks, but I love the flow-y, floral or slightly pattered tops too. Here are a couple things I would pick off the rack:

[eafl id=”3354″ name=”WOMEN’S MICHAEL STARS U-NECK TANK” text=”Women’s Michael Stars U-Neck Tank”]

[eafl id=”3353″ name=”LUCKY BRAND – BORDER TANK TOP WOMEN’S SLEEVELESS” text=”Lucky Brand – Border Tank Women’s Sleeveless”] – I would love this with the white denim skirt or or even denim shorts. There is a little blue mixed in with the bottom design and note that the lace v-neck is sheer, so would require proper undergarments. I’d probably wear a black camisole for comfort and modesty purposes.

I really love this top as well. I like the square neckline, flowy style and feminine print. I may have to actually order this one!

[eafl id=”3392″ name=”UNKNOWN FACTORY CAP SLEEVE TOP” text=”Cap Sleeve Top”]

And last, but most certainly not least: shoes! I have pretty sever arthritis in my feet so shoes are a big issue for me and often an outfit deal breaker. If there is to be any walking involved, foot comfort is key and fashion simply has to go by the wayside. My absolute favorite brand for comfort and style is Clarks. I have these wedges shown below, though in a lightly different color (they’re from last year), but I do like this shade a tad better (the shoes shown below are in Sage Nubuck). I can attest to their comfort. Not all day sight-seeing comfort (for me), but I can wear them out to dinner and for a little stroll afterward and be fine. [eafl id=”3359″ name=”Clarks – AISLEY TULIP WEDGE SANDAL” text=”Clarks – Aisley Tulip Wedge Sandal”]

I also love this espadrille style from Vans. I have the classic black leather vans and love them. They fit my orthotics and I can wear them comfortably all day. I imagine this version is a little lighter and would be perfect for a summer trip. I might have to try these out in person.

[eafl id=”3360″ name=”WOMEN’S VANS ‘CLASSIC’ ESPADRILLE SLIP-ON” text=”Women’s Vans ‘Classic’ Espadrille Slip-On”]

Before I get to my latest “Fix,” let me give you a little background on how Stitch Fix works:

  • Go to StitchFix.com and fill out a free style profile. The questions are pretty detailed, but the point here is to figure out your style and get you clothes and accessories you’ll love.
  • When you’re ready to give it a try, schedule your first fix (you’ll see how to do this on the website – their site is really user friendly). You choose when you want your fix and if you want one every month, every two months, once a year or just this once.
  • You pay a $20 styling fee to receive your fix. You’ll be assigned a personal stylist who will hand-pick five items for you based on your style preferences.
  • Your fix is shipped according to the schedule you requested.
  • You receive your fix, try everything on in your own home, take three days to decide what you want to keep and what you want to return.
  • Then check out online, choosing what to keep and what to send back and leaving feedback for each item. The more feedback you leave, the better your fixes will be. So say the experts.
  • If you buy ANYTHING, they waive the $20 styling fee. If you buy all five items, you receive a 25% discount off of everything. That’s right – they waive the $20 styling fee and you get 25% off.

Here’s what I’ve observed through my research: lots of people buy all five items for the discount and then join various Facebook groups for selling or trading. I haven’t done that yet so I can’t speak to how well it works. You could certainly end up stuck with some items you don’t want.

  • Shipping is free both ways – receiving and returning!
  • When you’re all done reviewing your fix and checking out, schedule your next fix!

If you’re interested in giving Stitch Fix a try, please use my referral link. This will give me a little bonus in my Stitch Fix account. If you love Stitch Fix and refer your friends, you’ll get your own referral link to share!

One more thing: part of the reason I’m sharing this review is because I’m kind of a science nerd and I like to research things before I jump in. I’ve been researching and thinking over Stitch Fix for a long time. I read reviews, I looked at pictures and I always wondered: are those real women? Does she have someone doing her hair and makeup? Is that a professional photographer behind the camera? I wanted honest opinions from real people like me. Yes, I feel like I’m a pretty real, normal person. Some of you who know me may disagree. 🙂

When you see the photos below, it should solidify the fact that I am a “real person” and not a model or professional clothing person in any way. Nor was there a professional photographer behind the camera. In fact, my typical photographer had the nerve to go out of town which left me to try the mirror selfie. Let’s just say that when you see these mirror selfies from fashion bloggers, they have some skill I do not possess. I did my best. My goal here was to show you the types of clothes you might receive from Stitch Fix.

Over five fixes, I’ve had two different stylists. I think my current stylist did a good job of looking at my Pinterest board to see what I’m liking these days and also trying to fit all the criteria laid out in my style profile. Even with all that, this fix was pretty much a miss for me.

When I opened the box, I was excited. I liked the look of everything. There was nothing in the box that made me say, “Ewwww!” That’s a good start.

First up is the Skies are Blue Bradie Embroidery Front Knit Top for $54.

Keep in mind, if you buy all five pieces, you get 25% off everything. And if you buy even one piece, you get $20 off. So don’t let the prices scare you.

[easy-image-collage id=3479]

I ended up keeping this top. Not to spoil the surprise, but it’s the only item I kept. I debated not keeping anything, but didn’t want to lose my $20 styling fee. I went through my closet pretty thoroughly and decided this top was unique enough and I liked it enough to keep it. The top is fun, it is pretty, it’s modest, it’s soft. This top has a lot going for it, I just wouldn’t have spent $35 on it in the store.

Second item: Le Lis Jes Faux Wrap Knit Maxi Dress for $78

[easy-image-collage id=3480]

 

This dress. There were a lot of things I liked about it. #1 It’s fun. #2 It felt really good on. The fabric was heavy enough to be flattering, but not so heavy that it was uncomfortable. #3 The pattern was really pretty. I love the color. But…I have no idea when/where I would wear this. The faux wrap is easy to wear, but is so low cut that it requires a camisole, which added some bulk I didn’t want. Even though the fabric of this dress had a casual feel, the look of it did not. I think if maybe I were taller I could carry this off in a more casual way, but seeing as though I am not taller, this just felt too formal for me. I might wear it out to dinner with my husband, but at most once a year. For the $78 price tag, it didn’t seem practical.




But let’s talk about the shoes for a moment. This style is super on trend this season. I’ve tried this style from several stores and have not been able to walk in any of them. I found these at the Clarks Outlet and they are great. The strap around the ankle is really comfortable and not at all scratchy on the inside. The front strap part is wide enough so as not pinch my toes or cause blisters. These are not shoes I could wear all day by any means, but I could certainly wear them out for the evening or to church, which is how I would wear them. The color is great, they’re typical Clarks quality and the price was good for Clarks. I found them on Amazon so if you don’t have a Clarks store near you and you want them (need them) right away, they are Prime eligible!

The third item in my fix was the RD Style Tay T-Shirt Dress for $58.

[easy-image-collage id=3486]

This dress was a real contender. Once I realized I wasn’t keeping everything and thus not getting the 25% discount, I knew I needed to be discerning with my purchases. This dress is certainly something I would pick out in a store. I love stripes. The shape and fit of this dress was perfect for a casual summer look. But when I got real critical with it, I realized it wasn’t the best use of $58. #1 The red stripe around the neck and arms was nice, I do like red, but it limits accessories somewhat. #2 The front is shorter than the back. I don’t know if you can see that in the side shot. #3 Being 100% cotton, I worry that it would shrink some and it’s already as small as it could be across the shoulders (I have broad shoulders). #4 And most importantly, I had recently purchased this navy and white striped dress at Gap Outlet for $12 (in the 4th frame). This one’s comfy, it’s already been through the wash and still fits well and it’s just too similar to the Stitch Fix dress to justify keeping that one.

Next up: Dear John Finnegan Cuffed Short for $58

[easy-image-collage id=3488]

These shorts are apparently quite desirable in the Stitch Fix world. I was somewhat excited to see them, even though I know my body doesn’t necessarily love shorts. I was happy to try these since they are so raved about. They had a nice stretch to them and the fabric was really pretty. There is a very subtle blue and white design, almost herringbone, but very, very tiny so the overall effect is just light blue. The shorts matched perfectly with the two tops I was sent and would certainly coordinate with lots of different items in my closet. My stylist did a great job here. I really have no complaints, even though these were a horrific miss for me. First of all, the rise was way too low and the inseam was way too short. It was just no, no, no from every angle. These pictures don’t make them look as bad as they really were. I was not comfortable at all in them. Which is a shame, because they were very pretty. But expensive! For $58, they would have needed to be perfect.

Skies Are Blue Aranyu Pom Pom Trim Top for $48

[easy-image-collage id=3487]

And last but not least, this lovely boho-inspired top. I really like the pattern, but the fabric felt cheap. Also, it hit me on the shoulders in a way that made them look even more broad than they already are. This is a top I would have picked out in a store for myself, so again, kudos to my stylist, but it was just a miss. I wanted to love it, but was underwhelmed.

Dear Pilates instructor, after reviewing these photos, I know I need to pull my shoulders back and down and hold my abs in. I’ll work on it, I promise.

In summary, here’s what I received and what I kept:

Skies are Blue Bradie Embroidery Front Knit Top for $54 – KEPT

Le Lis Jes Faux Wrap Knit Maxi Dress for $78 – returned

RD Style Tay T-Shirt Dress for $58 – returned

Dear John Finnegan Cuffed Short for $58 – returned

Skies Are Blue Aranyu Pom Pom Trim Top for $48 – returned

So there you have it: my summer Stitch Fix. I scheduled another one for mid-August to give summer clothes another try. I don’t really need anything, but I wanted to give the styling service a full year before I decide if it’s something I’ll stick with or not. There are other services like Stitch Fix, but I haven’t tried any of them. So far, I’ve been really pleased with my fall and winter fixes, but underwhelmed with spring and summer.

Again, if you want to try Stitch Fix for yourself, I’d appreciate it if you used my referral link.

I hope you enjoy your summer, whether you’re traveling the world or sticking close to home! And I hope you find something cute and comfortable to wear.