Let's Get Random

Don't be too shocked, but it is Thursday evening and I am riding the bus home and have an urge to post.  I'm not sure why because it was a busy day and I am tired, but when an urge to post hits...I don't ignore it.  No, wait, that's not true.  I often ignore the urge to post because I am too busy and can't find the time.  But I have no excuse because I am on the bus and there is never a lot to do.  And my bus friend isn't riding (although he gave me a ride this morning so that contributed to me not getting my nap in and being tired) so I am not talking to anyone.  Don't get too excited though because I don't have much of value to post about.  So, here are a bunch of random thoughts.

1) My necklace broke.  Yup, that beautiful necklace from yesterday fell apart.  I wonder if it was a sign that I was being too greedy.  I felt like I should have only bought one or two things from my Stitch Fix box but I just really loved four of the things and thought that settling on three was a good compromise.  Not when one of those things breaks within the first eight hours of wearing it.  How tragic.  And it wasn't cheap.  I was quite perturbed, with myself for buying it and with the company for selling something that would break so easily.  My coworker happens to be a jewelry fixing expert so she said she can put it back together, so I am hopeful.  I did write a comment to StitchFix too, but I had to complain last time when my shirt shrunk in the wash so they probably think there is something wrong with me.  I think in my note for my next fix I am going to say not to give me clothes that I have to hand-wash or dry-clean and to only give me toddler-proof accessories...because although Evan didn't touch the necklace, I apparently can't handle grown-up jewelry either.

2) I got waxed today in preparation for the summer pool and I forgot how amazing it feels (sorry if any boys read this, but I kind of doubt they do).  Because even though it's a tad painful during the process...it is fabulous afterwards.  Waxing is amazing.  Don't worry, I am not going to show a photo of this.  That would be weird.

3) On my way back from the waxing joint I passed the Popped Republic gourmet popcorn truck.  

Umm, yummy.  On Tuesday I passed the Ben and Jerry's Core Tour truck and snagged a cup of their new salted caramel ice cream for free (it's delicious, if you were wondering).  The popcorn truck wasn't free and I was determined to stay strong and go back to the office and eat my lunch.  So I did.  However, my veggie soup didn't look that appetizing anymore.  And I couldn't get my work done because I kept thinking of pop corn.  Yummy chocolate caramel popcorn.  After a while I got up and made some hot tea thinking that would do the trick.  

Obviously not because I have this delightful photo.  Along with the photo of the bag above.  I felt like it was my responsibility to get this popcorn in the name of productivity.  I couldn't afford to have a unproductive afternoon, could I?

It was quite tasty.  And I probably still have some stuck in the teeth.  I will admit that I might have eaten one handful too many and my tummy is sugared out now.  I left the rest at work in case the craving comes next week.

4) The World Cup starts today and my husband is over the moon.  I was in Honduras two world cups ago ( I can't believe it was that long ago) and it was awesome being there for that.  It was such a unifier.  I could go anywhere and the game would be one and I'd be welcome to watch.  It's not as fun here, but it's still fun.  And the husband is beyond excited.  Honduras plays on Father's Day and I sure hope they win!

5) I am tired and have no idea what I am cooking for dinner tonight.  We already had our lazy dinner of eggs and beans so not sure what else to have.  I made chicken soup last night but it's possible the husband ate all of it.  Pasta?  Stir fry?  No clue.

Alright.  That is all the fabulousness that I am going to leave you with today.  Enjoy your weekend and Happy Father's Day!!!

Traveling with a Toddler and a Stitch Fix necklace

Traveling with a toddler is not easy.  I can tell you that.  That must be why everyone always asks me what it's like and how I manage.  First, I am blessed, because Evan is super easy to travel with and pretty calm on the plane.  I traveled with him in January when we went to Houston and that was a bit challenging because it was supposed to be a four hour flight but it turned into a 5 hour flight and that was a long time for him to sit still in his seat.  Or my seat really, because he flies as a lap child still.  This past flight was fairly easy because Atlanta is only a one hour flight from Baltimore, so it wasn't too difficult to get there.

Taking every baggie out of the box is airplane friendly, but it sure helps me get dinner ready!

But there is SO MUCH STUFF.  Packing for children is not fun!  First, I packed the diaper bag with so many activities and toys and snacks that it weighed at least 20 pounds.  It was SO heavy.  Then I had a backpack that had some of my stuff in it and things that I didn't want to check.  We also had the car seat because if you want to go anywhere in a vehicle you need a car seat.  I know that legally you don't need to put children in car seats if you are taking public transportation (buses, taxis, shuttles, etc.), but taxis are just as likely to get into an accident as I am so why risk it?  So I always bring the 50lbs car seat.  I did by this nifty carrier for the car seat and love it.  It fits the seat perfectly and then I can carry it on my back.  I always check the car seat with my checked luggage and it doesn't count as an extra bag.  If I get desperate I can always throw a few things in with the car seat because they don't weigh that.

Evan can now climb onto the rocking chair by himself.  He loves sitting in his own seats now - but on planes he
still has to sit with me!

In the suitcases go normal stuff like clothes and shampoo, but then I have to remember all the stuff for keeping a toddler entertained at a hotel: blocks, animals, coloring books, books, trains, spatulas, measuring cups, bath toys, etc.  Plus enough diapers and wipes and special baby shampoo and soap.  And swim diapers.  These things get heavy...and take up an entire suitcase.  So, on top of the diaper bag, car seat, and backpack, I also have two suitcases.  And a child.  That is a LOT of stuff.  Usually my husband helps me check in but sometimes there is no one waiting on the other side so I have to somehow get all my stuff into a cab by myself.  This time I was meeting my mom at the airport so she helped me out. 

The airplane ride was a breeze this time because on the way there we flew at 2pm which was close to nap time.  I nursed Evan on the take-off (yes, he is 21 months and I am still nursing) and he immediately fell asleep and then slept for the entire flight.  On the way back the flight was delayed and didn't take off until 9:05pm and that was close to his bedtime, so again I nursed him at take-off and he fell right asleep.  Easy peasy.  The flight home was super crowded so there was a person in every seat.  This made it a bit tight since I had a lap child.  He may have gently kicked the person sitting next to me, but she didn't care. 

It makes nursing a bit interesting though - when someone is practically sitting on top of me.  I'm not a huge fan of nursing in public because I have to try and be a bit more modest (i.e. I can't take my entire shirt off, I have to wear something underneath so that my entire back and stomach aren't exposed, etc.).  Although I have read numerous stories about people having problems nursing in public, this has not been the case for me (thank goodness).  I have nursed Evan on all of his flights and I rarely use a cover (what's the point - Evan hates being covered and flings it off two seconds into a feeding) and no one has ever said anything.  Some people don't like to make eye contact with me - like they are a bit embarrassed or thing I am embarrassed), but that's about it.  I've nursed at the airport too, but usually in gates with only a few people.  I've never had to pump in an airport though, and I hear that that can be pretty rough (it's hard to find outlets in private areas). 

To keep Evan busy while waiting for the plane to board we usually try and find an empty gate and set up shop near the window.  Then Evan can run around, take out his ball, build some blocks, look at planes, make a lot of noise, and wear himself out.  Sometimes we walk up and down the hallways, but this can be hard because of my 20 pound diaper bag.  And Evan eventually wants to let go of my hand and go darting in and out of people and in front of airport carts.

So - that is a brief summary of my experience.  Nothing that I'm sure you couldn't figure out yourself.  I wrote a post of airplane tips with toddlers a while back that might be useful if you are flying too.  So far I have taken Evan on every work trip (a total of four) and am really lucky to have family members willing to meet me at my destination and hang out with Evan while I'm working (thanks Elizabeth, Aunt Pam, and Mom!!!).  That has made all the difference and has made work travel so much less stressful.  It is awesome getting to eat with Evan during lunch and show him off to my work colleagues - who are in love with him, of course.  Plus, I get to see family I normally wouldn't get to see - even bigger bonus!

After spending half a week with his Mimi, he was all set to Skype with her shortly after we returned home.
We usually Skype lying on the floor - so he was all set to go!

Aside from that - not much to report around here.  Oh, except I got my third Stitch Fix box yesterday and LOVED it.  I wanted to keep 4/5 things but really didn't want the 5th thing and it was more expensive to buy the five things than to buy the four things so I decided to just buy three things.  One included this necklace that I love!

I'll snap pictures of the other things too.  Plus the things from my second box, since I never showed you that.  I am really loving Stitch Fix!!!  If you click those links to sign up, I get $20 for referring you.  No pressure though - you can just go to the website yourself.  I just wanted to put it out there just in case you were interested and didn't mind using my referral number.





How is your week going?  Any tips for traveling with a toddler?

Any Stitch Fix lovers out there??

My Stitch Fix

First, I have to confess.  Today I didn't dry my hair OR put any makeup on.  And last night I was finished all my stuff at 10:03pm but the hubs had already gone to bed and the quiet house was so enticing that I stayed up until 10:45pm reading.  Guilty.  I was going to at least put makeup on but totally forgot until Evan was already awake and there was no time.

So, did I tell you I jumped on the Stitch Fix (affiliate link) bandwagon? I can't remember and since I'm on the bus with no internet, I can't find out.  I will just assume that I didn't.  I have felt like I needed some new clothes for a while.  I haven't really bought anything new since before I got pregnant.  After I had Evan I kept waiting for the baby weight to fall off and then never got around to buying much.  I bought a few summer clothes last year, but I got them on sale and after I washed them they all morphed into odd shapes.  I guess that's what happens to cheap clothes.  I swear cheap clothes in the past used to hold up better, but these days it seems a waste to even try to save money and buy cheaply because I end up giving everything away.

Enter Stitch Fix.  In case you haven't heard, Stitch Fix is an online shopping experience.  You sign up, answer a bunch of questions about your body type and style, and someone picks out clothes for you and sends them on their way.  You get about five items (it can be a mix of tops, bottoms, dresses, and accessories), you try them on, and you keep what you like and mail back what you don't.  The items are a bit pricier than I would usually buy (average price is about $60 a piece), but they are all great quality and hopefully won't ruin the first time I wash them.  Plus it can be a slow process - I can buy one or two items a month rather than 5 in one shopping trip from the same store.  You can also buy your entire Fix and then you get 20% off your entire purchase, but I don't think I'll be spending $200 anytime soon.  You never know though - my co-worker loved her entire Fix and bought everything the last time.

So I got my first Fix yesterday in the mail.  I was so excited because who doesn't love a package in the mail.  I had been warned about the first Fix because everyone I know had been disappointed.  They all say that the second Fix is much better.  That was pretty much true for me.  I wasn't really a fan of any of the things they picked out for me, but I ended up keeping one item since you pay $20 upfront to be styled.  This is what I got:

A black and white striped shirt.  For some reason it looks cuter in this photo than it did in person.  I wasn't a big fan and there was nothing special about it, especially for the price they wanted.  It's kind of baggy and long so it has to be tucked in, which kind of annoys me.

This one is a bit hard to see but it was a silky-type shirt with tulips on it.  It was cute but close to $70 so it wasn't cute enough for me to buy.  It was also baggy and needed to be tucked in (this was a theme - everything was baggy and needed to be tucked in).

This one I really disliked.  It was similar to jersey fabric and hung weird.  It made me look pregnant, which is never a good look.  The back was the worst.

It was this weird pattern that reminded me of a Native American-style mixed with large roses.  It was definitely not my style.

This is the one I decided to keep.  It's a nice fabric and would work for work and casual.  It's not the best color for my winter skin, but I will most likely wear a cardigan over it so it shouldn't matter too much.  It also needs to be tucked in, which annoys me, but it doesn't look to bad. 

I also got a pair of really cute black pants that fit great and were super comfy.  They didn't photograph well so I didn't take a picture.  They were $98 though and I felt like that was just too much for my sad budget.  The shirt I ended up getting was $48 but with the $20 I already spent it was $28.  Not too horrible.

So there you have it.  I didn't get any accessories, but I am fine with that.  I am excited to return these, make comments, and get my next fix next month.  I hear that the more detailed your comments the better your next fix is.  I really like how I can slowly increase my wardrobe without going on a spending spree and disliking half of what I bought a week later.  I made a Pinterst board with my styles which I hope will help them find the perfect outfits for me.

If you like this idea, feel free to use this link (or any of the links above) to sign up.  Just to be transparent, I get $25 if you sign up, so if you'd prefer to not do that, you can always just go to the website and sign up yourself.

What do you think?? Would you enjoy an online styling and shopping service?