Trying something new... Stitch Fix!

*No one paid me for this post, even though they should have, and everything written and expressed are my own thoughts.

I do a lot of reading at night. Not the "War and Peace" kind of reading but more like reading my favorite blogs or cruising Buzzfeed for an hour or two before I start drooling on my pillow. A little while ago I came across a blog that was talking at this service out of San Francisco called Stitch Fix! It's a styling service that sends you 5 custom tailored pieces to your house....you try them on at home, keep what you like and send back what you don't want.

What makes this better than going to the mall and shopping yourself? (like I need to spell this out for any of you) Well you get to try different brands that you may not be able to find in your local mall AND you don't have to deal with people...ANY people, No HORRIBLE dressing room lighting that make you look anemic and the temptation of those god damn Annie's Pretzels! DAMN YOU Annie's Pretzels and how good you smell.

How this works...you go to the site, Stitch Fix, and fill out a profile. They ask you a lot of questions of what you like, what you don't like, who you are, could they have your first born child...so on and so on. After that you pick a price point of what you are willing to pay for the pieces, I said between $50 - $75. Next up schedule a date for your "fix" and for $20 (which goes toward anything you want to keep) they send everything right to you!

I got my first one today

and I have to say I was impressed. I really liked it a lot actually. I would have NEVER picked any of the pieces out to try on but I really liked trying on something new. They had a large colorful chart of outfit ideas with each piece with staples you most likely already have at home. They give you work friendly ideas as well as more casual ways to wear the pieces.

This is what I had in my box....

Hard to see everything and didn't want to bore you with a picture of each item but in short...

- Dark wash stretchy skinny jeans ($80)
- FUN dress (double lined...VERY important here in New England in the winter time) with a scoop neck ($78)
- Lined Blazer ($68)
- Long sleeve blouse ($28)
- Pair of earrings that almost looked like coral (you know, the stuff you find in the ocean) ($38)

Every piece was under $80 and seemed like nice quality as well. Each piece also had a small tag and cheat sheet on it as well.

I have to say I was really skeptical at first but I figured, "Hell I have thrown $20 at REALLY bad ideas so why not try this!". I really loved it and would/am totally trying it again!

So if you want to keep everything...they give you the $20 credit towards your purchase as well as 25% off the total. If you don't want to keep any of it or just certain pieces you send everything back in pre-paid bag and off in the mail it goes! When you "check out" online you do need to fill out a small questionnaire that helps customize your next fix even more. 

I will let you know how my next one goes but I think it's something I could see myself trying once in awhile as a little "pick me up". In my 30's I have come to realize that I LOVE getting things (ANYTHING) in the mail that isn't a bill so bring it on Stitch Fix. Let me know if any of you try it and what you think!

Well off to pack, going to NH this weekend to see this guy before he leaves for Brazil!

Sunday Adventures

Last week was a really long week. A really long week that has involved going to a few states in 24 hours to hug some great friends (which I wouldn't trade in for anything), work (always exhausting) and dealing with the gold damn gold iPhone that I purchased at 4am. As I currently sit here typing I am on hold with Apple trying to retrieve all of my ring tones. This is my 5th phone call to this company and my 2nd phone call about this. And to make matter much worse there is some horrible John Mayer song is playing while I am on hold. (I am so thankful it's not on a loop or my ears might start bleeding). *SIDE NOTE....STILL waiting to get this fixed....no ring tones in sight! I had a slight ring tone problem and use to have about 30 of them. One for each group of people that would call me as well as a few old stand bys. I mean who doesn't want to hear "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" from Thanksgiving until Christmas?!?

Sunday morning, we (everyone except Arizona) gained an amazing extra hour of sleep or in my case cleaning and online shopping because my natural rhythm missed this memo and I was up at 6am doing back flips out of bed. I started a knitting project, drank some coffee, ate a piece of last night's homemade pizza, put the dishes away and thought to myself, "Wow! It has to be like 10am.....looked at the kitchen clock....NOPE! It's 8:15.

....This next part played out so much differently in my head then it did in reality.......

Alex was still sleeping like the dead and I did what anyone would do.....opened the bedroom door, got a running start and threw myself on the bed. (i.e. Supermanned on top of him) He thought someone was trying to violate his manhood in his sleep and almost karate chopped my head off. The upside to this is even in his sleep he has reflexes like a cat (robbers beware) the downside to this....I almost walked away from this cute little Sunday morning experience with a black eye and a broken jaw.

While he was still wiping sleep from his eyes I began the onslaught of "So what do you want to do today?!" without taking a breathe "Can we go on an adventure?!?!" "Can we do something REALLY fun!"

Without missing a beat he goes, "Sure! I think it's resturuant week in Newport? Wanna go?"

YES! Yes for two reasons. 1. I love Newport Rhode Island in the off season. It's peaceful but everything is still open. And 2. There is an AWESOME consignment store called Wish that I am just in love with. Plus it was pretty much sleeting and nasty out. I knew we weren't going to do anything worth writing home about around here so BRING IT ON Newport!

Also I have been DYING to do the "servants" tour of the Elms. It's one of the mansions on the main drag and they are the only house that you can do the servants tour which is basically like walking through a real live version of Downton Abbey! Sign me up!!!

3 hours later...

- Drove down in crappy weather

- Did the servants tour of the house and have only this picture to show (only part of the house from the back garden)...taking pics while inside the house is a BIG no no....which I found out when my phone almost got smacked out of my hand from our little tour guide who was one lisp and show tune away from singing on top of a grand piano at a drag bar.

- One trip to the consignment shop which I said to Alex as we were walking out of, "Well, we might have to swing by back there after lunch because I need to think about those earrings a little more" And it's MUCH easier to pull the trigger on some Tiffany's earrings after a few cocktails.

And then that brings me to our favorite place to grab a quick, easy and tasty meal in downtown Newport...Diego's...go! Go go! It's great, interesting Mexican and VERY VERY good ritas by the pitcher. Hello!!!!! Can't say no to that.

Lunch....WAS AWESOME! We shared a pitcher of rita, had some awesome tacos and pumpkin flan. EXCELLENT!

On our walk back up to the car we HAPPENED to pass back by Wish again. Alex looked at me and he just knew. We walked into the store and (what I thought was the same gal behind the counter) says hi and greets us.

Me "Oh we are back!"

Gal behind the counter "Oh!" (this is the point when Alex realizes that I have NO clue that it is not the same girl as before and this new friend of mine behind the counter has NO IDEA who I am or what I am talking about)

Me, as I walk around the counter to look at the earrings ONCE more "Yeah I just couldn't stop thinking about those at lunch! Can I see them once more??"

Confused New Friend, "Ummmmm, which ones? The cuff links?"

Me, slightly confused and STILL not getting it, "No no the earrings from last time...the Tiffany's ones!"

New BBF, "Ummm the beans?"

Me, again STILL no clue, "No no the ones I was just looking at...these silly!" (JESUS CHRIST BETH!)

BBF, who thinks I AM CRAZY, "Oh! Nice! Yeeeeeeeesssss" wink wink wink

Me, without even thinking about, "Oh I really love these but I don't want to pay the $125, would you do it for $100? I would buy them right now!"

Gal Pal, "Well I just put them out and they are brand new. I don't know if I can take that much off right now."

.........She tries to make a phone call to the store owner and I start yapping about lunch and how good it was. How her recommendation about the type of margarita and the app were perfect. (Alex said she was looking at me like I needed to be committed because in her mind WE HAVE NEVER MET)

BBF, before she could even finish hanging up the phone, "You know what....sure $100 it is!"

Me, "GREAT!!!! CHARGE!"

Bought them, left the store (not before exchanging email address with her so I could show her the wonder that is Zappos VIP, how could she not know about this!?) and as we get into the car Alex goes, "So you know that your new bestie behind the counter right now WAS NOT the same person who you saw BEFORE we went to lunch right?!" I go, "NO WAY! You are lying...." Alex, "Nope, totally different girl!"

HOLY SHIT!

Food Worth Blogging About!

We all have limits in life and we all, at times, try to push through those limits. The majority of the time it's for the better. Like when you're running a 5k and trying to beat your best time or do just one more mile on the treadmill at the gym in the morning. Then there's the time when you push yourself that aren't so good. One more cocktail at the bar (fully knowing you can barely see straight) or polishing off the ENTIRE bag of chips when you told yourself you would only have a handful.

Sunday was a day I just pushed myself to the limit and came to an important conclusion... 2 cupcakes in one sugar binge sessh is JUST A LITTLE too much...my limit is about a cupcake and a half on a lazy Sunday before feeling completely nauseous.

Enough of that so I have got pat myself on the back for this one but dinner tonight was STELLAR!!!!! For all those with dietary shinnaigans this is good for those who are gluten free, vegetarian friendly, can be done vegan and drum roll please......only 7 ww points (for how it is made listed below).

I give you Vietnamese Fried "Rice"!!!!!! It's more like the texture of cous cous so think cous cous not rice when you are eating this. This was so freaking good but bare with me folks and trust me here. It's worth making your kitchen a mess and using almost every dish you have. :) Start to finish it took me about 45 mins total.

For the sauce....toss everything listed below in a separate bowl and put it aside:

- 1/4 cup of water

- 3 Tbsp of fresh squeezed lime juice

- 2 Tbsp of fish sauce or ginger and soy sauce (your choice)

- 1 1/2 Tbsp of a sweetener (white sugar, brown sugar, agave or honey) 

- 1/2 Tbsp of apple cider or rice wine vinegar

- Some chili flake in for a kick

*Ok now that's done....taste it...adjust it as you need to. You really can't mess this up 

For the "rice": 

- 1 head of cauliflower (ends up being about 3 cups or so once you "grate it up")

- 2 large carrots diced or chopped

- 1/2 of a sweet onion diced

- 4 cloves of garlic minced

- baby bok choy chopped (as much as you want) or any other veggies you like

- 2 eggs (scramble) if vegan (used crumbled tofu)

- 14 - 16 grilled shrimp (about a pound) if vegan use marinated grilled shiitake mushrooms

- 5 green onions chopped

- 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro 

*Chop up the cauliflower into smaller pieces and toss it in food processor. Pulse it until it resembles cous cous texture. 

Time to get dirty people!!!

In a non stick frying pan put about a tablespoon oil of your choice (something without a lot of flavor) and throw in the onions, carrots and garlic. Toss them around until the onions are translucent. Throw the baby bok choy or whatever vegetables you like. Toss them around until those are cooked through. 

In a separate pan put another tablespoon of oil (again of your choice) and heat it up. Put the cauliflower in there. Let it get a little brown (about 3 mins) and then toss it around...keep going with this for about 10 mins total until you get little brown pieces throughout the cauliflower. 

Make a "well" in the middle of the pan (move the cauliflower aside to create a hole in the middle of the pan). Throw the raw scrambled eggs in the pan and mix it all together over the heat. (Or toss in the crumbled tofu)

Take the cauliflower "rice" and combine it in the other frying pan with all of the vegetables. Toss it all together. At this time put the add the chopped up grilled shrimp or shiitake mushrooms.

Oh sweet baby jesus...you are almost done (this is a long recipe uh?!) Grab that sauce you made (what now seems like hours ago) and "sprinkle" it was a spoon all over the "fried rice". Toss the scallions and cilantro with the rice...now the moment we have all been waiting for...DIG IN!

Honestly this is just awesome. Please let me know what you think!!!!

Why Hello Fall......

I love the fall. I think almost everyone in the North East claims it as their favorite season for the sheer fact that summer here isn't all it's cracked up to be. Who likes the outdoors to smell like a gym locker because of the humidity and when you step outside you literally just sweat... (not this guy)...
I in fact look forward to fall for three reasons only...

1. Cooler weather makes for GREAT outside walking...well for any kinds of outdoor, weekend warrior crap.....
2. The chub layers are hidden behind great sweaters, jeans and tall boots. So when we have one too many "hot date nights out" during the week (please read, I'm too lazy to make dinner after work and REALLY could use a glass or 6 of wine) this becomes irrelevant due to the fabulous fashionable layers one can toss on.
3. And last but not least....Pumpkin everything (savory, sweet, breakfast, dinner, snacks....I could go on forever) and I know I am not alone in this orange pumpkin shaped boat.

Which brings me to the point of this post...I have been in a breakfast runt for the past two weeks. The egg white scrambles on the low cal english muffins just aren't cutting it anymore. And oatmeal with dried fruits and nuts just doesn't scream, "Hi, let's start your day" to me....

So last night I spent the better half of an hour looking through blogs and trying to find the breakfast smoothie of my dreams.....and man oh man did I! (If my 17 year old self could hear me talking now about my love for all things smoothie or the fact that this is the sheer highlight to my day, they would think I have 100% lost my mind) DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........

The Pumpkin Smoothie Breakfast Shake!!!!!!! I can not take the credit for this at all but I will tell you it's only 4 ww points for the entire thing (just count the banana as a separate item in your breakfast category...it's 0 points anyway and jesus christ it's a banana!) and add more pumpkin, cinnamon, a little extra frozen banana and good vanilla. I also tossed in a few ice cubes when I was zipping it through the Vitamix this morning. (Our neighbors truly must hate us...I love that blender but it 100% sounds like an airplane is taking off in the kitchen at 6:30am)

The Good Stuff:

• 1/3 c. pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup or brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
• 1 to 1 1/2 bananas, frozen
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

The How To:

1. Toss everything but the banana into a mason jar, put on a lid and shake the heck out of it... into the fridge it goes to refrigerate overnight.
2. In the morning put everything including the banana into the blender with a couple of ice cubes and let the magic happen.

I can also tell you that I am excited for tomorrow morning to come, not because it's Friday or that I actually have some pretty solid weekend plans with gal pals that I haven't seen in A LONG time but to meet this smoothie again. :)

Try it....drink it and LOVE IT! Embrace fall with me people.

"The crossbody hand bag makes you look like a lesbian from Vermont"

....says Nicky! (aka Poodle) at dinner tonight.

Me "But it's Marc Jacobs"

Poodle "It slashes your boobs in half....what are you on sale?!"

Me "I can't win!"

 *not returning the hand bag....still love it and I think all women love a good cross body bag. They are comfortable!!! These gays were calling a cross body bag the equivalent to a croc!?! WTF?!

And then the watch conversation started....shoot me now

*Here's what you need to know about me to begin with....
- A. I don't own a watch
- B. I didn't ever think I would be the type of person who would wear a watch
- C. I don't even like wearing bangles and or bracelets all that much
- Number 4. My knowledge of watches is nothing more than some cost more than cars and you can get for $10 bucks. I can't keep a white shirt white...why the hell would I watch to buy something that will 100% get broken, lost or scratched within 48 hours of me owning it that could potentially cost more than my car in the drive way?!?

So I bought this watch today....

Walking out of the store I was thinking to myself, "Oh I love this green face! It's so simple! Great watch!" That was until I saw all of my boys at Alex's Birthday dinner tonight......

So those assholes within 5 mins had me buying a new watch that the majority of them approved of online before the third round of cocktails came! (It'll be here on Wednesday). All of them said that this looked like something you would get off of a kiosk machine in the mall that spins around in a circle OR at TJ Maxx. It wasn't a cheap watch either. I mean it's not $30k but it was more than $150. 

I think Kyle's exact words were, "Making new friends with Flava Flav!?" Kill me now..... Annnnnnnnnnnd it's going back tomorrow to Nordstroms! 

The best part of this entire conversation was when Poodle goes, "Oh show them the picture you sent me earlier...." 

Poodle "See I have the one in the middle and I might even have the one to the right too"

Me "Honey those are 100% women's watches" 

Poodle "Oh....well I have some that are bedazzled too! I think those must be women's watches as well! What can I say I have good taste!"

*We started counting his collection....I lost count after 5 watches he owned that he owned that could have gone "either way" and we are now calling "transgender" watches. LOVE HIM! Hell I may even borrow some of his watches. He does have good taste! 

"Do you think doing this marathon is worse than child birth?" GOD I HOPE SO!

HOLY SHIT I WALKED A MARATHON!!!!! Today friends I walked the Boston Marathon!!!! It was to stand up for cancer. I was there mainly for the snacks and really I had nothing better to do at 5:30am on this fine Sunday morning. Did I sign up for the walk? Nope! One of oldest friends (been friends for over 26 years) did so I donated to her page and said I would also walk the whole thing with her. I.e. Be her cheerleader for 8 hours while walking our butts off. But they really do have great snacks along the way!!!

This is what 5:30am looks like in Hopkinton, MA....where is that you ask?! 26.9 miles away from the center of Boston! Again.... HOLY SHIT I WALKED A MARATHON!!!

Have I done this before? NO! I have ever, on purpose walked more than 26 miles before? (another great question) NO!

My training plans were A. to buy new shoes about a month before the walk which I used a total of 8 times (I had much bigger dreams for these shoes but I for some reason have boycotting the gym for the entire month of August) and B. carbo loading the night before (ate an entire box of annie's mac and cheese) and went to bed at 8pm with an aggressive amount of little blue pills. I don't recommend this plan at all and if I ever do anything like this again I would try to work in some compression sleeves but god damnit I did it!

I feel like I went to battle and WON! The only current causalities are my two "ring" toes...those nails are 100% coming off and MASSIVE I mean MASSIVE blisters all over my feet. My knees keep twitching but I think that's about it.

WE DID IT!!!!!

The best part was about 3 miles to the finish we noticed these guys doing push ups at every mile marker. They were 65 or 70 year old police chiefs on some team. I asked them where they started (there are four start points....26 miles, 13 miles, 5 miles and 3 miles (I think).) I am expecting them to say the 13 AT MOST...Oh no the 26 and they have been doing 10 push ups at every mile marker. And then there's me by mile 17 babbling about nothing out of shear delusion to take my mind off the pain. Check Please! 

Summer is ending and something I will never learn....

What a fun few weeks it has been friends. Since coming back from Vegas at the beginning of this month it has been a non-stop whirl wind of summer time fun!

Weekends spent with these people...

 

(Someone took the last of the margarita while I was distracted by a sizzling platter walking by)

 

(Happy Monday to our Philly!!!)

Our trip to Nantucket...

 (How it started!!!!)

 (How it ended!!!)

But what is a blog post without me venting for a second.. Deep thoughts by yours truly.....

There are not many things I truly hate in life. I honestly think my time here (on this big blue green marble) is waaaaaay to short to REALLY hate something. I mean don't get me wrong I dislike almost everything from time to time but when it comes down to the effort I have to make to truly hate something.....I would rather waste that energy secretly or not so secretly judging 85% of the population who I see on a daily basis and make up stories about them in my head. Cheers to that!

I more than ANYTHING in this world I HATE coming home after an evening of fun and dare I say a cocktail or ten to this....

 
 You would think at 32 I would have this shit down to a science....NOPE! Absolutely not. I can plan every moment of an event for a group of 1500 people but figure out how to make the bed before I leave the house on a Saturday night or at the very least take the sheets OUT of the washer and put them in the dryer so I can put them on the bed when I get home.....Oh no my friends that would be asking too much. 

So 15 agonizing minutes later....of me whining to my self. (Sing it with me people, "All by my self.....don't wanna be....all by myyyyyyyy seeeeeellllllffffff!!!!") Taaaaaa Daaaaaaaa!

It's hard being me sometimes....

 But now back to reality....well almost! This weekend I am going to clam baking and making/canning the "Roseto Family Sauce" pictures and tomato stains to come! Stay Tuned people!!!