SBL 2.0: Let's Go... Someone?

Dear readers, I've been taking a social media break. I even had Sarit change my Facebook password so I couldn't cheat. (Except Instagram, I guess, but that is not particularly time intensive.) It's been interesting to see how much time I waste on the internet. (A lot.) Also how much harder it is to waste time without Facebook. (Also a lot.) This is unlikely to be a permanent switch, but it's been an interesting experiment.

Citi Field, and some cool clouds...

 Anyway. Way back in the day (i.e. Memorial Day Weekend), we took on another Bucket List activity and took Simon to a Mets game. Simon, in an act of rebellion against his father, has openly declared his hatred for the Red Sox. I was very proud. (Sorry Bostonians.) However, since he is eight, he not yet mastered the idea of cheering for one team. Instead, he has created a hierarchy: 1. Dodgers, 2. Yankees, 3. Mets. This will become relevant in a minute.

Since the Dodgers are a West Coast team, they tend to only come to New York once a year. Simon really misses his (former hometown) team. That is how we found ourselves with an 8 year old, decked in Dodgers gear, for a game that began at 8:00 PM. Forget Simon's bedtime, that's late for me.

Yay Someone! It's much less stressful when your team isn't playing...

 Luckily, it was a beautiful evening, and I was wearing one of my favorite Stitch Fix shirts that I got during the blog hiatus. You can see it better in the picture above, but it combines some of my favorite things: stripes, lace, 3/4 sleeves, and softness. So I was dressed and ready to go.

We were sitting three rows from the back of the stadium behind home plate, because that is where the cheap tickets are. It's actually a great view from above, as you can see below, and it was a particularly beautiful sunset. The top deck in the back is also where the hardcore fans sit, as opposed to those who sit on the field level in their fancy pants, so I was a little worried about people yelling at Simon in his Dodgers gear, especially because the Mets and Dodgers have some serious bad blood after last year's National League Championship Series. Luckily, nobody said anything to him, despite booing lustily every time Chase Utley came to bat.

We ended up leaving in the eighth inning because it was almost 11:00, and because I have horrible memories of getting stuck in a traffic jam trying to get out of Citi Field, and thus being stuck in the parking lot for an hour. Simon was so tired that he started say, "I don't care who wins. I just want it to be over." The Dodgers had been winning 2-0 for most of the game. As we turned on the radio in the car, the Mets tied it up, but ultimately, the Dodgers prevailed in the 9th, 4-2, just as it started to pour. Simon was a happy camper.

Help! How does one take a selfie???

And then, despite the late hour, we got up and ran a 5K the next morning in 1,000,000% humidity. More on that soon...

What I'm wearing: 41Hawthorn shirt via Stitch Fix, Gap cropped khakis (similar here)

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review: I'm in Love...

Friends, thank you for waiting so patiently for my latest Stitch Fix review. I know I skipped January-- it came right before I went to DC and I didn't have time to take pics before I sent it back. It's sad, as it was a really good one, even though I ultimately only kept one thing. (Which I have since worn three times a week.) But we must chug along, so be it.

The good news is... this Fix was awesome! Alison has really been killing it lately, and this box just raised the bar even higher. Thanks Alison! (For a review of how Stitch Fix works, see my earlier post here.) I had a fashion show during the Super Bowl with my friends Jenn and Doron, because there's only so long that you can watch people give each other brain damage before you need a new activity.

My styling card: look at all the colors!!

 I loved the whole box and had to exercise some self control to not keep everything. (How that happened will come later.) Luckily, the combo of a gift certificate and referral credit meant that I had $125 to work with, so there was some flexibility. Because of that, the whole box would have cost $115 after the discount, credits, and styling fee. Let's get to it, shall we?

Colorblock Verbena Sequin Detail Blouse in red-- $68

According to Alison, I pinned this blouse. I don't remember, but that seems like something I would do. I loved the sequined detail, and how it is not overpowering but so pretty. I also really liked the color, which was an orange-y red, which is not something I have a lot of in my wardrobe. It seemed classy but also sparkly, which is a good combo. I was sure I was going to keep it when I tried it on the first time, but when I modeled it for my friend Jenn, we both agreed that it was good but not great. It was a little short in the torso and I couldn't quite figure out when I would wear it. For the price, since I wasn't keeping everything, it needed to leave me. Good bye, beautiful blouse. May you find a good home with a shorter torso'ed friend.
Status: Returned

Ezra Cuballa Embroidery Knit Top in navy-- $58

This I did pin. That's because I am in love with it. First of all, I love that the back fabric is different than the front. Second, it's SUPER soft. Third, I love the embroidery detail very much. The only weird thing about it is that it's short on the sides, but my friend Rachel theorized that it's supposed to be that way. So I will wear a tank top underneath and feel happy forever.

Status: Kept!

Gilli Jodie Textured Skirt in navy (although I swear it's black)-- $58

This was my favorite. I have been searching for basically this exact skirt for MONTHS. Thin stripes, knee length, pleats, textured cotton. Happy Rachel! (This was also Jenn and Doron's favorite.)

Status: Kept!

London Times Nancee Dress in green-- $98
Mak Jaclynn 3/4 Sleeve Button-Up Cardigan in cobalt-- $38

I thought two things when I saw this dress.  #1: LOVE. #2: I think I already have this? Indeed, I already own a dress in the same color and almost the same fabric and shape. As much as I love kelly green, even I have my limits, especially for $100.

Alison, knowing of my modest ways, sent this cardigan to go with the dress as well. It was very soft and I loved the color. It was also the least expensive thing in the box. I would have been happy to add it to my closet, except that I have a million cardigans, so I exercised some self control and decided not to keep it.

Do I regret it now? A little. But life goes on. It's only clothing, friends.
Status: dress and sweater both returned

So that's February. Home run. If I hadn't already had an almost identical dress, it's likely that all five things would now be in my closet. But I am very excited about my new shirt and skirt. Just have to wait for March to see what comes next!

Want to get in on the fun? Sign up for your own fix here!

I'm So Fancy! And So Is My Drink.

Hello from our nation's capital, friends! There is much to report from here, including my first (but not last!) trip to the White House, three museums in one day, and fun time with wonderful friends. However, in my effort to blog at least somewhat in order (some days I am more determined than others), I'm going to flash back a bit to a super fun sister bonding bucket list activity-- fancy drinks for fancy folks.

Most of the time, I am glad that I live in the year 2016. Feminism, modern technology, and the fact that I am not expected to wear a corset are all things that make my life much better. However, there's something to be said for the old days, just because everyone was so freaking classy all the time. I love being classy, at least when I'm in the mood, so sometimes I try to bring it back.

Therefore, I put fancy drinks on my fall/ winter bucket list. But the rule was, it wasn't only the drinks that had to be fancy, we had to be fancy as well. Obviously my sisters jumped right on board with that. We decided that the way to go would be the bar at a fancy hotel, so we ended up at Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side.

Dear readers, it was SO fun. First of all, my drink was both beautiful and delicious. Second, I am obsessed with this dress and was so excited to wear it. (The top is sheer, so I put on a nude tank top underneath for a little extra coverage and as you can't see, you couldn't even tell.) I even put on a little make up! Not very well, as I have no idea what I'm doing since I never wear make up, but I get points for trying. There's something really appealing about being transported back to a different era for a few hours, when people wore fancy clothes to go out for a drink. Especially when you get to go back to 2016 afterwards. Cheers!

What I'm wearing: Boden dress, HUE tights, CL by Laundry heels

Black and White (but Sadly, Not Cookies.)

A few days ago, Sarit and I had a conversation that went like this:

Me: My toenail fell off. It's gross. And I think I probably can't run because I'm not sure I can wear closed-toe shoes.
Sarit: Oh, you can use the time to update the blog!

Sarit, this one is for you.

It doesn't happen very often in my price point, but every so often, you find something so beautiful that it requires no embellishment. This skirt, from Boden (of course), fits into that category perfectly.

Yup. Pockets. It just keeps getting better.

As you can see in the detail shot below, the skirt has an overlay that is neither quite lace nor quite crochet. It has soft pleats and pockets, and has the benefit of being super comfortable. Its only downside is that it is sort of see-through, but I am willing to wear a slip to own such beauty.

I actually originally tried it on with my red peep-toe heels, but I was delighted to discover that it actually looked better with black flat sandals. The skirt itself is such a statement piece that everything else in my outfit was best served by giving the skirt attention, rather than pulling away. I never say no to cases where flats look better than heels. I'm sure there's more to be done with this skirt, but for now, I loved the stark contrast of black and white.

Do you have anything special that speaks for itself? How do you style it?

What I'm wearing: Boden skirt (ordered in long and still just to the knee), Kosher Casual top, b.o.c. sandals (similar here)