September 2014 Stitch Fix Review: I finally got the magic 5!!

If you've been following my blog, you know that I've been getting Stitch Fix boxes for several months. It's a personal styling service that I love! I've been waiting to get the "magic" box where I keep all five items. I finally got it! I actually got it a couple weeks back, but haven't had time to get the hubby to snap a few pictures.

See my previous reviews here.

41 Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve 

Popover Blouse $58

Since I've kept similar shirts by 41Hawthorn in the past, I figured this would be a keeper.

I was right. It's simple, but can go with many items in my closet. I paired it with a pair of Ecru Springfield Pull-On pants that I found on-sale online:) Boy, I love these pants! And, obviously, I like the shirt. I wore it a week ago or two with a striped skirt I got from last month's fix for which I did not blog because I only kept one item and did not have time to take pictures. 

41Hawthorn Boat Neck Striped Cotton Tee $48

I'm a sucker for stripes, and I had pinned this item. The material was very soft and comfortable.

I actually wore it last week with a brown belt around the middle to break it up. Hubby likes it better with the belt. He does not quite share my love of stripes as much:)

Tart Sioban Striped French Terry 

3/4 Sleeve Dress $88

I've received Tart items before, and they always seem to fit me well. When I did my sneak peak after I received my e-mail, I thought it was a different dress. So, when I pulled it out, even though I had pinned this dress, too, I wasn't sure I was going to like it.

I threw on a pair of boots that I plan on wearing with this dress in the fall/winter. I will, of course, wear tights. The dress is a very soft, comfortable material. I think adding the belt helps break up the lines, though my obsessive-compulsive side is annoyed that the buckle is slightly off in this picture. Oh, well. The only criticism I have of the Tart dresses is that I wish they were a couple of inches longer. I also confess that I feel mixed feelings about liking clothing from a brand that is named Tart.

Three Dots Nevin 3/4 Sleeve 

Leopard Print Sweatshirt $74

Another item I had recently pinned, though I have to confess I wasn't sure if it was going to look okay on me. My hubby was not sure, either. It has an interesting pattern/color combination. It is also soft and breathable.

I like the 3/4 sleeves of the sweatshirt and it's very comfortable. In this picture, I'm pairing it with the last item from my fix, another great pair of pull-on pants. I'm kind of obsessed with them at the moment. 

The sweatshirt is a bit pricey, but I never look at prices until I've tried on items. Plus, I can wear it to work with slacks, like above, or with jeans at home. So, that sort of justified it in my mind.

Liverpool Rizzo Pull-On Skinny Ponte Pant $98

It's really hard to show the material of these pants in my pictures. My stylists have sent me several pairs of black pull-on pants. I like that these are fitted, but not too fitted, if you know what I mean. If they are too tight, I can't wear them to work. These pants are very comfortable and the material is quality. I had of course googled pictures before they arrived, but I knew it was going to be a matter of trying them on and seeing how they fit. I wore them to work yesterday with an item from a previous fix. I like that I'm able to mix and match items since my stylist (Thanks, Connie!) keeps track of what I have.

As you know, I kept them all and, of course, got the 25% discount. I think the only piece I haven't worn yet is the dress. I actually get my next shipment this week, so hopefully I will have time to blog about it sooner rather than later. I got some gift cards for my birthday and am anxious to spend them! 

I asked Connie for some different color items in the jewel tone family for my next fix. I've received a lot of blues, which is my favorite color, but since fall has arrived, I would like some dark reds, greens, purples, etc. This fix, she sent me a lot of items I pinned. Again, I'm glad she paid attention to my board. My hubby commented that this fix might be a little less exciting than other ones where I received items that I would not have picked out otherwise. I'm on the fence about that because I loved the items and they all fit me. So, was the fix less exciting because I pinned most of the items and they happened to be available? Not sure. I'm just glad I got the "magic box" and hope to see more in my future.

Online Stores for Used Kids' Clothing: Thredup Versus MoxieJean

I'm hardly the first blogger to write about this topic, but I thought I would write a quick update regarding the two sites. I'll summarize the different areas and then make an overall comparison.

Inventory of Items
Thredup easily wins this category. They have a much larger selection of clothing available on their site. If you create a personal closet of items you like, they will send you updates regarding new items. Moxiejean also will e-mail regarding new arrivals, but they also say they put new stuff up twice a week. Thredup seems to put up stuff daily. I think Thredup is overall a bigger operation.

Pricing of Items
I have found both sites to be comparable, but will give the slight edge to Moxiejean here. They have sections with "Recent Markdowns," and "Clearance" items. You can get some real steals here.

Quality of Items
I haven't found much difference between the two sites. Thredup will list items as faded or with a spot and post pictures of both the front and back of the item that allow you to look at the items carefully. Moxiejean only shows the front of the item. They say they only accept "excellent" stuff.

Brands Available
Moxiejean wins here. They take many more brands than Thredup. They even sell items without a brand if it is in excellent condition.

Payout for Items Sent In
I'm wanting to give the slight edge to Thredup here, but it isn't clear cut. I think that Thredup may accept "Very Good" items whereas Moxiejean accepts only "Excellent." Of bags that I've sent in, I've gotten more money from Thredup than MoxieJean, despite MoxieJean taking more brands.

Moxiejean tells you why they did not accept your item; Thredup does not. However, Thredup includes pictures of the items they have kept in your payout email. I like the pictures and knowing when my items sell.

Thredup gives store credit or will give you a payout through Paypal, which has a transaction fee if you want to deposit in your account. Moxiejean will send you a check, but gives you 25% more if you spend it in store.

Processing of Items Sent In
Thredup seems to get items there faster, but processes them slower once they arrive. Moxiejean's items take about 2 weeks to get to them, at least from where I live, but they process them in under a week once they arrive there. So, for me, it's sort of a wash. I like that Thredup sends an email letting me know when my items arrived and estimated processing time.

Shipping Costs of Purchased Items
Both sites offer free shipping for $50 and higher purchases. Thredup also has the option to sign up for free shipping all year long for $20. I will probably sign up at the beginning of next year.

Items seem to get to you quicker from Moxiejean than Thredup after you order them, if that is a factor.

Website Design and Usability
Although I like the "prettiness" of Moxiejean's website and how they present the items, I think Thredup's website is a little bit more user friendly. It also allows you to look at other items from the same collection of stuff in case you are looking for a matching pair of pants. That being said, Moxiejean seems to keep items together a little bit better than Thredup when you send them in. They also will pair items together as matches sometimes.

Overall Winner
I think that Thredup is the slight winner here, but I will continue to buy from both sites. I probably will send in items more to Thredup than Moxiejean, but that may change depending on what I get on my latest items that I have sent in to them.

Homemade Shaving Cream

One night I was browsing Facebook and Pinterest, as I frequently do, when I came across several websites and blogs showing how to make homemade shaving cream. I pinned one blog showing how to make Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream. I was intrigued, since I'm prone to ingrown hairs and have tried baby oil, etc trying to prevent them. While I still haven't solved that problem completely, I decided to try this recipe. The original blogger does a great job with the recipe instructions, though I might modify it the next time I make it. I want to thank her for writing such a nicely written, easily followed recipe!

I used the following ingredients, following her recipe, except I used Lavender instead of Rosemary:

1/3 cup Sweet Almond Oil
1/3 cup Coconut Oil
1/3 cup Unrefined Shea Butter.
Lavender Essential oil
Peppermint Essential oil

I bought all go the ingredients off of Amazon, except the Coconut oil. I believe I bought it at Whole Foods or Sprouts. True to the original recipe, it makes about 8 ounces. Basically, you melt the Shea butter and coconut oil on the stove, add the sweet Almond oil and essential oils to your liking, and refrigerate till it solidifies. Then, whip it! When it's done, it's creamy and looks good enough to eat!

Here's the start and the finish pictures. The original author does a great job with her instructions. 

My husband tried this batch. He found it went on very oily. He said that maybe I needed to whip it more. I think it might need more Shea butter. I'm going to try doubling it next batch.  I'm also going to just use Vanilla essential oils because I don't like Peppermint or Lavender, really. I'll update the blog if doubling the Shea butter helps make it a bit less oily and easier to put on your skin. Or maybe add cocoa butter, too?