Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Stitch Fix Introduction and First Review!

During one of my early morning jaunts onto Facebook, I stumbled upon a post regarding Stitch Fix. Being the nosy gal I am, I of course clicked on the link to see what all the buzz was about. Hold on to your coffee mugs people….your world is about to get rocked (okay, well maybe not rocked, but maybe a little bit riled up!).







Stitch Fix: What is it?

Stitch Fix is an online service which provides you with your very own personal fashion stylist! You simply answer their online questionnaire (questions regarding your sizes, fabric preferences, how you prefer your clothes to fit, would you prefer work clothes or casual, etc.), then they ship you five articles of clothing for you to try on in the privacy of your own home. You can even link your Stitch Fix profile to your own Pinterest board to help your stylist get a better handle on what type of styles you like! During your questionnaire process, they ask you to choose a price range for your clothing. I love this! Whether you are on a strict budget or not, Stitch Fix has options for everyone.

There is an initial $20 styling fee (which is applied towards any clothes you chose to purchase). If you purchase all five pieces, you receive 25% off your entire order. If you chose not to keep the clothing, you simply ship back the unwanted pieces in their convenient prepaid mailer and pay online for the clothing you do want.  You have three days to decide if you will keep the clothing or not.  You can chose the frequency of your “fixes” to suit your personal addiction…preference…I meant preference.   They offer monthly packages or fixes as frequent as every 2-3 weeks.

Why do I need it?

I’m a professional shopper. I admit it. I love to shop. So why in the world would I need someone to send me clothes I haven’t picked out? Let me illustrate my need for you….my closet is full of tank tops and blingy shorts. LOTS of tank tops and blingy shorts. Red, pink, teal, black, green and mint tank tops abound.
Do you see the trend here? Apparently I’m a monochromatic tank top and blingy shorts type of girl. Yes, I have other outfits, but sheesh….the majority of my everyday wear is well…the same. I need variety and apparently I seem to only pick out the same style of clothing each time I shop. Enter Stitch Fix! 

When I filled out my online profile, I clicked on “Be adventurous” for my style choices.  I unclicked it 4 times before slapping my own hand and clicking it for good. I need to mix things up! I linked my Pinterest “Style” board to my Stitch Fix account as well. This was followed by many hours of pinning outfits I loved (and I’m pretty sure several people unfollowed me due to the flurry of dresses, jeans, and outfits that popped up every three seconds on my boards inundating their Pinterest page).  I anxiously awaited my “fix” and obsessively stalked FedEx (my refresh button may have quit working after the 300th time).  Finally the package arrived (albeit a few days late). So did the goods live up to the hype? 

Stitch Fix Review #1

I have anticipated this day for weeks. Yes, weeks, my friends.  So without further delay, here’s hoping this is an end to my monochromatic tank top days!


What was in my box?

Collective Concepts Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse in Navy

I had seen this blouse online in other fixes. Thank goodness. Had I read the word "blouse" on my style card, I might have cringed. Hellllloooo….tank top girl here, I don’t do “blouses”. BUT, this is exactly why I need Stitch Fix! I LOVED this top, and yes, it’s still a solid color and STILL technically a tank top, but it’s a very classy one. The material is top notch and this is a great layering piece. The buttons are very tastefully hidden (which is great…as my nails are so long, I can’t button the darn things!). Just a heads up...it was 113 out and I had a teenager taking photos...no giggling at me, please :)




Verdict: Kept




Market and Spruce Bruno Chevron Print Sleeveless Tunic

I have to admit, I’m not a fan of Chevron print. Wearing Chevron makes me feel like I’ve stolen Charlie Brown’s shirt. The pattern and colors on this tunic were “just okay” for me (do I sound like Randy Jackson?). When I pulled out the top, I was slightly confused. Tunic…is that a top? Is it a dress? My fantabulous stylist suggested I pair it with white shorts (the shirt was so long I looked like I had no pants on!). This was so different from everything I owned, I really tried to like it.

I tried it as a dress:

As a top:




I even tried it layered (keep in mind it was 113 out…oh the things I do for you guys!).


It just wasn’t me. It fit funky, and just made me look frumpy. *Sigh*
Verdict: Returned




Pixley Laural Sleeveless Geo Print Maxi Dress

I’m 5’ 2” and the words “Maxi Dress” make me cringe. They give me visions of a Jennifer Lawerence-ish trip-over-your-dress-fiasco. While I adored the color and the extremely lovely material, this dress absolutely screamed, “Hey!  I look pregnant and if you watch me long enough, I’m probably going to fall flat on my face.” Good times. I will definitely be more specific in my requests next time. No maxis for this mini.

Verdict: Returned




Ezra Alejandro Printed Double Spaghetti Strap Tank

My monochromatic tank top syndrome may have been cured!  I loved the hot pink mixed into the pattern on this fun, sassy top. The straps were fun too (once I figured out how they work and managed to get my arms in the right places). The top was a bit big, but I really loved how it looked and felt.  What do you think?


Verdict: Kept



 Pixley Dafanie Diamond Ikat Print Soft Short

Last but least favorite, these guys. These shorts screamed, “Hey, the Golden Girls called, they want their pajama bottoms back”, (no offense Golden Girls). These were definitely not for me. The wonky pattern on the shorts reminded me of Las Vegas Casino carpets: definitely not betting on these shorts.  I don't even want my face associated with these guys!

Verdict: Returned


Overall, I really enjoyed the entire experience. I love that I received two shirts I normally wouldn't have picked out. I did update my profile and give extensive feedback to my stylist, so have high hopes for my next Stitch Fix! The entire process from start to finish was astonishingly easy and I'm looking forward to my next "Fix"!  Stay tuned, and if you’d like your own fix, visit Stitch Fix, you won't be disappointed!



Stitch Fix

Disclaimer: I don’t work for Stitch Fix, nor am I paid to review their services. I’m simply a little ol’ shopper sharing my humble thoughts and opinions. If you do decide to use the referral link, I receive referral credit. Much obliged, my friends ;)


Monday, July 28, 2014

Welcome to Motley Matters!!

I started Motley Matters simply as a way to “do something just for me”. I love to write and yet I never take the time to sit down and do it. As I thought about what I wanted to write, I knew I needed to write something that would make people smile. I’m a true believer in acts of kindness and try to do at least one genuine act of kindness each and every day. Sometimes…they are bigger acts and sometimes they are just little ones. I figured blogging about some of my simple acts might motivate others to do the same…and wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all tried to do nice things for each other?

On a somewhat shallower side, I so love to shop! I can go to the mall for 6 hours and be happy as a kid sucking on a six pack of helium balloons. I’ve written several well received reviews for a large candle review board and decided that I enjoy being rather blunt about my shopping experiences. Nothing is worse than spending money and HATING what you purchase. It is my solemn pledge to honestly review my purchases as well as overall experiences and share those intimate ramblings with you. I do not get paid to review ANY COMPANY. If you have a product you think I should try out, let me know and I will see what I can do!

 And lastly, I’m a very busy mom. I work part time and spend the rest of my time running children around and attempting to keep my house from falling into a complete chaotic disorder. When I started thinking about what I would like my blog to encompass, I kept coming back to tips for busy moms….which then evolved into cooking for busy moms. I will premise this by saying, I’m not a chef. This is not a gourmet blog. This isn’t even a semi-gourmet blog. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a convenience cooker: quick, easy, fuss free and tasty. If a recipe has more than 10 ingredients, I will more than likely never make it. There you have it. Motley Matter recipes will be easy as pie…..pun intended! It is my hope that you will stop by, smile, laugh, learn a little something new and maybe even be inspired to bake some cookies! Enjoy!







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