I arrived home from work yesterday to find my beautiful little Stitch Fix box waiting for me on the porch! 

For those of you new to Stitch Fix, you may want to check out my first Stitch Fix review here. Basically, Stitch Fix is a subscription service that will send you five clothing or accessory pieces for you to try on in the comfort of your own home and with your own clothing to pair with it. Each Fix costs $20, but that fee is credited toward whatever you decide to keep. When you've decided what you don't want, you drop it in the prepaid mailing envelope, stick it in any mailbox, and mail it back to the company. You only get charged for what you keep, and you can get Fixes as often or as infrequently as you'd like. AND, if someone signs up through your referral link (mine is linked above!), you get a $25 credit to use toward your next purchase. Not a bad deal, huh? 

My third Fix is my most favorite Fix yet! 

First look! 

So many fun patterns! 

My styling cards

Item #1: Kensie Vernon Heathered Mixed Material Sweater, $78

Off the bat, I really loved the material of this sweater! The sweater part of it has a really luxurious feeling, and the back is a sheer material (it comes around to the bottom front, so you can see it on the sides by my hips). The arms of the sweater were long enough (bonus, as I have long monkey arms), and the color was pretty for spring, but overall, it just didn't do much for me. I think on someone else, it would be perfect, though! 

Item #2: Under Skies Lawton Abstract Print Split Neck Blouse, $38

This is the least expensive item I've ever received in a Stitch Fix, and I think I really like it! I had pinned a similar tunic to my Pinterest Fashion board, and my stylist noticed the textile and sent me this top! Love that attention to detail! It's light weight and semi-chevron-ish, and would like nice with jeans and a pair of heels. 

Item #3: Mystree Kalisi Lace Fit and Flare Dress, $78

I really love this dress! It's got an adorable chevron print to it, and a gorgeous gold lining underneath the black! If it weren't black, I'd consider wearing it to a bridal shower I have coming up, but I worry black sends the wrong message. :) With or without a belt, I really like the way this dress fits. 

Item #4: Mystree Benfeld Tiered Coloblocked Mini Skirt, $58

This skirt is SO perfect for spring! It's actually four different striped pieces sewn together (coral at the top, then mint, white, and yellow). I REALLY wish the coral and mint colors were at the bottom, though! When I paired the top with the skirt, the shirt covered the cutest part. Tucked in, though, I didn't love the skirt as much. Such a fun pastel palette though!

Item #5: Under Skies Gabrielle Ikat Print Fit & Flare Dress, $68

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this pattern, but when I put it on, I really loved the rich jewel tones of the piece. The style card showed it with a denim jean jacket, but mine was a little too tailored to look right with this. The only part I'm not sure about is the top -- it's a little big in the chest, and sort of falls funny because of that. Again, torn! 

So, now I'm totally confused! I have to send my return items back on Thursday morning, and I just can't decide what I want to keep! I need your help, readers! What do I keep? What do I definitely get rid of (besides the first sweater)? And because you're going to help me out with my Stitch Fix dilemma, I'm going to show you my favorite picture from the night... 

This is, quite literally, me being frustrated with my photographer/fiance Dan. I might have been mid "seriously, stop messing around and take the picture because it's 8 p.m. and I'm exhausted" moment right here. Is that what I look like when I'm mad? Yipes! Poor man.

Want to give  Stitch Fix a try to see if it's for you? Head over to their website, and fill out their comprehensive style profile. You'll give them all sorts of sizing and preference information, as well as showing them exactly which pieces you like and don't like. Then, you can sign up for a Fix to see if you love it as much as I do! Such a fun surprise to get at the front door! 

Update: After much internal debate, I ended up keeping dress #3! I couldn't pass up the black and gold combination and the lace chevron pattern (all things I LOVE!)! While I thought about keeping the whole box, the bride-on-a-budget side of me weighed in and realized it wasn't time to keep the whole shebang (but I know that day is coming!)! The best part is, I had $27 in Stitch Fix credit, so that gorgeous little dress only cost me $51! Thanks for weighing in on Facebook, everyone! 

The Little White Dress Event is Saturday (and I'm so excited!)!

Now that we're getting into wedding crunch time (about two months out!), there are so many things for us to get done. We met with our priest on Friday and got our invitations mailed out (!!!), so now we're looking at some of the other details (wedding cake topper, accessories, and programs). 

I've always loved going to bridal shows, and have been to quite a few of them over the years. Whether attending with friends (love being a bridesmaid!), participating in Jazzercise demos, or going for myself (remember that time I met Randy Fenoli?!), there have been so many tips and leads I've walked away with. 

So, when I was approached by a friend of a friend (yay networking) about the first ever The Little White Dress event taking place this Saturday (March 1), I knew it would be so fun to write about - especially since this is totally different than any other bridal show I've been to!

This is just one of the gorgeous dresses shown at the fitting last week!

The free event, which runs from 10:30-3 p.m. at Windsor Park Conference Center, is hosted by Goodwill and features fashion shows coordinated by Fashion Expert Kathy Friend, who I've been fortunate enough to be emailing about the event. 

"We want to give brides and those who plan big events an option in the planning - to know that you can have a wedding (or host an event) on a budget," Kathy says. "The word 'budget' doesn't mean cheap... and let's be honest, EVERYONE has some kind of budget. The big lesson is that they don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to have the wedding of their dreams. If they are creative and willing to invest some time, a dream wedding on a budget is possible!"

According to Kathy, the show will feature bridal and wedding looks for any age, any style, any budget, and any size! 

There will also be vendor booths and the chance to shop at the Goodwill Boutique which features wedding attire, honeymoon wear, prom attire (here's looking at you, high school students!), and accessories. 

While some might think Goodwill won't have anything to offer them, Kathy says the exact opposite is true. "I've seen so many NEW wedding supplies, it would make your head spin! Everything from dresses to guest books. Many brides-to-be love Goodwill because they are able to find beautiful fabrics and embellishments on vintage dresses that they are able to re-tool into a new wedding dress."

LOVE the embellishments on this dress, and I'm excited to see it on the runway!

Organizer Katie Paceley says this event is going to be perfect for anyone interested in fashion, prom dresses, wedding planning, or event/gala planning. Attendees will be able to shop at various vendor booths as well as the onsite Goodwill Boutique, making it a great outing for an afternoon with friends. 

It looks like there are going to be a lot of great vendors, and while we personally have a lot of these things booked (photographers, salons, caterers, florists, and more), I think this could be the perfect place for someone still looking to connect with great vendors. And it will be the perfect opportunity to pick up some accessories, or, maybe start thinking about the dress. 

"Let's be honest... as girls, we have thought of our wedding day since we were little girls playing dress up," Kathy says. "The notion of being a bride is the fairy tale we think about and plan until the big day... The truth is that if we feel pretty, and know we look our best, that creates a memory and confidence that we as women yearn for. Feeling like we look amazing on the outside allows the world to see our true inner beauty. That's what the wedding dress and being a bride is all about!"

I'm so excited for this event, and I can't wait to see what Kathy, Katie, and Goodwill come up with! If you want to join me, head to their Facebook event page and join the group for updates. 

Who: Brides-to-be, prom-goers, fashionistas, and anyone looking for a fun girls' day
What: The Little White Dress event
Where: Windsor Park Conference Center, 4020 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, Ind. 
When: Saturday, March 1, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

An ode to my Princess cousins Emily and Amanda

They're doing it!

Approximately two years ago, I was gearing up for the biggest race of my life. The reason I started this blog, actually, was to help me prepare for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2012. Two years ago, I was getting ready for the most physically exhausting race I'd ever run. And two years ago, I really needed to prove to myself that I was strong enough to run 13.1. 

This blog, though, is not about me. This blog is about my AMAZING cousins, Amanda and Emily! 

Amanda, Emily, and I have always been close. I can vividly remember lots of hours playing in their basement in Michigan when we would get together. For whatever reason, for the longest time, Amanda and Emily were forever stuck at ages 9 and 8 (respectively) in my brain. And then one day I woke up and realized what amazing, beautiful, talented women they'd become! 

All of us are fairly new to running (within the last five years or so), and I am THRILLED that my cousins will get to take on this challenge this weekend together. I can't imagine anything cooler than running through Disney with a sister by your side. They've been forced to prepare for this race during the WORST WINTER WE'VE HAD IN FOREVER, and since they reside in Madison, Wisconsin, and Detroit, Michigan, it's been no easy feat to get those miles logged. I know it will be worth it, though, when they get to that starting line together (and the finish line, too!). 

To my hilarious, loving, and energetic cousins, I wish you the VERY BEST of luck this weekend! Think strong and know that you're capable of anything. I can't wait for you to join the Princess club! 

Combating teacher fatigue: A trip to Flourish

Today was one of those days when I didn't want to get out of bed. The reason why? I have 56 research papers and about 180 wedding invitation staring me in the face. It's a daunting task that's for sure, but I really want to focus on what saved me today. Today, savior came in the form of a Starbucks beverage and a trip to Flourish.

Flourish  is easily my favorite store in South Bend. It's a cute boutique which carries everything from the perfect long-sleeved t, to really great dresses, to totally unique accessories.

I love that they use models that are local on their website, and I love that they cater to all shapes and sizes.

I've had my eye on a couple of items for months now, but I haven't been able to make it over there. Life has just been too crazy. So today after grading eight research papers, I decided it was time to take a break. I got some caffeine in my system, and then I went for a visit.

The store was hopping why? Because they're having a 50% off sale on almost everything in the store to celebrate hitting 50,000 fans on Facebook (the sale is good through tomorrow too, both online and in store (use the code 50K when checking out online))!


Making my way through the stylized table displays and large crowds of ladies looking for their new favorite item, I was able to pick up a couple of great scores

First I grabbed this great long-sleeved mint green shirt. I already have two other shirts by this company, and I swear it's the softest t-shirt material known to man. The mint color is perfect and I know I'm to get a lot of use out of it this spring (let's hear it for wearing pastels again!)!

Minty perfection for only $11.25 (sale price)!

The second item I grabbed was kind of on a whim. It's a chevron patterned skirt (and since I kind of have a chevron obsession it was an easy choice). It's a little short for me in that I can't really wear this to work, but it's so fun! I put the two together when I tried them on at the store. I'd love to say this is an idea I thought of, but I can't. I have to give credit to a other another Flourish fan who put the outfit together and posted it to Facebook. 

Chevron sweater skirt, $19.25 on sale!

I think they look perfect together but I also think with a black long sleeve T-shirt this could be an understated and great date night outfit.

My other recent purchase from Flourish actually came through the mail about a week ago (free shipping when you spend over $25? Sign me up!). I saw the dress on the website, and my friend Andrea had texted me a picture of it too. It's a beautiful pinkish peachish blush color with a little bit gem detailing at the shoulders and a flouncy skirt. I just knew that this would be a beautiful dress for a shower. But when it came in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised and loved it even more! I think this could be my rehearsal dinner dress! I love the way it looks on me I love how it makes me feel and it's aptly named the Marilyn dress after Marilyn Monroe. It's perfect.

So in love (and thanks for the Mrs. Putt hanger, Lynny!)!

And while the clothing is one of the greatest parts of the store, the even better part of the store is the staff. I think I was greeted by every single employee today while I was there. One even asked about my mom, a middle school teacher. The employee remembered that I was her daughter. You can't get that kind of service anywhere, but Flourish manages to do it. It's an amazing shopping experience every time I go in and I always leave with something special. 

Head over to their website now, and take a look for yourself. The sale continues through tomorrow night! 

Now it's time for me to get back to the research papers. :)

My homework assignment: On being a people pleaser

So, I've challenged my students to write a column for tomorrow's staff get together. We're going to do a read aloud and choose our five favorites for our website. I promised the kids that I would write a column too. I chose a lesson that I'm hoping will resonate with them. :)

About a decade ago (YIKES!), I was blessed with an internship at the South Bend Tribune in the Features department. I absolutely LOVED working there. I loved tackling stories and coming up with my own ideas. I loved seeing those stories turn from an idea to actual words to actual copy on a page. It was a total dream come true. 

As a features writer, I often wrote for the Health section. One of the stories I came up with around this time of year was a look at spray tanning (because, you have to remember that a decade ago, spray tanning was completely new on the scene). I went to a local tanning salon and they walked me through the process and explained how it worked. I spent a good chunk of time there, and then went back to the office to file my story. I also called a dermatologist to talk to her about the health risks (if any) there were to spray tanning. Her quotes centered around the fact that spray tanning was a healthy option, especially if the alternative was going to be a tanning bed and its cancerous effects. 

It was a good quote. I put it in the story and felt proud of what I'd written. I was confident in my story.

Fast forward to a few days later when the story ran. The owner of the tanning salon called and left me a scathing voicemail message about how he was seriously displeased with the story and had lost many customers because, and I quote, "Many of my customers were unaware that tanning beds caused cancer until you pointed it out and have cancelled their memberships!" He threatened a lawsuit. I felt like I'd made a GIANT mistake, and worse, that I'd let people down (this owner, my editor, my adviser who'd helped me get the job... for starters...). I was 100% petrified when I went to my editor to tell her what had happened. She immediately told me she had my back, and that I hadn't done anything wrong, and we called the owner back together. He stewed, for a bit, but eventually let it go without any major fuss. 

But it was at this moment that I realized what my mother always said was true: You can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time. It's impossible to make everyone happy. And it's impossible to make everyone like every decision you've ever made. But if you can hold your head up high and know in your heart of hearts that you've done the best you can do by you, that's what truly matters at the end of the day. 

This a lesson I wish I could pass along to my students. Pleasing everyone is next to impossible. It just won't happen. 

And maybe that's not comfortable. 

But it's definitely okay. 

Snow day #8: A reflection on teaching

Last week, I stayed late at school to work on the newspaper with the kids. Around 3:30, a former student came to see me. The last time I saw her, she'd been arrested for possession of heroin. We spent a lot of time together talking about her best course of action, and I encouraged her to keep writing, because she told me it was the only time she felt sane. She let me read a lot of her writings, and although they were so tragic, her writing is absolutely beautiful. Despite promising me she'd show up for the rest of the year, she stopped coming shortly thereafter. I hadn't heard from her since. 

So, last Wednesday, she came to see me and tell me about her life. She's back on track and completed her GED and enrolled in beauty school. But more than that, this week marks five months COMPLETELY clean and sober for her! I couldn't be more proud, and practically tackled her with a hug. 

We kept talking, and she told me that the hardest part is that it doesn't get easier. She said people keep telling her that it'll get easier every day, but that it's not... it's not easier yet. I told her that one day, she will wake up, and using won't be the first thing she thinks about. She started crying and said she tells herself that all the time, and I was the first person to verbalize it back to her. 

It was the most perfect reminder that there is a real reason that I teach. Do I love English and passing that love on to my students? Absolutely. Do I love showing the world to others via journalism and the media? Of course. Do I love working with my honors students? YES! 

But I also love the not so great parts of teaching. I had no idea where this student was before last week, and although I thought about her from time to time, I had no idea what was going on with her. But the fact that she felt comfortable enough to come back and tell me about her life and her achievements speaks volumes to me. 

We don't do it for the money. We don't do it for the fame. We do it because maybe one day we're going to say the right thing to the right kid and make an actual difference in their lives, and whether they come back to tell us about their lives or not, we've helped change them for the better. 

THAT is why I teach.