Stitch Fix

So I don't know if any of you lovely ladies and gents have heard of Stitch Fix, but it is a really experience. You fill out a style profile online, pay a $20 fee and a stylist picks out 5 items for you to try out. They send them to your house and you get to try them out with the clothing you already have and see what works and what doesn't. The $20 goes towards anything you want to keep. This is my third time I've participated in Stitch Fix and I'm always pleasantly surprised. My stuff is always a good variety of pieces and there's always things that I like and never things that I would gravitate towards on a regular shopping trip. I wanted to share my finds with you guys. 

Alina Mixed Geo Print Maxi Skirt

This skirt is unbelievably soft. The print looks really cute from a distance and pairs well with neutral tee-shirts. I Never-Ever would have picked this skirt out myself but it is pretty adorable on. Still on the fence with this one, but I'm leaning towards keeping it!!

Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan and Val Henley Blouse

LOVE, LOVE, Love this sweater. I usually don't go for orange but this shade is pretty perfect. It's also amazingly soft. It went with almost everything in my box which was another plus. The blouse is very cute and the print is really nice. It pairs perfectly with my sweater with or without a belt too! I think both of these will probably be kept, maybe just a smaller size for the blouse.

Sam Hi-Low Short Sleeve Tee

So grey t-shirt. It's super comfy and the fit is nice (although if I were keeping it I would want a smaller size) but it's just a basic hi-low tee. I do like it better than any other hi-low shirt I've every had or seen because I like how it lays on my body. I could get several from Target or Old Navy for the same price as the one shirt. It wasn't a fail or anything, I just wouldn't pay that much for a tee.

Esten Button-up Sleeveless blouse

This top was not something that I would go for, but it's also not a style that looks very flattering on me. The top is too big for me, and the bottom hits me at the widest part of my hips. Not so great. Overall, it's not fantastic and I won't be keeping this one.

So that's Stitch Fix. It is fun and the more you do it, the more your stylist learns about your style and can better make your fix work for you. Best of all (hint, hint), if you refer friends and they sign up, you get a credit to use! If it sounds like something that you might be interested in, please use my link below so I can get some credit and get another FIX!!

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3293215

Don't judge me

Sorry about the hiatus, I really really am trying to be a more diligent and timely blogger, but we were out of town and blogging from my phone is difficult. But it gives me more fun times to blog about! Anywho, back to the blogging. 

So I'm taking a break from talking about moving, packing, getting rid of stuff and all things travel nursing related. Today I'm sharing something that got my noggin' working. It's a phrase that's said around our household at least once a day and it's become just a silly joke between husband and wife. Usually it comes out a little like this...

Duane: mmmm dinner was awesome. I'm getting seconds. Don't judge me

Don't judge me. (Usually said with a goofy laugh or smile)

Inevitably it involves eating, especially those "taboo" foods like ice cream, candy or other sweets, or just simply over indulging in a meal. Sometimes its said because of something one of us was suppose to remember and didn't. It's a default statement in our marriage that is often used to remove tension and draw attention to behaviors that we aren't convinced about the benefits of, like seconds or sweets. It's almost like an excuse we use to give into the desires of our flesh. 

As Christians, we should be in a habit of denying ourselves daily and following Christ. Giving up the desires of our flesh and putting Christ first in our lives. It clearly says in the Bible that we aren't suppose to pass judgement each other, so why should Duane and I feel the need to remind each other on a regular basis? I'm sure that I'm going a little overboard with my analysis of an insignificant detail in our daily lives, but it's really been stuck in my brain. Maybe the phrase is really just what it seems, that we desire to not be judged by others or maybe we are already passing judgement on ourselves and are feeling guilty. But are we suppose to judge our own actions and compare them with how Christ calls us to live our lives?

What do you think?

Do I think that we are going to stop saying don't judge me? Nah, it's fun.

confessions of a lazy bum

Winter is always hard time for me to be motivated, to get motivated and stay motivated to work out. I don't know who else has this issue, but when it's cold, I just want to bundle up on the couch with a cup of tea or coffee, or any yummy hot beverage. Work out videos are way too easily replaced with Netflix or Harry Potter marathons. I definitely don't want to bundle up and work out in the outdoors, especially when the sun goes down at 4:30pm and it's below freezing outside.

So, what have I done since November? I had a brief stint of jogging after work to "wait out the traffic." Then there was the early morning body weight routine from pinterest. And finally, the extremely short time period where I thought I would start back Insanity. Heck no. That didn't happen.

Basically, I need to join a gym. The monetary guilt would force me to drag my lazy butt off the couch. But that's not going to happen until after the move because there is just too much to do right now. Instead I'm going to sleep in, cuddle my blankets, and enjoy being lazy.

That's my Monday night confession.

-Cas

cleaning out our closets

In our current culture, how often do we think about what our stuff means to us? Anyone who says that this isn't a consumer culture is kidding themselves. I mean, anytime I go to the store I rarely have a second thought about whether or not I should buy something. Out comes the wallet and I purchase whatever I deem necessary for our home or my closet. 

Well now we are thinking about it, everyday. For those who haven't heard, we are moving to Texas in less than a month and our new place will be completely furnished, linens and kitchen essentials included. We won't need any of our own stuff except for our clothes, and it's not financially smart for us to store items at greater cost than their current value, so out they go. Everything is up on craigslist and Facebook to try to sell or give away and multiple trips to goodwill have ensued.

The funny thing is, the more things we get rid of, the more I am inclined to put additional items in the goodwill box and consider, "we won't really NEED that." I will be incredibly happy if through this experience, I learn to find value in God, relationships and family, and not silly things. I don't want our possessions to determine my happiness.

Anyone want some of our stuff??

-Cas

Plano, TX

Guess What guys and gals?!?

I just signed my first travel nurse contract. In less than a month, we will be on our way to Plano, Texas for 13 weeks. 13 weeks of a new job, all the tex mex we can eat, and adjusting to living without all of our stuff and living in a much smaller space with Duane, Myself and our 80lbs of fluffy love, Meah.

I'm just a bundle of emotion right now, some where between jumping up and down and sitting in a corner, rocking back in forth and shedding a few tears. I am so excited to get to travel to new places and meet new people, and I'm just as sad to leave my friends that I have here in Nashville. I am so nervous about a new job in a new hospital, especially one with a super short orientation time. My hope is that this will be a fulfilling and enriching experience for Duane and I, where we can grow and learn more about ourselves.

Mostly I am grateful that my career offers these opportunities to us. It is really awesome that I can still do exactly what I love and get to travel all over the U.S.A.

-Cas