Friday Favorites – September 23rd, 2016

Soul Cycle Rooster Class

We made it to Friday! That hilarious picture is a snap from the Boomerang I posted of us doing the FriYAY dance following this morning’s Soul Cycle class. It was a long week work-wise but a great week personally. I find that as long as I prioritize disconnecting, even for just 30 minutes, and working out during a busy week I am far more productive the rest of the day. As you’ll see from some of my favorites this week, there was lots of friend-filled workouts which made for a lot of fun. This weekend is busier than the past few as Bo and I have date night tonight, tomorrow I’m driving to West Chester, Pennsylvania for a friend’s bridal shower and then Sunday I have 10-miles on my schedule. I’m so excited to see that temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s on Sunday. Fall is finally here!

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • I love Soul Cycle but don’t go as often as I’d like due to the price and the fact that it isn’t available on ClassPass. I have a five-class pack which I’ve enjoyed using for random friend dates. This morning Heather, her husband Scott and I met for Liz’s Brooklyn Heights Friday Rooster class. I loved her playlist which included Beyonce and some old school Ashanti.
  • These pumpkin protein pancakes will be delicious following my 10-mile run Sunday morning!
  • When I work from home, busy days call for an easy lunch. Lately I’ve been having soup paired with an apple and almond butter for lunch. This soup looks like a great recipe to whip up on a Sunday and enjoy all week.
  • I’ve been wearing this tank constantly and loving it’s breathability, pockets and support! Since it’s on sale, grab it quick before it sells out!
  • As you guys saw on Instagram, I joined Theodora, Heather and Leslie for a relaxing event with Chico’s on Monday night. Chico’s invited us to experience their Zenergy clothing line by wearing it while flowing through a restorative yoga class taught by Colleen Saidman, the founder of Yoga Shanti.  The wrap and leggings were so comfortable that I wore them while working from home earlier this week and can already tell that they will become a staple in my athleisure and yoga collection. Chicos
  • Our Citibike membership has been a game changer! We joined just two weeks ago and we already have found ourselves using it on a daily basis, whether heading to a workout class that is 1-2 miles away or running errands. If you haven’t tried it yet, use this code to get a free month!
  • It’s finally time to start wearing my favorite fall and winter fragrance.
  • I’m so in love with this week’s nail polish color that I bought the polish so I can take care of chips myself!
  • Topped with sage and served alongside perfect roast chicken, this five ingredient Fall pasta dish looks delicious.
  • If you’re in NYC, this Well+Good event looks like it will be a great way to enjoy a workout with friends. Anyone have plans to participate? Some of these combinations sound killer, like Shadowbox + The Fhitting Room!
  • Leave it to Rachel to develop a healthier version of Green Goddess salad that looks almost too delicious to eat!
  • I don’t know if I can pull this off, but I love the idea of pairing this cream sweater with skinny dark jeans, leopard heels and a black turtleneck.

Your turn – Did you watch any new Fall television shows this week? If so, which one was your favorite? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Stitch Fix Review #7

Good morning and happy Thursday guys! This month’s Stitch Fix delivery caught me by surprise but man was I excited when I opened the box. I immediately saw Fall colors, booties and layers which are a few of my favorite things to wear when the weather turns cool in New York City. Even though the temperatures are still in the low 80s each day, trying on these Fall items helped put me in the mood!

In case this is your first time hearing about Stitch Fix, I signed up for the membership back in January and have received seven “fixes” since then. It is an online personal shopping and styling website which allows you to schedule shipments to arrive based on your needs or schedule. After registering for the site, new members fill out an in-depth style survey and profile which helps the Stitch Fix personal stylists get to know you. The questions include things like sizes, styles, favorite colors, brands, and other likes and dislikes.  Once you finish the profile you are able to schedule your first Stitch Fix delivery. Each Stitch Fix delivery is a box of five pieces of clothing or accessories. There is a $20 styling fee which you have to pay up front, but, the good news is that this $20 works as credit towards any of the items you want to keep. Each month I receive a Stitch Fix shipment, I share with you a recap of what I receive (January FebruaryMarchAprilJune and August) and my thoughts on each piece.  So far, I have kept an average of one piece per fix and have gravitated towards dresses and tops.

Here we go! Remember – If you see anything that you like below, feel free to pin and/or ask your stylist in the notes section of your next fix for something similar! Your stylist does her best to get to know you and therefore will read your blog, check out your Pinterest board and even your Facebook page if you give her access so she can see what you wear and love! In addition, remember that while I do get a small amount of compensation if you join Stitch Fix, all thoughts and feedback are my own opinion!

Diba Triumph Cutout Booties – Size 10 – $95.00 – Return – Okay, my stylist finally answered my wishes and included shoes in this fix, even though she warned me that they may night fit since Stitch Fix currently doesn’t carry shoes larger than size 10. These booties were cute in the box but unfortunately they run small, meaning there was no way I could squeeze my feet into them for a picture. I tend to be a quality over quantity girl when it comes to shoes, especially boots, and therefore would rather invest a bit more in a pair of booties that I will wear for years.  While I liked the notched, cutout detail and the color, these didn’t feel like real leather nor was the material soft and flexible.

Stitch Fix Booties

London Times Kecia Knit Dress – Size 8 – $68.00 – Keep When I first saw this dress I rolled my eyes wondering why my stylist would choose such a boring option, as it seemed to be a plain, grey dress. Once I put it on and styled it with my favorite heels and necklace, Bo immediately insisted I keep it. When I glanced in the mirror, I saw exactly what he saw – the fit and flare detail of this dress flattered my body and the knee length makes it perfect for a work dress.  When the temperature drops, I will style this with either a blazer or long cardigan and heels in Fall and then with tall boots and a cardigan in the colder, winter months.

Stitch Fix London Times Kecia Knit Dress

Market & Spruce Palos V Neck Knit Top – Size Medium – $48.00 – Return – This lightweight top is perfect for those in-between weeks when the seasons are changing. Unfortunately, this faded grey and white color is not flattering with my complexion. The longer length and lean cut was more flattering than I expected but unfortunately it just wasn’t the right color. If I received this in either a rich Winter hue or a vibrant Summer color, I could see this quickly becoming a closet staple.

Stitch Fix Market & Spruce Palos V Neck Knit Top

Staccato Dinah Open Front Cardigan – Size Medium – $48.00 – Keep – Even though I love the ease of open front cardigans, I only own two, both of which are plain, neutral colors. As soon as I saw this lightweight cardigan, I fell in love. The deep colors will pair perfectly with my Fall wardrobe and I can either style it with lighter color layers, such as a white long sleeve top or darker, as I styled it here.

Stitch Fix Staccato Dinah Open Front Cardigan

Lila Ryan Lila Skinny Jean – Size 8 – $98.00 – Return – I told my stylist that I was in the market for jeans as I recently donated four pairs which were showing signs of wear. I love wearing skinny jeans in Fall and Winter as they pair perfectly with tall boots or booties. These jeans fit perfectly and were even long enough but unfortunately, they are the exact same color as my favorite pair of skinny jeans. If you are in the market for dark skinny jeans that will instantly make you look leaner, request these in your next fix.  I’m wearing the jeans in three of these pictures, so you can see how they pair with different tops.

Stitch Fix Staccato Dinah Open Front Cardigan

Your turn: What piece is your favorite? What would have you kept?

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What to Pack for 10 Days in Banff and Jasper

 

what-to-pack-for-10-days-in-banff

As promised guys, I want to share our packing list for our 10 day trip to Banff and Jasper which we took in August. We did quite a bit of research ahead of the trip to ensure that we would have clothing for their typical August weather – cool mornings and evenings but warm days. In hindsight, I did not over pack and was prepared for all of our day trips and activities. The one area I didn’t pack properly for the evenings as it was in the 40s most nights. I packed Summer evening attire, such as dresses as well as flowy tank tops with jeans when in reality I should have packed jeans, silk blouses and a light wrap or sweater.

Otherwise, here is the packing list we used and would recommend to others who decide to make this trip.

Shoes:

  • Hiking Boots (his/her)
  • Trail Shoes (his/her)
  • Sandals for evenings/driving between cities  (his/her)

Accessories

Active Clothing:

Other:

  • Four outfits for dinners and exploring towns
  • Pajamas
  • Toiletries
  • Kindle, iPad or books for evening reading

Your turn: Any other questions regarding gear before I focus the rest of the recaps on the activities and lodging? 

 

 

 

 

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