Stitch Fix Review April 2016

Today, I'm posting something a little out of the ordinary for The Prairie Sun Life. It's not farm-related or fitness-related... I guess it falls into the "Life" category. Today, I present you with a review of my latest Stitch Fix shipment!

I haven't signed up for a Fix in a long time. I think my last one was in January, and I didn't keep anything. The time before that, I didn't keep anything either. After a long break, and with the change in seasons, I decided to give Stitch Fix another go.

If you're new to Stitch Fix, here's how it works. You fill out an online style profile that helps narrow down your likes and dislikes.  A professional stylist then selects (with the aid of an algorithm) five pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories to send to you, for a $20 styling fee. Typically, a fix will consist of one or two bottoms, one accessory or shoe, and the rest will be tops. Your items are sent to you via FedEx. Once they arrive, you have three days to try everything on and decide what, if anything, you will keep. Your $20 styling fee is applied toward anything you keep. If you keep all five items in your box, you also get a $20% discount off your total. Anything you don't want, you can return in a pre-paid mailer. Pretty sweet, right?

I also set up a Pinterest board for inspiration for my stylist and link it to my account. This time around, I deleted my old board and started completely fresh with current looks that I am liking for spring. In my note to my stylist, I requested bright spring colors and fun patterns, and also something fun to wear for my birthday, which is coming up.

There is a sort of secret way that you can "peek" ahead of time at what you're receiving in your shipment. I'll admit- I peeked! So, I knew ahead of time that this is what I'd be getting:

Liverpool Kolten Denim Jacket, $98.00
Brixon Ivy Lex Textured Knit Dress, $74.00
Nine West Onlee Pointed Toe Flats, $69.00
Citizens of Humanity Aniston Boyfriend Jeans, $168.00
Daniel Rainn Albado Crew Neck Blouse, $58.00

First impressions, just from the peek? Well, I already have two denim jackets, so it's unlikely I'd keep that. The dress is something I've had pinned in the past, so depending on color and fit, it could be good. Shoes-- I am in need of some shoe updates. Can't wait to see what these are like! Jeans... oh boy. That price is way more than I normally would pay! They'd have to be pretty amazing for me to keep them at that price! And the blouse-- I have several Daniel Rainn tops already that I really like. Excited to see what this one will look like!

Here's a glance at everything, straight out of the box. Right away I see a great mix of colors and styles that I really like!

Now, let's take a look at some of the items and outfits.

First, I tried on the Brixon Ivy Lex Textured Knit Dress with the Liverpool Kolten Denim Jacket and Nine West Onlee Pointed Toe Flats, because my stylist, Cydney, suggested in her note that this would be a cute outfit all together. And- It was! What do you think?

Brixon Ivy Lex Textured Knit Dress and Liverpool Kolten Denim Jacket from Stitch Fix.

Let's talk about this dress. I had forgotten that I actually had this dress pinned on my board, and was delighted to see it in my box. It fit GREAT and I felt really great in it! Win/Win! Plus, Jeff said I looked good and that I better keep it. Any time you get the seal of approval from the hubs, you gotta keep it, right!? I can see myself wearing this to a variety of types of events, dressed up or down. The fit is perfect, it's super comfortable, and I really like the cheery yellow color.

Brixon Ivy Lex Textured Knit Dress from Stitch Fix.

Here's a close up of the fabric:


The Nine West Onlee flats were cute, comfortable, and the correct size. Here are few photos-

Nine West Onlee Flats from Stitch Fix.

Nine West Onlee Flats from Stitch Fix.

But... I have something reasonably similar already, so I decided to send them back. If they had been a different color I might have kept them.


The Liverpool Kolten Denim Jacket was nice, buttery soft, and fit well. But again, I already have a denim jacket (two actually- one white, one blue), and I don't need another one, so the jacket is getting returned, too.  I'm sure it will make someone else very happy!

Liverpool Kolten Denim Jacket from Stitch Fix. 

Outfit Two that I tried on was the Daniel Rainn top with the Citizens of Humanity Aniston Boyfriend Jeans. There was a lot of upside to this outfit.

Daniel Rainn Albado Blouse and Citizens of Humanity Boyfriend Jeans from Stitch Fix.

Starting with this beautiful Daniel Rainn Albado Crew Neck Blouse. I fell in love with the pattern and colors of this top straight out of the box and found myself really hoping it would fit... and it did! It's a little big through the armholes, but I don't think I could go down a size because it fit almost snug across my back. I like the length, the long hem in the back, and the lightweight material. I see myself wearing this all through spring and summer and will layer with cardigans or a jean jacket. Love Love Love. Definite keeper!

Daniel Rainn Albado Crew Neck Blouse from Stitch Fix.

The jeans- I love the idea of white jeans and have been searching for some for quite some time. Alas, the search continues. These are probably at least one size too big in the waist but I think if I went down a size they'd be too small in the hips and thighs. Plus, the $168 price point is too much for me. If they had been spun from silk from the last silkworm in Cleopatra's tomb, then maybe it would have been worth it. But they weren't. And they didn't fit. The quest for white jeans goes on. These are being returned.

Little bit too big!

All in all, I was finally happy with a fix! I think I will request Cydney again. I felt like she took time to read my note, look at my Pinterest board, and actually make personalized selections that fit my requests and aesthetic. While I only kept two out of five items, everything was on-point in terms of overall style. Definitely going to try again and hopefully Cydney will stick with me!

What do you think of this fix? What items would you have kept?

Want to give Stitch Fix a try? Please consider using my Referral Link (CLICK HERE)-- I'll love you forever! (I get a small credit when your first fix ships!)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Product Review: Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck Top and Gaiter from Oiselle

For Christmas, I received two new pieces of clothing/gear that very quickly became the winter workhorses of my closet. Both are from the Wazzie Wool product line from Oiselle-- the Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck and the Wazzie Wool Gaiter. I'm going to review both of these pieces today in the blog. Spoiler Alert: I'm in love with both of them!! Read on to find out why!

Wearing my Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle on a recent outdoor run!

First off, a little background on what exactly Wazzie Wool is. It's similar to Icebreaker or SmartWool products in that it is a wool blend fabric using responsibly sourced high quality Merino wool. Wazzie Wool is Oiselle's proprietary wool blend fabric that is similar to those other brands. In this blog post from Oiselle, you can read even more background on the how and they why Wazzie Wool came to enter the collection back in 2014: Bird in Sheep's Clothing: Introducing Wazzie Wool.

I've always been a huge fan of wool clothing in all forms. It feels authentic somehow and truly the performance characteristics of wool are outstanding--something I learned about in depth in some of my textile science courses in college. Wool is a great fiber for sports and performance activities because it insulates very well, but best of all, it is inherently "dry" as a fiber. Wool has a somewhat magical property in that when it gets wet it doesn't feel wet, so if you get snowy or sweaty, you don't get chilled. If you get a fine gauge wool fiber such as Merino and blend it with something stretchy and soft like polyester or spandex, you also take away the itch-factor that some people notice with wool and add even more performance characteristics. Boom! Now you have Wazzie Wool! A fabric that performs well, feels warm and soft, and looks great, too.

This season, Oiselle expanded their Wazzie Wool selection a bit to include three tops, bra and underwear set, leggings, and a neck gaiter. I own one of the tops-- the Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck.

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Front

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Back

Wazzie Wool Funnel Neck from Oiselle Detail of sleeve and back seams.

Besides that this top is made of amazing Wazzie Wool, I love the fit and style of it, too. The style lines and seams are simple but stylish. The fit (I have a size 6, for reference) is good--not too loose, not too tight. I love the long sleeves with thumb hole. The overall length of the top is good at mid-hip. I also really like the color-- Bolt Lightning. It makes me think of fast, powerful running, and, well, also of Harry Potter, which I also love. I like the funnel-neck top because it gives a little more coverage and warmth for my neck and everyone knows that keeping your neck warm goes a long way towards feeling like your whole self is warm.

I have used this top for casual wear, and even have worn it to school, but it truly is made for cold weather outdoor pursuits. I've worn my funnel neck for Nordic ski one day and out for a run the next. I'm pretty sure I even left it in a wad on my bedroom floor rather than hanging it up in between. Even after the run the next day, no stink, no wet, no mustiness to be seen, smelt, or felt from this top.

But it's wool!? Don't I have to dry-clean wool? you may be asking... Nope! Not Wazzie Wool! That's the other thing that the blend of synthetic fibers lends to this material-- supreme washability. I've worn and washed this thing loads of times (har har! loads...of laundry...get it?!) and it always comes out great. Doesn't shrink or change shape and dries super fast.

Even Harvey loves Wazzie Wool...

Harvey the Vizsla loves Wazzie Wool from Oiselle, too! 

The other piece of Wazzie Wool that I own and love is the Gaiter. It's just basically a double-layer tube of Wazzie Wool fabric that you can wear around your neck. I've also seen some people wear it on their head like a really large headband. People who have this item really, really love it, as you can read here in the Ode to the Gaiter written by Oiselle professional runner Kate Grace.

The gaiter is reversible. One side is Bolt Charcola pattern and the other is solid black.

Pretty much if I'm doing anything active outside, I have this gaiter on. It has all the same performance characteristics I've already written about, plus it's double-layered because it's reversible. This means it's even warmer! See if you can spot my Gaiter peeking out in this collage below...

Winter running and skiing made better with a Wazzie Wool Gaiter from Oiselle!

If you really wanted to pamper your pooch, the Wazzie Wool Gaiter does fit nicely on a dog's neck, too, as Harvey models below:

So, what are the negatives of Wazzie Wool? Honestly, not much. For me, the biggest trouble is that I don't have enough of it to wear every day because I seriously think I would wear it all the time if I had more pieces. I get sad when I have to finally succumb and wash my funnel neck because then I can't wear it. But, really, the biggest negative for me is just that it's kind of pricey to buy. The cheapest top, the Wazzie Wool Base Layer, retails on the Oiselle website for $96.00. The Funnel Neck is I wouldn't even say that it's a bad value because I think for the quality of item that you get, the price is reasonable. It's just that I don't have an extra $100 laying around to buy another top. Maaaaaaybe it'll go on sale eventually?!! If I had an unlimited budget, I'd own one of everything of this stuff. Maybe even two or three of everything. It's that great! 

All in all, if you're looking for a fun, warm, comfortable, performance ready piece to add to your running collection, or for casual wear, or to dress up, or... anything, consider Wazzie Wool! It's amazing! It's Katie Bangs and Harvey the Vizsla approved!

Scotch Hats and Cow Chores

Last night Jeff and I went to a ranching event in Dunkirk, MT sponsored by CHS, which is a company from whom we buy cattle supplies such as feed and supplements. Our friend works there and he invited us. Tom and Carol came too. When we arrived, we put our names in to win door prizes and I informed everyone present that I would probably win one, because, well, I win door prizes all the time.

Low and behold, the time for the door prize drawing came around and guess who's name was the first one out of the hat! (There were a lot of prizes, so it really wasn't that big of a shock that I won one.)

My fabulous prize was something I had seen many times but actually never learned the name of until last night-- A Scotch hat.

PayBack is a type of cattle supplement.
Their representative spoke at the event and brought the hats for door prizes.

Scotch hats are also called Scotch caps, I think interchangeably. They are popular among farmers and ranchers in Montana who wear them regularly, without a trace of irony. Perhaps when it's too cold for a cowboy hat?? They are also popular among hipsters and ski bums who may be wearing them ironically. Hard to say. You've probably seen them around.

All the same, I was delighted to win a prize and a fine one at that!

Traditionally, Scotch caps are made of wool and are quilted. The ear flap folds up inside the hat, or can be folded down to protect the ears and keep them warm. Some Scotch hats even have a little pompom on the top. Some are plaid. I've also seen some that have shearling.

Several views of the Scotch cap. 

I tried my hat one right away and it fit really well. It even fit over my ponytail without being too loose or too tight! Fitting over the ponytail is key.

This morning Jeff and I woke up to negative temperatures outside and it was my day to help him feed cows this morning. Perfect opportunity to test out the Scotch hat!

Almost completely layered up and ready to feed.

When it's -10, you put on a lot of layers. I had long underwear, sweatpants, and my over-pants, plus knee-high ski socks on my lower half. Feet jammed into my super-warm boots that are rated to -40. On top, a tank top, base layer, medium-weight layer, fleece, and then my Carhartt jacket. Other accessories were a face mask, sunglasses (which do actually help keep your eyes warmer, believe it or not), and two pairs of mittens. I topped it all off with my brand new Scotch hat, which I wore over another ear band, and I flipped the ear flap down, too. Time to see how warm the Scotch hat really could be!

I'm smiling in this photo-- can't you tell?!

This was the ensemble I wore all through cow chores. Jeff drove tractor and I helped by cutting net wrap off bales. I was outside for about an hour, which is long enough when it's that cold out. Thankfully, the sun was shining and there was no wind or it would have been extremely miserable!

I'm happy to report that the Scotch hat was all that I needed to keep my head warm. It was actually warmer than I thought it would be! My head never got cold. I'm definitely a believer in these hats now and I won't be wearing it ironically!

Have you ever worn/owned a Scotch hat?

Oiselle Flight Friday ~ Set A Goal

Oiselle Flight Fridays!



First, the basics:

Who is Oiselle?
From their website:
Oiselle is a Seattle-based women's athletic apparel company that believes in the transformative power of sport and its ability to inspire strength, courage, and sisterhood. We live and breathe the sport of running, and we live and breathe the art of apparel design. In both, we seek quality and innovation. And to know that everything we do supports women who want to move, run, and fly.

I'm a recent joinee to the flock, running for the Oiselle Volee Team. This is a team made up of runners from all over the country, from your Average Jill like me all the way up to Olympians like Kara Goucher. Oiselle (pronounced Wa-Zell) is an athletic apparel company specializing in women's running gear that is designed by and for women. This stuff is the real deal and the company is not only committed to providing the best gear on the market: they are all about growing a culture of strong women. My kind of company! In my new series Oiselle Flight Fridays, I'll be bringing you one of the seven Principles of Flight from the Oiselle Volee Flight Manual each Friday. I'll also be reviewing a piece of Oiselle gear with each of the seven principles.

Oiselle Flight Manual. 

Last week was all about the first principle: Build The Sisterhood. You can read my overview of that one by CLICKING HERE, but I also wanted to share this little image that my Mother-In-Law had on Facebook this past week. I think it really fits with the message of building the sisterhood!


This week, I'm going over the 2nd Principle of Flight from the Flight Manual: Set A Goal, and also telling you all about my Embossed Roga Shorts!

So, without further ado, here's what the Flight Manual states:

2. Set A Goal
Athletic, personal, realistic, or wild and dreamy. We seek big accomplishments on significant stages and we define what those are for ourselves. No matter the speed or goal, the effort is marked by a willingness to see what's possible--to go fast, take chances. 

Photo taken of the Set A Goal page from the Oiselle Flight Manual.

I'll be honest and say that goal-setting is not the easiest thing for me. I have a history of not giving myself enough credit or not believing in myself enough to set very challenging goals. My goals tend to be centered on small measures of progress and are often only very loosely defined, maybe not even measurable. Typically, I have goals like: "I will be better in this race than my last race." Better how? Faster? Feel better? Have more fun? Wha...? 

Or, I'll make a quantifiable goal that's probably too easy for me to fail at. Like-- I will build up to being able to hold a plank for one minute. Ok. Nailed it. On like, day two of the thirty-day challenge. Did that really feel like something worth celebrating?

Last winter before the running and racing season really got going for me, my husband asked me what my goals were for my running and fitness for the summer. I think I said something vague like, "I don't know... I just want to do a lot of races." He said, "I think you should do a triathlon," which is something I've always had in the back of my mind to do, but instead of agreeing with him, I found reasons why I couldn't train for a tri. "We don't live near a pool..." and "I don't have a road bike..." Again, I let self-doubt get in the way of setting goals for myself. Others believe in me, but why do I struggle sometimes to believe in myself?

That is why it is so huge for me that I set a goal in the middle of February to hold 5K On the Farm. I made it official at our annual Montana Farmers Union Women's Conference by telling a room full of women that I would do it. Even as the words came out of my mouth, I wasn't sure if I believed myself. But, I kept it in my mind, and talked it over with Jeff several times. Then, in June we decided on a date and made it really, REALLY official.

We are now less than two weeks away from Race Day. We have 40 registrations for the race, as of this morning. You can sign up by clicking here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Inverness/5KOnTheFarm
My goal is to have at least 50 people and I think we'll hit that. I waffle back and forth between-- "Wow! I'm DOING this and it's REALLY HAPPENING!" and thoughts of... "Holy shit! What if something goes horribly wrong? Can I really do this?" Yes, there are A LOT of last-minute details to work out, and not everything has gone as planned already, but I already feel like we've accomplished a lot. I made a big goal of planning and holding this race with the secondary goal of a minimum of 50 sign-ups, and I know we're going to achieve it.

The thing is, I feel like goal-setting is one area where success breeds success. Once you set a good goal and achieve it, it gives you the confidence to set more goals and achieve them. One of my new goals is to set better goals that give myself the credit I deserve! Goals that are measurable, challenging, yet achievable with hard work. It does no good to say, "I will do better in my next 5K," when what I really want is to be under 25 minutes in a 5K. What I should say is, "My goal is to run under 25:00 in a 5K. I would like to do that within the year of 2015, and these are the steps I'm going to take to reach that goal." And: "In 2016 I am going to register for and complete a sprint-distance triathlon. The challenges I need to overcome to do this are ____" and go from there.

When I saw this post on the Oiselle Facebook page about not giving yourself a Plan B, I thought it tied in really well with goal-setting. Read it here: Run Like There's No Plan B . Yeah, it's about allowing yourself to run professionally if that's what you want, but I think the underlying theme is good for EVERYONE. Don't give yourself a Plan B or an easy out when it comes to reaching your goals or striving for your dreams. Do what you love and let that be your only plan. Live like there is no Plan B.

Now, this is where a crafty writing segue would be nice as I'm going to change subjects to review some of my favorite running shorts: Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts! 

The Embossed Roga Shorts are the first and only thing I have paid full price for that I bought from Oiselle. This is not because I'm receiving anything from them, but because I'm a cheapskate and while I love running clothes, I do not have an unlimited budget. I almost always wait until things go on sale. But not for these! I wanted a pair of comfortable, neutral colored shorts I could wear with my Team Beef Jersey for racing. I surfed the Oiselle website for a while and weighed my different options. Ultimately, it was Jessie at The Right Fits and her constant praises of her Rogas that swayed me toward these. I went with the Embossed version because they're just a little jazzier than the plain ones.

Here they are on the Oiselle website: Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts

They are $50 and they come in three colors: Deep Rose, Money, and Charcola. When I got mine, only Charcola and Money were available. I may have been very tempted to get the Deep Rose! Alas, I got the gray because I thought it would go with the most other items I already had.

Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts in Charcola.

I wear these shorts A TON and they are in heavy rotation with my other running bottoms. I like the length- they have a 4" inseam. It's short enough that they still feel like running shorts, but long enough to have a little modesty. They don't have any extra poof in the crotch area like other brands do, which I also really love. Best of all, the inseam doesn't ride up and get stuck when I run, which is something else that happens to me a lot with other brands, and obviously leads to uncomfortable chafing. The leg openings stay where they are supposed to be, and ensure mile after mile is as comfortable as the first. 

Harvey and I are showing off the embossed fabric of these shorts.

These shorts also have a super comfy yoga-style waistband, which means no muffin top. Ever. And, they have an internal drawstring to ensure a perfect fit. This is great for girls like me who rock an athletic bubble butt. I can cinch up the drawstring to make sure the top of the waistband doesn't gape. 

The dogs were clearly very excited to help me model my shorts!

One thing that's important to note is that general consensus is that the Oiselle Distance Shorts run about a size smaller than the Rogas. For example, I buy a 6 in Distance but an 8 in Roga. The reason is that the leg opening of the Roga is a little more trim than in the Distance. For me, I size up to make sure I have enough material to comfortably cover my strong thighs. In the past, I made the mistake of ordering a 6 in the Rogas and they were just a little too tight through the leg to comfortably wear for me, even though the waistband was fine. Here's a photo collage of those too-small Rogas:

Oiselle Roga Shorts, which I sold on eBay for good money!

Because the original Roga short was so popular, Oiselle now offers many styles in the Roga spirit, using all types of fabrics embossed or regular, including the following:

• Mac Roga - Shorter inseam
• Long Roga- Longer inseam
• Toolbelt Roga - pockets galore!
• Roga Pant - it's a pant. Hence the name. ;)

There is definitely a Roga for every runner! 

Oiselle Roga Pants, image from www.Oiselle.com.

I think the Roga Pants might be a good item for me for Track Practice next season. They *may* be on my wishlist! Perhaps I should Set A Goal to own these pants? ;)

That's it for this week's installment of Oiselle Flight Fridays, this time brought to you on a Sunday! Ha! Maybe this next one will actually be posted on Friday??? Stay tuned for next week's post, when I'll be writing about the 3rd Principle of Flight: Own The Journey. 

In the meantime, please consider signing up for 5K On The Farm! We have a Virtual Run option, too! :)

Welcome to Oiselle!

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had an announcement to make, and today is the day you'll read all about it!  I joined the Oiselle Volee running team! (There's supposed to be an accent over that first e in Volee, but I don't know how to type that in...) I am so excited and honored to be part of this group of fast-flying, strong women from all over the country! Read on to find out more about Oiselle and what being part of this team means to me, and to read my review/love affair with the Distance Shorts, which is the short that started it all for me!  

If you haven't heard of Oiselle yet, you definitely haven't been reading my blog for very long! I've been pretty much obsessed with this brand since I first discovered them about three years ago while trolling through the Zulily sales one October day. That's when I bought my first pair of Distance Shorts and the day I fell in love with this company.

Pre-Race family photo from Dawson's Run back in June. Brett (he's not actually family, but he feels like he is sometimes!), Katie, Josh, Tom (holding Brandon), Me in my hot pink Distance Shorts, and Jeff. Carol is in front with Harvey.

Oiselle (Pronounced Wa-Zell) is a women's fitness and running apparel brand that's relatively young, but is committed to designing quality running clothes that FIT a woman's body. And they do not mess around with this mission! The first time I tried those Distance Shorts on, I was completely smitten and have recommended them over and over since then. They are currently my go-to summer racing shorts and they never fail to perform.

Pre-run planking in my Distance Shorts (with a non-Oiselle top).

Just the other day, I actually had all my Oiselle running clothes in the dirty laundry so I ran in an old pair of (Big Name Brand) Tempo shorts. Man... I never realized how poorly they fit until after I've been running in Oiselle! I mean, the crotch area has a pooch of extra fabric as if they should fit a man! A lot of other running and active apparel companies unfortunately have the design model of taking men's styles and just recreating them in "feminine" colors. In the industry, this is known as "Shrink it and Pink it." (I should know thanks to my degree in Apparel Design and 10+ years working in active apparel retail!) That is why it is SO REFRESHING to see styles from Oiselle that are specifically designed by and for women athletes.

Distance Shorts (again!) with Verazzano Bra from Oiselle.

And they do not settle for anything less than perfect! Take the example of the newly released Bra-Zen style they just put out. Oiselle has offered a few styles of sports bras and has done a really great job with them, but to be honest, they're more for smaller-cup ladies. Ladies who are blessed with bosom have requested over and over a good, functional sports bra to give them the support they need, and preferably with the same awesome Oiselle style. Oiselle heard them and spent a long time perfecting the new Bra-Zen style. It had to be just right before they'd release it! I haven't tried it, but I do love my Verrazano Bra and my Traction Bra. All the reviews I've read about Bra-Zen are RAVING, so I'd say it's probably a smashing success!

Bra-Zen bra from Oiselle.

Ok, so enough about the clothes. I mean, they are fabulous and functional, but what really kept me hooked on this company is the culture it fosters. Oiselle is all about empowering women to be the best versions of themselves. Take this excerpt from the Flight Manual (sort of a company manifesto) for example:
"We are not building a single sport, or a cause, or even an idea. We're building a new kind of family. One that is strong, supportive, passionate, and all-in on a woman-up world." This is an idea I can get behind. It's a better-stated-than-I-could-ever-come-up-with reason why I coach track. It's why I run. It's why I strive to support and inspire.

So who are my new teammates on the Oiselle Volee team? They are women from all walks of life, every corner of the country, and every level of running ability. From someone like me who is middle-of-the-pack at best in the local 5k Fun Run all the way up to Elites like Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman. This team encompasses everyone and is full of positive and encouraging people who just want to help one another. It's like when I saw Heather Lieberg at Governor's Cup and she was so friendly and gracious. I feel lucky and proud to be part of this group, and to know that when I race in my Oiselle singlet (coming soon!) I represent this company and this body of outstanding people.

Now, I'm teammates with Heather Lieberg as a part of Oiselle Volee!

My perks for signing up include extra discounts on Oiselle clothing and gear, and freebies and opportunities throughout the year. I'm not a paid member or sponsored athlete by any means, and I didn't join for clothing discounts. I joined to be part of something bigger. Isn't that what being part of a team is all about? I did get sent some cool items right away, including my new bright Oiselle Orange spike bag, some temporary tattoos, and a copy of the Flight Manual. My singlet will be here sometime in September.

New swag from Oiselle, since joining Volee!

There are only a few other Volee members in Montana, but Montana is a really big state and we all live in opposite corners, it seems! So, it's not likely I'll see or network in-person with other Montana birds, or anyone else, very often. That means, in order to continue to feel connected to my teammates, I'll be trying to stay active on the Volee Facebook group, Instagram, Strava, and Gametiime, in addition to reading/commenting on other birds' blogs. Maybe when I travel I can get in some runs with other ladies from around the country. Who knows?!

Don't worry--I haven't given up on Team Beef Montana for joining Oiselle Volee! I'll still be wearing my Team Beef jersey at select races throughout the year and will continue to be an advocate for beef as part of a healthy diet to fuel the run and recovery. I mean, we're serving hamburgers after our 5K On The Farm, for Pete's sake! Now, I just get to represent TWO different teams instead of just one! Kind of nice to have options, right? ;)

In order to really kick off my new membership with Volee, I've decided to start a new series on my blog. I'm calling it Oiselle Flight Fridays. Each Friday over the next seven weeks, I'll be taking one of the seven "Principles of Flight" from the Flight Manual and writing about it. What that principle means to me and how I can challenge myself to fly with it. For a teaser, here are the seven principles:

1. Build the Sisterhood
2. Set a Goal
3. Own the Journey
4. Fly With the Winners
5. Feed the Machine
6. Be a Superfan
7. Believe

I'll be mixing in my own stories and experiences when introducing each of those principles, and probably showing off some of my favorite pieces of Oiselle gear along the way. I hope you'll check back on Fridays to read more about what this awesome company, my new team, is all about! 

New spike bag from Oiselle.

Stay tuned for more Oiselle posts! And remember- Head Up, Wings Out!

Stitch Fix August 2015 Review

Guess what, everyone? It's Stitch Fix time!

Not familiar with StitchFix? If you're not familiar with Stitch Fix, it's a really neat way to shop for clothes wherein you let someone else do just about all of the work for you. You schedule when you want your shipment, or "fix," and write a brief note describing what you might be looking for. Stitch Fix assigns you with a stylist who picks out five pieces they think will be just right for you based on your size and style preferences. When your fix ships, you're charged a $20.00 fee. Once it arrives, you have three days to try everything on and decide what to keep or send back. You're only charged for what you keep, and the $20.00 styling fee is credited toward the cost of your keepers. If you keep nothing, you're out your $20.00. If you keep everything, you get 25% off your total, less the $20.00.  Best of all, you don't have to go shopping. You get unique, quality pieces delivered right to your door.

I've been shopping with Stitch Fix for just about a year now and I really, really love it. It's perfect for someone like me who doesn't really love shopping, lives in a rural area with limited access to good shopping, and is busy.

I've had the same stylist for several fixes in a row. My last fix didn't wow me, and the one before that wasn't outstanding either, so I requested a new stylist this time. My previous stylist (Anna) did a fine job, but I was just ready to mix it up a bit with someone new. I asked for pieces for back to school, including chinos, or colored jeans or pants that aren't denim. I also requested that the pieces are some that can be layered going forward into fall, and said I love colors like blue, yellow, orange, navy, black, and gray.

So... Imagine my surprise when I took out my style card and saw XO Anna on the bottom. She said she wanted to try one more fix with me. Ok then. Let's take a look at the photos and see how she did! 

Here's what Anna sent me this time:
41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse
Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser
Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse
Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse
Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace

First off, I put the Emer pants, Swiss Dot top and Zad necklace on all together:

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse, Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser, and Zad Jorja Teardop Bauble Necklace, from Stitch Fix. 

Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace
I had requested a necklace to match the turquoise earrings I received in my last fix and this is what Anna sent. In theory, it should have worked, but the turquoises don't match, and that bothered me. I know the stylists often work from home and don't get a chance to actually see or feel the product all the time, and, turquoise is really hard to match, so I definitely don't hold it against Anna! The necklace does look nice with the Swiss dot top, but it just looked and felt sort of cheap. I'd rather spend more money on a higher quality item. Two more photos below. Verdict: Returned.

Zad Jorja Teardop Bauble Necklace and Bay To Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings from Stitch Fix.

Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace from Stitch Fix.

Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser
If you look on the Stitch Fix B/S/T Facebook group, the Emer pants are everyone's favorite. This is actually the second time I've received a pair of these in my fix. I got a pair of cobalt blue textured Emers back in March. This time, I got plain black Emers. The fabric is nice and feels high-quality, and they were a good, all-around workhorse pair of black pants. But. I already have a glutton of black pants in my closet. There's also something about the Emers that just don't work exactly perfect for me-- I get a little pooch in the crotch area after I wear them, and they gap in the waistband for me. A common problem with my strong legs and booty is that pants fit through the leg but gap at the waist. They're also just tight enough that some of the more conservative-minded wardrobe watchers at school might call them border-line leggings which is deemed inappropriate in our dress code, so there's that. I can see why a lot of people really love these pants, but they're just not for me. They'd have to be perfect at $98.00 for me to keep them, and they just aren't. There's another photo of the Emer pants with the Swiss Dot top below. Verdict: Returned.

Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser and Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse from Stitch Fix.

Ok, now let's talk about the Brixon Ivy Top! Oh, how I adore this top. :)

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse
I knew I'd like this top from the moment I peeked at my fix online. It did not disappoint in person! The fit and fabric were perfect. It also comes with a matching cami to wear underneath, since it's definitely sheer and, hello, it has lattice detail in the front! Since I knew I wasn't going to be keeping the Emer pants, I tried this top again with jeans and a cardigan I already owned, and some necklaces:

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse from Stitch Fix.

Another great feature of this top is that it has handy little snaps in the shoulder seams so you can hook your cami straps or bra straps in place so they won't peak out. Honestly, I could never understand why every sleeveless top doesn't have these little snaps in them:

If I can find some different pants to wear with this outfit, I'll definitely wear this to school. I like that the top is a neutral color I can wear year-round and with many different cardigans and layering pieces. This is a great, versatile top I know I will wear a lot! Destined to be in my Stitch Fix Hall of Fame. :) Verdict: Definite Keeper!

Next up, Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse-

Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse paired with 41 Hawthorn Abriana Longsleeve Knit Cardigan and 31Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace, from Stitch Fix.

Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse- I immediately saw why Anna picked this top for me. It has all the colors I requested in my note in one shirt! haha! How could I turn it down? I paired this with the 31Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace I got in my May Fix and the 41Hawthorn Abriana Longsleeve Knit Cardigan from my March Fix. Instant outfit success. Even without those pieces, I really liked this top. I like the lightweight material, the fit is great, I love the colors and patterns, and again, I have a lot of cardigans and layering pieces to carry this top through to colder months. This top will also look great now, in summer's heat, with the white shorts I got in my June fix (which I wear all the time!) This was also the cheapest item in my fix (other than the necklace) so the obvious choice was to keep it. Verdict: Kept!

The Fun2Fun blouse instantly made me think of this dress I had pinned. In my photo, the colors don't look as bright as they actually are, but it is actually quite similar in look to this African-inspired dress:

Well done, Anna! Inspiration directly from my Pinterest. I do love me some primary colors all together! :)

Lastly, 41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse:

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse from Stitch Fix

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse: Oh my, I knew I was in trouble when I peeked at this fix because I was pretty sure I'd like all three tops. I just didn't know what color this one would be until I opened the box. I had a suspicion it'd be cobalt blue, and, as you see, it was! Yay! It's a little loose and flowy on me, but not so much that it looks sloppy, especially if I can pair it with slim pants. I tried it on here with a Lia Sophia necklace I already owned in black and BAM! Perfect outfit for school functions--North Star Blue and Black!

This shirt is very, very similar to the 41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse, which is another Stitch Fix mainstay. I received a white one in my March Fix, and I wear it a ton! The biggest difference is the length- this top is probably a good two inches shorter than the Filbert. And obviously, this one has that cute quilting detail across the shoulders and at the sleeve hem. Love it. I loved the blue color, but the quilting was what really sold this one for me in the end. Verdict: Kept!

Here's another outfit I put together with the Angela blouse, with some leggings and boots:

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse from Stitch Fix with Herringbone Chaturanga Tights from Athleta.

Again, probably can't wear this outfit to work due to the leggings rule (you can wear leggings, but then you have to wear something over them that comes to 4" above the knee, which this top doesn't) but it's still a great outfit I think I'll wear outside of work. I love it when I can see other items in my closet to pair my Stitch Fix finds with!

Overall, this fix was a great success! I kept three items--all tops-- from this fix. Thankfully, I had a referral credit in my account to make my fix even cheaper! (Thanks, Joellyn!) Also, my confidence in Anna, my stylist, was renewed and I'm going to stick with her for the foreseeable future. If you think you want to give Stitch Fix a try, I'd love if you'd use my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4005981 Yeah, you're only feeding my addiction. But just you try it and you'll see how addicting it is, too, especially when you get pieces that are hand-picked just for you! 

Also, if you've made it this far, I've got one more shameless plug for you to read through. My Stitch Fix posts have the highest traffic to my blog, by far, than anything else I write about, and it's largely women. So, this is a great opportunity to tell you all about a project I am doing to help educate and inspire rural women in Montana. My husband and I are first-time race directors for a 5K we're holding right here on our farm, called 5K On The Farm. It's a fun run/race fundraising event to raise money to provide leadership training and education for women in agriculture.

You may not know me, and you may not live in Montana, but you may be interested in helping women grow. That is why you should sign up for our Virtual Run, which we are also offering to people who want to help the cause but who can't make it to the farm on race day (September 12, 2015). Visit our race website: 5K On The Farm, or head to our RunSignUp page for more info!

Thanks, everyone! Until next time!!! :)