Stitch Fix, Rent the Runway, and Blue Apron: What I really think

Before I begin, I just want to note that the word convenience pops up in this post about one thousand times. I know. I should find a thesaurus. 


Stitch Fix: My 1 year review





Pros: So fun! My favorite aspect of Stitch Fix is that is is just hands down fun. You can pin styles you like on Pinterest and your 'stylist' will look at your profile and put together five pieces she thinks you might like. Also, you can put in specific requests- like you have date night coming up and want something for the occasion. The box arrives on your porch with items inside neatly wrapped in tissue paper and perfectly folded. Inside you will find a style guide giving different ways you can wear each piece. I always feel so special when this pretty little box shows up on my doorstep and it's all for me.




So convenient! Okay yes, I have time to shop, and I like to shop. But nothing beats cute clothes showing up to your door that someone else picked especially for you. The items you don't want, you send back within a few days in an already supplied prepaid envelope. I could see how convenience could be a huge plus if you are short on time. 




Element of surprise! If you have major control issues and you want to know exactly what you are getting, maybe this is not for you. Sometimes SF sends me things that I would not have picked out on my own. But some clothes look better on you than on the hanger (or folded up in a box), so I always try everything on and there have been a few times that I've kept something that I initially thought I wouldn't like. I like this aspect because I tend to choose the same patterns and styles. I need another gray/black/neutral top like Tom Brady needs another deflated football (wait, what?). 




Cons: Some things are alike (or are exactly alike). I now own two of the same shirts in different patterns (clearly I liked the shirt enough to actually keep them both though)! Also, I am starting to feel like it all kind of looks alike. It's like eating at Chick- fil- a, which I love, but sometimes it doesn't matter if I eat a salad or the original chicken sandwich...they kind of taste alike. But I'll keep going back. Oh yes, I'll never not go to Chick-fil-a. This is sometimes how I feel about SF and all of their clothes....

Overpriced at times: Sometimes I think, “how on earth is this $68.00?”, some things are just way overpriced. Or maybe I'm just cheap. Yes, I'm cheap.

Rent the Runway



Why I LOVE it: Convenience, hello! Yes, once again, I have time to go to a bunch of stores and try on dresses. But no, I really don't want to spend my day doing that. Especially when I have one day to do it because someone didn't decide if he wanted to go to an event until the last minute. But this shows up to your door, ready to wear.

Wearing a style you would never buy: Sometimes I wish I owned a platinum blond pixie cut wig because that's what I would really love to do with my hair. But let's face it, I'll never do it. At least not on this side of 50. So RTR is like that...sure, rent that jumpsuit (see pic) but don't keep it! I'm pretty sure the jumpsuit will not be a “classic” look in 2020. But that's just my professional opinion.




Easy Peasy: It comes in a hanging black bag, all items dry cleaned, on hangers and ready to wear! Returns are just as easy. Wad it all up and throw it in the bag and drop it at a UPS drop box.

Will I use it again? Absolutely. I'm hoping Tyson's company has a big fancy shmancy Christmas party just so I have an excuse to use it again. It's great if you don't want to commit to a dress you may only wear once or twice. And it's great if you like wearing something different to every event you attend. 

Why I COULD have hated it: It may not have fit! Coming from a lady with a small waist, but some big time hips and butt...things do not always fit as they should. This is why I hate jeans. And shopping for jeans. BUT, my items may not have fit, or looked like they did on the 5' 9” 110 pound model. And this was a huge concern of mine. Which is why RTR gives you a second size for FREE. I love free and I love that they did this- it is what sold me on the whole thing!

 It was a risk! If it hadn't fit, I woulda been out some money (although I think the prices are reasonable and there is a whole range of prices) and still without a dress. And would still have had to gone speed shopping and probably ended up with something sub par.

* I only have one picture of me in the jumpsuit rental from Rent the Runway. And it's not even my picture. Someone else took it with their phone because I like to be living life and living in the moment and not trying to constantly capture pictures for social media.  I'm just a lazy picture taker. I just really suck at remembering to take pictures. 

me in my jumpsuit





Blue Apron


          I was introduced to BA by a friend who signed me up for 2 free meals. I don't know about you, but I can't turn down free food. Or free anything. 




Pros: Convenient! Ah, that word again. I bet you wish I had used that thesaurus now...  But you are paying for them to do the meal planning, shopping, and the food. Think of it that way and it may be worth the $. Sometimes the hardest thing for me is coming up with dinner ideas and actually doing the shopping. Especially in the summer with my two kiddos complaining and asking to buy every other item we pass (Luke once asked to buy Gluten free Kale chips because HE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT WHAT HE WAS PICKING UP). BA shows up (in a refrigerated box) on your door. No shopping, no buying of the kale chips.




It was delish! Both of my kids approved, which means a lot. They are my toughest critics. 


New recipes and unique ingredients! I get stuck in recipe ruts periodically. And even Pinterest cannot help me generate new dinner ideas and pull me out of my deepest rut sometimes! This was fun because the four meals I cooked were different than my typical "go to" meals. I also picked up a new technique to cook chicken that I have used since. Bonus!

Quick: The 4 recipes I have made I prepared in 40 minutes or less. This is HUGE for me. If you are pressed at dinner time because of school, sports, and homework then these meals were straightforward, easy, and quick to prepare. 

Cons: Expensive! $70.00 for 2 meals (that feeds 4) is expensive! Like way expensive in my opinion. For us, this is not sustainable. I stay at home, we are not a dual income- au pair-cleaning- lady-private school-vacation -all-the-time kind of family. Although I'm not opposed to this idea. But I am able to meal plan, shop, and prepare. And most weeks I don't mind it and sometimes I (gasp) enjoy it! I decided that doing BA once every other month to give myself a little break and be slightly indulgent is acceptable. But we can't actually do it every week for every meal. We just can't.

If you don't cancel or skip a meal a week before a scheduled delivery then you are automatically scheduled for a delivery, so you HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD. And put it on your phone calendar with an alert. Or you will receive a meal. And it might include shepherds pie or salmon with bok choy. And you might not like those options. But you might have already been charged the $70.00 so you might have to eat it.

There is a lot of chopping of the veggies: These meals do include a lot of fresh vegetable which I hugely appreciate! It translates to it being a healthy, fresh meal- so I don't mind too much. It's just that....I hate to chop is all.

To sum it all up...can you guess?.....All of these 'deliver to your door' companies are incredibly CONVENIENT! 

Mom hacks:  things that will help you as a mom and/or things I love and think you should love too! 

This candle is like Fall wrapped up and wafting through my house. I'm obsessed. 

T.V. Indulgence: BBC is where it's at. Those British people have the acting thing down. And the drama thing. And those accents don't hurt either. Happy Valley is a 6 episode mini series that is worth your watch. You may even spot a familiar face in the cast (think Downton Abbey). Watch it while you fold laundry, then you won't feel so guilty for just sitting there. Or is that just me?

Great workout to pair with a long run or bike ride!

This cinnamon apple coffee cake is da bomb (do people even use that phrase anymore?) and since I have 2 pecks of apples (that's half a bushel if you were wondering) I'm making all things apple until they are gone.