Stitch Fix #7 Review and my NEW CANON camera!

I am so incredibly excited! I am just giving myself the ultimate Christmas over here! 

FIRST...I received my Stitch Fix for December. This is Fix #7 for me and I had very specific requests for my stylist this time. She nailed it.

Plus, the day after my fix came, I received my new Canon camera! I am so excited to share this Stitch Fix review with you today using my new camera. The difference in the image quality is insane!  I can't believe that I waited so long to upgrade my camera!

(**Please excuse my iPhone quality image**)

In case you're wondering, I'm using a Canon EOS Rebel SL1. I am extremely happy with it so far!

I couldn't resist the opportunity to play with my new camera and I had to take a few naps of this gorgeous poinsettia that one of my students brought me as a Christmas gift on the last day of school. So pretty!!!

So, here's my new box....

I specifically asked my stylist for a 50's inspired box and I was very happy with the outcome. I've been really refining my style lately and I love the whole retro 50's vibe. I wanted more pieces to fit this type of wardrobe.

What is Stitch Fix?!

In case you're not familiar with what Stitch Fix is, it's a subscription personal styling service.  You can control how often you get shipments, what the price range of items in your shipment is, and what colors or types of items are sent to you! 

 

The service costs $20 a month to be styled but the fee is deducted from any items that you decide to keep out of your box.  If you keep all 5 items in your box, you get a 25% discount.  My boxes usually run around $170-$200 to purchase the entire box. I usually just pick a few pieces for under $100.

When you get your box, it's wrapped so nicely!  It includes a gorgeous box with details about what to do next, a letter from your stylist, style cards to help you style your items, and a bag to return anything you're not keeping!

Let's get to it!

Anita Skinny Pant - $78

Alright, I don't have any pictures of these specifically. What I will say that is that I am wearing these pants in half of the photos. In the other half, I'm wearing a pair of black skinny pants that I already owned. I bought those particular pants at Maurices for HALF the price of these ones. Can anyone figure out which photos are the cheap {well...normally priced} pants and which are the expensive pants?

Overall, these are nice pants. I just won't spend $78 on something that I already own. However, props to my stylist. If she's sending me stuff that I already have, then she's on track!

VERDICT: RETURN

Aldana Scoop Neck Blouse - $48

The first thing that I tried on was this polk-a-dot top. It's amazing. It's flowy but in a good way. Not in the maternity style muumuu type of way. 

VERDICT: KEEP!!

Alondra Ruched Pencil Skirt - $58

I am very happy with this skirt! It's so comfortable. Literally, it rivals the comfort of sweat pants. It's insane. Sooooo good. I love the sleek pencil skirt style. It's effortlessly classy while feeling like you're relaxed and dressed down. The ruching details on the side keep the skirt interesting and visually appealing.

VERDICT: KEEP

Coffman Button-Up Cardigan - $48

Alright, nothing screams retro 50's vibes like a good red cardigan. This really is the perfect cardigan. The details at the shoulder keep it elegant and interesting while the cut screams 50's fashion. The cropped sleeves and short length make this a definite wardrobe staple! I can imagine this now with a great head scarf!

VERDICT: KEEP

Shiloh Tonal Dot Print Sleeveless Blouse - $58

Alright, I really tried to love this blouse. The blue tonal dots and it's classic Americana style had be longing to love it. I took so many different pictures in this shirt in an effort to find a picture of me wearing it that screamed "don't let go of this!!" In the end, I just couldn't come up with a single shot and I didn't like it anymore in the end than I did when I put it on. 

It's not that it's unflattering it's just that it....isn't flattering. I do love the scallop hem though. That's adorable. At the end of the day, I just can't justify a $58 shirt that I don't adore.

VERDICT: RETURN

I'd love to hear what you think of my pieces or read your reviews of your Stitch Fix! Please comment on your favorite item or leave a link to your own Stitch Fix review!

A New Healthy Favorite!

In case you haven't heard, I am so excited about my new find...Sun Basket!

Check out my recent live scope about it!  If you don't follow me on Periscope, look me up at _myrandasue so you can keep up with all my crazy shenanigans!



Want to try out Sun Basket yourself?  Click below to get a great deal from me!



**This post was originally posted on my beauty blog, The Glam Teacher.

The Global Glitter Tribe December Linky!

Welcome to the Global Glitter Tribe Linky for December!

I'm beyond pleased to link up with the Global Glitter Tribe for their December linkup! 

In case you didn't know, I am one of the founders of the tribe, along with Laura from Year2tastic. We're so passionate about uniting teachers on a global scale that we created a blog and international group of admins to support everyone in developing a global mindset!

Let's get to the good stuff!!

Staple Recipe:

Years ago, my mom gifted me with a cookbook of family recipes. It's handmade and so special to me. In it, she included her homemade apple pie recipe for the holidays. Let's just say that I've become well-known for my pie making skills. People are always asking me to bring pies to the holiday gatherings!

Holiday Read Aloud Favorite:

The Polar Express is just a classic though! Isn't it? 

Integrated Technology:

I've integrated something new into my classroom recently called Plickers. I learned about this from another tribe member named Ashley. She blogs over at Ms. Idealistic and she's a phenomenal Canadian addition to our group! Plickers remind me of Kahoot but take away the need for every student to have a device. This makes it more practical for ALL classrooms but also decreases the time that it takes to get your quiz setup. They're great for assessments and adding some extra engagement to lessons.  My 5th graders love them and I highly recommend giving them a go!

New Find:

I'm always searching for ways to make my meal prep simpler. I thrive on simple, whole foods and prefer to follow a paleo or Whole 30 approach to eating. Needless to say, it can get quite monotonous. I need to mix it up to keep myself engaged in the healthy lifestyle. I recently tested out Sun Basket after I received a 50% off offer from them! I am thoroughly impressed!

Sun Basket offers farm fresh produce and is based out of California. Each week, you can pick from a selection of 6 or so meal options. You need to select your meals by Thursday at noon and your box arrives on Wednesday. In the box, you'll receive proportioned ingredients and recipe cards to create all of the meals.

The directions are super clear and easy to follow and the foods are clean and exceptionally healthy! This might be something that I stick with for quite a while. 

Want to try it out? Get 3 Meals Free from Sun Basket! 

Engaging Books:

Looking for a very interesting story that will also challenge your 5th grade readers? We're reading Hound Dog True right now. The text seemed quite simple to me but my group is actually struggling with it a little. This is great for my group of high readers who usually breeze through things. The story is adorable!

Here's a summary from Story Snoops:

Mattie Breen keeps a notebook of "Custodial Wisdom" filled with observations about the work her Uncle Potluck does at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. Advice such as, "do not let a mop sit overnight in water," and "fix things before they get too big for fixing" is all noted in Maddie's book. You see, she only has one week to convince her uncle to take her on as his custodial apprentice. In one week, she starts fifth grade at this new school and she will have be the new girl again. But if she works for her uncle, she'll be safe and won't have eat her lunches by herself or feel lonely at recess. She'll be helping her uncle. It is the perfect plan--until her plan doesn't quite work out the way she expected it to. It is then that she discovers that one small act of courage can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.

Snow Day Plans:

I don't know if we're ever going to get snow here. It feels like we're just going to get rained on for the rest of our lives right now! Either way, my plans for winter break include TpT and cleaning. I have so  much stuff on my mind for my TpT store and soon-to-be YouTube channel! I am incredibly excited about all of it! Aside from that, I really need to get things organized around the house. I spend most of the summer away so I really have to get this work done during winter break!

Well, that was quite the post! Thanks for joining me! Please leave a comment below and come link up with as well! It's super easy to do and so much fun to use to reflect on what you're doing!

xoxo

What I'm Reading Linky

Welcome back for another 5th grade edition of What Are You Reading! This fun linky is hosted by Focused on Fifth! If you haven't heard, I've become a collaborator at the Focused on Fifth blog because I am so passionate about all things 5th grade!!

Currently, I'm reading Escape from Mr. Limoncello's Library

I've just begun reading the book but it definitely captured my attention from page ONE! The pacing was perfect and it was suitable for 5th graders. I feel like the characters are relatable and very engaging!

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Here's a summary of the book from Good Reads:

Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.

Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.

In this cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum, Agatha Award winner Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters. Old fans and new readers will become enthralled with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience. 

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Now, I love Willy Wonka and this totally reminds me of something a little Willy Wonka-esque. Plus, I love puzzles and games. Have you ever read The Egypt Game?? That one had me HOOKED! This is like a combination of the two stories and it definitely fits my interests as a reader! I feel like I really can't go wrong with this book.

So, what are you reading right now? Please head on over to Focused on Fifth and share your book with us!!

Sunday Scoop - December 13, 2015

Have to Do...

Ok...I'm literally drowning in a pile of laundry and I have to get it under control. Does anyone else just avoid folding their laundry and then you spend 10 minutes digging through the pile for that ONE specific thing that you want to wear to work? Please tell me that I'm not the only one. In order to have some tiny amount of sanity in the last week before winter break, I need that 10 minutes back in the morning!

The bonus is...if I can get my laundry done, then I'm gonna do some online shopping. I feel like I've really refined my style lately and I want to pick up some new pieces for my new vibe...plus an upcoming photo shoot. That's top secret though. You'll find out more by summer. Haha...not much of a wait, right??

It's also time to break out my Erin Condren planner so I can stay on track next week with all of my deadlines and things to do!!

Hope to Do...

I've been working on getting myself into an evening spin class on Sundays. I didn't make it last week because I came down with the flu last Sunday and I'm still feeling quite drained from being sick. However, I really want to kick my week off on the right track!!

I have so many things up my sleeve for the coming months. I want to record my first YouTube video. Question...if you were to watch a makeup tutorial for teachers, what would you want to see?

Happy to Do...

Let's be honest. I'm just happy to start the last week before winter break. I'm ready! Let's get this vacation moving. I have lots of vacation goals to attend to and I'm getting very anxious!!

So...what's up with your week? Come link up with us and share your Sunday Scoop! Don't forget to leave a comment so we can chat!!

xoxo

Sunday Scoop - December 6, 2015

Have to Do

Seriously. This is the busiest weekend ever! I am so beyond burnt out and exhausted right now and I have had exactly 0 minutes to myself to get things done. 

I need to do everything still...cook, clean the apartment, do the dishes, wash laundry, clean up all the messes, clean my bathroom, etc. Why???

I also need to plan out my week. I use my Erin Condren planner to keep myself on track for the week. I schedule my workouts, write down blog posts that need to go up, etc.

I need to put sleep in the have to do section today. I know that there are 1,000 things to get done but I am so tired and worn down right now. There has to come a point where self care overrides all of the other stuff.

Hope to Do

So with that prioritization of resting and feeling like myself again, I am hoping to take care of responsibilities today but I'm not going to force it. 

Happy to Do

I'm happy to be here blogging today. I love spending time with my blogging friends. 

So, hopefully your scoop looks better than mine! Share it with us over at The Teaching Trio and leave a comment so we can chat!!

Currently - December

Listening

Honestly, I'm just enjoying the sweet sound of silence after a very long, very noisy day of scientific design projects. My ears still hurt.

Loving

My students are buddied up with kids in grades K-3 throughout the school twice a week. Today, I planned a really fun partner activity with our second grade buddies next week. I purchased a December STEM set from Brooke Brown on TpT and we're going to be doing her Parachutes for Santa project with our little buddies. It's going to be a BLAST!

Thinking

I have to venture out into the dark and cold to workout in a few minutes. WHY? Why can't I be one of those lucky girls with great metabolisms who eat chips all day and never workout?!

Wanting

Speaking of being effortlessly skinny...I just really want a sandwich right now. Talk about struggles

Needing

I really need the rest of the funding for my projector! I've been working so hard on getting this project funded. You can read an earlier blog post about it here. You can find my project up on Donors Choose here.

Real of Faux

Okay, let's be real...I drive a Mini Cooper. What kind of Christmas tree do you think I'd have?! Aint nobody got time for that. Actually, I haven't even put up a tree in about 5 years. GRINCH ATTACK!!!

As always, thanks for reading! Come linkup with us and please leave a comment below so we can catch up!