Goodbye, 2014! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these monthly roundups, but I always love when other bloggers do them—I discover so many new products, articles, workouts, etc.. I’m bringing these posts back and jam-packing them with all my favorite moments, eats, workouts, things and reads from the month. Enjoy!
Favorite Products
Scarf & Sweater from This Month’s Stitch Fix
I only kept two out of the five items from this month’s Stitch Fix box, but I love them! The sweater is a little itchy, but I’ve just been wearing a long-sleeve underneath it to solve the problem. I love the zig-zag print. The infinity scarf is incredibly soft and I’ve worn it literally every day since I got it. Actually as I type this I realize I really need to wash that thing (I’ve even been teaching in it)…
I got a request to include the prices of my Stitch Fix items in these posts, and will start doing that moving forward, but DAMNIT I can’t find my style card anywhere right now (I’ll update this post with brands and prices if I find it!). I think the scarf was around $35 and the sweater was around $60. I know I usually dedicate a whole post to these Stitch Fix styles, so here’s a quick look at what I didn’t keep: The faux leather detailed pants/leggings were super cute but a little loose through the thighs (and I already have approx 700 pairs of black leggings and jeans). The red blouse is of excellent quality and super cute fit, but just not quite my style (I’d recommend it to someone else though!). The faux leather jacket was a little boxy through the chest, and I already have a jacket similar to it.
Jewelry from Rocksbox
This month I got the opportunity to try out a jewelry service similar to Stitch Fix. With Rocksbox, for $19 a month, you get three pieces of designer jewelry sent to you. You can borrow them as long as you like, or opt to buy one (or all) of the items at a 20% member discount. You fill out a style survey when you sign up to give your stylist an idea of what you like and don’t, and you can leave feedback about your pieces and request certain things (if, for example, you have an event coming up and are looking for something specific). I’ve gotten two boxes so far (Rocksbox gave me a three-month complimentary membership). Here’s what my first one looked like:
I loved the look of the bracelet, but my wrists are awkwardly small so it didn’t fit. The earrings were also cute, but I was so nervous about losing them and then having to buy them, that I never wore them. The necklace was GORGEOUS but expensive ($176 with discount). I wore it a couple times, and wish I could have bought it, but ended up returning it with the others after a few weeks.
For my second box, I got the Nakamol wrap bracelet pictured below that I absolutely love and ended up buying ($44 with member discount). The other two items weren’t quite my style so I’m going to send them back. I’m not the biggest jewelry fan, so I’m still on the fence about continuing my membership after the three-months, but for now it’s a fun treat to get in the mail!
If you’re interested in trying out Rocksbox, sign up using THIS LINK and use the code GIVEANDGET to get a $25 credit on your first box.
Firmoo Glasses
All my fellow Four Eyes’ will really appreciate these–prescription glasses for under $50. And I’m not talking drugstore reading glasses–your individual prescription in your choice of stylish frames. Sha-wiiiiing! Firmoo offered me a pair of glasses of my choosing, and I love them! You go to their site, pick a frame, enter in your Rx info, and they send them right to your doorstep. So easy and ridiculously affordable. I think the ones I’m wearing retailed for $36. I’d be careful with them, as you can tell they’re not as sturdy as more expensive frames (they probably wouldn’t survive accidentally stepping on them, for example), but other than that, the quality is great!
Fabletics
I had been hearing great things about Fabletics for months, and finally decided to try it out. If you become a member, you get to pick out a few fitness clothing items each month for a discounted price, and if you choose to skip a month, you can use that member credit at a later date. Everything is reasonably priced and cute, so I figured why not sign up? (Um maybe because your closet is already overflowing with workout clothing. Shut up.) So far I’ve loved everything–great quality (especially for the price!) and cute cuts. The top I’m wearing is admittedly impractical for working out in (it falls off your shoulders and down to your waist if you try anything crazy) but I love it for teaching classes.
Favorite Eats
Meals from Just Add Cooking
I’m going to do a full blog post on this (and share one of their delicious recipes!) soon, but had to include these meals in my favorites round-up as well. I got to try out Just Add Cooking, a company that delivers all the ingredients you need to make some seriously good meals right to your home, and loved the service. Stay tuned!
Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Balls from Snack Girl
I met Lisa from Snack Girl on the blogging trip I attended at Hilton Head Health, and she was nice enough to send me a copy of her book, Snack Girl to the Rescue. I made her No-Bake Pumpkin, Raisin Oatmeal Balls and loved them! I didn’t have honey, so I subbed it for 2 tbsp maple syrup–still delicious.
My Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers
I haven’t bought veggie burgers from the grocery store since coming up with this recipe! I love having them on hand in the freezer for easy meals.
Gluten-Free LUNA Bars
My friends at LUNA sent me over some samples of their new gluten-free bars. They have a new flavor, Chocolate Cupcake, which lives up to its name (I ate it as dessert) and are also converting their existing flavors to gluten-free. White Chocolate Macadamia is still my favorite (so stinkin’ good).
Urban Remedy Goodies
Urban Remedy sent me a sampling of their products and it was like Christmas morning getting the package. Juices, salads, raw snacks–talk about being right up my alley. Some favorites were the After Party carrot, apple, lemon, beet, ginger juice and Sour Cream and Chive Kale Chips.
Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies
If you follow me on social media, you already were bombarded with pictures of these, but they’re THAT good. Had to share them on the blog as well. I made the brown butter snickerdoodle cookies from my friend Monique’s blog, Ambitious Kitchen (<–click for recipe), to bring down to New Jersey for Christmas and they were a big hit. I mean, I basically ate them all myself, but the crumbs I left for everyone else went over well.
Favorite Workouts
[FROM THE BLOG] 30-Minute At-Home Workout
I love this workout I posted earlier this month! It’s made up of 5-minute AMRAPs for each body part, and constantly changing it up keeps you from getting bored during the 30 minutes.
[CLASS] Core Fusion Barre with Meg Scannell at Exhale
I had done a few barre classes before at various studios and honestly always felt a little underwhelmed by the workout. But I know that the instructor is just as important as the workout method when it comes to getting in a good burn, so I decided to give barre another chance this month. Going off some recommendations, I gave Meg Scannell’s Core Fusion Barre class at Exhale a try and LOVED IT. Ok, all you barre cult members, I get it now. I still don’t think I’m passionate about barre enough to do it 5+ times a week like some of my friends, but I’m looking forward to being a regular in Meg’s class once a week or so. Boston people—try her class, it’s challenging and she’s a knowledgeable, kickass instructor.
Favorites Reads
[BOOK] Devil in the White City by Eric Larson
I read this for a book club I’m in and loved it! It’s nonfiction, but reads like a fictional story—that’s how well written it is. The book is about the Chicago World’s Fair and H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who murdered tons of young women drawn to the city during the time. It’s both fascinating to read about the building of and logistics behind the World’s Fair and chilling to follow the story of Holmes. I’m fascinated by serial killers, but even if you’re not a fellow creep, you’ll enjoy this book.
[ARTICLE] You can’t detox your body. It’s a myth. So how do you get healthy?
My friend sent me this article and she was right–it’s a great read. It goes over how the concept of “detoxing” is used as a marketing method, while really our bodies are constantly detoxifying themselves on their own.
“Most people think that you should restrict or pay particular attention to certain food groups, but this is totally not the case,” she says. “The ultimate lifestyle ‘detox’ is not smoking, exercising and enjoying a healthy balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet.”
[BLOGS] Dumb (but Funny) Stuff from Around the Web
Happens to the best of us: one minute you’re working away, banging through that to-do list, the next minute you’re knee deep in a BuzzFeed list 704 Things You Must See Right Now. These posts made for hilarious workday distractions this month:
True Life: I Went to Pure Barre and It Was Fucking Miserable | The whole time I was reading this, I just kept picturing my 6’ 5” boyfriend doing a barre class and tucking and pulsing with a bunch of chicks—I couldn’t stop laughing. If you haven’t already, you have to read this recap of one man’s first PB class with his fiancé.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Recap | I didn’t watch the show this year (you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all), but I always enjoy reading the snarky recap Betches Love This does of it. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a littttle too coincidental (and hilarious) that last year an angel was fired for saying Taylor Swift didn’t fit in with the other girls and this year all the models are suddenly BFFs with good ol’ Tay.
I Watched the Vermont Governor’s Race Last Night and It Was Amazing | If you’re from New England, you’ll especially get a kick out of this—I was literally LOLing. And make sure to read the first comment on the post. The whole thing is just perfect. #Vermont
Favorite Moments
Booking Australia
I still can’t believe this really happened, but my boyfriend won two plane tickets anywhere in the world at a broker’s open house. What??! My cousin just happens to be getting married in Sydney February 1st, and I was literally one day away from calling him and letting him know I couldn’t afford to attend when I got the good news. A couple weeks ago I booked the tickets to make it official, and now I’m busy planning how we’ll spend our two weeks down under. If you’re from Australia or have visited the county, I’d love some suggestions in the comments section!
Showing Up on Some of My Favorite Instagram Feeds
I know, I know. Only a blogger (or pre-teen) would delight in this type of social media “milestone”. But it was exciting to be featured by some of my favorite brands!
Getting My Hair into a High Messy Bun
Another stupid one, but what-ev-er. I cut my hair off this fall and instantly regretted it. This is the most #basic of basic favorite moments, but my hair is finally long enough to put up in a high messy bun and all is right in the world again.
Alright, that’s all for December (and the year)! If you’re celebrating tonight, be safe and have fun. I’ll be back tomorrow talking about the New Year’s Resolution I’ve failed at four years in a row. 0 for 4. I know, I’m an impressive individual.