Stitch Fix Review {Fix #5}

It's here! My April Stitch Fix arrived a day later than originally estimated (shipped from CA). I did not peek at what was being sent and I think I like it better this way! 

For this fix I requested: Stylist Rachel again, Spring color/transition pieces, staple pieces like white skinnies, denim jacket. Nursing friendly, no dry clean. The silver necklace I pinned or no accessory at all. 

I think I stopped reading my personalized note when it said Rachel wasn't with Stitch Fix anymore. I was really disappointed to read this because I feel like Rachel was just starting to figure me out. 

The items I received were:

• Kut from the Kloth Callie Denim Jacket, size S ($78)
• Papermoon Mirsilla Lace Detail Knit Top, size S ($58)
• Pixley Ivy Petal Print Blouse, size S ($58)
• Dear John Finnegan Roll Cuff Chino Short - Pink, size 4 ($48)
• Pixley Potina Checkered Lining Cardigan, size S, $68

Sorry, my pictures are rushed this time since I had to hurry to pick up my daughter from school. I didn't get as many detail photos this time. 

Kut from the Kloth Callie Denim Jacket ($78)- Keep

I did actually pin this to my style board so I am not sure why Ashley said it was different than what I pinned. The comment I had written on the pin was that I wanted a medium and it price matched to Zappos and Macys prices. Ashley did not see the pin nor my comments for it. She sent it in a small and without price matching. I contacted Stitch Fix customer service to ask if they would price match it to my provided links.

I took some unofficial iPhone pictures and asked the Stitch Fix B/S/T (buy/sell/trade) board what they thought about the size. 

Everyone agreed this size fit despite my request for a medium. The shoulder seam and the sleeve length are right. The denim is super soft, light weight, and has stretch! The shorter length of this jacket fits my short torso perfectly.

They approved my price match request so I am excited to say this is a keeper for $69.50!

Papermoon Mirsilla Lace Detail Knit Top ($58) - RETURNED

I didn't even need to try this one on ... I knew I wouldn't wear it due to the gold accent. So here it is for those who want to see the detail but I didn't even bother trying to style this top. It's also too boxy for me. It was a soft, sweatshirt type knit material which was comfy. 

Close up of lace detail with gold chain

Not sure how many times I can write it down ... I DO NOT like gold. It's that simple. I love silver! It is written in my profile and my previous Stylist, Rachel, knew this. I am bummed I am having to start over with a stylist. I  didn't even consider this top.

Pixley Ivy Petal Print Blouse ($58) - RETURNED

I had seen pictures of this top floating around on Pinterest and had mixed feelings about it so I never pinned it myself. It is not something I would even pick up and try on. I think I am scared of big prints but not unwilling to try them. It is navy and they suggested black boots...why do I struggle with navy and black together?!

I do like the cut of this top (split neck, tab sleeves) and it is a lightweight material. 

I just don't love the colors. Mainly the orange/coral color in it. It actually fit a bit loose. I would have loved to have received some white skinny pants to try on with it. Other people seem to like this top on me but I just don't love it. I don't see myself wearing it enough to justify the purchase. 

I debated this one so much until I read the tag which said "DRY CLEAN". And with that the decision was made - returned. 

Sorry Ashley, but a mom of 4 littles is constantly covered in slobber, spit up & snot. Dry clean is not feasible for my daily life right now. 

Dear John Finnegan Roll Cuff Chino Short ($48) - Keep

These shorts come in several pinstripe colors and I received the pink pinstripe version.

I just so happen to have pink sandals to match! I asked the Facebook B/S/T board opinions on the length for a mom of 4 but everyone said they were perfect and not too short. 

I think it looks adorable paired with the denim jacket!

I hadn't pinned any shorts yet, but the way these days are already heating up they were a welcome surprise. The shorts are a keeper!

Pixley Potina Checkered Lining Cardigan ($68) - RETURNED

I had asked if the Pinson Drape cardigan in my last fix came in a different color and in the smaller size, which it didn't. So Ashley sent this one. It is just like the cardigan I bought from Fix #3 but in a different color and the size smaller. It would have shown better with a colored shirt under it but I was rushed for time.

The pros: it is soft, the colors are me all the way, the smaller size fits better than the one I bought.

The cons: It had a messed up stitch that would have to be fixed. I tried to pull on the white thread but it cinched up the seam so I left it alone. I would have needed a replacement item on this one and to me it wasn't worth going through the hassle.

I really didn't want to buy something I already bought in a different color since it's not really a staple item. There are so many other versions of black cardigans out there, I don't need the same one. Plus, we are already reaching 80+ degrees in South Texas and I just don't feel like I will get use out of this right now. I do like this cardigan and probably would have considered it if I hadn't bought the Potina Brushed Plaid version already. I'd be interested in an open cardigan with pockets.

Overall, for having a new stylist this time who missed my "no gold" and "no dry clean" preferences and didn't even see the denim jacket I pinned she did pretty good. I am keeping 2 items and would have kept the black cardigan if didn't own the navy one.

I am glad I sized down for this fix. I am going to make sure I reiterate my no gold/no dry clean preferences again since my stylist has changed and may change again.

My total cost for this fix:
Shorts $48 + Jacket $78 - $20 styling fee applied = $106 + $ 6.89 tax = $112.89 with an added $8.50 credit to my account for price matching = $104.39
I still have credit from Christmas gift cards so my actual cost was $0!

If you would like to try Stitch Fix yourself, I'd love it if you would use my referral link! 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. This post does contains referral links, which I'd be so pleased if you would use! All opinions are my own :)

Easter Bunny 2015

We managed to go visit the Easter Bunny despite all 4 girls being on antibiotics at the same time!

I am impressed we had no tears x 4 little girls! I for sure thought Georgia wouldn't like the bunny at this age.

Our four beautiful little chicks!

Georgia Rae - 9 Months Old!

March 12, 2015 - Georgia turned 9 months old while camping in the Davis Mountains!

Eyes: Blue

Clothes: 12 months

Diapers: size 4
Nursing: she is nursing about 5x a day now

Weight: 17lbs 14oz

Teething: She still has 8 but she is working on some molars.

Solids: Georgia is eating everything I eat now! It makes things so much easier now & I love it. She LOVES guacamole, spaghetti, turkey, blackened chicken, noodles with alfredo sauce (dairy-free of course)! We had started with just egg yolks but since she was allergy tested and we know she isn't allergic to eggs she is now eating eggs. She even had her own little omelet while camping! 

She regularly eats whole plain cheerios, almond milk pancakes, peas & diced carrots, bananas, & blueberries. She isn't a fan of broccoli yet and I think it's texture. She self feeds efficiently and currently dominant left-handed. 

Milestones: She is now waving "hi"!! I also got her to clap on cue but she hasn't repeated it since. Still no crawling but she is figuring out how move around. She can scoot and spin around while sitting. She can go from sitting to laying on her stomach. She really wants to be crawling and I can sense her frustration when she pushes up on her arms but doesn't move. She's starting to tuck her knees under her now. She will get there although she may be standing first!

Sleep: I am able to put her down for nap and just walk out of her room. She takes one nap a day (she self dropped the 2nd nap months ago) and although I wasn't a fan at first, all my kids nap at the same time now! She regressed on sleeping through the night from our week long camping trip. I think she is starting to get back into routine now that we are home. 

Playtime: It's all about entertainment at this point! She wants to play and be involved. 

She wants to rotate toys frequently and dislikes being bored. She will be so happy when she starts crawling and can self rotate toys. 

Personality: She can really light up when she wants to!

This is what happens when you ask Daddy to put sunscreen on a baby!

She lights up so much when she sees her sisters when she first wakes up or when Reese gets home from school! She loves them so much and wants to be around them for play. 

Camping at Balmorhea

This girl is seriously ticklish! I am able to change her mood just by tickling her :) She still has stranger anxiety and won't let many other people hold her. 

Signs: She still signs "milk" and is waving "hi". She understands "eat", "more" and "all done" but isn't repeating them yet.

Georgia had her 9 month well check this morning. Here are her current growth stats:
Weight: 17lbs 14oz (43%)
Length: 28.5 inches (77%)
Head Circumference: 18.5 inches (99%)

She grew 2.5 inches since mid December and her head is back on the growth curve!

Issues/Concerns: It has been an emotional morning for me. Georgia tested + for blood in her stools again this morning. I took a diaper to the appointment just in case she wanted to check and give me reassurance. We went through the entire appointment talking about when to introduce dairy around one year, increasing her reflux meds since she isn't therapeutic anymore, etc. The pediatrician tested the diaper for me right before we were ready to leave. She walked back into the room and said "she's positive".

I think my jaw hit the floor. I was shocked. I think she was shocked too. Either my food was contaminated with milk protein somehow or she has some other GI issue going on that we haven't figured out yet. We briefly discussed the next steps: repeat diaper check in 1 month and go ahead and scheduled the GI work up.

It wasn't till I was driving home that the emotion hit me. I have been so disciplined with this dairy free diet. I prep my food first, wash my hands after helping my kids with theirs, cook dairy free meals and yet we are right back to square one again.

My baby is bleeding and in pain...again.

If she was contaminated with milk, then it will take another 4-6 weeks for her to clear it again. If this is something else, then we are probably looking at having to scope her with sedation. I have decided to not eat food from any "allergy friendly" restaurants now. I can't trust that food isn't being contaminated by other items.

When I got home I started bawling. I just don't understand this. I thought we were so close to being over the hump. I just want answers and a happy, healthy baby!

Going Dairy & Soy Free: A breastfeeding journey

In December, when the pediatrician told me I had to go dairy-free immediately I was disappointed but didn't fully comprehend how much that actually meant giving up. I love our pediatrician but I wasn't given any kind of education sheet on dairy intolerance & I was totally clueless!

I am posting this to hopefully help other nursing mothers who have just found out they have to cut out all dairy/soy. There is nothing worse than a breastfeeding mother who is hungry and doesn't know what they are allowed to eat...believe me!

Step 1: Decide if you are cutting out just dairy products or dairy & soy. Our pediatrician did not clarify this when I was first told Georgia had blood in her stools. And I didn't know to ask either. I decided to cut them both out until her colitis resolved and then would add soy back in to see if she could tolerate it. Be forewarned...cutting dairy & soy cold turkey is HARD but you CAN DO IT! You can do it because you are a mom and moms will do anything for their children!

Step 2: Take a quick lesson reading labels. To be dairy free you need to cut out all forms of animal milk, whey, casein, lactic acid yeast starters, etc. To be soy free as well, you need to cut out all soybean oil (which includes vegetable oils with soy), & soy lecithin. Here are my go to lists for reading labels: Dairy Ingredients List; Tips for Avoiding Your Allergen; How to Read a Label for Milk Allergy

Step 3: Go look through your pantry and start reading labels. Quickly realize you can't eat practically anything in there. Your favorite bread, snacks, desserts and most importantly chocolate are most likely all off limits. Commence tears....

Step 4: Cry! Just get it out. I swear I went through the 5 stages of grief over this. I was in denial that she could be dairy intolerant. I was angry...angry that the cause of her pain was from my milk. Angry I didn't have the easy way out to switch to hypoallergenic formula because baby G refuses bottles. I was angry that my dairy-loving/dessert-loving self had to give it all up.

At first I focused on everything I couldn't have. Once I came the stage of acceptance and I realized that I HAD to do this and WOULD do this for my child - I was ready to be dairy/soy free.

Step 5: Find recipes that you are accustom to that are dairy/soy free and then find new ones you are willing to try. I made a Pinterest board to save all the dairy & soy free recipes and substitutions I found in one place.

Step 6: Go shopping. This will take you 2x longer than normal since you have to read every label for any hidden dairy. Just because an item doesn't list "Contains: milk, soy, etc" doesn't mean it isn't in there. Not all products are required to list it as an allergen. Read the labels fully!

The following items are dairy and soy free (but please double read the label because you never know when a manufacture changes the ingredients).

Chips:

Thank you Tostitos for making a soy free chip so I can eat my homemade salsa! Mission tortilla chips are also dairy/soy free.

Breads:

Rudis Bread & Buns found @ Whole Foods. (I have also found Rudis varieties @ HEB). I think the sourdough is the best compared the wheat options. The wheat falls apart very easily and molds faster.

Rudis (refrigerated) Tortillas found @ Whole Foods.

Udis Frozen Bagels & Hot Dog Buns found @ Whole Foods

Snacks:

*Warning: these Udis Granola bars taste like cardboard! Yes, I seriously text my husband that I was eating cardboard. Thankfully my kids liked them enough to finish off the box. 

I am a huge Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Almond fan and cried when I realized I couldn't have them due to the soy. If you are only dairy free, then the Wasabi & Soy flavor is safe per manufacturer!

Sauces:

Original Pam has soy! Pam for grilling is the only soy-free option. I am a mayonnaise fan and the only soy-free one is the Canola Oil version by Hellmann's.

Coffee Creamers:

SO Delicious makes a variety of dairy free products. Switching coffee creamers was one of the hardest things for me on this elimination diet. I find the French Vanilla option to be bitter so I prefer the Hazelnut flavor. Found @ HEB & Whole Foods.

This hazelnut creamer has become my new favorite of the options! Found @ Whole Foods

Baking:

Enjoy Life brand makes a variety of allergen free products found @ Whole Foods or Amazon. Original Bisquick contains soybean oil - Bisquick Heart Smart is Dairy/Soy Free!

Frozen:

I was an Alexia Sweet Potato fan already so I was happy to see these were dairy/soy free. Most breaded chicken will contain milk but Tyson Fully Cooked Nuggets are dairy/soy free. Daiya brand makes a variety of dairy free imitation cheese products. I did not like this pizza and won't re-buy it. I also did not like the imitation cheddar slices or shreds. The only one that is edible is the mozzarella shreds. 

Found @ Whole Foods. They offer all sorts of flavors made from either coconut milk or almond milk. I'm not a big ice cream fan so this wan't really a big deal for me.

Eating Out:

It is extremely hard to eat at restaurants with an allergy restriction. A lot of our favorite places don't provide allergen menus or ingredient lists of their items. I just don't go to these places anymore and hardly eat out at all now. The places I have found to be allergen friendly are:

Carls Jr. provides an allergen list. They use 100% pure beef. The Famous Star without cheese is an easy way to get a dairy/soy free burger including the bun. The fries are also dairy/soy free. 

Chipolte has an allergen list. The only dairy is the sour cream & cheese; the only soy is the flour tortilla and sofritas. 

Costco Deli hotdog with bun is dairy & soy free. The staff was accommodating and showed us the ingredient label for the buns. It is definitely not the same as eating Costco pizza but it feels me up with the rest of the family wants to order a pizza. 

Five Guys provides an allergen list. They use 100% pure beef. You can get a "lettuce wrapped burger" and be dairy/soy free. Their buns contain milk & soy. The fries are dairy/soy free & fried in peanut oil.

Zoe's Kitchen provides an allergen menu wizard online that filters their menu by allergens.

Baby Foods:

I never would have imagined that once we got the the baby food stage I'd have to read the baby food labels too. There are puree baby foods that contain milk so please read those labels! The standard yogurt melts are not an option for a milk-free diet. 

I was very happy to find these finger food options that clearly say "Dairy Free" on them (made from coconut milk), found @ Target.

Tips:

• Don't eat deli cut meat since it is cut on the same slicers as the cheese
• Most pepperoni has lactic acid yeast starter which is from dairy. The only brand we have found to have a "non-dairy yeast starter" is Applegate Natural Pepperoni.
• Learn to love homemade guacamole! I seriously make this almost daily now to use as a spread instead of sour cream or cheese. I make guacamole & chicken quesadillas (skipping cheese of course).
• Cashew Alfredo Sauce (found @ Whole Foods) was very bitter and we could barely eat it. The whole family loves this alfredo sauce recipe using Daiya Mozzerella shreds. I add blackened chicken to it and serve over pasta.
• Girl Scouts Thin Mints are Vegan (dairy free but NOT soy free)
• Start taking a calcium & magnesium vitamin supplements

I lost 5 pounds in the 1st week of this dairy/soy elimination diet and have since lost more. I know this is all temporary and I will get to eat the things I love again. 

Since this initial elimination diet began back in December, I am no longer soy-free. I requested baby G be allergy tested, which all came back negative for any type of allergic response to milk, nuts, etc. The pediatrician told me she was most likely "dairy intolerant" vs. "allergic" and I still needed to continue being dairy-free. She said children tend to "outgrow" an intolerance and she most likely doesn't have an intolerance to soy. I continued being dairy/soy free until her diapers tested blood free. Once we got her intestines back to a healthy state I added soy back in and then had them re-test a diaper for blood. She was blood free with me eating soy! I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders when I found out I could have soy. It is hard enough being dairy free much less soy free too.

However, my thyroid does NOT like my soy enriched diet now. Soy does effect thyroid levels and my TSH is now elevated despite a dosage increase 6 weeks prior. For now we are not changing my dosage again since we know the cause is a temporary one and I will be weaning her from breastfeeding when she turns 1.

I truly hope this will help someone starting down this journey! It can be done and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Please feel free to follow my Dairy/Soy Free Pinterest board for meal ideas. Best of luck!