fashion Archives - Winstead Wandering

My Completely Honest Rocksbox Review

October 30, 2015 by Abby

Have you heard of Rocksbox? Have you considered trying this jewelry rental service? I had no idea what to expect when I signed up, so in an effort to answer the questions others might have, I’m sharing my completely honest Rocksbox review.

First things first. Let’s cover the basics:

What is Rocksbox?

Rocksbox is like subscription box meets jewelry rental service. For a flat monthly fee, they’ll send you three pieces of jewelry that you can keep and wear for as long as you’d like, purchase to have forever, or return in exchange for three more pieces. You curate a wish list using your Rocksbox account, which means the stylist who chooses your pieces gets to see what kind of jewelry you’re into. In addition, each box will contain at least one piece from your wish list.

How much does it cost?

Rocksbox is $19 a month. That $19 gets you three pieces of jewelry to rent for as long as you’d like, plus you get $10 of “shine spend” every month, which is just $10 toward the purchase of any of the pieces in your box. The pieces themselves range from $25-$70 on average.

You never pay for shipping, either. The box ships to you for free, and you keep the mailer it comes in, slap on the accompanying prepaid label, and mail the whole thing back when you’re done.

The Background

Those who know me might be thinking I’m the least likely person to try a jewelry rental service. I wear jewelry in some form every day, and I enjoy growing my collection with pieces I love, but I’ve never been obsessed with having the latest and greatest designer jewelry.

I never considered signing up for the service because designer jewelry isn’t important to me and because I don’t mind wearing the same several necklaces and the same several pairs of earrings. I figured Rocksbox would be great for those who want to be able to wear “new” jewelry all the time without forking out a ton of cash to make it happen.

But then an invitation to join landed in my inbox. I began to think a little harder about signing up. Finally, I decided to give it a shot. I realized Rocksbox might not just be for women who enjoy being on the cutting edge of jewelry. It might just as much be for people like me, who don’t want to wear outdated pieces, but who also don’t have the time, the money, or the know-how to keep their collections up-to-date. So I signed up.

I got right to work adding items to my wish list. I was actually a little surprised by how excited I was for my first box to arrive. I was nervous, too; what if I hated every piece? Because of all the questions I had, and because of how hesitant I was to try it, I decided to share my experience here.

My Completely Honest Rocksbox Review

So far, I’ve received three Rocksboxes. I don’t have photos of the first because I didn’t know I’d be sharing my thoughts here. I do have photos of my next two boxes, though, so let’s jump in. Here’s everything- plus way more than- you ever wanted to know about Rocksbox:

[Read more…]

my 5 favorite toddler products under $10

March 30, 2015 by Abby

As a parent of two toddlers- G. is four and B. is two- the internet would have me belief that there are a ton of products out there that I have to have. As a mom who’s tried many of those products, I can attest that there are few worth spending money on. Here are my favorites.

1. baby food pouches

These pouches aren’t just for babies. In fact, as a mom of picky eaters, I plan to buy them for as long as my kids will eat them. With flavors like Spinach, Pea, Pear and Sweet Potato, Apple, Carrot, I feel zero guilt giving my kids one of these as a snack. The bonus is that they’re great for tossing in a diaper bag when we’re on the go.

These pouches can be purchased individually at the grocery store for anywhere from $1.00 to $1.75 each, depending on the the brand and the ingredients, but the best deals are on Amazon.

2. these sippy cups

We’ve owned a lot of sippy cups. A lot. I’ve chosen them based on price, reviews, characters. I’ve regretted some of the purchases I’ve made because, for one reason or another, the cups didn’t live up to expectations. After several false starts, I finally discovered our favorite sippy cup brand.

These Gerber Graduate Fun Grips cups are durable, leak-proof, and easy to clean. The lids are mix and match, so we don’t have to worry about keeping each cup with its lid.

[Read more…]

what i’m loving wednesday

March 25, 2015 by Abby

What I’m loving this week:

this laundry product

I thought Shout Color Catchers were a gimmick when they first came out. After all, we don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets. But after I tried them and discovered that I could wash brand-new, brightly-colored clothes in the same load as older clothes, with no bleeding or staining, I was hooked. Now we always have a box on hand.

these yoga pants

I got these pants a few weeks ago during spring break. I just don’t have words to describe how much I love them. The fabric is moisture-wicking and the perfect thickness. They’re fitted, of course,but without being too tight, and the waistline hits at just the right level.

this disney movie

My mother-in-law bought Big Hero 6, mostly for J., a few weeks ago. It’s been watched several times since, by all of us at one time or another. It definitely meets the standard that Disney set with movies like Tangled and Monsters, Inc.; it’s a movie our whole family loves.

What are you loving this week?

(this post contains affiliate links; for more information, see my disclosure policy)

how to maximize your wardrobe on a budget

March 16, 2015 by Abby

I learned lots of useful things in college. Things like, in Economics, you can probably pass the test by answering “supply and demand” on every question. Or, when it comes to lit classes, SparkNotes- plus anything you might have retained from high school- is usually good enough to get you a B.

There’s a moment I remember quite vividly, though, that has little to do with academics. It was in statistics class with one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Gann. She showed us a problem on the board: if you own 3 pairs of pants and 4 shirts and 3 cardigans, you can create a total of 36 different outfits.

Dr. Gann stressed to us that, as fresh college graduates, we would appreciate the ability to make a month’s worth of outfits with only a few pieces.

I know that concept applies to just about any broke 20-something, but now that I’m a teacher, it’ll pretty much be a way of life. Since I don’t want to literally own only four tops, I’ve found a few others ways to maximize my wardrobe and stretch my clothing budget.

[Read more…]

crooked letter creations giveaway {closed}

March 8, 2015 by Abby

Meet Gentry. We go way back, all the way to the clogged showers and chilly halls of first floor Lat-Webb, our freshman dorm.

Gentry and I worked together on campus and became good friends during our time in college. Such good friends, in fact, that Gentry flew to Oregon in 2008 to be a bridesmaid in my wedding.

It’s been nearly six years- how is that even possible!?- since Gentry and I graduated from college. We don’t see each other nearly as much as I’d like, but we keep in touch and she was gracious enough to team up with me to offer a giveaway.

Gentry owns an Etsy shop, Crooked Letter Creations, where she makes custom appliqué designs. Her shop features both ready-made designs and custom options.

To introduce herself a little more, Gentry answered a few questions for me.

Tell us about the story behind your shop. How and why did you get started?

Growing up, my mom always sewed and made our Christmas and Easter dresses herself. She made it look so easy! She taught me early how to needlepoint, cross stitch, and generally sew or mend things by hand. I never used a sewing machine until I received my Singer 4423 for My birthday. Pinterest is both inspiring and humbling…and of course I started sewing with incredibly ambitious ideas. Anyone seen this pin?

Yeah, this was my first project! Ha after that I began exploring appliqué -more structured and no ruffles – and made a shirt for myself with our school logo. When other teachers began requesting them, I thought it would be more convenient to have ready-made options! I decided to open an Etsy shop and wanted it to reflect all that I’d learned to create while living in Mississippi – and that’s how Crooked Letter Creations began!

What is your favorite part of running Crooked Letter Creations?

I love giving gifts! I love handmade gifts! I started making onesies for baby gifts a few years ago. I think the most rewarding time so far is when I was able to make several preemie onesies for a sweet friend of mine. Her baby boy was so tiny and had lots of extra room in even the newborn onesies.

I loved seeing the look on my friend’s face and seeing her sweet preemie in his personalized outfits! Preemie clothes are harder to find, especially when you want something customized, so I love being able to offer this option!

What are your hopes and goals for Crooked Letter Creations five years from now?

Five years from now, I imagine we may have our own baby that I will begin dressing in lots of Crooked Letter Creations items! Iove customizing clothing, but I also hope to expand the variety of products offered. I hope to receive lots of feedback from customers about what they like and what they’d like to see in the shop

I know products will change as styles and preferences change, but I always want to remain approachable in my business and be open to creating custom designs and items for friends and Etsy/Facebook customers!

***I also got an embroidery machine for Christmas this year, so hopefully CLC will begin offering monogramming by the end of summer 2015!***

the giveaway

Gentry is giving away a bunny applique t-shirt from Crooked Letter Creations in the color and fabric of your choice, size 12 months through youth medium, subject to availability. Shirt colors and fabric options include a variety for both boys and girls. To enter, complete any or all of the tasks below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

hunter boots giveaway {closed}

March 2, 2015 by Abby

Spring is right around the corner! While I’ll be more than happy to leave this nasty winter behind, spring means rain. We may live in Mississippi now, far away from the perpetual showers of the PNW, but The South knows how to bring it, too. Every time I have to go somewhere during a massive downpour, I long for a pair of these gorgeous boots.

Because I know I’m not the only one who wants to wear stylish footwear even on- maybe especially on?- the dreariest of days, I’ve teamed up with a some fellow bloggers to give away a pair of Hunter Boots. Go ahead and complete the entry options below as you dream about what color you’d choose…

Winstead
Wandering / Heavens to Betsy / The Gift
of Gab

Two
Miracles / Northeast Bloggers / Rad
Maverix

Grace
Believer / My Little HEA / Can’t Google
Everything

Are you ready to win some Hunter Boots?
Enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

what i’m loving wednesday

February 11, 2015 by Abby

sparkling ice water

I’ve been trying to drink more water lately. My problem isn’t really that I drink too much coffee or soda, it’s just that I don’t drink much of anything. I know that isn’t a good habit, so I’m making a concerted effort to hydrate more.

I bought a 12-pack of sparkling ice water at Sam’s and was surprised by how much I like it. The water is lightly carbonated and tastes more like juice than flavored water, so I think it would be a great option for someone looking to cut back on or quit soda. I’ve found that filling my tumbler with half plain water and half Sparkling Ice mellows it out perfectly for me and helps me stretch the bottled water twice as far.

wreckage

I got an early copy of this book on my Kindle through Amazon Prime. I get a book or two each month through that program and am generally unimpressed. I just download them because they’re free and I figured, at some point, I might come across something good.

Well, that just happened. Wreckage is the story of David and Lily, the only survivors of a small-plane crash. They were stranded on an island in the South Pacific for 20 months before being rescued. The story takes place after their rescue, with flashbacks to their time on the island. The premise is that David and Lily have secrets about those 20 months, secrets that bind them together and keep them from fully rejoining the lives they lived before the crash.

I read this book in the span of a few days. It was one of those books that I raced to finish, but when I did, I found myself missing the characters, as if they were old friends. I give this one five stars.

[Read more…]

what i’m loving wednesday

January 21, 2015 by Abby

It’s time for another round-up of some of the random stuff I’m loving this week.

brookside dark chocolate

I think maybe most of the country has already tried these, but just in case, I have to mention them here. Reader, meet your new addiction. These Brookside treats are “soft fruit flavored centers covered in smooth dark chocolate”. They come in several different flavors; I’ve tried each one. They’re all equally appealing, with their slightly sweet, chewy insides and thick, smooth exteriors. They aren’t too heavy or rich (which I’m now realizing is the reason I can eat way too many without realizing it).

They can be found at most big grocery stores, but I’ve priced them and found that Amazon is the best deal. I recently tried the new version that includes the soft centers clustered with puffed rice cereal, all coated in dark chocolate. Two thumbs up for those, too.

this buzzfeed post about misheard song lyrics

I admit, I’m a sucker for Buzzfeed’s posts. The one that has me cracking up this week is a compilation of the most commonly misheard song lyrics of 2014. Some of the lyrics that made the list are puzzling, as in I have no idea how you could think Ed Sheeran is asking to be taken “into your lemon arms”. But yes, “I’ve got a lot of Starbucks lovers” made the cut.

this “bind my wandering heart to thee” print

Several months back I came across a pin with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite hymns. I pinned it, of course, and stopped to admire it every time I went to that board, but the pin linked to a tumblr page and I didn’t know how to find the original artist.

A few days ago I decided to get to the bottom of the mystery. After some Googling, I found the Etsy shop run by the creator of the print. She has a bunch of beautifully illustrated prints in addition to this one. It will hang in my home one day.

this article about life with a “threenager”

I’ve been referring to B. as a “twonager” for a while now, so I knew I would relate to this article. And I so do. Since B. is our second child, I knew what to expect from having a two-year old. G. was, at times, unpredictable, unreasonable, and unnerving. It wasn’t anything I didn’t expect, though, having taught preschool and heard endless stories about “the terrible twos”.

With B., it’s different. At two and half, she has the vocabulary of a five-year old, the attitude of a 12-year old, and the fashion opinions of a 16-year old. She wakes up every morning knowing exactly what footwear she plans to wear that day- usually boots- and she learned long ago that “Bubber pushed me” is a surefire way to get what she wants. If you have a toddler, I think you’ll find this article startlingly accurate.

this patagonia fleece pullover

I got this Patagonia-the gray with green- as a birthday present nearly two months ago. I don’t care to admit how many times I’ve worn it since then. It’s warm, but not so warm that you can’t wear it inside. It’s flattering and cozy, the pullover equivalent of a soft blanket. I want one in every color.

What’s caught your fancy this week?

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. When you click those links and make purchases, you support me, this blog, and my family.)