January/February 2015 Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix #12... I've been with this company for a year now, and I can't imagine cancelling my subscription anytime soon!

If you don't know what Stitch Fix is, check out my intro post. Here's my past fixes (that I've put up on this blog):

December 2014
January 2015

In case you're wondering why my title is between two months, it's because I received this Stitch Fix a couple days ago. I have a monthly subscription, but they like my shipments to arrive on Thursdays, which means they come in just under a month.

I guess that just makes this month extra special. :)

So, for my end of the month Stitch Fix, I received:

Queensland Dolman Jersey Top:

Ahhhh... Stitch Fix dolman tops are so comfortable! This one is no exception. I feel like I'm in my PJs when I wear these, but I think they dress things up nicely.

Also, I love wearing darker colors in winter. I know a lot of people like to "brighten" their mood by wearing brighter colors, but me... I'm all about seasons. I love winter. Even though it's frigid outside and New England was hit by major snowstorms recently, I think winter is one of the most beautiful seasons. Unlike the frenetic energy of reproducing and growing in the spring and summer, winter is when the world outside slows down to sleep. Winter is when the world becomes peaceful... all wrapped in a sparkling layer of ice. It may be a cruel beauty, but I can enjoy it inside, cuddled under a blanket and sipping hot cocoa.

So yes, I like celebrating winter and its darker colors. Winter is, imho, one of the most under appreciated seasons.

Verdict: KEPT

Farrow Lace Panel Top:

This is actually my favorite piece in this box. I love cream/white tops and I love lace. This combines them all.

However, fellow Stitch Fixers, this is not a sweater. It's a thin fabric, and you'll have to wear something underneath. I don't mind this, since New England reacts to cold weather by cranking up the heating way too much. In fact, I asked Stitch Fix for help in dealing with the temperature extremes between the cold outside air and overly heated building interiors. This is a really nice base layer for that purpose.

And the details are just gorgeous...

Criss cross back

Side lace detail. Excuse the cat food bag. :)

Verdict: KEPT

Moni Stud Detailed 3/4 Sleeve Blouse:

I think this top looks more flattering in person. It's a top that I've seen a lot of other Stitch Fixers get, but I hadn't received one until now. I'm so happy I did, because it's a cute top. I've been obsessed with pleating for some reason recently, and the front of this top has pleating. I also asked for 3/4 sleeve tops, so thanks for listening to me Stitch Fix!

You can also make this work for work.

Verdict: KEPT

Maureen Twisted Seam Elbow Patch Sweater:

This is also a sweater that I think looks better in person. I'm not entirely sure it flatters me, but my boyfriend said I looked fine in it, so it's probably ok. It's totally my style - my boyfriend is not a fan of elbow patches, but I like them for some reason. I also love the fabric on this sweater, and it's, most importantly, very soft and comfortable.

This was the only piece in my box that I was unsure of, but I ended up keeping this to get the 25% discount. Don't worry though. It'll get worn!

Verdict: KEPT

Tina Checkered Infinity Scarf:

This scarf is oh. so. soft. It's also warm. And soft! Did I mention it's soft?!

I love the plaid, I love the colors, and I love infinity scarves. This one was mine as soon as I took it out of the box.

Verdict: KEPT

Conclusion:
Wow Stitch Fix! Once again, I'm keeping the whole box. My stylist seems to know my style, even though I'm not sure I had a style before I started Stitch Fix. After a year of providing feedback and pinning things on my Pinterest board, Stitch Fix has helped me find my personal image as well as some great pieces. And that's a gift I can take shopping with me!

January 2015 Birchbox

Let's do this, Birchbox!

This month I decided to try a new subscription service. There's plenty of beauty subscription boxes out there, but I chose Birchbox because of all the boxes I know of, this one is reasonably priced and focuses on skincare. I'm just not someone who uses a lot of makeup, so something like Wantable, Ipsy, or Boxycharm is, sadly, probably not for me.

For those of you who don't know, Birchbox sends about 5 samples of beauty related products to try for $10/month. 

You fill out a questionnaire detailing your skin type and what you're looking for in skin care products. For me, I have oily skin and still deal with acne.  However, I'm in my mid-20's, so I'm starting to shop around for products that will slow down the inevitable aging process like exfoliants, vitamin C products, peptide products, and good sunscreens.

These types of products can be expensive, however, so trying them through Birchbox without having to buy the full product seems like a fun way to "shop" around.

I'm also lazy. So not having to put on pants and drive to a store? WIN. 

 This month, I received:

Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator:
This is supposed to mimic the effect of microdermabrasian. I'm not sure what microdermabrasian is, but if it's supposed to be a physical exfoliant, it does the job well.

Sensitive skin types might not like this product. The beads in this are large enough to potentially irritate the skin. But on my skin it feels quite nice.

I don't have sensitive skin (although I would hesitate to use this every day myself), so I like a physical exfoliant in addition to my chemical exfoliants to slough off dead skin. I like to use this in the morning after an overnight application of tretinoin (the generic version of Retin-A).

Overall, I think this is a nice product.

Harvey Prince Sincerely Perfume:
I feel a bit apprehensive about reviewing a scent. Scent is such a personal thing. It triggers memories unique to each person, and scents smell differently from person to person because we all have different body chemistries. Therefore, I'm not sure perfume reviews are all that helpful.

On me, this scent faded rapidly (a problem I have with perfume in general), and I felt this was just a little too sweet and flowery for my taste. 

But this scent is different from most of the generic flowery scents out there, so I could see someone really liking this one.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm:
I've never tried a BB cream before. It's been all the rage for the past couple of years, and I think the market now has... like... what, CC creams now? DD creams? ZZ creams? BB creams tend to make fantastic claims, but I've always viewed those claims with skepticism.

I still think most BB claims are crap, but I love this one. This Korean BB cream has 45+ SPF and has a nice, neutral beige-y tint. I naturally have a yellowish tint to my skin since I'm part Japanese, so I was surprised to find a tint that didn't make me look sick. Also, while the cream has a slight tint, it doesn't have the full coverage a foundation does. For some people, this is a negative. But for me, I personally hate the feel of foundation. This is the closest to a "foundation" that I'm willing to use on my face.

So, between the high SPF and slight beige coverage, I'm a convert! I've already bought the full size of this product.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in Jaipur Gold:
This is a nice creamy eyeliner. Very, very creamy. The feel is wonderful.

It mostly stays on well all day. But sometimes it tends to bleed from my lower lash line. While it's not my favorite color (it's kind of like a cross between bronze and olive green), it's overall a good quality eyeliner. I may consider buying it in black later on, although I really don't like eyeliners that bleed into those little lines around my lower eyes. It makes me look like a drug addict, and I haven't figured out how to stop that from happening.

Whish Three Wishes Body Butter in Lavender:
This lotion is pleasant and non-greasy. The scent is also a true lavender scent (as in, it doesn't smell unnatural). I've been using it, although, to be honest, I'm not a lotion person. I have oily skin naturally, so I've spent most of my life minimizing the moisture content of my skin.

It's nice though, and a lotion needs to be non-greasy for me to use it. I'll keep this in the back of my mind should I ever need to use lotion in the future.

So, that was the entirety of my Birchbox. I thought it was fun to try new brands, and I've found a product that I've already added to my everyday routine. Will I keep this subscription? Absolutely.

Check Birchbox out!

Happy Birthday Chita!

Chita turns 8 years old today!

Am I a crazy cat lady? Yes. Yes I am.

But at the same time, it's always Chita and me against the world. She's got my back, and I've got hers. Happy birthday Chita!

Chita at the shelter. I'm pretty proud of myself for tracking this down.

Chita the week we brought her home. If this isn't an expression of happiness, then I don't know what is.

Daaaawwwww

 

 

Trouble-maker cat!

I took this picture while I was working on my Master's Thesis.

And today! Her 8th birthday. She looks pretty pleased with herself, ha ha!

January 2015 Stitch Fix

t's that time of the month... I received my January Stitch Fix!

For those of you who don't know, Stitch Fix is a service that sends you 5 items of clothing and/or accessories picked out by a stylist. I's a great service for people who (1) can't style themselves; (2) hate shopping; and (3) are clueless about dressing for different occasions. All three of those apply to me.

Stitch Fix costs about $20 a month, although that's applied to the cost of the clothing item(s) you choose to keep. You get a 25% total discount if you keep the whole box. For more information, see Stitch Fix's general information.

This month, though, someone insisted on spying on me. She makes an appearance in some of my photos. :)

Creeper-cat.

So, for January I got...

1. Tania Lapis Pendant Necklace

Kitty... personifying the ennui she feels.

I asked my stylist for a longer necklace, although this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking of something more delicate. However, I like statement pieces, and I think it goes with a lot of my wardrobe. I can also see myself wearing this during the summer with a plain white T-shirt and shorts. Although this wasn't quite what I was expecting, I find that I do like it a lot.

Verdict: KEPT.

Close-up of Tania Lapis Pendant Necklace

2. Corinna Striped Dolman Top

This was probably my least favorite piece in the box, but the reason why was unfortunate and probably unforeseeable. I asked my stylist for something I could wear with leggings. Well, she listed to my request, and sent me this dolman top that has quite a bit of length to it.

Now, I usually love the dolman tops that Stitch Fix sends me. This dolman top, however, falls below my crotch untucked, has a rounded hem, and (unlike most dolman tops) doesn't cinch in lower down. On my short stature, all of this combines to make me look like a squat dwarf. :) Not flattering! So... I'm wearing this tucked in the front and untucked in the back. Luckily, like most Stitch Fix tops, this top is ultra soft and comfortable.

Verdict: KEPT. (Normally I would have sent this back because it doesn't flatter me without being tucked in. But with the 25% discount for all 5 items, it was cheaper to keep this).

3. Mandy Lace Detailed Short Sleeve Blouse

I adore this top. The black lace detailing at the top is beautiful. It's... it's perfection!

Fyi, I requested this top on my Pinterest Board. I squealed when I saw that my stylist had seen that and had sent me this top in my box. In my experience, I've found that Stitch Fix stylists are pretty good at selecting pieces that are similar to my Pinterest board, so make sure you have one if you're subscribed to this service.

Verdict: KEPT.

4. Jordanne A-line Skirt

A-line skirts are so flattering for my body type. When I peaked at my box before it arrived, I thought I was going to get a grey colored skirt since most Stitch Fix reviews had that color. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was dark green!

And you know what? I LOVE the different color. It's still conservative and work appropriate, but it also brings a pop of color into my otherwise grey and black work wardrobe.

And best of all, it's lined and comfortable.

Verdict: KEPT.

5. Rebekah Contrast Detail Blazer

Last but not least, Stitch Fix sent me a blazer! I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but the lining has polka dots which, in my opinion, are adorable. However, the most amazing part of this blazer is that the sleeves aren't too long. They're the perfect bracelet length that allows me to show off my watch.

Verdict: KEPT.

Conclusion

This was yet another box where I bought all five pieces. Stitch Fix is killing it!

I immediately cut off the tags of three of the pieces (the blazer, white blouse, and skirt), and the other two were definitely pieces I like and will wear. While it's unfortunate that the dolman top in this box doesn't quite flatter my short stature without being tucked in,  I've learned a lesson that longer tops may not be the best tops for me.

Do you agree with my decisions? Do you also subscribe to Stitch Fix?  Let me know!

(Also, if you're curious about trying Stitch Fix, here is my referral link).

Extra

I couldn't resist, but the pumps I was wearing with my jeans are my new favorite shoes:

I bought them on sale at Lord and Taylor over the winter break, and these are the first shoes I have owned where I feel like a million bucks when I wear them. They're suede and color blocked in navy and cobalt blue. I'm kind of in love with them.

Dear god, I'm such a girl...

Anyhow, to end this post, I end with a photo bomb. My cat is the queen at photo bombing, and let's be honest... she's way cuter than I am. :)

Le Meow.

December 2014 Stitch Fix

This past week, I received my monthly Stitch Fix box!

For those of you who don't know, Stitch Fix is a service that sends you 5 items of clothing and/or accessories picked out by a stylist. I started this service because (1) I can't style myself; (2) I hate shopping; and (3) I'm clueless about dressing professionally.

Stitch Fix costs about $20 a month, although that's applied to the cost of the clothing item(s) you choose to keep. You get a 25% total discount if you keep the whole box. For more information, see Stitch Fix's general information.

Ever since I switched to law, I realized that I was hopeless when it came to dressing professionally. I came from a science background: my parents were scientists, my friends were scientists, and my role models were scientists. In science, dressing professionally meant you wore jeans with no holes in them.

Law was a whole new ball game.

Thus, my obsession with Stitch Fix was born.

So, without further ado, let's see what they sent me this month!

1. Jago Short Sleeve Studded Sweater Dress

 

This navy blue sweater dress is very comfortable. It has small studs throughout that add a little sparkle, which I think will be perfect for holiday parties. The top also has some nice subtle cutout detailing. Also, although this dress is a sweater dress, it's not especially warm or thick, which means I could probably wear it in any season. Overall, because of the comfort, I love this dress.

Verdict: KEPT.

2. Elaine 3/4 Pleat Waist Dress

This burgundy dress is really flattering for my body type. I love the cinched in waist, and the color is gorgeous for this time of year. And... it has pockets! This dress is also great for both work (throw on a blazer!) and after-work hours. The only bummer with this dress is that the zipper was broken. :( I'm actually holding the dress together in the picture, ha ha! Luckily, my mother knows how to fix zippers.

Verdict: KEPT.

3. McQue Solid Lace Sleeve Blouse

Casual, with jeans.

Business Casual

Close up of lace sleeves

I pinned this top, and boy do I love it! It's navy blue (a color I love), fits wonderfully, and has lace sleeves! Lace sleeves! I wore this last night on a date with Phil.

Verdict: KEPT.

4. Bethany Lace Bib Half-Button Blouse

Casual

Business Casual

Lace detailing on back

Not going to lie, when I first pulled this out of the box, I thought "grandma shirt." But the special thing about Stitch Fix is that you have to try everything on before passing judgment. I ended up really liking this shirt. I think it's better suited for work attire than casual, although I'll have to figure out how to disguise my bra straps better before I'm comfortable wearing it in a formal environment. I love the color (so versatile and crisp!) and how it's just slightly see through. I think luxury when I wear this shirt.

I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing the blouse with the navy pencil skirt (and matching blazer, of course!) for my oral argument on Monday.

Verdict: KEPT.

5. Ivy Feather Print Blouse

 

And last but not least, this shirt was also one that I didn't think favorably of when I pulled it out. The feather print made me think that this shirt was "so San Francisco," in that it reminded me of hippies in the 70's. However, when I put it on, I liked it as well. It's a comfortable and flowy shirt, although a bit oversized, and deep down I'm a sucker for anything with birds. (I used to have a big birdfeeder at my old apartment in Tucson, and I kind of miss it). 

Also, I'm attracted to this shirt because it reminds me of San Francisco. I'll be working at a firm in San Francisco this summer, so it'll be nice to have something fun to wear while I'm there!

Verdict: KEPT.

So, yup... I kept the WHOLE BOX! My stylist knocked it out of the park on this one. I got a bunch of pieces that I love and are great for both work and weekend wear. What more could a girl ask for? Thanks Stitch Fix!

What do you think? Are there pieces you disagree with me on? Also, if you're interested in Stitch Fix, here's my referral link to give it a try!

Referral

Money, Superstition, and Vaccines

It was a place of death.

It was a place where women went to die for their sins.

It started with a fever in the maternity wards. That fever was accompanied by severe headaches, nausea, and bilious vomiting. The back, hips, and pelvic area were wracked with pain. Defecation was immediate and uncontrolled. Urination painful. Women's bellies swelled to enormous sizes.

After the fever ran for a few days, the disease acquired a more putrid form. Death was quick and painful. At the time, it was the single most common form of maternal mortality.

It is now very rare to die from this infection. Prevention was rather simple. The single most important factor for preventing this disease? Doctors in the maternity ward needed to wash their hands before examining patients.

But in the 1800's, they refused to wash them. European doctors and clergy were convinced that childbed fever was God's punishment to women for the act of childbirth. They didn't want to think of themselves as "dirty", even when some medical professionals like Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis desperately pointed out that using antiseptic soap reduced the number of deaths by a whopping 90%.

This fever, consequently, has been forever dubbed "The Doctor's Plague". Their adamant refusal of a truth they did not want to accept caused countless, needless deaths.

And now, in modern times, this scenario can happen again. Unfortunately, the sufferers will be our children.

The cause of Puerperal fever, aka childbed fever or "The Doctor's Plague".

There is a movement underfoot - a movement to reject modern science. You know them as the anti-vacciners. This movement is considered crazy and on the fringes of rational thought. It is not supported by science. And the people heading this movement? They rely on emotional appeal and deliberate misrepresentation of data. They do not possess medical degrees. They do not have studies of their own. Why go to all this trouble?

Because, I suspect, they want to sell you something.

They want to sell you unregulated drugs. They want to sell you books that sell because they're scandalous. They want to sell you the idea that waving a quartz crystal over your head will cure your cancer better than chemotherapy would. They want to take advantage of you when the doctors give you a realistic evaluation of your health, and you lie in bed at night trembling in fear. In doing so, they can make a very comfortable living. Furthermore, to protect their profits, they need to make the public distrust the very people who can expose them as the frauds they are.

There comes a point when we all need to champion scientific reason and advancement, no matter if we are scientists or not. There comes a point when we need to expose those who make fraudulent claims and make baseless assertions about subjects they know nothing about. We need to correct our friends and family. We need to have this conversation with as many people as possible.

We need to have this conversation now.

We are in a Golden Age, and life in the present has been the best it ever has been. Science can do truly wonderful things. It saves countless lives every day. Imagine how many lives it can save tomorrow. Imagine, if superstition wins, how many lives will be needlessly, painfully lost. Perhaps we'll return to the kind of thinking where death is rationalized because people deserve God's punishment.

In the moment we shut our eyes to science, we no longer deserve to reap its rewards.

And that, my friends, is not a place you want to be.

Experimenting With Almond Flour

Almond flour... photo shamelessly stolen from http://www.elanaspantry.com/why-almond-flour.

Hello people...

So... it's been a while since my last post. Yup, I got really behind. And busy. As much as I like blogging, school always comes first.

And boy, have there been changes. Since my last post, I passed my prelims, defended my Master's Thesis, and applied to law school.

Because of this, the focus of my blog has now changed from being about astronomy to something more casual. I can post whatever the heck I want now, and that's more than ok with me. I've decided to hijack this blog to post cat photos, food photos, and other things I'm generally too embarrassed to post on facebook.
I mean, as much as I like my cats, I'm not overly fond as being known as a crazy cat lady.

So... the first thing I want to talk about is almond flour. I bought some from Trader Joe's a while back on a whim. I baked some things with it, but now that I'm slated to move soon, I wanted to use it up. I shopped around on Pinterest and found some easy recipes that I already had the ingredients for.

Now, a bit of warning. I am a newbie at cooking.

And I'm not very good at it.

As a high school student, I wanted nothing to do with such a "feminine" activity (you know, something about breaking out of gender roles). Now that I realize that health comes from learning how to cook, I've since reassessed my previous attitude towards cooking. However, that means I have a lot of lost time to make up for, ha ha!

So the first thing I made was almond flour crackers. Here's what they looked like:

My very own crackers! Yay!

 They were so easy to make! The recipe I followed is here, but I decided to use herbs I had on hand (thyme, basil, and garlic). They go great with almost anything because they have a delicate taste (if not a little nutty, but I love that!). You can put any sort of cheese or meat on them. I've put raw tomato paste on them with a drizzle of pepper.

Don't ask why I like pure tomato paste. I just do.

Next, I made some almond bread. However... I had a much larger pan than the recipe called for, so my bread came out weird looking (and not at ALL like how the pic in the recipe looks, ha ha!). No matter, it still tastes delicious!

 My weirdo bread. I just eat it like a muffin... and just like a bran muffin, these things clean out your colon.

The bread is so think and filling, I think of it more like a bran muffin than anything else. It's nutty, slightly sweet, and buttery (although no butter was used in making it). I did make some blackberry butter to use as a spread, which was absolutely delicious! Although, how can you go wrong with butter, honey, and blackberries?

So yup! Those two recipes depleted my store of almond flour. Both taste delicious and were very easy and quick to make. I think I spent more time on clean up than on actual cooking, which is great for a lazy cook like me!

Finally, I just wanted to say that these recipes are great for people cutting out gluten. I personally don't care about going gluten-free (I've never had any medical problems from eating wheat), but these recipes tasted good on their own merits. So... people with gluten sensitivities... feel free to try these! Maybe yours will turn out better looking than mine, ha ha!